The chief, Bryan, stood at the center of the room, his expression serious as he addressed the two elders. "From now on, we won't speak of Arya's dual elements. That secret must remain hidden. But there is still another piece of news worth sharing—the fact that Arya possesses the fire element with an ancient bloodline. It's an extraordinary event for our village."
The younger elder nodded, stroking his beard. "You're right, Chief. Among the older villagers, this will be seen as a significant moment. For outsiders, it will appear to be just another awakening ceremony, but for us, it symbolizes hope for a better future."
Bryan agreed. "Yes, you can announce this news. While it is big for us, for others, it's just an ordinary occurrence." He turned his gaze to Arya, who had been silently watching the conversation. Bryan's tone softened. "Arya, you've heard what we discussed. Remember, you must keep the truth about your dual elements a secret. Don't tell anyone—not even your mother. Do you understand?"
Though only two years old, Arya nodded solemnly. Bryan knew his son understood far more than most children his age.
Bryan smiled gently and shifted his focus to Arya's results. "Arya, your element is fire, and your innate elemental energy is at level 3. You will start your cultivation tomorrow. As your father, I will personally guide your training." He paused, his expression growing thoughtful. "When you reach level 10, you'll receive a fire seed from the village."
The mention of the fire seed brought a small smile to Bryan's face, but his curiosity quickly turned to Arya's seed weapon. "When you performed the awakening, did you see any images in your mind? Any vision of a weapon?"
Arya hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yes, I saw something. A metal rod."
Bryan's eyebrows raised in curiosity. "A metal rod, you say?" The elders behind him leaned in, their interest piqued.
"Yes," Arya said confidently. "That's all I could see."
Bryan mulled over the information and nodded. "A metal rod may not seem like much now, but its true potential is unknown. With cultivation, even a simple form can evolve into something extraordinary. It's a good weapon."
Arya stepped down from the platform, and one by one, the other children performed their blood awakening. Out of six children, one was unable to cultivate elemental energy. Another child, born with a level 6 innate elemental energy, revealed a seed weapon in the form of a small arrow-like needle and possessed the wind element.
At first, the boy with the needle weapon seemed disappointed, but Bryan reassured him. "Don't be discouraged. What you've seen is just its basic form. With time and effort, it may evolve into a deadly weapon. Never give up." The boy's spirits lifted after hearing Bryan's encouraging words.
Apart from Arya and the boy with the wind element, the other children had normal cultivation results. Of course, the one who couldn't cultivate was an exception.
After the ceremony concluded, Bryan addressed everyone. "Return home and rest. Come back early tomorrow morning for your first cultivation class. You'll learn how to harness elemental energy and begin your journey."
The children dispersed, their excitement evident as they looked forward to their first lesson. Bryan watched them leave, a mix of pride and determination in his heart. He knew this generation held the potential to change the fate of their village. But he also understood the weight of the secrets they carried, especially Arya's.
The fire element with an ancient bloodline was cause for celebration, but the hidden truth about Arya's dual elements—and the unknown destiny awaiting him—cast a long shadow over their future.
For now, Bryan chose to focus on the present. The journey had begun, and he would ensure that every step taken by Arya and the other children would lead them toward strength and survival in a world filled with challenges.