The classroom lay open; its walls were built of stones, chiseled with the passage of time, wore an earthy, gnarled look, and the overhead thatched roof gave a rustic touch. The floor, an expanse of earth compressed and hardened over the years, hosted long rows of wooden benches and desks that solemnly stood in silent anticipation. Open windows, graced by simple wooden frames, allowed shafts of sunlight to tiptoe inside, painting the room with streaks of natural luminescence.
Rows of wooden benches and desks were arranged in orderly rows, facing a raised platform at the front of the room. A large chalkboard hung on the wall behind the platform, and a slate was perched on a ledge at the front of each desk.
A few candles in wrought-iron sconces were placed around the room, casting a flickering glow over the walls. The air was thick with the smell of wax and parchment, and the sound of quills scratching across paper filled the room.
The stone walls were not just cold, lifeless structures; they were adorned with religious iconography that lent a touch of spiritual solemnity. Most striking among them were the paintings depicting a lone lantern floating alone in an endless expanse of ocean.
Upon entering, Osric studied the posters and paintings. His deep-set eyes scanning the corners of the room. "These are the icons of the Lumina. In this continent, she is the one that holds the concept of light, knowledge, and wisdom." His gaze landed on another of the paintings, "Mostly portrayed as a humble lantern, providing light of knowledge to illuminate the ocean of understanding, inviting the curious to explore its depths."
The lantern, an ode to Lumina's divine wisdom, was expressed in a myriad of shapes and interpretations. Its silent radiance added an unspoken depth to the learning space, transforming the room from a mere classroom into a hallowed sanctuary of learning.
The knowledgeable of the village, an eclectic mix of aspiring scholars and hard-working commoners, revered Lumina for her role as the patron goddess of infinite knowledge. They found comfort and solace in her teachings, seeking to understand the profound mysteries of the world they inhabited. Their respect for the goddess was as deep-rooted as the Hearthguard was for the farmers in the village.
With the dawn of a new day, a wave of youthful enthusiasm flooded the classroom. Students rushed in, their eager footsteps drumming a lively rhythm against the hard-packed floor, their excited chatter filling the air with liveliness. Laughter, tales from the previous day, and anticipatory whispers about the forthcoming lesson filled the air, sparking the room with electric energy that pulsed with the vivacity of youth.
Osric took his seat beside Glucia and Cain.
Suddenly, the tranquil air within the room stirred as Finn swaggered in. He was flanked by his boisterous band of loyal followers, their carefree laughter cutting through the din, their attitude striking a discordant note in the otherwise harmonious atmosphere. As Finn sauntered past Osric, he flashed him a smug smirk.
Osric feigned anger, his fingers coiling into a tight fist, his knuckles turning a stark white as his blood retreated from the surface. A wave of practiced frustration washed over him, his deep-set eyes momentarily flaring with silent defiance.
Sensing Osric's mounting tension, Cain's voice resonated beside him. "Don't worry, Osric," he assured, his words steady and soothing. A friendly hand weighed on his shoulder, infusing strength. "You'll knock him down. No doubt. I know it." His reassurance spoken with concern.
A smirk slowly spread across Osric's face, his cocky response rising to the surface of his calm exterior. "Of course, I'll beat him. Do I look like a loser to you?"
"Yes," Cain responded with a deadpan delivery.
"Well, it takes one to know one," Osric quipped back.
Cain's chuckle broke the tension. "You ass," he exclaimed, delivering a playful punch to Osric's shoulder, the impact reverberating on the same spot he had hit before.
"That hurt," Osric protested, rubbing his shoulder as though to alleviate the sting.
"That was the point," Cain retorted, his tone terse yet laden with brotherly affection.
Their verbal sparring was abruptly silenced by the protesting creak of the classroom door.
The once lively classroom was instantly plunged into silence as the students' excited whispers and anxious murmurs were silenced. In this quiet, the echoing footsteps of the morning class teacher reverberated, a solemn drumbeat signaling her entry.
She was a tall and imposing figure with sharp, hawk-like features and piercing, steel-gray eyes that seemed to miss nothing. She was dressed in a long, elegant black gown with a pristine white ruff around her neck that was always perfectly starched and pressed. The sleeves of her gown were adorned with intricate silver embroidery, and the village's insignia — proudly pinned on her chest — boasted a prominent "Rank 2" marker.
The teacher cleared her throat, her voice resonating through the room, a rich, deliberate tone that commanded respect and attention. "Students," she began, each syllable carrying weight and importance, "it is pleasing to witness the surge in attendance."
Her steel-gray eyes methodically swept over each student, latching onto each face momentarily. "I suspect you're all eager for the awakening's date. However, we have theories to delve into first," she announced, her stern voice leaving no room for negotiation.
A heap of groans filled the room, quickly silenced by her sharp reprimand."Hold your complaints. The lesson at hand will reinforce what you've learned, particularly for those who've been absent too often. We'll start with the theory and move on to questions before finishing up," she stated, her tone final.
"She's a little cold today," Cain observed in a hushed whisper, his voice barely audible amidst the profound silence that had once again blanketed the room.
"You would know, wouldn't you, teacher's pet?" mocked Glucia, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
The teacher's stern face swiftly swiveled towards the pair, her hawk-like gaze narrowing on the duo. "Silence, you two," she commanded, "Any further disruption, and you'll find yourselves learning from the outside."
Glucia and Cain quieted down immediately. The threat was enough to seal their lips, their playful bickering silenced for the time being.
"As we stand on the precipice of the awakening ceremony, I find it prudent to review the relevant information, lest anyone have missed essential details," the teacher announced. "Listen carefully, for I will only explain once."
With a firm step, she walked to the front of the classroom, the crisp rustle of her gown filling the silence. Picking up a piece of chalk, she began to draw on the expansive chalkboard, her fluid strokes producing an intricate diagram. Every eye in the room was fixated on her, watching with rapt attention as the complex image began to materialize.
"Now, can anyone articulate what exactly 'awakening' is?" she asked, casting her expectant gaze over her students. Almost immediately, a barrage of hands shot towards the ceiling, the room buzzing with youthful anticipation.
"Cain," she selected.
"Awakening is the process through which we can finally harness the world's energy. This energy, once gathered, can be utilized to refine our body and enhance our life force," Cain responded, his voice brimming with confidence.
"Knowledgeable as usual," she commended, nodding approvingly at Cain's detailed explanation.
A giggle, barely muffled, slipped from Glucia, disrupting the serious ambiance momentarily.
Seemingly undeterred by the interruption, the teacher refocused her attention on the chalkboard. She continued to write and draw, her chalk conjuring symbols that represented the world's energy and interlacing them with diagrams of the human body. These detailed illustrations conveyed the flow of energy and the transformative potential it held, painting a vivid image of the awakening process.
"Awakening. It is the sole point in your lives when you transition from the realm of mortality to something beyond," she began, her voice resonating with the weight of her words. "Energy is pervasive, woven into the very fabric of our existence." She extended her hand, her fingers curling as if attempting to grasp the intangible. "It lingers in the air we breathe, permeates the earth we tread upon, flickers in the fire we kindle, and ripples within the water we drink. It is the vital life force that courses through our world, imparting life and purpose to all things. Yet, its elusive essence remains unseen and unfelt to the uninitiated."
She paused, letting her words settle before she continued. "Upon awakening, you become attuned to these otherwise imperceptible forces. The intangible becomes tangible, the immovable begins to sway under your touch," she declared, the profundity of her words holding the class spellbound. "This is the crucial threshold that marks your transcendence from mere mortality into the realm of the mighty."
"Shake off the bindings of your mortal confines and step into a new existence — for the hour of awakening will mark the dawn of your metamorphosis!" she proclaimed, her voice echoing with unwavering conviction through the silent classroom.
Although the room was silent, the palpable excitement was etched clearly on the faces of the students. Their eyes shimmered with anticipation, fingers twitching restlessly as if yearning to grasp the elusive energy their teacher spoke of.
Osric agreed. To satiate the human thirst for knowledge and power, to unravel the mysteries that lay cloaked in the world, one needed strength. Humanity had been in a ceaseless pursuit of power through countless means, and while many had found success through various channels, they all had to start through one pivotal moment — the awakening. It was an invitation to a world beyond the grasp of ordinary mortals, an invitation that no one in their right mind would refuse.
"Some among you may falter under the weight of this transformation, tragically descending into the realm of the ordinary. Yet, for those who weather the pain and remain conscious throughout the process, you will ascend into something more, someone greater," the teacher stirred their spirits. "You will find yourself tethered to a force far grander than your individual selves. You will commence a journey that countless before you have embarked upon, and multitudes will tread after you. You will step into the honored mantle of a practitioner," she stated, her voice lowered, lending an air of solemnity to her declaration. She allowed a pause, ensuring her words imprinted deeply into her students' consciousness.
She let the silence linger for a few moments, permitting her students the time to digest and ponder over the magnitude of what they were soon to experience.
"The awakening is a process shrouded in mystery," she resumed, "Despite our race having millions of years to learn about its secrets, we are still not completely privy to them all. How awakening allows us to tap into the latent energy within our bodies, we still do not know."
She started writing on the board, continuing, "However, we do know that in the epochs long past, we humans could awaken at an earlier age."
A wave of intrigue swept across certain people's eyes.
"Those of you who attended previous classes will already be privy to this information, but I'll recapitulate for the benefit of all," she elaborated. "Records from the Primeval Epoch Era cite instances of individuals awakening as early as age 10. Although our current awakening age is a milestone of our human species' vitality and prosperity, it should also serve as a stark reminder for each one of you to never be complacent. Strive and train with the utmost diligence," she urged.
"Are there any questions?" she asked, scanning the sea of faces in front of her.
A smattering of hands tentatively rose.
"Beel," she acknowledged
"What about others? Does this process apply universally? Are there exceptions?" he asked, his face a mask of earnest curiosity.
"Each species movies at their own pace," she began, turning to the chalkboard and writing down the names of different human variants, "Even variant humans, including nagamen, kitsunemen, selkiemen, elfmen, and meromen, tend to awaken much earlier than us. This is attributed to their smaller population sizes. Consequently, they have a higher proportion of awakened individuals at their disposal, which enables them to muster formidable forces. That is why they have been a constant problem to our kind,"
The classroom atmosphere abruptly changed. The faces of the students morphed into masks of anger, their eyes flashing with a visage of hate. The tales of the nagamen's terror were not just stories, they were scars on their history, deeply etched and painful. Their ancestors had suffered a nearly catastrophic attack on the village hundreds of years ago, the act of the nagamen nearly eradicating them all. These tales had been passed down from generation to generation, their narratives kindling a deeply-rooted hatred and an insidious fear.
"Moreover, there are whispers that elfmen can awaken as early as at the tender age of 12," the teacher appended.
This new piece of information sent a wave of apprehension through the classroom, their youthful faces marked with worry and uncertainty.
"If they are able to awaken at such an early age, they are much stronger than us," whispers of concern began to circulate amongst the students, their voices laced with anxiety.
Earlier awakening allowed variant humans to be stronger and more proficient compared to humans. Although humans, with their larger numbers, held an advantage in sheer force, the variant humans could replenish their ranks faster. The will of the world functioned on a principle of equilibrium, trimming excess and bolstering deficiencies.
"It all adds up. During my active years, the meromen were on the brink of extinction, numbering less than a thousand. We verified then that their awakening age had dropped to as young as 8. The elfmen must have encountered severe predicaments for their awakening age to dip." Osric made various connections in his mind.
Seeing the disquiet amongst her students, the teacher quickly moved to reassure them. "Do not fret excessively," she placated, "We vastly outnumber other variants, which significantly deters any potential threats. As a general rule of thumb, a greater population correlates with a later awakening age, and inversely, a smaller populace awakens earlier."
The teacher continued, casting a meaningful glance over her sea of anxious students. "In fact, this should be seen as a positive indicator for us. Since the Golden Renaissance Era, humanity across all continents has awakened from the age of 16 onwards, the latest recorded age in our annals. This signifies that we have strengthened as a collective, our numbers have increased, and our influence has grown."
The attention of the class was suddenly diverted by one of the students. "I heard that those abyssal brutes awaken quicker, and that's why they appear so powerful. Is there any truth in this?" The inquiry, laden with curiosity, filled the room.
Unfazed by the question, she shook her head. "That's a common misconception. They commence their awakening at the same age as you do. Be cautious not to believe every hearsay," she warned them. "And remember, it's the combined population that matters, not individual continental numbers that dictate awakening." She paused to drive the point. "Lastly, let's maintain respect in this classroom. Refrain from using derogatory terms and refer to others by their proper designations during our discussions."
"Sorry. Will do," the chastened student responded, his voice lower, a flush creeping up his face.
Eager to move forward, the teacher took a deep breath, ready to plunge into the core of their discussion. "Now, let's transition to the actual process of awakening," she declared, her words ushering a riveted silence into the room.
Seated off to the side, Osric absorbed the torrent of information, his keen mind working tirelessly to assimilate every detail.