Chapter 1: Awakening Error
Lucen Ivara sat in plastic chair number 43, arms crossed, staring at a dead fly trapped between the ceiling panel and the light casing.
The Awakening Center smelled like hand sanitizer and old breath. Rows of teenagers packed the waiting hall, all vibrating with nerves. Some bounced their knees.
Others rehearsed speeches about joining guilds. One kid was filming a livestream on his wristband, posing with fake confidence and perfect teeth.
Lucen didn't bother pretending. He slouched deeper into the chair and tried not to breathe too much.
The guy next to him leaned over. Nervous hands. Too much cologne. Teeth clenched like he was chewing air.
"You nervous?"
Lucen didn't look at him. "No."
"Oh. Right. Me neither." The guy wiped his palms on his pants. "I've been prepping for this all year. Meditation, mental focus, even some raw mana exposure. Just hoping for anything B or above."
Lucen said nothing.
"Your first test?"
Lucen nodded once.