As Ethan Vale stepped out of the waiting line and toward Chamber Six, the noise around him seemed to fade. The murmurs of other would-be Awakened, the occasional nervous laughter, the announcements over the intercom—all became muffled beneath the heavy beat of his own heart. Each step toward the cold steel door felt like wading through molasses.
This is it. This moment will decide my entire future.
Sweat beaded on his forehead, trailing down his temple as he crossed the polished marble floor. The Awakening Center in Potsdam loomed around him in all its pristine, modern sterility—clean white walls, glowing blue mana lines tracing faintly beneath the floors, and the faint hum of enchantments that powered the whole complex. This place was built to test humanity's potential—and right now, it felt more like a prison than a place of dreams.
Waiting by the door was a middle-aged worker in a faded grey uniform, sleeves rolled up to the elbows. He leaned casually against the frame, arms crossed, one eyebrow raised as he saw Ethan approach.
"You scared of needles or something?" he asked, his voice rough but not unkind. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
Ethan tried to speak, but his throat was dry. No sound came out.
The man let out a small laugh and jerked his head toward the door. "Don't worry. You won't feel a thing. The mana serum works fast. If nothing happens, it'll just flush out. If something does… well, you'll survive." He smirked. "Probably."
The door slid open with a hydraulic hiss. Inside, the Awakening chamber was smaller than Ethan had imagined. Round and sterile, the walls were lined with glowing mana circuitry and faintly pulsating crystals. Blue lights gave everything a ghostly hue. In the center stood a chair—no, a device—heavily bolted to the ground, equipped with thick metal restraints and a curved armrest lined with tubes and ports.
Ethan's feet dragged a little as he stepped inside. The worker motioned for him to sit. Once he did, cold leather pressed against his skin, and metal bands snapped into place around his limbs and chest. His breath came quicker now, panic scratching at the back of his mind.
"You ready?" the man asked, his tone suddenly serious.
Ethan nodded. A small one. Barely.
The worker stepped out and the door slammed shut behind him. The chamber sealed with a hiss, followed by a long silence. Then the lights dimmed slightly.
The hum began—a deep, resonating vibration that settled in Ethan's bones. From the ceiling above, mechanical arms descended, each tipped with sleek, silver needles. They moved with eerie precision, aligning above his limbs, torso, neck.
His eyes darted back and forth.
Maybe I should've worn shorts. Maybe—
Too late.
The needles shot forward with a whisper of air.
A dozen simultaneous stings. Then came the burn.
It was instant.
A torrent of fire surged through his veins, white-hot and searing. His muscles tensed violently, his fingers curled into fists against the restraints. The world exploded in pain—and then faded to black.
[Awakening Initiated...]
Class Assigned → Mage
Processing Spell Potential...
Low Awakening detected!
Spells received:
F-Rank → Fireball
[SYSTEM PAGE - ETHAN VALE]
Class: Mage
Talent: Mana Overflow
Class Rank: F
Spells: 1 / 6
Spell Memory:
F-Rank - Fireball - Mastery: 0.00%
[STATS GAINED FROM F-RANK SPELL FIREBALL]
+5 Mana
+2 Spell Power
+1 Mana Regen
+1 to all other stats
STR: 10 → 11
VIT: 10 → 11
AGI: 10 → 11
STA: 10 → 11
Mana: 10 → 15
Spell Power: 10 → 12
[HP - 110/110]
[STA - 110/110]
[Stamina Regen 110 / 110]
[Mana - 150 / 150]
[Mana Regen: 10 → 11 mana/hour]
Ethan stared at the glowing screen that floated before him.
I did it.
He had Awakened. Not a warrior. Not a rogue. But a Mage. His heart thudded as he re-read the words over and over again.
He had a Class. He had a spell. He had a Talent.
Mana Overflow? He didn't know what that meant yet, but the name alone gave him a sliver of hope. Something rare. Something unique.
The steel door opened again, breaking the trance.
The same worker stepped back inside, smirking as if he already knew.
"So? You awaken?"
Ethan nodded slowly. "Yeah. I did."
"Nice," the man said, walking over. "Pain kickin' in yet?"
Before Ethan could respond, the full weight of the mana infusion hit him. It felt like lava was crawling through his bloodstream. He clenched the armrests and groaned.
"There it is." The man nodded approvingly. "Good sign. Means your body's accepting the mana. It'll pass in a few minutes. Just breathe."
He did. Slowly, the pain faded from a scream to a throb, and finally to a warm ache.
The worker released the restraints. Ethan rose on shaky legs.
"Head to the front desk," the man said. "They'll log your spell and print your ID. Try not to fall over."
…
The front lobby was brighter, more open, with glass walls overlooking the Potsdam skyline. Sunlight spilled in, illuminating a polished stone floor and a curved reception desk lined with glowing panels.
A receptionist handed Ethan a clipboard.
Name: Ethan Vale
Class: Mage
Highest Spell Rank: F
Spells: Fireball (F-Rank)
She scanned the form, and for the briefest second, her smile faltered.
F-Rank. Another one.
No words, just a polite nod as she fed the form into the printer. Moments later, a thin black ID card slid out, shimmering faintly with a mana seal.
"Here's your Awakened ID," she said. "You'll need it to access public or guild-run Dungeons. Entry fees vary."
Ethan took it, his fingers trembling.
He stepped out into the plaza.
Outside, the world was alive. The Awakening Center's courtyard was filled with families cheering and crying, arms wrapped around their newly Awakened children. Vendors sold sweets and trinkets, taking advantage of the crowd.
But Ethan stood alone.
ID in hand. Spell in memory.
A new path ahead.
The sun warmed his face, and a cool breeze tousled his hair. Potsdam stretched before him—ancient history and modern magic intertwined.
A small, determined smile pulled at his lips.
I did it.
Now… it's time to find out who I'll become.