An awakened. The term lingered in Kael's mind as he flipped through the worn pages of the book he had found buried in the library's labyrinth of shelves. The tome was old, its cover cracked and weathered, with gilded letters barely clinging to the surface. The faded ink described them as beings chosen by the Gods, elevated far above the limitations of mortal men.
"Awakened… blessed by the Gods…" he murmured, the words almost foreign on his tongue.
The book laid out the structure of a world he thought he knew but was only beginning to understand.
The three planes of existence: Mortal, Awakened, and Transcendent.
Mortal beings gather mana within their bodies, slowly evolving it to transcend human limitations. This grants them superhuman strength, cognition, and speed. The Mortal Plane includes the Adept, Sentinel, and Warrior ranks, marking the early stages of an awakened's journey.
Kael paused, a finger hovering over the next line. The page continued with a detailed description of the Awakened Plane, where the true power of mana began to manifest.
The Awakened Plane elevates individuals beyond the capabilities of mortals. Here, they tap into magical energies and progress through nine ranks: Initiate, Veteran, Commander, Elite, Champion, Master, Grandmaster, Saint, and Monarch.
He leaned back, letting the information sink in. A sense of unease stirred within him. 'Does this mean I was stronger than humans because of mana? Am I awakened, or is there another explanation?'
As if responding to his thoughts, the words on the page seemed to pulse:
To ascend to the Awakened Plane, one must be under 17 and wield mana naturally. Forced use of mana is not only impossible but blasphemous—it is a gift, not a right.
Kael frowned, gripping the edge of the book. "June 21st… Ascension Day. What's today's date? How old am I now? And what exactly is mana?"
The questions came in a flood, each one crashing into him like a wave. The book offered little in the way of clarity. If anything, it deepened his confusion. He closed it with a sigh, the sound echoing in the quiet of the library.
'Perhaps it's time to focus on something simpler,' he thought, turning toward the geography section. His mind needed grounding, not more spiraling questions about gods and transcendence.
***
Few Minutes Earlier
The grand double doors of the library creaked open, and Lady Rowena stepped inside, her raven-black hair catching the golden rays of sunlight filtering through the stained-glass windows. Behind her, a silent guard in black leather armor followed, her every movement precise and deliberate.
Maria, the librarian, hurried forward, bowing low. "Greetings, Lady Rowena. How may I assist you today?"
Rowena's piercing gaze swept across the room before settling on Maria. "Coffee and pastries. Bring them upstairs," she said curtly, her tone brooking no argument.
"Yes, my lady," Maria replied, relief evident in her voice. She had been anxious ever since Kael started visiting the library. If Rowena discovered him here, it could spell trouble.
As Rowena began ascending the spiral staircase, a flicker of movement caught her eye. She stopped abruptly, her sharp instincts immediately on alert.
A shadow darted between the rows of shelves below.
'Black hair?' The thought was instant, and a name followed: 'Elowen. That girl has been avoiding me, but not this time.'
She turned to her guard, thrusting the book she held into her hands. "Find the next volume of this for me. I'll handle something downstairs."
Without waiting for a response, she descended the stairs, her footsteps light but determined.
***
Kael had just selected another book from the shelf, its spine adorned with golden lettering that read "The World of Aetheria" . He clutched it tightly as he hurried toward his hiding spot, his pulse quickening. The library had become a sanctuary for him, a place where he could drown out the noise of his thoughts in the pages of history and lore.
As he rounded a corner, he collided with someone.
BAM!
Books tumbled to the ground as Kael fell forward, landing on top of the other person. His hand inadvertently pressed against something soft, and he froze, his face flushing bright red.
"Ah!" the woman gasped, her voice sharp and indignant.
Kael's reflexes kicked in, and he quickly clamped a hand over her mouth to prevent her from shouting. "Wait, please! I—I didn't mean to!" he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper.
Realizing the suggestiveness of their position, he scrambled to his feet, his hands raised in a gesture of surrender. "I'm so sorry!"
Lady Rowena stood as well, brushing off her dress with a look of pure disdain. Her arms crossed over her chest, and her glare could have frozen fire.
"You're a servant here, I assume?" she said, her tone icy.
"Y-yes, ma'am," Kael stuttered, his voice cracking under her gaze.
"Then explain, why are you in the library?."
"I… I was just—"
"You came here without permission," she interrupted, her voice sharp.
Kael nodded, his head hanging low.
Rowena sighed, rubbing her temples as if warding off a headache. "Here's what's going to happen. I'll overlook this incident, but you will never speak of what just happened. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, ma'am."
He hesitated, then added, "May I… still come back to read?"
Rowena raised an eyebrow, surprised by his audacity. After a moment of silence, she relented with a sigh. "I'll speak to Maria. Now, get out of my sight."
Kael bowed quickly and scurried away, relief flooding his chest.
***
Rowena settled into a plush armchair on the upper level just as Maria arrived with the requested tray of coffee and pastries. The librarian set it down carefully, her hands trembling slightly under Rowena's intense gaze.
"Maria," Rowena began, her voice calm but authoritative, "why is a servant wandering around the library unsupervised?"
Maria froze, her face draining of color. "I… My Lady, he's Helen's son," she said, her voice barely audible.
"Helen's son?"
"Yes," Maria confirmed, her hands wringing together nervously. "He's… had a difficult time recently. There was an incident—"
"An incident?" Rowena pressed, her eyes narrowing.
Maria hesitated before continuing, her voice dropping to a whisper. "He tried to take his own life, my Lady. When he came here asking to read, I couldn't deny him. I feared what might happen if I did."
Rowena's expression softened, her sharp edges giving way to a rare moment of empathy. She sipped her coffee thoughtfully, considering Maria's words.
"Very well," she said finally. "Allow him to come back if he wishes, but keep an eye on him. If he causes any trouble, it will be your responsibility."
"Thank you, my Lady," Maria said, bowing deeply.
Rowena waved her away, returning her attention to the book in her lap. As she read, her mind drifted to the boy she had encountered.
'What an odd young man,' she thought, shaking her head.
***
Kael, meanwhile, had retreated to his hiding spot, surrounded by a fortress of books. He opened the one he had just retrieved, eager to lose himself in its pages. Despite the awkward encounter with Lady Rowena, he felt a strange sense of accomplishment.
For now, he had gained permission—albeit grudgingly—to continue his exploration of the library's vast trove of knowledge.