Finally, the day of the Awakening Ceremony arrived at Sam's doorstep, coinciding with his sixteenth birthday, marking his transition into a person capable of Awakening.
In this world, only those who turn sixteen have the potential to awaken, and if they fail to do so, they're deemed as 'trash' by the cultivators for the rest of their lives.
The ceremony was to be held at the Arena of Heroes, a place steeped in history since the first generation of heroes.
Situated at the center of the territory of heroes, it had been the venue for Awakening ceremonies for generations.
The Arena was vast, capable of accommodating about two hundred thousand people simultaneously.
Though named the Arena of Heroes, its sole purpose now was to host Awakening ceremonies.
Sam Tatsuya, accompanied by his maternal grandparents, Jin Tatsuya and Hana Tatsuya, arrived at the Arena.
The Tatsuya clan guards surrounded them, protecting them from all sides.
Sam's mother, Maya, couldn't attend the ceremony as she was needed elsewhere with the imperial knights under her command.
Meanwhile, Sam's sisters, being mages unlike him, were with their father in the Brunheart clan territory.
The ceremony was restricted to heroes only, even if one had mage relatives; they wouldn't be allowed entry unless under special circumstances.
"It seems that technique really worked; I don't sense an ounce of mana or heroic energy from your body," Jin remarked without looking at his grandson.
"That's good," Sam replied, his gaze drifting over the bleachers where people glanced at him and started whispering amongst themselves, as if he was a man walking the path of shame.
Most of these people had never seen Sam before, naturally curious about him, being the grandson of one of the strongest heroes.
It wasn't common for noble clans to keep their most promising talents shrouded in secrecy from other noble clans.
Yet, the way the Tatsuya family shielded Sam was intense, raising curiosity among other noble clans about the reason behind his secretive protection.
"Ignore them," Jin advised. "They're just curious."
"And hostile," Sam noted, observing some eyes glaring at him with undisguised hostility.
"Who cares? Let them look all they want; they can't do shit about it," Jin snorted, sending a piercing glare at them, causing them to avert their gazes.
"These lapdogs of noble clans are likely here to observe all the awakeners, and they're showing you even more attention because you're a total mystery," Jin explained as they reached the area designated for the Tatsuya family, situated right after the place reserved for the Hero King's family.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't the great Jin Tatsuya," Sam glanced at the person who casually referred to his grandfather by name, and found a man about Jin's age standing with a group of people similar to his own clan.
"Ryo Shimura," Sam recognized the man. Ryo Shimura was the leader of the noble household of Shimura.
"I see you finally decided to bring your precious grandson out of your household. I guess today I will really get to see why you kept him out of our sight," he said before setting his gaze on the black-haired young man with blue eyes like sapphires.
"I hope you won't disappoint me," this time he directed his words straight at Sam.
Jin intervened, positioning himself between them, shielding Sam from Ryo's sight. "Get lost, Ryo. I'm really not in the mood to engage in idle chatter with you. So why don't you just... you know, go away."
"Having a bad day, I see," Ryo Shimura smiled to himself before casting one last glance at Sam and leaving, leaving a bad impression on Sam.
"That guy always gets on my nerves," Jin sighed.
"Isn't he your friend?" Sam asked.
"Don't call him my friend. It's embarrassing enough that I have to tolerate him in public. I don't want you to get the wrong idea," Jin rolled his eyes.
As they reached their destination, they encountered the leaders of the noble households of Urahara, Kusanagi, and Asuna clans, all of whom had brought their younger generation for the awakening ceremony.
Sam learned that the noble leaders all had some kind of relationship with the Tatsuya clan, especially the Shimura clan.
Despite Jin's insistence that they weren't friends, their friendly relationship was evident in the way the two clans interacted.
Then there was the Urahara clan, not hostile but not friendly either.
They maintained a formal and indifferent demeanor towards everyone, as far as Sam could discern.
As for the Asuna clan, they were really close to the Tatsuya clan; there were several reasons for that.
The main ones were that they were relatives and always kept that kinship for generations.
Lastly, there was the Kusanagi clan.
They appeared friendly, perhaps too friendly, which raised Sam's suspicion. In particular, the youngest brother of the clan leader seemed overly gentlemanly, almost unnervingly so.
Sam felt a sense of unease around him, as if his instincts were warning him to be on guard. He sensed danger lurking beneath the façade of friendliness.
"Grandpa Jin, that guy from the Kusanagi Clan, don't you think he's kind of creepy?" Sam scrutinized his grandfather, his curiosity brimming over.
"You sensed that, haven't you? That guy is dangerous. I haven't told you about this because it simply hadn't come up. I have a feeling that he's up to something, something perilous that concerns you," Grandpa Jin's words gripped Sam's attention entirely.
"What made you assume that?" Sam inquired, his tone laced with a mixture of concern and intrigue.
"He's been asking too many questions, questions about you," Jin divulged slowly, seeking his wife's permission to share their suspicions with their grandson, who received a nod of agreement.
"When did this happen, and why haven't I been informed?" Sam pressed further, his mind racing with a whirlwind of questions.
"Because I didn't think much of it at first. He seemed harmless. He just came to our clan and asked to see you a couple of times. Of course, I rejected him. But it's almost as if he knew what you are capable of. I could see hostility in his eyes, but it wasn't directed at me, it was directed at you," Jin explained, his voice carrying a weight of concern for his grandson's safety.
...
After a few hours, the arena became filled with people. It wasn't overcrowded, but it certainly looked packed.
The ceremonies weren't just for the Noble kids; they were for all the children in the territory of heroes once they turned sixteen.
As for the Awakeners, they were directed to a specific area where they would be called by name to take their turn in awakening.
When Sam arrived at that area, he recognized some of the individuals his grandparents had warned him about. They might pose the greatest obstacles in his life.
Especially the Noble brats. Most of them openly displayed displeasure on their faces, while others regarded him with curiosity.
They knew the illustrious Tatsuya clan had someone like him, but since Sam was kept a secret due to his unique abilities, they knew almost nothing about him. Now they were left wondering what made him so exceptional.
Sam also noticed the kids from the Kusanagi clan eyeing him as though he were a dead man walking.
Meanwhile, the other kids hesitated to involve themselves in whatever issues the noble brats had brewing.
"I'm going to have my hands full at the academy, that's for sure," Sam sighed to himself, sensing all the eyes filled with various negative emotions fixed upon him.
The last to arrive was the Hero King, Rowan Asuna, and his family.
The arena fell silent as everyone, including the nobles, stood in respect—everyone except for the noble clan leaders.
After allowing them to settle, the king took his seat.
Surprisingly, he cast a glance at the area of the Awakeners before narrowing his eyes at a certain handsome young man with black hair and eyes that resembled blue zircons.
Even Sam was taken aback. He subconsciously looked beside him, hoping that the king's gaze was directed at someone else.
Unfortunately, it was not the case; the king was indeed looking at him, as if to say, 'I'm onto you.'
This drew the attention of all those present – the noble clan leaders, the fellow Awakeners – all turned their predatory gazes toward him.
He became the literal center of attention; every eye was fixed on him, and he could hear the murmurs and whispers around him, but he chose to ignore them.
He was here to awaken and gain entry into the Academy, to join the ranks of the elites.
He wouldn't allow mere whispers and the attention of the crowd to affect him.
It was something he had to face head-on. He knew he was an anomaly, attracting excessive attention simply because he was an enigma; they knew nothing about him.
Just imagine what would happen if the others were to learn that he was a hero with the ability to wield magic.
It was sure to be a wild ride ahead.