Chapter 73: The Price of Awakening
Somewhere high above the bustling layers of Volaris Prime's eighth floor, nestled within the luxury tier of the city's majestic spire, a secluded balcony overlooked a serene magical garden.
Bathed in the soft glow of floating orbs and whispering leaves that shimmered with arcane vitality, two figures sat gracefully at a jade-carved table. Lady Eira Solstice, draped in flowing starlight-blue robes embroidered with ethereal silver vines, held a porcelain cup to her lips. Beside her, Ling Mei sipped from her own cup, her emerald eyes restless with anticipation.
"Where is he now?" Ling Mei asked, unable to mask the note of impatience in her voice.
Eira said nothing at first. Her gaze remained serene, fixed on the horizon as she took another delicate sip. Only after a quiet moment did her lips curl slightly.
"He should be right about... now."
ZING!
A crisp metallic resonance echoed from somewhere deep within the inner core of the spire—a sound like the sudden halt of a highly pressurized containment system. It cut through the air like a pin-drop in a grand cathedral.
Down below, encased in a sleek golden cylinder lined with ambient runes, an elevator had come to a smooth but sudden stop.
Inside, Lei Feng sat sprawled on the polished glass floor of the arcane lift, his face a mix of terror and humiliation. His jet-black hair, once neatly brushed, was now tousled into a chaotic storm of frizz and static. Beside him stood the poised, expressionless waiter, clad in the elite black-and-gold uniform of the Spellbound Restaurant.
"H-Hey," Lei Feng gasped, his breath ragged, "you could've warned me that thing was going to launch like a missile!"
The waiter turned toward him with a slight bow. "Apologies, Young Master. I assumed you were familiar with Hyper Arcana Elevator Systems."
Lei Feng groaned, forcing a shaky smile onto his face. "No, it's fine... totally fine." His voice cracked. "I just completely embarrassed myself."
Inside, he screamed.
> I can't believe this! What a way to make an entrance... Ling Mei and Lady Solstice are up there, and here I am—looking like I got blown through a storm drain!
He smoothed his tunic, adjusted his collar, and inhaled sharply to steady himself.
> Still… it's not like I didn't know about these damn elevators… Ling Chen—my past self—encountered one of these before, didn't he?
The memory struck with painful clarity. Ling Chen, the former prodigy-turned-disgraced heir, had once been humiliated in front of the entire Ling Family when he took a ride in a hyper arcana lift for the first time. He had clung to the sides like a scared child while everyone else stood calmly—laughing, smirking. It had become one of his most traumatic memories, one he swore to never relive.
Ling Chen had researched these elevators religiously afterward—learning how to brace his body against the suction, how to control his mana flow to stabilize equilibrium. Knowledge Lei Feng inherited... but clearly hadn't practiced.
"Please give me a moment to tidy up before we proceed," Lei Feng said, rising to his feet.
"But of course," the waiter replied with a graceful nod.
---
Up on the balcony, Eira's golden gaze remained fixed on the elevator shaft far in the distance. She had watched the entire scene unfold through her spiritual senses, each detail as vivid as if she stood within the lift herself.
> Some things never change, huh...?
A wistful smile tugged at her lips as her thoughts drifted back to the past—to Ling Chen, the boy she had once known. The boy with dreams too large and courage too foolish. The boy whose laughter once echoed in these very halls, long before the fall from grace.
> Diligent. Willful. So painfully eager to prove himself...
"Why are you smiling, Sister Eira?" Ling Mei asked, her brow lifting. It was rare to see the high elf smile without reason.
"I just recalled something funny, that's all," Eira replied softly, her voice like velvet brushed against memory.
"If you say so..." Ling Mei narrowed her eyes in suspicion. "Let's just wait for Brother Feng."
---
From the silk-draped entrance, shadowed by the midday sun filtering through crystalline glass, Lei Feng stepped into view. His movement was silent—fluid and unassuming—but something about his presence demanded attention.
Gone was the disheveled mess from moments before. He walked tall now, his hoodie lowered to reveal his obsidian-black hair and piercing electric-blue eyes that shimmered like twin storm clouds trapped in crystal. Behind him, the waiter followed with perfect grace.
"You're late!" Ling Mei snapped, though the sharpness of her voice softened with visible relief.
Lei Feng scratched the back of his head. "Yeah... sorry. Ran into a few speed bumps. Long story."
"Oh?" Eira tilted her head, amusement flickering across her eyes. "Judging by the spiritual residue clinging to your body, I'd say one of those 'speed bumps' involved a certain young noble brat getting his pride dented?"
Lei Feng blinked. "You knew?"
Eira chuckled, the sound elegant and sly. "Please. This is Volaris Prime—a city built on surveillance and gossip. made a few calls unless your little incident might already be trending."
Ling Mei grabbed his sleeve. "Come on, sit! You've made us wait long enough."
Lei Feng slid into his seat, the tension in his shoulders slowly melting as the tranquil energy of the place enveloped him. The garden around them whispered with life, the floating mana blossoms pulsing in harmony with the faint hum of protective enchantments.
"What would you like to have, sir?" the waiter asked with a bow.
"I'll have the Cloud Lotus Broth and a glass of sparkling Etherleaf wine," Eira said first.
"I'll take the same," Lei Feng replied, after skimming the glowing menu hovering in the air.
Ling Mei nodded. "Then I'll take what Brother Feng is having too!"
The waiter gave a respectful bow. "Excellent choices."
A few moments later, their meals arrived—art on plates. The Cloud Lotus Broth shimmered with a faint blue aura, releasing a soothing fragrance that danced through the air. Inside the crystalline bowls, delicate petals floated amidst pearlescent broth, infused with mana-rich ingredients known to enhance clarity of mind and body.
The trio ate in gentle silence, the sounds of clinking cutlery interspersed with birdsong and faint harp melodies playing from a distance.
---
Halfway through the meal, Ling Mei suddenly set down her spoon.
"So, Brother Feng," she began, her eyes narrowing. "What exactly have you been doing this past week? You not only leveled up… but I can tell you're stronger—much stronger. You also look more... mature. Honestly, I barely recognized you."
Lei Feng choked mid-bite. "Excuse me—!" He coughed, reaching for his water.
Ling Mei immediately leaned forward, placing a gentle hand on his arm. "Are you okay, Brother?"
"I'm fine..." he replied after a moment. "Just... surprised. What did you say again?"
"I said—how did you change so much in one week?"
Eira said nothing. She sat back with graceful poise, watching them with a knowing smile, her golden eyes calm and unreadable.
Lei Feng sighed. "I knew this was going to come up…"
"What I'm about to tell you," he said in a low voice, "you mustn't tell anyone."
Ling Mei brought two fingers to her lips in a sealing gesture. "My lips are sealed."
"I trust you, Mei. But…" his gaze drifted to Eira, who had remained suspiciously quiet.
"I don't trust her."
"Oh?" Eira raised a brow, a wounded expression dancing across her features. "Ungrateful, aren't we? I covered your confrontation with the Tan family young master, made sure your flashy entrance at ApexHealth didn't go viral, and I never even told Mei that you spent an entire week in Whispering Hollow."
Lei Feng froze. "W-What?! How do you know all that?"
"I told you," Eira said, swirling her drink, "not just Volaris Prime but the entire city is built on surveillance. Anything out of the ordinary is reported."
Ling Mei blinked in confusion. "Wait, what? Why do I feel like I'm being left out of the conversation here?"
Lei Feng turned pale. "I still don't understand how you know so much..."
"I'm not just any elf, Lei," Eira said. "I'm a High Elf with influence—both in this city and in the Ling family. I know more about this world than you can imagine."
Ling Mei frowned. "You're sounding mysterious again, Sister Eira."
"Is this really the best place to be having this discussion?" Lei Feng asked, lowering his voice.
"Haha, don't worry," Eira said, raising two fingers. "Each table here is enclosed in a soundproofing array. Whatever is said here, stays here."
Lei Feng leaned forward. "If you know this much… then surely others do too?"
"Not all," Eira replied. "But some. And I made sure it didn't spread."
Lei Feng sighed. "Then… what do they know?"
"You're not really in a position to demand answers," Eira replied, lifting her cup.
Uh, Lei Feng paused, "She's right... I am in no position to demand answers, she already did alot to help," he mumbled inwardly.
Ling Mei noticed Lei Feng's expression and turned to Eira with pleading eyes. Her emerald eyes twinkled like puppy eyes.
"Fine. Consider it a gift." Solstice said shaking her head with a defeated smile
Lei Feng eyes brightened, He bowed slightly. "Thank you, Lady Solstice—"
"No need for formality," she cut in. "Call me Eira. Or Senior."
Lei Feng nodded. "Thank you... Senior."
Eira turned to Ling Mei. "And you… you really love him, don't you?"
Ling Mei blushed faintly. "Of course I do. He's my brother."
"Very well." Eira closed her eyes briefly, then opened them. "Here's what they know."
She recited the file in a clear, cool voice:
> "Lei Feng, former young master of the Ling Family, previously known as Ling Chen. Deemed talentless and discarded after failing to Awaken a Class. Admitted to ApexHealth after a violent encounter. Suspected to have undergone a spontaneous Awakening. Recently entered Whispering Hollow. spotted by Orion Vale, who testified of his growing strength. Currently believed to have acquired a Lightning-affinity class and is evolving rapidly in both strength and form."
Lei Feng's eyes widened. He shot up from his chair.
> They're... that accurate?!
"I can't believe this all happened in one week..." Ling Mei whispered, dazed.
"From your expression," Eira said, "I take it every word is true."
Lei Feng dropped back into his seat, pale.
Eira sipped calmly. "Looks like you underestimated the reach of a magically tech-advanced society..."