Awakening Among the Stars

Fenix's consciousness drifted through an ocean of darkness, his body weightless as if floating in a void. Then, warmth. A distant sensation of heat touching his skin, faint whispers pulling him toward wakefulness. His breath hitched as reality slowly clawed him back.

His eyelids felt heavy, but after a few attempts, they finally cracked open. The world was a blur at first, but as his vision adjusted, he was met with an unfamiliar sight.

A massive window stretched from the floor to the ceiling beside his bed, offering a view so vast it made his stomach churn.

Avalon.

The city sprawled beneath him like an intricate maze of stone streets, towering spires, and bustling Awakened moving like rivers through the stronghold. Even from this height, he could see the fortress walls that enclosed the entire settlement, their imposing size making it clear why this place remained untouchable.

Fenix blinked, his thoughts sluggish. How did he get here?

The last thing he remembered was… the battlefield. The Yeti. The burning agony of unleashing his power. And then… nothing.

He shifted slightly, testing his limbs. His entire body ached. Muscles sore, his veins still carried the phantom heat of the flames that had once consumed him.

His gaze wandered around the room—a simple but elegant chamber, its stone walls polished, a single chair placed near his bedside. And sitting in that chair…

Sylis.

Her silver hair cascaded over her shoulders, her posture relaxed, arms crossed over her chest as she slept lightly.

Fenix remained still, simply watching her. Even while resting, she carried an air of quiet strength.

Then, slowly, she stirred.

Her deep blue eyes fluttered open, and for the briefest moment, she looked disoriented. But as soon as her gaze landed on him, awareness returned.

A silence stretched between them.

"…You're finally awake," she murmured, her voice still slightly groggy.

Fenix exhaled through his nose, shifting against the pillows. "Yeah… I think so." His throat felt dry.

Sylis rubbed her temple before leaning forward slightly. "You were unconscious for two days," she said. "We weren't sure if you'd wake up."

Fenix frowned. Two days? That meant…

His mind immediately went to his teammates. "Elias, Rika, and Irel…?" he asked cautiously.

Sylis's expression darkened. "Elias and Rika made it. They woke up earlier." A long pause. "Irel… didn't."

Fenix clenched his fists under the blankets. He had already known. The moment Irel's body was torn apart, he had known. But hearing it confirmed still made it feel more real.

Sylis watched him carefully before sighing.

"I won't tell anyone."

Fenix blinked. "What?"

She met his eyes with an unwavering gaze. "About your power."

His entire body stiffened. She had seen it. The black flames. The unnatural manifestation of Chaos.

"You don't have to worry," she continued. "I won't reveal your secret."

"…Why?"

Sylis tilted her head slightly before glancing out the window. "Because I know what it's like to hide something important," she admitted.

Fenix didn't press for details. If she wanted to tell him, she would. Instead, he focused on another lingering question.

"That thing… the Yeti. It was targeting you, wasn't it?"

Sylis stiffened.

"…Yes," she admitted after a pause.

Fenix's eyes sharpened. "Why?"

She hesitated before speaking, her fingers tapping idly against her sleeve.

"There's… tension among the Five Families," she finally revealed. "It's not public knowledge, but things haven't been stable. We maintain peace, but it's a fragile one."

Fenix absorbed her words in silence. The Five Families were the strongest forces in the world. If they had internal conflicts… then the world itself was unstable.

Sylis continued, "Some factions want that balance to break. If I had to guess… that Yeti was either controlled or drawn to me for a reason."

"So you think someone sent it?" Fenix asked.

"I don't know," she admitted. "But what I do know is that this isn't over."

Before Fenix could respond, the door swung open.

A tall instructor entered first, his expression unreadable. But it was the woman behind him that instantly commanded the room.

She exuded power.

Dressed in a deep navy coat with gold embroidery, she walked with the confidence of someone who had stood at the pinnacle of strength for decades.

Fenix recognized her immediately.

The Headmistress of Lux Aeterna Academy.

One of the Pillars of Humanity.

An Awakened with 7 SoulCores.

Her piercing gaze locked onto him. "Fenix."

Fenix swallowed hard. "Y-Yes."

Her voice was calm yet powerful. "I will make this brief. I want to hear what happened."

Fenix hesitated, but Sylis spoke first, recounting everything—how they had been caught off guard, how Irel sacrificed himself, how Fenix had stalled the beast long enough for reinforcements to arrive.

The Headmistress remained expressionless throughout the explanation.

When Sylis finished, she nodded slightly before stating, "Your test is complete."

Fenix blinked. "That's it?"

The instructor beside her took over. "The objective was combat evaluation. You fought a Tier III monster well beyond your level and survived. Your team earned the highest possible evaluation rank."

Despite his exhaustion, Fenix couldn't help but feel a weight lift from his shoulders.

The Headmistress studied him for a long moment before finally saying, "…You are interesting."

Her words sent a chill down his spine. It wasn't a compliment. It was an observation.

Then, without another word, she turned and left, the instructor following close behind.

As the door closed, a heavy silence filled the room.

Sylis let out a breath. "That was nerve-wracking," she muttered.

Fenix leaned back against the pillows. The test was over. They had survived. They had scored the highest rank.

But the implications of everything that had happened…

The secrets. The conflicts between the Families. The mystery behind his power.

This was only the beginning.

Sylis stood up, brushing imaginary dust off her sleeve. "You should rest. We'll be heading back to the real world soon."

Fenix nodded slowly.

As she moved toward the door, she paused, glancing back at him.

"You owe me a proper explanation one day."

Fenix smirked. "Guess I do."

She gave him a final look before leaving.

Fenix exhaled deeply.

He turned his gaze back to the window, looking at the city of Avalon below.

So much had changed.

And yet, he had a feeling…

That this was only the beginning.