The academy halls felt quieter than usual, like they were holding their breath as we made our way to the training arena. My thoughts were all over the place. The "Divine Rank Mentor" we were supposed to meet—whoever they were—had me more than a little anxious. Something about this felt important, like it was a turning point for all of us. I could feel it in my gut.
We stopped in the middle of the arena, and—nothing. No flashy entrance, no dramatic mentor revealing themselves. Just… stillness.
I looked around, confused. "Uh, are we supposed to do something?" I asked, looking over at Xander. His grin was wide as usual, but he didn't seem worried in the slightest.
Before he could answer, the air around us started to shift. A strange pressure built up, like the weight of the world was pressing down on me.
It felt… wrong. My chest tightened, and I had to fight for air.
"Hey, you alright?" Xander's voice cut through my panic, his hand coming to rest on my shoulder. "You look like you're about to pass out."
I tried to shake it off, but I could feel the pressure pushing against me. I tried to speak but couldn't get the words out.
But Xander was there, always one step ahead. He didn't even break a sweat as he stepped closer to me, his energy flowing into me like a tidal wave, calming the storm inside me.
"Take it easy, buddy. This is normal. You'll get used to it," he said, sounding like he was explaining the weather or something.
I gasped for breath, feeling the pressure lift just enough for me to breathe again. "Normal? This doesn't feel normal."
Xander chuckled. "It is if you're a Divine rank. And trust me, I got your back. You're not alone in this."
I shot him a look. "Divine rank?" I repeated, still trying to make sense of what he meant. But before I could ask more, the air around us shifted again. This time, it wasn't just pressure—it was like everything changed.
The next moment, there was a figure standing in front of us, as if he'd always been there. He wasn't flashy, but there was something about him that demanded attention. He was tall, silver-haired, with piercing silver eyes that seemed to look right through me. The way he stood was calm, but you could tell he was someone who'd seen it all.
He didn't even speak at first, just looked at me with an intensity that almost made me stumble. There was something familiar about him, but I couldn't place it.
Finally, he spoke. "Avant," he said, his voice smooth, almost soothing. "You've arrived. We've been waiting for you."
I felt my heart skip a beat. "Uh… are you our mentor?" I managed to ask, trying to stay calm. The last thing I wanted was to show how unnerved I felt.
The man gave me a small smile, but his eyes never left mine. "Yes. I'm your mentor." Then, his expression softened, and he took a step closer. "You really do remind me of her."
I frowned. "Who?" The curiosity hit me like a wave, but before I could process his words, he answered.
"Sophiela," he said, almost reverently.
My stomach dropped. Sophiela. My mother.
The name alone was enough to make my mind go blank. My mother's identity had always been a bit of a mystery to me, and hearing her name from this man—this stranger—felt… wrong.
"Wait…" I stumbled over my words. "You knew her?"
The man's smile turned nostalgic. "Of course. She was my sister." His eyes softened as if remembering something far away. "I'm Savius. I'm your… uncle."
I felt like the ground shifted beneath me. My uncle? I didn't know I had an uncle—at least not one connected to my mother. I looked over at Xander, who was staring at me with wide eyes.
"No way," Xander said, voice full of disbelief. "Wait, if he's your uncle… does that mean the Emperor—"
I waved him off. "Let's not jump to conclusions." I didn't want to deal with that right now, not with everything else going on.
Savius chuckled at our reactions. "I know this is a lot to take in, Avant. But don't let the title confuse you. You may not understand now, but everything will become clearer soon enough." His voice turned serious, his gaze piercing. "There's more at play here than you realize. And your destiny is already set in motion."
I wasn't sure what he meant by that, but the words stirred something deep inside me. I wanted to argue, to question everything, but I knew better than to doubt him. There was something about him—something powerful—that made me listen.
"Your rank here may be low," Savius continued, his tone softer but still heavy with meaning. "But as an Ophiuchus Awakener, you carry within you the potential to be far more than just a low rank awakener. Your power has no limits." He paused for a moment, letting his words sink in. "You'll see what I mean soon enough."
I wasn't sure whether to be excited or terrified. I opened my mouth to say something but couldn't find the words.
Xander, ever the joker, decided to break the tension with a wide grin. "Wait, hold up, so you're telling me Avant here is not just a prince, but royalty? Should I start bowing or something?"
I could feel my face heat up, but before I could respond, Savius raised a hand, silencing both of us. "Enough, Xander. No titles here. You'll call me Master Savius, just like everyone else will."
Xander winked at me. "Sure, sure. But this is definitely a royal squad now. Watch out, world."
I rolled my eyes, trying to ignore the uneasy feeling in my stomach. There was no time for distractions. The real challenge was about to begin.
Savius stepped back, his expression turning serious once more. "Now, let's get to work. You've got a lot to learn, and I'm here to help you find your true potential." He raised his hand, and with a flick of his wrist, training dummies materialized in the center of the arena. "First lesson. Synergy."