It wasn't until Talon stepped into the car with Jason and Alice that the realization hit him like a punch to the gut.
He'd really, really pissed off his mother.
And, indirectly, his entire family too.
To an outsider, it might not seem like much. He went public with his results, so what?
Wrong. It was everything to the Graves family.
By making his rank public, Talon had done more than just defy their wishes. He'd sent a message. A clear, undeniable message that he was stepping outside their control. He had chosen the Solaris Concord, not the Graves name.
That decision carried weight.
In the Graves family, cadets, whether from the main line or a branch, had a clear path laid out for them. Serve the mandatory military term, yes, but then come back.
They joined the Graves Mercenary Group or climbed the ranks within humanity as Graves representatives, spreading the family's influence.
But not him.
Talon was a Super. A rare rank. That alone made him valuable, a prized asset. The Graves family prided themselves on their "legacy of strength," and Supers were at the heart of it.
But the truth was less glamorous than they liked to admit.
The family's success in producing Supers wasn't purely genetic luck. Most of their Supers didn't even come from the Graves bloodline. Around 95% were outsiders, individuals who awakened as Supers and were "invited" to join as branch family members.
It was an arrangement that benefitted both parties. These recruits gained the status of being tied to a powerful name, while the Graves expanded their influence and stockpiled talent.
Added to that, children of Supers more often than turned out to be Supers aswell, the chance did not increase that much, but it was something.
In short, it was a well-oiled machine, designed to pull anyone valuable into their fold.
But Talon wasn't an outsider. He was main family, direct lineage. That made him rare, not just in rank but in status. Someone like him wasn't just another name on the roster; he was meant to represent the family's strength, its legacy.
Leaving? Walking away from everything they'd built?
That was unheard of.
He could already imagine the whispers, the cold stares, the barely-veiled outrage. Talon Graves, the youngest son of the main family, had turned his back on them.
There would be repercussions. No doubt about it.
And where was he heading now?
Home.
The Graves family estate.
Talon let out a slow breath, sinking deeper into his seat. "Oh, boy."
Jason leaned back in his seat, tossing a casual glance Talon's way. "What's up? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Talon blinked, forcing a smile that was about as convincing as a cardboard shield in a sword fight. "Nothing. Just… thinking about what's next."
Alice crossed her arms, eyebrow raised. "Worried about the exams tomorrow?"
Talon froze mid-thought. "Exams?"
His voice cracked like he'd just been handed a death sentence.
"Yes, exams," Alice replied, giving him a look that screamed are you serious right now? "Just because you're Supers now doesn't mean you're off the hook. Did you really think you'd get a free pass?"
Jason's face fell as realization smacked him like a misplaced dodgeball. "Wait, wait, wait. We still have exams? I thought this was, like, our graduation or something!"
Alice groaned, facepalming with dramatic flair. "God help me. You two are hopeless."
Talon's mind raced, the panic creeping in. "Shit," he muttered under his breath. "I completely forgot about that. Jason, did you even study?"
Jason sat up, suddenly defensive. "Why are you looking at me? You didn't even remember there were exams!"
"Oh, come on, at least I have the excuse of… uh…" Talon scrambled for words. "Well, I did study, a little, I think"
Jason grinned, leaning in conspiratorially. "Hey, maybe we can pull the 'but we're Supers now' card. You know, charm them into letting us off."
Alice didn't even dignify that with a response, just giving them a withering glare that spoke volumes.
As the car sped toward the estate, Talon slumped back in his seat, dread pooling in his stomach. His mother's face popped into his mind, her expression somewhere between disappointment and utter rage.
"Yeah," he muttered to himself. "This is going to be a fun conversation."
--
Talon dropped off Jason and Alice with a casual wave, promising to meet them at the SIM arcade after the exams tomorrow. Jason grinned and shouted something about beating Talon's score, while Alice rolled her eyes in mock exasperation, though she did have a smile on her face.
With the car door shutting behind them one after the other, the real dread started to set in.
The flight home felt like a slow march toward his doom. He imagined the worst: firm lectures, dramatic declarations of disappointment, maybe even being kicked out or disowned. It wouldn't be unheard of for a Graves to face such consequences for stepping out of line.
When he arrived at the estate, the silence was almost too much. The grand front doors creaked open, and Talon braced himself.
'Alright, here we go.'
But instead of his mother standing there, glaring daggers, he found Cain.
Holding a party popper.
The butler beamed at him. "Congratulations, Master Talon! I am so pleased you have awakened and can now venture into the wider world. Truly, it is a momentous day!"
Talon blinked, caught off guard. "Uh… thanks, Cain."
Cain enthusiastically pulled the string on the popper. A pathetic poof of confetti shot out, landing limply on the polished marble floor. The butler didn't miss a beat, clapping his hands together with genuine delight.
"Marvelous!" Cain exclaimed, completely unbothered by the lackluster celebration.
Talon couldn't help but chuckle. "You really went all out, huh?"
Cain gave a dignified nod. "Only the finest for such a grand occasion, Master Talon."
"Well, thanks. I think."
"Ah, but one last thing, Master Talon," Cain added, his tone suddenly turning more formal. "Your mother has informed me she is currently offworld. She has decided to visit your father in the Core Worlds, as they have not seen each other in quite some time."
Talon blinked again. "Oh. Uh… okay."
"She also sends her best wishes," Cain continued smoothly, "and hopes for your good fortune and favor during your time in the military. She hopes to see you return home afterwards."
Talon stared at him, trying to process this new information whilst ignoring the last part. "So… she's not here?"
"No, Master Talon," Cain said with an amused glint in his eye. "It seems you are spared her immediate attention."
Talon sighed, his shoulders relaxing for the first time all day. "Oh, nice."
With that, he trudged up the grand staircase, his steps heavy with exhaustion. His room felt like a sanctuary, and the thought of collapsing onto his bed was the only thing keeping him moving.
It had been a long, long day.
He started drifting off to sleep, a smile on his face.
…
"FUCK, THE EXAMS."
For all the dread about his future, he really should have been focusing on his exams rather than the awakening. The realization hit him like a ton of bricks, and panic set in as he scrambled to open his notes and start studying.
What should have been a satisfying night's rest turned into an all-nighter of cramming for the few subjects he would be tested on tomorrow.