After spending some time at the library, Azztheo suddenly sat up straight, eyes widening.
"Oh no…"
Jake looked over, confused. "What?"
"I forgot—I was supposed to go to the medical center and schedule my gene injection," Azztheo said quickly, standing up. "Instructor Jonathan told me to go after training. I completely spaced out."
Jake whistled. "Man, that's important. You're already at 48. Just two more points, and boom—awakening."
"I know," Azztheo replied, already gathering his things. "I better not delay it again. Who knows how long their waiting list is."
"Want me to come with?" Jake asked, stretching.
Azztheo shook his head. "Nah, I'll be fine. I'll catch up after dinner."
He left the library, the notebook tucked under his arm, and jogged across the school courtyard as the sky turned shades of orange and purple.
The medical center was a clean, white building near the eastern edge of campus. It didn't look much different from a regular hospital—automatic doors, quiet halls, and the faint scent of disinfectant.
As he entered, a nurse at the front desk looked up. She wore a crisp uniform with the academy crest on her sleeve.
"Can I help you?"
"I'm here to schedule my awakening injection," Azztheo said politely. "Instructor Jonathan said to report after class. I scored 48 on the power testing stone this morning."
She tapped her screen, scanning a list. "Name?"
"Azztheo Blackthorn."
The nurse paused briefly, her expression flickering. "Ah. You're the new transfer from the destroyed border town… I see your name here."
Azztheo's shoulders tensed slightly. "Yeah."
"Well, you're lucky you came today. We have a few openings for first-stage injections. Since you're at 48, you're eligible for the Pre-Awakening Boost Protocol. That will help accelerate your final push to 50."
She handed him a form. "Fill this out and submit it before tomorrow noon. Your physical prep and screening will begin the day after tomorrow, pending approval."
Azztheo took the form. "Thanks."
"And… one more thing," the nurse said, voice softening. "If you feel strange after the injection—emotionally, mentally, anything out of place—report it. Don't hide it."
He blinked. "Why?"
She didn't answer directly. "Just a reminder."
Azztheo left the building with a strange feeling in his chest. The form was simple enough—name, background, physical condition, emergency contact, and a checklist of possible health conditions.
He folded it neatly and put it in his notebook.
By the time he got back to the dorm, it was already dark. Jake was waiting by the window, biting into a leftover snack.
"Get it sorted?"
"Yeah. Form's due tomorrow. Then physical checks. They said I might get the injection soon."
Jake grinned. "Awesome! That means I get to watch you faint in public when it hits."
Azztheo rolled his eyes. "Gee, thanks for the support."
They both laughed.
That night, after the lights were out, Azztheo lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.
The form rested on his desk, half-filled. The shard was still under his pillow.
He slipped his hand beneath it and touched the cool surface.
"Almost there, Dad," he whispered into the dark. "Soon… I'll awaken. Then I'll figure out everything."
The shard pulsed softly—once.
Almost like it heard him.
Would you like to continue into the awakening experience next, or perhaps show the day of his injection and any unexpected effects that follow?
The next morning, the sky outside Azztheo's window was still a pale gray when his alarm buzzed quietly. He groaned, rolled over, and silenced it with a swift tap. For a moment, he lay there staring at the ceiling, the events of yesterday playing back in his mind—the physical training, the fight he saw between Lyra and the senior, and finally, the form now sitting neatly folded on his desk.
Azztheo sat up, stretched his arms, and began his morning routine. He washed up quickly, changed into his uniform, and tucked the filled-out form into a plastic folder. The air was cool as he stepped out of the dorm room, and soft golden light poured in through the hallway windows. He knocked on Jake's door.
Jake opened it, half-asleep and scratching his hair. "Same drill?"
"Yeah," Azztheo nodded. "But I'll be heading to the medical center after morning class to submit the form."
"Got it. I'll cover for you if Jonathan asks," Jake said with a sleepy grin.
They both made their way to the training field where Instructor Jonathan was already pacing with his hands behind his back. Morning class today was focused on posture drills and hand-to-hand combat basics. After a grueling forty minutes of stretching, stance correction, and a few light sparring rounds, Jonathan clapped his hands.
"Alright, you can rest for now. We'll continue after noon classes. Dismissed!"
As the other students filed out, Azztheo grabbed his things and walked quickly toward the east wing of the academy—the direction of the medical center.
The white building stood clean and still, with trimmed bushes and blue tiles lining the entrance. As he entered through the automatic doors, the sterile scent of the place hit him again. It was quieter than the rest of campus—no shouting, no footsteps, just the soft hum of machines and faint whispers behind glass doors.
He approached the front desk. The same nurse from yesterday was there, typing something on her console. She looked up and smiled gently when she saw him.
"Good morning, Azztheo. Here to submit the form?"
"Yes," he replied, handing over the folder. "It's all filled out."
She opened it, scanned the pages, then nodded. "Looks good. We'll begin your physical screening tomorrow at 10 a.m. Be sure to eat a light breakfast—no meat, no fried food. And get proper sleep tonight. The test includes bloodwork, mental scan, and body synchronization analysis."
Azztheo blinked. "Mental scan?"
She gave a soft chuckle. "Don't worry. It's not invasive. We just need to make sure your spirit threshold can handle the awakening surge. If your mind isn't stable, the awakening injection can cause rejection symptoms—headaches, hallucinations, even temporary madness."
He swallowed. "Alright. Anything else?"
"Bring the consent form signed by your guardian," she added.
Azztheo paused for a second. "...My guardian is gone."
The nurse looked at him quietly for a moment, then gave a small nod. "In that case, your signature alone will be enough. You're registered as an independent candidate."
She stamped the submission sheet and handed him a slip of paper.
"Appointment confirmed. Tomorrow morning. Don't be late."
As he turned to leave, she added gently, "You're doing well, Azztheo. Most students feel nervous before this step. But it's an important one."
He nodded silently and left the building.
Outside, the campus was already alive with the buzz of students heading to their next classes. Azztheo paused for a moment, looking at the form slip in his hand. The sun was higher now, warming his skin.
Awakening.
It was finally happening.
He tucked the slip into his pocket and walked back toward the academy buildings with a steady, determined stride.