As Aether stood motionless, a heavy, unsettling silence fell over the grand hall. The nobles, who had been cheering just moments ago, began to exchange frantic, low-volume whispers. They had seen many awakenings today, but none like this. While Aether remained locked in a trance-like state, the Awakening Stone had gone completely wild, vibrating with such intensity that the very air around it seemed to fracture. The raw energy pouring from the artifact was chaotic and untamed, reacting to something deep within the boy that it couldn't quite contain.
To the shock of everyone present, two distinct points of light began to glow through Aether's clothes. His Mana Core and his Mana Heart shone with a blinding brilliance, visible to every eye in the room. The crowd gasped; the sight of a dual awakening was unheard of, a phenomenon that defied the laws of magic they knew. Every noble was deeply shaken, realizing they were witnessing a potential that far surpassed any generation before.
Then,As Aether regained consciousness, his body didn't just wake up—it erupted.
An icy aura exploded from his frame, surging outward like a tidal wave toward every corner of the ceremonial hall. It was a coldness that bypassed the skin, sinking straight into the bone. It wasn't just magic; it was a pure killing intent so sharp that the hearts of the gathered nobles began to beat frantically against their ribs.
But as the aura continued to emit from him, something else began to bleed into the air—something far surpassing mere bloodlust. It was a mysterious, ancient pressure that felt as though the very secrets of the witnesses were being laid bare before him. When the mist-like energy touched the crowd, the nobles realized with a shiver that under Aether's gaze, they felt completely exposed.
Slowly, Aether wrestled with the storm inside his body. He drew the energy back, suppressing the wild mana and the killing intent until it was locked safely behind his ribs once more. He stood panting, his mind racing to process the vision of the Beast Tide and the face of his enemy.
"He has awakened," a voice announced, breaking the deathly silence.
Aether blinked, startled. Before he could fully regain his bearings, the voice of the King—his father—boomed across the hall.
"This ceremony," King Aldric declared, his voice echoing off the high-vaulted ceiling, "marks not only the manifestation of power, but the acceptance of responsibility. What awakens today will shape the very pillars of this kingdom."
Then all the people who sat in the hall stood up in respect to the king and listened to his speech.
After some time had passed and the tension in the room began to settle, the royal herald announced the official end of the awakening ceremony. He declared that the King had prepared a grand feast to celebrate the successful awakening of the young generation.
Slowly, the atmosphere shifted from awe-struck silence to a forced, polite chatter. The nobles and the duke families began leaving the hall in an orderly procession, their heavy robes rustling against the stone floor. They moved toward the tower dining section, where long tables groaned under the weight of a awakening banquet, though many eyes remained fixed on Aether, wondering what kind of monster had just been born among them.
The King stood from his throne, his regal stature casting a long shadow. His eyes shifted from the leaving crowd and locked onto Aether's. In that moment, the world seemed to shrink until it was only the two of them. No words were spoken, but a silent message passed between father and son.
Be strong. Be worthy.
Aether saw it then—a flicker of unmistakable pride in his father's eyes. It was a look that promised protection, but also demanded excellence. Aether tightened his fist, the dual power of his Mana Core and Mana Heart pulsing in steady rhythm. He had the power, and now, he had a reason to use it.