Maria Jane stood frozen for a moment, her eyes scanning the documents on her desk as she mulled over the unsettling discovery. Miles's file—his orphan status—had thrown her off course, but there was something more she couldn't shake. She recalled their earlier conversation, when Miles had spoken about his parents. He had told her that he'd been close to them up until the age of ten, before they suddenly disappeared from his life. He hadn't shared much after that, only that they were gone, but Maria had always assumed there was more to the story. Now, as she stared at the paperwork, a sinking feeling churned in her stomach.
Her gaze flicked toward the window, where the sky still burned with an unnatural radiance. The event Miles had just triggered had far-reaching consequences—and Maria knew it.
He's not just a student. He's not just an orphan. There's something much bigger here.
Her thoughts snapped back to the present as the reality of the situation set in. With the entire school caught in the magical pulse of his awakening, the center of the disturbance was unmistakable: Aurelia School of Magic. The energy in the air had gone beyond what any of them could have predicted, and it was drawing attention—dangerous attention.
She grabbed the phone on her desk and dialed the number she knew by heart, her fingers trembling only slightly. The connection buzzed in her ear before the mayor's voice came through.
"Yes, Maria? What's going on?" the mayor's voice was rough, but urgent.
"Mayor Thorne, this is Maria Jane from Aurelia. You need to get here, fast." She didn't mince words. "The school is at the epicenter of an unprecedented magical phenomenon. The energy is overwhelming, and I can sense strong auras heading this way. Get the governor here, too. We're going to need all the help we can get."
The mayor's response was immediate, but his voice hinted at unease. "Understood. We'll be there within the hour. Do you need anything in the meantime?"
"I'm heading to the underground shield now. I'll hold things down here for as long as I can. Don't let anyone near the school, especially Headmaster Cameron Denis. He's not to be told where this is coming from. We need to protect Miles—and the civilians in the area."
There was a brief pause before the mayor spoke again, his voice low but firm. "You're not alone, Maria. We'll get there in time. Stay safe."
Maria hung up the phone, her expression hardened with determination. She felt the weight of what was about to happen, but there was no time to dwell on it now.
I won't let anything happen to him. Not like this.
With a swift motion, she turned, pushing aside the clutter of papers on her desk, and hurried out of her office, heading for the school's underground chamber.
The corridors were quiet as she moved with urgency, her footsteps echoing in the silent hall. There was no time to waste. Her hands moved with practiced precision as she reached the center of the underground chamber, an ancient, rune-inscribed door sliding open in front of her. She stepped inside and activated the shield—a shimmering, translucent barrier that stretched high into the sky and deep into the earth. It would cover the school and its surrounding area, ensuring that no harm would come to anyone within.
The air hummed as the barrier flickered into existence, a protective dome against the world's worst intentions. Maria could feel it, too—the weight of the spell. It was ancient, not something many people even knew about. A last resort, really. But with the surge of magical power from Miles, she knew it was necessary.
The shield would hold, but Maria had no illusions. If anyone sought to breach it, they'd be met with force. She would need to be ready to stand her ground.
She glanced down at her own hand, fingers gripping the pendant around her neck—a reminder of the oath she had sworn long ago. If necessary, I will give my life to protect him. He has a future ahead of him. He is far too talented to fall victim to forces beyond his control.
With a final glance at the shield, she turned and made her way back toward the school. All she could do now was wait for the mayor and governor to arrive—and hope they were not too late.
Miles could barely contain the surge of exhilaration that coursed through him. As he stepped out of the ceremonial chamber, his senses were heightened, every nerve buzzing with new energy. He felt alive in a way he never had before. His body felt stronger, more capable, as if he had suddenly gained control of a power that had always been there, waiting to be unlocked.
His fingers flexed involuntarily, and he could feel the earth respond to him. There was a subtle, pulsing connection—a thread of magic that seemed to tie him to everything around him. It was as if the very ground beneath his feet was alive, attuned to his presence.
The world felt crisper, clearer, brighter—his vision sharpened, his hearing more acute. Even the air around him felt thick with magic. He took a deep breath and could taste the mana in the air, sweet and rich, filling him with an unshakable sense of fulfillment.
It wasn't just his body that had changed. His soul felt different too. It felt like something inside him had clicked into place, as though the magic had unlocked a new version of himself. He had always been awkward, unsure, and afraid that he didn't have any potential. But now… Now, he was someone new.
He couldn't help but grin, a wide, almost delirious smile stretching across his face as he looked around. The world was his. Everything was within reach.
He opened his status panel to see the changes
STATUS
NAME : Miles Daves
AGE : 15
Level : 0
Experience : 0/100
Health : 25(6)
Strength : 18(4)
Agility : 20(6)
Endurance : 27(8)
Speed : 30(8)
Mana : 100(10)
Defense : 27(5)
Wisdom : 10(1)
Perception : 13(6)
Willpower : 9(9)
Affinity : Golem(100%)
Abilities :
1. Mana Eyes - user can activate Mana Eyes, a mystical ability that temporarily grants them the power to see the flow, essence, and hidden secrets of mana itself
2. Golem Construct – construct a golem using mana and materials
3. Golem Summon – summon golem
4. Golem's Shield - summon a single body part of a golem
5. Create abilities – make abilities for the golem to have
6. Golem Vault - create a vault where ever user wants to store golems they have made
The numbers flashed before his eyes, and his heart raced. Was this normal? The stats weren't just improved—they were insane. No one he knew had a boost in stats like this, and he now had 6 abilities from the beginning . He wasn't just an awakened magical user anymore—he was a force. But why? Was this the result of the ceremony? Or was it the 100% affinity for Golem that caused such a dramatic increase?
Why are they so high?
Miles's mind spun, trying to make sense of it, but before he could process further, a sudden boom shook the ground beneath his feet.
The sound was deafening—a crash of thunder, followed by the echo of something massive slamming against the magical shield. Miles blinked in confusion, instinctively looking toward the source of the noise.
He didn't understand. The shield around the school—why was it up? He hadn't been aware of it being activated. The magic shield had been dormant for centuries, untouched, never called upon in the history of the school. What the hell was going on? His thoughts raced.
Then, as if the very universe had decided to answer his unspoken questions, he saw it: a massive eagle, its wingspan stretching nearly ten meters wide, its eyes glowing with unnatural fury. It had slammed against the shield, its claws digging in, trying to break through.
What the hell is that?
The eagle screeched, its talons flashing as it battered the shield relentlessly, clawing at the invisible barrier.
But that wasn't even the most confusing part. The real question gnawed at Miles: What had happened while he was undergoing the awakening ceremony?
He hadn't been aware of anything—he'd been so consumed by the magic, the power, the surge of abilities that he hadn't even noticed the outside world. How long had he been in there? Hours? Minutes? And why was the school being attacked?
His confusion deepened as his eyes darted from the eagle to the shimmering shield. He didn't understand the connection. Was the shield meant to protect them from… this?
Before he could ponder further, he saw Maria Jane sprinting toward him, her expression tense but controlled, her feet pounding against the pavement.
She reached him just as the eagle let out another blood-curdling screech, slamming against the shield again. Maria didn't waste any time, grabbing him by the arm and pulling him toward the entrance to the underground office.
"Miles, come with me. Now." Her voice was calm, but there was an urgency behind it that set him on edge.
"What's happening?" Miles asked, struggling to keep up as she led him through the halls of the school. "Why's the shield up? I—I don't understand! I thought it hadn't been used in the past two centuries!"
Maria didn't answer immediately. They rounded a corner and descended a set of stairs into the underground, where the air felt heavier with magic. As they reached her office, she pushed open the door, ushering him inside.
"The shield wasn't activated because of the school." She explained quickly, shutting the door behind them. "It was for you, Miles."
Miles stared at her, still not following. He took a deep breath to calm himself, focusing on her words.
She continued, her eyes darkening. "The awakening you triggered—it was so powerful, so monumental, that it shook the world. The skies burned with mana, and the auras of everyone with magical sensitivity are drawn here. This place—Aurelia School—has become a beacon. And that?" She pointed to the shield, visible through the reinforced glass of her office. "That's the result of what you've just done. The world's reaction to your awakening is not just magical. It's physical. Everyone feels it. They've come for you."
Miles's heart skipped a beat. The reality of the situation was finally starting to sink in. Everyone felt it?
"The eagle," Maria continued, her voice tinged with an edge of understanding. "It's not just some random animal. It's a magical beast, and it's attacking because it senses a high-quality food source—something powerful enough to feed on. You're the 'treasure' that everyone's after, and the attack is just the first of many. If it's not the eagle, it will be something worse."
Miles's mind raced as he processed her words. A magical beast—an attack because of him. Because of what he had become.
"So, what do we do?" Miles asked, his voice tight with the dawning realization that his life would never be the same. His body felt strong, his powers undeniable, but he was no longer in control of what was happening around him.
Maria didn't hesitate in her response. "Stay here. Stay put for now." She said firmly, though her eyes betrayed a hint of worry. "I've already called the mayor and the governor. They'll be here soon. The shield will hold for now, but it won't last forever. We just have to pray it holds until they arrive. If it breaks before they get here, we'll have to fight. But for now, don't leave this room."