Mr. Aiden Valkorin,
You are cordially invited to attend the Grand Awakening Day on January 5th, 2025 at Etiril. The Astral Flame sect hopes you awaken your powers on this propitious day. We hope to see you in Etiril at 8 a.m. sharp and please present this invitation at one of our registration desks.
Best of luck!
Regards,
Astral Flame Sect
Aiden read the invitation card twice, thrice to make sure he wasn't dreaming. His mind was blank and he couldn't fathom if it were really happening or his hallucinations. He glanced at his father who too held a similar expression.
"Aiden, pinch me," Richard muttered, making his son laugh helplessly. "I am not dreaming, am I? Is the curse finally being lifted?"
Aiden understood his father's sentiments. Even though they had long expected and awaited this day, considering the excitement and eagerness of the people around them and the world, they were still bewildered when it was actually happening.
"Ouch!" Richard rubbed his arm and glared at his son who had pinched him for real. "Why did you pinch me?"
Aiden looked at him incredulously. "Dad, weren't you the one who asked me to pinch you? When did you start suffering from amnesia?"
Richard gave his son a bombastic side eye before ignoring him, returning his attention to the invitation in his hand.
"I have been waiting for this all these years," he exclaimed, his entire body bursting with joy. His eyes welled up with emotions and he hugged the invitation as if it were some treasure.
Aiden rolled his eyes at his father's exaggerated actions. Was it necessary to be so dramatic?
Shaking his head, he picked his invitation up and returned to his room. He went through the contents of the invitation again, his heart pounding madly in excitement. He couldn't control his lips stretching into a grin as he read the invitation repeatedly. He didn't even miss the instruction letter stating the details and what was expected to transpire on the Awakening Day.
The invitation also included a website where he could check his genealogy, and Aiden opened his laptop and followed the instructions immediately. All he had to type was his identification number mentioned on the invitation, and viola, his family tree appeared on the screen.
Aiden's eyes widened when he saw the genealogy tree. The family tree started from the moment his ancestors became humans, with the deceased marked in red. Since it held more than ten thousand years of information, he lost interest within a few minutes and scrolled to the end following the highlighted line, where he saw his parents' names and his, with his mother's marked in red.
He smiled when he saw his parents and grandparents, both paternal and maternal. His maternal uncle was also listed, along with his wife and children. Since his aunt was a normal human and her parents didn't have any connection with the Astral Flame sect, they weren't listed on the family tree.
Aiden sighed softly as he recalled what his grandfather had told him once. Since the day their ancestors were cursed, the other sects had isolated them and treated them as dirt. They were despised, mocked, and even humiliated.
The other sects had cut off all relations with them. It wasn't a wonder that his genealogy barely had people who belonged to other sects. His ancestors could only marry within their sect or with the humans.
After years of humiliation, it was finally their time to shine and he hoped he was one of the blessed ones. After all, not everyone had hidden powers in them. It was evident in the other sects as well, with only a few lucky having abilities. After having been cursed for years, he didn't know how it would affect his sect.
'Why am I being this negative? I should think positively,' Aiden thought and started to pack his bag.
Etiril was the place where his sect originated. It was also the same place where his ancestors were cursed. It wasn't surprising that the Grand Awakening Day was organized at Etiril.
Although they had received the invitation now, a few days before the Awakening Day, Aiden was already prepared. His luggage was ready. All he needed to add was some daily essentials and an extra pair of shoes and he'd be done.
"Aiden, may I come in?"
Aiden heard his father ask and he stopped packing. Opening the door wide, he stepped back, allowing his father to enter his room. "Yes, Dad?"
"We are leaving in the afternoon tomorrow. Be prepared."
It was already the 3rd of January and it would take them around six hours to reach Etiril by car. They had ample time to reach Etiril and rest well before the big day.
"Got it, Dad. What about Grandpa and Grandma."
"They will meet us in Etiril directly."
"Ohh!"
"Dad is leaving in the morning. He can't wait until noon. You know he's impatient."
Aiden laughed and nodded. He wasn't surprised though.
"Dad, do you think all of us can awaken our powers?" Aiden asked, his smile slipping for a moment.
"Hopefully." Richard shrugged lightly. "Although I doubt it. Our powers have remained dormant all these years. We can't say exactly if we even have recessive powers or not. We can only find out on the day of Awakening."
Aiden nodded thoughtfully. "Dad, what do you think is the most powerful ability?"
Although he already knew about all the powers a person could have, he still wanted to know his father's opinion.
Richard thought for some time while Aiden waited.
"Time and space manipulation."
Aiden had the same opinion and hoped to attain one of these powers. Having elemental powers like hurling fireballs and controlling water was common. He had seen the other sects' people show their abilities. But he hadn't heard much about people having the ability to manipulate time or space.
Aiden thought of the only person he knew who could manipulate time.
Halvard Bellamy - the current leader of the Silver Lotus sect. Although the man could freeze time for barely a few seconds, his power was worthy of reverence.
Aiden's eyes shone with awe as he secretly hoped to awaken a similar power.
"I'll leave you to pack your stuff." Richard nodded before leaving the room and Aiden went giddy with joy as he resumed packing.