The basement of the palace was not a place where the light ventured willingly. The flickering glow of lamps cast long, grotesque shadows that danced across the cold, damp stone walls. The algae on the wall, The air was thick with the scent of must and ancient memories, a combination of mildew and something faintly metallic.
Vyse slowly descended, taking each step carefully. He found himself glancing at his father's face when he finally reached the place, where the ritual was about to be held.
Glancing at the people that were present there, he spotted his master. who had enlightened him to mana. The basement spoke of bygone centuries, it seemed that it had stood up for millennia and had watched countless, such rituals. Yet, this was a special one, today, Vyse, the reincarnator was going to go through the ritual.
If he succeded then his power would be bound by leaps in the future. It was a significant moment for him as this power, he needed this power, in order to avenge his family and be strong enough to face the hidden foes.
Here, In this world, you would never know what killed you. This world was very different than his previous one.
His father has always thought high of him as he was special. It was his gut feeling that soon became a fact when Vyse confronted him of his condition.
The ritual Vyse was about to undergo was a sacred and ancient ceremony known as the Bloodline Awakening, a rite passed down through countless generations. Its sole purpose was to awaken the dormant abilities present in the boy.
His master brought him a bottle of potion.
"This potion is highly potent and expensive. Boy, I hope you will succeed in awakening your bloodline, and Congratulations on awakening Aura." He said.
Vyse took the bottle, feeling its cool weight in his hands. The potion inside shimmered with an eerie, iridescent glow that seemed almost alive.
His master's words, though laced with encouragement, had pressured him.
"Thank you, Master," Vyse said, his voice steady despite the flutter of anxiety in his chest. He took a deep breath and thought, "Even if I fail to awaken it, I shall not give up. Master would help me learn magic. I'll just replace it with something more potent, after all it shouldn't have much effect on my power levels."
Though it was a crucial step towards avenging his family, it solely depended on his luck. There was nothing he could do about it.
His father stood to one side, and his mother to the other. Their gaze was filled with both comfort and hope. They too hoped that he could awaken his bloodline in a small corner of their hearts.
The ritual space was a setup of runes and symbols inscribed on the floor, upon closer observations, Vyse noticed that The mana here was free, it held no will and there were signs of corruption too. This itself told him about the countless past rituals and the anticipation that they had felt.
His master motioned him to sit at the center of the circle, as soon as he sat there, the patterns and symbols hummed with a light. Reacting to his presence, they became dark.
Vyse could hear the gasp of the onlookers that he ignored.
"Now", his master said, "open the bottle and drink the contents, Remember, the process would be a painful one but don't succumb to the will of the potion. Here, your willpower is as significant as your luck is."
And so the ritual started.
As soon as the potion hit his stomach, Vyse felt a painful sensation. It was something that he had never felt, even when the riles had experimented on him. It was as if two contrasting powers were fighting with him.
Both wanted to devour each other, a twisting agony that spread rapidly through his body only elevated his pain.
His sister looked at him with saddened eyes, she felt bad that her brother had to experience such a pain. Yet, his will was firm, he clenched his teeth.
Even if he was struggling to keep his composure, he tried.
His master began speaking but Vyse in unbearable pain could only make a few words, "Focus on the bloodline," gibberish "Concentrate boy, concentrate on awakening your power!"
Vyse forced himself to concentrate, he tried to push through the overwhelming agony. Closing his eyes, he focused on his blood cells that were radiating with mana. The pain, however, was relentless. it felt as if his very essence was being pulled apart and reformed, it was agonizing and brutal.
Sweat kept on pouring down, he was gasping for breath, his vision blurring as the pain increased. Yet, his will was firm, he had to do it, he had to grow stronger, strong enough to protect his family.
Just when he thought he might collapse, a new sensation came over him; overwhelming him. The cold spread rapidly, numbing his limbs and sending shivers through his body.
Vyse's concentration faltered, his thoughts becoming jumbled and fragmented.
"No.. No, I can't.." he whispered, his voice barely audible over.
But his father had heard him.
With a final cry, Vyse fell to his knees, his body jerked rapidly.
His father called out; "Son, no need to worry, I will ensure that you get the strength that you need. Don't worry, You can rest now."
His mother and his sister alike ran to the center of the ritual, embracing him warmly which seemed undeserved to him.
It was the second time when people had hoped something of him, yet he once again had failed them.
He was heartbroken, his mind was shattered and his body was in dismay.
But his will, It didn't break, he promised himself that he would find a way, he would substitute it with something else. He was going to do that.
In the warm embrace of his family, he closed his eyes, his shoulders were heavy. Seeming to crumble under the weight of responsibilities.
And today, In his family's warmth, he rested.