"Being factionless is not the end of the world". A gentle-sounding voice reverberated across a square as a group of depressed 18-year-olds were addressed.
The temple of the 9 Gods did not just comprise of the 9-floored pagoda. There was a big fenced wall around it, and inside the wall, apart from the pagoda of the Gods, there was a big square.
It was already evening.
In this year's awakening that took place today, a record-breaking number of adults who failed to be acknowledged by any of the 9 Gods was recorded.
In this awakening, 9 factionless were created.
Out of over 200 adults who came for the awakening, this seemed small but when you compare it with the fact that in previous years, the most that has ever been created was 5 factionless, this was abnormal.
And like in every year, there was a designated psychologist who was in charge of speaking to the factionless to prevent them from committing suicide.
Factionless committing suicide every year was not a new occurrence.
Afterall, every single one of these adults grew up in a factioned home. They grew up looking up to their parents who believed in at least one of the 9 Gods.
They revered the Gods; they yearned for their powers; they believed in them.
And to not be acknowledged by even one of these Gods that they revered so much, to them, it was a pain worse than death.
Immediately after the awakening was completed, all the awakened were led to various floors of the pagoda corresponding to their new God where they will be indoctrinated and taught the basics on the ways of their faction.
While the awakened were led away, the factionless were gathered here in the square.
The psychologist addressing them to prevent them falling into depression was a beautiful young woman with long black hair and azure eyes.
She wore a simple red dress that seemed strangely mesmerizing to the eyes.
Before leading them to the square, the new divine emissary assigned to them gave them each a cup of wine to consume.
Though they already guessed its contents, they still consumed it.
The wine was affected by a Dionysus awakened with intoxicating effects that will make them more susceptible to suggestion, but the question was, would it work? Was that enough?
The real question was why the psychologist was this female.
This beautiful female awakened belonged to the faction of the goddess, Freya. She was an elite awakened who already awakened 2 powers of the Divine Goddess, she had access to divination magic and manipulation magic.
At this moment, this beautiful female had a soothing smile on her face as she addressed the factionless.
As she spoke, there was a certain alluring symphony to her words.
She was making use of manipulation magic.
"Even in the Age of Gods, there is an important role for the factionless".
"If every living human becomes a warrior, then who shall help us do the mundane tasks?"
"Who shall be our carpenters?"
"Who shall be our farmers?"
"Who shall be our scientists? Who shall help us decipher the technology of old hidden in our ruins to take us back to the golden age of the 21st century?"
"So, you see, factionless are as much heroes as awakened are, just in a different light," she smiled brightly. "We need the factionless like you".
…
"Welcome to the faction of the Divine, Dionysus".
"Congratulations, you have been acknowledged by the greatest God of the 9 Divine".
"Our Divine, Dionysus is the God of wine-making, vegetation, fertility, festivity, ecstasy and theatre. And like you all probably know already; you will get powers relating to any of his domains that I just listed".
"Of course, occasionally, awakened get access to new and unconventional powers that have never been encountered in our records".
"It's normal. Afterall, the Gods are wiser than us and unfathomable".
"This is common knowledge in the Age of Gods but in case some of you do not know, I will explain the ranks after becoming an awakened".
"The first rank is apprentice. Currently, every one of you here is an apprentice awakened".
"After becoming an awakened, depending on the God that acknowledges you, you get one major power from one of his domains".
The veteran awakened with blue and black hair who addressed the new awakened smiled. "For us Dionysus who serve the Divine of wine, we mostly awaken powers related to wine and wine making".
"After awakening, some learn to use their powers immediately but for others, they learn to use their powers over time".
"If you can't use your power now, don't panic, you'll learn to use it with time and with guidance from someone ahead of you, your parents for example".
"After the apprentice rank, there is the intermediate rank, the advanced rank, super rank, legendary rank, and then," getting to this point, the awakened became full of reverence. "The mythical rank".
"The mythic awakened are the greatest awakened of humanity".
"And like you all know, there are only 5 mythic awakened in the world. Our country, Denmark has only 1, the Mythic of War, Albus".
"Anyways, you don't need all that now as an awakened, all you need now is to know the basics," he waved his hand dismissively.
"Before we continue, I want to see how many of you can use your powers already so form a line and come forward one at a time".
"I want to test your powers".
While the awakened instructor explained the basics of her new faction to them in the 3rd floor of the pagoda, Sophia was unsettled.
She was unsettled because of her connection to her twin brother.
From a very young age, Sophia and Paul were connected. Most times, when Paul gets injured from his time out with his friends, she also gets injured.
When her twin brother is sick, she also falls sick.
She always knew when her twin brother was in pain.
This connection had endured the test of time and this was why she was unsettled because for some reason, Sophia felt that Paul was not ok.
Besides, she was also worried because of their reaction when they came out.
After group 6 came out, they were all relatively happy since none of them became a factionless but for some reason, one of them was ostracized.
This awakened that was ostracized was her brother.
They whispered among themselves, calling him names like the awakened of many colors.
Sophia was concerned because her brother was not allowed to stay alongside the others of group 6 after awakening, he was taken away by the emissary.
And when she asked, the others in group 6 refused to speak more. Apparently, the emissary forbade them from saying what they saw inside.
The lack of information only left her bewildered and more worried.
'Paul, where are you?' She thought, distracted by her worries. 'I hope you're fine, please, don't give mom more to worry about'.
"Sophia Arrakis, step out and display your powers".
Jolted out of her thoughts, she took a deep breath and finally stepped out to display her powers.
She displayed her powers easily; it was a straightforward one.
Apprentice Awakened Sophia displayed one of the powers that her mother possessed, she awakened the power of immunity to alcohol.
…
In the uppermost floor of the 9-floored pagoda, in a separate room, Paul sat before the old temple master with 4 elite awakened standing at the door.
The old man was smiling but for some reason, Paul felt tensed, it was that same feeling he experienced around his mom when he did something wrong.
"Temple master," he called softly with a whimper. "Umm, did I do something wrong?"
The old man smiled. "Something wrong? No, no," he shook his head and laughed, "you did nothing wrong; you just became something really special and rare that's all".
Paul caught on to that. "How rare?"
The old man's smile widened. "Very very rare".
Paul gulped. "Is that a good thing or bad thing?"
"Depends," the old man said casually. "They call you the awakened of many colors now, what a beautiful name".
Paul blushed slightly.
"So, Paul Arrakis, tell me exactly what you saw in your head, the images, every last one of it".
Paul nodded, then while fidgeting, he spoke. "I saw a Jotunheim Giant bigger than the world walking, he was clad in plate armor and a helmet".
"His steps tore the world asunder, creating earthquakes and tsunamis".
'The Divine Ares'. The old man thought with a smile on his face.
Paul continued. "I also saw a blonde-haired God engulfed in lightning and storms fighting against a mighty world-destroying Wolf with a hammer".
'The Divine Thor'.
"I also saw…"
Right at that moment, a loud voice interrupted Paul.
"Give me back my SON!!!"
The deafening voice blasted through the temple like thunder.
"The awakening is over, I want my son back, now!"
The old man frowned and looked at the awakened warriors at the door. "Go and check, who is that?"
Right at that moment, Paul stood up. "T-temple master," he stammered.
The temple master looked at him and frowned. For some reason, at this moment, Paul had a pale look on his face.
"What?" The old temple master asked.
"It's my mom". Paul said while thinking, 'what's she doing here?'
Going outside, Paul met his twin sister and emissaries of the temple trying to placate his mom but just like he expected, Claire Arrakis was as stubborn as ever.
"Madam, your son is no longer a part of your faction".
Claire's eyes turned sharp. "Say that to me again and I swear, greenhorn, you'll lose your tongue for it!"
"Claire," the old temple master called the next moment.
Paul was surprised because of how familiar the old man sounded. 'Huh? Does the old temple master know mom?'
Claire Arrakis looked at the temple master. "Old man, I'm taking my children home".
The old man was calm. "At least, tell him what he is".
"Don't tell me what to do old geezer!"
With that, she dragged her children away.