The system bestower

He felt a nudge on his shoulder, Theo looked up at his mother who had a serious expression. She nodded at him and so did Theo.

'She is telling me to hurry…' Theo grasped what she wanted to tell him and after nodding at his brothers and sisters quickly, he started moving toward the monument's entrance.

He felt many eyes on him and the sounds of murmurs filled the whole area.

Theo ignored them all, it was what to be expected as he was a Merrick. The ones who were the strongest among all Baronies and even some Viscounts.

Words were that if the Baron of the Merricks became serious, he would overtake many Viscounts too. Just the rumors kept many of the families vigilant.

Theo climbed the stairs and looked at the man in the robes. The latter had an aloof expression and after nodding at Theo, the robed man started looking at his parchment the next second.

Theo entered the darker gate of the monument and the direction moved to the right, he brisked forward seeing that there were only some torches to light up the brick-lined walls.

Theo kept moving forward in zig-zag as the direction led him too. There was no other way the whole time, just the back and the front.

After a minute of moving forward and taking another sharp left, he saw rays of light coming from the end of the corridor toward the right.

He took a small breath of air and moved even more fast before he reached the sharp right turn where, finally, he was able to see what he came for.

Theo entered the room and moved his neck around to take the whole scenery in. His eyes widened in shock by looking at the size of the place.

The room stretched far beyond the boundaries of an ordinary hall, its sheer scale almost too vast to grasp at first glance. 

The high, vaulted ceiling arched gracefully, adorned with intricate carvings that seemed to tell the story of some beasts fighting humans. 

Massive stone columns, each carved from dark marble, lined the perimeter of the room, their surfaces etched with runes that pulsed with a faint, otherworldly glow. Between them, towering statues of humans stood, each seemed to be made of marble.

The floor was a masterpiece in itself, a mosaic of polished obsidian and jade that reflected the flickering light of braziers scattered across the chamber.

'It looks bigger than the whole Merrick castle.' Theo thought.

His gaze finally fell on the front where many people stood, Theo recognized the two children that came before him.

There were many more robed people all around the place that looked like an old temple of sorts.

"Theo Merrick, please step forward" Theo heard the old man far in the front.

Theo moved forward toward the people, he still felt like the room looked more like a piece carved from heaven. Though, he had already seen something even better than this once.

Soon, he reached the people who were standing in a group and that was when Theo realized something.

His eyes fell on a small orange-colored orb on the ground that seemed to resonate with the whole monument. It felt like it was the reason everything in that monument was there.

"Congratulations, prospective tamers." The old man clad in white robes said, his beard was very long and he used a cane to walk around. The only thing missing was a pipe to smoke and he would be the same as Bernard.

"Today, you all have come here for the awakening ceremony that will determine your whole future." The old man said while looking at Theo and everyone, with matureness in his voice, he continued, "Here, you are in the presence of this world's most precious object, it is but a small part of the artifact deep inside our world."

Theo felt a shiver in his spine when he heard that, he looked at the orange-colored orb on the ground with a new light. At first, the thing looked rather important because of it being in the center of the group but now, Theo could tell that it was not only important by the standard of this room but also the whole world.

"There are countless artifacts like this all around the world, they're called, the 'System Bestower'. It helps younglings like you get associated with the artifact that connects the whole world. They first came to this world's surface after the artifact bestowed its benevolence to this world by choosing it." 

It felt like the old man had given this speech to countless people like him his whole life yet still, there was this proudness in his voice while explaining them as if he could never be bored by this explanation.

"Now, let us not take more precious time of the artifact," The robed old man said and took a small parchment in hand, "Elysia Stonekeep, please come forward."

Theo looked at the girl flinching at her sudden name call, she showed a serious expression much like any noble but the sudden twitch in her eyebrow and cheek showed just how nervous she was.

She stepped forward two times and looked up again, the robed old man nodded.

"All you have to do it get in the range of the orb and the artifact will do everything for you." 

The girl took a deep breath and took another step forward, seeing that nothing happened, she took another until she reached inches away from the orb.

Suddenly, the already glowing orange orb flashed a bright white light, Theo and everyone there had to close their eyes because of the bright light.

With a hand on his eyes, Theo tried protecting himself when suddenly, the sound of a metallic bell hit his ears.

TING!

Theo opened his eyes finally seeing that the robes men were unfazed by the light yet after looking at the boy in his side, Theo confirmed that the light was very bright.

"Congratulations, Elysia Stonekeep." The robed man said with a few claps. The other robed men clapped too. 

When Theo's gaze finally fell on the orb again, his eyes widened while looking at it.

The orange color of the orb had changed to blue and text started covering every bit of it.

Until, in front of everyone, a big blue screen hovered over the orb.

Theo squinted his eyes to look at it and his breathing became rugged. He kept a hand on his chest to control his breathing.

'The status screen… it's finally here…' 

After years of staying without it, Theo finally saw a status screen in front of him.

"Elysia Stonekeep, you have successfully contracted with the belevolent artifact. I will now tell you your affinity." The old man said while he stepped forward to look at the status screen.

Without changing his expression, the old man continued, "You have gained an affinity with the Ash element. Congratulations again." 

The young noble girl took a breath of exhaustion, clearly having the burden on her heart lifted.

"Ash is a common element that comes under the main element of Fire. You can learn more about it by entering the academy. Now, please step back." The old man said with a smile.

"Thank you for the information, I shall now take my leave. Farewell." Elysia said with a bright and dazzling smile. She bowed regally in front of the robed me and then at the boy and Theo who greeted her with a smile too.

"Now, Sigrid Frostmoor, please step forward."