**Year 26, Third age of Astron;**
**Town of Elinor, Divinian Republic, Xynnar Continent;**
A dashing young man was walking in the streets of a town. As he entered, heads turned and conversations halted.
All eyes were drawn to the guy with a solid and chiseled jawline, piercing blue eyes, and a head of tousled dark hair. He seemed almost too perfect for a human.
But it wasn't just his striking appearance that made him stand out.
Behind him, there were atleast 25 guards, fully dressed up as armored soldiers with their energy cannons out, instead of bodyguards, making sure that no one approached their young master, especially the press.
If anyone wonders whether he is a prince or something, well, he actually is.
21-year-old Icarus Moonstone is the heir of the wealthy House Moonstone with a net worth of about 96 billion Zeni, almost equal to 20% of the country's GDP. They also have many mines of Arcanite under their control.
Arcanite is a metal infused with magical energy, often used by adventurers to enhance their spells and abilities.
The metal was very expensive and that made the House Moonstone the wealthiest in Divinia, once a monarchy but now a republic.
House Moonstone isn't exactly considered royalty at first, but after inheriting the royal castle a couple of centuries ago through the family tree, the citizens started treating them as such, although formally not recognized by the government.
As the heir to such a family, Icarus Moonstone was well protected from any harm. Of the guards that were protecting him, the weakest was at Tier 5, and the strongest of them was at Tier 8.
Until the end of the second age, there used to be magic swordsmen, sorcerers, and archers, but now, most people prefer to use Energy Cannons as they need the least amount of training to use them.
While the experts still prefer traditional weapons as they allow them to use certain skills, for those in security services, there aint no better weapon than a handheld cannon. Not to mention, they weren't protecting not one, but two young masters.
Walking beside Icarus Moonstone is 10-year-old Xerneas, his younger brother.
Xerneas Moonstone rarely steps out of the Divinia castle, and hence, was curiously looking at his surroundings.
His eyes then fell on a building that was shaped like a pyramid. He tugged his brother's velvet coat.
"Hmm?" Icarus looked at his younger brother, "What is it, Xerx?"
Xerneas started making signs for him. The soldiers who were following them closely didn't understand a bit.
However, his older brother understood it.
Icarus nodded with a smile, "Yup, it is the Divinian Hall."
Little Xerneas smiled and made a few sets of signs as if he were saying that he was looking forward to the following day.
Icarus ruffled his hair with a hint of sadness on his smile, "I'm sure the ancestors will bless you."
Divinian Hall is the resting place of the ancestors hailing from the specific region who did great service to humanity.
It is also the place where 10 to 15-year-old kids will be going through the awakening process.
House Moonstone ancestors are all famed Astron warriors, and even Icarus Moonstone himself is an S-class Hero at the mere age of 21, meaning a genius blessed with mana and the pride of Divinia.
The only problem is that their late mother is a plainfolk, one with no mana. And people in the family often say that Xerneas took after her.
But then again, they weren't wrong to think in such a way either. Xerneas was born mute and had absolutely no mana.
Only one of ten kids who were born with mana could successfully awaken their Astron spirit.
As for the children with no mana, the chances of success are below 0.00001%. Only one person in a hundred thousand could have such a miracle of awakening a spirit beast alongside the mana during the awakening process. And this chance would even become slimmer as the child's age increases.
Hence, even his father and grandparents gave up on him.
That is why Icarus was worried about his brother. If Xerneas doesn't become an Astron warrior on the first attempt, then his future will be at tremendous risk.
Icarus Moonstone could only pray for a miracle.
After touring around the town and meeting the locals, Icarus Moonstone returned to the castle with his brother.
As they were on their way to meet their father, in a corridor, both of them were blocked by a middle-aged fellow with a few bodyguards in suits behind him.
"Welcome back, Lord Moonstone," greeted the scary-looking middle-aged fellow. Xerneas Moonstone immediately hid behind his brother.
Meanwhile, Icarus' face darkened. He couldn't hide his hatred as he growled, "What the hell are you doing at our home, Garreck Crescent?"
Garreck Crescent answered in a calm manner, ignoring the young prince's behavior, "I'm just here to inform my brother-in-law that his pregnant wife is doing well at her maternal home. She also sends her regards to both of her sons."
"We are not her sons, Lord Crescent. And our mother's name is Vanessa Blood," replied Icarus. He didn't bother to stand there and converse with the older brother of his stepmother, whose existence he blamed as the reason behind his mother's suicide.
As he walked forward and was about to go past him, Garreck Crescent grabbed Xerneas's hand all of a sudden, startling the kid.
"Don't you want to greet your uncle, Xerneas?" His hand went for his hair as he looked straight into the kid's eyes.
The ten-year-old shivered in fear as his eyes met the man's eyes. He immediately tugged his brother's coat from the back for help.
Icarus Moonstone turned around and pulled out the sword without any hesitation. The guards quickly stood before their master.
As the concentrated amount of magical energy pushed out of his body and poured into the sword, the sparks of the purple lightning started dancing around its blade.
Pointing the sword of lightning at them, the elder brother spoke, "Step away from my brother. I'm warning you. When I say leave my sight, you leave my sight. Test my patience, and I don't care even if you are the son of the Supreme Commander."
Garreck Crescent narrowed his eyes for a second before he let out a fake grin, "Alright, Lord Moonstone. This is your home."
He gestured for the guards to stand down and left the place.
Once they walked out of the castle, a young man who was considered Garreck's right hand growled out in frustration, "How dare he disrespect Lord Crescent by addressing him in such a way, without even addressing him with the title. Even his father spoke in the same tone earlier."
Garreck Crescent raised his hand, gesturing for him to shut his mouth.
As the bodyguard apologized for his loudmouth, Garreck looked back at the castle made of white granite and let out a smirk, "Their doom has already been set into motion. We'll just sit back and watch."
The next morning;
Xerneas and his brother appeared at the Divinian Hall in secret, not intending to give any chance for the media to cause an unnecessary commotion.
And to make sure no one spread the news too, the Divinian Hall's Bishop was also informed beforehand.
As a result, a notice was placed outside stating that it would be closed for the day.
Both brothers secretly entered the hall through the back door and met the Bishop.
The Bishop asked them to follow him to the awakening chamber.
The awakening chamber was rather simple without any decorations. In a plain room, there was a marble stone in the shape of a prism. While the stone holds no significance, the mystical runes carved on it are important for the ritual.
The Bishop of the Divinian Hall then asked the kid to sit down on the platform before the awakening stone.
Xerneas nodded and followed the instructions. After sitting in a lotus position, he closed his eyes.
"Verdathor enarandu, solinthar..."
The Bishop then recited a spell of long incantation, activating the runes inscribed on the awakening stone.
The runes lit up, and golden chains of energy shot into Arceus from the stone.