NOVEL NEXT Chapter 1: Awakening(1)
"Oe, Sein, wake up! It's time for our batch to awaken!"
A sharp voice suddenly pierced Sein's ears, jolting him awake. Disoriented, he blinked and glanced around, only to realize he was sitting in a classroom. The confusion lingered as he tried to make sense of his surroundings.
Just moments ago—or so it seemed—he had been sprawled on his couch, enjoying an anime marathon with a cold can of Coke in one hand and a bag of chips in the other. That serene moment was shattered by a sudden, stabbing pain in his chest. Darkness overtook him, and now, here he was, in this strange and unfamiliar place.
Turning toward the source of the voice, Sein's eyes landed on a boy standing beside him. He appeared to be around the same age—fifteen, maybe—with a lean build, curly black hair, and dark eyes that gleamed with urgency.
Before Sein could utter a word, a sudden, searing pain shot through his mind. It was as if a red-hot rod had been driven straight into his skull. The agony was overwhelming, forcing him to clutch his head as his vision blurred and his thoughts scattered.
After a moment, the pain subsided, and Sein gradually regained his senses. But something was different. His mind was now flooded with a torrent of unfamiliar yet oddly vivid memories.
'Oh shit, I can't be this unlucky, right?',Sein's heart sank as those memories began to take shape, confirming his worst fears. He had been transported to another world—a place eerily familiar yet undeniably alien. And what's more, his name here was the same as in his previous life.
Before he could delve deeper into the fragments of memories swirling in his head, the voice from earlier broke his train of thought.
"Why are you blanking out, Sein? Didn't you get enough sleep after learning we're going to awaken today?"
Sein turned toward the boy again, the speaker's face now triggering a cascade of memories that felt as if they belonged to someone else. He recognized him—Roy. His childhood friend, someone who had been by his side since they first started school together. Over the years, their shared history had forged a bond so strong that they were practically inseparable, the perfect pair of best friends.
"Hello? Say something," Roy said, waving a hand in front of Sein's face.
Sein blinked, snapping out of his thoughts. "Ah, yes, yes. Let's go," he replied hurriedly, standing up to follow.
With that, Sein and Roy joined the rest of their classmates as they made their way toward the academy's bus stand. The area was bustling with activity. Dozens of buses were lined up, and students were either boarding them or hurrying to find their assigned rides.
"What do you think I'll awaken as?" Roy asked, his face lighting up with curiosity.
"Who knows? It's all up to luck," Sein replied with a casual shrug.
The two continued chatting as they boarded a bus along with their classmates. Sein found a seat by the window and sank into it, his gaze drifting outside. The scenery blurred as the bus began to move, but Sein's focus turned inward.
He sifted through the memories now imprinted in his mind, piecing together the details of this new world. Its name was Belford, a realm steeped in magic and supernatural power. Here, people gained access to extraordinary abilities through a ritual called the Awakening Ceremony, which took place at the age of fifteen.
The world was vast, divided into countless countries, but four stood above the rest in power and influence: the Fel Empire, Golden Land, the Federation, and Zendia. These were the dominant nations shaping the fate of Belford.
Sein was currently a citizen of a modest nation called Nethyr, a small to medium-sized country overshadowed by the larger powers of Belford. Nethyr's territories were ranked in a clear hierarchy: at the top was the Capital, followed by the First-Tier Cities, then the Second-Tier Cities, and finally, at the bottom, the Third-Tier Cities.
The city he resided in was a third-tier city named Ravendale. It wasn't particularly remarkable, but according to his memories, it was home—a place he had lived in for as long as he could remember.
In this world, the process of Awakening was a pivotal moment for every fifteen-year-old. Most common folk opted to attend academies for the ceremony, as these institutions provided free Awakening services for children. However, despite the accessibility, there were no guarantees. The odds were harsh—nearly half of all participants failed to awaken any abilities, leaving them to navigate life as ordinary citizens.
Ravendale had around five academies, each serving the city's youth, and the one Sein and Roy were enrolled in was simply called Academy No. 4. The names weren't creative, but they were practical enough to keep things straightforward.
Today, they were all being transported to a central location: the Awakening Institute. This facility had been established by the four superpowers of the world—the Fel Empire, Golden Land, the Federation, and Zendia. Its purpose was clear: to increase the number of Awakened individuals, a necessity to support the ongoing World Border Wars—conflicts fought against forces that threatened Belford's very existence, like the Asura Race, the Zergs, and other deadly entities.
After traveling for 15–20 minutes, the bus came to a stop in front of a massive building adorned with a nameplate that read Awakening Institute.
As Sein stepped off the bus, his eyes widened at the sight before him. A sea of children around his age swarmed the area, either entering or exiting the institute. Most of them were students from the other four academies in Ravendale, all here for the same life-changing event.
Once inside, the students from Academy No. 4 were guided by their teachers, each class being led to different directions within the enormous structure. Sein's class followed their teacher, Mr. Borr—a slightly overweight, middle-aged man with a balding head and a calm demeanor. He led them to a spacious room with a faint buzz of anticipation in the air.
"Okay, everyone, get ready. You'll go in one at a time," Mr. Borr announced, his voice steady but laced with a hint of encouragement. "Keep in mind, even if you don't awaken now, don't get demotivated. There are still ways to access the supernatural through technology or genetic serums."
While the teacher's words were meant to reassure them, Sein couldn't help but notice the lack of optimism in the room. Everyone knew that these alternatives were far from ideal. Technological enhancements were exorbitantly expensive and required continuous maintenance, making them out of reach for most commoners.
As for genetic serums, they offered a way to fuse human genes with those of other races, granting supernatural abilities. However, the process came with significant risks. The serums were not only costly but also carried severe side effects, often leaving recipients physically or mentally unstable. Despite Mr. Borr's attempt to inspire hope, the reality was clear—Awakening was the only reliable path for most of them.
After pulling out a list from his pocket, Mr. Borr adjusted his glasses and cleared his throat.
"Registration number 4415, Jack Hudson. You're the first one to go inside. All the best," he said with a nod, his tone calm yet encouraging.
All eyes in the room turned toward Jack, a tall boy with short brown hair and a slightly nervous expression. Jack hesitated for a moment before standing up, his hands clenched into fists as if to steady himself. With a deep breath, he walked toward the door leading to the Awakening chamber, the quiet murmurs of his classmates following him.