Free Web NovelChapter 3: The awakening ceremony
After taking a quick bath, Nova returned, and his mother helped apply medicine to his wounds. Soon, they were seated together, having dinner in a calm and quiet atmosphere.
After a moment, Nova spoke, "Mom... who is Lady Asia?" He had heard the name for the first time today and couldn’t help but feel curious.
His mother looked at him gently before answering, "She is the daughter and the youngest child of Duke Theodore Frost. Asia Frost, She’s the same age as you, and she will be attending tomorrow’s awakening ceremony along with you and the other children."
"I see..." Nova nodded slightly and continued eating.
The rest of the dinner passed quietly. After finishing, he returned to his room, while his mother reminded him to rest properly tomorrow was an important day for him.
Nova lay down on his bed, a faint smile resting on his face. For the first time in his life, he felt content. He now had a loving mother and a dependable father something he had only ever wished for in his previous life.
After a few moments, he straightened his body slightly, a dull ache still lingering within him. Then he spoke, "System... explain. What is this ’awakening’ thing?"
A brief pause followed before the familiar panel appeared in front of him.
[Awakening is the process through which every individual awakens Mana and Elemental affinity upon reaching the age of 15, It is a fundamental law of this world.]
Nova listened carefully, but his brows furrowed slightly as he still didn’t fully understand. The system seemed to catch on and continued.
[When an individual places their hand on an Awakening Stone also known as a Divine Stone it activates the mana within their body and reveals their elemental affinity along with their growth potential.]
[For example, a person may awaken with a wind affinity, but if their growth potential is only C-Rank, their development will be slower and weaker compared to someone with B-rank potential or higher.]
Nove absorbed the explanation before asking, "So... the potential can’t be changed after awakening?"
[Potential cannot normally be changed. That is a fundamental rule of this world, although exceptions and other methods do exist.]
Nova nodded slowly, processing everything before asking another question.
"Does this rule apply to me as well?"
[No, Host. Due to your innate skill Infinite Adaptation Core you can evolve your potential. Additionally, you will awaken one more innate skill during the ceremony, just like all individuals do.]
Nova froze for a moment, shock flashing across his face. Everyone in this world awakened with only one innate skill
yet he would have two, a grin slowly formed on his lips "Heh... doesn’t that feel like cheating?"
[Yes, Host.]
The system replied calmly, and just like that his laughter stopped.
Nova didn’t know what to say when his system was this straightforward. For a moment, he simply fell silent. Too many things had happened in such a short time he died, transmigrated, gained a new body, a new life.
The weight of it all slowly settled on him, and with exhaustion and lingering pain pressing down on his body, his eyelids gradually grew heavy.
Before he knew it he drifted into sleep.
...
Morning arrived quietly.
Warm sunlight entered through the window, spilling across the room and falling over Nova’s face. His eyes slowly opened as he stretched his body.
"Ah... a beautiful morning in a new world and a new life." A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"Let’s see how it goes."
[Good morning, Host.]
The system’s voice sounded naturally.
Nova chuckled lightly. "Ah, good morning, system. Hope you’re doing well."
[Of course, Host.]
A gentle voice soon followed.
"Nova , wake up and get ready. We need to leave for the temple soon."
It was his mother.
"Coming, Mom," Nova replied as he got out of bed.
He freshened up, took a bath, and changed into clean clothes a black shirt, grey pants, and brown boots. Standing before the mirror, he observed himself for a moment.
He looked good, Handsome. The outfit only made it better.
Soon, he headed downstairs for breakfast. His mother saw him and a gentle smile spread across her face.
"You look handsome, my son."
Her voice carried warmth.
"Come, have breakfast."
They sat together and began eating. After a moment, she spoke again, her tone soft yet reassuring.
"Don’t be nervous. No matter rank and affinity you get... accept it, and be proud."
Nova nodded calmly.
"Yes, Mom."
Nova and his mother walked together through the streets of Coldrock. The roads were more crowded than usual, as other children his age could be seen heading in the same direction, accompanied by their families.
From the memories he had inherited, Nova already understood that the awakening ceremony was not limited by status. Whether commoner or noble, everyone participated together under the authority of the Light Temple Order.
They believed that all individuals were equal before the Goddess of Light.
Because of this belief, the influence of the order of Light Temple was far greater than any other religious order in the region Nova knew.
But this also created a problem for him. frёewebηovel.cѳm
His knowledge of the world was limited. The memories he had only contained information about Coldrock. Even though it was called a village, its size was comparable to a small town.
Beyond that he knew almost nothing.
After walking for around ten minutes, they arrived at their destination.
The Grand Temple of the Goddess of Light.
Nova’s eyes lifted slightly as he took in the sight before him.
The structure was massive, its architecture resembling the grand cathedrals he had once seen on Earth tall, imposing, and almost divine in its presence.
There was also something special about this temple. According to the stories, this was one of the places where the Goddess of Light had once manifested in the mortal world.
Because of that, this temple held great significance. All important nobles within the Duchy of Frost conducted their awakening ceremonies here.
Even high-status individuals , like the Duke’s daughter would be present, Nova stepped inside.
The interior was just as grand as the exterior. A massive hall stretched before him, filled with people and quiet murmurs. Rows of children were seated on either side of a central aisle.
On the left
commoners.
On the right
nobles.
At the far end of the hall stood a statue of the Goddess of Light, beautiful and ethereal. In front of it kept a white, glowing orb-like stone.
The Awakening Stone.
Beside it stood two figures. on the right, stood an old man with white hair, his presence carrying a powerful aura.
On the left stood a nun.
She was beautiful, enchanting, her strands of golden hair fell beside her ears, her body was voluptuous, big breasts and broad hips made her look really seductive.
One would say, she was cosplaying a naughty nun.
One thing Nova noticed , women of this world were beautiful. All of them could be models on Earth, with their seductive bodies.
Maybe it was common for men here, but for him, who was not originally from this world, it was something he still having hard time getting used to.
"Good luck."
His mother’s voice brought him back.
She moved toward the area arranged for parents, while Nova walked forward and took his seat in the commoners’ section.
As Nova sat down in his place, his eyes drifted toward a certain chubby boy seated in the nobles’ section Lucas Berg, the same boy who had beaten him yesterday along with his lackeys.
As if sensing his gaze, Lucas looked over as well, and their eyes met. For a moment, Lucas froze, shock spreading across his face as his eyes widened in disbelief. He could have sworn that Nova had died yesterday. Even if it wasn’t intentional, there was no way he should be alive.
’What the fuck is he doing here...?’
Nova watched his reaction calmly, a faint grin slowly forming on his lips. He liked what he was seeing the confusion, the disbelief, the fear, A casual thought crossed his mind.
’Why the hell are all the fat ones such bastards His grin deepened slightly.’
Lucas, on the other hand, began to panic. His body stiffened, and a faint tremble ran through him as his thoughts spiraled out of control.
’What if he tells others...?’
’Wait...what the fuck, he’s alive...?
The contradiction itself made it hard for him to think clearly.
After a few seconds, Nova lost interest and shifted his gaze away, focusing forward instead. The ceremony was about to begin and just then, an announcement echoed through the hall.
"Attention everyone first daughter of Duke Theodore Frost, Lady Asia Frost has arrived." As the announcement echoed through the grand hall, all eyes shifted toward the entrance.
Nova followed the same reaction. From the doorway she appeared, a girl around the same age as him.
She was stunning.
Her long blue hair fell gracefully over her shoulders, her pale white skin almost glowing under the light. Her tender rosy lips and deep blue eyes, enhanced by a matching blue dress, made her look like a goddess.
And her body her breasts were of perfect size, not too big, not too small. The same could be said for her hips.
A perfect example of balanced beauty.
She walked forward along the aisle, carrying a noble aura with every step she took. The entire hall had gone silent, as if no one dared to disturb the moment.
Then , she took her seat , Nova’s gaze shifted, He noticed another familiar figure.
His father.
Edward valencrest.
Tall, broad-shouldered, and strong his presence alone was imposing. They looked alike or perhaps it was the other way around.
Though Nova believed he was more handsome.
He gave him a nod, and his father responded before moving to stand beside his mother. Nova turned back around, his attention drawn forward as the old man near the awakening stone began to speak.
It was almost as if he had been waiting for the Duke’s daughter to arrive. Once she had taken her place, the old man stepped forward.
"Welcome, children," he began, his voice calm yet carrying authority. "I, Head Priest James Light, welcome you all to this year’s awakening ceremony. Today, each of you shall awaken your fate in the presence of the almighty Goddess of Light."
His gaze swept across the hall.
"I pray that she blesses you all with good fortune... and that you awaken good potential."
A brief pause followed before he stepped back slightly. "Now, Sister Maria will handle the rest. Listen carefully to her instructions."
With that, the nun stepped forward.
Her presence alone drew attention, and when she spoke, her voice was gentle yet clear enough to reach every corner of the hall.
"Today, we have around two hundred candidates," she said calmly. "Therefore, I will be calling names one by one."
Her eyes moved across the gathered children.
"When your name is called, step forward and approach the Awakening Stone."
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