The crystal chandeliers of Aetheris Academy's Realm Awakening Hall blazed over the rows of students. Laia Hayes squinted, staring at the scuffed second-hand awakening crystal in her palms.She had worked three months of night shifts at a tavern to afford it—scrubbing mugs, skipping meals, while everyone else held brand-new Luminite Crystals that amplified divine energy ten times over. The cheapest of those cost more than she made in a year.
No one expected much from an orphan scholarship student. The rich kids whispered behind their hands, pointing at her frayed cloak, her scuffed boots, the dented crystal in her hands."Look, that's the scholarship kid. She can't even afford a new crystal.""Poor thing. She'll probably end up with a realm the size of a village.""At least she got in, right? I heard she worked three jobs to pay for the awakening."
Laia ignored them. She only wanted one thing: a tiny, stable pocket realm. A thousand followers at most. Just enough tax to pay her 1,000 gold demigod tuition. And if she saved enough, maybe... maybe she could open that little cheese sandwich shop she'd been dreaming of since she was a kid. The one with warm bread, melted cheese, crispy bacon. That was her whole dream.
"Next. Laia Hayes."
She hurried forward, tucking her frayed cloak tighter, and set the crystal on the testing platform. She closed her eyes, whispering a quiet prayer. Just small. Just enough to get by.
Beep. Realm awakening in progress.The cold automated voice rang out, and Laia held her breath.Beep. Awakening complete.
Realm size: Micro Pocket Realm.Population: 0.Divine rank: Demigod.
She sighed in relief. Perfect. Exactly what she needed.She snuck open the realm's entrance, turning the barrier as low as it would go. She'd heard there were refugees pouring out of the Chaos Sea lately, people whose realms had gotten eaten by the Corruption. If she could pick up a few of them, even casual worshippers, they'd pay her enough tax to get by.
She'd barely finished lowering the ward when twelve figures crashed through the barrier at once.
Laia blinked.That was... faster than she expected.
On the other side, the twelve ragged refugees froze.Kane Voss leaned on his cracked power armor, breathing hard. The stench of Corruption clung to them after seven days of fleeing. They had been running from Valerius, who had been chasing them for a year, trying to get them to safety before the pantheon found them. They had been certain they would die—until they crashed into this tiny, stable realm.
"Is this a trap?" Rokar Stonefist rumbled, his green knuckles white. They had been running for so long, they were ready for anything."No," Elara Moonwhisper whispered, her silver-gold hair tangled with dirt. She breathed in the clean air, and her eyes widened. "No Corruption at all. Not a single trace. Impossible for a realm this small."Kael Darkveil's shadowy form flickered. "An Overgod in hiding. Pretending to be weak. That's the only way."Mephis Abyssborn gritted his teeth. "We act as refugees. Beg for shelter. Lay low. If she's hiding, she won't turn us over."
They masked their auras, bowed their heads, and walked inward as humble wanderers. They had been hunted for so long, this was their only chance.
Back in the hall, Laia stared at her panel.New followers detected: 12. Refugees from the Chaos Sea.
Twelve? All at once?She clapped her hands quietly. At one silver per month per person, that would cover her tuition! She could even save up for that sandwich shop!
Then the testing crystal exploded in golden light, spiking straight past the Overgod limit. The red alarm lights flashed so fast they blurred.
The instructor's voice cracked. "Your realm energy—it's beyond the Overgod threshold!"
The hall went dead silent. Every head turned to stare at Laia."Wait, that's impossible!""She's a hidden Overgod?!""That's why she bought the second-hand crystal! To hide her power!""She's slumming it at the academy?!"
Laia stood frozen, utterly confused.It was just twelve refugees.Why was everyone screaming?