The golden rays of the morning spilled through the curtains, pulling Derrick from sleep.
Derrick was about to head back to sleep when the sound of blaring trumpets forced him to his feet.
"Hear he, hear he, the awakening ceremony shall commence in three hours." A man on a horse holding a scroll announced, his voice loud enough for anyone to hear.
"Prince Derrick, you are going to be late if we don't depart soon," Derrick's Royal Knight announced.
Derrick sighed, he knew it didn't really matter if he went late or early, he was a prince and the favorite son of the king, they would wait for him.
However, he knew how important this was to Klea, and he wanted to be by her side for it all.
In a matter of minutes, Derrick had gotten ready. He didn't need to do much honestly, his looks were enough to charm even the most wicked creatures.
"Have the servants draw the carriage, and inform my friends that I'm on my way." Derrick ordered, and his royal knight did as instructed.
Derrick stared at himself in the mirror, admiring his golden and purple royal attire.
"Even if I don't awaken a good magic, I could still slay a demonic beast with this face."
Derrick was still admiring himself in the mirror, when his royal knight came in.
"Prince Derrick, the carriage has been drawn, your father has also departed for the ceremony, and awaits your presence." The Royal Knight informed.
Derrick clenched his teeth, it was disrespectful for anyone to arrive after the king, and it just showed how late he really was.
Derrick didn't waste time getting in the carriage. In a matter of minutes, they departed.
The rhythmic beat of hooves echoed through the iron roads.
With each step, a memory of his mother surfaced.
Her laughter, her promise, her death, it all came rushing.
'I swear on the gods, I will rid this world of dark beasts, even if that is the last thing I do.' Derrick had made himself this promise a long time ago, and he would stop at nothing to uphold it.
"My prince, we have arrived," Derrick's Royal Knight announced, drawing Derrick out of his train of thought.
Derrick alighted from the carriage, several royal knights surrounding him in a carefully drafted formation.
The prince was attending an event in his official royal attire. They couldn't let him be too exposed to the public eye.
The hall of the awakening ceremony was grand and bore striking similarities to a coliseum.
"Where have you been!" Klea said angrily, her tone slightly raised.
"Relax K, this handsome body has to rest," Derrick jested.
"I don't know what's worse, a man obsessed with his looks, or that I'm in love with you." Klea's anger had simmered down.
Looking into Derrick's eyes had always calmed her down, she had completely forgotten about her anger.
"You're just in time for your father's speech." Lancel's voice and aura drew all the attention.
"Going all out I see," Derrick said, pointing out Lancel's attire.
Lancel had dressed like a man who wanted to be remembered, red silk, gold trim, gemstones catching the light from every angle.
Standing beside him, even Derrick felt outshined.
"Well, it's my big day, I can't afford to look like you," Lancel jested.
Derrick was about to respond, when a familiar voice drew his attention.
"We are about to begin," the king said, his voice serious and his eyes focused.
At the far end of the coliseum was a six-foot-five inches-tall man, with long blonde hair and hazel eyes with an inner green circle.
"I keep wondering where you got your dwarf genes from," Lancel jested.
Despite having a tall father and a mother of average height, Derrick stood at a height of only 5 feet 8.
Derrick wanted to speak, but once again, his father's voice cut him off.
"As we all know, our realm is under the threat of the dark beasts who have ravaged it for the past century." The king started his speech and Derrick's hands folded into fists.
Hearing dark beasts reopened the memories of his mother.
"However, the gods have given us a way to protect ourselves, with magical talents and the gift of magic itself." The king continued.
Every child born into this world carried a sigil upon their head from birth, a mark that represented their talent grade. There were five in total, arranged by power and rarity; beginner, novice, advanced, master and grandmaster.
Eighteen years later, that talent would bloom into something more, a magical affinity unique to every soul.
"Don't forget the secret legendary talent that will doom us all." Lancel jested and Derrick laughed.
"Today, all of you will be going through that test, the future of our kingdom lies within you all." The king's voice boomed.
"I will now be handing over to the high priest, he shall conduct the awakening ceremony." A round of applause and cheers escorted the king off the stage.
An old man with a cane in his hand quickly entered after the king. This was the high priest, one of the kingdom's most powerful individuals.
"Klea Valthorn, step forward." The priest didn't waste any time, he had places to be and wanted to be done with whatever this was as soon as possible.
Klea puffed out her chest, this was the moment she had been waiting for all along.
Klea walked forward, she stood between the priest and a floating white orb.
"Place your hand upon the orb." The priest instructed, and Klea did as told.
Klea's hands rested upon the orb, and a bright beam of light shone, followed by a projected screen.
[Klea Valthorn.]
[Advanced Talent.]
[Magic: plant manipulation.]
"Whoa." One of the bystanders exclaimed, the versatility of Klea's powers were impressive.
"She could improve the lives of farmers in the kingdom," a bystander said in admiration.
"Forget that, she could make powerful potions or poisons." Another bystander pointed out.
"Or, she could use plants as weapons in a fight." Many of such comments could be heard, followed by cheers, praises and applause.
Klea went back to Derrick's side with a smile on her face. All her worries had been lifted, she had awakened a good magic.
"Like I said, there is no cause for worry." Derrick's words made Klea feel even happier.
"Lancel Fortuna, step forward." The priest called, and Lancel marched proudly.
As Lancel walked through the crowds, people couldn't help but admire his looks and attire, some even put him above Derrick.
Lancel walked confidently to the priest, he didn't even wait for the priest to give him the go ahead, he just placed his hand on the orb.
The glow from the orb shone brightly, like a candle compared to Klea's spark.
[Lancel Fortuna.]
[Master Talent.]
[Fire Magic.]
Everyone went silent for a moment, elemental magic was one of the most highly regarded forms of magic.
And even among elemental magics, one of the most exceptional ones was fire.
Many scholars speculated that fire mages commonly appeared in Dravania due to their connection with the dragon spirit of the land.
It was also rumored that Dravanian fire magic was more potent than that of any other kingdom.
"A Master talent and a fire magic affinity, our kingdom is in safe hands."
The crowd roared in excitement, many envied Lancel, but his awakening with such a powerful magic meant that their kingdom was in very safe hands.
The excitement died down and Lancel returned to his position with his friends, who both looked at him in admiration.
"Prince Derrick, step forward," the priest said, and everyone fell silent.
Finally, it was time for the man with a grandmaster talent to make his mark.
With a grandmaster talent, one was said to have power directly comparable to the agents of the gods.
The entire kingdom had put their faith in Derrick, he was the one chosen by the gods after all, and if anyone was going to save their kingdom, it was him.
Derrick stepped forward, a million and one thoughts running through his mind.
He couldn't help but feel like a hypocrite for telling Klea not to worry.
"Place your hand on the orb," the priest said. He had a small smirk on his face. He was excited to see what Derrick would awaken.
Derrick placed his hand on the orb and the glow that came from it was beyond normal. It completely dwarfed what Lancel previously displayed.
Many had to cover their eyes just to withstand Derrick's grace.
Eventually, the glow died down and everyone stared in excitement.
"What, how is that possible??" A member of the crowd asked, and the king's face, along with that of the priest contorted into a look of pure horror.
Worst of all was Derrick, who felt the blood drain from his body.
[Derrick Dravania.]
[Grandmaster Talent.]
[Magic: Null.]