In the modest apartment Kaelen and Althea now called home, the morning air was calm, yet filled with a warmth rarely found in the outside world. Soft sunlight slipped through a large window, casting a gentle glow over shelves lined with small bottles and neatly arranged dried herbs.
In the bathroom, Kaelen busied himself preparing warm water in an old but well-maintained stone tub. In his hands were pieces of roots and herbal leaves—fresh harvests from the Little Garden, which had now fully reformed.
He sprinkled Verdalis powder and drops of Mana Thorne extract into the water. Slowly, it shifted into a shimmering blue-green, fine magical particles dancing in the steam that rose with the fresh herbal scent, tinged by the faint trace of magic.
Althea stood in the doorway, wrapped in a light robe, her eyes fixed on Kaelen's every move—filled with trust, and a quiet awe she didn't try to hide.
"It's ready," Kaelen said softly, his voice tender. "This bath is saturated with magical residue from the Little Garden. You'll absorb it faster—more effectively—than ever before."
Althea smiled and stepped closer. Her movements steady, purposeful. "I used to scavenge tiny fragments from your gear. But now... you're bringing that entire world to me."
Kaelen nodded. "Back then, The Empress's inventory was limited. The magical residue I could share was barely enough. But now that the world's reformed, I can bring more—more than enough to empower you... and all of us."
Althea stepped into the tub, warm water wrapping around her like a breath of life. "I can feel the energy flowing... like my body is learning to breathe again."
Kaelen remained beside her, watching with quiet hope. "You've become the leader of The Last Survivors... and I once thought you had no chance at all."
Althea looked at him, voice firm and clear. "I only survived because you gave me that power. Not The Empress. You, Kaelen."
A pause. Silent, full.
Then Kaelen said, "Tomorrow, I'll meet them. Not as The Empress. As myself—Kaelen."
Althea nodded softly. "You've been waiting for the right moment."
Kaelen took a deep breath, his gaze reaching far into the past... to when The Empress stood before The Last Six inside the Little Garden—a place that once felt like another world, but had since become a threat of its own.
Flashback — Little Garden
The Empress stood before the five other members of The Last Six. Her cold presence silenced the room.
"Never bring your Little Garden avatars into the real world," she said, her tone firm, yet controlled.
Arven, the group's leader, stared back intently. "Why? Wouldn't their power be incredibly useful here?"
The Empress met each of their eyes. "Your avatars aren't just extensions of you—they are forces far beyond any real-world Awakener. If brought here, the world will react... like an immune system detecting a virus."
"And we're the virus," she added quietly.
Veyra frowned. "A virus?"
"Yes. Your powers and avatars would be seen as an infection to be eradicated. The world will respond by creating stronger entities—designed to hunt us down."
She paused, then continued, "And the real world's resources are limited. Bringing that kind of power across dimensions would tip the balance... make everything unstable."
Arven nodded slowly, understanding the gravity of it. But he wasn't done. "We'll abide by that rule. On one condition."
"What is it?" she asked.
"You show up to our celebration—not as The Empress. As the one behind the mask."
The Empress smiled faintly, as if accepting a challenge. "Very well. I'll be there."
Back in the Apartment
Althea looked at Kaelen with meaning. "Are you ready for that?"
Kaelen nodded, eyes full of resolve. "I'm not The Empress anymore. I'm Kaelen, and I have to face this... for all of us."
Suddenly, a soft chime echoed through the room. A holographic screen lit up in the corner with a notification from the real-world system.
[SYSTEM ALERT]
Awakening Status Detected.
Does Kaelen Virelith accept the Awakening process?
[ACCEPT] [DECLINE]
Kaelen froze. His eyes widened. He turned to Althea, voice unsteady.
"I... I've been chosen to become an Awakener."
The Last Six Headquarters — A Few Days After Kaelen's Awakening
The usual strategy-filled war room had become a space for a quiet gathering. A small celebration—not of victory, but of memories. Cups filled with dimly glowing magical drinks from every element were held loosely in their hands. The long table bore remnants of a meal barely touched—more a reason to sit together than to eat.
Kaelen entered without a sound. His footsteps silent, his presence cloaked in a plain black coat—stripped of the Empress's symbols.
Arven was the first to notice. He glanced over and raised an eyebrow. "Well, look who finally climbed down from her ivory tower."
Syrra, lounging with her legs over the table, smirked. "Came alone? Don't tell me you missed us. Or maybe... you ran out of worlds to control?"
Kaelen said nothing. He lowered his hood and looked each of them in the eye. "I've just undergone Awakening."
Silence. The words dropped like stone into still water—deep, rippling.
Lorrick set his cup down. "You're serious?"
Kaelen nodded.
Veyra, leaning by the window, narrowed her eyes. "Awakening... in your real body?"
"Yes." The answer was calm, but carried a weight no one could ignore.
Nolien leaned back, brow furrowed. "Wait—so now you can access both the real-world system and the Little Garden?"
Syrra exhaled sharply. "That's not fair."
"Life's never been fair," Kaelen replied evenly. "But there's a chance this world's Will has realized who I am—and it wants to use me as its tool."
Arven shut his eyes, then chuckled once—short, but enough to cut through the tension. "You know... of all people in the world to get a dual system, it had to be the one already half-insane with just one."
"Not insane," Kaelen replied softly. "Just... following the only logical path left."
No one argued. Just glances—quiet, knowing. And somewhere inside them, a flicker of envy. Not for the power, but for what it must have cost.
Syrra raised her glass half-heartedly. "To Kaelen Virelith. The first Awakener from The Last Six. And maybe... the last."
"Unless he creates a third system," Veyra muttered.
Kaelen didn't reply—only a faint smile. The world wasn't finished. And neither was she.
The gathering wound down, leaving behind echoes of laughter and plates left half-cleared.
A Quiet Night Beneath the City Lights
Kaelen walked alone, the city stilling after the day's noise faded into silence. Street lamps flickered in steady rhythm, casting pale reflections across damp sidewalks.
She paused near an empty bus stop. Cold air brushed her skin, but didn't chill her. He raised his hand, pulling up the new real-world system interface—transparent, glowing faintly blue.
[SYSTEM UPDATE — AWAKENING TIER-1: ACTIVATED]
Skill Classification: Ability Transfer
The user is now authorized to transfer one Awakening ability to a chosen individual.
When active, a divine seal will appear on the recipient's body, marking a temporary contract.
Effect lasts as long as the spiritual link remains intact.
Use with intention. Act as the world's will—guiding from behind the veil.
Kaelen read the text slowly. No shock. No excitement. Just a still, heavy silence—like someone standing at the threshold of a new world, knowing they have no choice but to step through.
"Ability Transfer..." He murmured. "It's useless if I have no abilities to give. But if I can channel skills from the Little Garden... then all I need is a skill book."
He looked up at the night sky. The stars were almost hidden—clouded by light pollution and haze—but he knew they were still there. Silent. Steady. Like her.
His footsteps resumed along the damp pavement. Quiet—but not lonely.
Above, the city lights stayed on. Not by magic—but because someone, once, decided the night still deserved its light.
And Kaelen... was finally walking forward. Into a future he would carve with his own hands—whether this new power would be a blessing to the world... or a curse that would tear it apart.
The Next Day
Across the world, television screens, smartphones, and holographic projectors flickered to life all at once. A wave of breaking news surged through every major channel, pulling billions of eyes toward the same direction.
In the living room of Kaelen's apartment, a tense atmosphere hung in the air like static before a storm. Althea sat beside him, leaning forward, eyes locked onto the screen.
An official broadcast from the Kingdom of Nythera appeared, heralded by the sigil of an open celestial eye floating above a sea of stars. A news anchor clad in a deep violet-blue uniform spoke in a voice that was both regal and calm, like a priest announcing a divine decree:
"The Kingdom of Nythera, one of the Ten Eternal Kingdoms existing beyond Earth's dimension, has declared the beginning of a new chapter for humanity. For thousands of years, those who wield power have lived in the shadows—guarding secrets in the name of balance."
"But after a cataclysmic clash with a Transcendent-class entity—a force so overwhelming it nearly tore the veil between reality and oblivion—the old rules no longer apply. The Wielders are no longer bound to hide. Now, they may walk openly beneath the sun, before all of mankind."
The anchor's voice echoed like a hymn, resonating through living rooms, store windows, and public halls. Outside, the streets fell eerily silent. People froze mid-step, eyes drawn to glowing screens displaying the same message.
"The governments of Earth... have always been puppets. Controlled from the shadows by the unseen hands of Nythera—a watchful force meant to maintain balance between realities. Nythera and the other nine kingdoms are no myth. They are the architects, the guardians... and for some, the re-creators of the world's order."
Silence.
A few seconds passed without a word. The world held its breath.
Kaelen leaned back slowly, eyes never leaving the screen. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips—not of triumph, but of understanding. His heartbeat quickened, not from fear, but from the certainty that change of this magnitude would bring more than just freedom.
Beside him, Althea clenched her fists in her lap. Her eyes burned—not with rage, but with memories long buried; of a time when truths like these were mere whispers between shadows.
Their eyes met.
The world had changed.
There was no curtain left to hide behind.
Now, they stood at the edge of a new era—
An era where the Wielders no longer lived in secret.
But every new era is born with shadows that were never invited.