What is an Awakener?

In the Marquis's office of House Valmont, two figures occupied the dimly lit room. Seated at his grand mahogany desk was Edric Valmont, the head of the family, his fingers interlocked as he listened intently. Standing before him, maintaining a composed posture, was Oswald, the head butler, who had just finished delivering his report on the events that had transpired at the training grounds a few hours earlier.

"…And that is everything that happened, my lord," Oswald concluded, standing upright as he awaited a response.

Edric remained silent for a long moment, his brows furrowed in deep thought. His expression betrayed a mix of emotions—shock, disbelief, and a simmering rage beneath the surface. The very idea that a mere commoner knight from House d'Armand had dared to raise his blade against his precious son made his blood boil. If it weren't for the circumstances, he would have ensured that knight suffered severe consequences for such audacity.

Yet, what truly left him speechless was learning that his son, Eren, had not only challenged the knight himself but had actually emerged victorious.

It was a stunning revelation. His son, who had never once shown interest in swordsmanship or combat, had humiliated a trained knight in front of a gathered audience. If only he had been there to witness it with his own eyes…

As Edric pondered the matter, his mind drifted to an earlier event that had left him equally surprised.

…Earlier That Evening

Before Oswald could deliver his full report, Eren himself had arrived at the Marquis's office, accompanied by the butler. Fresh from a bath, dressed in clean clothes, and exuding a more innocent and childlike demeanor, his son had approached him with an unusual request.

Edric, ever the doting father, greeted his son with a warm smile.

"Father, I need your help with something," Eren spoke in a soft, almost shy tone, his fingers fidgeting slightly in what appeared to be nervousness.

"Of course, my boy. Anything you need," Edric responded, his smile widening in encouragement.

Eren hesitated for a moment before raising his hand, revealing an elegantly sealed envelope. His expression was somewhat flustered, as if he were embarrassed to make this request.

"C-Can you help me deliver this message to my fiancée? And also… help explain things to her father? I don't want him to be too upset about what happened today."

Edric blinked in momentary surprise, while even Oswald, who stood quietly behind Eren, raised his eyebrows ever so slightly.

Eren then proceeded to explain. He recounted how he and his fiancée, Mereoleona, had a disagreement and even argued, during which he had said something harsh that had made her cry. Seeing his lady in distress, her personal knight had been enraged and had challenged him to a duel in retaliation.

In short story about what happened after, Eren wanted his father's help in smoothing things over with Count d'Armand, ensuring that neither the knight nor Mereoleona suffered any severe reprimands for the incident. He was worried that the count would scold his daughter, and that was something he wanted to avoid. The last thing he wanted was to create a bad impression with his fiancée.

As Eren finished his explanation, Edric's smile slowly widened, his expression filled with amusement and an almost fatherly pride.

"Hoh~ I see," he mused, patting his son's head affectionately before taking the letter from his hands.

The Marquis had no doubts now—his son had taken a liking to the d'Armand girl. And not just any liking, but enough to personally write her a letter and even try to ensure her father didn't blame her for today's events.

'How adorable,' Edric thought with amusement. His wife would be thrilled to hear this when she returned from her social gathering.

little did he know that Eren was just putting an act.

With a bright, innocent smile, Eren waved as he left the office, leaving his father with the letter. However, the moment the door closed, the warmth in Edric's expression vanished, replaced by a cold, calculating look as he turned his attention back to Oswald.

"…Tell me what really happened," he commanded, his voice sharp.

Understanding that his master no longer wished to entertain Eren's 'sweetened' version of events, Oswald bowed slightly before recounting everything he had learned from the young master's maid, Marie.

Back in the Present

Now, having pieced together the full picture, Edric could only exhale deeply, leaning back in his chair.

To be perfectly honest, he had never been entirely in favor of this engagement in the first place. The idea of marrying his son into the d'Armand family held little interest for him. However, his wife had been insistent—she had always worried about their children's futures, and when the d'Armand family proposed a marriage arrangement, she had been the one to push for it.

Initially, she had tried to convince their eldest son, Cedric, to find a partner. But the boy was utterly stubborn, always claiming he was 'too busy with work' and 'had no time for romance.' Even after arranging numerous meetings with noble daughters, Cedric had simply ignored them all.

Some daughters even cried and got humiliated as they waited for their dated partner 'Cedric' to come and met them, but he never did.

So, when the d'Armands offered their daughter's hand, his wife had quickly turned her sights to Eren instead, thinking that an early engagement might help secure a stable relationship in the future.

Edric sighed again, rubbing his temples. He could only imagine what his wife's reaction would be when she learned of today's events.

But for now, he pushed that matter aside. There was something else that demanded his attention.

His gaze sharpened as he looked at Oswald.

"Tell me, Oswald… What do you think of Eren's actions today?"

Oswald immediately understood the true meaning behind his master's question. The concern wasn't about Eren challenging a knight—it was about something far more significant.

"…I believe the young master has truly Awakened," the butler answered, his voice firm, his expression tense.

Edric remained silent, absorbing those words.

For a mere fifteen-year-old to defeat a fully trained knight—one who could wield Aura, no less—was nothing short of impossible for an ordinary human. There was only one explanation.

"…Why do you think so?" Edric pressed.

Oswald took a moment to gather his thoughts before answering.

"My lord, to fight on equal footing with a trained knight—especially one who can wield even a small amount of Aura—there are only two possible conditions. Either one possesses far superior experience in swordsmanship… or one is an Awakener who has received a powerful Skill."

Awakeners.

It was a term only the people of this world understood. Even Eren himself, despite being an outside, had yet to fully grasp its meaning, since he never asked the system.

What is an Awakener?

An Awakener is someone who has received the blessing of the gods—a divine gift known as the Signet.

These individuals possess the ability to transcend natural mortal limitations, evolving and growing stronger through experience. The Signet acts as a mystical system, recording their efforts and achievements, converting battles, training, and accomplishments into measurable power.

In short, Awakeners are those chosen by fate itself, granted the potential to rise far beyond the capabilities of ordinary mortals.

The Signet reveals its wielder's status and attributes, including Strength, Endurance, Dexterity, Agility, and Intellect. These attributes improve based on a person's experiences, allowing individuals to refine their talents, increase their magical power, develop specialized skills, and even unlock unique abilities as they grow stronger.

In this world, Awakeners are not particularly rare. Anyone can receive a Signet, either by visiting the church to be officially blessed or by awakening it naturally through their own potential.

Those who awaken their Signet without the church's guidance are called Self-Awakeners—a rare and often unpredictable occurrence.

"I believe the young master is a Self-Awakener," Oswald stated firmly, his tone carrying a mix of certainty and unease.

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(A/N: From now on. The next Chapters will be uploaded every 20 hours.)