Alaric's POV
As I lifted my aura from the room, I looked at everyone in the chamber.
I looked at Cedric and the person he was looking at in fury, my other son Alden. I knew what had transpired between them as one of the elders notified me as soon as I arrived.
I looked at Alden; he resembled me the most of all my children.
I wanted to give him a warm smile and wanted to let him know I was always there for him, but I knew I couldn't. I couldn't show any emotions for his sake. I could only watch him from the shadows.
He also looked at me with his eyes without anything, just like he was looking at a stranger, and indeed I was nothing more than a stranger to him.
I had not shown myself to him even once after Ceres, his mother, vanished. I just hoped he didn't hate me. I deserve his hate, but I don't want to be hated by my children.
'Would things be different if you were here, Ceres? Would he have been less of an outsider in the family?'
But even now I couldn't afford to show him any emotions as I chose to remain indifferent.
There were many eyes on me currently.
My wives would take any chance to eliminate him if they thought I favoured him over other children.
"Get to your respective protection circles; the awakening will commence in 10 minutes," I spoke, keeping my voice indifferent.
I didn't even spare a glance at Alden as I gave the order, nor did I glance at others.
As everyone stood on their respective circle, I instructed Elder to activate the protection circle as they activated it.
I looked at the watch on my hand; there was only one minute before noon when they all would be transferred to their respective trial.
I looked at my children, Cedric, Seles, and Alden. I cared for each of them and loved them deeply. I couldn't help as a fleeting emotion appeared on my face. "I hope you survive my children." He muttered in a very quiet voice.
As quickly as the emotion appeared, it vanished.
.
.
.
Alden's POV
As soon as the overwhelming pressure was lifted, I looked at the front. Standing there was a man with black hair and red eyes. He looked eerily similar to me.
He was my father, Alaric Draven. The father I haven't seen ever since I was born.
He was one of the strongest in the world; even in the novel, he was mentioned a few times as one of the strongest people in the empire.
But no matter how strong he was, he was not a good father. Not a single time had my father visited me ever since my birth.
I tried to find any emotions on his impassive face, but I could not see any emotions on his face as he looked at me.
I didn't know anything about my mother as she vanished right after my birth. But him? He was here, always a few steps away from me, and yet he never visited, not even acknowledging me. He probably didn't even care if I existed or not.
But I didn't care as he was just like a stranger, a total stranger to me. And I am sure I am also nothing more than a stranger who looked a bit similar to him.
He didn't even spare me another glance after the previous one and just instructed everyone to stand inside the protection circle.
Nor did I spare him any glance and started walking towards the circle nearest to me.
There were many circles drawn on the floor at uniform distances.
They were the protection circle; they didn't have any other use other than to protect the person standing on them in case something went wrong.
Generally, nothing goes wrong while awakening, but sometimes an awakening could be a bit violent due to mana discharged after a successful awakening.
As I stood in my circle, I couldn't help but think about the upcoming trial as a hint of uncertainty crept in.
I don't know how much the trial will last or how difficult it's going to be. I didn't even know if I could survive, as death in trial means death in reality.
'What if I couldn't complete the trial?' What if I don't survive?' I couldn't help as negative thoughts started clouding my head.
As I was lost in thought, the circle started to release a mystical light as it started to glow with dark colour. I looked up to see the elders standing beside my father, releasing some energy from their hands, probably mana. They were activating the circle with their mana.
"The time has come; you will be transferred to your trial in a bit." Alaric spoke in his usual cold voice. "I won't give you any special speech," he said as he looked at everyone in the chamber.
As he said that, I couldn't help but look at him one last time, and then I saw something I couldn't imagine. I saw an expression on his face; he was alternating his gaze between Cedric, Seles, and me.
My eyes started to widen in surprise as I saw him looking at me in concern, but the emotion vanished as fast as it came.
I couldn't believe my eyes; it felt like a mirage, an illusion.
I felt anger boil up inside me. 'Who does he think he is to show concern now?' 'After so many years, not even acknowledging me, '
Why did he have to show emotions now and not when I was bullied? I was beaten daily.
He was the patriarch of the family, and he probably knew what I was going through, but he didn't even help me or try to comfort me, and why does he think he can show emotions now?
My hands clenched tightly as I felt anger bubbling, but there was another emotion too; it was longing. Longing to be acknowledged…
As I was trying to control my emotions My vision darkened suddenly, and I lost all strength in my body.
----------------------------------------------
Hello Author here,
The slow paced chapters have ended and now. Thank you for your patience.
What do you think the awakening trial gonna be? Be sure to comment.