In class, Ms. Sanders stood at the front, her voice commanding attention.
"You will all undergo your awakening next month," she announced.
A murmur swept through the room, but she raised her hand, silencing it.
"After awakening, everyone begins with a void space—a blank slate. From there, you'll shape your world, but I must emphasize this: every decision you make is permanent. There's no going back or redoing choices, so we will move forward carefully."
Her stern tone quieted the class completely.
"To help, I will guide you and monitor your progress daily. This ensures you don't make hasty, uninformed decisions," she reassured them, then added with a warning:
"Last year, one of our students tried to do something 'creative.' He ended up destroying his planet and was reduced to an ordinary human. Don't let overconfidence lead you to ruin."
The room grew tense.
Ms. Sanders softened her tone. "Remember, if you have any doubts, consult with me or your parents first. Rash actions can lead to consequences you can't undo."
She continued her lecture, discussing potential pathways and scenarios after awakening, then concluded the session.
As students gathered their thoughts, Yasmine leaned toward Dave. "Hey, Dave, what kind of world are you planning to build?"
"I don't know," he muttered.
She raised an eyebrow at his nervous demeanor. "Hmm. Okay," she said, letting it drop. She turned to her friends and started chatting about other things, shaking her head.
Dave exhaled in relief. Maybe this plan will work, he thought.
In the second period, Mr. Thomas strode into the room, exuding authority.
"As I mentioned yesterday," he began, "this semester, we'll focus on the security of novice lords." He turned to the board, sketching a rough diagram.
"Today, let's discuss the development phases of planet lords," he said, drawing three distinct stages on the board.
Facing the class, he smiled. "Awakening at the age of 10 doesn't mean you're immediately ready to manage your planet. The process is gradual, designed to align with your growing maturity."
He scanned the room, ensuring the students were paying attention.
"In the early days of awakening, most young lords made critical mistakes. Back then, over two-thirds lost their planets within the first year. But after years of learning and refinement, we've developed a stable system for novice lords."
"Its been almost 5 years since awakening, we can't always remain stagnant here can we.. haha" he laughed.
He pointed to the board. "We've divided your development into three phases:
Early Awakening Phase (10–13): The most crucial period. Mistakes are common, but we're here to guide you.
Adolescent Phase (13–16): A time for growth and exploration under structured supervision.
Adulthood Phase (16+): When you're fully independent and free to make your own decisions."
Mr. Thomas stressed the importance of taking things slow during the early phase. "Haste makes waste," he warned.
After thoroughly explaining each stage, he dismissed the class.
Dave's thoughts swirled. Why does this have to be so complicated? I thought being a lord would be fun… Sigh.
The day passed uneventfully. Yasmine didn't engage with Dave anymore, clearly annoyed by his avoidance. She left early with her father during lunch.
That evening, Henry didn't ask Dave for money, allowing him to relax for the first time in days. Still, he made sure to get home on time.
A week went by peacefully. Yasmine stopped trying to talk to Dave, and Henry didn't ask for more cash. Dave thought things were finally settling down.
But one day, Henry cornered him. "Dave, help me out, will you? I need $10. I spent everything yesterday. Come on, it's just $10."
Dave sighed inwardly. And here I thought I could finally breathe.
Reluctantly, he agreed. "Fine, just $10. I'll bring it tonight."
The hesitation he'd felt the first time was gone. The cycle had begun.
The next morning, Dave and Daniel boarded the school bus as usual. Dave avoided Yasmine, but Daniel happily chatted with her.
Yasmine's patience was wearing thin. Sitting near Dave every day yet being ignored was grating on her nerves.
At the assembly, boys and girls formed separate lines. By chance, Dave and Yasmine ended up standing side by side.
Noticing her proximity, Dave panicked and tried to move to the back.
But Yasmine caught him.
"Oi! Dave!" she snapped, her voice sharp. "Am I going to eat you or what?"
Her dark expression made Dave freeze. He stammered, "S-sorry… I didn't mean anything by it."
"Then stand here properly!" she barked.
Dave fidgeted, his face red with embarrassment.
"Did you hear me? Standstill, or I'll deal with you later!" she hissed, staring him down.
Defeated, Dave nodded. He then whispered "Yes, yes… You don't have to be so serious."
"What was that?" she demanded, narrowing her eyes.
"Nothing! Nothing at all, ma'am," he blurted.
"Good." She turned away with a huff.
Their classmates had witnessed the entire scene. Some smirked, others whispered among themselves, and a few looked on enviously.
Dave sighed. Great. Just great.