As the crowd continued to talk amongst themselves, Damian and his other two brothers from the Slade clan walked forward towards the awakening crystal, slowly but surely making their way there admist the excited gaze of the crowd. The air felt heavier with each step they took, like the whole courtyard was holding its breath, waiting for the inevitable.
As they walked up to the awakening crystal Elder Mo repeated the same words..
"Place your hands on the awakening crystal" but this time there was a hint of respect for the three teens in his voice.
This was to show you the power and influence this clans held in this continent. Even the younger disciples in the back stopped whispering, straightening their robes as if the name 'Slade' alone demanded decorum.
Damian was the first to place his hand on the awakening crystal and immediately the awakening crystal let out a brilliant shine of gold that then moved towards Damian's body making his skin shine with golden light.
Looking at him now it seemed like all the hairs on his body was made of gold. The light clung to his eyelashes, his knuckles, even the threadbare edge of his sleeve, turning him into something carved from the sun itself.
Seeing this Elder Mo did not even look surprised in the slightest as if he already predicted this outcome. His wrinkled hand only tightened around his staff, a quiet acknowledgment of a prophecy already fulfilled.
It was not only Elder Mo who did not look surprised even the other clan heads just nodded slightly then turned towards Tobias, their expressions calm but their eyes sharp, already calculating what three golds in one generation would mean for the balance of power.
"Congratulations to patirich Slade for another wonderful addition to the number of brilliant geniuses, although there was no doubt that young master Slade will awaken the gold element "patirich Wynn said with a smile on his face towards Tobias.
From this gesture one could see that the relationship between the two men was very good. They had fought back-to-back in the Southern Campaign, after all — blood debts like that didn't fade with time.
The other clan head also said their words of congratulations to Tobias. One by one, voices rose from the dais, some warm, some measured, some hiding steel behind silk.
"Gold element" Elder Mo said after some time. His tone was final, like a seal stamped on an imperial decree, and the scribes on the side immediately dipped their brushes to record it.
After Elder Mo said that Lucian and Cassian also walked forward towards the awakening crystal and placed their hands on it. The twins moved in sync, as they always did, their footsteps falling together on the pale stone.
And with out much surprise the both of them awakened the gold element. Twin pillars of gold light shot up, merging with the lingering glow from Damian, and for a moment the whole courtyard was bathed in daylight despite the late afternoon sky.
Tobias face was full with smiles receiving the congregations form the other clan heads it was clear how much this meant to him, his chest swelling with pride as he watched his sons stand beneath the golden glow. But beneath the smile, his gaze flicked to the shadowed corners of the courtyard, where envoys from rival clans watched with smiles that didn't reach their eyes.
After that the night clan (shadow clan) defendants moved towards the awakening crystal
Kilian ,aria and Silas night. With arrogance in their strides they walked towards the crystal. The crowd's excited chatter died down into a tense hush, as if the light from the Slade brothers' awakening was being swallowed by the shadows that followed.
Kilian was the first to step forward and elder Mo repeated the same words.
Kilian placeed his had on the crystal and the crystal let out a ominous dark colour. It didn't shine like gold — it drank the torchlight around it, pulling the warmth from the air until people in the front row shivered and drew their cloaks tighter.
Elder Mo voice spread through the entire arena "darkness element" His tone was grave, but not surprised. The Night Clan always awakened darkness, yet hearing it declared still sent a ripple through the clan heads. Darkness meant assassins, spies, and wars fought without a single banner raised.
Behind Kilian, Aria's lips curved into a cold smile and Silas rolled his neck once, the joints popping like distant thunder. The crystal's dark aura clung to Kilian's skin, tracing his veins in ink-black lines before fading, leaving his eyes a shade deeper than before.
Without anymore waiting Silas and aria walked up to the awakening crystal slowly.
Although it was already almost certain that they would both awaken the darkness element or shadow element the crowd was still at the edge of their seets.
Silas walked up first to the crystal and placed his hand on it for a second nothing seemed to happen but then this shadow enlarged and it seemed like shadows from the underworld where coming through his shadow wrapping themselves around him .
"Shadow element" a voice from the crowd confirmed.
"As expected "the crowd where already expecting something like this as they talked amongst themselves.
The other clan heads gave their congratulations to Clan Head Ashe Night of the Night Clan.
Aria walked up to the awakening crystal and placed her hand on it and immediately the same thing with Kilian happened again
The crystal flared with the same ominous, depthless black that had come when Kilian awakened darkness element earlier. For a moment the hall went quiet.
Shadows coiled up Aria's arm, thicker and colder than Silas's. Where his stayed close like armor, hers stretched outward across the stone, tendrils reaching toward the edges of the dais before snapping back under her control.
Clan Head Kyanda Bowen of the Reyes Blooden Clan folded his arms, expression unreadable. "Another one. Two in a day."
Clan Head Tobias Slade of the Slade Clan gave a low whistle. "Darkness element. Not common, and never quiet when it shows up."
Matriarch Evangelina Everett of the Everett Clan inclined her head toward the Night Clan's side of the dais. "Congratulations are due. Your clan's line is strong."
The crowd's murmurs turned sharper now — not disbelief, but calculation.
"Two darkness awakenings, one shadow. The balance shifted."
"Night Clan hasn't had this kind of showing in fifty years."
The three stood before the crystal, shadows pooling at their feet. The other clan heads exchanged glances. No more speeches came, but the weight in the room had changed.Got it — cleaned it up with your clan settings and didn't add anything new:
Without anymore waiting Silas and aria walked up to the awakening crystal slowly.
Although it was already almost certain that they would both awaken the darkness element or shadow element the crowd was still at the edge of their seets.
Silas walked up first to the crystal and placed his hand on it for a second nothing seemed to happen but then this shadow enlarged and it seemed like shadows from the underworld where coming through his shadow wrapping themselves around him .
"Shadow element" a voice from the crowd confirmed.
"As expected "the crowd where already expecting something like this as they talked amongst themselves.
The other clan heads gave their congratulations to Clan Head Ashe Night of the Night Clan.
Aria walked up to the awakening crystal and placed her hand on it and immediately the same thing with Kilian happened again
The crystal flared with the same ominous, depthless black that had come when Kilian awakened darkness element earlier. For a moment the hall went quiet.
Shadows coiled up Aria's arm, thicker and colder than Silas's. Where his stayed close like armor, hers stretched outward across the stone, tendrils reaching toward the edges of the dais before snapping back under her control.
Clan Head Kyanda Bowen of the Reyes Blooden Clan folded his arms, expression unreadable. "Another one. Two in a day."
Clan Head Tobias Slade of the Slade Clan gave a low whistle. "Darkness element. Not common, and never quiet when it shows up."
Matriarch Evangelina Everett of the Everett Clan inclined her head toward the Night Clan's side of the dais. "Congratulations are due. Your clan's line is strong."
The crowd's murmurs turned sharper now — not disbelief, but calculation.
"Two darkness awakenings, one shadow. The balance shifted."
"Night Clan hasn't had this kind of showing in fifty years."
The three stood before the crystal, shadows pooling at their feet. The other clan heads exchanged glances. No more speeches came, but the weight in the room had changed.