[system initializing...]
[Connecting to server..]
[Uploading...]
[Progress...12%.. 54%.. 86%..100% ]
[System operating successfully]
[Creating UI]..
When all of this happens in front of Azrael's eyes, the Duke steps out of the carriage followed by Lady Elyndra.
And all the servants bow, and the soldiers strike their spears on the ground twice, straightening their posture as they shout,
"welcomes back, Duke Vaeloreth!"
The sound of the spear hitting the ground snaps Azrael out of his reverie, he composes himself and gets ready to greet his parents.
As for the system—once he is done with this formality, he will lock himself up in his room and explore everything it has to offer.
Seeing the Duke and Duchess approaching, he steps forward and pays his respects.
"I greet the Duke and Duchess. Welcome back."
Duke Ragnar smiles,
"Good. You know how to carry yourself in official decorum."
The Duchess smiles as well and nods in agreement.
Azrael looks up and simply smiles at them.
Meanwhile the servants notice something strange, one would expect the Duke to be cold and stern in front of his child, but why isn't Lady Elyndra showing any expression after seeing her son for the first time in eight years.
But out of fear they say nothing. They attribute it to her etiquette as she was a royal princess before becoming the Duchess of House Vaeloreth.
And anyway, who cares? Azrael doesn't.
As he just wants to be out of here to access his system.
The Duke looks at Azrael,
"We will continue our talk at dinner, I have important matters to attend first."
"I understand," Azrael replies.
With that, the Duke and Lady Elyndra walk into the mansion accompanied by the head butler.
The soldiers and servants gathered at the gate disperse and Azrael rushes back to his room.
Once inside, he locks the door.
And calls out, "System!"
[Yes, host.]
Hearing the reply, Azrael is over the moon.
Only he understands how much he wanted to hear that sweet mechanical voice, when he first arrived here, he expected the system to be present at birth, but as days passed and he still couldn't access it, he grew frustrated—that's why he became a moody bit*h, as mentioned before.
Then as he began understanding this world, he realised that every kid in Terralon becomes supernatural when they go through something called the Awakening when they are sixteen-years old. He thought that is when the system will be activated.
So getting the system today overwhelmed him with joy.
A few minutes later, Azrael calms down.
"Show me my status."
[Name - Azrael Vaeloreth]
[Age - 8]
[Existence - Layer 0]
[Realm - ]
[Battle power -10]
[Soul power- 0]
[System store] (Locked)
[Legacies] (Locked)
"Well... that's very underwhelming..
"Is that all ?" Azrael asks,
[It is like that, because the host hasn't started cultivation yet.]
[When you start cultivating, your abilities and many other details will also be listed.]
"So, do I have to wait till I turn sixteen to start cultivating ?"
[No, host. If you want, we can start right now.]
"But in Terralon, kids awaken at sixteen. And.. and what about tiers that is used as a measure of one's strength? You didn't list any tiers but only mentioned realms."
[There's no such thing as tiers, host—only layers and their respective realms are a measure of one's existence. And there's no age requirement for awakening.]
[In special scenarios, one can even be born as a Layer-1 existence.]
[Terralon is a primitive world. where people misunderstand cultivation, so the information you have is flawed.]
Hearing all this, Azrael descends into deep thought..
"So I can start cultivating now that you're activated?"
[Yes, do you want me to open the starter package?]
"No, we will start tomorrow morning."
"I have an awkward dinner to attend."
"And you'll tell me everything about cultivation, layers and realms, once I'm done with the dinner."
[Naturally, host. That is my purpose.]
"And stop calling me host, it sounds weird. Call me Azrael."
[Okay, Azrael.]
At night, the head butler knocks and informs him that dinner is ready.
Azrael gets dressed and heads to the dining hall, where the Duke sits at the head of the table.
The Duchess sits on his right, Azrael greets them and takes the seat on the left.
They exchange pleasantries, and he gets to know them a little.
If I must say, these two parents are very odd. Especially his mother,
He can somewhat understand the Duke, but Lady Elyndra is his mother, then why act so distant?
Honestly, Azrael doesn't care, it's good if they leave him alone.
But he still needs to understand the dynamics of House Vaeloreth to survive in this new world.
He hides his emotions , and the dinner continues.
After a while, the Duke speaks.
"Your training will officially start when you turn twelve, to prepare you for the awakening. Until then, don't slack off. Learn as much as possible about the world, okay ?"
"Okay, Father. I understand."
"You want to know why we returned today, after eight-years, and why we were gone?"
Azrael just nods.
"Your mother is pregnant, I had to return with her to settle her here, I will be going back to the border in a few days."
Hearing that, Azrael looks at his mother and deliberately shows a stunned expression for a few seconds, and she just smiles at him.
He collects himself, and with a happy face,
"Congratulations, mother. I look forward to meeting my new sibling."
"Thank you, my child." Elyndra replies.
The Duke continues, "The reason we were not present all these years is because a war has broken out with a neighbouring kingdom. As a Duke, I must command the army. so, I hope you understand this and hold no resentment."
"I understand, Father."
The Duke nods.
After dinner, Azrael stands.
"I will excuse myself now. It is getting late, and you both have travelled far. so please rest."
With that Azrael leaves the dining hall.
After he leaves—
"This child is not simple, Elyndra." The Duke comments
"I agree." Elyndra replies
"He's.. way too calm for his age."
Back in his room, Azrael reflects over what he has learned.
Elyndra's odd behaviour, a war with a neighbouring kingdom and a new sibling. He makes a mental note to investigate these things later.
For now, let's understand my new supernatural life,
"System!"
[Yes, Azrael.]
"Tell me everything about cultivation."