Somewhere deep beneath the central continent,far away from the brilliance of luminaea,lay place were the rays of the sun never reached,were darkness has never known light.
Within this hollow of silence a chamber filled with restraint malice,Obsidian walls veined with faintly pulsing crimson surrounded a circular stone table. Dim violet runes flickered along its edge, casting no shadow.
Three cloaked figures stood around it, their shapes hard to define, as though playing a trick to the eyes.
The tallest of them spoke first,his voice emotionless and monotone, clearly using a tone modifier.
"Confirmation just came in,the families and pillars are planning to release the descendents into the world soon"
The second, a figure draped in long, fluid shadows, tilted it head.
"Finally done waiting" it's said, excitement threading through it mechanical tone." Can't wait to snuff the breath out of those so called prophecy descendants"
"Don't underestimate them, despite being kids their talents and powess aren't a joke",the tallest of them reprimand.
" Who's our target"
The third figure finally spoke
The first figure tapped on the table as a hologram flashed, the picture of an eight year old with an eye catching sliver white eyes came to view with details at the side.
"The walker kid huh.. that going to be difficult to kill unprepared"
"At least we weren't tasked to the seraphina girl, that one will definitely be a headache to kill" the second figure voiced.
" That why we were given the tasks based on our abilities,we are the best to deal with the walker kid,same with the others",the first figure disclosed.
"His realm?"
"Reported by our spies to be peak genesis realm" the first figure stated.
"Peak genesis at eight year old!", I see why the higher ups decided to take this chance, dispite the success being very low" the second figure said.
And I believe it the same for the other descendants? The third figure questioned
Affirmative, confirmed the first figure
"This is beyond genius and talent, this is monstrosity" the second figure exclaimed
"Indeed"
"Enough"! Declared the first figure." The order has been given, we first observe and act according to the situation, disperse!".
Roger ×2
They exclaimed before dissipating into smoke.
.....
A week had passed since Alex last lesson, also the last time he saw elder vonn.
Alex stood at the edge of a balcony overlooking the garden. A stop he always come to relax and enjoy a moment of peace.
The flowers danced and stirred gently by the light afternoon breeze,the hanging sun providing a warm soft glow over the garden and casting a shadow behind Alex.
He leaned against the railing,arms crossed,brows furrowed.
"Know your center,your core not just the one made of mana"
Vonn voice echoed repeatedly in his mind. The warrior had tapped him on his chest, right over the sternum were his heart beat steady and confused.
Alex placed his plan there now. Were his core pulsed softly and steady alongside his heart.
"What core?" He murmured" not the one made from mana but...me?, what part of me exactly the me from my past life or the me in my my current?"
His gazed lifted upward towards the sun. It looks the same from the one he used to know, not better not worse. It's just felt... different.
"What do I fight for?"he asked himself aloud, the star offering no answer.
"I don't have a people. No enemies yet. No throne.
Gazing back down to the garden he whispered
"I don't even know if this world was meant to be mine."
They were memories of him that was of his past average, unremarkable life,then there were memories of him in this life with a loving family,talented and gifted, the people in both memories feel different,or are they both the same?.
He pressed two fingers to his temple, closing his eyes.
"I didn't ask to be here. But I am. Who ever I was in that old life..... doesn't matter anymore, that's gone. Elder vonn was right It doesn't matter what I was but what I will become"
But then again
" what do I fight for" he asked out loud again but this time with clarity and determination in his voice.
"I fight for them… Mom. Dad. This place. These skies."
"I want to protect this life. Even if I don't understand it, I've one life now. One family. One world to walk through."
His grip tightened slightly against his chest.
I might not know what I am yet. But I know what I don't want to lose"
His silver-white eyes flashed brightly —clearer than before. No great resolve burned in them. No thunder rolled in his veins. But something had settled.
He might not know what his meant to face. But he know who he want to protect. That's enough for now.
He turned away from the edge, walking back into the halls. He didn't feel whole. He didn't feel ready.But he had taken a step. And that was enough.
But as he turned around a figure leaning against the door frame, arms crossed like his been watching for a while.
"Still brooding, lex?"
Alex blinked, startled not expecting his dad to be behind him, un-noticed.
"When did he sneak up behind me" Alex thought.
"How long have you been standing there" Alex asked.
"Long enough to see you trying to solve the universe mysteries with a scowl",avalon shrugged.
Alex gave a dry exhale that might've been a laugh. Avalon tilted his head slightly and motioned for him to follow.
"Come. Time you saw the study."
He didn't wait for a response. Just walked, footsteps silent. Alex hesitated only a moment before trailing after him.
"The study?" Alex mused, following behind. "This was a high-value mission when I was a kid. I can't believe I'm finally getting in."
Stoping before The heavy doors of Avalon's private study it opened without a touch. As they stepped inside, Alex immediately felt the shift—this room was unlike any other in the Walker estate. It was like a separate space, as if he just teleported to a different dimension.
This place...?
"Yes, it's cut off from the rest of the world, it's hidden deep within the folds of space, even if the secret realm we are in now collapsed this and a few other locations won't be affected" avalon confirmed Alex thoughts.
"Wow.." his thoughts got cut off as he takes in view of the room.
Charts drifted in midair, glowing holograms shimmered across floating tomes, and a massive orb in the center of the chamber pulsed slowly, displaying constellations shifting across unseen ley lines. It was a blend of science, sorcery, and secrets—and it made Alex's breath catch.
"This place… it feels like it's breathing," he murmured.
"It listens. Learns," Avalon replied, closing the door behind them. "Probably knows more about you than you do."
Alex's gaze flicked to the orbiting stars. "Then maybe it can tell me what the hell my 'center' is."
Avalon chuckled. "Vonn got to you, didn't he?"
"He practically slapped my soul," Alex muttered, finally settling into the seat across from his father desk.
"He tends to do that," Avalon said, lowering himself into the high-backed chair opposite. "Just ask your cousins."
Alex smirked but fell quiet again. Something hung heavy in the air. There was a reason he was here. It wasn't just father-son bonding.
"So how was your time training" Avalon spoke first.
You already know how training went," Alex replied.
"I do," Avalon said, his tone softer. "But Iy matters more coming from you."
"It was... intense," Alex admitted. "I've never felt so strong and unsure at the same time."
"Good," Avalon nodded. "That's when you're closest to discovering who you are."
Alex narrowed his eyes slightly. "Is that why you brought me here?"
"Partly."
Avalon leaned back, his fingers steepled as he regarded his son.
"But first anything you wanted to know" alavon asked
Narrowing his gaze, Alex asked"the descendants and I, I wish to know more".
He first heard of the descendants from his dad, not thinking much of it putting it at the back of his mind, but has he grew up, he realized it's not all just coincidence, they also have monstrous talent although they don't have the boost from the Primordial energy, he still suspects theirs something deep going on.
"Figured you would ask that" he said before continuing.
"You and the other descendants… you weren't born by chance. There's a reason the heavens realigned the moment you arrived. There's a reason the ancient prophecies stirred."
"The prophecy ?," Alex said quietly.
Avalon's nodded in silence as confirmation.
"What exactly is the prophecy about?" I asked hopefully but his reply extinguish his hope.
"Can't say"
Alex frowned,then he asked"So we're just chess pieces now"
"No," Avalon said. "But you are on the board. And the game has already begun."
There was no comfort in that, only truth. And truth was heavier than any title.
Alex's expression hardened. "So what now?"
Avalon leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly. "You're going straight outside."
Alex blinked. "What?" The word slipped out before he could think.
His pulse quickened," you mean outside.... outside outside!?".
Avalon sighed
"The others agreed. Every head of the Great Families. Every heir of the Pillars. You're all being sent out first—forged in reality before you set foot in the Academy."
" Why!" He asked seething.
"Too train you guys and prepare you for what to come" Avalon replied with a tired sigh.
" Then why you just send us to a family boot camp or something?" Alex asked
Puzzled " how did you know we have that?, nevermind it was brought up but wasn't agreed upon" Avalon stated.
"How then?" Alex asked.
"You'll be randomly teleported across the Central Plains. No tracking runes. No start point will be shared. Not even the casters will know where anyone lands."
Alex shot to his feet. "That's reckless."
Avalon didn't deny it. "It is."
"You're just going to go along with it?"
"I don't have a choice, Alex."
Avalon looked older in that moment. Not just tired—burdened.
But his voice was calm and unyielding. "This wasn't my choice alone,It was unanimous. Every family head. Every Pillar. They believe the only way for you all to grow… is to suffer. To bleed. To face the world alone, without safety nets,They all believe it's the only way to awaken your true selves. To test the ones born under prophecy outside the safety of walls and legacies."
"And if one of us dies?" Alex asked, voice low.
"Then we mourn," Avalon said. "And keep going".
Alex paced. The study felt smaller now, like the stars above were pressing down on him.
Alex looked down at his hands. His fingers tightened slowly.
"You think I'll be okay?"
Avalon didn't hesitate. "No."
"…Thanks?"
"But I think you'll become okay," he added. "There's a difference."
Alex let out a dry laugh, despite himself. "You're not very comforting."
"I'm not trying to be. I'm trying to be honest."
"I don't even know who I am yet."
"You will," Avalon said. "This will help you find it. Or force you to."
Alex stopped pacing. His back was to his father, but his voice was steady.
"I don't know what I fight for. What I protect. I don't have something unbreakable."
"Then find it," Avalon replied. "Or make it. That's your task now. Not surviving. Becoming."
Alex let out a breath. Not quite a laugh. Not quite a sigh.
Avalon stood and walked to the center of the study, placing his palm against the constellation orb. Lights shifted, dancing beneath his touch, painting his features in starlight.
"You were born under the Veiled Convergence," he said. "The stars remember you. The world will challenge you because of that."
Alex's voice was quiet. "Is that why it all feels so… heavy?"
"Yes," Avalon said. "But you're allowed to be uncertain."
Alex looked up.
"Even if I don't know who I am yet?"
Avalon turned, and for once, his gaze softened.
"Especially then."
Silence followed as both father and son stared at each other with different thoughts running through their heads
You leave in a week," Avalon said at last.
"I leave in a week?"
"A week," Avalon confirmed. "Tell no one. Prepare quietly."
"Not even mom?"
"she knows, that's why she refused to see you, afraid she won't be able to stop you from going"
Are we allowed to know where we land?" Alex asked.
"Not even the spellcasters casting the portal will know."
Alex stared at the floor for a long beat. "Sounds like chaos."
"It is," Avalon said. "But sometimes, chaos is the only forge that works."
He walked back over and rested a hand on Alex's shoulder—a rare gesture of gentleness.
"Am sure you have heard this from vonn but I emphasize find your center," he said. "Not just your core. The you that doesn't break. That doesn't give in."
"And if I don't find it?" Alex whispered.
"Then fake it," Avalon said. "Fake it until it becomes real. That's what I did."
Alex looked again at the orb of stars. His eyes lingered on a single pulsing constellation—one he didn't recognize.
He didn't know where he'd land. Who he'd meet. What he'd become.
But maybe, just maybe, that was the point