Fame is a funny thing.
One moment, you're just another face in the Academy halls, blending in with the crowd. The next? You're the center of every whisper, every gaze.
After last night's "incident"—if it could even be called that—I became a living legend. It was like a wildfire had sparked overnight, and the flames of rumors spread through the student body faster than any cosmic phenomenon.
I walked through the Academy's corridors, feeling the weight of every stare. Some looked at me with jealousy, others with admiration, a few with outright fear.
And why wouldn't they? My name was now on everyone's lips— Avant Dekus—the junior of Cosmic rank who had been assigned to an Elite squad.
Unheard of. But here I was, an anomaly in the flesh.
"Famous overnight," I muttered to myself as I brushed past a group of students. My footsteps echoed in the hall, a reminder that this wasn't exactly how I'd imagined things would go down. But then again, nothing ever does, does it?
As I was lost in my thoughts, my wristband vibrated. I glanced down, and the holographic projection of Celene flickered to life in front of me.
"Avant," she greeted with that familiar, bright tone of hers. "How's everything holding up so far?"
"Good, for now," I replied, trying to keep the weariness out of my voice. But I could already feel the tension gnawing at me. My name was on everyone's lips, and the weight of it pressed down harder with every step I took. Celene chuckled softly, the faint glow of her image flickering as she adjusted her position.
"Well, as I promised, I've been looking into ways to contact your family. Grandpa Alric will be coming to see you later. Is dinner time okay to meet?" Her voice carried a note of seriousness now, one I wasn't used to hearing from her.
I nodded. "That works. We'll talk then."
"Good." Her expression softened before she straightened up, the hologram flickering slightly. "Also, about tomorrow—you'll be meeting your personal mentor for Universe Governance class."
I stopped in my tracks. "A personal mentor?" The words left my mouth before I could stop them, a flicker of confusion in my tone. "Is that really necessary?"
There was a pause, then Celene shifted her weight slightly, almost like she was looking over her shoulder. "Normally, it's not. Most students don't need one. It's rare to even request one."
"Then why do I get one?" I asked, my brow furrowing. Something about this felt off.
Celene glanced around as if making sure no one was listening in, despite the fact that she was just a hologram. "For you, it's… different. It's not just necessary. It's compulsory."
I raised an eyebrow, more confused than ever. "Compulsory? Why?"
Celene hesitated, and her lips pressed into a tight line. "I really have to go. Don't forget tomorrow's UG lesson. Be there on time." And just like that, her image flickered out of existence, leaving me standing there, utterly baffled.
What was that about? A compulsory mentor? I'd never heard of anything like it, and Celene... she was acting strange. There was something she wasn't telling me, but whatever it was, I didn't have time to dwell on it now.
Instead, I focused on the task ahead—today's Combat Technique class.
The Ras-Al Training Center buzzed with the energy of students preparing for their combat simulations. The sounds of armor clanking and weapons being checked echoed in the spacious hall.
I made my way toward our assigned combat arena, where my squad—Squad 13—was already waiting. The tension in the air was palpable.
At the front of the arena stood Master Savius, arms crossed, eyes scanning the room. His imposing presence was enough to make even the most seasoned warriors straighten up.
His power as an Ophiuchus wielder was something to be reckoned with—Fate an
d Destiny at his fingertips, always making me feel like he could see through me, know my every thought.
"Avant," Master Savius called out, his deep voice commanding attention. "You'll be leading today's session."
I froze for a second. Leading? Me?
I glanced at my squad—Kairos, Aira, and Xander—all standing ready. They were waiting for me to take charge.
But this was my first time leading them in an actual combat scenario. I wasn't exactly sure I was ready for that responsibility.
Savius' voice cut through my hesitation. "It's time you learn how to lead your team in chaos."
Chaos. Of course.
"Got it," I replied, forcing a calmness into my voice. But the truth was, my heart was racing. I stepped forward and took my position at the front, trying to ignore the storm of doubts swirling in my mind.
"Today's focus," Master Savius began, "is on balancing chaos with control. You'll face environmental hazards, enemies, and shifting battlefield conditions.
Your goal is to adapt. Avant, as the leader, you must balance your destructive power with your ability to protect your team."
His sharp gaze met mine. "Destruction alone can wipe out your enemies, but can it protect your allies? Creation can shield them, but will it stop the onslaught? You must master both."
The simulation began with a sudden flick of Savius' hand, and just like that, the arena transformed.
The battlefield around us morphed into a surreal landscape of floating platforms, collapsing structures, and swirling firestorms. The ground beneath us shifted and cracked, gravity warping as if the laws of nature had decided to throw us a curveball.
Kairos immediately jumped into action, manipulating gravity to stabilize a section of the platform. "Avant, now!" His voice rang out as a cluster of enemies appeared, charging toward us.
I didn't hesitate. Summoning the destructive energy of my Ophiuchus powers, I released a concentrated blast that obliterated the enemies in front of me. The air crackled with the intensity of the explosion, but I didn't pause to savor the moment.
The ground beneath Aira began to crumble, and I saw her stumble. "Aira, move!" I shouted.
Before she could fall, Xander was already there, moving through the shadows to catch her. His light powers flared as he summoned a glowing barrier to hold the ground together. But it wouldn't last long.
"Hold on!" I yelled, focusing my powers on repairing the platform. A swirl of Ophiuchus energy flowed around me, stabilizing the terrain beneath Aira just before it gave way completely.
"Thanks!" Aira called out, spinning around to unleash a burst of flames at the next wave of enemies. The heat combined with her ice powers created a storm of elemental fury.
"Good work, Avant," Savius called from the sidelines. His voice was a cool praise, but it felt like a challenge in disguise.
Suddenly, the number of enemies doubled. They poured in from all sides, forcing us to move as one. We couldn't afford to hesitate. I barked out orders to my squad, the words flowing more naturally now.
"Kairos, pull them in again!" I called, my eyes scanning the battlefield.
Kairos nodded, and his gravity well surged to pull a group of enemies into a tight cluster. I wasted no time, unleashing another destructive wave to tear through them.
But just as I finished the attack, I created a shield, guarding the team from the explosive backlash. A delicate balance—destruction and protection, chaos and control.
The simulation raged on, and I felt the power of the Ophiuchus energy within me stretching and pulsing. It felt like we were being tested—pushed beyond our limits. But we adapted, just like Savius had said.
We fought, we moved, we protected, and we destroyed.
The moment we thought it was over, the battlefield froze. The enemies vanished. The platforms stopped moving. The firestorms died down.
Savius stepped forward, his face unreadable.
"That's enough for today," he said, his voice low.
I looked around, still on edge. "What just happened?" I asked, my pulse still racing.
Savius stared at me for a long moment, his eyes narrowing. "You felt it, didn't you? The energy in the arena?"
I nodded. I couldn't explain it, but I had felt it. That hidden current, that undercurrent of power.
"That," Savius said, his lips curling into a small smile, "is something you'll have to figure out on your own. Fate and destiny are intertwined, but the path to understanding them is yours to carve."
His words hung in the air like a puzzle, leaving me with more questions than answers. What was that energy? And why had the simulation stopped so abruptly?
One thing was certain— I wasn't the only one being tested. And something much bigger was brewing, something I was only beginning to understand.