"But more importantly," he continued, his voice losing its usual teasing edge, "you need to get stronger yourself. Yesterday proved you can hold your own—but barely. And those people? They won’t stop at just you."
His emerald eyes gleamed in the twilight. "They’ll extend their hands to those closest to you. That’s why you have to be stronger."
I nodded, my grip tightening on the fishing rod. "I know."
This world didn’t play fair. If my enemies couldn’t reach me, they’d go after my friends and... my family that I have yet to see.
The thought alone sent a cold ripple through my chest.
Virion studied me for a long moment before nodding, satisfied. Then—
"Now," he said, "let’s talk about your... unusual situation."
"You aren’t a Resonator," he mused, "but you’re strong enough to beat a skilled one—even if they’re low-ranked. And your strange powers..." His tail coiled thoughtfully. "You have no aura. Yet you wield those powers freely, as if they were born from your very bones."
The lake below was perfectly still, mirroring the tension in the air.
The conversation I’d been dreading before.
But now I have talked with him for a bit and thought carefully. I think I can trust Master with my secret.
Who knows... I thought, studying Virion’s serpentine form hovering above the tranquil lake. Maybe this is for my own good...
If anyone could help, it was a primordial being like him. Because in most stories, powerful entities could alter or even restore memories. Among the people/entities I know, he was the only one who might be able to help unravel the mystery of my past.
Taking a steadying breath, I turned to face him fully. "Master... there’s something I’ve been keeping from you. From everyone. If I tell you... can you keep it to yourself? And... help me with it if possible?"
Virion’s lips curled in that familiar, knowing smirk. "You can choose whether to trust me or not, boy. It’s your secret after all." His tail flicked dismissively. "As for keeping it? That I can do."
"Thank you." I exhaled, the tension in my shoulders easing slightly. Then I began my story - explaining how I’d woken up in class two months ago with no memories beyond fragments of stories and books, how I’d clung to the library as my only source of stability in those early days, how I’d pieced together enough to survive while hiding my condition. Nearly everything except the things the system was involved.
"...And you know the rest," I finished. "As for the abilities... I don’t know how I awakened them either. The knowledge of how to use them just... appears in my mind suddenly or when needed." I met his gaze squarely. "Master, can you help me with my memories? Is there any way to restore what I’ve lost?"
The lake’s surface remained unnaturally still as Virion considered my words. His emerald scales caught the fading light as he coiled thoughtfully in midair. For the first time since I’d met him, his usual mischievous demeanor gave way to something more... contemplative.
Finally, he spoke. "Amnesia, hm?" His tail twitched. "That explains some things. But boy..." His eyes gleamed with an intensity that made my skin prickle. "...your situation is far more interesting than simple memory loss."
Virion effortlessly caught a 5-meter fish and threw it back to the lake, and under my astonished gaze, he continued. "From what I can tell, you’re experiencing a false awakening - or what we call an incomplete resonance. Normally, those in this state either manifest aura without any affinity or abilities... or gain powers without ever developing aura at all."
"Think of it like a flame that catches on dry wood but never fully burns," Virion continued, his voice almost nostalgic. "It flickers, unstable. Sometimes bright, sometimes gone. And no one knows if it will ever become a true fire—or die out altogether."
His emerald eyes gleamed. "Your situation clearly fits the latter. But I can’t recall how long it takes to complete such an awakening. These cases are rarer than natural awakenings, after all."
I nodded slowly, my mind racing. A false awakening? That would explain so much - the lack of aura, and being able to use these powers without it. Yet... was that truly my situation? The System had given me these powers, not some false awakening process. Unless...
Unless the System was somehow connected to this world’s resonance phenomenon.
"Master," I asked carefully, "what about the traditional awakening? Could that still work for someone like me?"
Virion chuckled, the sound rippling across the lake’s surface. "Normally, I’d say no or yes. Once your path is set, it’s set." His expression turned thoughtful. "But you’re full of surprises, boy. If anyone could make it work, it would be you."
But I still think it won’t be a problem - I will probably awaken truly in the traditional awakening ceremony. Until then, I can use this false awakening thingy as a cover. Though I think I need to keep them to myself and show as little as possible, after all, you can’t keep awakening powers like me in this world, right?
Virion’s tail flicked thoughtfully as he continued. "And as for your amnesia... it might be a side effect of this false awakening phenomenon."
I nodded slowly. That wasn’t entirely impossible, but my instincts told me this wasn’t entirely the case.
"There are other theories as well," Virion mused, his voice taking on a more speculative tone. "Perhaps you received some ancient inheritance that wiped or replaced your memories in the process. Or..." His emerald eyes gleamed dangerously. "...there could be a powerful entity guiding your every step."
As he spoke, his pupils narrowed into vertical slits, and suddenly I felt utterly exposed - like every cell in my body was being examined under some cosmic microscope. My skin prickled with unnatural awareness as those ancient eyes seemed to peer straight through me. My pulse hammered so loudly I feared Virion could hear it
"I-I think the first one is more plausible," I blurted out, breaking the unbearable scrutiny.
Virion blinked, the intensity fading as he leaned back. Internally, I breathed a sigh of relief. That was too close - for a moment, I’d been certain he’d see right through me to the System itself.
"They wouldn’t be able to hide from me after all..."