Author's note
I'd suggest you read this after the events of the chapter civilization
If you haven't read civilization yet, don't ruin the story for yourself
**********************************
He was a young boy born to one of the prestigious family in the cities of the Demon continent.
Imani born of Yitani and his wife Millim of the household Dwain, a house of count peerage.
Although their status had been on a great decline on recent times, atleast in the city of Urundia, apart from the uprising nobles, no one there to go against their words.
The birth of Imani was supposed to be the game changer for the Dwain family, the head of the house, Ahuri, spared no expenses in raising the boy.
Although he wasn't the only child in the house of the Dwain, none had shown the strength, wisdom and control Imani had.
This kid at the age of 3 was able to rip off a door from its hinges, something that even unawakened adults couldn't do.
The speed at which he healed was also outrageous, if all wasn't a sign of greatness and their glory, what was then?
Rare herbs and treasures, going as far as procuring elixirs to help prepare the boy for his ultimate awakening and the revival of their family.
Imani grew up protected and loved by all members of his family, protected and treated like a king, but all that changed after his 7th birthday.
All noble lines had a way of making their spawns awaken when they were seven.
It couldn't be earlier than that so as to ensure their awakening doesn't ruin their body, and it couldn't be later if they wanted the advantages of awakening and learning earlier than the commoners they stood above.
On his seventh birthday, Imani was ushered into the grand hall, by his parents, all other true members of the family were already there seated, just waiting for the man of the hour.
It was finally going to happen, they could feel their revival at hand already.
Imani walked into the hall first, his parents separating from his sides headed to their respective seats.
He wasn't the only one who would awaken today, but he was the main star, the awakening ceremony of thanks who were older than him by less than a year had even been halted so it would be done at the same time as Imani, that indicated how much was placed on his young shoulders.
Imani walked on towards the man in the centre, keeping a calm face, trying to hid his excitement and nervousness, as for how successful he was with that, well, don't ask.
The man in the centre stood alone with a raised platform behind him, 7 cups where present each holding a potion or elixir of some sorts, Imani was sure.
But those cups held the awakening elixirs used by all nobles to awaken their spawns, while each elixir had different grades with the best only available to the highest tier nobles and royalty.
When Imani reached the man, he was handed a golden chalice with the elixir in it.
Under normal circumstances, when drunk, whoever drank from it would fall into a trance for a short while before they perform the a test to see what route and element he or she had awakened in
But when Imani drank it, he just burped and rubbed his throat
"It stings"
Ahuri couldn't believe his eyes, he knew what this meant but he just couldn't believe it, standing up from his seat, he ordered for Imani to be fed another
This wasn't done anywhere as it could lead to adverse effects, but the head was blinded by his disbelief and practically had another serving forced down imani's throat.
Imani fainted afterwards and this time, it dawned on everyone present. He was a dud and would never awaken in his lifetime.
The only hope he had was to be chosen.
Ahuri couldn't believe his eyes, what about the strength Imani had always displayed, that crazy healing speed, his wisdom that was above others his age.
Yitani couldn't bear to watch his son lying on the floor as everyone watched, so he went forward to pick his son, his wife following behind him.
Taking his son in his arms they left the hall, and the events continued as it should have, the only difference, Imani was no longer the favoured son of the family.
Their troubles started form there, every other child had awakened with one of imani's cousin even showing a high degree of affinity to fire.
Imani became an outcast and was bullied, beaten and made fun of by all kids his age in the family. They all watched on in envy when he was placed on a pedestal but now that he had fallen they could vent.
His father and mother were not free from harassment either as the his father started being sent on more and more dangerous missions to ruins and small scale skirmishes, eventually losing his life in one of them.
To make matters worse for Imani, since the incident with the double dose of elixir, his strength and healing factor, seemed to.have vanished, reducing him to an ordinary kid.
Imani's only saving grace was his mother Millim and her maid, they made sure to provide for him as they could and even made a way for him to sneak out successfully.
One of those trips was were he found Yyath for the first time and made a true friend.
Yyath's disappearance brought him back into hell, and eventually he had to move out of the Dwain household, he was stripped of his name and cast aside.
With only his mother being the last relative he had, he couldn't even fight back. She would have helped but she married into the family for political reasons and couldn't even go back to her home to get help.
Even after growing up, the Dwains still found him and tortured him, using him as an example of what their spawn should not become, truly he was an outcast.
He was only able to survive by going to ruin himself and what his mother sent him when she had the chance. It was on one of those occasions he met Yyath.
But not long after he was captured again and made to go through another round of torture and despair.
He was already dying and he knew it, his only regret was he dying just after he reunited with his only friend.
He did end up being saved, but he still knew he'd die.
As he told his story to his friend, he had a vision of a wolf running across the plains and howling into the sky, it dived into the sea before a young man came out from its place.
Imani after this vision took his last breath.
Buried by his friend, the only one present Yyath and the shadow watching.
*********************
A day after Imani was buried, Yyath came over to put flowers for his friend, and found the grave overturned, the body missing. Even after searching for ages, he found nothing.
He could only point out to the Dwains and pay they truly shall