The head priest's face lit up with childlike excitement.
"A Heavenly Dragon Mana Core…" he whispered, eyes gleaming like polished gems. "This kingdom hasn't seen one in centuries..."
He stood frozen for a moment, soaking in the sheer weight of what had just occurred.
The Heavenly Dragon... a core of legend. A divine blessing said to possess limitless mana and mastery over multiple elements. The power to conquer entire kingdoms.
And now a mere boy stood before him wielding that might.
This wasn't just a personal awakening it was a potential turning point for the entire nation. With that power properly nurtured, the kingdom of Moonvale could rise to dominate the Seven Surrounding Kingdoms.
They just had to make sure of one thing:
That this power stayed under their control.
Priest August suddenly composed himself, placing on a mask of calm politeness. His tone turned sweet, almost too sweet.
"Ahem. Sir Markus, I must apologize for my earlier excitement," he said with a respectful bow. "I'm unfamiliar with the Rosefield family. What rank does your house hold?"
Mark's eyes narrowed.
Right then and there he saw through the priest's game.
It was written all over his face. The fake humility, the overplayed reverence, the sudden interest in his family name.
He wasn't trying to show respect.
He was trying to leech. Hoping to use Mark's blessing to win favor with the royal family. Maybe even manipulate the situation to climb higher in the kingdom's political circles.
Mark clenched his jaw.
He knew what was coming.
He knew he was about to be used.
But if that meant pulling his family out of the filth and into a better life...
He could play along for now.
"I'm not a noble," Mark said flatly. "I'm just a commoner."
The air in the chamber grew stiff.
The head priest blinked, lips twitching slightly. His mind scrambled to adjust.
"A... commoner?" he repeated, forcing a tight-lipped smile. "I see... how... unexpected."
How can a lowborn brat possess a Heavenly Dragon Core? he cursed silently. No matter... it doesn't change anything. Even a dog, if trained well, can guard a palace.
"Ah, well! Nobility or not," August said with renewed energy, "you are a gift from the heavens themselves. The kingdom will surely make an exception for one such as you."
He tilted his head, pretending to show interest.
"Tell me, Markus. Do you know what your core's abilities are called? Or what it allows you to do?"
Mark shook his head. "No. The sister ran out before she could tell me anything."
August gave a practiced, grandfatherly chuckle. "Oh, no matter."
"I'll explain it to you myself," the head priest said firmly.
With a sharp clap of his hands, the massive golden doors slammed shut with a resonant boom, sealing the chamber. No attendants. No interruptions. Only the faint hum of mana lingering in the air.
Mark remained silent, his glowing eyes locked on the priest.
August straightened his robes, took a deep breath, and began.
"The Heavenly Dragon Core…" he said in a reverent tone, "is one of the Three Heavenly Beast Cores sacred manifestations of power tied to ancient divine creatures."
He stepped closer, voice lowering as if speaking sacred scripture.
"This one contains the power of the Heavenly Dragon a legendary beast born of the heavens themselves. Unlike elemental cores, which grant mastery over a single affinity... the Heavenly Dragon Core allows you to control all elements."
Mark's brow furrowed slightly.
"All… elements?"
The priest nodded solemnly.
"Not just Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Light, and Shadow. But also rare, forbidden, and even unknown elements… Gravity. Time. Space. Void. Essence. It is said the dragon doesn't borrow mana it commands it."
August paused, letting the weight of his words settle.
"The last person to awaken this core shattered mountains with a thought… and nearly caused a war between empires."
His tone darkened slightly.
"It's a core of creation… but also one of destruction."
He looked Mark dead in the eyes.
"If left unchecked… the Heavenly Dragon's power could destroy the world."
The room fell into silence.
Mark swallowed hard.
He hadn't just awakened something rare. He had awakened something dangerous.
"That is why we must nurture your powers carefully," the head priest declared, his voice full of warmth but his eyes sharp with intent.
"You will be placed under my personal care," he continued. "You'll attend the Magic Knights Academy as a special case under my direct supervision."
He took a step forward, spreading his arms wide as though offering divine salvation.
"Congratulations, young one. You will be granted noble status as my personal assistant... and perhaps even a future position within the royal court."
A flood of promises poured from the priest's lips titles, honor, status, and glory.
But Mark could see the strings attached.
It wasn't generosity.
It was leverage.
The priest wasn't offering him a future he was binding him to one. Tying him down with glittering chains of prestige.
Control masked as kindness.
But Mark didn't flinch.
He simply smiled.
An innocent, harmless smile.
The same smile he used in his past life when dealing with predators in human skin. Back then, playing dumb was often the only way to survive.
He had learned one truth early on:
People are always more honest around fools.
So he nodded eagerly and asked, "Sir… will I be allowed to bring my family with me?"
The question struck deep Mark's true concern lay not in wealth or nobility, but in his family.
The priest closed his eyes briefly, hiding the flicker of disgust that passed through him.
More commoners…? Granting nobility to an entire peasant family?
But then a different thought crossed his mind.
If I keep them close, they can serve as leverage. Insurance, in case the boy gets too ambitious. Though… he doesn't seem like the type to rebel. Still… better safe than sorry.
The priest opened his eyes again and wore a gentle, fatherly smile.
"But of course," he said smoothly. "Your family will be granted accommodation and protection. You have my word, young Markus you won't need to worry about them again."
Mark bowed slightly, still playing the part of the wide eyed commoner too stunned by kindness to question it.
"Thank you, sir. I'm really grateful…"
But in his heart, he was already ready for betrayal, backstabbing or Manipulation, after all he knew you couldn't trust nobility .
The head priest clapped his hands once more.
With a quiet groan of ancient hinges, the golden chamber doors slowly swung open.
"We will now begin the public announcement of those who have awakened rare abilities," he said, voice steady and composed. "Once the ceremony concludes, you are not to leave the temple grounds. You'll return home with me."
Mark blinked. "But… what about my family?"
August gave another one of his well practiced smiles. Polished. Hollow.
"Don't worry. We'll pick them up in the carriage on the way to my manor."
Mark bowed his head respectfully, masking his true emotions behind a façade of wide eyed innocence.
"Thank you, sir."
His smile was flawless. Deceptively sweet.
Exactly what the priest wanted to see.
Soon after, the head priest returned to the temple's main hall, stepping out onto the elevated podium. Rows of families and children filled the vast chamber, their eyes locked on him in anticipation.
In his hand, he held a scroll.
A list.
It detailed the children who had awakened rare mana cores those who had been chosen by the Eclipse.
As he scanned the list, his brow furrowed slightly.
"Only three...?" he muttered under his breath. "Hmm. How disappointing. Hopefully the other temples have better luck this year."
Still, he composed himself and stepped forward, arms raised, his voice booming across the chamber.
"The Ceremony of the Eclipse has been completed!" he declared. "The mana cores have formed, and the fates of our young ones have been revealed!"
A hush fell over the crowd.
"And this year, three children have awakened exceptional abilities."
A murmur spread through the crowd.
"First!" the priest continued, raising the scroll high. "June Valor of the noble Valor family, bloodline of royal knights, has been blessed with the Space mana core!"
Thunderous applause erupted. The Valor family stood proudly as June stepped forward, radiant in silver ceremonial robes.
"Second! Lora Valentine, of the esteemed Valentine family master craftsmen of the royal arsenal has awakened the Metallic Blood core!"
Another wave of cheers rolled through the temple. Lora bowed gracefully, her long red hair flowing behind her like a banner of pride.
But then
The priest's voice dropped slightly. His gaze hesitated at the third name.
The crowd leaned in.
"And finally…"
He cleared his throat, forcing a smile.
"Markus of… the commoner class has been chosen by the Heavenly Dragon core."
Silence.
Not a single clap.
The hall fell dead quiet.
You could hear a pin drop.
Eyes widened. Whispers exploded like sparks in dry grass.
"A commoner…?"
"Did he say Heavenly Dragon…?"
"That's impossible… that core hasn't appeared in hundreds of years…"
The head priest stood firm, doing his best to maintain composure. "You may all bow in respect, for this child carries a divine blessing."
Mark stepped out slowly from the hallway behind the podium, water still clinging to the edges of his robe. His expression was calm, his posture humble.
He didn't wave.
He didn't gloat.
He simply stood there watching the crowd.
Playing the role of the naive, overwhelmed boy.
But behind his glowing eyes… he was calculating everything.
Every look of contempt.
Every false smile.
Every gasp of disbelief.