After a brief walk, they arrived at the Vinicio mechanism, which was protected by multiple security systems due to its status as one of the most brilliant creations ever made, serving as a global soul weapons storage that can be linked to multiple locations such as this one.
Once Jin successfully completed all the tests, the vault door opened.
Upon entering the chamber, everyone paused behind a transparent barrier that separated them from the other half of the room, where a variety of weapons, including swords, bows, daggers, and spears, were displayed.
Following this, Aamon and Rose approached the barrier, stopping approximately a hand's length away. The method for acquiring a soul weapon and awakening differed for individuals of elevated status compared to those of average status.
Those of the upper echelons awaken at the age of six. By virtue of their highly refined bloodlines, they reach the required soul level far earlier than those of common birth; consequently, as a result, cases of non-awakening are few and far between.
For children born into typical families, upon reaching the age of 12, there is a requirement to undergo a test that assesses their soul level. Naturally, only a small number of individuals, merely hundreds, successfully achieve the necessary standard. Those who do pass are then directed to their city's Vinicio mechanism for their awakening ceremony, and subsequently, they are obligated to attend an academy.
Aamon looked at Rose and was about to ask her something, but she cut him off by saying.
"So, who will commence?"
"Well, as they say, ladies first." Aamon said with an amused tone.
"Oh, what a gentleman you are." She replied with a playful smirk on her face. "Well then, I'll go first."
"Good luck."
"I wish you the same."
Letting her take the stage, Aamon took a few steps back and carefully watched her every movement.
Rose placed her right hand on the surface of the barrier, and after a few seconds of heavy silence, her eyes began to glow. A green and purple aura emanated from the point of contact, swirling and intensifying as if drawing energy from within the very fabric of the magical shield.
Jin, observing everything, turned to Callisto, Rose's father, and remarked, "Looks like she's really talented, more than you, at that. A dual awakening is really rare."
"Ouch, that hurts, but you know she's my daughter, and I'm proud of her."
Suddenly, their attention was drawn to the two weapons that were floating and heading towards her: a green bow made of a fine white metal that looked impossibly strong yet flexible, and a long, slender sword forged from amethyst, both humming with contained power.
The first one to approach her was the green bow, its ethereal form shimmering as it halted mid-air then phased through the barrier like a stone sinking into still water, leaving ripples behind.
The moment she grasped it, a wave of energy permeated the room, Rose looked hypnotized by it. She started to pull the string, and green mana began to condence around her fingertips, taking the form an arrow, the movement as natural as it could be.
Everyone watching was mesmerized by the phenomenon happening before them.
That was until she released her hold, and a whistling sound could be heard inside the room.
Aamon's eyes widened in panic as he saw the arrow arriving at lightning speed before him, targeting his head. His body couldn't. He felt his heart beating so hard that he could hear it. He saw his life unravel before his eyes helplessly.
But suddenly, just as the arrow was about to hit him, a silhouette emerged from the shadow under Aamon and hit the arrow right in the middle with a black dagger.
It was Jin, and as his title suggests, "Shadow emperor", all it took was a millisecond to dive into the shadows and decimate the attack to nothingness with his dagger.
Rose, on the other hand, looked with unfocused eyes at Aamon, ones that slowly regained their clarity with each passing second, and as she realized what she has just done, tears began to form, cascading down her cheeks . Then she began to run towards the boy with jet-black hair, and the moment she got close enough, she jumped on him, which caused both of them to fall on the ground hard.
Aamon was surprised by her reaction as he felt her embracing him in a tight clutch. She was crying, her face buried on his chest.
"I'm s-sorry... I-I'm sorry.... I didn't, I didn't mean to do it, I didn't want to... hurt you, I would never hurt you, not you."
After hearing her mutter, he felt his lips rise into a gentle, reassuring smile. He cupped her cheeks with his hand, making sure she looked him in the eyes, at the moment, all he could see was a cute face with deep look of pure concern.
"It's okay, I'm fine, you can see it didn't even touch me."
He said with a gentle tone trying to calm her down while petting her head.
"So you're not angry at me?" She whispered, with her pink round eyes still dripping with tears.
Aamon looked at her with a serene expression, yet he didn't what to say when he saw her looking at him with that kind of face. But he started by wiping her tears with his fingers and then he said.
"How could I be angry at you, when you have such an adorable face."
Rose's face flushed a deep crimson, warmth spreading across her cheeks that felt as though they were inflating like two delicate, scarlet balloons, brimming with a mix of warmth and bashful delight.
"Dummy...."
Aamon saw her expression, and his heart leaped, a wild, echoing throb that mirrored the instant an arrow had nearly pierced his skull. Yet, unlike that chilling dread, this sensation brought an unexpected warmth to his body.
'So beautiful...'