Under the watchful eyes of everyone present, the Knight and two mages began the ceremony by handing out sacred shards to each participant.
One of the mages, holding a crystal shard, stepped forward and shared the story of these powerful objects.
He spoke of a once-great kingdom known as the "Realm of Fulfillment," famous as a place where people came to achieve their destinies.
This kingdom, respected by all its neighbors, created the shards to help humanity fight against magical beasts.
The mage then went on to explain the power system that governed their world.
"Our abilities are divided into two distinct paths," he began. "Magic, the force of the mind and soul, is categorized into seven stages: Novice, Adept, Practitioner, Master, Grandmaster, Archmage, and Sage. Each stage reflects not only your control over mana but also your understanding of the world's deeper truths."
He paused, letting the words sink in before continuing.
"On the other hand, physical power is the strength of the body and will, divided into nine stages: Trainee, Fighter, Warrior, Knight, Champion, Commander, Lord, King, and Emperor. These stages represent mastery of combat, endurance, and sheer physical dominance. Few in history have reached the pinnacle of either path, and even fewer have managed to master both."
The mage raised the shard in his hand, the light reflecting off its surface.
"These shards were created to guide us, to help bridge the gap between these paths when the magical beasts threatened humanity's survival. Today, we honor that legacy by forging our own."
The mage held the shard up, its glow reflecting off his face.
"These shards are not just tools," he said, his voice calm but serious. "They are keys—keys to unlocking abilities beyond what we can normally achieve. They allow a person to combine magic and physical strength, blending the two paths into something more powerful. But remember, this power comes with a price."
He looked around at the students, his eyes steady.
"To use a shard is to risk everything. You will face not just challenges to your body or mind but the balance of the world itself. Misuse it, and you may destroy more than just yourself."
He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in.
"Now, I ask you—are you ready to take on that responsibility? Are you prepared to walk the line between greatness and ruin?"
The room fell silent, the students feeling the weight of his question. This was more than just a lesson; it was a choice that could change their lives forever.
The mage lowered the shard, his expression serious.
"Only those with true strength—of mind, body, and spirit—can succeed. The decision is yours."
The mage's eyes glinted as he continued, his voice carrying a note of gravitas.
"The shard's color is a reflection of your potential, but it's important to understand what that potential means in our world. The strongest person in this kingdom, someone who has achieved legendary status, is only at the Commander rank. Even with immense skill and power, they have not yet reached the peak of physical mastery. This shows how rare it is for someone to combine both paths to their fullest extent."
He paused, letting the weight of his words settle in.
"Now, when you channel your energy into the shard, the color it turns will tell you where you stand. White is the beginning—basic potential. Blue shows developing power. Green means solid balance. Yellow indicates mastery of both magic and strength, while orange shows an extraordinary level of control. And then, there's red— the highest level, a sign of someone who can truly master both paths and wield power beyond imagination."
The mage's tone grew more serious.
"Remember, the higher the color, the greater the responsibility. With power comes danger, and only the most exceptional can handle the trials that follow. Even the Commander, the strongest person in the kingdom, has not surpassed this point. So, what will your shard reveal?"
He raised the shard once more, its glow reflecting the possibilities that lay ahead.
Alchillis stood in the back of the room, her heart pounding as the first students stepped forward, their fates bound to the glowing shards. She watched as the colors began to shift, one by one.
Seven of the students received a green glow—a solid, balanced color that reflected a respectable mastery of both magic and physical power. Alchillis felt a mix of admiration and envy. It wasn't a small feat. In a kingdom where the highest-ranked individuals were still only Commanders, a green shard indicated true potential. Even the mages seemed surprised by the number of greens; it was rare to see so many with such balanced strength.
Then, three students stepped up and their shards turned blue—a step lower, but still impressive. Blue was for those who were developing their connection between mind and body, not yet at the level of true mastery, but capable. Alchillis couldn't help but glance at them with a small sense of pride. It was a good showing, especially considering the rarity of it.
But then it was Ralfi and Anna's turn.
Alchillis held her breath as both of her friends focused their energy on the shards in front of them. The light from Ralfi's shard flared, first a bright orange, and then, in a heartbeat, it turned a deep, glowing red. The room fell silent, eyes widening in disbelief.
Anna stepped up next. The same thing happened. Her shard blazed red, the color so intense it almost seemed to burn the air around them.
Alchillis watched in awe, her own heart racing. The mages around them were already stunned by the number of greens, but when Ralfi and Anna's shards turned red, the shock was palpable. They stood frozen for a moment, unable to comprehend what they had just witnessed.
In a kingdom where even the strongest were Commanders, the sheer rarity of red was impossible to ignore. It wasn't just a rare occurrence—it was unheard of.
Alchillis's gaze shifted between her friends, pride and awe mixing in her chest. Her friends, both of them, had shattered the limits. They had reached something no one had ever thought possible. And as the mages muttered in hushed tones, Alchillis knew that nothing would be the same after this day.
As the last two students, Alchillis and Atanasia, stepped forward, the atmosphere in the room shifted. The mages, still processing what they had just witnessed with Ralfi and Anna's red shards, now turned their attention to the pair, their faces a mix of anticipation and curiosity. The room was thick with the weight of expectation. The power of Ralfi and Anna's reds was still lingering in the air, and now the mages were eager to see what these two would reveal.
Alchillis felt a knot of tension in her stomach as she approached the shard. She focused, channeling her energy through the connection. The shard reacted almost immediately, but instead of the bright, vivid color she had expected, the shard darkened—dark blue, but not just any blue. It was an almost unnatural shade, so deep that it seemed to absorb the light around it, giving off a shadowy aura that made the room feel colder.
Alchillis blinked, unsure of what to make of it. The mages exchanged glances, their brows furrowing in confusion. This wasn't the color they had anticipated. Dark blue wasn't common, certainly not in the way it presented itself now. They watched closely, a mixture of disappointment and curiosity in their eyes.
Atanasia's turn came next. Alchillis watched her friend with equal parts anxiety and intrigue. Atanasia closed her eyes and focused on the shard. As the energy gathered, the shard shone with an even stranger light—a deep, regal purple. It wasn't a vibrant purple but one that, like Alchillis's, seemed to suck in the light around it. The room seemed to grow darker as the color shifted, as though the very atmosphere was being pulled into it.
Alchillis, unable to hide her surprise, leaned closer to Atanasia. "Did… did you get blue too?" she whispered, still trying to make sense of the colors. "It looks almost like mine, but darker."
Atanasia smiled softly, her eyes reflecting the same shock. "No, I think it's purple. It's strange… but it has the same depth, the same feeling as yours. It's… beautiful, though."
The mages murmured amongst themselves, shaking their heads while exchanging more thoughtful glances. The dark blue and purple weren't typical results. While still intriguing, they weren't what the mages had hoped for—especially after seeing the brilliance of Ralfi and Anna's red shards. The air was thick with questions, but no clear answers.
Edward, a knight in the room, stood off to the side, watching the scene unfold. His posture was straight, his eyes sharp, and while the others were distracted by the colors, he was the only one who seemed to be focusing on something else entirely. There was something in the air—a strange pressure, a weight that seemed to press against his chest. It wasn't the kind of feeling that came from watching the magic; it was more like an invisible force radiating from the shards.
He narrowed his eyes, trying to concentrate. It wasn't a feeling anyone else seemed to notice, but Edward could feel it distinctly. It was as though the two dark shards—Alchillis's blue and Atanasia's purple—were exerting a quiet, yet intense pressure on the room, something subtle but undeniable.
He stepped forward, still feeling the strange weight, and caught the eyes of the mages, who looked just as confused as the students. Edward's expression was one of concern, but he remained silent, watching the shards closely.
The mages, while curious, couldn't shake the sense that something unusual was happening here, something beyond their understanding.
Edward stepped forward, his gaze fixed on the seven students who had received a green shard. "Those of you with green shards will be traveling to the Magic Academy in the Saravan region," he said, his voice strong and reassuring. "There, you'll receive the training and guidance you need to reach your full potential. The journey ahead will be challenging, but you have the power to succeed."
The seven students who had received the green shards nodded, a mix of excitement and nervousness crossing their faces. The mages, still processing the unexpected results, watched them closely, their expressions thoughtful.
Then, one of the mages, a tall man with sharp features, turned to the four students who had received the red, dark blue, and purple shards. "Ralfi, Anna, Alchillis, Atanasia," he began, his tone more measured now, "we ask that you stay for a while longer. We need to discuss your futures in more detail."
The four of them exchanged uncertain glances. Alchillis's heart raced with both excitement and dread—her unusual blue shard, Atanasia's strange purple, and the incredible reds from Ralfi and Anna had left the mages with more questions than answers.
Meanwhile, the second mage, a woman with a calm demeanor, addressed the remaining students, those who had received white or blue shards. Her voice was soft but filled with encouragement. "Do not be discouraged. You have all shown promise, and while your results today may not be what you hoped for, remember that the future is not set in stone. If you manage to reach the second level of either magical or physical ability, you will be welcome at the academy. The path of growth is long, and there is always room for those who are willing to work for it."
The students who had received lower rankings looked more hopeful, and some even exchanged determined looks, knowing they still had a chance to prove themselves.
With a final glance toward the room, the head mage turned to the others and gave a small nod. "The Awakening Ceremony test has now ended. Thank you all for your courage. We will be in touch with the details of your next steps. For some of you, this is just the beginning."
The room slowly began to empty as the students left, each of them either excited about the future or unsure of what lay ahead. Alchillis, Atanasia, Ralfi, and Anna stood apart from the others, aware that their paths had taken an unexpected turn. The mages' gaze lingered on them, full of quiet curiosity.
Edward stepped closer to the group of four, his expression unreadable but firm. "We'll discuss your futures shortly," he said, as the last of the students filtered out of the room. "But first, know this: What you've shown us today is extraordinary. I have no doubt your journey will be unlike anything any of us could have predicted."
The four of them exchanged uneasy glances, knowing that they were about to embark on a journey that would shape not just their own futures, but the future of their world.
And with that, the Awakening Ceremony came to an end, but for Alchillis, Atanasia, Ralfi, and Anna, it was only the beginning of a much larger story.