Alex wiped his sweat from his brow, the buzzing of drills and the muted grumbles of workers filling the narrow tunnel. The air was heavy with dust, settling in the back of his throat, but that wasn’t what bothered him.
It had been days since the bad dream, but the images refused to leave his mind. It clung to him like a parasite.
‘I will have to ask Uncle Sam what he knows.’
The older man appeared less and less often, being called away by the same mysterious person. Alex merely hoped the meetings led to something good, though he didn’t hold high hopes.
“Hey, Alex, you’re zoning out again.” A voice called out.
Alex glanced over. It was a seasoned miner with calloused hands and lines etched deep in her face. He had seen her around often with Sam but had rarely interacted himself. The woman gave him a half-smile.
“Get your head in the game, kid. Getting distracted here will do you no good.”
Alex grunted and forced a nod, diverting his attention to the rock in front of him.
“Yeah, I know.”
The older miner gave a short laugh.
“Sure, you do. But I've been down here long enough to know when something’s gnawing at a person’s gut. Just keep your eyes open.”
Alex said nothing.
As his drill continued to mine the wall, the rocks around it shook slightly. At first barely noticeable, it continued to strengthen. Unnerved, Alex took his drill out, yet nothing changed.
His eyes swept over the mine, noting it wasn’t a unique phenomenon just for him. The others also stood around confused.
“I didn’t think I would witness this again.” The veteran next to Alex mumbled to herself.
As the boy prepared to question her, the ground beneath his feet gave a sudden, sharp tremor, sending a ripple through the rocky walls of the mine. He could hear the sound of rocks grinding and the feeling of stone shifting underfoot.
Tools clattered to the floor as the miners exchanged wary glances. Somewhere close by, he could hear Noel whimper.
“Did you feel that?” Someone muttered behind him.
“Of course. You would have to be blind not to.” Another voice chimed in, quieter.
Alex’s grip tightened on his drill, unease spreading through his chest. For minutes, everyone stood there, not sure whether to run away or continue working. The air was thick with uncertainty, each miner glancing at the others for a cue.
“It was just a minor quake, nothing serious. Now, get back to work!” A voice answered their unspoken questions.
Alex turned around to see a man dressed not too dissimilar to the one that had taken Uncle Sam, striding through the tunnel with an air of confidence.
“We don’t pay to sit around here. Hurry up.”
The woman next to Alex was the first to react, now silently chipping away at the rocks. Hesitatingly, the others joined her, the sound of tools against stone gradually filling the tunnel up again.
‘That’s another thing to ask Uncle about.’
Though he couldn’t shake the feeling something was wrong, he had other things to do. His work never ended.
***
Another day at school over, Cortez stepped out of his limousine, it gently hovering above the ground. The scent of fresh grass and blooming flowers filled his nostrils. The vibrant green garden stretched before him, with perfectly trimmed hedges shaped into intricate sculptures.
There were rows of flowers bursting with every colour imaginable - reds, yellows, purples, all arranged with meticulous care. The lawn was a flawless emerald carpet, stretching toward the base of his family’s mansion.
The mansion itself stood grand and imposing, its tall stone pillars and massive windows gleaming under the afternoon sun. It loomed over the estate, seemingly inviting. Yet Cortez felt no warmth from it.
In the interim, his chauffeur was looking on in discomfort.
“Master Novak, allow me to open your door next time. It is not befitting your status to do it yourself.”
The man’s concern was clearly more for Cortez’s image than for the boy himself.
“No, I am doing it myself.”
The lithe figure crossed his arms, not budging in the slightest. His stance was clear.
“And do not pick me up next time. Trains were good, now I want to try out a public bus.”
His servant was immediately horrified, shaking his hands in disbelief.
“No! You mustn’t. Master Novak, your parents will surely disapprove.”
Cortez didn’t reply, heading towards the foyer of his house.
Two gargoyle statues, in the shape of a lion, stood guard at the entrance, their ruby eyes scanning over any potential visitors. Cortez walked into his family’s estate, the high walls and tinted glass a familiar sight. The place reeked of wealth - marble floors and luxurious furniture.
Candelabras were softly illuminating the hallway. His parents were into such antiques. Of course, they were still complemented by light crystals. Despite all this, to Cortez, the house felt more like a museum.
Cortez made his way toward his bedroom, his footsteps quick and purposeful, intent on avoiding his family. Alas, he would have no such luck. A familiar voice stopped him in his tracks. His older brother stood by the staircase, leaning casually against the railing, a smirk curling on his lips.
“Still wasting your time with those lowlifes?” Cortez’s brother sneered, his matching silver hair gleaming with radiance. “I don’t know why you bother going to that school when you could be with your own kind.”
Cortez clenched his jaw but kept walking, refusing to engage. He put his first foot up the stairs. The smirk faded on his brother’s face, as he stepped forward, grabbing Cortez’s shoulder.
“Hey, don’t ignore me.”
Cortez stopped, turning slowly to meet his brother’s gaze. His yellow eyes were cold, unwavering. Without a word, he glared, the intensity in his stare enough to make his sibling hesitate.
Light sweat grazed his pale skin. Faltering, his grip loosened.
With that, Cortez shrugged off his hand and continued walking, his silence louder than any retort.
He stepped into his room, a space that felt like a mismatch of identities. The lavish furnishings - rich velvet curtains, a king-sized bed with ornate posts, and polished wooden floors - were clear reminders of his family's wealth. They reflected the luxury his relatives insisted upon.
But his presence had left its mark. His desk, made from the finest mahogany, was cluttered with crumpled papers, half-read books, and near empty bottles. A coat was thus slung carelessly over the back of a plush chair, and his shoes were now strewn near the door.
Though a maid had clearly been in while he was away, tidying the worst of the mess, his chaotic touch still lingered. It was a room constantly at odds, the meticulous order imposed by wealth struggling against his desire to live without care.
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With a long sigh, he immediately jumped on his bed, eyes staring at the ceiling. Even there, his eyes couldn’t leave the extravagance. A baroque painting captured his gaze, depicting humans hanging out within the clouds, discussing matters above that of mere mortals. It felt suffocating, was this the supposed life he was expected to lead?
Tired, and eager to distract himself, he forced himself up again. Sinking into a chair, Cortez turned on a large screen with his voice, a news channel already amidst conversation. The room around him automatically darkened. The news anchor’s grim tone filled the room.
“We are just now getting more news on the city of Nori, after the loss of contact a day ago.”
Images flashed across the screen as he spoke. Crumbling buildings reduced to rubble, smoke rising from the ruins, and charred corpses of humans and beats alike scattered across the streets. Blurred of course. The devastation was absolute.
“The monster leading the attack is nowhere to be found. Experts say that the beast’s tier was underestimated. At the very least, it was a Peak Kaiser, if not even higher.”
Cortez watched in silence, his fingers tightening around the armrest as the camera panned over what little remained of the once-thriving city. The world outside his opulent room suddenly felt far more fragile.
“All nearby cities have been put on high alert. A spokesperson from the capital has urged caution and for all citizens to remain calm. They are looking for ways to deal with the creature as soon as possible. Our-”
The hologram flashed away, Cortez no longer wishing to listen. In his thoughts, he didn't notice a notification flash up on his phone.
‘As if. It’s not the first time it happened, and it won’t be the last.’
***
In the centre of the training hall, Kella stood, her breath coming in short, sharp bursts. Her hands trembled slightly as she focused, trying to summon the cold energy that had awakened within her.
It flickered to life, swirling around her fingertips, but the moment she tried to shape it, it scattered, melting into the air.
“Why won’t it stay?” She muttered, clenching her fists in frustration.
She tried once more, but it melted away even faster. Anger bubbling away inside her, she finally stopped.
It had been a few days now, yet nothing seemed to change.
“You’re trying too hard.” Alda said, watching from the sidelines. “Your affinity has already been determined to be the highest rank. If you stay patient, it will eventually come naturally.”
Their family also didn’t have the same in-depth guidance that they did with the gravity element.
Kella shot him a look, her frustration bubbling over.
“Easy for you to say. No one in our family even has an ice affinity. Not a high one anyway.”
Alda just shook his head at her words. She was still brazen and young. Eventually, she would learn.
As she stubbornly kicked at the floor, her foe once again appeared.
“Ready to lose?” Yeray taunted, stepping forward with his sword glowing faintly with mana.
“Yeray is challenging sister Kella again?”
The entire student body was already converging at his words.
“I wonder how he would fare now with Kella’s awakening.”
Kella didn’t respond. She simply raised her hand, focusing on the familiar pull of Gravity. With a flick of her wrist, she increased Yeray’s weight, causing him to fall. She stood in front of him, the boy kneeling on the ground. He tried to raise his head to face her, but even that proved too excruciating a task.
Before he could recover, a sword appeared, millimetres from his Adam’s apple.
“One move.” She said, her voice cold and controlled. “That’s all it takes.”
Sheathing her weapon, the girl walked away, no longer feeling like practising. The audience hadn’t even the opportunity to fully form. Though the force on him was removed, the boy continued to kneel. His mouth felt like it was covered in bile.
He was used to taking a beating, but this. This was different, it was purely humiliation.
***
Entering the dining hall, Cortez was filled with resignation. Though he tried his best to idle his time away in his room, there was a limit. Dinner was a special occasion, with all family members in the house required to attend. That meant his parents and his brother right now.
The large room was the picture of elegance and extravagance. A long, polished oak table stretched through the middle of the room, its surface gleaming under the soft glow of crystal chandeliers hanging overhead.
Ornate silverware and fine China were arranged meticulously, each place setting a reflection of the family’s money. Cortez sat at one end of the table; his parents were seated at the opposite end.
The space between them felt vast, the quiet only broken by the soft clink of utensils against plates. The wooden furniture was comically large, for something that served so few people. The conversation was typically sparse, tension hanging in the air, thick and unspoken.
He spent the first half of his time here indulging in the food. The table was inlaid with masterpieces of culinary art, laden with an array of dishes that showcased the expertise of world-class chefs. Each plate was a testament to their skill, tailored meticulously to the family’s every desire.
A golden roast turkey, its skin crisp and glistening, took centre stage, surrounded by bowls of creamy mashed potatoes, rich with butter and a hint of garlic. Next to it, a platter of seared scallops rested on a bed of vibrant green pea purée, their delicate flavour enhanced by a drizzle of truffle oil. And that was just the start of it.
The sheer variety was overwhelming, far more than the family could ever hope to finish. Yet, each dish was prepared with such care and precision, that it was impossible not to appreciate the artistry and dedication that went into creating this feast. But the warmth of his food was a long step away from his parent’s icy stares.
“Cortez.” His mother’s voice echoed through the hall, distracting him from his thoughts. “Your awakening is fast approaching. Your father and I have discussed this at length together. And we have thus decided to arrange an awakening orb for you.”
She sat with a poised grace that bordered on obsession. Draped in a lavish deep-red gown, it was adorned with glittering jewels that caught every glint of light in the room. Her face was perfectly made up, not a hair out of place, as if she had spent hours preparing for even the most mundane of meals. He had no doubt that she had.
She was more concerned with how she looked in the dim reflection of the polished silverware than with the conversation at hand, her fingers constantly adjusting her jewellery or smoothing out the fabric of her dress.
“No, mother. I already told you. I want to awaken in the school’s ceremony.”
“No, we already made an exception by allowing you to go to a commoner’s school. You will do as we say this time.” His father spoke crisply.
The man was sat with his back straight, exuding authority. He wore an impeccably tailored dark suit, the fine fabric no doubt sourced from some exotic origin. His silver hair, the same shade as Cortez's, was neatly combed back, and his sharp yellow eyes flickered with the same cold calculation he used in business.
He rarely spoke at meals, his presence alone enough to command respect. Cortez clenched his jaw.
“That is because I do not want to be shut away in some private school, pretending the rest of the world does not exist. I want to know what life is like for people who do not have everything handed to them.”
“Enough, there will be no more disagreements.” The man’s words cut through the hall; silence forcefully descending.
His brother looked on gleefully at Cortez’s misery. A small satisfaction caused by his earlier embarrassment.
The younger boy knew when to stop pursuing a matter. If he took it too far, his parents wouldn’t hesitate to take the privileges he already had. He’d pushed his parents enough for one day, any more was not worth the fight.
Gritting his teeth, he quietly finished his dinner. A long weekend lay in front of him.