The morning sun sparkled over the Kingdom of Lyrenne as Sir Rowan Hale tried, once again, to find a quiet moment.
Unfortunately, quiet moments were not in the royal schedule — especially when one happened to be dating disasters, poems, and, now… power awakenings.
Rowan had woken up feeling… different. Stronger. Sharper. And yet… somehow, more awkward than ever.
"Finn!" he shouted, nearly toppling over a barrel in the palace stables. "Something's… happening!"
Finn, lounging lazily with a lute, barely looked up. "What, did your shoes finally untie themselves?"
"No! I… I feel… powerful!"
Finn's eyes sparkled. "Ah. Your awakening. I knew this day would come!"
"Awakening?!" Rowan spluttered.
"Yes," Finn said dramatically. "Every knight of destiny eventually awakens their rank. You might start at Rank Zero, but—"
Rowan gulped. "Rank Zero? I thought I was already… terrible."
Finn ignored him. "Rank Zero means potential — anywhere from zero to ten stars. From there, you ascend through the ranks: Rank One for beginners, Rank Two for experienced novices, Rank Three for masters… all the way to Rank Fifteen — the ultimate, transcending all reality itself."
Rowan blinked. "Fifteen…?!"
"Yes," Finn said, strumming a chord. "Immortal God tier. Basically, if you get there, you can rewrite the universe. But first, we must see what your awakening looks like."
Before Rowan could protest, the medallion from the festival — the very one that had caused his most infamous public humiliation — began to glow faintly in his hand.
He jumped back. "It's… alive?"
Finn clapped. "Not alive, my dear Rowan — resonating with your potential."
At that moment, Princess Elara appeared, looking far too amused. "Sir Rowan, what are you doing now?"
"I… I… awakened?" he stammered, holding the glowing medallion like a ticking bomb.
Elara tilted her head, smiling. "Awakened… huh? And what rank are you?"
"I… don't know yet," Rowan admitted. "Finn says… Rank Zero to Ten stars?"
Elara laughed, eyes sparkling. "That explains why you've been more… energetic today."
Rowan groaned. "Energetic? I nearly flipped the fountain three times just trying to bow!"
"Perfect," she said, leaning closer. "I do enjoy a clumsy hero."
Finn waved his hands dramatically. "Very well! Step one of awakening: focus, believe, and—oh yes—try not to trip while demonstrating your power!"
Rowan's hands shook. He concentrated. The medallion glowed brighter. Sparks flew. The air tingled. And then… he sneezed.
A small blast of energy shot forward, hitting a stack of crates in the corner and sending apples rolling across the courtyard.
Elara laughed until she nearly fell over. "Remarkable!" she said, clapping. "You're… very… unique in your awakening."
Rowan wiped his brow. "Unique… is one way to describe it."
Finn nodded. "Congratulations! You are officially Rank Zero, five stars!"
"Five stars?!" Rowan's eyes widened. "I went up already?"
"Yes," Finn said, bowing theatrically. "And each star means your potential is increasing. Soon, you will ascend to Rank One, then Two, then… who knows? Perhaps even Rank Ten!"
Rowan gulped. "Rank Ten?! The… Immortal Eterna?!"
Elara leaned closer, whispering with that teasing glint in her eyes: "If you reach Rank Ten… you'd better take me with you when you rewrite reality."
Rowan blushed violently. "…I… uh… yes! Of course!"
Finn laughed. "This is only the beginning, my friend. Your clumsy heroics have officially entered a new dimension — literally."
And as Rowan stumbled backward, nearly toppling the princess again, he realized something terrifying and wonderful: even the awakening couldn't stop him from falling for her.
The morning sun had barely peeked over the palace towers when Rowan Hale found himself standing in the royal training grounds, medallion glowing faintly in his hand.
Finn, lute slung over his shoulder, was already perched on a fence, scribbling notes in an oversized notebook. "Welcome to your first official awakening training session," he announced. "Today, we test your Rank Zero potential and attempt to ascend to Rank One!"
Rowan groaned. "Ascend? I can barely keep my feet under me!"
"Exactly," Finn said cheerfully. "Nothing builds character like danger, humiliation, and a small amount of energy-induced chaos."
The first "lesson" was simple in theory: focus your power to move a small object with your mind.
Rowan stared at a wooden crate. He clenched his fists. He concentrated.
Nothing happened.
He sneezed.
The crate flew sideways — colliding with a guard's helmet and sending him spinning into a pile of hay. Rowan's face turned red enough to rival the roses from the festival.
Elara, who had appeared behind the training fence without warning (because, of course, she did), couldn't stop laughing.
"Rowan," she called, leaning casually on the fence, "you're… very… energetic today."
"I… I said I would control it!" Rowan shouted. "…I just didn't say how."
Finn clapped. "Excellent! Uncontrolled energy is the hallmark of potential. Now we just need to refine it… maybe."
Rowan attempted a simple burst — enough to knock over a stack of apples for practice. Instead, he accidentally launched three hay bales across the yard, narrowly missing the Duke of Windermere (who had a long memory of the last "medallion incident").
"Are you trying to kill someone?!" the Duke bellowed.
"No! I mean… sort of? No!" Rowan yelled, flailing.
Elara doubled over laughing, clapping her hands. "I think I like this version of you best — chaotic, flustered, and somehow heroic."
Rowan blinked. "Like… this is heroic?"
"Yes," she said, grinning. "You survived the fountain, medallions, poetry disasters… and now energy attacks. That's impressive, in a clumsy sort of way."
Finn explained that the Rank system worked on emotion, effort, and creativity. Positive emotions, like courage or sincerity, increased potential, while fear, embarrassment, or panic… well, they often caused hilarious accidents.
Rowan concentrated on Elara's smile — the one that had warmed his heart since the festival fiasco.
Suddenly, the medallion glowed brighter. Sparks flew. The crate lifted slightly off the ground… and then Rowan sneezed again.
The crate shot forward like a cannonball, narrowly missing Finn's lute.
"You're… doing… something!" Finn gasped.
"Something… catastrophic!" Rowan said, ducking behind the fountain.
Elara laughed until tears formed in her eyes. "Your control is… terrible, but I've never been more entertained!"
By the end of the day, Rowan had achieved:
Rank Zero, six stars (up from five!)
Two nearly destroyed crates
One very upset duke
Several new bruises
And an undeniable increase in Elara's amusement at his expense
Rowan collapsed under the wisteria arbor, exhausted. "I… I think I'm improving?"
Elara knelt beside him, brushing a leaf from his hair. "You are. And strangely… I'm starting to look forward to these disasters."
Rowan's ears burned. "…You mean… you like them?"
She smiled softly. "I like you. Awkward heroics and all."
Rowan's heart nearly stopped. "I… uh… I like you too!"
Finn peeked out from behind the fence, lute in hand. "Ah! First romantic confession while training! Potential for Rank One ascension is skyrocketing!"
Rowan groaned. "Finn! Can you not?"
Elara laughed again, helping Rowan sit upright. "I think, perhaps, the chaos is part of your charm. And your power… is just a bonus."
Rowan smiled — a mix of relief, embarrassment, and something else that made him feel like he could finally survive anything… as long as Elara was there.
The sun had barely kissed the towers of Lyrenne when Rowan Hale stood once more in the palace courtyard, medallion glowing faintly in his hand.
Finn, perched on a garden wall with his lute at the ready, looked far too excited. "Today is the day, my clumsy friend. Today… you ascend to Rank One!"
Rowan swallowed. "Ascend… without causing another disaster?"
Finn waved a dismissive hand. "Impossible. But we'll survive. Maybe."
Rowan focused. He thought of the fountain fiasco, the rose incident, the festival catastrophe… and most importantly, the warmth of Princess Elara's smile.
"Concentrate on positive energy!" Finn shouted. "Channel courage, sincerity, and maybe… just maybe, a little dignity!"
Rowan clenched the medallion. Sparkling energy swirled around him. His boots began to hover slightly above the ground.
Then…
A sudden sneeze.
Energy erupted in a small, controlled blast — not enough to destroy the courtyard, but enough to send his training dummies flying into the royal stables.
Finn clapped furiously. "Yes! Rank One achieved!"
Rowan blinked. "I… did?"
"Yes!" Finn said, pointing at the medallion. "Rank One! Beginner stage unlocked. You can now manipulate minor objects with your willpower, focus energy bursts, and even perform basic protective barriers!"
Rowan gaped. "Protective… what?"
Elara, who had been watching from a safe distance with a mischievous smile, stepped forward. "I see you've leveled up… again. And by the looks of it, your control is… still very chaotic."
Rowan groaned. "I… I'm trying!"
Elara laughed, approaching cautiously. "Well, perhaps I can help. A little guidance… maybe even some training together?"
Rowan's heart nearly jumped out of his chest. "…With… me?"
"Yes," she said, smiling. "But I warn you — if you trip on your own power, I may laugh. Loudly."
"I… can't… promise anything," Rowan admitted.
Finn clapped his hands, unable to contain his excitement. "Ah! Partner training! This is how you build synergy — and accidentally cause havoc while doing it!"
Rowan groaned. "Finn! Please leave!"
"Not until I see you two interact!" Finn sang dramatically. "Imagine the potential chaos!"
Their first "training session" began… predictably poorly.
Rowan attempted to levitate a small wooden crate for practice. It wobbled in the air like a drunken bird, then exploded into a cloud of sawdust.
Elara ducked, laughing. "Maybe we start with something smaller."
Rowan picked up a pebble. It shot across the courtyard, narrowly missing a cat — and somehow lodged itself in Finn's lute.
"I… I can explain!" Rowan shouted.
Elara shook her head, still giggling. "No need. I think your power… suits your personality perfectly."
Rowan's ears burned. "…You mean… you like it?"
"I do," she said softly, stepping closer. "Even if it's messy, clumsy, and occasionally terrifying."
Rowan's chest tightened. "I… I like you too."
Elara smirked. "I've known that for a while."
Rowan froze. "…You have?"
"Yes," she said, teasingly. "Now let's see if Rank One can keep you from falling into a fountain during our next lesson."
Rowan groaned, but couldn't stop smiling. Somehow, despite the chaos, the embarrassment, and the occasional explosion, he was exactly where he wanted to be — training, learning, and falling for Elara more every day.
Finn, hiding behind a hedge, muttered to himself: "Ah, Rank One… let the real chaos begin."