1 year has passed since Aria awakened her mana .
*Ding!Ding!Ding!*
I woke up from hearing some warning sounds, just to find the house slightly trembling
'Is this earthquake ? Wait, does this world have earthquakes?'
I turned my head to the source of the warning voice, and what I saw froze me immediately.
It was Aria, her bracelet was causing warning sounds, but the real problem was in Aria's body, she was...Glowing?
Not only glowing, there were snakes of purple lightning dancing around her while the wind made me feel like I was in the middle of a storm.
'What is happening! '
Then I heard Aria screaming with a shaking voice, "R–Ray! Go ca—"
But before she she could complete her sentence, the room's door was opened with a loud *slam!*. I found my mom floating there, her eyes were wide open, but her lips curled into a proud smile.
Raising her hand, a green barrier materialized in front of me, protecting me from the wind .
She took a deep breath and said, "Aria, you don't have to worry; that's what happens when you awaken your mana and trait; just relax. It won't take more than a few minutes. "
"Awaken what?!! " We both said in unison.
For a moment—just for a moment, I wondered if she was the real protagonist of the novel .
'Well, no rule says that the protagonist should be the most talented.'
1 minutes had passed, Grandma floated into the room with the same shock and pride, and after some minutes, Aria had finally stopped glowing .
My grandmother patted Aria .
"Congratulations, Aria, how are you feeling now as an Exalted?" my grandmother asked, her tone filled with pride and excitement .
"I–I feel great! It's like I got a completely different body !" Aria said, her body shaking from excitement .
She wasn't overreacting. Her body really changed!
All her features improved, making her more beautiful than before. Her obsidian–black hair had purple highlights and her eyes were literally glowing a little in the dark.
My grandma nodded."Let's go to the awakening center, we have to register her and know her affinities, Trait and talents ."
She turned her head towards me. "Sorry but you should stay here for some time, we won't take much time."
I was still trying to process everything until I heard a sound.
*Crack!*
Aria tried to press on her bed to push herself up, but due to her new power and what the bed endured while she was awakening, the bed crashed under her .
'–'
For a moment we all stared at her, then my mother sighed helplessly "after we comeback you will have to sleep with Ray for sometime ."
"O–Okay "
When I heard her words my eyes widened. I looked at the miserable bed that was broken and half frozen . Most likely she got a freezing affinity.
"What do you mean to sleep with me ? Are you trying to kill me !? "
My mom chuckled. "Don't worry, she will adapt to her new strength in no time. If something happened to you, it won't be an accident. "
I glanced at Aria who turned her head immediately, trying to hold her laugh .
'Maybe I can use the food to threat her later. Just to be safe'
With that, they left me alone in the house.
I just stared silently at the door. Recalling how j just kept watching from the start to the end.
'Is that how the real extra characters feel ? '
5 hours later they came back with good news , Aria had Divine, Frost Lightning and Wind affinities!
The wind was a common known affinity, but both the divine and frost lightning were on another level.
The divine affinity was a higher form of light, Aria said it can make attacks that could heal allies and kill the enemies in the same time.
The chance of getting this affinity was so rare that the number of elves that awakened it in the last 50 years can be counted on one hand .
Then there was the Frost Lightning which was a mutant affinity, a lightning that could freeze enemies instead of burning them. It was something that never appeared before, in fact, Aria was the one who named it .
There was also an analysing machine that could show your information. I don't know the details, but that's the results.
=== Analysis Results ===
Note: Talent rankings are as follows — None | Low | Mid | High | Peak | Perfect | Absolute
[Name]: Aria Crimson
[Race]: 15% Elf/ 40% vampire/ 45% human
[Mana control]: perfect
[Affinities]:
Common — Wind
Rare — Divine (Royal)
Mutant — Frost Lightning (purple)
Unique — None
[Weapons Talent]:
Rapier: Perfect
Needle: peak
Javelin: High
Mace: High
Etc...
[Professionals Talent]:
Alchemy: Perfect
Weaving: Peak
Forging: High
Runes inscribing: Mid
Cooking: Mid
Etc....
[Trait]:
Trait's suggested name: The Divine Storm Physique
Confirmed effects:
—Air Resistance: Slight air resistance
—Breathless Sustenance: No need for air , functions normally without oxygen or lungs .
—Improved Body: Some improvements in the body stats and a visible improvement in endurance .
—Enhanced Recovery: Accelerated Mana and stamina recovery
—Superior Regeneration: Passive body regeneration
Suspected effects:
—Unknown Lightning moving through the body
—Unknown Enchantments detected on the eyes
[Recommended class]:
—SwordMage (highly recommend)
—Alchemist (highly recommend)
—Weaver
Etc....
—————
My eyes moved through the document until it landed in the affinities.
"What does the royal and purple at the affinities mean ? "
"Oh, let me explain. Some affinities have other versions with higher power like how the blue fire is hotter than the red."
She crossed her arms. "The purple lightning is the strongest lightning colour."
Then she opened her palm, her expression turned serious.
"While the Royal Divine—"
An orb made of ethereal purple light materialized above her hand .
Her lips curled into a smile ."—Is also the strongest version of Divine affinity! "
"...."
I was speechless. I decided to ignore her show off and complete reading the results.
"Hahaha! Mid cooking talent? Really? "
"Hmph! Just focus on the other Talents, like how I'm a genius alchemist! "
I read it completely. She was really a genius, but there was only one thing I needed to confirm.
"By the way, did…did you get a soul-bound artifact? "
She grinned. " I got a rapier. I will show it to you later."
I couldn't help but smile. Unlike the trait, the soul artifacts weren't guaranteed to get. Even Arthur himself didn't have one.
'How did that useless bastard become the protagonist? Did he get a hidden treasure later ? '
But our happiness didn't last long .
Because the next day, we found some "guests" knocking on our door.
But what shocked me was that they were wearing the emblem of the royal family.
And among them stood a figure I was able to recognize.
'What is he doing here ?'
He wasn't just the kingdom's youngest prince.
He was the protagonist's rival and one of the strongest students , Zephyr Stormblade!