The duke skimmed through the long scroll of names before pausing ever so slightly. His brow twitched, and then his deep voice echoed through the open plaza.
"Kaelen Maglor, step forward."
A wave of murmurs spread through the crowd like wildfire.
"Maglor? Wait , did he say Maglor?"
"This is going to be good."
"Today's truly historic. We'll be talking about this for decades."
Even the children whispered in awe.
"Mom, why is his name the same as the capital?"
"No, child. The capital was named *after* him or rather, after *the first Awakened*, Kaelen Maglor. He's his descendant."
Among the crowd, Holse stood and bellowed without shame. "Aldabest Kaelen! You got this, boy! Show 'em what you're made of!"
Beside him, Derek gave Kaelen a firm nod ,silent, but reassuring. It was all the boy needed.
Kaelen's footsteps felt heavier with each step as he walked toward the altar. The stone stage felt far larger now that every eye in the capital was on him. Only now did he realize how terrifying it truly was to stand in the spotlight.
He remembered mocking little Alira secretly earlier for looking timid ,but now, he understood all too well. The pressure of thousands watching was more suffocating than any weight he'd ever known.
The duke's voice broke his trance.
"Stand before the altar and say 'System.'"
Kaelen inhaled sharply. His lips moved. "System."
Nothing happened.
Silence gripped the square. Whispers crept in.
Derek's heart dropped. *I shouldn't have brought him. Damn it, I should have known… this is my fault.*
The duke furrowed his brow but nodded slightly. "Try again."
Kaelen opened his mouth. "System."
In that instant, the sky darkened. Clouds twisted unnaturally above, swirling like a vortex. Then, a blinding white pillar of light erupted from the altar, enveloping Kaelen entirely. Thunder cracked overhead.
Rain began to fall ,soft at first, then strong. It drenched the city in seconds. And just as suddenly, it vanished. Silence followed.
All eyes were fixed on the boy, now kneeling in the aftermath of the storm.
"What... just happened?"
The nobles began to rise from their seats. Derek and Holse immediately flanked Kaelen, ready to defend him, while several unfamiliar figures from rival families crept closer, their intentions unclear.
And then a phenomenon.
Everywhere the rain had touched, life had begun to bloom. Flowers of every color burst forth from cracks in stone and soil alike.
Holse's eyes narrowed. "What the hell...? That's almost identical to a monster's awakening but it's different. The flowers… the rain… This shouldn't be possible."
A commanding voice boomed from the sky, cutting through the chaos.
"HALT!"
The voice had weight ,authority and a hint of fury.
Just then, Kaelen's body pulsed with blue light. Then, something darker flickered across his frame , black light. The same legendary hue seen only once earlier that day.
Gasps echoed from every corner.
"That's… That's impossible. Two black awakenings in one day?"
An old man floated down from the sky, dressed in deep navy robes with gold trim, his silver hair flaring like fire in the wind.
He landed lightly beside the altar, scowling.
"You fools! Idiots! You were about to harm a child blessed by the heavens! Are you blind? That boy is more real than any of you pretenders! You dogs were going to cut down the future!"
Silence fell again. No one dared interrupt Walter Chul.
"Kaelen, child, say 'System' once more."
Still glowing faintly, Kaelen obeyed. "System."
This time, a dark, powerful sigil formed above him. The black system.
A screen projected his information for all to see:
----------------------------
Name: Kaelen Maglor
Age: 5
Class: Divine Cleric
Level: 0
Rank: Unranked
Status: Awakened
---------------------------
"He already has a class? At age five?!" someone cried.
Walter turned, snorting. "This can only happen when a child is *born* with a class awakened not by choice, but by fate. It's rare, but not unheard of. Monsters experience this by bloodline. Humans can too, though it's often a sign of great destiny."
Derek's breath finally relaxed. Holse stood tall, proud.
Walter approached them and clapped Derek on the shoulder. "You've done well, boy. Don't let the ignorant drag this child down."
Derek bowed deeply. "Thank you for your intervention, Lord Chul."
Walter Chul , former patriarch of the Chul Clan, teacher of the current king, and the sharpest mind in the capital ,had come running the moment he heard of Neal's awakening. He arrived just in time for Kaelen's.
Walter addressed the crowd one last time.
"Children chasing after power and gold... They forget what true greatness looks like. The future is already dim. Don't make it darker."
The ceremony continued, but the heart of it was over. The nobles, shaken and humbled, began to leave.
Walter stopped Derek before he could follow.
"Come with me, Derek. Bring the child."
Derek turned to Holse, who gave him a mock salute. "You owe me a drink."
Derek smirked. "This time I owe you a favor."
They chuckled and went their separate ways.
The storm had passed, but something greater had been set in motion.