The kids of the Morningstar family orderly align themselves in the queue leading to the registration desk. As they draw closer, Jonathan turns to address them, a calm yet serious look on his face.
"Listen up, guys," he begins, his voice steady and comforting. "I will be escorting you up to here. From this point forward, everything is in your hands. Follow the officials' instructions. Take a deep breath, and stay relaxed. There's no need to panic. Accept whatever result you get with a cool head; remember, it's not the end but just the beginning. And no flaunting your results."
A moment of silence lingers as his words sink in, and then he continues. "I have faith in our bloodline, so I know that after the Awakening, you may feel superior to others. However, never forget that there is always a sky beyond the sky. No matter how prodigious your talents may seem, there are far more formidable forces out there than you can possibly imagine. Stay humble. Understand?"
Ruby could not help but ask, "Big Bro John you have the greatest talent in our family. My father told me after the ancestor, you have the greatest talent. He also said that in the whole EWF, you have the top talent and affinity. So is there someone better than you?"
John could not help but smile, "Better than me? In terms of affinity, there are but in terms of talent, only a few. But I am not talking about them. They may have a little superior talent or affinity, but they don't count as monsters that I mentioned."
A kid could not help but gulp, "You are not counted as them? Then who are they?"
"I don't know anyone Paul but there is one among us. I think he is the scariest person I had ever seen."
"Who?"
"Oh! Do you guys forget about him? If he heard that, he will be so much heartbroken. He is just away from home for a few years. And here you guys forget about him. Jimmy, Ruby you guys should have known about whom I am talking about?"
Jimmy and Ruby could not help but think hard. They don't recall whom Big Bro John is talking about. Suddenly they look at each other. Mother of God. How could they forget about him? It's been five years. They do not think about him as it's been a long time since they have seen him. He also turned sixteen this year. He will be here for awakening. They want to say something but before them, Jonathan says, "Yes Him. Okay, guys get into line. I will be with my eldest uncle. Uncle Ross will be waiting for you guys near the gate one lounge. After the ceremony go there. Get going. All the best and Godspeed."
Jonathan made his way to the office of his Uncle Richard Morningstar on the 12th floor. After knocking, he was greeted by Richard's resonant voice inviting him in. Richard was gazing out through the office's glass wall, his eyes taking in the sight of the nervous and excited children entering the EWF compound below. Some of the kids emerged from the gate with beaming smiles, while others had downcast faces, even tears.
The office was thoughtfully designed, its circular structure providing a panoramic view of the square below. Richard was quietly studying the scene, his eyes flickering occasionally to the large screen displaying the live broadcast of the ongoing Awakening Ceremony.
Two adults and a young girl were seated on the plush couch in the room, their attention also fixed on the broadcast. Information about the kids who had demonstrated extraordinary talent or high affinity during the ceremony was displayed in real-time on the screen.
As it was already the sixth day of the second month, a significant number of awakening ceremonies had already taken place across the globe. Several prodigies had been discovered, their remarkable talents and affinities ranking them among the top 100 all-time greats in the EWF.
Jonathan entered to find Gerard, a bearded middle-aged man, in conversation with Richard.
"Richard, any exceptional awakenings this past month?" Gerard asked, glancing away from the live feed.
"Why don't you check the TV, Gerard?" Richard retorted, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Or better yet, have your team find out."
"Ah, who watches TV anymore?" Gerard laughed. "I've been fishing, completely disconnected. So come on, enlighten me."
Richard shook his head, chuckling, "You've got a family now, Gerard. Try trading that rod for some family time."
"I know, I know," Gerard admitted, grinning. "Old habits die hard."
Just then, Patrick, a slightly rotund man, interjected. "How about here in London, Richard? I just got back from Egypt yesterday. Any noteworthy ones yet?"
Before Richard could answer, he spotted Jonathan. Turning towards him, he asked, "You brought the kids here, John?"
"I did," Jonathan confirmed. "Ruby and Jimmy are here for their awakening."
"Ruby and Jimmy," Patrick echoed, recognition in his eyes. "They're your twins, aren't they, Richard?"
"That they are," Richard responded. "Thanks for bringing them here, John."
The room had been filled with masculine voices until now, but suddenly a feminine voice chimed in. The previously silent young girl's eyes lit up as she exclaimed, "You're Jonathan, the Battle Maniac? I'm a huge fan!"
All eyes turned towards Jonathan, who gave an innocent smile and introduced himself, "Yes, I am Jonathan Morningstar. How do you all do?"
In response to Jonathan's introduction, Gerard and Patric replied in unison, "We're good."
Patric then gestured towards the young girl, introducing her as his daughter Ashley. Gerard offered his name next, "Hello, I'm Gerard Stonebrook. Nice to meet you."
Patric seemed on the verge of asking something else when Richard swiftly interrupted, "Alright, enough with the introductions, I'll give you the stats first."
Richard was well aware of what they wanted to ask Jonathan, and he tactfully intervened. The Morningstar Family was not a typical family and not one that was solely composed of Senate members. There were certain individuals whose existence was unknown to the world. Therefore, not even the president of the EWF could pry into their secrets. Recognizing this, both Gerard and Patric opted to hold their tongues, choosing not to press further.
Exhaling a deep sigh, Richard began with a tone of resigned amusement, "Alright, gather 'round you two. Your laziness knows no bounds, so pay close attention because I won't be repeating myself."
The room held a sense of anticipation, as all eyes turned to Richard. He continued, "The most remarkable awakening thus far belongs to none other than a member of the Ancient British Royal Family, Princess Elizabeth the Ninth. Her awakening took place on the final day of the first month, an occasion I happened to witness from the confines of this office."
Each word hung in the air, building a web of suspense. This was no ordinary awakening; it was an event that had been cloaked in secrecy and speculation.
"The entire royal family was in attendance," Richard explained, "Given the Princess's unique circumstances, they requested the awakening feed be kept from public view. The EWF complied, which means we don't know all the specifics. Only the Royal Protector and Vice President Cathy Rothschild had the privilege to witness the event firsthand."
He paused for effect before delivering the most astonishing part, "From my conversation with the Vice President, it appears that the Princess awakened two elements. One of which is a seven-star Ice element. The second element, however, remains a mystery."
Patric's eyes widened as he erupted, "Holy Moly! Seven stars? An Ice element at that level means she has the potential to freeze the entire Earth if she reaches our standing! Even without the second, undisclosed element, she's a terrifying force to reckon with."
His voice lowered to a murmur, a sense of awe seeping into his words, "Now it makes sense why the British royalty places such high value on her. She's not just a princess, she's a walking weapon of mass destruction."
Ashley, intrigued and slightly perplexed by the revelation, turned to her father. Her voice was filled with curiosity as she asked, "Dad, doesn't Uncle Tom also have the Ice element? Does that mean he's powerful too?"
Patric smiled, acknowledging his daughter's inquisitiveness, "Indeed, all elements hold immense power. However, the potency of that power depends greatly on the star rating of the elements. I'm aware that in school, they generally discuss only the elements and not the stars. That's because the stars linked to elements are held in great secrecy. We don't usually disclose our elemental stars. You'll understand more when your awakening occurs next year and you start university."
Joining the conversation, Gerard chimed in, "Yes, Ashley. You've heard about our Vice President Cathy Rothschild, haven't you?"
Ashley nodded in affirmation, her eyes wide with curiosity and intrigue.
"Vice President Cathy has a six-star Fire element affinity," Gerard explained. "At full capacity, she has the potential to obliterate the entire Central Continent. She's one of the most powerful individuals within the Federation, so you can grasp the magnitude of her strength."
"However," Richard interjected, his voice serious and his gaze piercing, "the truly concerning aspect is her talent. Vice President Rothschild confided in me that the Princess's talent is terrifyingly potent, capable of altering the trajectory of our race. Barring the guardians, her talent is perhaps the most powerful. That's what truly sets her apart."