Chapter 1: Awakening Day
The kingdom of Valoria had never slept the night before an awakening ceremony.
Even before dawn, the streets surrounding the Great Coliseum were already flooded with people. Noble carriages lined the marble roads while banners of the Great Houses fluttered proudly in the cold morning wind.
Golden bells rang from towers overhead, their echoes spreading across the capital like a declaration from the heavens themselves.
Today was the Awakening Day. The day destinies were decided. The day common heirs became legends... Or disappointments.
At the very center of the capital stood the Great Coliseum, an ancient structure so massive that it overshadowed entire districts around it.
Its towering walls were built from pale silver etched with glowing runes that no scholar had ever deciphered. No one knew who built it...
No one knew how old it truly was. Only that it had existed since the very beginning of recorded history.
And within it stood the Altar of Ascension. A giant monolithic structure of black stone rising from the center arena like the fang of some primordial beast. Ancient symbols pulsed faintly along its surface while pale blue Aether drifted around it in wisps.
It looked divine. Mysterious. And Untouchable.
The nobles believed the Altar connected directly to the Aetherium itself, allowing worthy souls to awaken their Soul Essences.
Thousands filled the grand stands. Students from the Royal Academy occupied the lower seats while nobles sat higher above upon luxurious balconies carved into the walls of the Coliseum itself.
Each balcony bte the crest of a Great House.
House Valehart.
A shining Knight wielding Sword and Shield while standing proudly upon a majestic Pterafrey; a creature with the body of a Destrier, enormous Eagle wings, silver hooves, and a long prehensile tail.
There was also House Noctivane.
Their crest depicted a cloaked Shadow holding twin Daggers beneath a crescent moon. The House was famed for assassins, spies, and Shadow Knights that served directly under the Crown.
There was House Vauldryn.
A mysterious House whose emblem showed a robed figure seated cross-legged before a steaming Cauldron. They were masters of Alchemy, Aetheric concoctions, and forbidden medicines.
There was also House Auricrest.
Their crest was a Treasure Chest overflowing with radiant golden Coins and Jewels. Merchants, financers, and owners of half the kingdom’s trade routes, the Auricrests possessed wealth capable of rivaling lesser nations.
And finally, the royal family itself.
House Valerion.
Their symbol displayed a Royal King seated upon a grand Throne, a Crown upon his head and a Scepter resting in one hand. Unlike the other banners, theirs shimmered faintly with golden Aether, causing the entire crest to appear alive.
Upon the highest balcony sat King Aurelius Valerion himself. Beside him stood princes, princesses, royal knights, and ministers.
Below them all, the awakening ceremony continued. One by one, young nobles approached the Altar. Flashes of light erupted throughout the arena.
Soul Essences materialized as relics form.
The crowd roared whenever a high tier relic appeared...
"Duke Tier Spear!"
"Count Tier Chest!"
"Marquess Tier Storm Mace!"
Every successful awakening brought cheers from proud families and jealous murmurs from rivals.
Then, "Regaleon Valehart!"
The Evaluator’s voice echoed across the entire Coliseum. The chatter immediately shifted as thousands of eyes turned towards the lone figure standing near the edge of the arena.
A tall, lean youth stepped forward slowly. He was a seventeen years old with silver hair that gleamed unnaturally beneath the sunlight, almost appearing molten, while his eyes burned with a fierce golden hue that resembled the blazing sun.
His visage was handsome, striking and noble. Yet the gazes directed at him carried only scorn and ridicule...
"So that’s him..."
"The disgrace of House Valehart."
"I heard he still hasn’t awakened his Soul Essences."
"A seventeen-year-old failure."
Laughter spread among the students. A noble girl covered her mouth as she whispered to her friend...
"I heard he’s the bastard son of Lord Valehart."
Another female sneered with derision. "I heard his mother died giving birth to him."
"This is his third awakening ceremony, isn’t it?"
"How embarrassing."
"Even commoners awaken earlier than him."
Their words drifted clearly through the arena as none of them bothered to lower their voices.
And why would they?
To them, Regaleon was already beneath dignity.
But Regaleon ignored them all. His face remained calm as he walked toward the Altar of Ascension. This wasn’t something new as he had endured the whispers his entire life.
At first, the insults stung. Then came the anger. Then the humiliation. Eventually... There was nothing anymore. He became numb to them.
Or at least that was what he told himself...
High above, within the Valehart balcony, several elders watched coldly.
One of them snorted, "A waste of noble blood."
Another spoke with clear disgust, "Aetherium cursed us the day he was born."
At the center seat sat Lord Valdric Valehart. A massive man with streaks of silver running through his golden hair. His mere presence alone carried overwhelming pressure.
His sharp golden eyes stared down at Regaleon emotionlessly. There was no pride nor warmth in them. To him, Regaleon was merely a stain upon the prestige of House Valehart.
Meanwhile, the Evaluator gestured toward the Altar of Ascension,
"Place your hand upon the stone."
Regaleon inhaled softly. This was it... His third awakening. And likely his last.
In Valoria, every noble or commoner was expected to awaken naturally at fifteen. Sixteen was already considered late and...
Seventeen? That was a disgrace.
If he failed today, House Valehart would never tolerate his existence any longer.
Regaleon stepped forward. The ancient black stone loomed before him while cold Aether drifted around it like ghastly mist.
Slowly, he raised his hand and touched the Altar. Silence descended instantly as the entire Coliseum watched closely...
Not in support of him but to see him disgrace himself once more...
Then...
BOOM!
A blinding explosion of light erupted from the Altar. The intensity forced countless spectators to shield their eyes.
"What-?!"
"That brightness-!"
"... Incredible..."
Golden Aether spiraled violently around Regaleon as the ground beneath him trembled. Even the noble elders rose slightly from their seats...
Lord Valdric narrowed his eyes. ’Such intensity... Could it be?’
The light became brighter and hotter as the Aetheric pressure spreading from the arena caused banners to whip violently through the air.
For a brief moment... Hope appeared in the eyes of House Valehart...
Then, the light shattered.
CLANG!
Two objects materialized before Regaleon. The first was a suit of golden Armour...
It looked ancient, heavy and magnificent. Yet... It was rusted.
Corroded lines spread across its surface while portions appeared damaged and worn by countless battles.
The second object was a silver Halberd. It was simple and plain; without grandeur.
The Evaluator stared blankly for several moments. Then his eyes widened in disbelief.
"Regaleon Valehart..." His tone trembled strangely. "Count Tier Armour..."
Murmurs exploded across the arena instantly. A Count Tier Armour was good. Even among the nobles...
But before the excitement could spread further, the Evaluator continued with an odd tone, "...and Baron Tier Halberd."
There was silence. Then, the entire Coliseum erupted into an absolute uproar...
"What?!"
"That’s impossible!"
"A Count Tier paired with a Baron Tier weapon?!"
"I have never heard of such a thing!"
"How can his weapon be that weak?!"
"All of that just to awaken... Trash?"
The academy students burst into mockery laughter. One noble nearly fell from his seat while laughing...
"A Baron Tier Halberd?!"
"With Count Tier Armour?!"
"What kind of broken awakening is that?"
"A mismatch!"
"A crippled Knight!"
Even some elders from lesser houses shook their heads mockingly.
Within the Valehart balcony, expressions turned ugly instantly...
Crack!
One elder crushed the armrest of his chair as he spat, "Disgraceful!"
Another sneered openly. "A defective awakening!"
"Unprecedented shame."
Lord Valdric’s face darkened completely. The hope that had briefly appeared in his eyes vanished without a trace...
Down below, Regaleon stared silently at his Soul Essences hovering before him.
Count Tier Armour?
Baron Tier Halberd?
Even he understood what this meant. Knight Essences required harmony to function as weapon and armour evolved together...
A powerful armour paired with a weak weapon created imbalance within the Aether Veins of the body. Such knights were flawed. Complete. Mocked. And easily Forgotten.
As he was lost in thoughts...
The crowd’s ridicule intensified around him.
"Hahahah!"
"Maybe Aetherium pitied him and give half an awakening to pacify him!"
"Imagine waiting three years for a Baron Tier weapon!"
"A peasant-tier halberd!"
"Even servants awaken better!"
Several students openly pointed at him while laughing.
Regaleon’s fists tightened slightly. But his face remained expressionless. Only his eyes darkened with displeasure...
Then a loud scoff echoed from the Valehart balcony. This scoff immediately silent the entire Coliseum as everyone turned to look at the balcony...
A young man rose from his seat. By his facial features, he didn’t look any older than Regaleon. This was the acknowledged genius of House Valehart.
Cedric Valehart.
At only sixteen, he had already awakened dual King Tier Soul Essences. An Armour and a Greatsword.
Unlike Regaleon, Cedric possessed the golden hair and piercing golden eyes, the perfect image of Valehart nobility...
With a prideful stance, he looked down at Regaleon with utter contempt. "You shame our House..."
His voice carried clearly through the arena as he continued. "You should have remained unawakened..."
The words struck harder than the crowd’s laughter. No one bothered to stop Cedric from insulting Regaleon as Lord Valdric simply sat while watching coldly...
Yet Regaleon said nothing. He simply stood there, unbothered about the contempt shown to him.
After berating and insulting his half-brother, Cedric sneered before sitting back down.
Then, the Evaluator awkwardly cleared his throat...
"A-awakening complete."
