Time did not stop for anyone.
As the days passed, Evan could feel it more clearly—the subtle pull in his chest, the strange resonance between his thoughts and the unseen currents of Aether around him. His awakening date was drawing closer.
And that was exactly why he could not stay.
Awakening was a critical moment. Vulnerable. Unpredictable.
In this family, it would not be safe.
Evan made his decision quietly.
Before he could act, Austin had already done something he did not expect.
Austin stood in front of his father, arms crossed, unusually serious.
"He can't stay there," Austin said bluntly. "They'll crush him."
Victor Jade listened in silence.
Austin continued, words tumbling out faster. He spoke about the allowance dispute, Leon's pressure, the accusation of theft, and Evan being forced to repay money he never stole.
When he finished, the room fell silent.
Victor Jade tapped his fingers lightly against the armrest.
"So," he said calmly, "Evan is close to awakening."
Austin nodded.
Victor closed his eyes briefly.
"This is an investment worth reinforcing," he said.
Austin blinked. "Huh?"
Victor opened his eyes.
"Call Evan."
The next morning, Evan received the call.
"Ten thousand credits will be transferred to you," Victor Jade said without preamble. "Withdraw it. Return it to your family. Then leave."
Evan was silent.
"For now," Victor continued, "you will stay here. With Austin."
Evan exhaled slowly.
"…Thank you," he said.
Victor did not reply immediately.
"Do not waste this," he finally said, and ended the call.
Evan withdrew the money the same day.
He returned home and placed the credit chip on the table.
"Ten thousand," Evan said calmly. "Exactly what you accused me of taking."
The room was tense.
Leon laughed.
"You expect us to believe that?" he said mockingly. "Who knows how much more you hid?"
Evan clenched his jaw.
"I didn't steal anything," he said. "This is proof."
"Proof?" Leon scoffed. "Or another lie?"
Their father watched coldly.
"Enough," he said. "We will investigate."
Evan felt his chest tighten.
Investigate—meant detention.
As expected, Evan was confined.
Hours passed.
Then a full day.
He lay on the hard bed, staring at the ceiling, realization slowly settling in.
They won't believe me.
Late that night, the door opened.
Evan sat up sharply.
"You're free to go," a guard said stiffly.
Evan froze.
"…Why?"
The guard hesitated. "Orders from above."
Evan understood instantly.
Victor Jade.
When Evan left the house, he did not look back.
He moved into the Jade estate that same night.
Austin greeted him with a wide grin.
"Told you my dad's reliable," Austin said proudly.
Evan smiled faintly.
"I owe him."
Austin waved it off. "Just don't die before we enter the academy."
Time passed again.
And soon—
Austin's fifteenth birthday arrived.
Which meant one thing.
Awakening.
The Jade estate entered a state of alert.
Formation arrays were activated. Guards rotated in shifts. Several elders of the Jade family personally arrived to oversee the process.
External interference during awakening was rare—but never impossible.
Victor Jade left nothing to chance.
Austin was isolated a day prior.
Before separation, Evan visited him.
Austin lay sprawled on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
"You nervous?" Evan asked.
Austin laughed. "Of course not."
Then, quieter, "Okay, maybe a little."
Evan sat beside him.
"Whatever happens," Evan said, "you'll be fine."
Austin turned his head.
"You better awaken strong too," he said. "I don't want to carry you forever."
Evan smiled. "You won't."
Austin's POV
The room was silent.
Too silent.
Austin sat cross-legged as instructed, eyes closed, breathing steady.
This is it, he thought.
At first, nothing happened.
Then—
Heat.
A spark ignited deep inside him.
Austin frowned.
That's… hot.
The warmth spread quickly, rushing through his veins like molten metal. His breathing grew heavier.
Wait… this isn't normal.
The heat intensified.
His skin burned. His muscles tightened. It felt as if invisible flames wrapped around his bones.
Austin grit his teeth.
Focus. Don't panic.
But the heat kept rising.
It wasn't pain—not exactly.
It was pressure.
As if something vast was trying to force its way out of him.
His heartbeat thundered.
My body feels… heavy.
Then—
Fire.
Not imaginary.
Real.
Austin felt it roaring inside him, wild and untamed.
I'm burning—!
The thought barely formed before darkness swallowed him whole.
When Austin woke up, his head throbbed.
The first thing he noticed—
The smell.
Burnt wood. Melted fabric.
He sat up abruptly.
The room was ruined.
The bed frame was charred. Curtains reduced to ash. The floor blackened with scorch marks.
His clothes were half-burned.
Austin blinked.
"…Did I explode?"
A translucent panel appeared before his eyes.
[You have successfully awakened][Affinity: Fire][Affinity Level: Top]
Austin stared.
Then stared harder.
"…Top?"
For a second, his mind went blank.
Then—
"HAHAHAHAHA!"
He jumped to his feet.
"TOP LEVEL?!"
His heart raced.
I did it.
I actually did it!
He burst out of the room.
Outside, Evan stood rigid.
His fists were clenched, eyes fixed on the door.
Victor Jade stood nearby, eyes closed, sensing the lingering flames.
"Fire affinity," Victor said calmly. "Strong."
But he frowned.
"I cannot tell the level."
The door exploded open.
Austin came running out, half-burnt clothes and all.
"FATHER!" he shouted. "EVAN!"
Victor opened his eyes.
Austin pointed at himself proudly.
"Top-level Fire affinity!"
Silence.
Then—
Victor Jade's composure cracked.
"…Top?" he repeated.
Evan's eyes widened.
Austin laughed, throwing his arms around Evan.
"I'm a genius!"
Evan laughed too, relief flooding his chest.
"That explains the fire," Evan said.
Victor exhaled slowly.
Then, for the first time in a long while—
He smiled.
That night, celebration filled the Jade estate.
But Evan stood slightly apart, gazing at the stars.
A top-level Fire talent…
His chest burned—not with jealousy.
With anticipation.
His awakening was only one month away.
And something deep within him stirred, as if the stars themselves were watching.
When my time comes…
Evan clenched his fist.
I won't be weaker than anyone.