A new morning dawned for the Ashthorne estate within Triplume City. The sun hung directly above casting vertical sun rays towards the earth, reflecting off all the numerous buildings around the city.
It has been a few days since the phenomenon which briefly alarmed the lives of the citizens within Triplume City.
Since then, everything had returned to normal and the city returned to its usual atmosphere. However, the same could not be said for those within the Ashthorne estate.
Despite Duke Ashthorne trying to hide Maxwell's awakening, rumors had already rippled all throughout Dawnflame Kingdom, even reaching the ears of the Dawnflames within the capital, Dawnhaven City.
Many influential families had sent congratulatory gifts containing all sorts of luxuries to the Ashthorne estate. It was because of one reason. Maxwell not only had become an Awakened with a violet gold grade, but rumors say his awakening caused a 5 mile phenomenon. This was unheard of within Dawnflame Kingdom!
A young boy with black hair could be seen looking outside through a window of his room, his gaze peering through the upper skies aimlessly. His head rested on his palm and his eyes were out of focus resembling someone who had just lost everything.
*Knock* *Knock*
"I'm coming in." voiced a low, soft voice.
A door creaked open and a figure dressed in a maid outfit stepped in. She had short blonde hair dressed in a pony tail with crystal clear blue eyes and smooth white skin resulting in an inexplicable charm. She had an air of immaturity despite being in her early 20s.
"Young Master Elias, how are you feeling?"
She was Emily, the personal maid of Elias Ashthorne. She had served Elias since he was born, attending to his daily needs. Emily grew up with Elias and had a fond attachment with him ever since the death of his mother, Aerith.
Emily was more than a personal maid who just carried out her responsibilities, she was Elias' friend and went above and beyond to make sure Elias felt supported, cared for, and understood.
Elias distanced himself from others in his family and only exchanged nothing more than casual conversation, except for Emily. She would be the first person Elias would talk to when he was bored.
However, for the past few days she felt helpless and didn't know what to do.
"I'm fine Emily, thank you. You don't have to worry about me."
Despite Elias' assurance, Emily felt her heart tighten in unending worry. Her eyes welled with inescapable tears but she tried her best not to break down.
She sniffled under her emotional distress but forcefully opened her mouth, "The Lord summoned you to the Grand Hall."
Emily further added,
"Young Master, please let me come with you."
She had a foreboding that today will leave her with regret for the rest of her life, she could not sit and wait.
....
The atmosphere within the main estate took a 180 after all the branch family members had left a few days ago as if someone flipped a light switch.
No one looked at Elias the same way.
Even the maids and servants distanced themselves from Elias after hearing about him being an Awakened but not having an essence. Wherever Elias' went, he was bombarded with disgusted looks, a complete contrast to a few days ago. He hated it and so remained shut inside his room.
Only Emily remained by his side but even she began feeling isolated from the others.
It's as if everyone in the family put on a blindfold and forgot all past interactions they had with Elias and the way he treated them before.
I looked towards Emily and my gaze unintentionally softened and my heart filled with warmth.
"Emily, I'm grateful for all you've done for me but this is something I must face alone. I don't want you to suffer because of me anymore."
Emily retorted, "But Young Master-"
"Enough. I'll be fine" as I slowly stood up and headed towards the door.
Emily kept her gaze lowered towards the hardwood floor, not wanting to face me anymore.
I noticed her small, tightened fists. I sighed and left the room.
...
...
As I approached the large doors well beyond the size of my small stature I noticed it was carved with profound symbols across its surface shimmering with gold. Beside the door were stationed two Awakened who had the responsibility of guarding the entrance of the Grand Hall.
I ignored the condescending gazes of the guards and reached out to open the oversized doors, feeling the hardness beneath my fingertips. The arcane symbols on the doors surface lit up and shifted about with a flickering light, casting warm glows onto the gold strokes of the ornaments.
Someone of my stature shouldn't be able to open such a towering door but as if the door was inviting me, it creaked open and revealed the Grand Hall ahead.
"A defect like you isn't deserving of the Ashthorne name." one of the guards commented. I shook for a brief moment before pressing ahead and into the hall.
I've been inside the Grand Hall many times, but today felt like I was entering it for the first time.
Rows of pillars made of marble adorned with golden carvings of majestic dragons coiled around the cylindrical form as if they were dancing upwards across its surface towards the ceiling. Green emerald delicately placed in the Grand Hall from the floors up until the ceiling. It felt like entering a majestic realm emanating ancient magic across the ages. The expense of such a hall could only be imagined.
Many people were gathered here today, all Awakened individuals. These were the prominent elders of the main branch that lived within the estate. They all remain sat in a wide dining table that spanned from one end of the Grand Hall to the other.
On the opposite end of the dining table I saw my father.
A Tier 6 powerhouse and a leader of the one of the most influential families in Dawnflame Kingdom, Duke Ashthorne.
I felt a prickling sensation with all these eyes on me.
All of them looked at me with a glare of disgust mixed with pity. There were no exceptions.
From the corner of my eye, I noticed, right beside my father also sat my brother, Maxwell. I did not expect him to be here too.
There was just empty silence in the Grand Hall as I entered.
"You've come."
I didn't reply, only waiting for what he wanted to say.
"Your brother has awakened with a violet gold grade, similar to mine, even causing a 5 mile phenomenon. On the other hand.." he exhaled for a moment before he was interrupted.
"Hey, trash. You should just stay here for the rest of your life, it would be pretty good for a defect like you." my brother, Maxwell commented.
Father raised his hand, "Elias. There is no need for you to attend Dawn Academy. Remain in the estate and focus on your studies."
I was hit with a new reality.
There was just too much to process currently which left me in a pit of despair. Being hit with these words made me feel like someone twisted a dagger right into my heart, leaving a gaping hole behind.
It hurt even more because it came from my own brother, who I thought we were close enough to rely on each other. But it seemed like this familial bond went only one way.
I felt like I was the fool all along.
I recalled Fred's devilish look from the Essence Awakening Ceremony, "Seems like I was right about a bastard son like you, trash will always be trash, even if you're from the main branch."
My entire body trembled from head to toe. I was overcome with mixed emotions.
Was it sadness? Sadness that everyone who I thought was my family, people I could trust, turned out to be selfish, conniving rats.
Was it jealousy? Jealousy that my brother awakened such high potential, never seen for decades in Dawnflame Kingdom, whereas I became a defect destined to live with misery.
Was it relief? Relief that I uncovered everyone's true colours and now know that I could only trust Emily here.
But I knew one thing for sure. I felt anger.
Anger that seeped deep within my bones.
Out of all the people currently in the Grand Hall, not a single one wanted to defend me. Even my brother. It only further added to my annoyance.
"I will attend Dawn Academy."
A burst of laughter emanated from the corner of the Grand Hall. It was Maxwell.
"Hahaha... Trash like you wants to go to Dawn Academy? Since when did they accept waste found on the streets?" as he burst out laughing uncontrollably. His laughter echoed around the quiet Grand Hall and into everyones ears.
I ignored this unfamiliar Maxwell and stared at the man who I once saw as my father with unwavering determination.
"Are you adamant?"
I instantly replied, "Yes."
"Very well. You will be able to attend Dawn Academy... However, on one condition."
"You will no longer bear the name of an Ashthorne."
....
I heard a commotion spread within the Grand Hall, surprised by the outcome.
I will no longer have ties with the Ashthorne's. I could not use the Ashthorne's name. I would become an outcast. A commoner.
But that was good for me.
I would rather be far away from this alienated place, despite it being my home. All I felt being here was hatred.