Ethan paced around his dorm room, the events of the day replaying in his mind like a broken record. His small desk lamp illuminated the scattered papers and his open diary, where half-finished sentences awaited his thoughts. He rubbed the back of his neck, feeling a mix of exhaustion and unease.

He stopped at the edge of his bed and flexed his fingers, staring at them as though they might reveal the secrets of his awakening. Closing his eyes, he exhaled slowly and let himself feel for that energy again. The faint buzz of prana stirred within him, responding to his call.

“Focus,” he murmured to himself.

As he guided the prana outward, a chill filled the room. Metallic particles flickered into existence, glinting in the lamplight, and faint arcs of lightning danced along his fingertips. It was the same aura that had surfaced during the awakening ceremony—calm, crackling with subdued energy, yet undeniably powerful.

He opened his eyes and watched the aura dissipate, fading into nothingness. “Just the second one,” he whispered, frowning. “Why not the first?”

The fiery, ash-laden aura that had erupted from him initially seemed completely absent. No matter how hard he tried to summon it, the crimson hue eluded him, leaving only this calm, electrified presence in its wake.

Ethan sat down at his desk and stared at the blank page in his diary. He began to jot down his observations:

"The second aura feels… steady. Like metal and lightning combined. It’s sharp and cold, yet controlled. Could this be an elemental ability? It seems logical given what we’ve learned so far. But the first aura… It was chaotic, hot, and overwhelming. If that’s part of my innate ability too, why can’t I feel it now?"

He tapped his pen against the paper, frustration mounting. The term ‘Convergence’ echoed in his mind. Was it a clue to understanding his abilities? Or just a cryptic label that meant nothing?

"Gabriel said it’s rare but not unheard of to have two abilities. Could they conflict with each other? Or complement each other?"

He leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling. “Too many questions,” he muttered. “And no answers.”

Eventually, exhaustion won out. He closed the diary, placing it neatly on the desk, and crawled into bed. His mind churned with theories and doubts as he drifted into a restless sleep.

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The next day dawned crisp and clear. Ethan stood on the training field alongside his teammates, their breaths visible in the cool morning air. Zane leaned on his dagger, a sly grin on his face as he glanced at Herbie.

“Drama Queen’s Favor, huh?” Zane teased, earning a groan from Herbie.

“Can we not bring that up again?” Herbie grumbled, his cheeks tinged pink. “I swear Loki did this on purpose.”

Iris smirked. “You have to admit, it’s fitting.”

Before Herbie could retort, Yara cut in, her tone amused. “Let’s not forget Zane’s ‘Thorned Benediction.’ Sounds more like a garden spell than a combat ability.”

Zane chuckled. “At least it’s not as dramatic as ‘Infernal Waltz,’ Elara. What’re you gonna do, dance the enemies to death?”

Elara crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. “Careful, Zane. You don’t want to find out firsthand.”

The playful banter filled the air until a familiar voice cut through it. “Alright, settle down.”

Gabriel strode onto the field, his presence commanding immediate attention. In his arms were seven thick books, each bound in dark leather with golden lettering embossed on the cover. He approached the group, distributing the books one by one.

Ethan took his with a raised eyebrow, reading the title: "An Advanced Guide to Awakening and Its Types."

Gabriel waited until everyone had their copy before addressing them. “These books are highly confidential. They contain detailed information about awakening types and the best practices to develop your abilities. As you’ve all signed the non-disclosure agreements upon joining the program, you’re bound by contract not to share this knowledge with anyone outside this circle. Understood?”

The group nodded, though Zane couldn’t resist a muttered, “Like anyone would believe us anyway.”

Gabriel’s lips twitched in a faint smile. “True. Now, let’s talk about dual and multi-awakenings.”

He stepped back, pacing as he spoke. “Dual awakening, as the name suggests, involves the presence of two distinct abilities within a single individual. Multi-awakening expands on this, with some rare cases having up to nine abilities. These individuals are exceedingly rare, often playing pivotal roles in the realms they inhabit.”

Gabriel paused, his gaze sweeping over the group. “The abilities may complement each other or operate independently. But there’s one critical point you all need to understand: having multiple abilities doesn’t guarantee success. Without proper mastery, it can be more of a burden than a blessing.”

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

He gestured to the books. “You’ll find examples of dual and multi-awakened individuals in here, along with strategies for managing complex abilities. Study these carefully. Your abilities will define your place in the battlefield of the gods.”

Ethan’s ears perked up at the mention of the battlefield again, but he kept his questions to himself, for now. He glanced at his teammates and noticed their varying reactions. Elara seemed intrigued, while Iris looked determined. Yara appeared thoughtful, her gaze distant, as though piecing together a puzzle in her mind.

Gabriel clapped his hands. “That’s enough talk for now. Use this morning to familiarize yourselves with the book. Training resumes this afternoon. Dismissed.”

As the group dispersed, Ethan lingered, flipping through the pages of his book. Each section was filled with intricate diagrams and detailed descriptions of abilities. He couldn’t help but wonder what category his own abilities would fall under. The words of the old voice from his awakening echoed in his mind once more: Convergence.

Ethan slumped into the plush sofa in his dorm, the soft glow of the kitchen light casting a homely warmth over the room. The tantalizing aroma of simmering egg curry wafted through the air, accompanied by the faint hiss of rice cooking on the stove. It was comforting, a slice of normalcy after the whirlwind of revelations.

He rested his guidebook, An Advanced Guide to Awakening and Its Types, on the coffee table, flipping through the pages with an intensity that rivaled his focus during training. Beside it, his notebook was already littered with crossed-out lines and hastily scribbled notes. Every few moments, he paused to underline a phrase in the guide or add a question mark in the margins of his own notes.

“I guessed it right,” Ethan muttered under his breath, leaning back and tapping the pen against his chin. He stared at his most recent note: Elemental abilities… second aura fits the description.

Glancing at his palm, he closed his eyes and began channeling prana. The energy flowed effortlessly now, responding to his call like an old friend. As he focused, a small vortex formed above his outstretched palm. Metallic particles danced in the air, glinting as they reflected the light from the kitchen. Arcs of lightning crackled through the vortex, interspersed with bursts of cold air that sent shivers down his spine.

Ethan tilted his head, observing the display with a mix of awe and curiosity. “Metal, lightning, and ice… three elements, all rare types.” He clenched his fist, extinguishing the vortex, and muttered, “What does it mean? How can they coexist?”

The soft bubbling from the kitchen snapped him out of his thoughts. Ethan stood and walked over, lifting the lid off the pot to check the curry. Satisfied, he switched off the stove and served himself a hearty meal: a large bowl of egg curry, a plate of rice, and a side of chili-soaked cucumber that glistened in a tangy soy sauce marinade. Balancing the dishes, he returned to the sofa, placing the plates on the table beside his notebook and guide.

He sank back into the cushions, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as the celestial version of Für Elise played softly from his speaker. Picking up a spoon, he dug into the meal, savoring each bite. The spiciness of the curry paired perfectly with the cool crunch of the cucumber, grounding him in the moment despite his swirling thoughts.

As he ate, his mind wandered to a fantastical daydream. He imagined himself standing atop a battlefield, cloaked in power, his hands crackling with lightning and metal shards swirling around him. In his mind’s eye, he wore a comical parody of Superman’s costume, complete with a flowing crimson cape and a giant “E” emblazoned on his chest.

“Behold,” he declared dramatically in his imagination, raising his hands as thunder roared and lightning struck behind him. “The Master of Elements!”

The thought made him chuckle between bites. But before he could savor the humor, he found himself abruptly standing, his arm raised, and shouting aloud, “Voidstrike Voltage!”

Reality came crashing back as a sudden surge of prana erupted from his body. The air in the room shifted violently, a raging aura bursting forth and crackling with thunderous energy. Lightning, black with streaks of silver, appeared fractured and unstable, sparking erratically as though barely contained. The hum of suppressed power resonated in the air, vibrating through the walls.

Ethan froze, wide-eyed, as the crackling energy condensed into a singularity in his outstretched palm. It pulsed dangerously, the lightning compressing into a small, dense point. Before he could think to stop it, his fingers flicked instinctively, releasing the energy in a concentrated beam.

The beam shot forward, piercing through the dorm wall with a deafening crack. The air smelled of ozone and burnt wood as the hole, the size of a basketball, revealed a clear view into the adjacent room.

Ethan’s heart sank as he realized where the beam had gone. Standing in the center of the neighboring dorm room, stark naked, was Herbie. His round, pudgy form was turned away, his bare back illuminated by the faint light from his bedside lamp.

Both boys froze, their expressions mirroring a mix of horror and disbelief. Herbie’s face slowly turned, his mouth hanging open as he processed the intrusion. Ethan’s lips twitched as he struggled to form an apology.

Herbie finally broke the silence. “Dude… seriously?”

Ethan’s face flushed a deep red as he stammered, “I-I didn’t mean to! It was an accident!”

Herbie pointed at the hole. “That’s not an accident. That’s a warning shot!”

“It wasn’t a warning shot!” Ethan groaned, running a hand through his hair. He gestured helplessly at the residual lightning flickering in his palm. “I was… testing something.”

Herbie’s eyes narrowed. “Testing what? The structural integrity of our walls?”

Ethan opened his mouth to respond but stopped when he noticed Herbie’s expression shift. His roommate’s face broke into a grin, his shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter.

“You… you should’ve seen your face,” Herbie managed between chuckles. “It’s like you didn’t even know what you were doing!”

Ethan sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “Because I didn’t. It just happened.”

Herbie finally doubled over, laughing uncontrollably. “Man, you’ve gotta warn me next time you’re gonna blow up the dorm!”

But why is your room so dark in the early morning? And why are you naked?

Ethan thought and couldn’t help but laugh along. As Herbie grabbed a towel and muttered something about “installing a warning sign,” Ethan sat back down on the sofa, staring at the flickering sparks in his palm.