When I first heard it for the first time, I could not believe it.
I mean, for example, it is basically telling you that in order for your dih to grow it needs to be chopped off just like how lizards grow their tails back. Would you believe it?
Of course not.
But then, the empress showed me once the process of awakening a year ago. They actually stab the kids with a knife to the heart. I saw them bleeding out and falling unconscious as they fell into their awakening.
Some passed their awakening, getting magical abilities like affinities, control type abilities but for some, they never woke up.
I was at first scared, wanting to run away, hell, because who in their right mind would want to get stabbed in the heart?
Not me.
The empress insisted that I had to take the awakening saying things like "Everyone that belongs to royal family must awaken, there is no place for the weak here"
Later on, I no longer felt fear because I was trained by the best instructors to get ready for the awakening.
The lessons included me getting stabbed to the heart. Well not technically to the heart but almost to the heart. I was stabbed many times, it was hell, it hurt, but if I wanted to get stronger, not the weak pathetic being I was, I needed to endure.
So I did.
Even though I did get used to it, I felt pity for these kids for enduring such stuff. Comparing the kids from here and the ones back on earth, it was like comparing an ant to a frog.
I shook the thoughts away as I finished eating.
I cleaned my mouth and looked up and saw that they were all looking at me. I was first confused but then I looked at the empty platter of food that could feed three people next to me.
"Ah…" A sound of realization escaped my mouth.
I was too busy inside my thoughts that I ate a lot and now they think I'm a glutton.
The empress looked at me with her usual cool gaze and said. "Are you done?"
I nodded. "Yes your majesty, sorry to keep you waiting."
"Then let's depart." She said,
All of a sudden, fire like the color of the sun wrapped around our bodies. It did not burn us nor the furniture, it was just warm and harmless.
We did not panic because we were used to it, after all, that was Alexandra's sun power wrapped around us in order for her to teleport us.
Before we vanished, I heard a whisper from Alexandra. "You eat too much. Then my vision warped before I could say anything.
Somewhere in the palace, in front of two huge golden doors stood two large guards wearing golden armor while holding spears in their hands.
Suddenly in front of them, reality warped and then 5 figures appeared before them.
Without questioning, they got on their knees in unison.
"We greet your majesty, the princesses and young master Lucas!"
Alexandra just waved her hand in dismissal.
No matter how many times I think about it, Alexandra's ability to teleport is amazing. I thought.
From what I knew and uncovered, she has the Sun affinity which is one of the rarest affinity in this world and the sole holder of it. If you are thinking that she also has the space affinity as well because of teleportation then you are wrong.
Mages can indeed create teleportation portals with magic but what she did is only unique to her and no one else. Mages can teleport through a magical ability that involves learning specific spells from trainers and often requires reagents. The process involves casting a teleport spell, which instantly transports the mage to a known destination, such as a city.
What she just did was Solar Teleportation.
An ability of hers that transforms herself and anyone whom she wants to teleport into a beam of solar radiance to travel instantly to any unwarded, sunlit location. Meaning that she could travel wherever she wanted during the day until her mana is low.
A real broken ability.
But the only downside of this ability is probably not being able to use it at night since there is no light.
The guards stood up from their knees and opened the golden doors.
We walked inside.
It was a huge hall with seats on the side filled with people that gave off a terrifying aura.
The moment we stepped inside many gazes fell upon us, especially on me. Some seemed displeased, annoyed while others were neutral and amused at my presence.
I felt the red gazes but I ignored it.
Are they the Uchiha clan or something? I clicked my tongue inwardly.
In the middle of the hall was a huge rectangular pool and inside of it and standing was a man I was familiar with.
He was tall, probably 6 '6 foot. He had a lean build with broad shoulders, his hair was golden and trimmed short to the neck, his golden eyes were locked onto eyes the moment we entered the hall. A small smile was placed on his face.
He was Arthur Morgan, Alexandra's personal guard and right hand man. He was the one who was going to guide us into the awakening process and of course stab us.
Everyone stood up and alongside Arthur bumped their fists to their chests. "We greet the Sun Empress!"
Alexandra nodded and then in a red golden light she appeared up above sitting on her throne made of refined black wood with red padding.
She rested her head onto her left hand who was now turned into a fist and opened her mouth. "You may start the awakening ceremony." She looked at us, "Don't disappoint me."
After that all eyes turned from Alexandra to us. I felt the pressure, it was overbearing but I endured it and didn't show any change to my expression.
Seeing that none of us were buckling at the pressure, they stopped releasing their auras.
"They should be able to handle this much." An old man with red eyes said in the crowd.
"Now," Arthur finally spoke, "We are here to witness the awakening of the future of our empire, the ones who will lead the empire." His eyes moved from the princesses then to me. "Of course that includes young master Lucas as well, who was not born into the royal family but now is part of us but not fully since his performance in the awakening will determine whether he will be one of us or not. We do not allow the weak in our circle after all and I hope I did not offend you, young master Lucas."
Arthur offered a bow.
"No offence taken." I said with a nod.
I had almost forgotten that I was not completely accepted in the royal family, not before I awakened.
Some elders were not happy when they heard that the Empress had brought a commoner to live in the royal palace but did the empress care about their opinion?
She did not.
So they suggested that I should only stay if I had awakened something worthy of a member of the royal family and she agreed.
I don't know why but I know I will at least have something decent. Well I hope so because I don't want to go back to poverty again.
"Who will be the first to step in?" Arthur asked.
Londres looked back at me as if telling me to go first and embarrass myself but I did not give her the privilege.
With a gracious bow I said, "Ladies first."
Londres frowned at my act and threw a glare at me but I did not care.
Andromed clicked her tongue and turned around to Londres who just looked at her with the same expressionless face.
Knowing Andromed, she would definitely not go first.
"Fine, I will go first Uncle Arthur."
"Explendid." Arthur clapped his hands. "Please step inside."
Londres stepped in the pool without taking her boots off since there was not really a need. She walked to the middle of the pool where Arthur stood.
A silver knife—no, more like a dagger materialized on his hand. It had runes written in a different language.
Arthur laid his left hand on her shoulder and with his right hand he positioned the knife towards her heart, its runes glowing. "Are you ready?"
Andromeda looked at the knife and gulped, she would be lying if she said she was not scared but she definitely would refuse to show in front of the commoner bastard.
"Yes, I—"
Thrust.
She was not able to finish the sentence.
Arthur had already stabbed her chest cleanly, the knife pierced her chest until its hilt.
Drip. Drip. Drip.
Blood coming out of Andromeda's mouth and chest fell on the water.
She felt so much pain that she wanted to scream but the blood on her mouth stopped her from doing so.
Her vision darkened and the last thing she saw was Arthur's smile as she fell on the water, sinking in.
I wonder what you'll awaken bitch. I said internally.