Nick awoke three hours later in his bed, with Scarlett by his side. She had entered his room unannounced after school and found him lying on the floor.

  She immediately took care of him, doing what she could, laying him in his bed, contacting their grandparents, and waiting.

  Despite her impetuous and brash demeanor, she was deeply concerned for her brother. When he woke up, it was a relief for her.

  She informed the elders and Dante and Maddie, whom she had called half an hour earlier when he wouldn't wake up.

  He sat up in his bed, his face embodying pure exhaustion. He thanked her and promptly dismissed her, which made her sulk for a moment but without consequence.

  As she closed the door behind her, she turned and said:

  — By the way, Grandma is waiting for you in the living room. Get dressed quickly and go see her.

  After a brief hesitation, she added: She was worried about you, you know. And Grandpa too. You haven't seemed well lately.

  These last words darkened his face. Nick nodded in agreement and, once alone, tried to recall the events that had brought him here.

  He searched his memory, but in vain. He decided to give up and go see his grandmother.

  This prospect didn't particularly thrill him, as his grandmother had a habit of looking at you with an inquisitive eye so piercing it seemed to uncover the secrets hidden deep within your soul.

  Of course, he had to go see her, but he would be careful not to let anything about his condition slip.

  A few minutes later, he descended to the ground floor and headed toward the living room.

  Sometimes, like today, this immense house seemed deserted to him—too vast for four souls: two teenagers and two elderly people.

  He saw his grandmother, engulfed in her beloved armchair in a corner of the room. She would sit there for hours, pensive, seeking ways to fill her days.

  She always emerged with a new idea. Her face radiated pride, bordering on vanity. It was one of the day's most joyous moments, and neither Nick nor Scarlett ever grew tired of it.

  He approached quietly. Her eyes remained closed, but despite the gentleness she exuded, her stern features alarmed Nick. Something was off. Without opening her eyes, she murmured:

  — Is that you, Nick?

  — Yes, Grandma, he replied.

  — Sit down, my boy. I need to talk to you, she continued, her tone serious.

  Nick stepped closer, feeling a heavy atmosphere. Her eyes stayed shut, but he could sense her piercing gaze.

  He sat on the couch facing her, his heart heavy. He began to evaluate the situation from another angle. The seriousness his grandmother displayed deeply unsettled him.

  What did she want to talk about? Was it serious? Had she figured out what happened the other night? Had she noticed his weariness these past days? Did she have an answer for it?

  So many questions swirled in his mind at that moment. After a moment of confusion, he shook his head vigorously, dismissing those seemingly futile thoughts.

  He then glanced quickly at his grandmother. She might have seemed a bit shrunken in her immense armchair, but don't be mistaken—she had a profound understanding of the human soul.

  Moreover, she was famous across the continent, even the world, for her unparalleled mastery.

  She had been the first to tame the three forms of Ora, a feat that had overturned preconceived notions about this mysterious energy.

  — Nick, something is troubling you, isn't it? Her voice was soft but sharp. I can see the fatigue in your eyes, the fear that dwells within you. What's going on, my boy?

  Nick, taken aback, wondered how she could guess his distress. Words stuck in his throat. He stepped closer, a mix of anxiety and curiosity churning in his stomach.

  His grandmother, with her incomparable wisdom on Ora, was his last glimmer of hope to shed light on the darkness that had engulfed him for days.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  The sunlight streaming through the curtains created a warm, soothing effect in the room, making Nick feel a little more at ease.

  Her eyes were still closed, but her expression suggested she understood every worry plaguing him.

  He even felt almost relieved just by looking at her face. He pondered for a moment, then, gathering his courage, he asked her:

  — There's something I'd like to talk to you about, Grandma.

  As if coming to life, she immediately replied:

  — Of course, go ahead.

  Thus, for years he followed this path, until he discovered how to wield his Ora, at which point new, previously unknown perspectives opened up to him.

  And Nick detailed everything that had happened to him since that fateful day at school to his grandmother: his sudden migraine, his hallucination, what happened later that evening with Scarlett and the others.

  He ended by describing his state of the past few days. He took care not to omit any details, even though he didn't have much hope in what she could tell him.

  He had already done tons of research these days without reaching any conclusive results, and although she was a pioneer in the understanding and use of Ora, he doubted she could teach him something about his condition that he hadn't already found.

  But, inexplicably, talking to her relieved him of a certain burden, a weight he had been carrying alone for a while that, although crazy in the world they lived in, would seem insane at first glance.

  Thus, he hadn't mentioned it to anyone, not even Dante. In retrospect, they had rarely seen each other lately. Returning to his story, he finished by asking her what she thought of it all, what could possibly be happening to him.

  Looking at her old, bitter face, he noticed she was nodding slowly as if his story had already confirmed a certainty she held.

  Suddenly, after a few minutes, she finally opened her eyes—small bright hazel eyes filled with unmasked excitement—and turned them towards Nick:

  — Ultimately, these are things that happen, she murmured more to herself than to Nick in front of her.

  Nick, not having quite understood what she said, asked her to repeat what she had just said. The grandmother, a bit surprised, seemed to search for her words before beginning:

  — What I'm going to tell you today represents the best-kept secret in our family. It has the power to influence not only your destiny but also that of the country and even the entire continent. Are you ready to hear it?

  She posed this question with a slight smile as if it were time to show her gift to a child.

  Nick, although naturally quite calm, had undergone significant changes in his life these past few days that had caused him to lose his composure several times and even put Scarlett in danger according to him.

  He had decided to get himself together quickly, find an explanation for what was happening to him and resolve it if necessary. In searching for the cause of his current state, he had prepared for all conceivable eventualities ranging from simple hallucinations and overwork to a one-way ticket to hell.

  Therefore, this beginning of revelation from his grandmother did not shock him excessively. Without any hesitation, he nodded yes.

  He then fell silent to let her continue.

  — Well, she said. For generations and for hundreds of years now, a mysterious ability has awakened in our family. From what you've described to me, I've concluded that it can only be that. Taking a breath, she continued. Nearly half a millennium ago, the continent was completely ravaged by an unknown individual. It was actually our ancestor. Following a traumatic situation, he had just awakened this ability. However, he let anger consume him and came to destroy everything

  She paused again. Nick's eyes lit up after his grandmother's words. At the same time, a shiver ran through his body. He had a bad feeling. What she had just told him illustrated exactly what he had seen in his hallucinations. His grandmother's words pulled him away from his thoughts:

  — This ability, as mysterious as it is dangerous, usually awakens in adulthood, but in some cases, like yours, it awakens towards the end of adolescence. In adulthood, it is easier to control its awakening, unlike in adolescence. And if I believe the situation that happened to you, it seems perfectly normal that your awakening is so painful.

  Suddenly struck by a revelation, Nick hurried to interrupt her to ask a burning question:

  — And what about the hallucination I had at school? I had never experienced anything like that before. Why did I see what I saw? It shouldn't be possible, I said, both excited and anxious.

  The old lady scratched her chin very slowly and did this gesture for quite a while, allowing her grandson's excitement to subside.

  — Indeed, it's rather curious. It seems to me that it's not normal to have started your awakening so early and without apparent reason, she finally said.

  Again another question on the tip of his tongue, Nick continued:

  — Why didn't you ever tell me? I thought I was going crazy. He suddenly stopped and entered deep thought. Is Scars aware? he asked as seriously as possible.

  — No not at all, replied the old lady. And you shouldn't be aware either.

  No one should be aware.

  — And why is that, grandmother? he inquired, a hint of threat in his voice.

  — Because it's a curse. A very sad omen. The awakening of this ability means you will have to cross paths with him.

  Her voice choked in her throat. She looked truly shaken, which was not like her at all. Nick decided not to press the matter and asked something else:

  — And why shouldn't I be aware? I think on the contrary that it's one of those things that the whole family should know.

  Very troubled, the old lady seemed hesitant before answering. Nick immediately grasped the importance of what she might say or not say. She finally made up her mind and said uncertainly:

  — You see, your sister doesn't need to be aware. The awakening of this ability concerns only one family member per generation. And it is the eldest child who is supposed to be able to awaken it.

  — In that case, why shouldn't I be aware??! he asked this time raising his voice. He was clearly very annoyed by his grandmother's responses.

  — Well, she managed to say after a long hesitation, simply because I wasn't sure you would be able to awaken it. It would have served no purpose to torment you.

  Nick was clearly not very satisfied with this answer. Irritated, he jumped up from his seat in one go. He paced the room back and forth to calm down.