After Jasmine's father left, the group chatted with Rory, Layla, and Jasmine for a few minutes, discussing their journey and recent activities.
Not much had happened in their lives in Grandis. Rory had arrived in city two days ago, while Jasmine and Layla were waiting for orders from their superiors. According to those women, they could finally have the result in another week that would decide whether they would be sent out of the kingdom or not.
Anyway, they had time to talk about it later. Now it was finally time for Nina to join the other young people who were in this building today to awaken their magical powers!
Before bidding farewell to her companions and embarking on this significant moment in her life, Vicente presented her with something.
"Nina, wear this during your Awakening," Vicente said, handing her a necklace: the Cataclysm Moon Pendant.
Nina looked at it and accepted it gratefully, interpreting it as a gift. However, Jasmine and Layla frowned upon seeing it, realizing its significance.
Despite their reaction, Vicente continued, "This is something that will enhance your odds. But make no mistake, it's not necessarily a good thing. Once you awaken your powers, you'll need to return it to me. It's an object that can enhance your chances of success, but it may also attract negative karma. Do you understand?"
Nina nodded, comprehending that this wasn't merely a gift but rather something intended for temporary use. She didn't feel disheartened, recognizing it as one last effort of support from her brother.
"Alright, I'll return it to you once I awaken my powers," she affirmed.
With a warm smile, Vicente kissed her forehead. "Now go, I'll wait for you here."
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})After Nina left, Jasmine approached Vicente. "You shouldn't have done that. I don't know how you obtained that item, but it's..."
"I know what it is," Vicente interjected, aware of its nature. "I understand its potential. That's why Nina will only use it momentarily."
"Still, you shouldn't..."
"No. For Nina's success, everything is worth it," he asserted firmly, cutting her off.
Disagreeing, Jasmine shook her head. "I beg to differ. But anyhow, what are you planning to do with it afterward? That item is cursed. If someone from my organization discovers you have it, I won't be able to help you. They'll attack without hesitation."
"I'll keep it safe," Vicente replied candidly. "But rest assured, this item won't attract attention. It possesses a special feature that conceals it effectively."
For years, Professor Julian had utilized this item without attracting any adversaries due to its feature. Vicente had also used it during his awakening, and even then no one had realized what he was carrying. So he knew it would be very difficult for anyone to find it out.
"You're quite the risk-taker," Jasmine remarked with a sigh, recognizing her limited influence in the matter. "I just hope you don't come to regret it."
Ignoring her concern, Vicente was soon standing next to the rest of his group, near a balcony that overlooked the Awakening Platform a few feet below where they were standing.
Soon that platform was crowded with young people like Nina, which was to be expected since this was the largest city in the kingdom, but also the best place to attract the attention of internal and external forces.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})If someone in the kingdom wanted to awaken their powers and have a chance of being called to a sect or clan outside the kingdom, the best place to do it was in the capital.
In Grandis, the Awakening Temple served as the focal point for those seeking to awaken their powers and potentially secure positions in sects or clans beyond the kingdom's borders.
So not only did young people from Grandis come to awaken their powers there, but young people from all over the province and various parts of the kingdom came to this city every week to awaken their powers at this post.
After all, the Awakening Temple in Grandis was four times larger than the one in Saltstar City where Lauren had awakened her powers.
Anyway, while the young people crowded onto the platform, the observation areas of this building were packed with families, friends, and observers who were there for today's event.
As the clock struck noon, the typical pre-awakening phenomenon ensued, accompanied by the Temple Master's voice extending good wishes to the young aspirants.
Just as Vicente had heard on other occasions, this voice wished the young people there good luck, hoping that the continent's next Archmage would emerge from one of the many temples under the influence of his powers at that moment.
With the conclusion of his speech, the obelisk in the center of the area emitted a surge of mana into the air.
Gems embedded in the ceiling illuminated, matching the obelisk's hue, before hurtling downwards in intricate trajectories, seeking out their destined owners.
Several of them made their way, "choosing" their owners, those most compatible with them in the area being analyzed.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})Some of the young people on the platform were afraid, which is natural during an Awakening. The gems were flying so fast!
But the young participants remained composed, recognizing this as a pivotal moment in their lives rather than a threat to their safety.
The first gems soon approached their owners, hitting their foreheads like pistol bullets.
Vicente and his group saw several young people receiving their gems, while Nina stood still, waiting for her moment.
They began to get nervous because with each passing moment, her chances were diminishing and she was getting closer to failure.
However, halfway through the awakening, they saw a small bright 'star' hit the area between Nina's eyes.
It happened suddenly, causing the Fuller family members to change their expressions overnight.
Vicente felt his heart leap in his chest and felt a great weight lift from his shoulders. After attracting a gem, the chances of a young person's awakening failing were greatly reduced!
As the Fuller family buzzed with excitement and happiness for Nina, she closed her eyes as she felt the burning mana in her body move to her forehead.
A smile appeared on her lips as she realized she was going to succeed. She quickly began to feel relieved, becoming more and more confident in herself, while she couldn't help but wonder what the magical form of this gem was.
Her siblings had completely different gems than her parents, so she figured that the chances of her being different from Lauren, Vicente, Andrew, and Kate were very high.
Then the glow on Nina's forehead began to fade, gradually revealing the shape and color of her Magic Gem to everyone around her.
