With one day left before his fifteenth birthday, Alden and Rowan packed for Bloodridge, the militaristic heart of the Ironhold Kingdom. Nestled within fortified hills, Bloodridge was a crucible of brutal training camps, its city of Crimsonhold a martial jewel. The journey took half a day, the forest yielding to roads of polished stone. Crimsonhold dazzled—a baroque marvel of towering spires and magic-fueled cars gliding silently. Citizens wore Aether Bands, bracelets that projected shimmering screens or whisked objects into enchanted storage. Alden's eyes widened, his rural life a faint shadow against this technological symphony.
"Those are Aether Bands," Rowan explained, his voice tinged with disdain. "Tools of convenience, but they make people soft."
They wandered Crimsonhold's bustling streets, the air thick with the scent of ozone and spice. After hours of searching, they found a modest inn, its sign weathered but welcoming. Six copper coins secured a room for the night, dinner included. The inn buzzed with travelers—merchants, soldiers, and wide-eyed youths like Alden, all drawn to the city's pulse. They bathed in the communal bathhouse, the steam easing the day's tension, and dined on hearty stew and crusty bread. Rowan's silence grew heavier, his eyes distant. Alden sat beside him in their shared room, his voice steady.
"I'll be fine, Grandpa. I promise."
Rowan's nod was curt, but his hand lingered on Alden's shoulder, a rare gesture of warmth.
Morning dawned with a weight that pressed against Alden's chest. The government building loomed ahead, a monolithic fortress of obsidian stone, its ten stories sprawling beyond sight. Its gardens stretched endlessly, fragrant with alien blooms that seemed to hum with latent power. At the gate, they presented their papers, and a sleek, four-person vehicle whisked them to the main hall.
Kael, their guide, awaited—a man with eyes like frost and a voice smooth as silk. "Good afternoon. I'll guide Alden through the awakening. Rowan, you may observe from the gallery."
They followed Kael through a labyrinth of corridors to a guarded lift. Two armored sentinels nodded, and the lift descended into the earth. The basement was a marvel, its scale dwarfing even Rowan's hidden sanctum. On one side, rooms with sealed doors hinted at secrets; on the other, a massive chamber with glass walls revealed rows of sleek pods. A long corridor buzzed with anxious families—youths Alden's age and their guardians, their faces taut with anticipation.
In Kael's spacious office, larger than Alden's entire living room, they sat on plush chairs. Kael's explanation was clinical: the awakening would transport Alden's consciousness to a realm beyond, where his latent Aether would manifest. Pain was rare, he assured, and the process would take mere minutes. Alden changed into a black uniform, its fabric cool against his skin, and followed Kael to the awakening chamber.
Rowan stood outside the glass wall, his face a mask of resolve. Over a hundred pods lined the chamber, but only a few were occupied, each with a guide. Kael led Alden to a pod, its surface gleaming like liquid obsidian. "As I close this, you'll enter a deep slumber," Kael said. "Your consciousness will travel elsewhere. Don't fear—you may feel nothing at all. Lie down."
Alden complied, his heart pounding. The pod sealed with a soft hiss, and darkness claimed him.
Alden opened his eyes to… nothing. An infinite void stretched in every direction, a weightless abyss that swallowed sound and sense. He ran, walked, shouted, but the emptiness mocked him. Time unraveled, each moment an eternity. Despair crept in, but he stilled himself, standing firm.
A presence stirred. A hand grasped his right wrist, and he turned to face a figure—humanlike, yet featureless, a radiant mannequin cloaked in heavenly light. It was beautiful, divine, its glow banishing the void's chill. Slowly, it transformed, taking Alden's form—his face, his body, but perfected, radiant with an otherworldly grace. It clasped both his hands, and a warmth surged through him. The figure merged into him, seamless and gentle, leaving no physical mark but filling him with a quiet power.
The void bloomed. Emerald mountains rose, their peaks kissed by golden light. Birds sang, their melodies weaving through crystalline air. Lakes shimmered, alive with darting fish. Peace enveloped Alden, a homecoming for a soul he hadn't known was lost. He could stay here forever.
But something stirred. A second figure emerged, its angelic wings cloaked in black, its presence a blade of ice in his chest. It seized his hand, and pain erupted—searing, bone-deep, as if his soul were being flayed. In the external world, Alden's screams tore through the chamber, raw and guttural, drawing gasps from the gallery. The black angel shifted, mirroring Alden's form, but darker, crueler, its eyes glinting with malice. It merged into him, and the paradise burned.
Volcanoes erupted, spewing ash that choked the sky. The air scorched his lungs, the ground cracked beneath his feet. The world was a hellscape, merciless and barren. Even Alden's pain training faltered against this torment. His screams echoed, his heart rate spiking, sweat drenching his body. Kael's composure cracked, his eyes wide with shock. No one had endured such agony in an awakening.
Then, silence. Alden's eyes snapped open. He shoved the pod's lid aside, gasping for air. The gallery stared, their faces pale. He forced a trembling smile, masking the storm within. Kael steadied him, guiding him to the office. Rowan followed, his steps heavy.
On the office sofa, Alden collapsed, exhaustion clawing at him. Kael's voice was tight. "I've never seen such a reaction. The pod may have malfunctioned. I'll investigate."
"No need," Rowan said, his tone firm. "My grandson's always been… sensitive to pain. I expected a scene, though not this extreme. He's safe. That's enough."
Kael exhaled, relieved. "Very well. Alden's awakened his Aether, making him eligible for the government schooling program. The entrance exams are in six months and seventeen days. Shall I prepare the forms?"
"We've discussed it," Rowan said. "He'll take the exams."
Kael handed Alden an energy drink, its tangy rush sparking life back into him. "Change, too—you're soaked." Alden obliged, returning as Kael finalized the paperwork. With a nod, Kael escorted them to the lobby, where they gathered their luggage and began the journey home to Crimsonhold's outskirts.