The grand hall of the Valaris family palace was silent except for the distant echo of footsteps on the marble floors. The air was thick with anticipation as the entire royal family gathered to witness the Awakening ceremony of the youngest prince.

Simone stood at the center of the vast chamber, the weight of the moment pressing down on him like a thousand stones. His midnight black hair hung in disarray, a stark contrast to the pristine white robes he wore. The soft glow of the chamber's grand chandeliers reflected off the polished floors, casting long shadows that seemed to stretch toward him. His blood-red eyes were focused on the Emperor, his father, who sat on a raised throne at the far end of the room.

Emperor Alden, ruler of the world, gazed down at his son with a mix of expectation and curiosity. The Emperor was a figure of awe—immense in both power and stature. His voice, when he spoke, could shake the heavens.

"Simone," Alden's voice reverberated through the hall, "Step forward."

The young prince obeyed without hesitation, his heart pounding in his chest. The ceremony was always a trial—painful, harrowing, and sacred. But this was the first time Simone would undergo it. And unlike his siblings, he had a choice—one that could change the course of his destiny.

With a flick of his hand, the Emperor activated the ancient ritual circle that surrounded Simone, the ethereal runes glowing brightly beneath his feet. They were a signal to the world that the Awakening had begun. A surge of energy rippled through the room as the power of the ceremony was released, and Simone could feel the familiar rush of energy coursing through his veins. It felt as if his very soul were being torn open, a flood of god-given power rushing into him from the deep recesses of the world.

Pain—the likes of which he had never experienced—slammed into him. His body trembled, his muscles convulsed, and his vision blurred. It was as if his very existence was being rewritten, his essence being molded into something far beyond human comprehension.

Simone's hands clenched, and he forced himself to stay standing. His knees buckled, but he willed himself to remain upright. The power surged within him like a river bursting from a dam, dark and relentless. But it wasn't like his siblings' powers. This power was… different. It was the Power of Darkness.

For the first time, Simone could feel the tendrils of darkness coil around him. They were not an adversary; they were a part of him. His body shifted—shrinking, reshaping—as his form lost its former softness, transforming into something lean and powerful. His once-obese frame slimmed down, his muscles defined with strength and grace. His black hair darkened even further, becoming almost liquid in its hue. His eyes… his eyes burned with an unnatural glow—blood red, reflecting the intensity of the darkness that surged through him.

A single drop of sweat rolled down his forehead as he fought to maintain control. The power was intoxicating, tempting him to let go, to embrace its endless hunger. But Simone fought it. He would control it. He would keep it hidden.

"Simone…" the Emperor's voice rang out again, this time with more intensity. "Reveal your power."

The room grew even quieter, the assembled nobles and siblings waiting for him to declare his ability. His brothers and sisters stood at attention, eyes fixed on him, each of them eager to learn what power their youngest sibling would claim.

Simone closed his eyes, his heart racing. He could feel the presence of his siblings' powers—light, fire, metal, water, electricity, wind, earth, and illusion—surrounding him, each one shining brightly in the back of his mind. But his was different, darker, more subtle.

"I abstain," he said quietly, his voice carrying across the room.

The declaration was met with a momentary silence before murmurs rippled through the royal family and the assembled guests. The law of the Awakening ceremony was clear: every prince or princess was required to reveal their power before the ceremony ended or abstain from disclosing it entirely. By choosing to abstain, Simone would keep his ability secret, even from his family. The decision was rare—and often viewed with suspicion.

The Emperor's piercing gaze never wavered. He studied Simone, as if trying to read the boy's soul, before giving a single nod.

"So be it," he declared, his voice carrying the weight of the decision.

With a sweep of his hand, the energy around Simone dissipated. The glowing runes faded, and the power that had been coiled inside him was sealed away, hidden once more. The prince stood before them, transformed—not just in body, but in spirit. He was no longer the timid, overweight child he had been; he was someone… more.

But it was the secrecy of his power, the refusal to disclose it, that would become his true weapon.

The Emperor rose from his throne, and the rest of the royal family followed his lead. "You have made your choice, Simone. And so, it shall be."

Simone bowed his head respectfully. He had made his choice, and the consequences of it would follow him for the rest of his life. The path he walked now was one of secrecy and shadows.

As he turned to leave, he felt the weight of his siblings' gazes upon him. They were confused, wary, perhaps even jealous. But Simone didn't care.

He was not like them. And he never would be.