Morning classes dragged on as usual.
Riven sat beside Ivan, pretending to pay attention while the teacher explained something about historical economics.
Pretending.
The keyword being pretending.
His notebook was empty.
His mind was elsewhere.
Eventually he leaned slightly toward Ivan.
"The President wants to see me after school."
Ivan didn't even look up from his book.
"I know."
Riven blinked.
"You know?"
"You were followed by an Association messenger yesterday."
"...You knew that too?"
"I knew the moment he entered your street."
Riven stared at him.
"Sometimes I forget how ridiculous your family is."
Ivan finally glanced sideways.
"And yet we're friends."
"Unfortunately."
"Agreed."
Riven clicked his tongue.
Then after a moment he asked:
"Why do you think he wants me there?"
Ivan thought briefly.
"Maybe he wants you to join the Association."
Riven frowned.
"Is that a good thing?"
That finally made Ivan close his book.
"It depends."
"On?"
"You."
Riven waited.
"The Association is powerful."
Ivan leaned back slightly.
"If you perform well, you'll have one of the Ten Giants supporting you."
"Sounds good."
"It is."
Then Ivan added:
"But even if you don't join..."
His expression remained calm.
"...I'm here too, aren't I?"
For a moment Riven looked at him.
Then laughed.
"That sounded strangely emotional."
"It wasn't."
"It was."
"It wasn't."
"It was."
The teacher suddenly slammed a ruler against the desk.
"Mr. Ashford."
Riven immediately sat straight.
"Yes sir."
"Since you're clearly enjoying your conversation..."
The teacher smiled dangerously.
"Why don't you answer question number seven?"
Riven's soul almost left his body.
Ivan looked away.
Very deliberately.
Traitor.
School finally ended.
Students flooded out of the academy.
This time Riven headed somewhere else.
The talisman the Association messenger had given him rested inside his pocket.
Following the instructions written on it, he arrived at an ordinary-looking alley.
Nothing special.
Just old brick walls and a dead end.
Riven looked around.
Then activated the talisman.
Immediately—
The world distorted.
Space folded inward.
The alley disappeared.
And Riven stepped into another reality.
His eyes widened.
"...What."
A massive city stretched before him.
Towering structures rose into the sky.
Bridges connected floating platforms.
Ascendants moved everywhere.
Some radiated terrifying pressure.
Others wore uniforms bearing Association insignias.
For a moment—
Riven felt like a villager entering a capital city for the first time.
His entire understanding of the supernatural world suddenly seemed tiny.
"...Ivan forgot to mention this part."
Several minutes later he entered the Association Headquarters.
The building itself felt more like a palace than an office.
After asking directions three separate times and getting lost twice—
Riven finally reached the reception desk.
The receptionist smiled professionally.
"Name?"
"Riven Ashford."
She typed something.
"Rank?"
"Three-Star Ascendant."
The woman froze.
"...Excuse me?"
"Three-Star."
She slowly looked up.
Then down.
Then up again.
Her expression clearly saying:
You look sixteen.
"Is there a problem?"
"N-No."
She coughed awkwardly.
"No problem."
Several nearby employees were already staring.
Riven suddenly felt uncomfortable.
Eventually he was guided deeper into the headquarters.
Past training grounds.
Past meeting halls.
Past offices.
Until finally—
He reached a garden.
Riven blinked.
A garden.
Inside headquarters.
In the middle of that garden sat the President.
Wearing simple clothes.
Watering flowers.
"..."
"..."
Riven stood there silently.
This was not what he expected.
The old man glanced over.
"Oh."
A smile appeared.
"You're here."
Riven stared.
"You were watering flowers."
"Very observant."
"I thought presidents did president things."
"I am."
The old man pointed at a flower.
"This one almost died yesterday."
"..."
Riven decided not to question it.
Soon both sat beneath a wooden pavilion.
Tea rested on the table between them.
The President got straight to the point.
"I have a mission for you."
Riven immediately became suspicious.
"What kind of mission?"
The President slid a file across the table.
Riven opened it.
Inside were photographs.
Reports.
Maps.
Witness statements.
The first image made him frown.
A village.
Or what used to be one.
Now it was swallowed by a strange gray mist.
The mist covered everything.
Buildings.
Roads.
Fields.
Even the sky above seemed distorted.
"A month ago this village disappeared."
Riven looked up.
"Disappeared?"
"The mist appeared overnight."
The President nodded.
"Nobody who entered reached the center."
Riven frowned.
"What about Ascendants?"
"We sent several."
The President's expression became serious.
"None found answers."
Silence.
Then Riven closed the file.
"Why me?"
The President smiled.
"Straight to the important question."
"Obviously."
The old man folded his hands.
"I know what happened in Velkhar."
Riven's expression twitched.
"That's unfortunate."
"I know how you performed."
The President continued calmly.
"I know about your conflict with the Vaelcrest Family."
"...Very unfortunate."
The President laughed.
Then his voice became serious.
"I want you to join the Association."
Riven wasn't surprised.
He had already guessed.
"What do I get from it?"
The President's eyes narrowed slightly.
Not in anger.
In approval.
Most young Ascendants would've immediately agreed.
Riven negotiated.
Good.
"The Association is government-funded."
The President explained.
"Our salary and resources cannot compete with ancient families."
"Or the other major organizations."
Riven nodded.
"So you're short on talent."
"Exactly."
The old man smiled.
"And you're talented."
For a moment silence lingered.
Then he pointed toward the file.
"If you perform well."
The President's voice became calm but firm.
"I will personally become your backer."
Riven's eyebrows rose.
That was significant.
Very significant.
The President continued.
"You gain protection."
"You gain resources."
"You gain influence."
"And?"
"And I gain a talented young Ascendant."
The honesty actually surprised Riven.
No manipulation.
No tricks.
Just straightforward negotiation.
After thinking for a while—
Riven stood.
"I'll do the mission first."
The President smiled.
"Fair."
"And after that?"
"I'll decide."
The old man laughed.
"Fair again."
By the time Riven returned home—
The sun had already set.
The smell of dinner greeted him immediately.
Perfect timing.
Or so he thought.
The entire family was already seated.
Waiting.
His father looked up slowly.
His mother looked up slowly.
Kiara looked up while trying not to laugh.
Danger.
Riven immediately knew danger.
He hurried toward the bathroom.
"I'll wash my hands."
Several minutes later he finally sat down.
The meal began peacefully.
Suspiciously peacefully.
Then Viren spoke.
"Riven."
Uh oh.
"Yes?"
His father looked directly into his eyes.
"Are you involved with a bad group of friends?"
Riven nearly choked.
"What?"
"You've been coming home late repeatedly."
The Deputy Director's gaze sharpened.
"What exactly are you doing?"
Riven's brain immediately entered survival mode.
Fast.
Very fast.
Then inspiration struck.
"I've been studying."
Silence.
"Studying?"
"Yes."
His confidence grew.
"At Ivan's house."
Viren blinked.
Elena blinked.
Even Kiara stopped eating.
Riven continued boldly.
"Final exams are approaching."
His father slowly turned toward Elena.
Then back toward Riven.
Then back toward Elena again.
Nobody believed him.
Not even slightly.
Kiara buried her face into her plate.
Trying desperately not to laugh.
Viren finally sighed.
A long tired sigh.
"Riven."
"Yes?"
"At least make your lies believable."
The entire table erupted into laughter.
Except Riven.
Who felt personally attacked.
Late that night—
While lying in bed—
Riven stared at the mission file resting on his desk.
The strange mist-covered village stared back from the photographs.
His first real mission.
His first real step into the supernatural world.
And somehow—
A feeling in his chest told him one thing.
This wasn't going to be simple.
Not even a little.
End