"It's the time for the awakening, i guess." Zyrus stood up, then stretching his sore muscles he started to moved towards the centre of the grand hall.
The Awakening
The Awakening, is something that every being on Arcania goes through after they had turned fifteen. It refers to, as gaining the ability to finally unlock their long dormant potential.
In more simple words, Awakening was the true beggining of it all.
When, the children turned fifteen. They receive's an Awakening Stone which they can use to start their Awakening process and form a core to store mana in their bodies.
While awakening their mana, the nature also responds to the process and the children going through the awakening gains the elemental attributes they are most compatible with.
Mostly, every being on Arcania have a single attribute except for some beings who are privileged and are geniuses to have multiple elemental affinites.
Which obviously included the whole main cast.
Back to the topic, the children also at the same time connects to the world and gains a system which helps them grow.
Yes, grow. It doesn't matter if you are good or you are bad it will help you grow.
"I wonder if i will have multiple elemental affinites." Zyrus thought slightly, however he stopped as behind him Anaerah finally woke up from her slumber as she stirred slightly.
She sat up quickly and then moved her head towards where he was laying down before. Raising a brow, he spoke making her turn in his direction.
"Do you had a good nap?" He said lightly.
"..." Anaerah looked at him, instead of answering first, she scanned his body from head to toe as if he was precarious enough to break.
Finally, after having a satisfied look over, she spoke.
"I had a good one actually you know, this cold ground with blood and flesh marred on it, it's very comfortable to sleep." She said, as she got up and dusted her dress.
"Heh, i see...you have a good sense for sarcasm. Though, does that mastery of your's also tend to be in the field of staring at someone half naked."
Zyrus said joking lightly, no matter bond or what, they were still practically strangers.
"No...only the ones who are worth staring at actually, and you...don't have it that much to be honest." She jabbed lightly with a smirk.
"Ouch, that's a rather rude thing to say." Zyrus chuckled at her remark.
"Hmm, you seem different from before, are you alright now?" She asked smiling.
Looking at her for a moment, he finally answered.
"Yeah, i am. It happens when you get beaten till you can't breathe you know, maybe those sadistic author's were correct. Getting thrashed builds character." Zyrus replied.
"Oh, you wanna do that again?" Anaerah asked.
"Nope, i have my fill of it already, so i will pass. Thank you very much." His answer came almost instantly.
"Haha." Laughing lightly at his words she asked.
"Awakening, finally?" She asked.
"Yes, it's about time." He answered.
"Let's go. Then." She said as they once again started moving to the middle of the hall.
"Though, is it really true that an idol like you have said you were, like's to stare at someone's chest? Wouldn't it count as sexual assault?" Zyrus asked moving with her.
"Idiot. Of course, i said it as a retort and it was a lie. What am I, a pervert? Though, the last part I said was true." Anaerah said looking at him deadpan.
"Rude..."
*****
Zyrus say in the middle of the dark halls, as in front of him was white coloured stone. It wasn't that big just around the size of an average fist however the way it glowed in white...told a different story.
A Divine Rank-Awakening Stone was a thing that kings and emperors would fight wars for and yet here he was having it as his first reward.
Even, though he wasn't awakened he could feel the pressure coming from instantly.
'How fitting, of an Apex.'
"Are you ready? You know what to do right?" Anaerah asked as she sat in his front away from him.
"Of course, who do you think I am?" Zyrus said confidently.
"Ah, an exhibitionist?" She said tilting her lightly.
"..." Zyrus stared at her blankly for a moment.
Without answering her back, he crushed the stone with very ease and closed his eyes, concentrating on the mana coming out from the stone.
Awakening was an easy process. You just have to crush the stone, feel the mana coming out of it and absorb it all making a core into your body.
Though, why was the stone needed?
It was because, for the ones who have never control or even felt mana had a hard time absorbing mana from the air and make a core from it.
That's why, these Awakening stones store, different amount of pure mana in different ranks and helps in awakening.
The higher the grade of the stone, the higher the mana pool you have. Of course, it also depended on your potential on how much mana your body can hold.
"Huu." Releasing a breath, Zyrus deeply focused. However in the next moment, something strange that he didn't expected happened.
He...felt mana?
Yes, Zyrus was sure that not even seconds later he crushed the stone, he felt the mana coming out of it and rushing towards his body as if wanting to be used by him eagerly.
"Ah, wh-what?" Even Anaerah was shocked, at the scene.
How much early you can feel the presence of mana, also showed your proficiency and affinity with it?
However, it was an unprecedented feat to feel it so instantly. It was almost as if the mana was tentatively rushing towards him and caressing him.
It was phenomenal, and it also reflected one thing perfectly.
Zyrus was going to be a monster at magic.
"My, how fitting of the one who is going to be the strongest's successor."