Jai set his coffee cup down, the porcelain clinking softly against the saucer. He turned his gaze toward the garden, watching the magical flora pulse with a rhythmic, ethereal light.
Why am I suffocating myself with worry? he wondered, forcing his breathing to slow. If fate has decided I am to be a king, I will rise. If it has decided I am to be a commoner, I will still be the most educated commoner this kingdom has ever seen.
He leaned against the balcony railing, a bitter smile touching his lips. He could become a scholar, a lecturer at the Academy. With his family's prestige and his mastery of nine theoretical elements, he could live a comfortable life. But "comfortable" was a death sentence in the Chenwongo family.
An ancient proverb he had found in a dusty corner of the library surfaced in his mind:
"The great gears turn without my hand,
But I can clear the path of stone,
And though alone, I walk on my own."
A sharp knock shattered his contemplation. The door swung open, and his father, Edward Chenwongo, stepped into the room. He was dressed in a sharp, sapphire-blue suit that perfectly complemented the elegant aesthetic of Jai's mother.
Jai immediately snapped to attention, his back straight as a spear.
"What are you doing?" Edward's voice was like rolling thunder, deep and resonant. "Why is your face drenched in sweat? You look like a man who has seen a ghost."
Jai quickly wiped his brow, trying to mask his trembling hands. "I'm fine, Father. Just finishing my coffee. I suppose the weight of tomorrow's ceremony is... heavier than I expected. May I ask what brings you to my quarters?"
Edward's eyes narrowed. "Am I no longer permitted to visit my own son?"
"No, Father, that's not what I meant—"
"Your mother told me you were spiraling," Edward interrupted, his tone softening only a fraction. He stepped closer, his presence as a Tier 3 Primordial Vein user making the air in the room feel dense. "I have high hopes for you, Jai. But having a 'core' is just a seed. Not every seed breaks through the soil. You may achieve divinity, or you may find yourself hollow."
He leaned in, his voice dropping to a cold, serious whisper. "But whatever happens, remember who you are. Do not embarrass this family. Do not make your mother and me a laughingstock among the Nobles. Keep that in mind."
"Yes, Father," Jai whispered.
As Edward left, Jai felt a wave of nausea. Keep the mask on, he told himself. Today is my birthday. I must play the part of the perfect heir.
Downstairs, the dining hall was a cathedral of excess. Marble tiles, gold-leaf ornaments, and the clinking of silver filled the air. The entire Chenwongo clan was seated, leaving only the massive, throne-like chair at the head of the table vacant.
When Beatrice Chenwongo finally entered, the room went silent. The air didn't just feel heavy; it felt frozen. Everyone stood in unison, bowing their heads until the Head of the House took her seat.
But in the shadows of the corner, two figures remained standing like stains on a white cloth: Jai's uncle, William, in his frayed white suit, and Rena, dressed in clothes that looked better suited for a peasant.
A maid, a Tier 9 Current Walker, approached them with a sneer. "I told you twice already. Out. You don't belong here while the Royals are dining."
The family watched in cold silence. To them, Rena wasn't a sister or a daughter; she was a mistake.
William's face turned a violent shade of red. "You! You treat us like beggars in our own home! Am I your son, or did you find me in the trash? You boast about my brother's power, but what about me? Is it my fault this body was born without a spark?"
The hall went deathly silent. Beatrice didn't look up from her plate. She simply spoke two words, her voice a low, vibrating hum of power:
"Shut up."
William choked on his next word. His eyes filled with tears of rage and shame. He turned on his heel and stormed out. No one—not even his parents—offered a word of comfort.
Jai watched them, his heart cold. The world doesn't see you as human if you are powerless. Even that maid, a lowly Tier 9, feels superior to a Chenwongo who cannot cast a spell.
As Rena turned to follow her father, the maid blocked her path. "Madam told you to leave. Move, before I lose my patience."
"Rena," Beatrice's voice rang out, stopping the girl at the door. "Come to my room later."
Rena bowed low, her long black hair veiling her face, and vanished into the shadows.
"The Awakening is tomorrow," Beatrice addressed the table, her eyes finally landing on Jai and his cousin, James. "Who are the participants?"
Jai and James stood. "We are, Grandmother."
"Do not fail," she said simply. She finished her meal and glided out of the room, her ivory-gold aura trailing behind her like a ghost.
Later that afternoon, Jai's parents led him to the most sacred part of the estate: The Synod of the Veil.
The room was a masterpiece of white marble. The fragrance of rare incense was so thick it felt like a physical weight on the lungs. In the center stood the statue—a woman in a flowing dress, her face hidden behind layers of carved stone cloth.
They knelt. Jai closed his eyes, praying for the spark, for the fire, for anything that would keep him from becoming like Rena.
Suddenly, a warmth bloomed at the crown of his head. A brilliant golden light erupted from him, illuminating the dark corners of the Synod. His parents gasped, their faces lighting up with pure, unadulterated joy.
"A blessing!" his mother whispered. "The Goddess has chosen him!"
But Jai wasn't feeling blessed. His vision blurred, the marble floor disappearing.
In the darkness of his mind, a boy appeared. He wore a tattered black robe, standing atop a mountain of corpses that reached the weeping sky. He had dark hair and crimson eyes, and in his hand was a red katana dripping with blood. The boy looked directly at Jai, his face a mask of silent, primal fury.
"Jai!"
His father was shaking him. The golden light had vanished.
"What happened? You looked like you were dying!"
Jai blinked, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "Nothing... I just dozed off. I think I'm more tired than I realized."
His parents, convinced he was simply overwhelmed by the divine blessing, led him back to his room to rest. But as Jai lay in the dark, the image of the black-haired boy burned in his mind.
Who was he? Why did the Goddess show me a murderer on my birthday?
Jai closed his eyes, but sleep brought no peace. The red eyes of the boy in the vision were waiting for him in the dark.