Kenny opened his eyes as he felt his body fully materialize. He was still positioned with his hand reaching out. However, instead of a person it was reaching out towards there was now nothing but air.

He wasn’t sure how he knew he had materialized nor that he had even dematerialized, but that was the only thing his mind would think of it as so it didn’t go crazy. The feeling of becoming nothing and then becoming whole again did flips in his stomach making him want to hurl. Luckily for him, he didn’t have much in his stomach to hurl.

Confusion fogged his brain as he tried to think about what had happened. Slowly, piece by piece, his memory came back. The order it came back in wasn’t correct, but the more they came back the more he remembered.

Having a horrible dinner with his family. Fighting three guys. Taking a verbal beating from his stepmother. Talking to a strange masked robed woman who had broken into his room. Having a demotivational talk with his father about how he needed to sacrifice and be responsible…

Kenny’s eyes widened as his mind focused on his father.

The last thing he saw before being teleported away was his father reaching out and calling his name. He remembered the fearful expression his father had before disappearing. Or, at least he thought it was a fearful one…Maybe he remembered it wrong.

His father didn’t have anything to be afraid of. Maybe it was a look of disappointment instead. Anger. No, probably disappointment. He was probably disappointed in him for not going along with what he wanted him to do and doing what he wanted instead.

A cough suddenly took Kenny out of his thoughts.

He turned around to see a young, beautiful teenage girl. She was slim with fair skin that looked flawless and brought out the redness of her long flowing hair and eyes. Both looked like a brilliant flame burning bright and strong. Her clothes were strange, not any style he had ever seen before, but it probably was because they were in the Tower, and he didn’t know how the fashion or armor was here.

 The Tower. He was finally in the Tower. The one place he had dreamed about going to and having adventures. Adventures with his best friend and crush who was already here and ahead of him by almost two days.

His eyes widened as he remembered that. He didn’t have much time and needed to hurry and get going. But then…why was there a teenage girl here? Was she waiting around for another person because no one wanted to team up with her? If that was the case then he was in luck. However, he needed to not screw this up and make a good first impression.

“Um, hello,” Kenny started.

“Hello,” the teenage girl said as she gave him a warm smile.

Kenny blushed as he witnessed the smile. Her smile filled him with warmth and welcoming. “Um, I don’t know if you were left behind and was waiting for someone to team up with, but after I awaken my Skill Tree and first ability, and if I have an ability that can be useful in keeping you safe I promise I will do my best. Only if you’d have me in your group that is.”

Kenny stumbled over his words as he felt them just pour out. He wasn’t sure why he said all of that and probably made himself look like a major creep, but it was probably for the best he got it out of the way now, so he didn’t tip toe around the subject and look extremely awkward.

The teenage girl brought a hand up to her face and started laughing. The sound of her laughter was beautiful. It almost had an ethereal sound to it as it echoed all around them. While he felt captivated by the sound of her laughing, he also started feeling a bit embarrassed since she hadn’t stopped laughing. He went to say something but was stopped as the teenage girl raised a hand and started calming down.

“I’m sorry,” she started. “That was quite rude of me.” She then looked at her arms, legs, and body.

The sight of her doing that made Kenny very confused. The way she was inspecting herself made it seem like she was getting a good look at herself for the very first time. After she was done he heard her mutter, “So this is how you perceive me.” She then looked back at him and asked, “Tell me. Did you say that because you found me beautiful or did you actually say that for another reason?”

Kenny was taken aback by the question at first. He wasn’t sure why she had asked it but decided if she really wanted an answer he would give her one. His cheeks blushed for a moment before he said, “Well…I mean…You are beautiful but…”

The teenage girl’s smile disappeared as a frown suddenly replaced it. She then said in almost a disappointed voice, “I see. Hormones took over and you wanted to make yourself look good to catch my attention. I can’t say…”

“Now hold on,” Kenny suddenly cut in. He wasn’t sure where this sudden judgement came from, but he didn’t like it. He had enough of it back at his home with his siblings and stepmother. Now that he was here in the Tower. He didn’t want that to happen anymore.

The teenage girl’s frown deepened as she said, “You know it’s quite rude to interrupt someone when they are speaking.”

 “I know. But you cut me off first before I could give you my full answer,” Kenny replied back. His tone was now defensive.

The teenage girl stared at him for a long moment before her frown disappeared and was replaced with an apologetic one. “You are quite right. I apologize for my rudeness. Please tell me what you were going to say until I rudely interrupted you.”

Kenny eyed the teenager for a long moment. Something didn’t feel right now that he was getting a better look of her. Her speech, mannerism, and the way she carried herself felt like she was older than she looked. Much older. However, her voice still sounded like a girl around his age or a year or two younger than him. He would have to go forward with the mindset he wasn’t talking to an actual teenager. However, he also didn’t want to lie. So, he went forward with his truth.

“As I was saying. You are beautiful, but that wasn’t the reason why I said all of that,” Kenny started back up. “Before coming here, I was told that everyone had already formed groups and left. When I arrived and saw you, I thought maybe you were here because you were either left behind or had a fight with whoever you grouped with and came back. I wanted to let you know that I hadn’t received my awakened ability or skill yet and if you were waiting for someone who could match what you have then after I received mine I would have been willing to group with you so you had someone to protect you from surprise attacks you might come across if you were alone.

“Also, when I said I promise I would do my best was so I could sound confident. Confidence is key when trying to form a group with those you don’t know. If one doesn’t sound confident how would people trust them to watch their back. Also, I said that last part so you wouldn’t think I am trying to force you to accept me. I understand that since no one really knows a lot of people, it could feel intimidating to have someone approach you and want to be grouped with you.”

The teenaged girl stared at him with a surprised look for a long moment. That look slowly disappeared and turned into that warm smile she had earlier as she said, “So you weren’t trying to hit on me, but trying to form a connection in a way that could end up into a friendship? A friendship between group members that could trust one another to have each other’s backs?”

Kenny looked embarrassed as he avoided her gaze on him. While she had hit the hammer on the nail with that shorter explanation, after hearing her explain it, it sounded like a cheesy way to do things. He didn’t have any luck when it came to making friends or talking with girls thanks to his siblings and how they would either ruin his friendships by starting problems and them complaining to their mother which had her tell him he had to stop being friends with people.

His best friend Gerald stuck around because he understood how things were and didn’t care nor rise to their provocations. As for why Rachelle hung around even after Stephanie said all those lies about him to her…Well, he had hoped she didn’t believe her and was around because she liked him.

The teenage girl nodded almost like she came to a decision and was happy with his words. She then said, “Good. You’re everything I hoped you would be.” This confused Kenny. The look on his face must have been obvious because she stated with a sigh, “I take it Vessie didn’t say much before sending you off? I swear, that girl is such a handful sometimes. I don’t know if she was just too excited or was being shy since she was finally...No, it was probably after seeing you she must have felt guilty and awkward, so she probably played the coy one not to reveal too much.” The teenaged girl gave him a pitying look as she added, “I am sorry for her actions and lack of explanations.”

Kenny’s brows scrunched as he grew even more confused. Vessie was the woman’s name? It must have been a nickname because he couldn’t think of any names that could be related to it. He let out a sigh as he realized he really didn’t get much from her but confusion. The same was happening here. He did realize one thing after this new bit of information.

“You’re not someone who got left behind or ditched and was waiting for someone to group with are you,” Kenny stated with a hint of disappointment.

The teenaged girl shook her head. “No. I am sorry. I am here to help you awaken your first Skill Tree and reveal to you what the ability is.”

“I see,” Kenny said, feeling both embarrassed for what he had said earlier and disappointed that he was still on his own.

“Now, now. No need to feel dejected,” the teenaged girl said in a cheery voice. “I may not be someone who you could team up with, but I can tell you that there are a few who were left on their own and could probably use someone they could trust. And if you were truly genuine with what you said earlier, I believe you won’t have any issues forming a team with them.”  

Kenny gave her a half smile. He knew it was probably just her way of trying to cheer him up. And while it was nice, he knew that the odds of that happening were still small. Deciding not to dwell on it more than he already had, Kenny asked, “So how does this work? What did you mean by revealing what my awakened ability or skill is? Wouldn’t I be able to know what it is after I have it awakened?”

The teenaged girl grimaced as she looked at him. “Yes and no. They didn’t tell you everything in school did they?” Kenny just looked at her and when he didn’t say anything, she continued, “Well, you know that each Skill Trees is a visual representation of your abilities, skills, and talents. While the three categories Defense, Power, and Support, are the same for everyone, what they focus are is more specialized to that person. It also shows how you develop throughout each Tier.”

Kenny nodded. This was something basic he learned back in school. The three Skill Trees was a big thing that everyone who learned it fantasied about. Not everyone got the same thing which meant depending on what your Skill Tree specialized in would determine what abilities, skills, and talent you got. He didn’t know what he would get, but he always thought about different combinations he could get.

“Unlocking all three Skill Trees also reveals what class you get as well and will determine how you fight. Front line, back line, support, everything depends on what you unlock,” the teenaged looking girl continued, “However, until you unlock all three Skill Trees you won’t have access to them. This means you can’t go back and reread what you awakened. That’s why I am here. As a curtesy I can write down what your Tier One Focus is and what ability or skill you received so when the message disappears you won’t have to try and remember what it is. As for the other two, you’ll have to try and remember what it is when you receive the alert.”

“Why can’t I open my Skill Tree Categories when I awaken my first Skill Tree? That doesn’t make sense at all,” Kenny questioned as he stared at the girl.

“That’s because you aren’t fully awakened when you awaken and unlock your first Category Skill Tree, Focus, and ability or skill. You’re considered partially awakened,” the girl replied. She then looked like she remembered something as she quickly said, “Ah, but don’t worry. Your level and stats will be available to you so you’re not going in there as a normal person. As you proceed through the Trial Grounds, fight, and kill monsters to gain experience you will still gain levels so you can get stat points to use to raise your stats. You’ll also gain Skill points with each level up; however, you will have to wait until you fully awaken to use them.”  

Kenny took everything she said in strides. While he knew about some of this, there was also information he wasn’t given when he was at school. He wanted to make sure he fully understood what she was saying. And while he was learning some new things, he was starting to understand why the Trial Grounds were tough.

As she continued to explain he started comparing what he was taught and what was being said now. While it’s been said the moment you arrive at the Tower after accepting the Invitation your first Skill Tree from one of the three categories will awaken and unlock your ability or skill, that wasn’t the case for your other two. At school they said they would unlock on their own, however, after listening to the teenaged girl’s explanation that wasn’t the case. You had to go through the Trial Grounds and find the trigger that resonates with your other two Skill Trees.

What these triggers were? No one could say. They were different for everyone. And because they were different for everyone it made it that much harder. Especially when you were in a group of people who didn’t want to explore every possible place. The only saving grace a person had to know where to look for that rigger was a strange feeling they would get that drew or pointed them in a direction.

Hearing what she had explained and remembering the information he had received from school, Kenny remembered a certain phrase he was taught, but had never understood why it kept popping up back then. That phrase was the Ascension Blocker.

That phrase had to be related to the Trial Grounds. He thought and believed this because he learned a particularly important thing as he listened to the girl. Anyone who didn’t awaken all three of their Skill Tree categories were kicked out of the Tower and banned from ever stepping foot in it.

The woman, Vessie’s, warning earlier about it being tougher for him since he had a two day disadvantage made even more sense now. He needed to unlock the other two Skill Trees before the seven day Trial Grounds was over as well as beating the final boss at the end. He had five days left to do it. Every second not in the Trial Grounds was a second closer to him failing and having to go back and face his father’s wrath.

The teenaged girl stopped as she saw sudden realization on his face. She had a look of sympathy on her face as she gave him a slight smile. Then out of nowhere she said, “I think we’re done here with the explanations. However, before we continue to the parts you have been waiting for I just want to tell you something.”

Kenny’s attention fell on her as he waited to hear what she had to say. Seeing that she had all of his attention, she continued, “Don’t stress. I have complete faith that you will do just fine. Even with this unwanted and unprecedented delay.”

“Huh?” Kenny muttered as he stared at her. Of all the things she could have said, this was not something he was expecting. He was expecting something along the lines of the odds being highly against him and what he was trying to do was futile. But hearing…support? That was definitely something he wasn’t used to nor expected to receive.

He looked in her eyes to find any sign that she was forcing herself to say it; that she really didn’t mean it…but he couldn’t find it. She was genuine in her words. She really did believe he could do it. Seeing that in her eyes and taking her words to heart, he felt a strange feeling within himself.

However, before he could process what it was, she quickly said, “Alright. This might hurt a bit but just bear with it please.”

“What?” Kenny muttered before every fiber, bone, and muscle within his body was suddenly wracked with pain.