CHAPTER 32: POWER
Hours slipped by in silence, everyone was lost in sleep. The night gave way to pale morning light creeping through the cracks and brushing against the walls.
The door creaked open, breaking the stillness. John's eyes fluttered groggily, his body sluggish as he stirred on the bed.
Before he could even sit up, Echo's voice rang in his head.
[Oh… finally. Awake at last, child. I was beginning to think you had passed away in your sleep.]
John groaned softly, dragging a hand over his face as he pushed himself up on one elbow.
And here I thought it was all a dream.
The sound of footsteps broke through the dorm's haze. ONE stepped into the middle of the room, his presence sharp and commanding.
"Everyone up," he said firmly, his voice cutting through the groans and mutters. "Time for training."
The bed sheets rustled as the squad stirred reluctantly, some burying their heads deeper into their pillows, others sitting up with bleary eyes.
Nico's muffled voice drifted from the far side of the room. "Urh… where am I?"
Amara sat up with a dramatic groan, clutching her head. " Guys… I think at least a century of sleep is necessary after that whole experience." Her words earned a ripple of tired chuckles, though most were too sluggish to comment aloud.
Adam only managed a muffled groan, burying his face deeper into the mattress. Thomas, in contrast, was already upright, though his posture was slouched and his eyes remained closed, as if he were half‑asleep.
The twins stirred next. Lucian and Orion both muttered at the same time, "That hurt."
Their heads snapped toward each other instantly, eyes locking. "Don't copy me," they said in unison again, voices sharp. Orion sighed, too drained to keep the usual sparring alive. "You know what… I'll give you the win today."
Lucian chuckled, shaking his head. "I was about to do the same, but if you insist, I'll take it." Their smiles softened, a rare peace settling between them
Malric rolled his shoulder while scratching his head, his eyes drifting toward Elowen.
She let out a faint groan; her hand pressed to her temple. He leaned toward her, voice low and concerned. "You, okay?"
Elowen waved him off with a weak nod, still half asleep.
Nyara stretched with surprising ease, her voice clear and steady. "… morning, everyone. It's morning, I think, am I right or wrong?" The simple greeting drew a few startled looks. Normally, she would have been staring blankly into space, lost in her own world, but now she seemed strangely focused, as if something inside her had shifted.
Liora rose with quiet grace, stretching her arms overhead, her movements calm and deliberate. Beside her, Thalia checked herself over with sharp precision, when suddenly, with a shimmer of light, a wand manifested in her hand, startling her, but it was gone just as fast.
Sylas stood silently, his eyes fixed on something unseen, his presence steadying the atmosphere without a single word.
Meanwhile, John rubbed his head, trying to drown out Echo's relentless commentary.
[Wow… they look like they've been through hell. What is this place exactly?]
John muttered under his breath, "You never shut up, do you?"
The sound of ONE's voice cut through the haze. "You all seem energized enough. Time for training."
After which, he turned on his heel and strode out, the door swinging wide open in his wake. His footsteps echoed down the corridor as he took long strides towards the training grounds.
The dorm shifted into reluctant motion. Blankets were tossed aside, boots pulled on, and the squad pulled themselves together.
Nico stumbled along, still rubbing his eyes. "Seriously… don't these people have hearts? Wait, what am I saying? Of course, they don't; otherwise, they would have at least given us some vacation time." His voice carried a mix of frustration and humor, earning a few tired chuckles.
Lucian and Orion kept up their quiet as they just trudged forward like zombies, though they still looked normal compared to Adam, who looked the part even more.
Malric walked beside Elowen, close enough to steady her if anything happened. "You sure you're fine?" he asked again, his tone low but protective. Elowen gave him a faint nod, though her steps were heavy.
Nyara moved just as usual, her gaze steady as she spoke more than anyone expected while holding a Rubik's Cube. "Guys, what do you think is the fastest time to solve this? I bet I can do it in under 20." Her words drew curious glances, as if the others were still adjusting to this new, focused version of her.
Liora also seemed normal, almost serene, though her eyes were also unfocused, lost in thought.
Thalia flexed her fingers, testing her focus. A faint shimmer sparked—her wand flickered into existence for a heartbeat before vanishing again.
She blinked at her hand, tilting it slightly, her expression caught between surprise and curiosity. For a moment she studied her fingers, as if wondering what had just happened and whether it might return.
Sylas trailed near the back, his eyes fixed ahead, unreadable.
John rubbed his temples, Echo's voice buzzing in his head like an unwanted companion.
[I am getting bored. Isn't there anything fun to do around here?]
John muttered, "Just ignore it… ignore it… ignore it…"
The corridor stretched ahead, filled with the shuffle of boots and the low murmur of voices. Slowly, the squad spilled out into the open air. The training grounds loomed before them. The pale morning light washed over the field, casting long shadows across the stone and dirt.
ONE stood at the center, his posture rigid, his gaze sweeping over them as they arrived. The air shifted, heavy with expectation.
"Good," he said, his voice carrying across the grounds. "You're here. Now… let's begin."
He paused, letting the silence settle before speaking again. "Take a seat."
The squad exchanged confused glances. A few hesitated, unsure if they had heard correctly. Nico finally broke the silence, scratching his head. "Uh… what does that even mean? Sit… where?"
ONE's eyes narrowed slightly, his tone calm but firm. "It means exactly what I said. Sit down. It's part of your training."
Thalia tilted her head, curiosity flickering across her face. "So… is this theoretical?"
ONE's lips curved faintly, though his voice remained steady. "Not quite."
The squad exchanged uneasy glances, but still did as he said. And before anyone could speak again, ONE's gaze swept over them, sharp and deliberate. "Tell me—how was the Awakening?"
The question hit like a stone dropped in water. A shudder rippled through the group, memories flashing unbidden: pain, chaos, fear. No one answered at first, the silence heavy with what they all remembered.
ONE's voice cut through again in his normal tone. "Pretty shitty, right? That wouldn't have happened if it had happened normally. But it is what it is."
He stepped closer, his eyes narrowing. "So, tell me—what exactly do you think happened when you awakened?"
The squad stayed quiet, but finally, Thomas raised his hand slightly, his voice hesitant but steady. "How are we supposed to know? None of us understood what was happening back then."
ONE's gaze fixed on him, and his eyes narrowed sharply. "Exactly." He let the word ring out, cutting through the confusion.
ONE stepped forward, his tone calm and steady. "You don't know. And that is why I am here. Today, I'm going to teach you what Awakening really meant—what it was supposed to be."
The squad straightened instinctively, the tension in the air shifting from confusion to anticipation. ONE's eyes swept over them, unyielding. "Listen carefully. This is the foundation of everything that comes next."
He let the silence breathe before continuing. "First of all, what is Awakening? Awakening is when you finally come into contact with your Inner Domain—the space inside you that reflects your life, your experiences, your very being. It is the first step on the path to power. And in that process, you form a connection with something greater… the Origin Archive. No one truly understands what it is. It isn't a god, it isn't a person, and it doesn't show true sentience. But it is the silent ledger of existence, recording all and enforcing the absolute laws of reality even against the gods."
The squad shifted uneasily, some frowning, others staring at the ground as the words sank in.
ONE's gaze sharpened. "That chaos you felt, that pain—it was because your Awakening was forced, unnatural. Normally, your Inner Domain would have matured before you awakened. But yours… was accelerated. Still, you survived, and that means you have awakened."
He folded his arms, his voice carrying weight. "To see for yourself, I want each of you to say the words: Origin Archive."
John hesitated, his eyes flicking toward ONE, but the command left no room for doubt. He swallowed, then spoke quietly. "Origin Archive."
The moment the words left his lips, a shimmer sparked before him. Something unseen yet undeniable stirred in the air, and a voice echoed inside his head—cold, mechanical and absolute.
[Archive initiated]