The class had ended and students were already preparing to leave, most were already done packing up their things.
"Sol." Instructor Ethan's voice rang in the room, catching the attention of everyone.
Sol, who was just about to walk away with Kevin, paused as his indifferent eyes fell on the vampire Instructor.
"What?" He replied in a leveled tone.
"Haha haha! There is no need for unnecessary hostility." Instructor Ethan laughed cheerfully.
"You missed the rite of awakening due to your health a day ago," Ethan said with a strange smile. "You cannot practice Hak without awakening your potential first."
Hearing Ethan's words, Sol frowned slightly. The events of the previous day required his undivided attention, making him forget about the rite.
"So?" Sol remained calm.
He knew nothing was free in this world. Especially when offered by an enemy with an ulterior motive.
"Consider this my way of making up for today's mistake." Instructor Ethan said with a pitiable face. "I will personally hold the right of awakening here for you right now."
'That way, I will be able to see your potential and know whether you are truly a threat or not.' Instructor Ethan muttered in his mind.
Hearing this, Sol frowned, unsure why, but Ethan was willing to help. The other students had stopped as well, it seemed everyone was eager to see the potential of the future Ark family Patriarch.
"You can do it alone?" Sol asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Of course! An awakened person can awaken someone else." Instructor Ethan responded quickly.
"Good. Then I'll have my steward help me perform the ritual." Sol shrugged his shoulders as he began walking away.
"You must not, young master Sol!" Instructor Ethan called after him. "Awakening outside the academy premises is a crime! One punishable by death of both parties involved in the crime." He added
Hearing this, Sol stopped in his tracks and looked in Kevin's direction, who nodded. Just like Kevin, every other person in the room was bewildered by his earlier statement of having his steward awaken him.
"This is the way the four alpha families maintain the balance and prevent one from surpassing each other in terms of military strength," Kevin added.
"I see," Sol said with narrowed eyebrows. "I apologize, my memories are not what they used to be ever since I woke up from a coma. I can barely remember the faces of my parents right now." Sol added
He needed a perfect excuse to dismiss his outrageous words earlier. Hearing this, everyone was shocked, but they finally understood his situation. He may be standing here, but he was not free from the side effects of the seal.
It wasn't that Sol had overwhelmed the seal, he was holding on.
Sol noticed the thoughtful look on Instructor Ethan's face, and he couldn't help but chuckle in his mind. It's better to have people underestimate your strength than to have them overestimate it. With his statement, many consider him weak and ignore him, giving him time to grow.
"Please go ahead, Instructor." Sol finally broke the silence. "Let's get this over with as soon as possible. I don't want to keep my steward waiting.'
"Yes, yes, of course!" Ethan responded excitedly.
Instructor Ethan used his long black nails to cut open his palm, creating a huge tear, and allowing blood to flow out.
With fluid motions, Ethan traced intricate patterns on the floor, using his blood as a medium. The scarlet fluid flowed from the clenched fist, creating sinuous lines that glimmered in the low light, forming an elaborate formation.
The formation began to take shape, a network of symbols pulsating faintly with otherworldly energy, but Instructor Ethan wasn't done
His fingers danced across the floor, etching eight sigils that seemed to shimmer and hum with latent power. The patterns intertwined and converged, forming a mesmerizing display of mystical intricacy.
With a final flourish, Ethan completed the formation, stepping back to admire his creation. His eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he observed the formation.
"It is done, now step into the formation, young master. " He said, signalling Sol to step in.
Without hesitation, Sol walked forward and even though he was wary of this instructor, he knew he wouldn't dare do anything overboard in the presence of so many students including Ark family members.
As soon as Sol stepped into the formation. Instructor Ethan began mumbling some inaudible words in a language impossible for Sol or any other student to understand. He stepped back while muttering the mystical words.
Sol suddenly felt a warm energy pour into his body from the seal, surging into every vein it could find.
[Rites of awakening detected.]
[Immortal blood shattering seal activated!]
Seeing the last moment, Sol's eyes dilated due to the crushing pain in his chest. He felt like the chains wrapped around his heart were tightening, causing him to grip his chest while falling on his knees.
Watching blood flow out of Sol's eyes, nostrils, and ears, a shocked gasp spread amongst the crowd. Instructor Ethan watching the process couldn't help but frown. It became clear to him that his suspicions earlier were valid.
Sol had yet to overcome the seal, as many people assumed. In Ethan's mind, Sol was just greatly motivated by the death of his parents, and that's why he can stand here with others. At least that's what Ethan was led to believe from the recent events.
While it sounded stupid that a child his age would be able to endure this, it sounded even more ridiculous that a child would be able to overcome or weaken the seal. Since the seal was aimed at blocking his witch lineage,, only he can awaken his Ark Family powers.
Buzz.
A buzzing sound got Ethan's attention as one of the eight sigils lit up in flames. Meanwhile, Sol was more focused on the messages popping up in his head.
[Title activated; Chosen of the One.]
As soon as this appeared, the pain in his heart subsided, allowing him to feel the power circulate across his body.
The bright light surging from the formation faded, revealing four burning sigils on the floor.
"A Ru-Destros and a C grade potential. Even with the seal on. If he didn't have the seal, how powerful would he have been?" Instructor Ethan said out loud, absent-mindedly.
This outcome was beyond his expectations.