On the forest outskrits of capital city of Alrend Republic , a boy could be seen traversing the outer perimeter of the forest.
This boy was Azaroth , now 13 year old
armed with a hunters bow and a quiver full of arrows , both mundane kind.
Azaroth ventured deeper into the forest, being careful not to step on withered leaves and broken branches littered here and there
Until he found what he was looking for ,
a deer drinking pond water , Azaroth slowly raised the bow in non-dominant right hand , slowly reaching for an arrows stored in his quiver ,nocking an arrow he drew his bow aiming for the eye of deer
He released the string which produced a sharp twang while arrow flew with a quiet hiss , before the creature could react , arrow hit its mark , penetrating deep into the brain through the eye socket
Azaroth looked around , finding no signs of visible danger neither sensing an threats
he walked towards the deer and swiped his hand , the ring in his finger glow and then the deer vanished
Azaroth looked up and muttered to him
"I should probably head home early , i rather not be late for my birthday hmm , i wonder what mother made"
With that Azaroth proceeded to head back
the journey back home was uneventful
From the outer perimeter to the town
He stood in front of his house , placing an hand to pull the handle while saying " mom , i am back" annoucing his presence
"Welcome back son" replied Elisabeth from the kitchen
"Is father back yet?"
"Should be , anytime now", said Elisabeth .
James had landed a job among city guards
Azaroth then went to shed to butcher the deer he hunted today
He would sell the excess meat in the morning
Azaroth didn't hunt for food , he mostly hunted for practicing against live targets.
Azaroth wanted to be a Wanderer , but his father for some reason refused to teach him anything but archery
When he confronted his father about it , his father dodged the question saying he will known when he is old enough
He did spar with Azaroth tho , which mostly left Azaroth whole body aching from overexertion of constant dodging.
Well today he was old enough from their parent's standard
For the world , he wouldn't be until the age of innate awaking , which is fourteen
Right after he was done
His mother's voice rang out
"dinner is ready"
He left the shed and went to wash up
After washing up , he headed to the dinning room
his eyes immediately went to the curry rice
His mother had cooked his favourite dish
After an hour of silent eating
his mother hesitently said , " Azaroth i don't know how to say this.."
his father beat her to the chase " you are adopted , a knight sold you for a sack of gold" he said
"as anyone told you are bad at parenting?", Azaroth rebutted his father
"you did"
Azaroth wasn't really shocked by this revelation after all he looked nothing like James who had silver hair and black eyes and Elizabeth who had blonde hair and emerald eyes
Azaroth was born with clear blue eyes and black hair
Anyone who looked at him could tell he was wasn't really blood related to Elisabeth and James
So another birthday passed uneventfully leaving Azaroth yeaning for a changes
The said change occured
3 months after his 14th birthday
When he felt a pain in his chest while having breakfast
he clenched his chest while a wishper reached his ear
The voice was tender , carrying a motherly warmth
It said
[Awakening in process ]
[creating a soul core]
[error]
[retrying]
[error]
[error]
[reviewing subject's records]
[searching for alternatives ]
[alternative found ]
[error]
[93% chances of instant death , 7% chances of death within 5 years of awakening if subject not reached stage of enlightment]
[do you wish to continue]
Azaroth wasn't sure if he could reach enlightment within 5 years but if the alternative was not awakening in a world where everyone awakens , he would take his chances
"yes" he said
[proceeding with the alternative]
[ using blessing of void as a base for existence]
[ soul core is replaced by void]
[ your innate ability has transformed to Innate ability : innate absorption]
[ Partially manifesting bloodline abilities ]
[ congratulations you are now an 'aimless']
With the last wisphers , the pain recided leaving an sense of emptiness inside Azaroth , it was very vague tho
He looked up to see the worried expression of his parents , well James was hiding it well but subtle twitches of his eye gave away how anxious he was
Azaroth frowned , he wouldn't have noticed his father's eye twitch before but now it look obvious , highlighted even
While he was wondering what changed
His mother spoke worriedly , " your eyes..."
"what about them?" , Azaroth asked
"they are red " , his father completed what his mother was trying to say
"oh"
"did you awaken an innate?"
"yes" , Azaroth was sure this was not the result of his innate . How he knew ? He wasn't sure but his father asked if he awakended an innate which he did
so he answered
"congratulations , now you are an aimless "
"why does that sound like an insult"
"well , it is ment to be one , aimless is lowest rank
You don't even count as a Wanderer until you reach stage of enlightment "
"i see"
" well eat up , today going to be a long day .
We will have to buy you a soul reader , so you can check your runes"
That got Azaroth excited
And he quickly finsihed his breakfast
Ready to go capital with his father