The moment the teacher left, the tension in the room broke. Students began talking all at once, then drifted out in groups, their conversations filled with spirit beasts, forbidden lands, and Origin Cliff.

  Wini walked out more quietly, hands in his pockets.

  Spirit communication doesn’t interest me much, he thought. But this Awakening… I really hope I don’t end up disappointed. I need to stay calm, or I’ll mess up my head again.

  He took a breath. Let’s call Mom first. That always settles me down.

  In another part of the corridor, Aarna moved with the crowd, though her thoughts were far away.

  When Aashna asked her question, she mused, the teacher mentioned that one person who reached Ascension with a mythic spirit beast. I’m more curious about her than anything else in that lecture.

  The problem was, the information she had read in books was the same as what everyone else knew — the public version. The rest was confidential.

  Maybe after Awakening, I’ll learn more, she thought. If not… I’ll ask Big Sis. She might know something the books don’t.

  All across the academy, hearts beat a little faster.

  Everyone was waiting for the Awakening event.

  After class, Wini and Gonad headed straight to their room, talking quietly. Though both spoke very little outside, when together they shared many thoughts.

  While walking, Wini asked, “Nad, why did you ask that question?”

  Gonad sighed. “You might have heard about my sister, right? Elara Valtoris. When she broke through to Ascension, she teleported somewhere unknown. She had a tracking device, but you know how breakthroughs work — the initial energy outburst while accepting the pseudo origin stone’s energy path completely damaged the device.”

  Oh yeah, I’ve heard of her, Wini thought.

  “That’s why I asked the teacher,” Gonad continued. “Looking for any possibilities, some clue about where she went. No luck. Our family hopes she succeeded in her breakthrough and returns soon. With her strength, it’s possible.”

  “Don’t worry too much,” Wini said. “You said she’s strong, right? Let’s hope she’s fine and returns safely. But you should focus on your Awakening first.”

  “Haa… you’re right.”

  They reached their room. Suddenly Gonad remembered the new transfer student. “Oh, Wini — did you see that new girl, Aarna? I’ve seen her before. She’s from the Asval family.”

  “I only heard the name, Nad. I didn’t see her properly. Lately I’ve had too many thoughts in my mind, so I didn’t pay much attention to others except for class.”

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  “Oh come on, you really think I’ll believe that? She’s like a torch in the dark — hard to miss, just like you. She’s almost your height and you say you didn’t see her?”

  “What? But I really didn’t see her…”

  “Well, whatever. Maybe you didn’t find her interesting.”

  “What about you? Do you like her?”

  “Ahh man, don’t say that. The moment I saw her I got chills because she looks almost like her sister, who is a very scary woman. Except for the difference in their body build, they’re almost identical. And you know what the worst part is? Aarna’s sister, Harina Asval, is in Integration Realm first stage, but her strength is on par with third?level Integration Realm. I’ve seen her twice, and both times she was beating someone — and the reason was her sister Aarna.

  I heard one guy asked Aarna curiously why she’s different from her sister, and Harina thought her sister was being bullied. She beat him to a pulp. That was so scary because that guy didn’t even get a chance to react — she basically overwhelmed him with weaker cultivation. This incident happened one year ago.”

  Wini leaned back on his bed, staring at the ceiling.

  Looks like there are all kinds of people… he thought, remembering Gonad’s stories about the Asval sisters and Elara Valtoris.

  “Ha, man, my mind is messed up,” Gonad groaned, stretching his arms. “I’ll go for a walk first. You wanna join?”

  Wini shook his head. “No. You go. I’m calling my mom.”

  “Okay then…” Gonad slipped out, the door clicking shut behind him.

  Wini picked up his communicator and started a call.

  The screen lit up with a familiar face.

  “Yes, Wini. What’s up?” Aarya Hecksopian’s voice carried the same gentle steadiness he remembered from home.

  “Hello, Mother. Everything is good,” Wini said, though a faint heaviness lingered in his tone. “I just wanted to talk. My mind is a little messed up. Today was the first day of the revelation teachings, so the teacher explained everything related to Awakening.”

  “Oh, nice,” Aarya replied. “Then they must have explained cultivation levels and souls as well.”

  “Yes, Mom, they did. But… once you told me about combination souls, right? They didn’t mention that today.”

  Aarya chuckled softly. “Ha, don’t worry about that. If they explained everything to you in one day, it would be overwhelming. That’s why they don’t reveal all of it at the same time.”

  “…Okay. Understood.”

  They talked for a while longer. Eventually, Wini told her about the strange thing that bothered him most — the soft, unclear voices he sometimes heard in his mind, like murmurs at the edge of his thoughts that came and went without warning. He explained how they had been there for a long time, how they never formed clear words, just a presence that made him restless.

  Aarya listened quietly, then spoke with calm certainty.

  “Don’t worry about those voices anymore, Wini,” she said. “For now, just focus on your Awakening. Once it happens, you won’t hear them again.”

  Her confidence settled over him like a blanket.

  “Remember this as well,” she added. “Void is eternal… and at the same time, void is nothing. Space is everything… and at the same time, space is nothing. During your Awakening, keep your necklace on. Do not take it off, no matter what. It will help block any ill?intent gazes while your soul is exposed.”

  Wini’s fingers closed around the pendant resting against his chest, feeling the cool metal of the circle and its four small blades. Somehow, the room felt quieter.

  “Okay, Mom,” he said softly. “I’ll remember.”

  After a few more words, he ended the call. At some point during his talk, Gonad had returned from his walk and already collapsed into bed, breathing evenly in the opposite bunk.

  Wini lay down, staring into the dimness above him.

  For the first time in a long while, his mind did not echo with any stray voices. The silence felt strange at first — then slowly, comfortably, natural.

  Trusting his mother’s words, he let his grip on the necklace relax.

  Without whispers in his head, his thoughts finally settled, and he slipped into a deep, uncomplicated sleep.