Elias's revelation hung in the air like an ominous cloud, the weight of the words sinking into the room.
Oliver, the chief of Ayla, stood frozen, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"You... awakened the Rise of the Start?" Oliver's voice wavered, a mixture of shock and concern etched on his face.
Elias nodded solemnly, "Yes, Grandpa. The moment I returned to Nexus, the system manifested itself before me. It's an interface, a screen that allows me to access various abilities and information. I haven't fully utilized it yet, but it's there."
Oliver's gaze shifted from Elias to me, and I found myself under the scrutiny of his piercing eyes. The atmospheric pressure, a remnant of Elias's assertion, began to ease, allowing me to take a deep breath.
"How... How did this happen?" Oliver asked, still struggling to comprehend the revelation.