"Arghhhh, I'm so excited!"
Jason was practically bouncing on his feet as they joined the stream of students making their way inside. The atmosphere buzzed with anticipation, and Talon could feel the energy thrumming around him.
A display at the entrance flashed the numbers in stark white against a blue background, steadily rising as everyone stepped inside: 11,361 cadets present for the Awakening Ceremony.
Walking in with a determined expression, Talon silently reminded himself, 'Focus now. Noah and I talked about this; it's all about controlling the energy, no slip-ups.'
He had tried meditating last night after getting a feel for what he was physically capable of, following the few bits of information he'd managed to find on the holonet.
Unfortunately, the Empires had kept a tight lockdown on anything related to supers outside their control, and those who leaked information faced severe punishment...
Sometimes even death, as he'd discovered.
'But I should be able to find something someday, the universe is too big and full of people for information not to be hidden somewhere... Oh well, if it all goes to plan today, I'll have a shot at finding everything I need anyways.'
Still, he had managed to find a way to keep the small amount of energy he had from surging out of control. He couldn't move it or use it yet, but he could at least keep it stable, like holding a hand firmly over a fizzy bottle to keep it from exploding.
'Well... guess the first thing to figure out is how to control this. I barely know anything about it.'
The main hall was vast, just like last time. The ceiling stretched high above, reinforced with glass that allowed the rays from the twin suns to filter through, casting a warm glow.
Nervous energy filled the air, a potent mix of excitement and dread as the students found their places facing the podium, where Director Kellen stood flanked by a team of instructors.
Director Kellen stepped forward, adjusting the mic as he began his speech. "Welcome, cadets, to the Awakening Ceremony. Today, some of you will discover new paths opening before you, while others will continue on the journey you've already begun. Remember, the outcome of this day does not define yo-"
Talon tuned him out. He'd already heard the speech once and didn't need the reminder. Right now, he needed to focus on the tiny bits of energy he had; every second counted, as he needed to stay in control.
His gaze flicked back to the director on the podium, just as he was saying, "...glows green, it means you possess a Super gene, and you will proceed to the second stage. If the orb glows red, you do not, and you will be dismissed for the day. Those with green results will be guided to the waiting rooms to prepare for the next phase."
The director emphisized, "remember, there is no shame in a red result, again, only two percent of people who use the machine across the galaxy ever awaken."
'Focus now,' Talon reminded himself, steadying his breathing. 'The first part is just practice. It'll glow green regardless of your Super gene rank, so I can use this to get a feel for this energy and how to control it. Just don't let too much slip out on the second orb.'
Names began to echo from different directions, each student stepping forward, pressing their hands against the cold, smooth surface of smaller orbs. Some glowed green, and a soft cheer would rise from the crowd.
But most left disappointed, their faces cast in red light as they walked away with sympathetic pats on the back.
Jason was called up, and Talon wished him luck. As expected, the orb glowed green, and a huge grin spread across Jason's face, relief flooding his features. He shot Talon and Alice a thumbs-up before being guided toward the area designated for the second phase.
"YES! I knew I had one!" he yelled, practically skipping to the waiting room.
Then, it was Alice's turn. Just like last time, her orb glowed red. She gave Talon a reassuring hug, offering him a heartfelt "Good luck," before heading toward the exits.
And then, it was Talon's name that rang out.
"Focus, focus, focus. You got this, just… focus," he muttered, clenching and unclenching his fists.
Stepping forward, Talon pressed his hand to the orb's cool surface. For a moment, nothing happened, but he expected that. Then, he felt a strange, tingling sensation as energy began to flow from his hand into the orb.
'All right, feel it, get the control just right… not too much,' he thought, concentrating on balancing the energy as he used this prime moment to practice.
The worker next to the orb looked puzzled as it glowed green, then flickered to red, then hovered somewhere in between, shifting hues erratically.
'Oh, this is pretty doable.' Finally, the orb settled on a firm, steady green.
"Um… okay, that was… odd, but the orb's green, so… congrats?" The worker looked at him with a raised eyebrow, clearly confused.
With a nod, Talon moved toward the waiting room, joining the other students who'd also advanced to the second stage.
His heart pounded with excitement and relief, he'd done it. But this was only the first hurdle. The real test was coming up.
As he crossed the threshold into the waiting room, he barely had time to take in the surroundings before a heavy weight barreled into him, nearly knocking the air from his lungs.
"Dude, you made it! I can't believe we're both in!" Jason's voice was practically vibrating with excitement as he wrapped Talon in a bear hug, lifting him off his feet for a moment.
"Yeah, we're both Supers! This is great!" Talon said, grinning. He really meant it. The moment felt surreal once again.
Honestly, it was still shocking. A super gene? Along with Jason? The odds of that happening were like something straight out of a cheesy heroic novel. And on top of that, he had a mythical gene?
It was almost enough to make him feel like the universe had messed up its paperwork.
Jason finally set him down, giving him a playful shove toward the rows of seats lining the room. "Come on, let's grab a seat before the next phase starts. My family's gonna be thrilled! Now we just gotta hope we end up with good powers."
Talon laughed, feeling the weight of anticipation and nerves bubbling inside him. He clapped Jason on the back as they found their seats. As they settled in, Talon noticed Instructor Mira off to the side, giving instructions to a couple of students. He hesitated for a moment, then decided not to approach her.
Instead, his gaze drifted across the room, landing on someone he'd been hoping to spot: a lanky, tall guy with messy brown hair, and, most notably, heterochromia, one eye green, the other brown.
"Hey, I'll be right back, Jason. Just give me a sec."
Jason nodded, absorbed in his own excitement. "Sure, no worries."
'Bingo,' Talon thought, making his way toward the guy, who looked like he'd rather blend into the walls than be noticed. Talon offered a friendly smile as he approached.
"Yo, I'm Talon Graves," he said, extending his hand. "Congrats on making it this far, by the way."
The guy blinked, looking surprised at the sudden greeting, but he shook Talon's hand. "Oh, uh, thanks! I'm Kieran." His voice was quiet but friendly, with a hint of nerves beneath the surface. "Guess we both got lucky with that green glow, huh?"
"Guess so," Talon agreed, leaning in a bit. "Feels good to finally be here, doesn't it? What class are you from, by the way?"
Kieran laughed a little, shrugging. "Class F2, and honestly, yeah. Didn't think I'd make it. My parents told me not to get my hopes up, so I was pretty shocked when the orb actually turned green."
"Hey, well, you did it." Talon grinned, his eyes subtly studying Kieran. 'This guy's the one with a rare gene, the blue,' he thought. He wanted to connect now, before Kieran realized just how rare his power was later.
"So, any guesses on what power you might end up with?" Talon asked, keeping the conversation light.
Kieran rubbed the back of his neck, giving a shy smile. "Man, I have no idea. I'd be happy with anything, honestly. Just hoping it's not something lame."
"Yeah, I get that," Talon said, nodding. "I guess we'll find out soon enough, huh?" He clapped Kieran on the shoulder. "Good luck, man. I have a feeling you're going to do great."
Kieran smiled, a bit more relaxed now. "Thanks, Talon. Same to you."
As Talon walked back to his seat next to Jason, he felt a quiet satisfaction. If his suspicions were right, Kieran could become a valuable ally in the future, as he seemed the most interested in military service, same as Talon.
And it wouldn't hurt to have a friendly face in the middle of the chaos to come.