The shrill blare of my alarm jolted me awake, cutting through the haze of sleep. I groaned, my hand slapping down on the clock to silence it. Dropping my feet to the cold floor, I yawned deeply, the fatigue from yesterday's grueling workout still lingering.
Despite the sluggishness, routine was sacred. I shuffled through my morning rituals, brushing, stretching, and pulling on my gym gear. By the time I stepped into the gym, the crisp morning air had cleared my head. My daily workout was a non-negotiable, something I prided myself on.
But today, a surprise awaited me.
As I finished my set of pushups, a notification buzzed on my device. Swiping it open, I grinned as I saw the words: "Congratulations! Level 2 Achieved!"
Finally! Progress!
But my joy was short-lived. Below the congratulatory message was the new workout regime:
Run: 2km each morning
Pushups: 100
Weight lifting: Not less than 20kg
I stared at the screen, my enthusiasm evaporating. "Great," I muttered sarcastically. "More sweat, less sleep." Still, the thought of gaining more magic coins(MCs) brightened my mood.
After a quick shower and a change into my favorite white sneakers, I bounded downstairs.
"You're early today," Mom observed, her brows raised in surprise.
I paused, confused, before noticing Luna still seated at the dining table, calmly sipping her tea. Realization struck.
"You messed with my alarm, didn't you?" I accused, sitting down across from her.
Luna smirked. "And you're welcome. Someone had to get you out of bed early."
"I'm supposed to scold you, not thank you," I shot back, though I couldn't help but smile.
Just then, Dad—Mr. Darien to Luna and me—walked in, already suited up for work. "Good morning, early bird," he teased.
"Morning, Dad," Luna chimed, pecking him on the cheek before grabbing her bag. "See you all later!" she called, leaving for school.
"She changed your alarm, didn't she?" Dad asked, chuckling.
I nodded, glancing at Mom, who was leaning against the doorway, clearly amused. "Maybe she has a point," Mom said. "Seeing you up early is… refreshing."
I groaned, grabbing my backpack. "Alright, enough commentary. I'm heading out before I'm late."
"Bye, Rowan!" they called as I hurried out.
****
The school cafeteria buzzed with activity during break. I grabbed the standard meal nothing fancy and found an empty table. Just as I was about to dig in, Aaron appeared, plopping down across from me. Moments later, Alex and Luna joined us, their trays clattering onto the table.
Before we could start our usual banter, a voice boomed across the cafeteria.
"Who's Rowan John?"
Heads turned as a man in a postal uniform stood at the entrance, clutching an envelope.
Confused, I raised my hand. "Here!"
The postman strode over, handed me the envelope, and produced a ledger for me to sign. As soon as I scrawled my name, he left without another word.
"Who's it from?" Luna asked, her curiosity piqued.
"I'm not sure," I replied, examining the parchment-like envelope. My gut told me it wasn't a casual letter.
"Open it!" Luna urged, leaning closer.
I hesitated, waiting for the lingering stares from other students to fade before carefully breaking the seal. Inside was a letter, written in neat, urgent handwriting.
Clearing my throat, I read aloud:
"Dear Brother, who is also the Diviner,
I write to inform you that General Kael visited our territory. As you suggested, I rejected his proposal. But in doing so, he has threatened to attack our clan once winter ends. His forces are far stronger than my army can withstand.
Please act swiftly, John. The fate of the Clan of Shapeshifters depends on you.
Your brother, Harry.
A heavy silence fell over the table as the words sunk in.
"This is bad," Luna said, her voice trembling. "Winter ends in two months."
"Wait," Alex interjected, his eyes wide. "Your brother is the leader of the Clan of Shapeshifters?!"
I nodded, though I could see a thousand questions forming in his mind. Aaron, ever the stoic one, stayed silent, his expression grim.
"Relax," I said, trying to sound confident. "I'll activate the system. With it, we can counter Kael's forces. We'll figure this out."
But even as I said the words, a knot tightened in my stomach. Defeating Kael wasn't going to be as simple as I made it sound.