A year passed quietly.
Adrian did not grow taller by much.
But he grew sharper.
Stronger.
Healthier.
Sturdy.
Quieter.
His chocolate stall remained small by design.
He never expanded beyond what he could personally produce.
He never allowed apprentices.
He never wrote instructions down.
Every coin he earned went into three things:
Food.
Rent.
Ingredients for chocolate again.
He trained his body daily.
Push-ups before dawn.
Squats behind the stall at night.
No Auror.
Just discipline.
He did not look at the panel often.
It had not helped him once.
But sometimes, when exhaustion blurred his thoughts, he would close his eyes and see it.
The sealed Divine Emperor panel,to get that motivation .
One year later—
Word spread through Osmanthus.
Annual Awakening Ceremony.
Two weeks from now.
At the Church of Diana.
Diana, Goddess of Healing.
The poor called her merciful.
The rich called her useful.
The Church managed the city's Awakening Stones.
Registration required.
Limited stones.
Sponsored candidates prioritized.
Adrian counted his coin that night.
Enough to live a comfortable life for sn year.
Barely.
He lay awake longer than usual.He turned 10 already.
Two weeks.
If he failed—
He would remain mortal.
And mortal meant disposable.
A low life,an insect for life.
Unexpectedly,the unintended trouble came three days later.
Assistant Steward Rovan walked to Adrian's stall.He did not arrive alone.
Two broad men walked behind him.
Pretty Burly.
Looked very strong.
Confident.
Rovan smiled pleasantly.
"Young entrepreneur."
Adrian said nothing.
"I've spoken with my employer. Your product has potential."
"I'm glad," Adrian replied calmly.
"We would like the recipe."
"I don't sell it."
Rovan's smile thinned.
"You misunderstand. We will compensate you."
"I don't sell it."
Silence settled around the stall.
Nearby merchants pretended not to listen.
Rovan leaned closer.
"You are young. Alone. Ambitious. Osmanthus can be difficult for children without backing."
One of the broad men cracked his knuckles.
Adrian's pulse remained steady.
He had expected this eventually.
"I cannot give what I do not have written," Adrian said evenly.
Rovan's expression cooled.
"Then perhaps we'll take it."
The broad men stepped forward.
One reached for the preparation box behind the stall.
And then—
A voice cut through the market.
"That would be unwise."
Everyone turned.
A man in light blue-and-silver armor approached.
Church insignia on his chest.
A sword at his waist.
The guard from the Church of Diana.
A regular customer.
He had bought chocolate every Sunday after prayer.
Rovan stiffened slightly.
"Knight Caldus. This is private business."
The guard stopped a few steps away.
"This child is registered for Awakening under the City lord jurisdiction."
Rovan's eyes flickered.
"He's a vendor."
"He is also under the Godess Diana's protection until ceremony."
The broad men hesitated.
Caldus stepped closer.
And the air changed.
Subtly.
Pressure gathered around him.
Invisible.
Heavy.
Auror.
It wasn't explosive.
It wasn't dramatic.
But it was undeniable.
The two broad men shifted uneasily.
Caldus spoke calmly.
"You are mortals."
It was not an insult.
It was fact.
One of the men lunged anyway.
Caldus moved.
Not fast—
Effortless.
His fist struck once.
The man flew backward and slammed into a wooden stall.
Cracked boards.
Shattered goods.
The second man tried to grab him.
Caldus twisted, elbow striking ribs with controlled force.
A sickening sound.
The man collapsed.
Rovan stepped back instinctively.
"You overstep—"
Caldus looked at him.
Just looked.
Auror flared briefly along his forearm like pale light beneath skin.That is Auror Coating,something only a Warrior can use.
Rovan swallowed.
An official Auror Warrior.
Even a Basic Warrior.
Ten times stronger than an unawakened human mortal.
And authorized.
Backed by the Church.
Rovan forced a thin smile.
"We meant no harm."
"Then leave," Caldus replied.
They left.
Without dignity.
Without recipe.
The market slowly resumed breathing.
Caldus turned to Adrian.
"You should be very careful."
"I am."
"You will awaken soon?"
"In two weeks."
Caldus nodded once.
"I'll Pray for you sincerely."
He walked away.
Adrian watched him go.
A little bit of awe and gratitude.
That was the difference.
One successful Awakening.
One step into Mortal Realm.
And then you can begin your journey on to becoming an official Auror Warrior.
Stronger.
Protected.
Relevant.
Without it—
You were prey.
He closed his stall early that day.
Inside his small room, he sat cross-legged and exhaled slowly.
Two weeks.
He would either step into the extraordinary —
Or remain beneath it forever.
In his mind, the panel shone.
The Player just patiently waited.
But Adrian did not overthink about anything.
He thought about Caldus.
About how casually power had resolved conflict.
About how fragile his position truly was.
Chocolate bought money .
Auror bought authority.
He needed the second.