Chapter 5: The Awakening

Velric couldn't tear his eyes away from the glowing words on his status screen.

[BREAKTHROUGH?]

What did that mean? No one ever mentioned anything like this in class. Most Dormant stages were just that dormant. They either awakened naturally or never at all.

He cautiously reached out with his thoughts, unsure if it would respond to him.

"Breakthrough?"

The screen flickered, and suddenly the words brightened, almost blinding him.

He quickly shut his eyes, his ears twitching as a faint, rhythmic pulse throbbed through his body. It felt like his heart was resonating with something deep within him.

He opened his eyes, and the glowing text was gone, replaced with a new line.

[Condition: Face Yourself]

[Anima Core Stirring...]

What the hell was happening?

He glanced around. The other students were too busy bragging about their stats to their friends, and the teacher had his nose buried in a dusty old book. Nobody was paying attention to him.

Taking a deep breath, he forced the status screen to disappear and tried to ignore the strange warmth spreading through his body.

"Face myself? Is that what the dream meant?"

He scoffed bitterly. "So I'm supposed to just stop being pathetic all of a sudden? Great advice. Thanks, ancestor."

The teacher suddenly cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention.

"Now that you’ve seen your statuses, remember that awakening is not guaranteed. Some of you will never go beyond Dormant, and that is your fate. Others will awaken and progress, but the risk of Anima Corruption will always be present."

Velric felt a twinge of irritation at the word "fate."

"Class dismissed." The teacher walked out without so much as a second glance at the students.

Immediately, the room filled with chatter as everyone compared their stats. A few students bragged about their high Agility or decent Anima Force, while others whispered about someone having a rare bloodline attribute.

Velric just stayed quiet, resting his chin on his hand.

"Why bother? Even if I awaken, it’s not like it’ll change anything. My stats are garbage, my Anima is nonexistent, and my so-called specialization is literally just getting my ass handed to me."

A familiar voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

"Oi, Velric!"

He glanced up to see Corvin, one of the more athletic Lapinites, smirking at him. Behind him were his usual lackeys, all grinning like they’d heard the best joke of the century.

"Heard your specialization was ‘taking a mean beating.’" Corvin leaned over, his long ears flicking with amusement. "Guess it suits you, huh? Gotta say, you’re a natural at it."

Velric raised his head and looked at him and thought.'Wait what how did he know that.'

Velric just shrugged. "Guess so. I’d be more worried if your specialization wasn’t being a complete ass."

The lackeys snickered, but Corvin’s grin faded, his eyes narrowing. "What did you say?"

"Nothing. Just stating the obvious."

Corvin grabbed Velric by the collar, yanking him to his feet. "You think you're tough now just ’cause you’re talking back? Maybe I should remind you why you’re just trash."

Velric didn’t resist. He was used to it. Go ahead. Not like it’ll make a difference.

But something was different this time. That throbbing warmth from earlier flared up, and for the briefest moment, he felt a surge of energy in his limbs. His ears perked up, and his eyes sharpened.

He could almost see the punch coming before it was thrown.

Without thinking, he tilted his head to the side, and Corvin’s fist whiffed through the air, hitting nothing but empty space.

Corvin froze, surprised, and Velric just blinked.

Did... did I just dodge?

The lackeys looked just as stunned, and Corvin’s face twisted in confusion. "You little..."

He swung again, but this time Velric sidestepped, almost naturally.

"What the hell?!" Corvin shouted, clearly frustrated.

Velric didn’t understand it either. Was it that warmth? That pulse? For once, his instincts didn’t just scream to take the hit they told him to move.

Before Corvin could try again, the teacher’s voice barked from the hallway. "Enough fighting! Get out of here!"

Corvin scowled and shoved Velric backward, causing him to stumble. "Tch. Whatever. You’re still trash."

As the group left, Velric stood there, trying to process what just happened.

His heart pounded, not from fear, but from something else entirely.

He sat back down slowly, staring at his hands.

"What the hell was that? Did I just... react on instinct? Or was it something more?"

The pulse faded, and the strange warmth settled. It was like it had just been a momentary spark, something that flickered to life and then vanished.

Velric couldn’t help but smirk to himself, though.

"Maybe I’m not completely hopeless after all."

As the day went on, Velric couldn't focus on the rest of the lessons. The dream, the breakthrough notification, and the strange pulse still weighed on his mind.

The final bell rang, signaling the end of classes. Velric packed his bag, careful not to draw attention to himself as he left the academy.

He kept his ears low and his footsteps quiet, slipping out the side gate to avoid running into Corvin and his goons again. The streets were bustling with students heading home, chatting, and laughing. Velric stuck to the alleys, weaving through the shadows until he reached the familiar rundown orphanage.

His heart sank as he saw a group of older kids blocking the entrance.

"Look who it is," sneered one of them a tall Lapinite with a mean glint in his eye.

Velric sighed. "Of course. Why not add one more beating to the day? Maybe it'll increase my specialization."

The older boy stepped closer, cracking his knuckles. "I heard you got cocky with Corvin today. Think you’re some kind of big shot now, huh?"

Velric didn’t bother responding. The leader shoved him hard, sending him sprawling into the dirt.

Another kick followed, hitting his ribs. Velric curled up, not even trying to fight back. It was routine at this point.

Through the kicks and punches, he felt that strange warmth again, like a flicker of resistance trying to rise up. But his body didn’t move. He just gritted his teeth and took it.

After a while, the bullies lost interest, leaving him on the ground with bruises forming and pain pulsing through his body.

He pushed himself up slowly, wiping a trickle of blood from his mouth. "What a joke. Some breakthrough. Can’t even get my body to listen to me."

He staggered to his feet and limped into the orphanage, no one paying him any mind as usual.

Once inside his tiny, cramped room, he collapsed onto his mattress, staring blankly at the cracked ceiling.

The strange warmth had faded completely, leaving nothing but soreness and frustration.

"What’s the point of all this? Facing myself... breaking through... It’s all just crap."

As his eyelids grew heavy, he whispered to himself, "I stopped running... but what am I supposed to do now?"

Sleep took him before he could think any further, his dreams once again haunted by that towering silhouette.

To be Continued

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