The morning sunlight filtered through the reinforced windows of the safehouse, but it did little to warm Kaito Tsukimi's heart. He sat on the cot, staring at the floor, his body still sore from the sudden teleport and the shock of what had happened. His mind replayed the fire, the collapse, the screams—a looping nightmare he could not escape.
Hayato entered quietly, carrying a small cup of water. He knelt beside Kaito and offered it silently. "Drink," he said softly. "You'll need your strength if you're going to survive what comes next."
Kaito's hands trembled as he took the cup. "I… I don't understand. Why did this happen? My parents… my friends… everyone…" His voice cracked. Tears welled in his eyes, threatening to overflow.
Hayato placed a steady hand on Kaito's shoulder. "There's more to this world than you realize. You survived because you are different, Kaito. But you're being hunted. The Directorate of Arcane Regulation will sense residual energy left by my teleport. They'll know you survived. That is why you must understand the truth about awakeners."
Kaito blinked, voice barely audible. "Awakeners…?"
"Yes," Hayato said, his tone grave. "Awakeners are individuals born with extraordinary abilities. They can manipulate energy, space, matter, even forces beyond normal perception. Your parents… they were among the strongest. And you… you've inherited their hybrid power."
Kaito's mind spun. "Hybrid power?"
"It's the combination of both their abilities," Hayato explained. "It's potent, versatile… but extremely difficult to control. That's why you haven't noticed it yet. Most of your strength is latent, but it will grow faster than others because of your unique inheritance."
Kaito pressed his forehead to his knees. "I… I don't even know where to start. How can I survive against the Directorate? Against people like them?"
"You'll start by learning," Hayato said. "Understanding the rules of this world, the hierarchy of power, and how awakeners operate. Then you'll train your mind, body, and control over your energy. Mistakes will be costly, but you have an advantage: intellect. Your parents were not only strong, they were smart. And you… you've inherited that too."
Kaito swallowed hard, trying to absorb it all. Every word was a reminder of how alone he was, yet how much potential he had. The faint ripples of residual energy in the safehouse shimmered subtly, almost like a whisper. He could feel it, though he did not yet understand it.
"You'll be enrolled in a special academy," Hayato continued. "It's the safest place in the world because external forces, even the Directorate, cannot act there. But it is also the most dangerous, because strength alone determines survival. Students and teachers alike can die. Rules are enforced by the principal and staff, and breaking them has consequences. You will enter a world where only the capable endure."
Kaito's eyes widened. "So… I have to survive… but I'm still… weak?"
"For now," Hayato said calmly. "But surviving is not just about strength. It's about strategy, observation, and knowing who to trust. Your parents failed because they were alone. That will not be your story. You must choose allies wisely. Learn, grow, and prepare. The Directorate is already aware that you survived. Every step you take will be watched, every misstep potentially fatal."
Kaito clenched his fists, his fear slowly giving way to a burning determination. I can survive. I must survive. I will get stronger. I will learn… and I will take my revenge.
Hayato studied him for a long moment. "Rest for now. Tomorrow, we prepare for your journey to Erevos Academy. There, you'll begin training, meet other awakeners, and start learning what it truly means to survive in a world where only the strong endure."
Kaito nodded silently, his gaze flicking to the faint energy ripples lingering in the room. He could sense the potential waiting within him, a spark that had survived the fire, the explosion, and the fear. It was fragile, but undeniable—a promise that one day, he would rise above this tragedy.
Outside, in the distance, shadows moved among the ruins of the school. Directorate agents tracked the faint residual energy left behind. They did not yet realize how dangerous Kaito could become, or how quickly his latent abilities would awaken.
Kaito exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of grief, fear, and determination settle into a strange balance. He was alone, yes—but for the first time since the explosion, he felt a spark of control, of possibility.
The journey ahead would be long and perilous. He would have to endure pain, betrayal, and death—not just of others, but potentially his own. Yet, the boy who had survived the destruction of his school was no longer helpless.
He was a Tsukimi. He was a hybrid. And the spark within him was ready to ignite.
Tomorrow, his true journey would begin.