The Whisp Nexus was far quieter than usual. The Awakening Ceremony had ended days ago, and with the major rush behind them, most staff had either rotated out or taken temporary leave. Only a skeleton crew remained—enough to keep things running.
As Jimmy entered the facility with Sister Lisa and Dr Mu by his side, several staff looked up from their terminals—only to freeze mid-motion. Blinking, leaning toward each other in disbelief.
"That's him… isn't it?"
"He was unconscious just yesterday…"
"How is he even walking already?"
The whispers passed like static through the air.
Jimmy ignored them, his expression calm as he stepped directly to the first counter. Tapping gently to get the receptionist's attention, he used sign language with quick precision:
"What must I do? I've awakened."
It was a simple message, but it landed like thunder.
The woman behind the counter went pale. For a moment, her mouth opened—but no sound came out. Everyone around her was equally stunned.
Jimmy? Awakened?
Only Dr Mu's gentle voice, speaking in unison with Jimmy's sign, jolted her back to awareness.
She blinked, then turned to her colleague. "Take him to Testing Area 7. Immediately."
Dr Mu went with him, clipboard in hand. "I'll handle it. Assign someone else to that place for feeding them — and make sure the entry logs and ID status reflect his awakening. I'll also need to file a school recommendation under special conditions."
None dared to argue. Dr Mu was not just a medical officer—after her recent appointment as acting Head due to her role in saving Jimmy, saving those whisps, her words carried weight.
Though many staff still looked at Jimmy with curiosity, even awe, no one dared interfere. He had been a quiet helper around the facility for years. Someone they recognized, but never looked at twice. Now, the story had shifted.
Inside Testing Area 7
The walls of the testing area were sterile, smooth, and pulsing faintly with energy from the machinery embedded in them.
Jimmy stepped into the circular platform calmly. The scanner lit up in a soft cyan glow as Dr Mu keyed in his ID. A thin field of light traced across his body, scanning every neurological signature and processing it against brain domain development.
A loud ping echoed, and the screen flashed:
Brain Domain Activation: 12%
Status: Stable
Codex Synchronization: Active
Certification: Approved
Dr Mu printed the certificate instantly and handed it to him. "Congratulations," she said gently. "From this day, you are a certified Whisp Tamer."
Then she smiled knowingly. "Now. Let me meet her."
They moved to the adjacent free-bonding area, a small open space surrounded by quiet observation glass.
Jimmy stood in the centre, pressed his palms together, and summoned the energy from within.
A faint grey summoning array formed beneath his feet, pulsating with quiet power. From the centre of it, a sleek, four-legged whisp emerged in a flash of light.
0.3 meters tall, with a cyan-blue body and glowing azure streaks. Muscular limbs ending in dark grey hooves. A flowing white mane curled around her neck like a thundercloud. Two large tan horns swept back from her skull, framing her golden eyes. A tan, spiny fin ran along her back like a current waiting to surge.
As soon as she arrived, she shook her body, stared up at Jimmy with mock annoyance, and started complaining in sharp, echoing whisp tones.
"Oon… Oon! (It's boring inside! Let me run!)"
Dr Mu's eyes widened in surprise. "...A powerful bond. She's completely relaxed around you."
Jimmy said "She's my friend."
Dr Mu blinked. "Ondirael…?"
She immediately pulled out her Data Sphere and scanned Luna—but this time, after a short moment, the screen pulsed gently and returned:
[Species Identified]
Name: Ondirael
Type: Water / Electric
Category: Recognized - Rare Mutation
Dr Mu raised an eyebrow. "Looks like the Alliance just updated their database. She's officially recognized now. A mutated whisp. That is why it is taking time."
Jimmy's eyes widened slightly in quiet surprise as he looked at Luna, who blinked curiously at the glowing projection of her name.
Dr Mu smiled and printed a new identification tag. Unlike the last one, this one bore no question mark. The holographic chip pulsed with a soft blue light and the label:
Ondirael - Registered Companion
Jimmy knelt and gently attached the new tag to Luna's leg. She wiggled a bit, clearly not a fan of the sticker, but didn't complain.
"Alright," Dr Mu said, straightening up. "Next—talent test."
Talent Evaluation
Jimmy stepped onto the Talent Disc, a wide circular platform lined with concentric rings of glowing energy. As soon as he stood still, the disc activated with a soft hum. Light scanned from foot to head, and lines of arcane code flashed across the outer ring.
A moment later, a soft tone sounded.
Innate Talent Discovered:
[SENSE]
Talent Level: D (Upgradable)
Status: Active
Dr Mu squinted at the result. "one talent, sense - D grade. Not bad. Good for you."
Jimmy nodded, signing calmly.
"Alright," she said, and with a tap on her tablet, she registered it officially to his profile.
Jimmy glanced at the platform again, a brief flicker of thought crossing his face. He tapped gently near his temple—just once—and looked at Luna.
But said nothing.
Dr Mu didn't notice the meaning behind the gesture, already distracted by finishing his certification. "That's it then. Your Whisp Master ID will be updated in our system, and your entry-level license is ready."
She handed him a card from a desk — his official Whisp Master ID, marked with a grey emblem. Alongside it, she gave him his Brain Domain Certificate and Talent Registration Slip.
At the end, she added, "Your Data Sphere should arrive in about two hours. Don't lose it. Now you can apply it to corresponding school."
Jimmy nodded, slipping the cards into his worn satchel. Luna wagged her tail and gave him a proud nuzzle against the chin.
A rare smile crept across his face.
He didn't say it out loud. But in that moment, he knew:
Not everyone's Codex awakens like his.
And not everyone has a Luna.
The world had finally changed for Jimmy. From invisible orphan…
…to Whisp Tamer.