Solar Ascension Academy
High Solis Citadel,
Stuart Domain, AKA Bastion Pass
Sol Continent
Terra, Gaea, solar system
Milky Way Galaxy
Luminary Star sector
21st Vetraeus cycle, 50 New Solaris Prime
Days passed, and at last, June Wryward was cleared to return home. The sterile halls of the facility faded behind her as she stepped into the soft light of morning, but the weight in her chest didn't lift. Despite the end of the tests and prodding examinations, a deeper tension brewed inside her—a quiet dread she hadn't spoken aloud.
Home. That word should've offered comfort, but for June, it was a different kind of gauntlet.
The Wryward household was as loud and lively as ever, filled with warmth, scent of brewed herbs, and the subtle creak of old floorboards—but none of it calmed her. The moment she walked through the door, it was as if her return had pulled a trigger. The questions began almost instantly—sharp, concerned, relentless. Her parents' eyes were pools of worry, her siblings' voices carried both curiosity and fear, and every word felt like another thread unraveling her already-frayed nerves.
She tried to smile. Tried to nod. But the truth was, June felt more like a specimen than a daughter—observed, measured, dissected in every glance.
Her room, once a sanctuary, now felt strangely foreign. The walls, adorned with familiar posters and shelves lined with childhood trinkets, hadn't changed—but June had. Something deep within her had shifted, subtle yet irrevocable, like a silent tremor that had cracked the foundation of who she thought she was. Lying in bed that night, staring up at the pale ceiling, June couldn't shake the gnawing feeling that she no longer moved to the rhythm of the Wryward home. She was a note out of tune, a puzzle piece that no longer fit where it once belonged.
No amount of testing could define the change inside her, and no explanation could ease the quiet dissonance humming beneath her skin. Yet, her mind wasn't preoccupied with herself. Instead, it kept drifting—to Leto Thalorin.
There was no doubt in June's mind: Leto was an Ascendant. She had seen it with her own eyes—feats of power that no dormant Mystic could hope to replicate. And Leto was her age, too—both standing at the threshold of the same world, yet somehow walking vastly different paths.
But why would she hide it? June thought, turning onto her side as moonlight spilled through the window. Why pretend to be dormant?Now, more than ever, June longed to speak to her, to peel back the layers of secrets she knew Leto was keeping.
It took several weeks before June's parents finally relented, allowing her to return to school and continue her education. But stepping back into familiar halls only emphasized how much her life had changed.
Now that she had awakened, the course of her future had been irrevocably altered.
Normally, students at the academy would undergo their Awakening ceremony together during the winter solstice, traveling to a sponsored temple where the ritual would officially unlock their potential. It was a rite of passage, a shared milestone that marked the end of one life and the beginning of another. Afterward, they would begin their training as Initiates in the new school year.
But June had awakened prematurely—forced into ascension during the chaos of an Infernal incursion. Because of that, she could no longer wait for the ceremony alongside her peers. She was immediately moved to the Ascendant tier classes, separated from the friends and classmates she had grown up with.
It wasn't a choice. The faculty insisted it was necessary; without immediate training, her unstable powers could spiral out of control. June understood that—at least logically—but in her heart, resentment brewed. She didn't even know what abilities she possessed yet. The idea of sitting in a new classroom, isolated and unready, filled her with dread.
But what weighed on her most was Leto.In the Ascendant classes, June would no longer share the same corridors, the same lunches, the same moments with her.
She sighed heavily, trying to ignore the dozens of furtive stares cast her way as she walked through the Academy halls. Whispers trailed behind her like smoke—rumors that spread faster than wildfire.
The girl who awakened during an Infernal incursion.The Wryward daughter who survived.The anomaly.
June straightened her shoulders and kept her eyes forward, but inside, a hollow ache spread through her chest.
Her journey had begun, but it felt lonelier than she had ever imagined.
June's footsteps echoed through the hallway as she approached the door to the Ascendant tier classrooms. The weight of the air seemed heavier here—thicker, charged with an energy she wasn't accustomed to. It wasn't like the calm hum of her old classrooms, where the air always felt light, almost breathable. No, this room pulsed with a barely contained power, crackling just beneath the surface, like an unspoken challenge.
She hesitated before stepping inside, the door swinging open with an audible creak that seemed far too loud in the silence of her thoughts.
The moment she entered, the room fell into a quiet lull. Her arrival hadn't gone unnoticed. All eyes were on her, the kind of attention that both stung and suffocated. She could feel their gazes like hot needles pricking her skin, all those curious, calculating stares. These weren't the classmates she had known for years. These were people who had already begun to forge their paths toward godhood. They had already started their training. They had already stepped into their new lives.
June felt out of place, a momentary glitch in a perfectly running machine.
The classroom itself was stark—minimalist in its design, yet radiating an almost oppressive sense of purpose. Low stone walls lined the space, and the floors beneath her feet were smooth, as if they had been sculpted from some unknown, dense material that absorbed sound. The desks were arranged in a perfect semicircle, and the air hummed with a faint, almost imperceptible energy field that seemed to thrum in her very bones.
She took a seat at an empty desk in the far corner, away from the others. She needed the distance, the space to breathe. But even as she settled in, she could feel the invisible barrier that separated her from them. These students weren't just peers—they were a step ahead, already immersed in the language of ascension, already wrapped in the essence of their powers. Some wore subtle symbols of their lineage on their uniforms; others had hints of their abilities lingering like a faint aura, visible only to those who knew how to look.
June didn't know how to look. Not yet.
The instructor—Master Kael, a towering figure whose presence seemed to bend the very air—stepped to the front of the room. His silver hair caught the dim light, giving him an almost ethereal glow. But it wasn't his appearance that commanded attention. It was his aura. Even from across the room, June could feel the weight of his power pressing against her, a constant, quiet reminder that she was no longer in the realm of normal students.
"Wryward," he said, his voice smooth and calm, yet with an underlying sharpness that made everyone fall silent. "You have awakened."
It wasn't a question. It was a fact. One she had heard a thousand times before, but this time, the words carried a different weight.
His eyes met hers—piercing and unyielding. She could almost feel the layers of his scrutiny, as if he were peering into her very soul.
She nodded, keeping her posture steady, even though her heart pounded loudly in her chest. It was as though the universe itself was watching her every move.
Master Kael's voice cut through the tension in the room like a blade. "Now, we shall test your cultivation potential."
June's heart skipped a beat as she looked up in front of the class where a device was placed.The device before her seemed to shimmer in the air, its design sleek and polished, a marvel of ancient magitech. It was the Lumen Sphere, a testing apparatus that had been passed down through generations of Ascendant instructors. Its core was composed of crystalized mana-infused metal, capable of measuring a cultivator's latent energy and potential—everything from elemental affinity to their ability factor.
The sphere hovered gently above a podium, its surface rippling with faint ethereal runes. As the room watched, the tension in the air seemed to grow, humming with the anticipation of this moment. The soft blue light of the sphere danced off the walls, casting fleeting shadows around the room, making the students feel as if they were on the precipice of something monumental.
Master Kael stepped forward, his long fingers brushing against the surface of the sphere, and the glow intensified. "Place your hand on the sphere, Wryward."
June hesitated for only a moment before she stood and approached the device. She had heard of these tests, of course. But knowing they were coming and facing them head-on were two very different things. Her palm tingled as she extended it toward the sphere, the soft hum growing louder as her skin neared its surface.
The moment her hand made contact, the entire room seemed to inhale as the Lumen Sphere flared to life. A series of glowing symbols erupted around her, circling her form as energy swirled in a burst of colors that no human eye had ever fully comprehended.
For a moment, it was like she could feel the entire weight of the world pressing down on her, the rush of power surging through her veins like an untamed river. It was as if the very air around her had become alive with energy, reacting to the resonance of her soul.
Her senses sharpened to an unbearable clarity. The ground beneath her feet felt like it was trembling. The runes—each one intricately detailed and swirling like a storm—seemed to pulse with her heartbeat, growing stronger, faster, more intense. It was overwhelming, yet strangely familiar, as if this power had always been there, lying dormant, waiting for the right moment to be awakened.
The Lumen Sphere's energy readings fluctuated wildly, fluctuating between extremes of heat and cold, light and darkness. The hum that surrounded her shifted, growing more chaotic, then stilling as the sphere's energy stabilized and settled. Then, just as abruptly, a flood of data appeared above her head—glowing blue glyphs, flashing rapidly, assessing her power, breaking it down into numbers and rankings.
The instructor's gaze never wavered, but June could feel the intensity of his scrutiny. Every fiber of her being was consumed by the moment, and then, with a sharp exhale, the results materialized in front of them all:
Cultivation Rank: Mythical
Ability Factor: S-Class
Ability Name: Ice Empress
The words hung in the air, pulsating with an electric charge, reverberating against the walls. The room fell utterly silent. Even Master Kael stood still for a moment, his usually stoic expression faltering.
June's breath caught in her throat as she looked at the glowing symbols. Mythical… S-Class? Was this truly her potential?
Her mind raced, a storm of thoughts swirling within her. She had no idea what that even meant. Mythical. Was that good? Was it a joke? The cold feeling inside her chest tightened. Her powers—her talents—had only begun to surface, and already, they were being ranked at a level beyond what she had imagined.
Master Kael's voice broke through her haze of confusion, his tone unexpectedly calm. "The Ice Empress. It seems you have some sort of affinity for Ice. This is no small feat, Wryward."
Ice. Empress. She had felt the cold surge through her during the test, but she had thought it was just a fluke—something that would pass. Instead, it was now clear. She wasn't just wielding a typical elemental force. No, she was controlling something ancient, something regal in its own way.
An emperor's power.
Master Kael continued, "You will need to refine this ability. The S-Class ranking is both a gift and a challenge. You have the potential to become one of the most formidable forces to ever walk this world, but you must learn to control the depth of your power, or it will consume you. Ice, as a force, is both beautiful and deadly. Like a ruler with absolute authority, it can freeze, shatter, and overwhelm."
The students around her began to whisper—soft, reverent murmurs, their eyes filled with a mix of awe and jealousy. June could feel their gazes, but she couldn't bring herself to care. Her mind was still spinning, unable to process the weight of the words hanging in the air.
Ice Empress. The title seemed to echo inside her head, resonating like a drumbeat. A new identity was forming, but she didn't know who it belonged to, not yet. Was it hers to claim? Did she even want it?
But just as quickly, a second, darker thought crept into her mind—What if I can't control it? What if this power was more than she could handle?
She forced herself to take a steady breath, her hand still resting on the sphere. "What… what do I do now?" she asked, the words trembling at the edges of her calm façade.
Master Kael met her eyes, his expression unreadable. "You train, Wryward. You begin the journey of mastering this power. Your awakening is only the beginning, but what you become from here on out—that will be up to you."
After the Lumen Sphere's display had faded, the room settled into a quiet hum. June felt the weight of the students' gazes still lingering on her, but she managed to collect herself enough to return to her seat. The chair felt too large beneath her, and the energy that had once felt exhilarating now seemed heavy, as if her very presence in this room had disturbed the balance of things.
Master Kael, regaining his composure, turned to the blackboard at the front of the room. With a smooth motion, he activated the board, and a series of intricate, swirling symbols appeared in the air. They looked like a strange dance of geometrical shapes and arcane figures, each one layered upon the next in a web of complexity that made June's head spin.
"Now that we've seen the breadth of your potential, Wryward, let us begin with something more foundational: the Mystic Arts formulas. These will be the building blocks of your mastery."
He began writing swiftly, his fingers tracing runes in the air as if the very symbols were part of his bloodline. June watched, her gaze drawn to the swirling patterns. Each formula seemed to possess a life of its own, moving, shifting—alive. The ancient symbols hung in the air for a moment before they were absorbed by the board, leaving only faint trails of light.
Master Kael's voice carried across the room, steady and commanding. "The Mystic Arts are not just a method of controlling your power. They are the language of the universe, a means of shaping and refining the forces that flow through you. But as you progress, they become more complex, more intricate. The true masters can weave multiple formulas together to achieve feats that seem impossible to the untrained eye."
He paused, letting the weight of his words settle into the room. "You will learn to harness your ability factor, to channel it through these formulas. It is through this precision that your power becomes more than a mere force of nature—it becomes a tool of your will."
June tried to focus, but her mind felt foggy. She glanced at the formulas on the board, and her stomach dropped. The symbols were far more complicated than anything she had seen in her studies as a Dormant Mystic. They weren't just lines and curves. They were dense, multi-layered constructs that seemed to bend and stretch in ways she couldn't fully comprehend. The runes twisted in patterns she couldn't follow, and the formulas spiraled into infinite possibilities, each one more intricate than the last.
Her pulse quickened. She had always thought that her training as a Dormant Mystic was difficult, but this… this was beyond anything she could have prepared for.
Master Kael, as though sensing her confusion, continued without hesitation, "The formulas we will begin with today are for controlling the flow of energy within your body. You will learn to channel it without overwhelming your system, a critical step in becoming a true Ascendant." He turned to face the class, his eyes briefly meeting June's. "For the more advanced students, this is where the real challenge begins. But for you, Wryward, I expect the difficulty will be... different."
The way he said it, so casually, sent a shiver down June's spine. She couldn't tell if he was impressed or concerned. Either way, the pressure was on.
As the class moved on, June tried to keep up, but the formulas seemed to slip through her mind like water through her fingers. She copied the symbols down in her notebook, but they made no sense. Her eyes burned with the effort to focus, to decipher the runes, but it felt as if she were trying to read an entirely new language—one that refused to reveal its meaning.
By the time the bell rang, signaling the end of the class, June felt completely drained, her mind overwhelmed by the complexity of what she had just encountered. The students around her were already packing up, exchanging murmurs about the day's lesson, but June remained seated, staring at her notebook, her head throbbing with confusion.
Master Kael had been watching her. As the others filed out of the room, he approached her desk, his steps soft but deliberate.
"Wryward," he said, his tone both firm and measured. "I need to speak with you."
June looked up, her eyes heavy. She nodded, trying to steady herself, though she felt like her world was spinning. Master Kael's gaze was unreadable, his expression a perfect mask of calm.
"You're struggling with the formulas," he observed, though it wasn't a question. "It's normal. The Mystic Arts are not something that can be mastered overnight. And for someone with your power... the learning curve is steeper than most. You're already a step ahead of your peers in raw talent, but without control, that talent will remain untapped—dangerous, even."
June swallowed hard, guilt and frustration welling up inside her. "I... I can't keep up. The formulas are too complicated. I don't understand them."
Master Kael's gaze softened, just slightly. "You will. But it will take time, and it will take effort. However, there is something more immediate that you must address."
June raised an eyebrow, unsure where he was going with this.
"You are not the same as the others," Master Kael continued, his voice lowering, becoming more personal. "Your ability factor, Ice Empress—it's unique, and it requires far more precision than what these formulas can offer. It's not about learning in a classroom. It's about you learning to control it on your own, in your own way."
He paused for a moment, his eyes studying her with an intensity that felt almost... knowing.
"I suggest you sign up for one-on-one sessions with me," he said, his voice calm but firm. "We'll focus on controlling your ability factor. I can guide you through the process of shaping that power before it shapes you."
June's chest tightened at the offer. One-on-one sessions with Master Kael? It felt both like a blessing and a burden. She had no idea how to begin controlling the power surging through her, but she wasn't about to back down. Not when she had just seen what she was capable of.
"I'll sign up," she said quietly, her voice steady despite the unease settling in her stomach.
As Master Kael nodded at her agreement, June felt a brief sense of resolution. She would train. She would learn control. She would face whatever came next. But before the weight of those thoughts could settle fully in her chest, the door to the classroom swung open with a sharp creak, breaking the tense air.
All eyes turned as the figure in the doorway filled the space with an undeniable presence. Samantha Sinclair, the Asha'Yee—the legendary Keeper of the Sacred Flame—stood framed by the doorway, her silhouette almost glowing against the dim light of the classroom. Her striking features were set in a calm, unreadable expression, though there was a certain intensity in the way her eyes focused on June.
The room held its breath.
Master Kael, who had been the unshakable pillar of authority throughout the lesson, straightened, his expression flickering with a rare hint of surprise. June herself felt a wave of confusion wash over her. Sam's appearance here was unexpected. Yet, she couldn't deny the commanding air the Asha'Yee carried with her, as if every step she took was guided by a purpose far greater than any of them could understand.
"Master Kael," Sam greeted, her voice smooth but with an undeniable weight. She glanced briefly at him, her gaze steady. "I appreciate the dedication that you have shown forth as an Academia, but I've come to take June away from the school."
The words struck the air like a sudden storm, rippling through the room, making the air feel colder, heavier. June blinked in surprise, her heart skipping a beat. Was this… for real? Wait...Did the Asha'Yee just spoke of taking me away from the school.
Master Kael's posture stiffened slightly, but he did not immediately respond. He studied Sam carefully, a subtle tension lingering between them. "The Asha'Yee," he began, his voice measured, "is more than capable of guiding an Ascendant, but…"
"Master Kael," Sam interjected, her tone unwavering, though not disrespectful. "You know full well what she is. What we are. I'm not here to undermine your teachings. But June's path is different, even from that of an ordinary Ascendant. She is a self awakener, and with that comes its own set of challenges. She needs someone who understands the complexities of her ascension. Her abilities are volatile—untamed, and I'm afraid that this is something the school isn't ready for."
There was a brief pause as the room absorbed the weight of Sam's words. The students had all stopped moving, and a sense of quiet curiosity lingered in the air. June, for a moment, could barely breathe. Sam Sinclair, the living embodiment of divine fire and transformation, was offering to take her under her wing.
Master Kael let out a soft sigh, and for a moment, his usual stoic demeanor faltered. He studied Sam's face, his eyes narrowing as if weighing the options before him. Finally, he gave a small, resigned nod. "I will not argue with you, Asha'Yee. You know more than I what June requires. "
Sam's lips curved into a subtle, knowing smile. Her eyes then moved to June, and for the first time, there was a softness in her gaze.
"June," Sam said, her voice warmer now, "come with me. We have a lot to discuss."
June's heart raced. She wanted to speak, to protest or ask questions, but the words caught in her throat. Instead, she simply nodded. This was happening. The path was being set for her, and there was no turning back.
As she stood from her desk, the classroom seemed to melt away. The space felt smaller, more intimate, as if the world outside had been shut out. The reality of what Sam had just declared—the weight of being under the guidance of the Asha'Yee herself—settled like a heavy mantle on her shoulders. Could she live up to this expectation? Could she master her abilities in the way Sam believed she could?
Master Kael gave one last glance between Sam and June before stepping aside, his gaze unreadable. "I trust you will see this through, Asha'Yee. She has an exceptional talent, but her journey will not be easy."
"I don't expect it to be," Sam replied, her voice calm but full of purpose. "The best never come without hardship"
With that, Sam turned and began walking toward the door, and June followed, her movements slow at first, as if testing the weight of the decision. As she passed by Master Kael, she caught a flicker of something in his eyes—perhaps respect, perhaps something else—but before she could dwell on it, she stepped into the hallway.
The door swung shut behind them with a soft thud, leaving the quiet of the classroom behind, and the students who were still in awe at seeing the Asha'Yee.
Outside, the halls were quiet, almost eerily so. Sam walked ahead of her, her pace purposeful, her steps echoing down the corridor. She didn't look back, but June could feel the weight of her presence, her energy, pulling her forward.
"You're about to embark on a very different journey, June," Sam said after a moment, her voice steady, yet impossible to ignore. The words were calm, but there was a force behind them that felt undeniable. "I understand you're confused. I understand you're overwhelmed. But let me simplify it for you: I've seen what you're capable of. And I'm not letting you stumble. I'm here to guide you now."
June drew in a steadying breath, trying to ground herself, but her thoughts spun like a storm in her mind. "But... why me? I don't even know what my ability is. I couldn't keep up with the lessons, and—"
Sam stopped in her tracks, turning to face June. Her fiery gaze locked onto hers, intense yet somehow soft—deep, knowing eyes that felt like they could see through every doubt, every insecurity. June couldn't believe she was standing here, talking to the Asha'Yee herself—the legendary savior of Terra. She'd heard her parents speak of Sam's power, her unwavering strength, her role in the Convergence. Sam had stood at the dawn of a new era, protecting Terra and its people with an untold force. To be this close... it was both an honor and a weight June hadn't fully grasped.
Before she could say another word, Sam reached out, placing a firm yet reassuring hand on June's right shoulder. The touch was grounding, like a pulse of warmth in the otherwise sterile corridor.
"I won't mince words for you, June," Sam said, her voice suddenly much more serious, each syllable carrying the gravity of unspoken truths. "As of today, your life will be one of hardship, pain, and suffering. That's the reality of being a cultivator. But here's the thing—if you want to survive, if you want to grow strong, then you need to learn to endure it. My job is to make sure you have the tools to face this journey and the strength to survive it. Do you understand?"
June blinked, feeling the weight of Sam's words settle in her chest. A shiver ran down her spine, not from fear, but from the quiet intensity of Sam's presence. It felt like being told, not just of the path ahead, but of the fire it would forge her in. This wasn't a comforting gesture—it was a reality check. The kind only someone who had lived through it could offer.
She nodded, her voice steady but small. "Yes. I understand."
Sam gave her a single, approving nod. "Good."
Without another word, Sam reached into her bag and pulled out a sleek, unfamiliar device—an Exodus, June recognized. A teleportation tool, one of the most efficient ways to travel across realms or vast distances, used only by those who had proven themselves worthy of such advanced tech. The small, metallic object hummed faintly as Sam's fingers danced over the controls.
"Now," Sam said, her tone shifting again, purpose taking over, "let's get out of here. There's a lot I need to do, and you're coming with me."
With that, she activated the device, and in the blink of an eye, the world around them began to blur into a whirl of shifting colors. June barely had time to grasp what was happening before she felt the pull, like being yanked through a vortex, disoriented but somehow grounded by Sam's unshakable presence.
When the world around them cleared, they stood in a completely new place—a sharp contrast to the sterile halls of the academy. The air was thick with the scent of ancient stone and the hum of an otherworldly energy that seemed to pulse from every corner. June's eyes widened, her breath catching as she took in the new surroundings.