Everyone said the night sky felt different when the Awakening was close.
Aurelia Fayrin lay on her bed, a book resting forgotten against her chest, eyes fixed on the window. Beyond the glass, the two moons hung quietly in the sky—one pale silver, the other faintly blue. They had always been there, distant and separate, watching over the world like silent guardians.
In three days, they would align.
In three days, every teenager of age would awaken their power.
She exhaled slowly.
The city had been buzzing for weeks. Power assessments, training permits, family expectations—everyone wanted something. Some hoped for elemental gifts. Others prayed for healing, enhanced strength, or rare abilities that could elevate their families overnight.
Aurelia didn't know what she hoped for.
Her golden hair spilled across her pillow, catching the moonlight and reflecting it faintly, as if light lingered in it longer than it should. People noticed things like that. They always had. Her eyes, too—an unusual shade that no one could ever quite name.
"You're overthinking again," her mother called from downstairs.
Aurelia smiled faintly and sat up. "I'm just reading."
"Well, stop reading myths and come eat before it gets cold."
She hesitated at the word *myths*, then set the book aside and headed down.
---
The moment she reached the living room, she felt it.
The air was tense—thick, sharp, wrong.
Her mother stood near the table, arms crossed. Her stepfather paced, running a hand through his hair. They stopped talking the second Aurelia entered.
"What's going on?" she asked.
"Nothing," her mother said too quickly. "Just adult things."
Her stepfather scoffed. "Adult things that concern her."
"Aurelia doesn't need added pressure before the Awakening," her mother snapped.
"She needs to be prepared," he shot back. "Especially if—"
"Enough."
The word landed hard.
Aurelia swallowed. "Prepared for what?"
Neither of them answered.
Her appetite vanished. The room felt too small, the walls pressing in. She grabbed her jacket.
"I'm going for a walk," she said.
"Don't go far," her mother replied, voice softer now.
Aurelia didn't answer.
---
Outside, the night wrapped around her like a release.
The streets were alive with talk—groups of teens speculating about powers, vendors selling moon charms, banners counting down the days until alignment. *Three Days Until the Awakening*, they read.
Aurelia walked past them all.
Her thoughts drifted—about expectations, about secrets, about the way people looked at her like she was an unanswered question. She didn't notice how quiet it became. How the laughter faded. How the lights dimmed.
Not until she stopped.
The mist crept along the alley ahead, black and thick, swallowing the glow of the streetlamps. This wasn't awakening energy. It didn't shimmer or hum like normal magic.
It felt… old.
Cold air brushed her skin. Her heart pounded as the mist shifted, folding inward as if aware of her presence.
"Awakening isn't for three days," she whispered.
The mist responded by moving closer.
The moonlight struck her hair—and it ignited, glowing brighter than ever before. Gold light flared, reacting violently, instinctively.
"No," Aurelia breathed, stepping back.
The mist surged.
The world tilted. Gravity broke. Sound vanished as darkness wrapped around her, pulling her forward with terrifying certainty.
Her scream never reached the street.
Above her, the two moons trembled—just slightly.
And somewhere far beyond her world, something ancient had awakened early.
---
✨ End of Chapter 1