Magnolia walked through an endless void of darkness, disoriented and alone. He didn't know where he was, or how long he had been wandering there. Everything felt wrong—too quiet, too empty, too heavy.
Then a piercing ping rang in his ears.
Again. And again.
He clutched his head and sank to his knees, tears spilling down his cheeks as the noise drilled into him without mercy.
"Just… just stop," a voice murmured nearby.
"LEAVE ME ALONE!!!" Magnolia screamed.
At once, the sound vanished.
The silence that followed was worse.
Magnolia looked up, breathing hard, and saw a figure seated beside a dim campfire. Slowly, warily, he rose and approached.
The being was ancient and imposing, with the head of a hawk and gray feathers worn with age. A rusted crown rested atop its skull, and a torn white robe hung from its frame like something long abandoned by time.
"Who… who are you?" Magnolia asked.
The figure turned its head. "Don't you mean we?"
Magnolia blinked. "Huh?"
The being's gaze stayed fixed on him, calm and unreadable. "Who are we? Simple. We are Ra—the Sun that fell long ago, and the Sun that rose six years ago."
"I don't understand," Magnolia whispered.
Ra lifted a hand and rested it lightly on Magnolia's head.
"All will connect in your mind eventually," he said. "Now awaken, me."
Magnolia gasped and opened his eyes.
He was back in bed.
He sat up sharply, only to find the general standing before him.
"Ah. You're finally awake, little volcano."
Magnolia lunged forward, instinctively trying to strike him, but the general caught his fist with ease. Magnolia froze.
His hand wasn't burning.
Before he could react, the general swept his legs out from under him. Magnolia fell hard, and the man placed a steady hand on his back.
"You might've killed my men," the general said, "but that was only because of your awakening. Nothing more."
Magnolia's eyes filled with tears. "Y-you killed my father…!"
The general's expression shifted, softening slightly at the sight of the boy's pain. "Your father isn't dead. If you want to see him again, straighten up and follow me."
Magnolia stared at him in disbelief.
Then he wiped at his face and got up, following the general out of the room. The ends of his white pants were scorched black.
They entered a large chamber full of people. Every head turned toward Magnolia at once.
"That's him," someone whispered. "The boy who wiped out a platoon."
"That kid?"
"He looks terrified."
"Silence!"
The command cut through the room like a blade.
Magnolia flinched and looked up as the general stepped forward to address the crowd.
"Now that I have your attention, you're all here because you enlisted or were recruited. You will be trained efficiently. If you do not have a contract, one will be given to you."
A man raised his hand. "My Lord, why are there children here?"
The general looked almost amused. "Because these children are the next generation of the assault squad. They awakened at five, six, and seven."
The crowd shifted as eleven children were revealed standing together nearby. Magnolia noticed one boy at the front glaring sharply at the Pharaoh, then at him.
"My Lord," the general said with a smirk, "don't forget about our star here."
He stepped aside and revealed Magnolia to everyone.
"This is the boy who defeated a platoon on his own and even forced me to use my contract."
Magnolia felt every gaze in the room settle on him. Some looked curious. Others looked hostile. He felt smaller than he ever had in his life.
Why do they have to single me out like this? he thought.
Then a girl about his age walked up to him. She had light skin, blue eyes, and a baby face, and she wore an assistant nurse's uniform. She waved a hand in front of his face.
"Hey, weird-eyes boy."
Magnolia blinked. "Weird? Me?"
"Yeah. Come with me if you don't want to get trampled by all these overexcited men and women."
Magnolia followed her as she led him over to the other children.
At the front stood the boy who had been glaring earlier. He looked Magnolia over, then extended a hand.
"Mr. Superstar," he said. "Name's Poison. What's yours?"
He had light skin, a round face, brown hair, and green eyes. Taller than Magnolia, too.
Magnolia shook his hand. Poison pointed to the boy next to him.
"That's Kibo."
Kibo had brown skin, long dark blue hair, and shaggy bangs framing a face with large eyebrows and mismatched eyes, white and blue. He wore baggy pants and gave Magnolia no real attention, instead twisting his hair idly.
Poison gestured next to him. "That's Amelia."
Amelia had dirty-blonde hair, sapphire eyes, and a plump face. She was short and dressed in loose clothing. She smiled and waved.
Then he pointed to the next boy. "That's Abraham."
Abraham had brown skin, brown oval eyes, and a round face. He wore glasses and a long-sleeved shirt with loose pants, and he gave Magnolia a polite nod.
"You've already met Luna, I presume?" Poison said.
Magnolia nodded.
Poison pointed again. "That's Matthew."
Matthew had light skin, black hazel eyes, and a long face. He was thin, dressed in tight clothes, and stood with a guarded posture.
"And that's Valentina."
Valentina had tan skin, gray eyes, and blackish-brown hair. She wore a black shirt and shorts and glanced at Magnolia before looking away.
Poison indicated the boy leaning against the wall. "That's Sous."
Sous had brown skin, orange eyes, black hair, and a slim build. He wore only shorts and stood bare-chested.
The girl leaning against him was next. "This is Sofia, his sister."
Sofia had slightly lighter brown skin, a round face, orange eyes, and minimal clothing made up of fitted pants and a tight top.
"And last but not least," Poison began, looking around. "Emma—"
He frowned. "Hey, where's Emma?"
"Stop being a big baby," Luna said, dragging the shy girl forward.
Emma stepped up hesitantly. She was shorter than the others, with green eyes, short curly brown-blonde hair, a baby face, and a birthmark on her neck. She looked up at Magnolia with a small blush.
Magnolia looked back, and for a moment neither of them spoke.
"Hey, superstar."
An arrogant voice cut through the silence.
Magnolia turned.