The sun rose over Ravelton in a haze of gold and silver, the town alive with quiet excitement. The Awakening Ceremony — the day when children would step from the ordinary into the extraordinary — was about to begin.
Stephen stood among the other twelve-year-olds, heart thudding as they were guided toward the massive circular platform in the square. Its surface shimmered faintly, runes etched deep into the stone, glowing with traces of blue and silver. The entire structure seemed to hum softly, as though it were alive.
"All candidates," the examiner's voice carried clearly across the gathering, "take your places on the circle. Calm your minds, and do not resist the flow. Let the energy find its way to your soul sea."
The children obeyed, sitting cross-legged in perfect rings. The crowd fell silent.Stephen exhaled slowly, feeling the cold touch of the platform through his clothes. A low hum filled the air as thin mist began to gather above the platform, drifting lazily before sinking into the carved runes.
The light grew brighter — faint threads of energy snaking through the lines like liquid silver. Then came the warmth, a pulse of energy spreading through the air and into every child sitting within the circle.
Stephen closed his eyes.
"Draw the energy inward… guide it into your soul sea… seek the light that answers your call…"
The examiner's voice echoed like a distant whisper. Stephen felt the mist seep into his skin, into his chest, until everything around him blurred into silence. And then, within that silence, he saw it — a faint shimmer of light in the depths of his consciousness.
The fog parted. A tiny blue sprout swayed gently in the vastness of his soul sea, its faint glow calm and steady. He felt warmth from it — a living, breathing connection.
Then — unexpectedly — another light flickered into being beside it.
It was smaller but brighter, taking the form of a tiny azure sparrow, flapping its wings as though testing them for the first time. Each motion released soft ripples of runic light that shimmered beautifully.
The sight made his breath hitch. He couldn't explain why, but the sparrow's presence filled him with an ache so deep that his eyes stung. It was as if something precious — something long lost — had just returned to him.
Two lights… two souls…
Stephen's heartbeat quickened. He remembered the whispers — that those with dual aspect souls were either taken by the Royal Parliament or vanished entirely.
When his name was called to approach the orb, he knew instinctively what he had to do.
Please, he thought, looking at the sparrow within his soul sea. Hide yourself.
The azure bird tilted its head, then gave a soft cry and dissolved into a faint wave of light. Its glow folded inward and vanished, leaving behind only the blue sprout, swaying gently in the quiet sea.
When Stephen opened his eyes, the examiner was calling his name again.
"Stormcloud, Stephen!"
He rose and stepped forward to the center, where the orb stood — a sphere of smooth crystal, pulsing faintly with inner light. His hands trembled slightly as he placed them on its surface.
A wave of energy surged through him. The orb flashed, threads of light swirling rapidly within before settling into a steady hue of pale blue.
"Aspect Soul — Blue Sprout," the examiner announced, his voice calm but measured. "Rank: B."
The crowd murmured with polite approval. It wasn't bad — B-rank was above average. But from the corner of his eye, Stephen caught the subtle dimming of his father's gaze. It wasn't disappointment, exactly — more like a quiet shadow passing behind his eyes.
Stephen tried not to think about it.
When the last child had been tested, the examiner gestured toward his assistants, who stepped forward carrying small metallic bands. They handed one to each child — light, sleek devices that shimmered faintly under the sunlight.
"These are your Status Bracelets," the examiner explained. "Each is bound to your life signature and will display your personal data and growth. To activate, simply infuse a trace of transcendent energy."
Stephen mimicked the others, channeling a small spark of energy from within. The bracelet lit up and projected a faint blue window above his wrist:
Name: Stephen StormcloudRealm: NoviceLevel: 0Merit Points: 100
"Each of you has been granted a starting balance of one hundred merit points," the examiner continued. "These points can be used to exchange for basic resources, potions, weapons, and cultivation materials through the City Exchange Halls. Merit is earned by completing missions, fulfilling requests, or achieving public contributions. Guard them well."
He paced slowly, his tone turning firm.
"You've also been provided with a basic cultivation method — one suitable for the Novice Realm. Study it well. The more transcendent energy you absorb and refine within your soul sea, the faster you'll progress."
He gestured toward the projection hovering above his wrist. "Your bracelet will update your level in real time. Once you reach Novice, Level 10 , you may participate in the Entrance Examinations hosted by your nearest city. The higher your level by then, the greater your chances of selection."
He paused for a moment before adding, "The examinations will be held exactly one month from today. If you miss them, you'll need to wait an entire year for the next round. By then, your peers will already be ahead — and catching up won't be easy. Remember that when you choose how to spend your days."
Excited murmurs spread through the group again, mixed now with a hint of anxiety. Stephen felt it too — a knot forming in his chest. A month. That was all the time he had to reach Level 10 and prove himself worthy of stepping into the world beyond their small town.
The examiner continued, his voice firm once more.
"To raise your level, you must hunt beasts within the Training Rifts. Each rift has a level cap of ten and is maintained by the city's overseers. The beasts you slay may drop crystals — refined energy cores. Absorb the energy from these crystals to strengthen your soul sea and advance."
He looked over them all, eyes sharp.
"But remember — greed kills. Attempting to refine a crystal far beyond your current limit can cripple your soul sea… or destroy it entirely. Know your limits, and do not test fate."
Silence followed his words — deep and reverent. Even the wind seemed to pause.
"Now," the examiner said at last, his tone gentler, "your path begins here. Whether you rise or fall depends on the choices you make from this day forward."
As the ceremony ended and the crowd began to disperse, Stephen stared at the faint blue window still hovering above his wrist.
Novice, Level 0.Aspect Soul — Blue Sprout (B-Rank).
The words felt distant, unreal.
He clenched his hand gently, a faint pulse of warmth answering from somewhere deep within — and though no one else could see it, far within his soul sea, the tiny azure sparrow fluttered once, hidden within the mists, watching quietly with eyes that glowed like molten sky.