It was a joyous day in the city of Maglor, capital of the Starfall Kingdom. The streets were alive with cheers and joyful songs. People gathered in massive crowds, eyes full of admiration as they stood before a grand statue in the center of the main square.
The statue depicted the strongest man in the history of humankind, the first awakened. Born in this very city, his legacy was celebrated once every ten years with a grand festival. People from all regions and factions traveled far to pay homage to the man who once stood as humanity's greatest hope.
Amidst the festive cheer, a young boy, no older than four or five, peered out from a window of a nearby tavern. Sitting beside him was a man with sharp features and a calm, powerful presence. The boy tugged at the man's sleeve.
"Who is that man? And why is everyone praising him?" the boy asked with innocent curiosity.
The man hesitated, but before he could answer, the child continued, "I want to be praised too."
With a small chuckle, the man gently ruffled the boy's hair. "That is the greatest man humanity has ever seen. If you want to be praised like him, you'll need to start by learning the books I gave you."
The boy was about to respond, but a loud, cheerful voice came from behind them.
"Ho ho! Long time no see, Count Derek! How have you been?"
Derek turned to see an old comrade, Holse, the well-known master of the Grace Mercenary Guild, famed for their exceptional healing capabilities.
"I wasn't expecting to see you here. I thought.you hate crowded places," Derek said with a small smile.
"Come on, it's a special occasion," Holse laughed, giving him a hearty slap on the back. They shared a warm moment of reunion.
After a few more pleasantries, Holse's eyes turned to the young boy. "Is this your son? You never told me you got married! And didn't even invite me to the wedding? How heartless!"
He leaned down to the boy's level with a grin. "Hey there, little fella. What's your name? I'm Holse, the good man! Hahahaha!"
The boy stood up straight and answered politely, "I am Kaelen. Nice to meet you, sir."
"Hohoho, Kaelen! That's a nice name!" Holse said, searching through his system storage. With a grin, he pulled out a small glowing orb and handed it to the boy. "Here, this is reserved only for good people. Make sure you keep it safe, hahahaha!"
Kaelen looked puzzled. "It's just a ball. I have lots of these at home..." He held it out, intending to return it, but Derek stopped him.
"Come on, Kaelen. I've taught you better than this. Thank the man for his gift."
Realizing his mistake, the boy's face turned red with embarrassment. He quickly bowed his head. "Thank you, sir. I'll cherish this gift very dearly."
Holse laughed again. "Oh, you don't need to be so formal. You can call me Uncle Holse. I'm a great friend of your father!" Then, in a playful sulk, he added, "Guess he never mentioned me, did he?"
Kaelen opened his mouth to respond, but Derek quickly cut in, "The main event is about to start. Let's go."
"Yeah, surely. Let's go," Holse agreed.
In the blink of an eye, the three vanished from the tavern and appeared atop one of the towering spires that surrounded the city.
From the center of the square, a massive platform began to rise, hovering above the ground as energy pulsed beneath it. Then, a loud yet strangely calming voice echoed across the city.
"Welcome, people of the Starfall Kingdom and beyond! Let us give a grand welcome to the 112th Celebration of the Birth of the First Awakened!" announced Duke Bolster, one of the few epic-rank awakened in the human race.
Derek turned to Kaelen, holding his hand gently. "Are you ready, my child? You don't need to do anything special. Just stand at the altar. When your name is called, say 'System'."
Before he could finish, Holse chimed in, "Come on, he's your son. He'll be fine!"
Derek nodded, though worry clouded his thoughts. The awakening's result, specifically the color of the system interference was often influenced by bloodline. He said nothing more, not wanting to trouble Kaelen.
The voice continued, "Now, participants of this year's Awakening Festival, please come forward when your name is called..."