The door swung open with a bit of force, revealing Loretta holding a small figure by the hand.
“Good to see you awake, Kassy,” Loretta said, her voice flat, as if addressing a long-lost object rather than her daughter.
“Hello to you, too, Mother,” Kassandra replied coolly. Loretta showed no reaction, her gaze drifting down to the child beside her.
“Come on, Alex, say hello to your older sister.”
Alexios, shy and unsure, looked up at Kassandra. She met his gaze, and with a slight stutter, he managed, “H...hello.”
Kassandra felt a warm sensation seeing her little brother’s timid nature, though it wasn’t enough to ease the weight of the trauma still clinging to her.
“Alright, Alex. Let’s leave your sister to rest now,” Loretta said, gently pulling him away. The two exited, leaving Kassandra alone, staring at the closed door. Her thoughts swirled.
‘Why does Loretta feel so strange?’ she wondered, though she was too exhausted to dwell on it. Her eyelids grew heavy, and soon, she succumbed to sleep.
***
Meanwhile, In Her Mind Space
“She will experience Agony, no matter what.” The dark green and black entity—Kassandra’s origin—spoke into the void. Its tone was neutral, its form now revealed.
From head to toe, the entity was pitch black, blending seamlessly with the surrounding void. Its glowing dark green eyes peeked through small gaps in its cascading hair, which was a mix of dark green and black, stretching far below—about six times its towering height of 194 centimeters. Dressed in a tattered black robe, this was Kassandra’s true origin.
But why had he chosen her? What was the full extent of his powers? Was Despair truly his essence, as Kassandra, Christopher, and the doctor suspected, or was there something more sinister behind it all?
***
The next morning, Kassandra attempted to stand, but her strength was still lacking. She managed to pull herself up from the bed, only to lose her balance and fall back onto the mattress.
“Curses!” she yelled in frustration. Defeated, she lay there, waiting for someone to arrive. After about ten minutes, the door opened—not to reveal a maid, but her father, Christopher.
“Father? What are you doing here? Aren’t you busy?” Kassandra asked, surprised.
“I always have time for you,” Christopher replied warmly. “As for why I’m here—well, I’ve managed to find a specialist for successors. He’ll be here in two weeks.”
“That’s good,” Kassandra replied, though her voice remained flat and emotionless.
Concerned, but choosing not to press her, Christopher said, “I’ll leave you to rest.” He turned to leave the room.
“Wait!” Kassandra called out.
“Yes?”
“Can you send one of the maids to help me?” she asked.
“Of course,” Christopher responded, leaving to fulfill her request.
***
Time flew by, and soon, only a day remained before the specialist’s arrival. While waiting, Kassandra noticed something odd with her vision. A dark green mist seemed to emanate from many people around her. Unsure whether it was linked to her newly awakened powers, she decided to wait until the specialist arrived for answers. The next day, a carriage approached the Ulys estate.
“Welcome to our humble home,” Christopher greeted the man stepping out of the carriage.
“Thank you,” the young man replied, smiling. His spiky dark green hair making his seem unique. “So, where is the successor?”
“Follow me,” the baron answered, leading him to Kassandra’s room.
The young man followed closely, and soon they arrived. Christopher knocked gently before opening the door. Kassandra was sitting in a chair, reading a book about the Age of Origin—a subject that had piqued her interest since her awakening.
Seeing the door open, Kassandra looked up and saw her father and a kind-looking young man.
“Hello. Nice to meet you. I’m sorry, but I can’t stand to greet you properly,” Kassandra said.
“That’s no problem. I’m not one for etiquette myself,” the young man responded with a friendly smile. “I’m Darius Granith, a Silver-Ranked Seeker from the Impenetrable Defence Origin Department.” He extended his hand.
Kassandra took his hand and shook it gently. “Hello, Mr. Granith. I’m Kassandra Ulysses.”
After the introduction, Darius settled into a chair nearby and asked, “I’d like to hear about your experience while you were in the coma.”
Kassandra retold her story, detailing the events in her mind space. When she finished, Darius sat silently, his expression thoughtful.
“Your description matches that of someone who has undergone an awakening. Awakening can happen at any age, though the ideal window is between 15 and 20. Falling into a coma at 16 means you’ve had what we call a ‘perfect awakening.’ However, being in a coma for five years is highly unusual. Normally, a newly awakened successor enters a coma to communicate with their origin and learn about their source. But each origin has its own personality. Yours kept you there for five years and subjected you to something called Despair. That is likely part of its title. All origins have titles, like the ‘Righteous Titan,’ for example.”
Darius paused, allowing the information to sink in before continuing.
“However, a title is not the same as the name. A title is what history remembers and how others know an origin. The name, however, is known only to the successor. An origin only reveals its true name when it deems the successor worthy. Based on what you’ve told me, your origin wanted you to experience Despair, which suggests it belongs to the Chaotic faction. The Chaotic faction is more obscure than the Orderly faction, but there are some known origins that might fit. Let’s see... The Gloomful Wraith? No, that doesn’t seem right. The Abyssal Eye? No, not that either. I can’t match your description to any origins I know, but higher-ranked historians may be able to help.”
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
Kassandra absorbed his words before asking, “Let’s put the origin aside for now. What should I do next? How do I proceed?”
“Well,” Darius began, “as I’ve told many other successors, you need to choose a faction, a department, and a subject. The faction is the broadest choice. In the Primordial Tower, there are three factions: Orderly, Chaotic, and Neutral. The Orderly faction specializes in successors with Orderly origins, while the Chaotic faction focuses on Chaotic origins. The Neutral faction is unique—it’s made up of various smaller departments and isn’t bound to a specific type of origin. After selecting a faction, you’ll choose a department. In the Orderly and Chaotic factions, departments are generally categorized by type of origin. In the Neutral faction, there are many unique and varied departments. Lastly, you’ll select a subject, which can overlap across different departments.”
Kassandra furrowed her brow. “That’s a lot to think about.”
“Haha, it is!” Darius chuckled.
“You said you’re from the Impenetrable Defence Origin Department. Which faction does that belong to?” Kassandra asked, curious.
“Haha, curious, eh? Well, I’m from the Neutral faction. The study of the Pillar of Protection is highly regarded, and it’s one of the largest department in the Neutral faction,” Darius replied with a grin.
“Does she need a recommendation, or do we have to pay for her entry into the Primordial Tower?” Christopher chimed in.
“Well, every three months, the tower holds an entrance event. As long as you can prove you’re a successor, you’ll be allowed entry,” Darius explained.
“So, only successors can enter the Primordial Tower?” Christopher asked.
“Yes and no. In the Orderly and Chaotic factions, being a successor is mandatory. But in the Neutral faction, both successors and regular people can join. Some departments are composed entirely of non-successors,” Darius replied.
“Are you a successor?” Kassandra asked suddenly.
Darius looked at her for a moment before answering, “I am. But let me give you some advice—never ask someone about their origin’s title and never reveal what yours is. It’s considered impolite and intrusive.”
“Thank you for telling me,” Kassandra nodded.
“Is there anything else you’d like to know? If not, I’d like to rest. The journey here was long,” Darius said.
“There’s nothing more I need to know right now. Thank you for explaining everything,” Kassandra replied with gratitude.
For the next two days, Darius stayed at the Ulysses estate, sharing his knowledge of the Age of Origin with Kassandra. On the final day, Kassandra, Christopher, and a few maids gathered outside to bid Darius farewell as he prepared to leave for the tower.
“Thank you for your help,” Christopher said, extending his hand for a handshake.
“No problem at all. It’s my duty to help guide new successors through their awakening,” Darius replied, shaking his hand firmly. Then, turning to Kassandra, he said, “Farewell, Kassandra. When you visit the tower, don’t forget to come and see me.”
“I will,” Kassandra promised.
With that, Darius climbed into his carriage and began his long journey back to the Primordial Tower.
***
Months after Darius’s departure, Kassandra had regained her strength. She stood tall, her expression lighter, a clear sign of recovery both physically and mentally.
“Sis, play with me!” Alexios, full of energy, was bouncing beside her.
Over the months, Kassandra had grown close to her little brother, and he had opened up to her, now always at her side. They walked together, chatting, on their way to see Christopher. When they reached his office, Kassandra opened the door to find her father buried under a mountain of paperwork, looking exhausted.
“Oh! Good morning, children,” Christopher greeted them, startled.
“Father, I think it’s time for me to go to the Primordial Tower,” Kassandra announced, her tone resolute.
“Are you sure?” Christopher asked after a brief pause.
“Yes. There’s no other way,” Kassandra replied firmly.
Christopher sighed. “Alright. If I remember correctly, the next entrance event is in—”
“No, no, no!” Alexios suddenly interrupted, startling both Kassandra and Christopher.
"I don’t want you to go!" Alexios exclaimed, still frustrated.
"Al, I have to go. I need to understand more about what lies ahead for me," Kassandra explained softly, seeing the sadness in her brother’s eyes.
"But, but..." Alexios was on the verge of tears.
"Son, your sister has made up her mind. She has to do this," Christopher said gently to Alexios.
Hearing this, Alexios couldn’t hold back any longer. Tears welled up in his eyes, and not wanting anyone to see him cry, he turned and ran.
Christopher and Kassandra stood in silence, watching the direction Alexios had fled.
"He sure doesn’t want me to leave," Kassandra said, attempting an awkward laugh.
"He doesn’t," Christopher agreed. "You two have become really close over the last four months."
Christopher cleared his throat and continued, "As I was saying, the next entrance event at the Primordial Tower is in less than a month—about 20 days. If you want to get there in time, you should leave tomorrow."
"Yes, thank you, Father. Thank you for everything," Kassandra said sincerely.
"Haha, you’re going to make me emotional! Go on, now. Let me get everything ready for your departure," Christopher chuckled.
With that, Kassandra left her father’s study, heading off to take care of a few final things. She walked for a while before stopping in front of a door. Without knocking or smiling, she opened it and stepped inside.
Sitting in the room, calmly sipping tea, was her mother, Loretta. As Kassandra entered, Loretta looked up at her with a calm expression and said, "What is it, my dear Kassy?"
"Don’t call me that," Kassandra snapped, her voice harsh. "Listen carefully!"
Loretta raised an eyebrow, surprised, but quickly composed herself. "Oh my. What is it?" she asked, her tone unnaturally calm.
"I remember how you treated me," Kassandra began, her voice cold. "How you neglected me and thought of me as nothing more than an object. If you ever make Alexios go through the same, I’ll do something you’ll regret."
Loretta took a sip of her tea, not even acknowledging Kassandra’s words. "You must still be traumatized from your awakening. I’ll speak to the doctor and have him check on you," she said dismissively.
Kassandra turned to leave but stopped at the door. "Just remember what I said," she warned before walking out.
Loretta, unfazed, calmly resumed drinking her tea as if nothing had happened.
Kassandra was wandering the halls, frustration bubbling inside her, when a small voice called from behind. "Sis... please don’t go."
Kassandra turned around to see Alexios, tears in his eyes. She knelt down to his level and spoke gently. "You’re a big boy now, Al. Don’t cry like this."
Alexios sniffled, trying hard to stop himself from sobbing. "I know... but I’m sad. I don’t want you to leave," he said, his voice trembling.
Kassandra smiled softly. "I have to, Al. But I promise I’ll visit as often as I can. I’ll send letters, too."
"But..." Alexios’s tears welled up again.
Before he could start crying, Kassandra gently took his hand. "Come on, let’s go have lunch. I’ll ask the chef to make something sweet for you," she said, trying to cheer him up.
Alexios nodded and wiped his eyes. "Okay."
The next day arrived, and the Ulysses household was bustling with activity. Maids, butlers, Christopher, Loretta, and Alexios were all gathered outside to bid Kassandra farewell. In front of an exquisite carriage stood Kassandra, her family surrounding her.
"I’ll be going now," Kassandra said, looking at them all. Her eyes briefly stopped on Loretta before turning away.
She stepped into the carriage and took her seat. Just as the coachman was about to close the door, Kassandra called out to Alexios. "Don’t worry, Al. I’ll be back before you know it."
Alexios, this time stronger, nodded. "I know. You promised me."
Kassandra smiled at him before turning to her father. "Goodbye, Father."
"Farewell, Kassandra. Come back safely," Christopher said, his voice steady but full of emotion.
Without saying a word to Loretta, Kassandra motioned for the coachman to close the door. Moments later, he climbed to the front, took hold of the reins, and the carriage began to move.
As it traveled down the road, the carriage grew smaller, fading into the distance until it was just a black dot on the horizon.
Kassandra’s journey had officially begun.