Chapter 13: The Awakening of a Legend

The grand ceremonial hall of House Valenhardt stood as a testament to centuries of noble heritage, its towering marble pillars engraved with ancient runes that shimmered faintly under the glow of enchanted chandeliers. The ceiling arched high above, painted with celestial constellations that seemed to shift subtly, as if mirroring the currents of mana in the air. Intricately woven tapestries adorned the walls, depicting legendary mages of old, their figures imbued with a faint, ethereal glow. The scent of aged parchment, polished wood, and faint traces of incense lingered, blending seamlessly with the hushed whispers of the gathered nobles and scholars. Despite the vastness of the hall, an air of heavy anticipation hung over the assembly, each guest acutely aware that today's ceremony would be one for the history books.

At the center of the hall stood a massive, transparent crystal—its smooth surface pulsing with a faint silver light. This was the Celestial Appraisal Crystal, a rare artifact, capable of measuring the raw magical potential of a child. Surrounding it, placed on ornate pedestals, were eight smaller Elemental Affinity Crystals—each representing a fundamental force of nature gifted by King Zareth.

The guests, a mix of high-ranking nobles, scholars, and seasoned mages, had gathered in eager anticipation. Arinay Valenhardt, heir to the noble house and son of Lord Caldris Valenhardt and Lady Evelyne Valenhardt, was about to undergo his Magic Potential and Affinity Ceremony—a tradition that determined a child's magical prowess and elemental compatibility.

At the forefront stood Lorien Voss, the Family Head Mage, a man of considerable wisdom and experience. His long silver hair was neatly tied back, his deep blue robes embroidered with symbols of mana flow. He held an air of authority, yet there was a distinct softness in his sharp gaze as he looked down at the young boy standing before him.

The grand doors of the ceremonial hall swung open with a resonant hum, revealing the noble figures of Caldris Valenhardt and Evelyne Valenhardt as they stepped forward with regal grace. Between them, their son, Arinay Valenhardt, walked with quiet poise, his golden hair catching the ambient glow of the enchanted chandeliers above.

Though merely five years old, his demeanor was unlike that of a typical child—his steps measured, his expression calm, yet his eyes gleamed with a quiet intensity.

Evelyne, dressed in an elegant gown of deep sapphire, held his small hand gently, her touch warm and reassuring. Caldris, in his dark ceremonial robes adorned with the sigil of House Valenhardt, exuded an aura of authority, his piercing gaze sweeping across the assembled nobles.

The murmurs in the hall quieted as all eyes turned toward the young heir, their curiosity and expectation thick in the air. Today, the fate of Arinay Valenhardt would be unveiled, and the weight of a legacy older than the kingdom itself rested upon this moment.

Arinay, though merely five years old, carried himself with a quiet confidence that was unusual for his age. His golden eyes, striking yet unreadable, flickered with hidden intelligence as he stepped forward. The ceremonial attire draped over his small frame—a regal white tunic with golden embroidery—further accentuated his noble lineage.

"Prince Arinay," Lorien Voss's voice echoed through the hall, his tone calm yet firm. "Place your hands upon the Celestial Appraisal Crystal and focus your mana. This will reveal your magical potential."

The hall fell into silence as all eyes locked onto the small child.

Taking a deep breath, Arinay reached out and gently placed his hands upon the large crystal's surface. It was cool to the touch, smooth yet humming with restrained power. Closing his eyes, he channeled his mana into it."Let's put on a grand spectacle," Arinay mused inwardly, a faint smirk tugging at the corners of his lips."

For a brief moment, nothing happened. Then—

A brilliant light erupted from within the crystal, engulfing the entire hall in an overwhelming radiance.

Gasps filled the air as nobles instinctively shielded their eyes, the intensity of the glow far exceeding anything they had ever seen. Even Lorien Voss, a seasoned mage, took a startled step back, his hands instinctively rising to cover his face.

The entire hall was drowned in blinding white light, as if a second sun had descended upon them. The pressure of raw mana in the air became almost suffocating, making even trained mages struggle to breathe.

"W-What in the heavens?!" one noble stammered, his voice barely audible over the hum of energy reverberating through the room.

"This... This is unheard of!" another mage exclaimed, his face pale with shock.

Lorien Voss's mind raced. In his decades of service, he had overseen countless ceremonies, but never had a child caused such an overwhelming reaction from the Celestial Appraisal Crystal. The artifact had measured the potential of prodigies, battle-hardened mages, even Archmages of the royal court—yet none had ever produced such an effect.

Lorien Voss, still processing what had just transpired, took a deep breath before speaking. His voice was low, but it carried throughout the hall.

"Young Master Arinay is a prodigy...a genius... no, something beyond that."

His declaration sent another wave of murmurs through the nobles. Some looked at the child with awe, others with disbelief, and a few with barely concealed fear.

Caldris Valenhardt remained composed, though his sharp eyes studied his son with renewed curiosity. Evelyne, seated at the front, clasped her hands together, her expression a mix of pride and motherly concern.

Lorien Voss quickly steadied himself. "Now, we proceed to the Elemental Affinity Test. Young Master Arinay, place your hand on the Fire Crystal."

The finest quality affinity crystals, personally gifted by King Zareth Ignis, stood ready, each one a finest crystal of a specific element.

Arinay stepped forward and pressed his palm against the Fire Crystal.

The moment he made contact—

BOOM!

An explosion of fire-red light burst forth, flooding the hall with searing brilliance. The crystal trembled violently, cracks spreading across its surface—

SHATTER!

The Fire Crystal disintegrated into dust.

A stunned silence followed.

"Impossible!" someone whispered.

Lorien Voss's breath hitched, sweat forming at his temples. Never had an elemental affinity crystal shattered upon contact.

Swallowing his unease, he urged Arinay to proceed.

Ice Crystal. Shattered.

Water Crystal. Shattered.

Lightning, Earth, Wind, Shadow, Light—one after another, they all shattered.

Each time, the same result. Each time, the same deafening silence followed.

The nobles were no longer murmuring; they were simply staring, speechless.

Some skeptics among them whispered that the crystals might be fake, but Caldris immediately dismissed the idea.

"These were personally gifted by King Zareth. There is no chance of fake."

The weight of his words sent a chilling realization through the audience.

If the crystals were real, then what did this mean for Arinay?

As the nobles tried to comprehend the situation, a final, piercing shatter rang through the hall.

All eyes turned toward the Celestial Appraisal Crystal—the massive artifact that had just measured Arinay's magic potential.

A strange tremor ran through its towering form, a deep hum resonating in the air. Then, before anyone could react, thin cracks of pure light began spreading across its once-pristine silver surface, like veins of mana fracturing under unbearable pressure. The hall seemed to hold its breath.

And then—

CRACK!

A deafening shatter echoed through the vast chamber. Gasps of disbelief rippled through the crowd as the mighty crystal splintered apart, collapsing into radiant shards that scattered like falling stars.

Then—silence.

An eerie, suffocating silence engulfed the hall, heavier than the weight of a thousand unspoken questions.

Lorien Voss exhaled shakily. This was no ordinary child. This was an anomaly.

Turning to Caldris, he leaned in and whispered, "My Lord, this matter must not be made public. We need to discuss this in private."

Caldris's sharp gaze lingered on his son before he nodded. "Understood."

Rising to his feet, he addressed the hall. "Due to unforeseen circumstances, today's ceremony is concluded. I ask all our guests to take their leave."

Though reluctant, the nobles understood. One by one, they departed, still murmuring in disbelief.Turning to his wife, Evelyne, he placed a steady, reassuring hand on her shoulder. His voice was calm, carrying only the faintest hint of concern.

"Evelyne, take Arinay to your room."

Evelyne's emerald eyes met his with quiet understanding, though a touch of uncertainty lingered in her expression. She nodded, giving Arinay's small hand a gentle squeeze before turning to lead him away through the murmuring crowd.

As the last of the guests exited, Caldris turned toward Lorien Voss. "Follow me. I need answers."

In the privacy of the Lord's chamber, the tension was thick. The air carried an unspoken weight, a sense that whatever would be revealed next would change everything.

Lorien Voss, after a long silence, finally spoke.

"My Lord... what I am about to say may change the very fate of Young master Arinay."

To be continued...