The grand doors of the Imperial Temple swung open, releasing a flood of newly awakened nobles into the bright afternoon sun. Their faces beamed with pride and excitement, the air buzzing with animated chatter about their newfound abilities.
As Zen and his companions made their way through the throng, a commotion near one of the temple's side alcoves caught their attention. A tall, arrogant-looking youth had cornered a smaller boy, his face twisted in a sneer of contempt.
"You really think you compare to the other nobles here?" the bully taunted, his voice dripping with disdain. He grabbed a fistful of the smaller boy's hair, eliciting a pained whimper. "You're nothing but the scion of a lowly baron. Your kind doesn't belong in a ceremony for true nobility!"
The victim, his eyes glistening with unshed tears, struggled futilely against the bully's iron grip. "Please, Will... let me go," he pleaded softly.
Will's sneer deepened as he tightened his hold. "You should participate with the commoners. That's all you deserve!"
Zen paused, his indifferent gaze sweeping over the scene. For a moment, his eyes locked with those of the victim, a flicker of... something passing between them. Then, without a word, Zen moved to continue on his way. The bully, noticing Zen's presence, hastily released his victim's hair, a hint of fear crossing his face as he recognized the scion of a higher-ranking noble family.
As Zen's majestic attire billowed in the breeze, Leonhardt and Tess exchanged a glance before stepping in to address the situation.
"Will Venion!" Leonhardt's voice rang out, sharp with authority. "How dare you bully a fellow noble? Have you no shame?"
Meanwhile, Tess approached the victim, gently guiding him away from his tormentor. Will's face paled as he recognized the crown prince, but he quickly regained his composure.
"Prince Leonhardt!" Will bowed deeply, his voice honeyed with false respect. "I merely sought to remind this... individual of his proper place. Surely you understand that not all who bear noble titles are truly worthy of them?"
Leonhardt's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Is that so? Then allow me to remind you of something, Venion. Both you and Asher here have awakened as A-rank potentials. Your petty jealousy does you no credit."
Will's face twisted in barely suppressed rage. Leonhardt continued, his voice cold, "The Paige Barony may be a vassal of House Venion, but do not forget that you all serve the Empire. I will not tolerate such disgraceful behavior from one who aspires to true nobility."
As Leonhardt moved to rejoin the others, he paused, throwing one last warning over his shoulder. "Let this be the last time I witness such shameful conduct, Venion. Am I understood?"
Will's knuckles whitened as he clenched his fists, but he managed a stiff bow. "Yes, Prince Leonhardt. It won't happen again."
As they walked away, Tess turned to Asher, her voice gentle but firm. "Why did you allow him to treat you that way?"
Before Asher could respond, Leonhardt interjected, "The Paige family's position is precarious. Any perceived disrespect towards the Venions could have severe consequences for his entire family."
Tess's eyes softened with understanding. She placed a comforting hand on Asher's shoulder. "Then the path forward is clear. You must grow stronger, Asher. Earn recognition through your own merits. Become independent of their influence. Can you do that?"
Asher's eyes, moments ago filled with despair, now blazed with determination. "Yes, I can! I will!"
Tess smiled warmly. "Good. Remember, you and Will were the last to enter the awakening chamber. You're both A-ranks. The potential for greatness lies within you. Seize it."
As they approached the waiting carriages, they found Zen already there, his gaze distant. Upon noticing Asher with them, a fleeting smile crossed his face before he turned away. Leonhardt caught the expression, a thoughtful "Ohh" escaping his lips.
Moments later, Emperor Curtis and Lloyd emerged from the temple, their faces wreathed in proud smiles. They had already been briefed by Cedric on the exceptional results of the ceremony.
Lloyd approached his children, placing a hand on each of their heads. "I am immensely proud of you both," he said, his voice thick with emotion.
As they prepared to depart for the castle, a imposing figure caught Lloyd's attention. "He's early," Lloyd mused, a hint of surprise in his voice.
The man, nearly as large as Lloyd but with a leaner build, stood waiting by the castle gates. Lloyd stepped down from the carriage, a warm smile spreading across his face. "Carac! You've made good time, old friend."
Inside the castle, Zen and Tess approached the newcomer eagerly. "Carac!" Zen exclaimed. "You've shaved a week off your usual time. The borderlands must be quieter than usual."
Lloyd's booming laugh filled the room. "Don't let his swift return fool you, Zen. The borderlands are no trifling matter. We may be at peace with the North, but monsters from the wild lands continue to threaten our borders. We need our best to keep them in check."
His expression grew more serious as he continued, "As Marquis Briar, we hold a position second only to the Dukes. Our domain may not be the largest, but our responsibility is paramount – to ensure the security of the borderlands. That's why the bulk of our forces are stationed there rather than within our own territory."
Intrigued, Zen turned to Carac. "What are the borderlands really like, Carac?"
The seasoned warrior's eyes twinkled with amusement. "Young master, the borderlands are challenging, certainly, but perhaps not quite the den of horrors Lord Lloyd paints them to be. Our armies are more than capable of handling most threats. My primary role is to ensure our Northern neighbors adhere to the non-aggression pact... at least until its appointed end."
Lloyd's expression darkened at the mention of the pact. "Carac, what news of that land?"
Carac's face grew grim. "You mean Eden? It remains as it has been – a stark reminder of the war's toll."
Lloyd turned to the window, his voice heavy with frustration. "Those damned Sovereigns... To end the war, the Ice and Flame Sovereigns intervened directly. Eden, once a neutral, barren land, now stands divided – half frozen wasteland, half scorching inferno. The proximity of the ice lands affects our border regions, altering the climate and emboldening the local monster populations. It's the reason Dain's village suffered that goblin attack."
At the mention of Dain, Carac's ears perked up, his eyes fixed on Lloyd. The Marquis chuckled, addressing him. "Yes, I know of your connection. Fear not, Dain is well. In fact, I plan to appoint him as your second-in-command within the Briar Knight Order."
As Lloyd and Carac continued their discussion, Zen noticed a faint, eerie glow emanating from Tess's eyes. Before he could react, Tess let out a heart-wrenching scream and collapsed to the ground.
Zen lunged forward, managing to catch her before she hit the floor. Lloyd and Carac rushed to their side, concern etched on their faces.
As Zen cradled his unconscious sister, a familiar message appeared before his eyes:
[ Warning! ]
Strange energy detected. Countermeasures being prepared... Skill analysis: S-rank Precognition (Six Divine Eyes). Absorption will increase potential as user grows. Absorb skill?
Yes/No
The weight of his own unresolved situation came crashing down on Zen as he stared at his sister's pale face. Precognition... and the power to consume the abilities of others. What consequences would these extraordinary gifts bring? As the others called for healers and fretted over Tess, Zen's mind raced with the implications of his newfound abilities and the challenges that surely lay ahead.