The awakening room was almost silent, with only the low, steady hum of the orb breaking the stillness. Its pulse filled the space, eerie yet calming, and Talon felt a strange sense of comfort in that sound.
He could drown everything else out and focus fully on the energy waiting to be unleashed within him.
'Breathe.'
He inhaled slowly, his eyes fixed on the orb, letting his mind settle. If he succeeded today, it would bring him one step closer to his plan with Noah. The idea that he could actually control the color, hide the truth of his real rank, was a hope before. Now, as he stood in this silent room, the possibility was real, and the thought energized him.
And if he could not…
If he couldn't control it, he simply wouldn't press the button, keeping the results to himself.
"Nothing can go wrong."
With a final breath, his gaze hardened, and he walked up to the orb, feeling a thrill of determination sharpen his senses.
He placed his hand on the cool marble surface, feeling its smoothness beneath his palm. For a fleeting second, he enjoyed the calm touch. And then, as expected, the orb surged with energy, shooting it directly into him.
But it was not in the slightest how he expected it to be.
"GRNN, FUCK."
The pain struck hard and fast this time. He gritted his teeth, forcing himself not to jerk his hand away. It was like trying to swallow more than he could bear, a heavy, oppressive force building inside him.
The sensation was almost unbearable, like eating on an already full stomach, only worse.
'This was great last time! What happened??'
The orb seemed to recognize his struggle, shifting to a faint grey as the energy flow slowed, sensing Talon couldn't take any more and therefor must already be awakened.
But he wasn't ready to stop. Summoning every ounce of determination, he forced himself to absorb the excess energy, holding onto it even as his body screamed against it.
"ARGH, IT HURTS!" he grunted, his voice low but strained. "Alright, almost messed up. Focus, focus, focus!"
He could feel the energy continuing to pour in, a hot, prickling sensation filling him from his core to his fingertips.
It was a mix between it feeling euphoric and downright horrific, the intensity made his skin feel tight, stretched too thin.
He imagined himself as a balloon on the edge of bursting, ready to explode under the pressure.
The orb's color shifted, moving onto green. Relief flickered in his mind—this color would likely be enough. Green, after all, would achieve his goal without drawing unnecessary attention. For a brief moment, he considered stopping there. Why push further?
But his fingers tightened against the orb. He hadn't come this far to hold back. 'So much for controlling it,' he thought, feeling a touch of frustration.
'All I can really do is time it right so the orb shows the color I want.'
Still, he wondered if blue was pushing it too far. Was it too risky?
He reminded himself of Kieran, who had managed a rare rank. It had earned him respect, but it hadn't been as explosive as Talon's last mythical reveal.
Blue was significant, yes, but within reach.
Achievable.
"Keep going. We can't stop now," he urged himself, the thought ringing out in his mind. 'PUSH, TALON. GODDAMMIT, HOLD ON.'
He could almost hear Noah's voice encouraging him, giving him that last bit of strength he needed.
He clung to that thought, even as the energy pressed against his limits, feeling his reserves strain and grow. He refused to quit.
When the orb finally shifted to blue, a wave of relief washed over him. This was it. The instant he saw that color settle, he took his hand away, letting it fall away from the orb.
The energy he'd been holding back slipped away, seeping back into the surroundings, as if the balloon that was his body couldn't bear to hold it anymore.
He took a deep breath, letting the cool air soothe his senses. A small smile crept onto his face. He'd done it, something he'd prayed for ever since he came back was possible, and it was.
Turning around, he pressed the button to lower the privacy screen, and the room fell into stunned silence once more.
His mother's face was a tapestry of emotions, caught somewhere between fury and pride, her lips pressed in a tight line while her eyes betrayed a hint of approval.
Jason and Kieran exchanged surprised glances, then looked back at him with grins of genuine admiration.
"Another rare? This is a good batch," someone murmured, awe in their voice. The hum of whispers quickly rose around the room, the crowd with a mix of astonishment and excitement.
Talon stepped out, but it did not take long for the flood of representatives to descend. He barely had time to register them before they closed in, vying for his attention, each promising resources, positions, and benefits if he'd work for them after his mandatory service.
It was overwhelming.
"Talon Graves, right? Would you be intere-"
Talon? We can offer-"
"Why dont you come work for us after your service young ma-"
One after another, the offers came, a barrage of enticing opportunities for a future he hadn't envisioned.
Each promise sounded sweeter than the last, each more eager to secure his allegiance.
But even as he smiled politely and nodded, his mind was already made up. His path was clear: he'd join the Solaris Concord.
The achievement book had hinted at a leadership role, and committing to the military for a longer term would mean access to advanced training, resources, and, most importantly, mastery over his energy and ascensions.
However, it was also a duty. His family had drilled that word into him since he was a child.
And this was the one part of their teachings he'd kept close. It wasn't just about loyalty or obedience. It was about proving to them, and to himself, that he could become something on his own terms.
With that thought, he began walking toward the Solaris representative, whose gaze met his with a knowing glint, as if the man had seen all this coming.
The representative gave him a nod of approval.
As Talon glanced back over his shoulder, his eyes met his mother's. Her face was twisted in fury, the intensity of her anger blazing clearly across the room.
He knew she had realised that the laid out plan the family had for him, he was not going to follow.
He knew she loved him, but he also knew she put family first.
He saw Mira, who also looked upset, the disappointing gaze of his two relatives bored into him.
For the first time, he didn't care.