The city of Avarino basked in the warmth of the golden morning sun, its cobblestone streets glimmering like a treasure chest opened wide.
The sky stretched endlessly, painted in shades of bright blue with soft clouds lazily floating by.
The air buzzed with energy, a kind of magic that could only come from the excitement of an entire city celebrating.
Today wasn't just any day—it was the Aegis Resonance Festival, the most important and joyful event of the year.
Everywhere you looked, people were celebrating. Children ran through the streets laughing, their small heads adorned with metal headbands that shone in the sunlight.
These headbands came in different colours—some bronze, others silver, and a lucky few in gold.
These weren't just decorations; they were symbols of blessings for the coming year, tokens of hope and protection during the festival.
Women wore more elaborate versions, with gemstones glittering on them like stars, while the men wrapped themselves in brightly coloured scarves that swayed as they danced to the music.
The streets were lined with vendors selling sizzling skewers of meat, sugar-dusted pastries, and mugs of spiced cider that sent waves of sweet and savoury aromas through the air.
Performers juggled flaming torches and balanced on stilts, drawing cheers from the delighted crowds.
The entire city seemed alive, but beneath the surface of all this joy was a quieter kind of tension.
Teenagers, dressed in their best clothes, moved through the streets in small groups. Unlike the children and adults, their faces were more serious, their eyes filled with nervous energy.
They weren't here to celebrate just yet. Today was their Awakening Day—the moment when they would step into the Forge and discover their soul weapon.
In this world, a soul weapon was everything. It was more than just a tool; it was a part of you, a reflection of your inner self, and it determined your future.
A powerful, high-grade soul weapon could open doors to wealth, respect, and influence. A low-grade one?
That would slam those doors shut before you even got a chance to step forward. Everyone wanted to awaken something extraordinary.
Each step they took towards the Forge weighed heavily with the possibilities of their destiny.
In the distance, the Forge of Avarino stood tall and imposing. It was an obsidian tower that rose high above the city, its dark surface gleaming like polished glass.
It looked like a massive black blade that had been stabbed into the earth, dominating the skyline. The Forge wasn't just a building—it was the heart of Avarino's power.
It housed the Forgemaster, the mysterious and highly respected figure who oversaw the creation and maintenance of the city's strength.
Along with him were the Forgers, craftsmen of unparalleled skill, and the Blades, the elite warriors who protected the city.
Inside the Forge, the lively festival atmosphere gave way to a heavy, almost sacred silence.
The walls seemed to hum faintly, as though the very air was charged with energy. A long line of teens stretched through the main hall, each of them waiting for their turn to step into the Awakening Chamber.
Unlike the dramatic and flashy awakenings often described in stories, this ceremony was surprisingly quiet and private.
Each teen entered the chamber alone, and when they emerged, the only clue about their soul weapon's grade was written on their faces—joy, despair, or stunned disbelief.
In a separate, more luxurious area of the Forge, the children of Avarino's most influential families waited in relative comfort.
This was the VIP section, reserved for the sons and daughters of nobles, merchants, and other powerful figures.
Here, the nerves were no less palpable. Kaelan James Voss sat in one corner, his foot tapping a restless rhythm against the stone floor.
As the son of the Head of Merchants, he had been granted the privilege of awakening his soul weapon in a private chamber, away from the common crowd. But that didn't make the process any less nerve-wracking.
James's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a door opening.
A tall, broad shouldered youth stepped out of the VIP Awakening Room, his face lit up with a grin so wide it threatened to split his head in two.
"I've awakened a rare-grade soul weapon!" he announced, his voice booming with pride. "From now on, all of you should show me the respect I deserve!"
The room fell silent as every eye turned toward him. The boy lingered for a moment, basking in the attention, before his gaze locked onto James.
A smug smirk spread across his face as if to say, Let's see you beat that. Then, with a dramatic turn, he strode out of the room, leaving a trail of envious murmurs behind him.
James clenched his fists, his heart thudding in his chest. He wasn't sure if it was the boy's arrogant smirk or the pressure of the moment, but his nerves were now at an all-time high.
Afterall, his system literally forced him to make enemies. If he wasn't strong enough, he would die all the same even if he completed the missions!
"Kaelan James Voss," called a calm yet firm voice.
James stood up, his legs feeling like they were made of lead. His mind flashed back to a memory from his police academy days, the first time he'd had to undergo a high-pressure firearms test.
Back then, his instructor's steely gaze and the weight of expectation had made him feel like the room was closing in on him. It felt exactly the same now.
The Awakening Room was stark and intimidating. Its black walls absorbed the light from a glowing orb that floated near the ceiling, casting everything in an eerie, soft glow.
In the centre of the room stood a stone tablet, its surface covered in runes that seemed to pulse faintly, as though alive.
Beside the tablet stood an old man in yellow robes marked with three bold stripes—a sign of his seniority among the Forgers.
"Place your hand on the tablet," the old man instructed, his voice gravelly but calm.
James hesitated for the briefest moment, his breath catching in his throat. The air felt thick, heavy with the weight of countless awakenings that had taken place in this room. He clenched his jaw, forcing himself to move forward.
With a deep breath, he stretched out his hand and placed it on the tablet.
The runes flared to life, their glow swallowing the room.
To be continued…
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Power stone Goal!
20 PS - 1 Bonus chapter
50 PS - 2 Bonus chapter
100 PS (Quite an achievement as of now) - 3 Bonus chapters.