The carriage hummed to a smooth stop on the floating platform, Elira stepped down after Lady jovian ,her boots tapping lightly against the rune etched path that led forward the towering structure ahead.
The Awaking palace stood tall and unmarred built of enchanted white stone veined with softly glowing signs,it wasn't a temple or shine . It was a scared facility designed to ignite dormant mana within new awakeners,were potential was discovered, measured and categorized
A voice rang out deep resonant and final
|"First years of the crestborn intake proceed to the palace gate"
Elira stood up ,nods to the jovian couple and began walking towards the gate ,she scanned the sea of students around her,some looked thrilled, practically bouncing with anticipation,others fidgeted with nervous tensions,a few like her simply jeweled with robes having known names,while commoners kept their heads down and few stood together.
| Recognized by ancestral rite - zera,alenth,Rohan of House rite ,sellan dawn of the northern flames. |
A ripple moved through the crowd
"They say sellan burned down a whole forest before they stabilized him" someone whispered
" They says she awakened at 14 "someone said
These few were both Nobel or commoners guided aside because their natural awakening gave them a head start in understanding mana ,still every other student here Nobel or not would undergo the same rites.
Elira didn't care, she hadn't come with power she came to earn it ,finhes brushing the crest pinned to her collar for support as she followed the line forward
The Awakening chamber was vast,circular,and lauered with enchantment ,Ten glowing crystal pillars surrounded a raised platform in the center, humming softly.each pillar corresponding to an elemental affinity
Red for fire
Blue for water
Gray- wind
Brown or green for earth
Sliver for lightning
Gold for light
Violet for arcane
White for spirit
Black for shadow
Cyan for ice
Each first year stepped forward one by one ,placing their hands on the awakening prism a translucent obelish carved from soul glass
Some caused only a flicker ,others triggered small explosion of colors,a few students manifested dual affinities ,a song of great potential,
Then
"Elira of House Jovian"
Eyes turned .the name was unfamiliar,but the family crest wasn't.the room fell silent as eyes turned towards her ,their gazes a mixture of curiosity and scrutiny,A girl adopted into a prestigious family yet carrying no natural bloodline magic to boast of.
Elira stepped forward without hesitation,she placed her hand on the awakening prism,it's surface cool to the touch and waited,The moment her skin made contact,a flood of cold coursed through her,sharper then the winter winds of the northern peaks.it wasn't emptiness No ,it was something far more precise, something unnatural, unyielding,her eyes closed ,breath fogged in the air ,for a moment the world froze and she could fell just energy around her.
"Water affinity" the elders said his voice sharp with sudden interest "foundation level rare ice resonance detected"
Murmurs broke out from the crowd, voices eoching in disbelief some in envy
"Did she just""that doesn't make any sense""who is she what family is she form"
The elder only nodded ,a small flicker of pride his his eyes
As she stepped back into the crowd her fingers brushed the cold frost like glyph still tingling on her palm .she had been marked by the ritual,the the journey was just beginning
As more students underwent their awakening,Elira observed a tall figure stepping forward,a boy whose presence seemed to still the very air around him .His black cuffs glinted with arcane sigils .
Later ,the student were ushered into another chamber where a woman stood before a massive diagram,her crimson robes a stark contrast to the coll stone walls "I am instructor vale" she announced,her voice commanding attention "This is your first and only free lesson.pay attention,or be left behind.
With a gesture she summoned a picture in the air ,five great rings each marked with them Stars
So the lesson began