6th year of life and awakening
Today finally marks the day when I will know what my future holds. Will I become a sailor like my father? Will I pursue my studies to become a scientist, or will my abilities prove so inadequate that my family will abandon me? Even if I don't believe it myself, I live in a highly meritocratic and strength-based nation, so being judged as powerless could be something that even the most loving parents might struggle to accept.
The traditional awakening ceremony is held every month, bringing together all the children born in that year from across the city—commoners and nobles, rich and poor—on the same day. This event allows the less fortunate to gain fortune or establish connections with the nobility. However, it can also quickly become a stage for the humiliation of a young noble master who lacks the right aptitude.
Today, I was dressed more lavishly than usual. My coat had many gold accents on its standard blue colour, and more cog pins were attached to it than normal. For the first time, I wore a big black top hat with a slight blue cog on top.
"North, come down! If we don't hurry, we'll be late!"
"Yes, Mother, I am coming!"
Downstairs, my father, mother, and Stiri were waiting for me; all three were dressed elegantly and lavishly.
My father wore a military uniform in black and blue, accented with hints of gold on the straps on the sides, front, and back of the pants and the jacket. On his shoulder were two patches with silver stars, and three miniature medals and one larger one were pinned to his chest. All three minor medals featured a burning ship, while the larger medal depicted a sword before a castle. Over his uniform, he wore a long trench coat, and resting on his head was an officer's hat.
"Wow, Father! You always say you are a common sailor. I don't think they give those medals and clothes to a normal sailor," I remarked.
"Yes, you have a nice pair of eyes, young man. Your father here..."
"Murvin, North, hurry up! We are late!" my mother interrupted.
"Aye, aye, captain!" we both replied before following her outside.
The town was livelier than usual. A small parade of children with their parents was heading toward the mausoleum, followed by an equally large group of curious onlookers. On the balcony of a nearby building, many people were smiling at the children and wishing them good luck, as if the entire town was experiencing a wake-up call.
As we approached the crowd walking to the Church, my father winked at me and moved to the front with my mother. "Cough, cough," he said. "Oh, is the Captain's son also here today? Come, pass through." Like magic, a small corridor opened in the large procession, allowing us to walk uninterrupted toward the front, where there were other similarly dressed men like my father, following two elegantly dressed men, each accompanied by a boy and a girl.
"Nice to see you here, Major Visarti. Do you think your young one could fare better than mine?" said a stern man, smiling as he approached me, accompanied by a small girl. He wore the same attire as my father but had six medals instead of four and a gold star instead of two silver ones.
"I think so, Battalion Commander, sir. I am pretty confident in my young one," my father replied.
"I bet he'll still be inferior to my boy, though," said a burly man, patting my father's back. He also had two silver stars. "Look how big mine is — your little ones are like ants next to him," he boasted, proudly displaying his son, who towered over us by at least 50 centimetres.
"Well, let's see, majors. This month, we also have the young ones from the two prominent noble families of the region," the Battalion Commander said, looking meaningfully at the two men in front of him.
Before anyone could say anything else, the mausoleum door opened slowly, and the old man I had seen at the Stiri ceremony walked out. He was dressed in a gold and white toga and a long golden hat that resembled the Pope's garments from my old world.
He snapped his fingers, and a majestic gong resonated throughout the square before the mausoleum, where we were all waiting. He cleared his throat with two coughs and said,
"Young ones and eager parents, today is your ceremony of awakening. So be joyful, for the Firstborns reveal a small part of the future they have intended for you. Now enter their home and receive their benediction."
He turned towards the entrance and strolled back inside. The young man beside him picked up a nearby magic tool resembling a megaphone.
"Your names, seat assignments, and call order have already been arranged, so please do not create confusion and search for your seats in an orderly manner," he announced.
We entered slowly and began searching for our seats. We were seated on the far right of the first row, where all the nobles sat. Even the previous battalion commander was seated in the second row.
"Father, why are we here with all those important people in the first row?" I asked.
My mother stopped my father from answering and whispered in my ear, "North, we didn't tell you before, but your father is the son of the Body that oversees the mausoleum in the capital. This is why Speaker Johan is treating us favourably."
"Mom, what is the Body?" I asked.
"Let your father explain it to you, North," she replied. "The Church of the Spirit Gerarcy is determined by the degree of your connection to the First-Born who created this plane. The ranks are as follows:
1. Acolytes - those who are learning the teachings of the Firstborns.
2. Listener—After arduous training, you become a Listener, which means you can actually listen to the voices of the spirits.
3. Executor—After intense training, you become an Executor and go on missions to prove your faith.
4. Speaker—Once you've proven your faith, you become a Speaker, earning the right to speak on behalf of the spirits.
5. Vision—If you are blessed, you become a Vision, which means you can see the spirits dwelling in our world.
6. Body - if the spirits favour you, you can become a Body capable of borrowing the powers of the spirits within your Body.
7. Unity - the king of the Holy Kingdom of Spirit, also the head of the Church, can only be called forth by the Unity, and he alone can summon the First-Borns to this plane."
"Now, North, focus on the ceremony. The first names are being called."
"...And now, let's begin the calling. Mark, come forth." A small boy from the very back of the long corridor stood up and walked to the front. "Mark, fire aptitude: 3 out of 10."
"Noah, come forth."
"Noah, air aptitude: 4 out of 10."
"Elsa, come forth."
"Elsa, water aptitude: 1 out of 10."
...
"Durmu, come forth." From the second row, the burly kid stood up and approached the podium; the Speaker let a drop of Durum's blood fall on the altar. It glowed a deep brown, and seven images on the altar started glowing brightly -"Congratulations, boy, Durmu, Earth attribute, talent 7/10"-
"Look at that, Major! It seems that I already defeated yours, hahaha! Do not worry; dinner will be at my house today! HAHAHAHA!" A thunderous voice laughed while slapping my father's back from behind, nearly making him fall out of his chair.
"Do not count on your victory too soon, Major Kut," my father replied, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder, almost to reassure himself.
After a general round of applause and congratulations for Durum, the ceremony continued.
"Heli, come forth. Air aptitude: 5/10."
"Kevin, come forth. Fire attribute: 6/10."
...
...
The closer you get to the podium, the higher the aptitude of the boys. Do parents with high aptitude produce high aptitude, or is there something related to the quality of food and life?
"Arabell Winston, come forth." From the center of the second row, near the battalion commander, a girl with blonde hair and golden eyes stood up and walked to the altar. The Speaker, this time careful not to hurt the girl, was a lot more gentle in taking her drop of blood. It fell on the altar, and a blinding light enveloped everyone. Once the brightness faded and we could see better, we were greeted by eight glowing figures.
"Oh, how blessed I am to have a chosen one in my humble mausoleum," said the old Speaker, kneeling before the floating statues. He stood up and declared, "Arabell Winston, light aptitude, talent 8/10."
The crowd erupted in various reactions—some people were praying, others were crying, and someone in the back complained that the test had been compromised and should be repeated. Meanwhile, others were offering their congratulations to the battalion commander.
"Major Visarti, it seems that the honour of our battalion now rests on you," the battalion commander said with a grin directed at my father.
"I offer my sincere congratulations, sir, and do not worry about North; he is ready," I replied. I could see that my father was already crying on the inside. Standing behind us, Major Kut was in disbelief, muttering something about unfairness.
The Speaker continued calling names until he reached a spot two paces away from us.
"George Nivios, come forth!"
An elegantly dressed child with black hair and dark eyes stood up and walked confidently to the altar, exuding an air of superiority.
The Speaker let one drop of his blood fall on the altar... It became pitch black, and only one image lit up. The old Speaker hesitated, and after a while, he said, "George Nivios, dark attribute, ... talent ... 1/10."
"How is it not possible to recheck, old man?" screamed the man with the boy. "Even if we retry, the result will be the same," said the Speaker.
"How is it possible that I should have the best talents?" the child on the altar muttered to himself. "He assured me when he reincarnated me that I would be powerful. It's a common trope where I start as useless but eventually become the strongest."
"What in the world is this guy saying? He's also a reincarnator," I thought. "And why is he the only one with black hair and eyes? Let's not talk to him; he seems weird. Yes, and I don't want to expose myself."
During my musing, a considerable commotion was happening beside me.
-"It seems your son is not fit anymore for my daughter; we will discuss the terms to cancel the arranged wedding of the two"-
-"How can you be sure your daughter is not worse than my son?"-
-"Even if she has the same aptitude as your son, I will never let her marry a useless waste like him"-
-" Fine, but never use our help; we will not respond under any circumstance "-
-" HAHAAHH fine, not that you Nivios family will still be strong in the future with such a useless heir"-
Enfreged, the noble of the Nivios family, took his child's hand and stormed out of the Church in a rage, while Elizabeth Pulos, George's future bride, was now being tested.
When her blood touched the altar, the entire mausoleum felt scorched hot, and nine images lit up. The old Speaker dropped to his knees and began praying fervently. He didn't stop until Elizabeth's father urged him to reveal the results.
-"Elizabeth Pulos, aptitude Fire, talent 9/10"-
-"AHAHAAH Nivios, my daughter will never waste her breath with your useless son. Now go out. You are a shame for every noble in the empire "-
The crowd erupted in boos directed at the Nivios noble, hurling insults until he could no longer tolerate it and stormed off.
"Calm down, everyone. We still have one last child to awaken."
"North Visarti, come forth!"
After this performance, I've lost all my excitement. I hope I am at least a decent talent. Poor George endured terrible treatment. I walked slowly to the altar, and the Speaker took my finger delicately as if it were a holy relic. He used a small iron nail to let one drop of my blood fall on the altar.
The air grew extremely cold as a strong wind began to blow. The altar started to glow a deep blue, and eight images illuminated the scene.
"I know it; the blood of the Body Visarti is blessed," muttered the old Speaker, almost fanatically.
He composed himself and boomed, "The Great North Visarti, the blood of the Body, has awakened a water and wind aptitude with a talent rating of 8 out of 10! Rejoice, for you have all been blessed to witness this moment!"
"Hey, old man, calm down. Why are you getting so excited? It's already embarrassing enough as it is," I thought.
"AHAHAHA! I think I won, Battalion Commander, sir, Major Kut, right? AHAHAHAH!" the old Speaker replied.
Wow, even my father has gone crazy, and my mother is crying.
It's simply lovely. Simply lovely.
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With this, I delivered my longest-written chapter; I think I am due a reward, and what is better than some power stone?? Give them to me