The air in Rui's recovery chamber was still, almost reverent. A faint glow emanated from the carved runes embedded into the cold stone walls, pulsating gently like the slow rhythm of a heartbeat. Crystalline monitors hovered silently above Rui's resting form, their displays flashing with incomprehensible streams of data and energy readings.
Rui lay motionless on a raised platform, his body draped in pristine white sheets, his silver eyes closed. The faint glow of intricate runes etched into his irises still shimmered faintly behind his eyelids, like dormant stars waiting to reignite.
Standing a few paces away, Kovar hovered over a holographic console, his sharp eyes darting between streams of data pouring from the monitors. The glass dome of his oversized skull reflected the faint light in the room, giving him an almost spectral appearance. His hands, usually steady and precise, trembled faintly as they moved across the controls.
Fenrir stood near the edge of the room, arms crossed, his gaze locked onto Rui's sleeping form. The predatory sharpness in his eyes was tempered by something almost imperceptible—concern, perhaps, or reluctant admiration. His towering figure cast a long shadow across the smooth stone floor, his aura barely restrained, swirling like an invisible storm around him.
The silence was finally broken by Kovar's measured voice.
"His vitals have stabilized, but his mana core…" Kovar hesitated for a moment, his fingers pausing mid-air above the control panel. "It's unlike anything I've seen before. The Third Awakening didn't just refine it—it's… transcendent. Every measurement, every data point exceeds known limits."
Fenrir's eyes narrowed slightly, his voice low but firm. "Will he survive it?"
Kovar's jaw clenched as he turned his gaze toward Rui's motionless form. "His body is stable—for now. But the synchronization between his mana, aura, and nervous system is still… fragile. His core isn't just sustaining his energy—it's actively evolving, even now."
Fenrir let out a slow breath, his expression unreadable. "And how long until he wakes?"
"That's difficult to say," Kovar admitted, his shoulders sagging slightly. "His body needs time to adjust. Days, perhaps a week. But when he wakes…" He trailed off, a flicker of excitement breaking through his usually stoic demeanor. "He'll be… something entirely new."
The Grand Observatory
Far above the surgical chambers, the Sovereign Council convened once again in the Grand Observatory. The celestial map above them pulsed faintly with mana, casting a cool luminescence over the room.
High Sovereign Kaelith Drayen stood at the head of the chamber, his liquid silver hair flowing down his shoulders like cascading moonlight. His piercing eyes swept across the gathered council members, their expressions grave yet expectant.
Elyra Valeheart sat with her hands folded neatly in her lap, her sharp eyes locked onto the floating projection of Rui's recovery chamber. Kovar's live data feeds played in shimmering holograms above the council table.
The normally composed council felt an undercurrent of unease hanging in the air—a rare sensation among individuals who wielded power capable of reshaping nations.
Kaelith's voice finally cut through the silence, sharp and commanding. "What happened in that chamber was unprecedented. A Third Awakening during an ocular modification… Kovar, explain."
The projection shifted to show Kovar's face, pale and glistening with faint perspiration. Despite his usual confidence, there was a flicker of something rare in his eyes—uncertainty.
"High Sovereign," Kovar began, his voice level but tight, "The Third Awakening wasn't supposed to happen—not during the procedure. The ocular infusion and the mana alignment triggered something far beyond what was intended. His core reacted—no, it… evolved in response to the influx of energy."
Elyra's smooth voice slipped through the tension like silk. "Is he stable now?"
"Yes," Kovar replied swiftly. "But barely. His body is holding together because of the modifications we've made, but his mana core is… restless. It's still adapting, still refining itself."
Fenrir, standing slightly behind Kaelith, finally spoke. His gravelly voice carried weight. "What does this mean for Rui? For us?"
Kovar adjusted his gloves, his gaze flicking downward for a moment before meeting the council's collective stare. "It means that Rui has surpassed what was previously thought possible. His eyes—those runes etched into his irises—they allow him to see mana not just as energy, but as language. He can understand it, control it, manipulate it on a level no one else can."
Elyra's brow arched slightly. "You're saying he can control… all mana?"
"Faintly, for now," Kovar clarified. "His body is still adapting. But if he trains, if he learns to wield this power—there will be no one in this world who can match him."
A heavy silence fell over the chamber. The weight of those words settled on the shoulders of every Sovereign present. Power, after all, was the currency of their world. And Rui… Rui was no longer just a prodigy. He was a force of nature in the making.
Kaelith's sharp gaze flicked toward Fenrir. "You've spent the most time with him. What do you think?"
Fenrir's arms uncrossed, and he stepped forward slightly, his powerful frame casting an imposing shadow over the projection table. "Rui is determined. Hungry. But he's also level-headed. He doesn't let power blind him. If he wakes up and this power is truly his to command…" Fenrir paused, his voice dropping slightly. "He won't use it recklessly. But that doesn't mean others won't try to manipulate him."
Kaelith's silver eyes narrowed slightly. "Which is why we must keep this contained. No word of what happened here must leave this room."
Elyra inclined her head slightly in agreement. "Agreed. If word spreads of a Third Awakening, chaos will follow. Rui must be kept under close observation."
Kaelith nodded once, finality in his voice. "Very well. Double the security around his chamber. No one enters without clearance. When he wakes, we will assess his state—and his loyalty."
Back in the Recovery Chamber
An hour later, Kovar stood beside Rui's resting form, his sharp eyes scanning the floating monitors one final time before turning away.
Fenrir lingered in the doorway, his arms crossed tightly across his chest as he glanced back at Rui one last time.
"Days," Kovar said softly. "Maybe more. But when he wakes… the world will feel it."
Fenrir gave a small nod, his expression unreadable. Without another word, he stepped out of the chamber, the heavy doors sealing behind him.
The runes in Rui's eyes flickered faintly beneath his closed eyelids, as if responding to something unseen.
Far above, in the Grand Observatory, the Sovereign Council remained locked in discussion, their voices hushed but urgent.
And somewhere deep in Rui's dreamscape, the threads of mana continued to hum, whispering secrets only he could hear.
The world was waiting—and Rui would awaken soon.