The Awakening Ceremony was a rite of passage for every student entering Eryndor Academy.
It determined their elemental affinity and set the foundation for their future as mages.
The awakening altars, crafted from refined mana stones, served as conduits for this process.
Instructors, using their own mana, activated the stones to create a mana-rich zone—a temporary surge of energy that resonated with the students' bodies.
This influx of mana stimulated their dormant potential, triggering the awakening of their elemental affinity.
Elements ranged from the common—fire, water, air, and earth—to the rare and coveted, such as thunder, light, darkness, and magma.
However, elemental tendencies varied across races. Elves, for instance, often awakened nature-based affinities, while dwarves leaned toward earth elements.
Some noble bloodlines even produced generations of mages with unique or powerful elemental gifts.
Yet, awakening an element wasn't the only path. Those without a natural affinity could still wield magic, but the process was inefficient.
Casting spells outside one's element demanded excessive mana and resulted in weaker, less destructive magic.
Thus, most mages relied on their innate affinity to maximize their potential.
The Awakening Grounds stretched across the northwest side of Eryndor Academy, a vast expanse buzzing with anticipation.
The air thrummed with magic, charged with the energy of countless awakenings taking place at once.
Scattered across the field were numerous altars, each constructed from pure mana stones, their surfaces pulsing faintly with latent energy.
Every altar was attended by an instructor, guiding groups of students through the sacred ritual that would define their future.
As Leon and his group approached, they passed several altars where awakenings were already in progress.
A red glow flared to their left—on one altar, a student stood trembling as a ring of fire erupted around his hands, his expression shifting from shock to exhilaration.
Nearby, another altar pulsed with a deep green light as a student's hair ruffled in the sudden gust of wind, the very air bending to his newfound power.
But not all awakenings were so dramatic. At some altars, nothing remarkable happened—no burst of flame, no surge of wind. These students stepped off the altar with unreadable expressions, their fate uncertain. Yet, their test was not over.
Every participant, regardless of the initial awakening, had one final trial to determine their place in the academy. A simple but crucial test: channeling mana into a spherical crystal. Those who could fill it with even a flicker of energy had a chance. Those who couldn't… would have to walk away.
Leon's gaze swept across the field, absorbing every detail before finally settling on their designated altar.
There, standing at its center, was their instructor—the same broad-shouldered man with round glasses and a thick beard who had led them from the gates.
His stern expression revealed nothing as he adjusted his glasses and gestured for the students to approach.
Their turn had come.
The first to step forward was a boy with neatly combed brown hair, his posture radiating confidence—clearly from a well-off family.
As he approached the altar, the instructor adjusted his glasses and asked for his name.
"Eric," the boy replied.
The instructor noted it down before gesturing for him to step onto the altar.
The moment Eric entered the designated space, the instructor infused his mana into the altar.
The mana stones embedded in its foundation pulsed to life, glowing faintly before quickly intensifying.
Then, in an instant—
A deep blue light erupted around the boy. The air within the altar rippled, and a thin stream of water swirled beside him, forming out of nowhere. Gasps of admiration rippled through the watching students.
Eric, wide-eyed with excitement, clenched his fists as if trying to grasp the sensation of mana flowing through him. His smile was barely contained.
The instructor, unfazed but clearly noting the significance, scribbled down the results before motioning for an assistant to lead Eric to the next testing area.
"Next," the instructor called out.
Further away, a sudden commotion erupted as another altar flared to life with a brilliant icy-blue glow.
Crystalline frost spread across the ground, coating the surrounding area in a thin layer of ice.
A boy had just awakened the Ice element—a rare occurrence. Murmurs of astonishment spread through the crowd.
On the opposite side, another altar shimmered with a sharp metallic sheen.
A girl stood at its center, her presence commanding as she awakened the Metal element—another rarity.
Instructors overseeing these awakenings exchanged knowing glances. Talented students like these were highly sought after, and securing them as disciples could shape their careers within the academy.
The Awakening Ceremony was in full swing, with students stepping onto the altars one by one, their fates being decided in mere moments.
Some left with triumphant smiles, their elements flaring around them in dazzling displays. Others walked away in quiet disappointment, unable to awaken anything at all.
But the ceremony continued without pause—one student after another stepping forward to discover their destiny.
Then, it was Aaron's turn.
He stepped forward confidently, his golden hair shimmering under the sunlight.
His blue eyes held an unreadable expression, his face calm even as anticipation buzzed through the crowd.
Unlike the others before him, he showed no hesitation as he walked onto the altar.
The instructor, adjusting his glasses, gave him a quick glance before asking, "Name?"
"Aaron."
The instructor nodded, noting it down before placing his hands on the mana stones embedded in the altar.
With a focused breath, he infused his mana into the stones, activating the ritual.
The altar came to life.
Aaron barely had time to react before he felt it—a sudden, overwhelming surge of energy bursting through his body.
It was as if something deep within him had been unshackled, a dormant force roaring to the surface.
Then, the altar erupted with light.
Blinding brilliance enveloped Aaron, illuminating the entire area. But what shocked everyone was not just the intensity—but the colors.
Two distinct lights flared around him, intertwining in a dazzling spectacle.
One burned a deep, fiery red, crackling with intensity. The other shimmered a sharp, metallic silver, flickering like lightning against a stormy sky.
A stunned silence fell over the awakening grounds.
Then, the murmurs started.
"What kind of awakening is that?"
"I've never seen anything like it…"
Even the instructors, usually composed and indifferent, exchanged startled glances.
Dual-element awakenings were exceedingly rare. For two elements to manifest with such intensity meant that Aaron's potential was beyond ordinary.
The red and silver lights continued to pulse, the very air around Aaron distorting from the raw energy surging within him.
The ground beneath his feet trembled slightly, as if struggling to contain the awakening power.
And at the center of it all, Aaron stood still, his expression unreadable, his body bathed in the twin glow of red and silver.