The swirling silver-blue light of the portal. shimmered behind Arman before collapsing in on itself, vanishing into nothing. He stepped into the familiar confines of his room, and for a moment, the tension of the Order's stone halls felt like a bad dream.His bed greeted him like an old friend -the same soft mattress, the faint scent of laundry detergent and a hint of his own. shampoo lingering in the pillow. It was grounding, almost comforting. He ran his hand across the blanket and let out a slow breath.Glancing at the wall clock, his eyebrows shot up. "Man... it's only five a.m.?" he muttered, rubbing his face. The early dawn light barely touched the curtains.Tomorrow, his real training with the Order would begin. That meant waking before sunrise, probably sweating buckets, and facing instructors who made the Elderslook like friendly grandparents. And before that... there was one thing he couldn't avoid."I have to talk to Mom and Dad," he murmured to himself. "If I've only got

Arman stood still for a moment, his chest rising and falling heavily. The group of troublemakers scrambled away, dragging their battered leader along, leaving only silence behind. The park suddenly felt emptier, as though even the air was afraid to stay too close to him.Arman glanced down at his hands. They trembled slightly, not from weakness, but from the rush of what he had just done.Damn... I lost control again. I didn't even need to use that much force. If I keep this up, people will start noticing I'm not normal.He quickly shook his head, pushing the thought aside, and turned toward Ayesha. She was staring at him with wide eyes, her lips slightly parted."Ayesha... they won't bother you again," Arman said, trying to steady his voice. "But please-don't tell anyone about this."She nodded slowly, her expression still caught between fear and awe. "I won't. You saved us... that's all that matters."Arman gave her a small smile, though inside his chest his heart was pounding like

The doors shut behind Arman with a heavy thud, sealing him inside the training chamber. The air inside was different-charged, as though the walls themselves pulsed with energy. In the center stood a massive circular platform, easily large enough for five people to stand side by side. At the far end of the chamber, glowing faintly, was a tall crystal-like meter connected to several consoles. Thin wires ran from its base, disappearing into the floor, feeding into hidden systems beneath.Sarah crossed her arms and tilted her head toward the platform. "Step on it, kid. Let's see what you're made of."Arman nodded, his expression calm even though his heart thudded harder with every step he took toward the circle. He stepped onto the platform, and a faint hum vibrated beneath his feet.From the side, a woman with glasses sat before the consoles. She was the assistant for this test, her fingers already dancing across the keys, awakening the machine. "Initializing Spirit Energy measurement,

Sarah uncrossed her arms, her sharp eyes fixed on Arman. The faint smirk she usually carried was gone this time. Her voice was serious, almost heavy with finality."Kid, that's it. You've passed the test."Arman blinked, lowering his fists. His body was still tense from their exchange, muscles buzzing with the aftershock of spirit energy running through him. But her words sank in slowly, and relief washed over him like cool water."So... that means-""It means you're officially in," Sarah cut him off. "From now on, you'll join the other rookies.You'll learn about this world, its powers, its dangers. What you saw today? That was just scratching the surface."Arman gave a small nod, trying to hide the nervous twist in his stomach. Other rookies... so I'm not alone in this. But does that make it easier?Or harder?"Alright then. Let's go," he said, his voice steady though his palms were damp.Sarah tilted her head, almost amused at his attempt to act calm. "Hold on. Before you start thi

The cafeteria was huge. Sunlight spilled through the glass walls and bounced off the polished floors. The rookies were finally getting a break after the morning training. The smell of warm food filled the air, and chatter echoed through the hall. Arman and Kenny grabbed trays and walked toward a long table. Arman piled some rice, meat, and vegetables on his plate while Kenny was already digging in. “Man, I’m starving,” Kenny said, taking a big bite. “Same here,” Arman replied. “But you still owe me that rematch after lunch.” Kenny laughed, crumbs falling from his mouth. “You got it, rival. Don’t blink though.” They reached the counter to get drinks, and the cafeteria worker handed each rookie a small, hexagonal badge. “Wear this while you eat,” the worker said in a calm voice. “Instructions from the top.” Arman looked down at it. It had faint engravings, and a soft light pulsed from its center. He clipped it to his uniform, curiosity mixing with confusion. “Seems official,” he