While he walked Loneil started fantasizing about today 'Finally! I'm going to awaken core! I never thought that I would be able to do it. It is best day ever!'. It was truly one of the best days every for him.
Core was something unique to this world. It was source of power, authority and wealth. People could awaken core because of Sun and Moon. The Gods above, Sun and Moon blessed the land and it's people with their divine powers to access core. Althrough only 0,01 percent of people in the world are able to form a core. Since, childhood people would show signs of forming core by their unique beuty, inteligence, strength and talent. They would have something unusual and extraoridinary. Loneil was one such person. His skills in sword arts were almost unbelieveable. He defeated most of his opponents thanks to his talents in swordsmanship. Not only swordsmanship but also his refeleces and strategy were unparalleled among others.
Alright, back to awakening core and how it works. Normally, when awakening individual would change their appereance or enviroment around them would change. For example, one core user blew his house when he awakened, another became jade buety when it happened. Awakening occured at the age of 17. Awakening is process where supernatural power of person finally showes itself leaving stage of cultivation of power. After that person would form core. Core was around sphere shaped ball like thing. Unlike organs it didn't take an space on body. However like body organs it would be damaged if person get hit at where core was. Most of the time it would be located at the heart, mind or at stomach. Core was attached to soul however, it was attached to physical body as well. Basicly it could connect soul and physical body of oneself. Like bucket core had it's limits on storing essence used for performing abilities. The essence was called a spiritual essence. Because it was directly taken from spirit of person without any damage. However if overused core can harm spirit of person leaving possible permanent mark on person.
Awakened poeple are called Core users. Because they used core. However, their ranks different from each other as they progressed.
Every core was unique with unique powers sealed in it. They all were divided into types. There were range of cores classifying into one type of cores. For example there were Strength type cores, Light type cores, Uniqueness type cores and so on. So every core had diffirent name because their ability in one type of cores were different. Such as: Surging Strength core, Waterfall core, Endless Determination core and so on. However there was chance of another person being born with same core. There were still chances of descendants of core user receiving same core as it's ancestor. Even after this it didn't applied to one type of cores. It was Calamity cores. Those were one of the most feared and powerful cores with maniacal, psychical and narcissistic core users. Who bringed devastating destruction into world. There were only 12 calamity core users till now. After third calamity one core user propheted that the world would observe birth of 13 calamities with each making humans almost die out. However, calamity numbered 13 and last one was rumored to be the last calamity on earth.
Today was day when Loneil would awaken his core.
As he walked people around greeted him with warm smile while children came and asked his various questions. Like "How do you swing this heavy sword?", "Is it hard to study at academy?", "Are you excited about today?" and "What powers would you get in your opinion?". He answered as much as he can and eventually kids were gone and he was near church.
Church was place where awakening took place in. It was because core user could use his powers without knowing it, bringing a lot of damage and deaths or could just explode place without knowing it. Nevertheless, it was still better to awaken in church.
In church priest could assest you and help with guiding you to the road to the future.
Finally after 2 minutes he was at the doors of church. Inside he could see his friends talking with each other and priest with other people of church preparing meticulously. Outside in benches families of future core users were seated awaiting.
Loneil looking at the doors felt complex emotions. He had horrible childhood. It was hard for him to become normal after what happened to him. Right now, he can change his life and life of his parents forever. He can make them happy and finally thank them for all of the good things they have done to him. He can make himself happy by joining army of awakened knights and living his life as warrior later marrying beautiful lady and creating family. He could vividly imagine all of the joy he will experience from that moment. Then taking long breath he opened door and entered the church.
At church his friends looked at door with curious looks.
There were 3 people who could awaken cores other than him. They were Icarus, Light and Beach.
Icarus was tall man with elegant look. His snow white hair looked majestic paired with his blue ocean like eyes. His expression was sharp and quick to understand. When he sensed that Loneil came he quickly glanced at Loneil with look of admiration. He and Loneil were best friends. Their friendship was unshakable. They tried lots of things together. One time they tried to cross river and while Loneil did good Icarus just gave up and started sinking into river. Looking back Loneil was terified and at the next moment saved Icarus.
The next one to him was Light. He was blonde with deep purple eyes. His body was slim. Today he was espessialy bright. As he heard sound of door opening he directly looked at door and finally noticed that Loneil was here. The next moment he gave a smile towards Loneil and got back to his conversation with Beach.
Beach had exotic appearence. Her chocolate like dark skin with her black hair looked fantastic. Her figure had curves at right places and at right proportions. Her expression changed to suprised. Her smile widened when she saw Loneil and after, she got back to her conversation with Light.
Looking back at his friends before closing doors Loneil gave bright smile and moved towards them. With clean dap sound he shook hands with his friend Icarus and then he shook hands with other two before asking question.
"Guys, when are we going to start?"
Looking puzzled his three friends answered with honest tone "Actually, we don't know."
Looking back at priest who was about to finish Beach said "Looks like it is going to happen soon. Look, priest is almost ready."
All of them were draw to process.
Priest on the other hand was focused on preparing with the help of unique artifacts. He placed three orbs around chair and circle made by some strange pouder. After he inspected everything to be fine and continued drawing details in circle making it look more complex and complete.
Finally, finishing it, priest looked up to 4 people who had 100% awakening chance. Other than them no one could awaken. Anyways, priest after few moments of consideration ordered everyone to be prepared and walked towards 4 young people.
Looking at priest Loneil was taken a back but he quickly recovered his expression and shook hands before tightly hugging him. 'I haven't seen uncle Bretal for weeks. I wonder what he was doing?' He thought as bretal greeted everyone with warm smile and genuine love. Those children were chosen and he was familiar with each since their childhood.
"Ok, guys. Today is truly wonderful day and I hope you all will get powers you desired most." Pausing for moment he looked at all of them and continued "I will instruct all of you on what to do so just follow me and listen to me."
After those words everyone got their attention high and listened closely. It turned out that each of them had different times of awakening but, their intervals were short so they have to be quick and prepared.
After another explanation it remained only 10 minutes before Beach would awaken her core.
Finally when 1 minuet remained she sat down at chair and was ready to receive her powers. She was overjoyed by the thought of awakening core.
Bretal and his assistants were tense on the other hand and were on high guard against her.
Even if she was just awakening there were chances that she could loose control over herself because of emotions. So, to keep safe all of them were on high guard.
"5, 4, 3, 2, 1. It's time!" Priest said shouting at end.
Beach meanwhile, had no effect on her for few seconds. The next seconds however weren't without effect. She felt agony and wrath inside her as place where her belly was, was giving pain as if she was stabbed by 100 blades at the time and it was repeating over and over. The 20 seconds of hellish pain felt like eternity for Beach and she was about to loose herself and fall before the pain stopped and the most pleasant feelings she had ever felt overflowed over her body and made her relaxed, calm and happy at the same time.
Light, Loneil and Icarus on the other hand were a bit terrified looking towards her after seeing her face and her movement. 'Well. They said it would be painful. But, I thought it would feel a bit painful not that much.' Loneil and other two thought to themselves thinking of how they will withstand it.
Bretal taking another glance at Beach sighted in relief. 'It us fortunate that she got of lightly.'.
Beach after everything faded. Got in her senses and stood with difficulty. Her head was spinning and she almost trow up but, was able to hold herself. She soon started controlling her thoughts as she remembered instructions Bretal.
3 orbs near her started glowing giving faint glow of yellow before showing subtle images of sand and desert.
Bretal who was observing all was suprised before calming and evaluating core's power and utility.
Eventually he got all the information he needed and concluded that her core was sand type core with ability to send out spears of sand and what changed in her wasn't her appereance or environment but her body. She now could become sand for a given time and her flesh became more tough and flexible.
He knew that she would go to kingdom and become mid range and close combat mage type knight. It was quite rare to receive sub elementary powers such as sand, ice and so on but, the next second he found that she was more vulnerable against water type cores and fire type core users. Anyways, she was now a core user and she soon would in kingdom for attending academy.
Next Icarus got into seat after talking with Beach about how it went and how to follow steps correctly. He was nervous and feared that he could cause damage to the church and possibly harm someone espessialy his best friend Loneil. Taking deep breath he was ready and time already hit the moment.
Slowly his vision blurred and got back to reality. While his vision was blurred he felt intense pain tearing through his back and eyes. With terror he screamed and covered his eyes with his hands. Because of pain he started scratching his face making it bleed for a time.
Horrifying face was engraved in Loneil as he stared at his best friend. He wanted to help. Albeit, he knew it he coild just stay and watch him in pain. After a few seconds he couldn't take it any longer so he just shut his eyes and looked away from his best friend.
This kind of accidents weren't that rare but, it was too much for Loneil.
Icarus was still screaming but suddenly it stopped and he inhaled air like he had run a marathon. He still felt pain but it wasn't that bad.
Taking a look at his surroundings he was suprised because the world now looked different for him. It was dark and white. Among people presenting here darkest was his best friend but around his heart his color was lighter than anything in the room. Going away from his shock he tried to concentrate his mind and stood up. When he did somehow he felt heavy at his back as if something was attached to it. Trying to look behind his back he discovered that he had wings. White wings. He was too shocked to just say anything.
Bretal was also shocked nonetheless. It was unique for person to grow wings at awakening because it was Uniqueness type core with transformation sub type trait. However he was more shocked when the orbs turned greyish and showed dazzling angel with angelic wings. 'It is ... Fortune. IT US FORTUNE TO SEE THIS. In my 38 years of life I never thought that I would witness awakening of mythical transformation type core.' Bretal thought his eyes shining with curiosity.
Light was also stunned. He couldn't hide his amazement and he opened his mouth and shouted. "HOW?". Beach meanwhile stating beside him closed his mouth and gasped in admiration and envy.
Hearing gasps and what Light said Loneil speculated that Icarus has received something special as he turned his head and saw angelic figure of Icarus. Who had bleeding eyes and blood dripping from his back.
Loneil felt both relief and worry. Relieved because he passed awakening without accident. Worried because his friend was bleeding.
Seeing his friends face Icarus focused and walked out to him while assistants got his wounds inspected and his blood cleaned.
Loneil looking at hus friend smiled and said "It's my turn. Wish me luck." Retracting his gaze to Beach abd Light he repeated his last sentence and hurriedly got into seat.
It was near his time to awaken. His time and time for Icarus to awaken was close so he couldn't stop and wait.
Bretal quickly took notes in his papers and gazed at Loneil with complex expression.
He was a bit special person for him. He was orphan before he got adopted into new family. At times when he was orphan Loneil would sneak out of orphanage to go and listen to his teachings even if he would get scolded. It had great impact on his relationship with this kid. He had high hopes for him and high worries. He felt complex. Untill, Loneil attracted him by smiling softly.
'Finally it is time' was thought of Loneil.
Atmosphere was a bit tense.
Breaking it, Icarus said "Good luck".
Soon silence got into church again.
Loneil soon felt the most painful headache and pain in heart. He grasped his left chest as he let out air and shouted.
"AGHHH"
His five senses stopped working and he felt nothingness for a while before he opened his eyes.
Looking towards his he felt fear and terror down his spine and said with most terified voice.
"No ... ,
Way".
[Author Notes: Sorry I couldn't post chapter's because I lacked time and inspiration. However, today I had both so I released this chapter. I don't know if I did good or not. But, I gave my best for this chapter. Thanks for reading. Hope next chapter wont take much.]