[1 year later ]
"I won't explode, right ? Because I feel like a fucking bomb right now !"
"Just r-relax, everything will end soon, you will be okay. "
"Why are you moving back ! "
"I said you will be okay, not me! "
One minute ago, I was sparring with Aria in the fighting arena, until suddenly, my body started awakening .
Yes, awakening!
My bracelet kept making noises, a strange energy was entering my body and my body itself kept changing .
I could feel it, how the mana core at my heart was absorbing mana slowly, how my body was getting changed, and I could even feel a small space forming inside my heart !
'Is that related to my trait ?'
But the most visible thing was my affinities.
The lightning was dancing around my body, the space looked as if it would shatter any moment and the wind was in chaos.
'is my third affinity wind? '
Aria's eyes widened . "That's not normal wind. It's not like when I awakened my mana!"
'oh, i forgot to turn this off. '
"I heard that too."
After some minutes the chaos finally stopped .
I looked at my bracelet screen…
[Congratulations! You were able to awaken your mana naturally! Please head to the nearest awakening center to register yourself as an Exalted and analyse your new body. ]
" How do you feel now ? Can you use mana ? " Aria suddenly asked, her voice filled with excitement.
I grinned. "That may be the best feeling I had in my entire life ! "
'In my 2 lives actually.'
Then I focused on the mana inside my body. Unlike the aura, when you awaken the mana, you could feel it instinctively.
I raised my hand and imagined a ball. My mana moved from my core to my hand, then it kept gathering above my hand forming a small grey ball .
"I-i can use magic ! I can finally use magic!l"
A small smile appeared on my face .
It wasn't stable, it wasn't useful and my casting speed was too slow, but it was still magic !
For someone from earth like me, it was like achieving my dream.
Aria smiled. "Hey Ray, Why don't you look in the mirror? You will be surprised."
I went to the nearest mirror and...I couldn't believe my eyes .
Wait, I really couldn't believe them !
'Is that me !? '
I looked like a completely different person, My body was refined like a perfect athletic, leaning more towards agility than strength—a perfect body for an archer like me.
My pale skin became healthier and smoother, and my face features improved too much!
I passed my hand through my hair and felt like it could make even the silk ashamed, and I noticed some purple highlights on it like Aria's hair .
"We are really similar in many things.'
But that wasn't what really shocked me .
It just meant that I got a physique trait like Aria, She also got much more beautiful after awakening .
The problem was my sight, I could see each detail in my body, even the muscles movement !
I knew that awakening can increase my vision, but I was sure that it wasn't supposed to be that much !
Looking at the mirror and focusing on my eyes, I noticed it .
My eyes were glowing a little, but what got my attention were the small purple runes with small lightning crackling on them. They were so small that even with my new eyes I could barely see them .
'Wait, I didn't only get improved sight, I can also feel 2 sou— '
"Pfft "
"Did you just laugh ? What is so funny. " I asked Aria while raising my eyebrow.
I examined my body, there was nothing wrong wi—.
'oh. '
My face turned red immediately .
'I'm half naked. I'm looking like a homeless person, maybe the lightning burned my clothes. '
When Aria awakened her mana, her lightning only made her clothes only freeze, so I didn't put that in my mind.
When Aria saw my expression she couldn't hold it anymore.
"Hahahaha."
I gritted my teeth "shut up! I will go wear something, also prepare yourself, we are going to the awakening center."
"Okay, I will take you there. "
* * * * *
[In the awakening center]
'Why is everything white!'
From the floor to the walls .
Everything was completely white around me, even the strange machines and the workers' clothes. The awakening center looked like one of the huge labs you would see in the movies .
"Please channel your mana into this crystal to register yourself. If you feel something entering you, don't resist. It's not harmful. "
In front of me and Aria, a woman that seemed to be in her late thirties, wearing white lab clothes was pointing at a blue crystal on the table in front of her .
I touched the crystal with my finger and channeled my mana into it. I felt a strange energy entering my mana core, but it left after a few seconds.
The next moment, the woman's bracelet made a *ding! * Sound .
'I wonder if they use my mana like fingerprints. '
The woman stood up. "Please follow me to the analysing room. If you are wearing any artifacts please hand it to me or your friend until we end."
Nodding my head, I gave my bracelet to Aria, then I followed her until we reached a long line of people.
"Stand in that line until your turn comes, then the worker inside that room will help you. I will take my leave now. "
Standing in the line, I decided to focus on my trait while waiting. If they couldn't know Aria's trait completely then something similar could happen to me.
I examined my surroundings and as expected, I could see everything clearly. I didn't see the things zoomed in, but despite this, I could see from a long distance.
I tried to focus on the door at the end of the line for some time, but nothing happened.
'Tsk, no x-ray vision.'
Then I focused on my other senses, I could hear the people whisper clearly and even smell everything around me without any confusion in the scents .
'Is that how the dogs distinguish the different scents?'
I closed my eyes, but despite not seeing anything I could make an image for everything around me which made my lips turn into a wide grin.
'That's a fucking spatial awareness! I read that it's so rare for space users to get it. It will make spells like teleportation easier later. '
Before I could explore more, my turn finally came and a boy left the room with a desperate face .
He was murmuring something to himself which I heard clearly.
"Transforming into a penguin, how am I supposed to tell father. "
I sighed. 'I hope you find a use for that shit someday.'
The traits could be anything, from physiques which were common to transformations and active abilities. It all depends on your luck.
Entering the room, I was met by the same woman that led me here.
"H-How did you come here. "
She looked at me with a blank face as if she expected this.
"Clones trait. Now look at that." she pointed at what looked like a big white closet made of steel with a small window and some buttons.
"In case you don't know, that machine will let us know your weapon talents, support talents, mana talent and finally your trait."
I opened my mouth to ask about something, but she cut me off.
"And for your affinities, we did that already when you registered, so now take off your clothes and enter that thing."
I nodded and waited for her to turn around...
"...."
But she didn't.
She sighed " I'm 70 years older than you, so stop hesitating and just do it. There are more kids waiting outside."
"Oh, sorry. "
I took off my clothes and entered the machine, and for some reason, I didn't feel too embarrassed .
'Maybe my trait has a mind effect too.'
"By the way, it will hurt a little. "
"Wh— "
Suddenly, a cold blue light fell on me.
"Argh! "
I felt like every part of my body was getting bitten by mosquitoes. It hurt, but it was bearable.
After the most uncomfortable 30 minutes in my 2 lives, the machine finally stopped and the door opened .
The woman sighed. "Sorry for that, it should have taken only around 2 minutes but it looks like you are a little… special. You can go home for now and you will get the results after an hour at least. "
I nodded and turned around to leave, but suddenly I looked at her and asked:
"How can this thing know about my talents? Aren't those things innate?
"Do I look like a dwarf?"
"No?"
"Then why are you asking? I don't even know how my own body works."
"Oh, sorry then."
I went back to the registration hall and instead of just Aria I also found Zephyr approaching me with an excited face.
'Huh?!'
Before I could say anything, they started raining me with questions .
"What is your affinity, did you get a physique trait like us ? What about your talents? "
"Bro why did you take all that time? Can your trait turn you into a gryphon or something? Wait, if you can then will you let me take a ride? "
"First of all, why the hell are you here! How did you know that I'm here? "
Zephyr suddenly stopped as if caught off guard, then he started scratching his face with a stupid smile .
"Hehe, about that , didn't you wonder why the nobles stopped approaching you after us? Let's just say I'm keeping some guards 'protecting' your house all the time, so I knew when you went to the centre. No need to thank me by the way . "
Our eyes widened in disbelief, that prince was watching our steps for years!
I gritted my teeth. "Fucking stalker! Anyway, let's go back home. They will send me everything later, and I really want to test my soul-bound artifacts. "
"Oh, can I come with you, I'm really hungry and I have nothing else to do. "
Aria sighed "Okay. "
Zephyr smiled "Hell yeah ! Thank you sis. "
After some time, we returned home, but unlike before, I was carrying something in my hands.
It was a small silver cat covered in blood .