CH: 4

Leon sat cross-legged in the steaming bath, letting the warm water wash away the remnants of exhaustion from his earlier training. His small but well-conditioned five-year-old body ached slightly, but he relished the sensation. It reminded him of his progress.

Today was a turning point.

The Awakening Ceremony—a sacred rite that would determine his potential and set the course for his future. No matter what he awakened, he had to ensure his survival. His goal was clear: to rise above and beyond what fate had planned for him.

After his bath, the maids awaiting at the door began dressing him in a finely tailored dark ceremonial robe, on the chest their family's crest and next to it was House Novaris crest its intricate silver embroidery signifying their family's direct service to the Novaris family. His dark hair was combed neatly, and his youthful face bore a look of calm determination.

Once he was done he was escorted to where his father and mother were waiting for him.

"You look handsome, my son," Selene said, adjusting his collar. Her golden eyes, similar to his own, shimmered with pride.

His father, Garrick Varian, placed a firm hand on Leon's shoulder. "Remember, no matter the outcome, no matter what you hear, hold your head high. This is only the beginning."

Leon nodded. He understood. In this world, power dictated worth. He needed to make sure he had enough to stand his ground.

Together, they stepped into the transport that was waiting to take them and other extended family members to the Novaris Awakening Hall.

The Novaris Awakening Hall was an awe-inspiring sight, a fusion of high technology and ancient grandeur. Towering crystalline pillars pulsed with ethereal energy, and the domed ceiling above displayed an artificial starfield, a reminder of the boundless future awaiting those who proved worthy.

As the Varians arrived, they were greeted by the other noble families and affiliates of House Novaris. These were the lower-ranked families and guild representatives, all gathered for the same purpose: to witness the next generation's potential.

The hall buzzed with hushed conversations, with families subtly assessing each other. Connections were being formed, rivalries brewing beneath polite words. Leon, despite his age, listened carefully. This wasn't just a ceremony—it was the beginning of a power struggle.

Leon was able to feel the high mana density present in the hall, though he wasn't able to manipulate it yet he could feel his body becoming lighter and the day's fatigue wearing off. Basking in this new found feeling he felt a presence behind him.

A boy his age, approached with an amused smirk.

"Hello my name is David Althar of House Althar." David said as he introduced himself.

"A pleasure to meet you, I am Leon Varian of House Varian." Leon responded cordially. The hours of his mother's noble etiquette lessons kicking in. 

"So, you're from House Varian?" he asked, tilting his head. "Your family serves directly under the Espionage division, don't they?"

Leon met his gaze evenly. "That's correct. And yours serves under the War Division, if I recall?"

Draven's smirk widened. "That's right."

Leon's mind drifted back to a memory—a briefing from his father about the structure of the Novaris family.

The Five Divisions under House Novaris were the backbone of their dominion:

War Division: The militaristic arm, responsible for security, conquest, and elite combat forces.

Research Division: The scientific and technological hub, advancing energy systems, weaponry, and genetics.

Commerce Division: The financial sector, overseeing trade, investments, and economic affairs.

Espionage Division: The covert operatives, handling intelligence, assassinations, and internal security.

Arcane Division: The rarest and most secretive, dedicated to unraveling ancient mysteries, secret tomes, and old forgotten artifacts.

Each division was led by a Novaris family elder, ensuring their supreme dominance over their realm. Leon's family, the Varians, were closely affiliated with the Espionage Division, which explained why his father placed such a strong emphasis on discipline and control.

Before Leon could respond to Draven, the massive doors at the far end of the hall slid open. Silence fell instantly.

From the grand entrance, an elder of the Novaris family stepped forward, his presence commanding immediate respect. His white hair, a defining trait of the Novaris bloodline, was pulled back in a neat manner, and his piercing yellow eyes seemed to pierce through the very essence of those before him.

Though he appeared middle aged, he exuded an aura of overwhelming, unquestionable power—an S-rank immortal, one who had transcended the limits of mortality. In Eternal Dominion S-ranks were practically gods, who ruled over others with an iron fist, the number of S-ranks were in the millions, but compared to overall number of humans on one continent they barely accounted for one percent of the population.

Behind him followed several other Novaris Elders and, most notably, the younger generation of the Novaris family. Among them, were those who stood at the forefront, they walked with a determined gait and heads held up high, seemingly placing themselves above the others trailing behind them.

Elder Zephyr's deep voice echoed through the hall. "Today, you stand at the precipice of fate. The Awakening Ceremony will determine your potential, your future, and your worth within this Dominion. Step forward when called, and embrace what destiny has in store for you."

The Novaris children went first. As expected, their elite status demanded priority.

"Elaine Novaris please step forward."

Elaine Novaris stepped forward without hesitation. The moment she placed her hand upon the Awakening Pillar, the hall fell utterly still.

Leon had not noticed her presence until now. Unlike the other children, she was silent, unreadable, cold as ice. Even at five years old, her demeanor was detached, as if the entire event was beneath her notice.

As if fate itself bowed before her. Which wasn't surprising as she was one of the main heroines of one of the protagonists' in the story.

Leon felt a strange sensation as he observed her, though he quickly pushed it aside. Now wasn't the time for distractions.

A second later, the Pillar erupted in a golden radiance, illuminating the entire hall. A powerful hum filled the air as the energy swirled around her, creating an almost divine spectacle.

Above the pillar, the holographic display revealed her results:

"Talent Rank: SS-Class"

"Elemental Affinity: Celestial Light"

The hall erupted into whispers, some in awe, others in envy.

An SS-Class Awakening—a phenomenon so rare it placed her among the strongest prodigies in recorded history. Those who achieved this rank were practically immortal, they could be considered true gods as upon reaching this rank one could master an Authority.

Leon inhaled slowly. So, this was the beginning of Elaine Novaris' rise to power.

The remaining Novaris children followed, Awakening A-Class and B-Class talents, there was even a S-class talent among the children though none came close to Elaine's brilliance.

Then came the noble families and affiliates. Some succeeded spectacularly. Others failed, left broken in the wake of crushed expectations.

Finally, Leon Varian's name was called.

Stepping forward, Leon felt the weight of countless eyes on him. His father and mother watched from a distance, their expressions unreadable. The Novaris Elders observed with mild interest. They must of course keep an eye out on the children of the affiliate families. to see who is worthy of serving as retainers to one of their children.

He reached out…

Placed his palm on the Awakening Pillar…

And then—power surged through his entire being.

A bolt of blue lightning erupted from the crystal, arcing wildly, making some of the weaker children stumble back in shock. The Awakening Pillar's holographic display flared to life.

"Talent Rank: S-Class"

"Elemental Affinity: Lightning"

Gasps filled the hall. His parents, Selene and Garrick, stared in stunned silence before their expressions shifted to undisguised pride. The elders exchanged intrigued glances and began to exchange hushed whispers among themselves, while some lesser families looked on with envy.

Leon, however, was frozen.

His thoughts raced. This wasn't supposed to happen. In the novel, Leon Varian only awakened a B-Class talent!

His heart pounded as a realization hit him. His presence in this world was already changing fate.

Leon maintained his composure, but then—

A second vision unfolded before his eyes.

A hidden screen appeared before him, visible only to him.

━━━[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]━━━

Talent Rank: SSS-Class

Elemental Affinity: Chaos

━━━[Hidden Awakening Detected]━━━

Leon's breath caught in his throat.

SSS-Class? Chaos Element?

This wasn't supposed to exist.

Chaos represented the beginning of all things and it's end. It can be considered the very first element that gave birth to others. A Primordial Element.

As realization hit, Leon instinctively suppressed his reaction.

No one could know. Not yet.

From the outside, it seemed as though he had merely Awakened S-Class Lightning, a talent strong enough to make him valuable and highly prized, but not so strong as to draw dangerous attention.

The Novaris Elders studied him for a moment, their gazes unreadable, before the ceremony continued.

Leon slowly stepped back, his expression calm, but inside, his thoughts raced.

He had been given something beyond anything this world expected.

And now?

Then he remembered the being who had helped him reincarnate, it might have been them who had changed his innate talent.

Taking a deep sigh he began to plan his next moves. He would have to play his cards very, very carefully.