Chapter 5: Kings Piece
Right now, his Codex was presenting him with his choices.
This was the norm for everyone who awakened their Life Codex.
First, with the Headmasters energy, they would be sent into the physical manifestation, Nexus, of the codex.
Following this, they would be given their choice of the type of energy they would want to use.
For humans, it was between Aura and Mana.
However, for him, Spirit Essence also existed.
Three paths lay before him: Aura, the energy of will and determination; Mana, the force of magic that had coursed through his family for generations; and Spirit Essence, an ethereal connection to realms beyond comprehension.
Each offered its own power, its own destiny.
However the thought of Awakening Spirit Essence didn't cross Ren's mind. While it was an extremely strong path, he wouldn't have anyone to teach him.
The Dragons, which used Spirit Essence, knew how to use it since birth. Sure Humanity might have books to help him but he would be left on his own.
There was also the whole being an outcast to the entire world…
Given his lineage as part of a long line of mages, Ren had always prepared himself for the path of Mana.
Life Codex were hereditary. It was how most Noble and Royal structures had been formed. The Life Code system functions almost like a genetic code or magical DNA.
It was why it was basically impossible for the commoners of the world to get a proper Codex and their forever destined to stay weak.
It was why most nobles developed a superiority complex.
For generations, his family birthed the strongest combat mages of the entire Human Domain.
The prospect of wielding such potent magic, of following in the footsteps of his ancestors, had been his dream.
Ren loved the study of Magic, and thus he wished to pursue it.
He envisioned himself as a mage of incredible prowess, commanding the very forces of nature to do his bidding.
He was ready to choose Mana, his heart set on the familiar embrace of magic.
But just as he was about to mentally accept this path, the old man on the throne lifted his gaze.
Ren's breath caught in his throat as he locked eyes with the ancient figure.
The man's eyes were a brilliant red, shimmering like rubies in the starlit void.
It was a gaze that felt as if it could peer into the very essence of his soul, stripping away all pretense and hesitation.
In a calm, steady voice that echoed through the vastness, he spoke, "Choose Aura."
Ren's heart raced as he processed the man's words.
Aura?
It felt foreign, a departure from the legacy of mages that defined his family.
The choice lingered in his mind, a fleeting shadow of doubt flickering to life.
Selecting Aura would set him back compared to his peers, many of whom would likely choose Mana for its grandeur and versatility.
He didn't want that…which 14 year old would want to lose to his peers?
Yet, he recalled a lesson from his mother, one that had shaped his understanding of power: a Life Codex was an extension of oneself, a reflection of one's true nature.
He hesitated, weighing the implications of this decision.
The old man watched him with an inscrutable expression, and Ren felt a stirring in his chest.
He understood, in that moment, that this choice was not about power alone; it was about authenticity. His codex had manifested this figure for a reason, and it urged him toward Aura.
With a deep breath, Ren steeled himself. "I choose Aura," he declared, feeling a surge of energy coursing through him as he spoke those words.
The old man smiled, and Ren felt the weight of the choice settle around him, imbued with a sense of purpose and clarity.
In that moment, he realized that this path was not a rejection of his heritage but an embrace of who he truly was meant to be.
With a sudden jolt, Ren opened his eyes, finding himself back in the Awakening Chamber, enveloped once more in the pristine, blinding white light.
The ethereal chessboard, the imposing king's throne, and the enigmatic old man had all vanished, leaving only the smooth, polished surface of the chamber beneath him.
Yet, as he stood there, something felt amiss.
He strained to sense the power of Aura that he had just chosen, but it remained elusive, like a whisper just out of reach.
Normally, a newly awakened Aura would radiate through him, vibrant and alive, but instead, he felt an unsettling emptiness within.
Ren realized with a sinking feeling that his body, honed for years to become a mage, lacked the physical strength necessary to channel the Aura effectively.
The years he had dedicated to studying spells and honing his magical abilities had come at a cost; he hadn't developed the robust physique needed to wield this primal energy.
It felt as though he was standing on the edge of a vast ocean without the means to dive in.
He flexed his fingers, willing for the surge of energy he had anticipated, but instead of an electric current, he felt a subtle heaviness.
The latent potential of Aura thrummed at the edges of his awareness, but he lacked the capacity to grasp it fully.
Just as Ren was gathering his thoughts, the soft, melodic voice of Gaia resonated through the Awakening Chamber, filling the void with clarity.
"It has been registered that you have selected Aura," she announced.
"It has also been sensed that your Life Codex is classified as 'Unique,'. If you wish to do so, please provide a brief outline of its abilities."
Ren wasn't particularly surprised that his Life Code was unique.
Unique Life codes were not too rare, since it just meant that it was the first of its kind, or Gaia was unable to classify it into a type of Life Codex.
"I do not wish to provide any details." Ren started. Professors and High ranking students had access to this information for planning students training, however that didn't mean Ren had to tell them everything.
"That is alright…if not your Codex abilities, would you be keen on sharing your first Aspect?" Gaia questioned.
Ren remained quiet…Aspect.
An Aspect was the skills one would receive from the Life Codex. Usually right after their awakening one would learn what their initial Aspect was.
Following this, depending on how talented one was, they would unlock an unknown number of Aspects.
The number was never determined properly, but the highest number of recorded Aspects for one before reaching the Heroic ranks was 5… and that was for the Headmaster himself.
Ren also realized…he didn't know what his initial Aspect was.
But he wasn't too worried about it. He knew it probably had something to do with the fact that he couldn't use Aura yet.
'All in due time,' he couldn't help but think.
He already knew he had awakened a splendid Life Codex, while he did not have his family's Life Codex, that did not bother him too much.
"No, I wish for that to remain a secret too." Ren continued.
"Understood. So for now, you will be classified as a Unique Codex user with an undetermined potential rank." Gaia explained to Ren his classification for the future.
After another second, Gaia continued, "Your student mentor has been classified, he is waiting outside."
As Gaia said that, a door opened inside of this never ending white space, and thus space and time seemed to resume flowing.
Ren nodded politely towards the AI Orb, there was no harm in treating something that had treated him well with respect.
Ren then steadily walked towards the outside of the Awakening chamber and saw plenty of students were constantly walking out of similar chambers he had been inside off.
To be able to manipulate space, time and facilitate the awakening of so many people at once...the Headmaster sure was a force to be reckoned with.
As Ren stepped out of the Awakening Chamber, the atmosphere shifted dramatically.
The endless white space faded behind him, replaced by a vibrant throng of students, each one buzzing with excitement and anticipation.
He could see a mix of expressions on their faces—some wore smiles of triumph and others displayed a nervousness.
As Ren navigated through the sea of students, he felt a sudden tap on his shoulder. He turned to find a man standing there, a head taller than him.
This newcomer exuded an aura of relaxed confidence, though his appearance suggested he was a bit disheveled.
His hair was completely messy, tousled as if he had just rolled out of bed, and he sported a scruffy stubble that gave him a rugged, unrefined look.
The man wore the academy uniform for the 4th year—a distinctive red suit paired with a blue tie and a crisp white undershirt.
However, unlike the other seniors who wore their blazers with pride, this man had tossed his aside, leaving his shirt untucked and his tie hanging loosely around his neck.
The black color of his hair contrasted sharply with the vibrant colors of the uniform, adding to his laid-back demeanor.
"Are you Ren?" The man questioned, even though he seemed to already know the answer to this question.
"Yes."
"Well...unluckily for you, I am your Student Mentor. My name is Kai and I am a 4th Year. Follow me, this place is too crowded." Kai mentioned, as he walked in a specific direction.
...
Authors Note:
Hope you guys will enjoy this novel.
If you wish to read more chapter, it will be on my p#treon
p#treon.com/Fat_Cultivator