The sun rose like usual on Terra, shining over the cities that used to be Earth. But now, everything was different. No more wars, no more crime in the streets, and no more hunger. People smiled more. Everything felt peaceful. The skies had ships flying like birds, and trains ran without making noise. It was almost like magic, but it was just human progress, the kind that the Emperor gave the world.
In one of the biggest Scholams in Terra, two young men walked down the marble hall. They were Charles and Erik. Not just regular students. They were different. Special. And they knew it.
Charles was always the quiet and smart one. He already awakened his power when he was thirteen. His mind was strong, he could hear other people's thoughts, feel their emotions. But instead of being afraid, the Imperium welcomed him. The day he first heard someone's thoughts, he thought he was going crazy. But the next morning, a clean, silver-colored ship came down from the sky and picked him up. They told him he was important. That the Emperor wanted to guide him. That he had a future.
Since then, Charles studied hard. Not just about powers, but about philosophy, human history, how to help others, and how to protect peace. His dream was to become someone who would unite people, not just mutants like him, but everyone.
Erik was different. He didn't have any powers. At least, not yet. But Charles could tell… something inside Erik was waiting to come out. Like a storm that hadn't started yet.
In another world, Erik would've awakened his mutant powers through pain—by watching his mother die. But in this one, she was alive. She was happy. She worked in a hospital in one of Terra's peaceful cities. Erik saw her sometimes on weekends. They talked and laughed. Because of that, the pain that should've awakened his powers never came. And because of that… he stayed normal. Or so everyone thought.
Still, Erik never seemed sad about it. He didn't complain. He didn't feel left behind. Instead, he trained every day, studied every night, and believed in the Emperor's vision with everything he had. He believed power wasn't what made someone important. It was their purpose. And his purpose was clear: serve the Imperium with everything he had.
The bell rang, and their first class started.
"Philosophy of Unity," the teacher said. "Today, we talk about why the Emperor teaches us not just to fight, but to understand."
Charles took notes fast. Erik listened carefully. The lesson wasn't just about wars or battles, but about kindness, sacrifice, and building a better world.
At lunch, they sat outside under a tall old tree.
"You think you'll ever awaken?" Charles asked.
Erik stared at the sky. "Maybe. Maybe not. But even if I don't, I'll still give everything I have to the Imperium. Powers don't make me who I am. I choose who I am."
Charles smiled. "You sound more mature than me."
"No way," Erik laughed. "You're the mind reader."
After lunch, they had Combat Tactics. Erik led his group in a training mission. He gave orders calmly, helped his teammates, and didn't try to be flashy. Even the instructor praised him.
"You've got the makings of a great commander," the teacher said.
Later, in the gym, they trained side by side. Charles focused on controlling his mind under stress, while Erik hit the bags until his knuckles were red.
"I think the power inside me… it's just waiting," Erik said.
"Waiting for what?" Charles asked.
"I don't know. But I'm not rushing it."
That night, back in the dorms, the lights were dim, and the city lights blinked outside the windows. The whole world felt safe.
Charles looked out the window. "Sometimes I wonder how lucky we are. That we were born in this version of the world. Where everything's… better. Where there are no war."
Erik sat on his bed, drinking water. "Yeah. We're lucky. But that also means we have to work harder to protect it."
They didn't need to say more.
They believed in the Emperor. They believed in the Imperium. And together, they knew they would help shape the future, not with fear or hate, but with hope and purpose.
Even if Erik's powers hadn't awakened yet, he was already strong.
Because strength wasn't just about power.
It was about belief.
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