After breakfast, Aric wandered aimlessly through the vast courtyard of the Valen estate, the familiar paths beneath his feet offering little comfort.
"Most people must be training at this time," muttered Aric while his eyes were enjoying the gardens before him.
The gardens were immaculate, with towering trees and vibrant flowers lining the stone walkways, reflecting the prestige and power of the Valen family.
But to Aric, it felt more like a gilded cage, reminding him of the legacy he could never truly belong to.
"What should I do today?" Aric muttered, kicking a small pebble down the path.
Training seemed pointless. It always had. No matter how hard Aric pushed himself, he could never match up to the Novas—the superpowered beings who dominated the world around him.
His practice sessions had grown sporadic and half-hearted. What was the point of honing a body that would never surpass even the weakest Nova?
Yet, there was something Aric had never noticed. Though he had no superpowers, his physique was always exceptional—stronger, faster, and more agile than normal humans.
His mind was sharp and quick to grasp concepts that even some Novas struggled with. But without a power to his name, none of that seemed to matter.
In a family filled with legends, all of that was just... normal.
"Maybe I should check out the new game released today," Aric sighed as he continued walking, lost in thought. Suddenly, he spotted a familiar face across the courtyard.
It was his cousin, not the one from the three sons of Agustin. He was the only person in the vast Valen family who truly understood him—Loren Valen.
Most family members avoided Aric, seeing him as a disgrace, an anomaly in their otherwise perfect lineage.
They only respected him because of his father, David, and because he was a direct descendant of Agustin.
Most of his peers were afraid of Ryan and Lira, but his siblings were his greatest protectors against bullies when he was growing up.
But Loren was different. Where others saw failure, Loren saw a friend. He, too, was an oddity in the family, though for different reasons.
Loren possessed the same incredible intellect as David—his power was Super Intelligence—but unlike the other Valens, he lacked any significant physical strength.
He was clumsy, often tripping over his feet, and his body had never developed like most Novas'.
"Loren!" Aric called out, raising a hand and greeting.
Loren, sitting on a bench, looked up, startled. He grinned sheepishly and waved back, but his expression remained troubled.
Aric frowned as he approached. "You okay? You look like you've got the world's weight on your shoulders."
Loren sighed, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose—an unnecessary habit, given that his Nova abilities corrected any vision issues. "It's... nothing, really. Just thinking about the Novas Academy."
Aric's heart sank a little. The Novas Academies were institutions of power, the training grounds for future legends.
There were twelve such academies in the Auroran Empire, each shaping the elite Novas who would go on to protect the empire or explore the world.
Of course, the Zenith Academy was one of the top three, the crown jewel where only the most powerful and promising Novas trained.
It was the academy from which Aric's sister, Lira, was set to graduate in just a few months.
"The entry test is in a month," Loren continued, his voice filled with anxiety. "Every Nova in our generation is preparing for it. It's... intimidating."
Aric nodded, though the idea of going to the Novas Academy felt like a distant dream for him. Loren had every right to feel anxious. Despite his genius, his lack of physical prowess would make things difficult at the academy.
It was a place that valued strength and combat ability just as much as intelligence. And while Loren's intellect might be enough to get him through the entrance exams, Aric knew that his cousin would struggle once the physical trials began.
"You'll be fine, Loren," Aric said, clapping a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "You've got brains like no one else. The rest of us are just trying to keep up with you."
Loren chuckled weakly but didn't seem convinced. "Maybe. But even with brains, it's hard to ignore the fact that I'm... well, weak."
"Weak?" Aric grinned. "You're a genius! And anyway, you've got the most important part down—you've got heart."
Aric added, "I don't know. Maybe you can design mechanical parts or a suit to improve your strength. You'll figure it out with that super brain of yours. And hey… I'll be rooting for you."
Loren smiled, the tension in his face easing a little. "Thanks, Aric. It means a lot. I'll take your suggestion into consideration."
The two cousins stood silently for a moment, the weight of their family's expectations hanging between them.
They were both outcasts in their own ways, struggling to find their place in a world that demanded greatness at every turn.
"Have you thought about applying to the Academy?" Loren asked suddenly, breaking the silence.
Aric laughed, but there was no humor in it. "Me? At a Novas Academy? I don't think they have a category for 'people who can't do anything special.'"
Loren frowned. "You're not as powerless as you think, Aric. You're stronger and faster than most people. Maybe even more than some Novas."
"Yeah, except for that tiny detail—I don't have any powers. It's not like I can bluff my way into the Academy."
Loren didn't reply immediately, but his eyes looked like they always did when he was deep in thought. "You know," he said slowly, "just because you don't have powers doesn't mean you can't have power. Maybe you just need to find that power."
Aric smiled, appreciating the sentiment, even if he didn't fully believe it. "Find? I've never heard of anyone that found power. They 'awakened' the power."
That was how Novas awakened their powers. By the time they reached ten years old, most individuals destined to become Novas would have already awakened their abilities.
The latest awakening typically occurred by age twelve, indicating their low potential.
Ryan and Lira awakened their powers at just five years old, earning them recognition as two of the most celebrated geniuses in the Valen family.
Loren's question hung in the air momentarily, and Aric was about to brush it off when Loren added, almost in a whisper, "I wasn't saying for no reason. I found something."
Aric raised an eyebrow. "Found what?"
Loren glanced around as if making sure no one was nearby to overhear them. "An ancient scroll," he said quietly. "I found it in the Sanctum of Records in the Valen's library."
Aric blinked in surprise. The Sanctum of Records was a sacred section of the family library, accessible only to the highest members of the Valen family—those who carried the direct bloodline of the Valens.
It was filled with ancient manuscripts, forbidden knowledge, and ancient texts, most of which were guarded fiercely. Not even Aric had ever set foot in there.
"How'd you get in there?" Aric asked, suspicious but intrigued.
Loren smiled sheepishly. "Let's just say being a genius with the same power as David has its perks. Agustin and David both let me inside from time to time. I guess they see me as an apprentice…to David."
Aric nodded in understanding. He was eager for Loren to continue his story.
Loren continued, "I wasn't snooping or anything—this was part of one of the research projects David asked me to look into. And that was when I was given the scroll."
Aric crossed his arms, leaning forward. "What's so special about a scroll?"
"It's not just any scroll," Loren said, his eyes gleaming excitedly. "It talks about a power, Aric. A power that doesn't come from Earth."
Aric frowned, unsure where this was going. "What are you talking about?"
Loren pulled a folded piece of parchment from his pocket and made a replica of the scroll's contents. "The power of Heliokinesis," he said, his voice filled with awe.
"It's the ability to manipulate the energy of the sun itself. It's... both destructive and life-giving. According to the scroll, this power is ancient, older than anything we know."
"Besides, if you check the database from the Novas Association, you'll never see anyone with Heliokinesis or any sun-related power," added Loren.
Loren's explanation piqued Aric's interest. "The wielder of Heliokinesis could summon the very flames of the sun, incinerating enemies in a blaze of light. But at the same time, they could give life—healing, nurturing, and growing things with the sun's energy."
Aric stared at Loren, half-expecting him to laugh and tell him it was all a joke. But Loren's expression was dead serious.
"Heliokinesis?" Aric repeated. "Come on, that sounds like some wild story some Nova fanatic wrote down."
"It's not," Loren insisted. "I thought it was crazy at first, too. But it's real, Aric. It's in the Sanctum of Records for a reason. After one of his expeditions into the Undiscovered Regions, Agustin brought it back decades ago. And David has been researching it ever since, trying to uncover the truth behind the scroll."
Aric's skepticism wavered for a moment. If his father and grandfather had deemed it important to keep it in their sacred library, then there had to be some merit.
Still, the idea of a power as grand as controlling the sun seemed too fantastical, even for a world of Novas.
"So... what does this scroll say, exactly? And what's the relationship with what we're talking about now?" Aric asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.
Loren's excitement grew. "The scroll describes a time long ago, even before Earth was reshaped by Nebulon, when powers like Heliokinesis existed. It talks about a legendary figure who could control the sun's energy. This story and person wasn't from Earth—at least, not originally. They came from somewhere far beyond the stars, from a distant galaxy. The scroll has many vague details, but it hints that the power still exists, waiting for someone worthy to inherit it."
Aric shook his head, though he couldn't help but smile at the absurdity of it all. "So, you're telling me there's some kind of sun god out there waiting to pass down his power to someone? I hate to break it to you, Loren, but that sounds like something straight out of a storybook."
Loren sighed, his expression becoming serious again. "Look, I know how it sounds. But the fact that both Agustin and David have been looking into it means there's something more to it. David wouldn't waste his time on a fairy tale. There's truth buried in this, Aric. We just haven't found it yet."
Aric leaned back against a tree, crossing his arms. "Alright, let's say you're right. Why tell me? What does this have to do with me?"
Loren hesitated for a moment, then shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe nothing. Maybe everything. But I thought you should know."
He looked at Aric, full of hope, "You're stronger than you think, Aric, and just because you don't have powers doesn't mean you're not destined for something great. Maybe this—Heliokinesis or whatever—is part of your story too."
Aric laughed softly. "I appreciate the thought, but I'm pretty sure I'm just the powerless kid who gets to watch from the sidelines."
Loren smiled, though there was a glint of something unreadable in his eyes. "Maybe. Or maybe there's more to you than even you realize."
Aric shook his head, the idea still too outlandish to entertain seriously. But deep down, a small part of him couldn't help but wonder—what if there was more to the scroll? What if there really was a power out there waiting to be claimed?
But for now, he pushed those thoughts aside, giving Loren a playful shove. "Come on, let's do something that doesn't involve ancient prophecies or the sun."