Cronus' system: Against the gods

Chapter 4: The Awakening

Miss Layla addressed the students who were in her group, she spoke about the dos and don'ts of the academy. All of which Rex absorbed into his memory. "Curfew at 11 pm for most orphans who didn't have a house, fights are a no-go area except they're organized by the instructors, going outside the academy during school hours wasn't accepted too. That was basically all of it, except for some other mumble-jumble.

After explaining the rules, Layla's expression softened slightly as she prepared to move on to the introductions. "Alright," she began, "that's all for the rules. Now, I want each of you to introduce yourselves. Tell me your name, if you have any family, and what motivates you to train and hunt monsters."

The first to raise his hand was a short, energetic boy with blonde hair. He did not have to be invited to answer the question; he quickly volunteered himself. 'My name is Magnus,' he said with a big smile on his face and his bright blue eyes were filled with mischievousness. 'I have no parents, but that does not affect me. The reason why I want to train is because I want to be wealthy!'

Rex, who had been listening to all this quietly, couldn't help but lift an eyebrow. He looked at Magnus out of the corner of his eye, shocked at the man's directness. "If you wanna get rich in this world, just go work as a babysitter, you'll get paid half a million dollars every day," Rex said sarcastically. He could not believe that a person would come out in the open and confess to having such a baseless reason in such a place.

Magnus, overhearing Rex's comment, just smiled and laughed it off, he was not bothered at all by the reception he was getting. "Well, hey, man, "Hey, man, money makes the world go round, you can't blame a man for wanting to live a good life," he said, giving Rex a wink.

Instructor Layla did not look happy with Magnus's reply but she did not scold him either. But she only bowed her head slightly, as if she was noting the body language of Magnus. "Money is one thing, Magnus," she said, her voice steady, "but let me tell you this , money will not save you out there, it is your abilities and your will to survive that will."

Magnus nodded, though it was clear his thoughts were still on the piles of cash he imagined himself rolling in. Layla turned her attention to the next student, signaling for them to speak.

A tall, lanky girl with dark hair and a serious expression stepped forward. "My name is Lyra," she began, her voice steady and calm. "I come from a long line of healers. My parents are both advanced-level healers, but they disappeared during the last war. I want to train so I can find them, or at least understand what happened to them." Her voice wavered slightly at the end, but she quickly regained her composure, her eyes hardening with resolve.

Rex felt a pang of empathy for Lyra. Unlike Magnus, her reason struck a chord with him. He could relate to the pain of losing loved ones, and the uncertainty that came with it.

As more students introduced themselves, Rex noticed a mix of motivations among his peers—some wanted revenge for the loss of family members, others sought glory or to uphold their family's legacy. Some, like Magnus, had more materialistic goals, while others, like Lyra, were driven by personal loss and the desire for answers.

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Last of all, it was Rex's turn. He moved forward, his heart racing like a wild thing inside his chest. "My name is Rex," he said, attempting to sound calm. "I'm an orphan too," he said, "I don't have a family name to give you, but I do have a reason to train." He looked down at the stone in his pocket, the last thing his parents left him. "I want to become strong enough to protect the people I love and maybe... maybe, find out what happened to my parents."

Rex paused for a moment after he said this and he could sense the stares of the other students on him. Instructor Layla looked at him for a few seconds without saying anything. Then she gave a small nod. "A noble goal, Rex," she said. Strength does not lie in muscles, it lies in will, in the heart and in character. It lies in determination, in the soul, not in the flesh.

Rex nodded, feeling a bit more confident after hearing her words. As he stepped back, he felt a sense of camaraderie forming among the group. Despite their different motivations, they were all here for a common purpose: to grow stronger, to face the monsters that threatened their world, and to carve out their own destinies.

Instructor Layla addressed the group once more, her tone now more serious. "Now that I know a little about each of you, let me be clear: the path ahead won't be easy. Some of you might not make it to the end. But if you give your all, you'll leave this academy stronger than you could have ever imagined."

She paused, letting her words sink in. "Remember why you're here. Hold onto that motivation, and use it to push yourself further than you ever thought possible. This is your chance to prove your worth, not just to others, but to yourself."

"And now, it's time for the awakening," Layla said as she brought out an obsidian stone from her back. The stone pulsated with a subtle hum of unknown energy. Miss Layla dropped the stone but surprisingly, it just stayed in the air, defying the very laws of gravity. "This is the awakening stone, place your hands on it and it'll help you unlock your abilities" Layla spoke.

"Just like that?" Magnus asked, clearly surprised

"Yes," Layla replied, her tone firm. "You'll feel the energy flowing through you. It might be intense, but don't be afraid. The stone will guide your awakening. One by one, you will come forward."

The students looked at each other uneasily, the seriousness of the situation dawning on them. This was the time they had been waiting for, the time when they would find out what they were capable of.

Layla pointed at the first student, a lanky boy with muscles, whose name was Aric. He looked at the stone with a determined look on his face and proceeded to place his hands on the stone. In a matter of seconds, the stone began to emit a brighter light and a wave of energy surged through the room. Aric's muscles tensed as the energy flowed through him, and his eyes went wide with shock. A moment later, a faint, fiery aura started to appear around him, as if he was burning like fire. He stepped back, his hands shaking a little but he had a look of accomplishment on his face. He had awakened.

Next was Lyra. She approached the stone with quiet resolve, placing her hands on its smooth surface. The stone glowed once more, and a gentle, soothing wave of energy washed over her. Her body seemed to relax, and soon, a soft, golden light enveloped her. Rex recognized it as the aura of a healer, the same as her parents. Lyra stepped back, her expression calm but determined. Her awakening had confirmed her path.

One by one, the students approached the stone, each experiencing their own unique awakening. Some were surrounded by crackling electricity, others by shimmering water, and a few by swirling winds. Each awakening was different, a reflection of the individual's inner power.

Finally, it was Rex's turn. He took a deep breath and stepped forward, trying to calm the butterflies in his stomach. This was it, the moment he had been waiting for. He reached out and placed his hands on the stone.

For a moment, nothing happened. Rex could feel the cool, smooth surface of the stone under his palms, but there was no surge of energy, no rush of power. He waited, his brow furrowing in confusion.

The other students began to murmur among themselves, and even Layla's confident expression faltered slightly. "Concentrate," she instructed gently. "Focus on the stone, let it guide your power to the surface."

Rex nodded, closing his eyes and trying to focus. He willed the energy to flow, to awaken whatever power lay dormant within him. But there was still nothing. The stone remained cool and unresponsive under his touch.

Minutes passed, and the murmurs among the students grew louder. Rex's heart sank as a feeling of dread began to creep in. Why wasn't it working? Everyone else had awakened their abilities, why not him?

Layla's face had grown serious, her eyes narrowing as she observed the stone and Rex. She stepped forward, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Rex," she said softly, "try again. Take a deep breath and clear your mind."

Rex swallowed hard, feeling the weight of everyone's eyes on him. He tried again, focusing harder, but it was as if something inside him was blocked. There was no connection, no spark of energy. Nothing.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Layla gently pulled Rex's hands away from the stone. Her expression was a mix of concern and confusion. "Step back, Rex," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Rex did as he was told, his mind racing. What just happened? Why hadn't he awakened? He looked around at the other students, all of whom were staring at him with a mixture of pity and shock. He felt his face flush with embarrassment and confusion.

Layla turned to the group, her voice regaining its authoritative tone. "This is...unprecedented," she admitted. "In all my years here, I've never seen someone not awaken anything." She paused, clearly unsettled by the situation. "But Rex, this doesn't mean it's the end for you. We'll investigate further. For now, you're still part of this academy, and you'll continue your training with the others."

Rex just managed to nod his head in agreement, but the words seemed to be empty to him. The joy and optimism he had earlier experienced were now replaced by despair. As he stepped back into the group, he could feel the eyes of the people around him, the beginning of the rumors that would soon circulate.

Magnus, ever the blunt one, leaned over and whispered, "That's rough, man. But hey, maybe you're just a late bloomer or something."

Rex forced a weak smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. Late bloomer? He could only hope. But deep down, a cold fear had taken root, a fear that maybe, just maybe, he wasn't destined to have any abilities at all.

When the group proceeded with their day, engaging in other activities, Rex struggled to concentrate. The question gnawed at him: What if this was it? What if he was a mere spectator in a world where being a spectator was the worst thing one could be? The idea was too much to bear, but there was no way he could do anything but to sit and wait for the next move.