Liam woke with a start and fumbled for the alarm screeching from his bedside table. His hand missed it the first time, knocking against the edge of the table before he finally found the switch and silenced it.
He rubbed his eyes, trying to chase away the last traces of sleep. The room was still dim, with only thin streaks of morning light slipping through the curtains, but Liam was already wide awake.
Today was important.
A bright smile slowly spread across his pale, youthful face as he remembered why.
Today was his Awakening Ceremony.
Every child in Ortheon went through the ceremony once they reached the age of ten. It was the day their System awakened and their talent was finally revealed, something Liam had been looking forward to for years.
As the only heir to the Velrodi family, he knew people expected a great deal from him. His father possessed an S-rank talent, and so did his mother, so most people assumed Liam would awaken with at least an A-rank talent of his own.
His tutors had told him many times that talent was random. It had nothing to do with bloodline, inheritance or the rank of a child's parents. Even so, many old and wealthy families like the Velrodis still insisted on marrying only people with powerful talents, convinced that keeping their bloodlines pure would somehow improve the talents of their children.
Liam did not think about that often.
He was only ten, after all, and his mother had assured him that he would not have to worry about engagements until he was twenty.
That was still another ten years away, which sounded like more than enough time to him.
With that comforting thought, Liam pushed back his covers and climbed out of bed. Despite the family's wealth and the number of servants working throughout the estate, his mother, Veronica, insisted that he learn how to take care of simple things himself.
She often reminded him that being a Velrodi did not mean he should become helpless the moment a servant was not nearby.
Liam made his bed carefully, smoothing down the covers and fluffing the pillows until everything looked neat enough. Once he was satisfied, he headed towards his wardrobe to choose an outfit for the ceremony.
Just thinking about it sent another spark of excitement through him.
"This one or that one…" he muttered, staring at the two outfits prepared for him.
They were both blue and looked almost identical.
Liam moved his gaze between them several times before eventually choosing the one with silver embroidery along the collar.
The outfit was mostly pristine white, accented with deep royal blue, the recognised colours of the Velrodi family. The tailored coat fit his small frame neatly, with silver decorations along the buttons and straps. A long blue cape rested over one shoulder, making him look far more dignified than he usually felt.
Liam turned slightly in front of the mirror and watched the cape move behind him.
He smiled.
It was perfect.
Still restless with excitement, he hurried into the adjoining bathroom to brush his teeth and take a quick shower. Liam was particular about cleanliness and often spent far too long in the bathroom, but today he finished much faster than usual.
By the time he was dressed and ready, it was already 10:21 in the morning, leaving less than an hour before the ceremony was due to begin.
Liam sat on one of the couches in the living room, bouncing his leg as he waited.
His parents were currently in another colony attending some kind of hero conference. His father had tried to explain it before leaving, but Liam had stopped understanding after the words intercolonial security and defence cooperation came up.
Since neither of them was there, Mathilda would be taking him to the cathedral instead.
Liam did not mind. Mathilda had practically raised him.
His parents were away often, and even when they were home, they usually had other responsibilities demanding their attention. Mathilda was the one who woke him for lessons, made sure he ate properly and stayed beside him whenever he was ill.
He was still thinking about the ceremony when someone quietly approached from behind and covered his eyes.
Liam startled, then reached up and grabbed the hand covering his face.
"Nana Mathilda?" he asked through a laugh. "I know it's you."
The hand lifted, and Liam turned to find Mathilda standing behind the couch with a smile.
"Sweet boy, how did you know?" she asked. The corners of her warm hazel eyes crinkled as she looked down at him.
"I just knew."
"That is not much of an explanation."
Liam ignored that and climbed off the couch. "We have to hurry. It's going to start soon."
"I know, I know." Mathilda reached down and adjusted the collar of his coat. "You have been reminding everyone since you woke up."
"What if we are late?"
"We will not be late."
"But what if there is traffic?"
"The driver has already planned another route."
Liam frowned slightly, still unconvinced.
Mathilda placed both hands on his shoulders and gave him a gentle shake. "Calm down. The ceremony will still be there when we arrive."
"Okay, okay."
He tried to stand still, although the excitement running through him made it difficult.
Liam had always been a well-behaved child. He completed his chores, arrived early for lessons, listened to his tutors and rarely received poor marks. At least, that was how he preferred people to remember him.
Mathilda gave him an approving nod.
"Good boy. Now, let us go before you wear a hole into the floor."
She ushered him outside, where a sleek black carriage waited in front of the estate.
Unlike the wooden carriages used in the old era, this one hovered several inches above the ground. A faint blue glow shone beneath its metal-and-wood frame, while thin silver runes ran along its sides.
Liam slowed for a moment to admire it.
The carriage had been designed by an Engineer, one of the specialised sub-paths within the Mage career path. Engineers were known for combining magic and technology, creating machines that could operate through mana and enchanted cores.
Liam thought it was one of the most interesting Paths a person could awaken.
Mathilda opened the carriage door and looked back at him.
"Liam."
"I'm coming."
He climbed inside and settled beside the window, still struggling to sit still. Mathilda followed after him with a quiet laugh, and the door closed behind her.
The carriage pulled smoothly away from the Velrodi estate and entered the busy streets of the Astravian Colony, the territory ruled by Liam's family.
Even through the tinted windows, he could see that the city looked brighter than usual.
Towering buildings of white stone and silver glass stretched towards the sky, reflecting the morning sunlight so brightly that Liam had to squint whenever the carriage turned. Massive holographic screens floated above the streets, displaying announcements about the Awakening Ceremony taking place across the colony.
Children and their families filled the walkways. Some of the children looked as excited as Liam felt, while others held tightly to their parents' hands and stared nervously at the passing carriages.
More than a thousand children would awaken that day.
Liam wondered what talents they would receive and whether any of them would awaken something rare.
His thoughts soon turned back to his own talent.
He hoped it would be something impressive. Perhaps magic, like his mother's, or something related to engineering. He had even briefly considered a combat talent, although he was less enthusiastic about all the training that would come with it.
The closer the carriage came to the cathedral district, the quieter the streets became.
The noise of the city slowly faded, replaced by a stillness that seemed to settle over everything. Modern towers gave way to older structures carved from pale stone, their walls covered in glowing blue runes that pulsed in a slow, steady rhythm.
Liam watched the symbols pass beyond the window and felt some of the tension leave his shoulders.
The calming effect was said to come from the Grand Cathedral of Origins itself, though Liam did not know whether that was true or simply something the priests told people.
The cathedral stood at the centre of the district, so enormous that its silver spires seemed to disappear into the clouds. Rings of glowing light circled each one, while sunlight poured across the white marble walls and made the entire structure shimmer.
Gigantic stained-glass windows stretched along its sides, depicting legendary heroes, powerful Awakeners and servants of the Good One from throughout history.
Even from a distance, Liam could feel a strange pressure radiating from it.
For the first time that morning, his excitement began to fade beneath a growing sense of nervousness.
Mathilda noticed him twisting the edge of his sleeve between his fingers.
"You all right?" she asked.
Liam released the fabric immediately.
"Yes."
"You do not sound certain."
"I am."
Mathilda did not argue. She simply reached over and gave his hand a small squeeze.
The Grand Cathedral of Origins was somehow even larger inside than it appeared from the outside.
Liam stopped shortly after entering and stared upwards.
The vaulted ceiling rose so high above them that parts of it were hidden behind a thin layer of pale mist. Hundreds of glowing crystals floated overhead, lighting the cathedral in soft shades of blue and white.
It had to be space magic.
There were hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people gathered inside, yet there was still enough room for even more. Priests moved through the crowd, directing children and their guardians towards their assigned sections.
Magic truly was amazing.
"Come on, Liam. You're in the nobles' section."
Mathilda placed both hands on his shoulders and gently guided him through the crowd.
As they crossed the cathedral, the number of people around them gradually thinned. Hundreds became dozens, and by the time they reached the reserved section, only a small group of children remained, each accompanied by a parent, guardian or servant.
Liam recognised every one of them.
Their colonies bordered Astravian, and as the heir to the Velrodi family, it was considered proper for him to know their names, family colours and territories.
The moment he entered the section, several people turned to look at him.
Liam immediately straightened his shoulders and arranged his expression into the calm, unreadable mask his instructors had taught him to wear.
The excitement and nervousness he had shown around Mathilda disappeared behind it.
Never show weakness in front of the other families.
Better yet, show them nothing at all.
Liam understood the lesson well enough, even if he did not fully understand the danger. His tutors often spoke about noble families as though a careless word from a child could somehow begin a territorial dispute.
The silence in the section lasted only a few moments before a boy with short crimson hair stepped forwards.
"Velrodi."
Liam recognised him immediately.
Kael Draven, heir to the Drastren Colony directly north of Astravian territory. Their families had maintained an uneasy relationship for decades, although Liam was still too young to understand exactly why.
"Draven."
Liam replied in the same cool tone and gave him a small nod.
Kael looked past him briefly before turning his attention back to Liam.
"Where are your parents?"
The question sounded casual, but the slight curve at the corner of Kael's mouth made Liam doubt that it was.
"Busy," Liam replied. "Where are yours?"
He copied the same faint smile Kael had given him.
"Also busy."
Liam glanced towards the man standing behind Kael.
"Then who is that?"
"My uncle."
"Oh."
Kael opened his mouth, perhaps to make another comment, but a bell rang from the centre of the cathedral.
DONG.
The sound was so deep that Liam felt it vibrate through his chest.
Every conversation in the cathedral stopped. A few whispers continued for several seconds before the High Priest stepped onto the raised platform at the centre of the hall.
His robes were long and pale, threaded with glowing lines that pulsed in the same rhythm as the runes covering the cathedral walls.
For a moment, he said nothing.
He simply stood there, looking over the crowd. His gaze paused briefly when it reached the nobles' section before continuing.
Then he spoke.
"Children of the Awakening."
His voice was not loud, yet it carried throughout the entire cathedral as though he were standing beside every person in the hall.
Magic.
"Today, you are granted the right to stand before the Good One and receive the gift it has chosen to bestow upon us: the System."
A faint hum spread through the cathedral.
One by one, glowing circular formations appeared in the air above the central platform. Blue and gold light twisted together around their edges as the portals slowly formed.
The humming grew louder until the High Priest raised one hand.
Every portal stopped moving.
"These are the Gates of Selection," he continued. "Through them, you will receive your System Core. It will evaluate your body, mind and soul before revealing your talent and determining its rank."
Liam's hands began to shake.
He quickly hid them beneath the edge of his sleeve.
Do not show weakness.
The voices of his instructors repeated the warning in his mind, but they did little to calm him now.
What if his talent was not A-rank?
What if it was far lower?
He tried not to think about the looks the other children might give him, or the disappointment his parents might try to hide when they returned.
A gentle squeeze on his shoulder pulled him away from those thoughts.
Liam looked up and found Mathilda smiling down at him.
"It's all right," she mouthed. "Be brave."
Liam swallowed and nodded.
"Listen carefully."
A sharp voice cut through the murmurs in the nobles' section.
A tall, middle-aged woman stood beside the nearest portal. She wore a formal black uniform rather than priestly robes and carried a clipboard beneath one arm.
"This section is reserved for noble families," she said. "If you are not a registered child, an authorised guardian or a member of the cathedral staff, leave immediately."
Nobody moved.
The woman waited a few moments before looking down at her clipboard.
"Good. I have the names of every child assigned to this Gate. When I call your name, you will step forwards, confirm your identity and enter the portal. If your name is not on this list, you will not be going through."
She looked over the gathered children once more, then clapped her hands.
"All right. Shall we begin?"