Elise Varen blinked up at him, surprise giving way to confusion. "I... yes? Do I know you?"
Rei's brain screamed at him. You just said her name out loud like you know her personally when you've never spoken to her in your life you absolute disaster of a human being,
"I—" he stammered, releasing her shoulders and stepping back. "Sorry. I meant, you're from House Varen. I recognized, the family crest. On your, " He gestured vaguely at her clothing where no crest was actually visible.
Behind her, Lucien Varen materialized, his expression shifting from mild curiosity to aristocratic disdain in half a second. "Is there a problem?" His tone suggested that a commoner touching his sister definitely constituted a problem.
"No problem," Rei said quickly, then realized he was still staring at Elise and forced his eyes away. "Just wasn't watching where I was going. My fault. Sorry."
Elise's expression had shifted from confusion to amusement. "It's alright. No harm done." She tilted her head slightly, studying him with curious eyes that seemed to see more than they should. "Though I'm impressed you recognized House Varen. Most people our age couldn't identify noble houses even with the crests directly in front of them."
Because in another timeline I spent weeks stealing records about how your brother gambled away your family's entire legacy and you got sold to a king and killed yourself rather than be property.
"I pay attention," Rei said, which was perhaps the understatement of the century.
Mira appeared at his elbow, eyes wide with barely suppressed glee. "Did my brother just walk into a noble lady? This is the best day ever."
"Mira," Rei said through gritted teeth.
"What? I'm just appreciating the moment." She turned to Elise with a bright smile. "Hi! I'm Mira Ashborne. This is my socially challenged brother Rei. He means well but sometimes forgets basic functions like watching where he's walking."
Elise laughed—a genuine sound that softened her aristocratic features. "It's nice to meet you both. I'm Elise Varen, and this is my brother Lucien."
Lucien offered a curt nod that suggested he was already losing interest in this interaction. His eyes were scanning the crowd, looking for more interesting, or more influential, people to engage with.
The gambling addict who destroys everything. Except right now he's just a bored nineteen-year-old noble who thinks commoners are beneath his notice.
Rei studied him briefly, the sharp features, the expensive clothes that fit perfectly, the casual arrogance of someone who'd never faced real consequences.
Could I stop him? Could I prevent the gambling, the debts, the loss? Or would trying to save him just break the timeline in ways I can't predict?
"Are you both participating in the ceremony?" Elise asked, pulling Rei's attention back.
"I am," Mira said proudly. "I awakened last night. Early, actually."
Elise's eyes widened with genuine interest. "Really? Early manifestation is supposed to be quite rare. That's impressive."
"Thanks! I'm hoping to get something really cool. What about you?"
"We had private awakenings at our estate," Elise replied, with just a hint of wistfulness. "But Lucien insisted we attend the public ceremony anyway. He wanted to 'understand the common experience.'" The slight emphasis suggested she wasn't entirely convinced of her brother's philanthropic motivations.
Lucien shot her a look. "It's important for nobles to engage with all levels of society."
Translation: he wants to network and show off.
"That's very... civic-minded," Rei offered, his tone carefully neutral.
Mira kicked his ankle, their signal for you're being weird, stop it.
Before the conversation could get more awkward, a loud bell rang from the ceremonial hall, echoing across the plaza.
"First call," Elise said. "We should head inside. It was nice meeting you both."
"You too," Mira chirped.
As the Varen siblings moved away, Mira turned to Rei with an expression of absolute delight. "You walked into a noble girl. You said her name like you were old friends. You made the weirdest face I've ever seen. This is amazing. I'm never letting you forget this."
"Please do let me forget this."
"Never." She linked her arm through his. "Come on, socially challenged brother. Let's go fake your awakening."
Rei tensed. "What?"
"You think I don't know you're planning something?" Mira's voice dropped to a whisper. "You've been different for weeks. Training in secret. Working for merchants. Building that thing you hide under your floorboards. You're going to fake having a power, aren't you?"
She knows. Of course she knows. She's always been more observant than people give her credit for.
"Maybe," Rei admitted quietly.
"Good," Mira said firmly. "Because I'm not letting you be powerless in this world. Not when I can help it. So whatever you're planning, make it convincing."
The support in her voice, absolute, unconditional, made Rei's throat tight.
"Thank you," he managed.
"That's what family's for." She squeezed his arm. "Now let's go show them what the Ashborne siblings can do."
They entered the ceremonial hall together, joining the flow of students and families. The interior was even more impressive than the outside, vaulted ceilings, crystalline chandeliers that pulsed with faint light, walls lined with tapestries depicting historic awakenings.
At the far end, a raised platform held the Order's testing apparatus, a circular array of crystals surrounding a central pedestal where each student would stand to have their power officially measured and recorded.
Order officials in black and silver uniforms moved through the crowd, directing people to designated seating areas. Rei noticed Agent Castor Vey among them, pale gray eyes scanning faces with mechanical precision, a tablet in hand.
He's here. Watching. Probably already flagged Mira for awakening early. I need to be careful.
But then Rei's attention caught on something else.
A section of seats near the front, cordoned off with velvet ropes. Reserved seating. And there, settling into a prominent position, was an older man with features that echoed Lucien and Elise—sharp aristocratic lines, copper-tinged hair going silver at the temples, expensive formal attire.
Count Aldric Varen.
The gambling addict. The failed father. The man whose weakness destroys his entire house.
Except right now, he looked dignified. Composed. Every inch the noble lord who commanded an entire territory.
Rei's hand drifted unconsciously to his side, where the prototype was concealed beneath his jacket, modified and compact. The plasma blade he'd built. The weapon that had erased Marcus Vrell from existence.
The Count is here. Watching his children participate in a public ceremony he probably considers beneath his station. This is my chance.
An idea crystallized—reckless, audacious, probably stupid.
What if I don't just fake my awakening? What if I show them something real? Something impressive enough that the Order notices, that the Count notices, that everyone sees I'm not just another powerless nobody?
The plasma blade was dangerous, unstable, a weapon that could kill as easily as breathe. But in controlled doses, with the modifications he'd made...
I could make it look like an awakening. A legitimate manifestation of power. Not the blade itself—just the energy field. A demonstration that I'm not to be dismissed.
It was risky. But risk was all he had.
"Rei?" Mira whispered. "You're making that face again."
"I'm thinking."
"That's the problem."
The second bell rang. Students began moving toward the platform in ordered groups.
And somewhere in the crowd, Rei spotted Lucien Varen watching the proceedings with barely concealed boredom, completely unaware that in two and a half years, he would gamble away everything his family had built.
Not if I can help it. Not if I become Count first. Not if I give Elise a different future than suicide in a frozen castle.
"Students, please form lines according to your district registration," an Order official announced, voice magically amplified to fill the hall.
Mira squeezed Rei's hand once, then moved toward her designated line—District 47, early awakenings.
Rei joined his own line, District 47, general participants.
The ceremony was beginning.
And Rei Ashborne, who had died once and come back with knowledge he shouldn't possess, prepared to lie to everyone in the most convincing performance of his life.
Let them watch. Let them see. Let them think I'm just another awakened student.
And let none of them realize I'm playing a completely different game.