To many coincidencees.
Asher's POV
Asher sat in front of the glowing screen, his sharp green eyes narrowing in confusion as he scratched his crimson hair. He was ready to dive deeper into this bizarre scenario, but a thought struck him like a hammer.
"Wait," he muttered, his brows furrowing. "How do I even see the abilities?"
His gaze swept over the screen, searching for a button, a link, anything. Yet, the interface remained stubbornly unhelpful.
"Who the hell designed this shitty operator?" he muttered in frustration, leaning back in his chair.
Just as he was about to give up, the screen flickered and changed. Bold words scrolled across the screen:
1st Awakening: Achieved
2nd Awakening: Unavailable
3rd Awakening: Unavailable
He leaned forward, green eyes glinting with interest. "Wait... you can awaken more than once?"
The revelation caught him off guard. Was this common knowledge, or was it something few people knew? The thought gnawed at him, but he pushed it aside for now.
This time, a small icon appeared on the screen, and he clicked it with the mouse. Another tab popped up:
1st Awakening:
Stage 1: Unlocked
Stage 2: Locked
Stage 3: Locked
"So, there are stages too," Asher murmured, leaning closer.
His curiosity burned as he clicked on Stage 1: Unlocked. Another window appeared:
Stage 1: Awakening
Main Ability: Time Breaker
Additional Abilities: Not Realized
Asher blinked at the sparse text. "Huh, that's it?"
The name sounded impressive, but the lack of details made him feel cheated. He scratched his head, crimson strands falling messily over his face.
"All that secrecy about awakenings, and this is all I get? Feels... underwhelming."
He sighed, clicking on the ability description. The screen shifted, displaying a cryptic message:
Rules are meant to be broken, and as an anomaly in time, you shouldn't care about the rules of time. So don't worry—break time.
Asher's jaw slackened. His green eyes widened in disbelief as he read the words.
"What the hell is this nonsense?" he muttered, running a hand through his hair. "How am I supposed to do anything with this? It's just... a bunch of poetic gibberish!"
As he stared at the screen, the description abruptly changed:
Well then, genius, figure it out yourself.
A beat of silence passed. Asher's eye twitched.
"Who the hell is writing this?" he exclaimed, his voice echoing in the empty room. His gaze darted around suspiciously. "Is this some kind of prank? Am I being punked? Where's the camera?"
But as his eyes scanned the room, he realized the absurdity of his thoughts.
"Oh, right," he muttered, deflating. "I'm in a dream... Damn it."
---
Meanwhile, at Aetherion Academy
Elvin sat rigidly on the wooden chair, his hands trembling slightly in his lap. His silver hair fell into his downcast eyes, which flickered with guilt and turmoil. Across from him stood Professor Ariana Emberfell, her sharp emerald gaze scrutinizing him.
Elvin had just finished recounting the incident in the dungeon, his voice faltering as he recalled the moment he plunged his sword into Asher's chest. His breathing was shallow, and his words had stumbled over each other in his panic.
Ariana leaned against her desk, her arms crossed tightly. Her expression was calm, but her mind raced with questions. The pieces of the puzzle didn't fit.
"There's more to this than meets the eye," she thought, her lips pressing into a thin line.
The incident felt wrong on so many levels. Too many coincidences. Too many irregularities.
For one, why were there 22 students in the dungeon? The academy always calculated dungeon capacities with precision. Such a mistake was unheard of.
And then there was the strangest detail of all—Asher's knowledge of Elvin's mother. The Emberfell family had gone to great lengths to protect that secret. To the world, Elvin was just an orphan under Ariana's personal tutelage. So how did Asher know?
Ariana's brows furrowed. "And why would Asher use that knowledge to threaten Elvin? That behavior doesn't match the Asher I've observed."
Her thoughts darkened as she considered the most puzzling aspect: Elvin's sudden, violent attack.
"Elvin should have known his mother was safe under the Emberfell family's protection," she thought, her emerald eyes narrowing. "Even if he lost his temper, stabbing Asher in the heart seems... extreme."
She inhaled deeply, masking her doubts as she turned her attention back to her student.
Elvin sat with his shoulders slumped, his silver hair obscuring his pale face. His voice was barely a whisper when he spoke.
"I'm sorry, Professor," he said, his hands gripping his knees. "I... I don't know what came over me. I don't know what to think."
Ariana straightened, her expression softening despite the storm brewing in her mind.
"Suppress your guilt," she said firmly, her voice leaving no room for argument. "I'll handle this from here. Leave it to me."
Elvin glanced up, his silver eyes shimmering with unshed tears. He nodded slowly, trusting her implicitly.
As Ariana exited the room, her green eyes hardened. She couldn't afford to let her emotions cloud her judgment. Outside, Vice Principal David Johnson waited patiently, his tall frame imposing even in the dim corridor.
"Professor Emberfell," David said in a neutral tone, his sharp gaze meeting hers. "The principal is expecting your visit."
Ariana gave him a curt nod. "Thank you for arranging protection for Elvin after the incident."
David's expression didn't change. "It's my duty. We cannot allow harm to come to our students within these walls."
As they walked in silence, Ariana's mind churned. The coincidences, the secrets, the uncharacteristic behavior—it all pointed to something far more sinister.
When they reached the principal's office, David knocked, and a commanding voice answered.
"Come in."
Ariana entered the room, leaving David outside.
The principal sat behind an ornate desk, his face shrouded in shadow, his tone grave.
"Sit down, Miss Emberfell. We need to talk."
-----------------
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