Chapter 4 – Awakening Ceremony, Time Dao Fragment?

…

As the seasons passed—spring giving way to winter and back again—time seemed to fly by, and before anyone realized, Kranos was nearly eight years old. In the few short years he had lived in this new world, he had already gained a reputation as a prodigy.

Everyone was looking up to him due to his great intelligence. He was easily able to grasp writing and reading in a few months; after that, he went on to read about this world in the royal library and then proceeded to amass a large amount of knowledge, whether it be in arithmetic, literature, etc.

Kranos’ hair had grown even purer as he grew; it looked as though his hair had never carried any stain. Along with his white, sword-like brows and pupils, he looked ethereal, like an otherworldly being. If not for his small stature and the trace of baby fat still softening his jawline, he could have easily been mistaken for an immortal.

“Is that him? The Fourth Prince?!” a maid whispered, pointing discreetly at Kranos, who was walking with the calm poise of a refined scholar.

“Yes. You wouldn’t believe it, but just recently, he solved a problem even Professor Nalan was struggling with.”

“Seriously? Even a professor had to seek his help? I wonder what elemental affinity he’ll awaken with.”

“Probably fire, like his father.”

Kranos ignored the discussions as he entered the mansion where he lived with his parents. As soon as he stepped inside, he was greeted by his mother’s warm smile. He returned it with one of his own, then noticed a middle-aged man standing nearby. The man wore a slight, respectful smile as he looked at Kranos.

“Fourth Young Master,” the man said with a nod.

“Kranos pays his respects,” Kranos responded calmly.

“I’ve come to inform you that your Awakening Ceremony will take place next week, on your eighth birthday. Due to the high cost of spirit stones needed for travel to the Awakening Grounds, we decided to delay your cousins’ ceremonies and align them with yours.”

Upon hearing this, Kranos came to a realization. So it’s next week, huh? It’s already been almost eight years… I’d better cherish these moments with my new parents. My life is about to change. I thought I’d be able to control time in this life—free from worry—but it seems that was just a fantasy.

“Very well, sir. I’ll be ready,” he replied.

“Yes, Fourth Young Master,” the man said before turning to leave.

…

“Who do you think will shine most today?” On an elevated platform stood multiple elders and princes, along with the king. Their eyes were fixed on a shimmering silver portal some distance away, above which floated a flickering screen shrouded in black light—the entrance to the secret realm of Awakening.

Within the portal lay a mystical realm containing a single divine black orb. Each child would place their hand upon this orb to awaken their cultivation aptitude and elemental affinity. The results would appear both in the child’s mind and on the large screen above the portal for all to see.

The king, some elders, and the princes looked at the portal with varying expressions as they were discussing, “In the previous years, we have gotten three experts with exceptional B and A grade aptitude; I don’t think this year would be any different,” the king said calmly.

The elders nodded in agreement. For the past decade, each Awakening Ceremony had revealed at least one A- or B-grade talent. Thanks to this, the kingdom had experienced a revival emerging from a period of stagnation in growth.

The second prince, Raphael’s elder brother, added after some thought, “There’s no need to speculate. We’ll find out soon enough.” A glint of ambition flickered in his eyes.

This awakening ceremony had a lot to do with who would inherit the throne in the end, so all of them had paid a certain price to ensure their children awakened a great aptitude, just like in the previous years.

Hearing what the second prince said, they turned to glance at the children, who numbered up to 100. Most looked nervous; some were calm, while others trembled with fear. The majority were commoners discovered by the elders; only a few, like Kranos, were of royal blood.

After everyone was present, an elder stepped forward and addressed the children. “Be at ease. Just be hopeful, and you will awaken an exceptional aptitude in the end.” Saying so, the elder waved his hand for Kranos and the others to follow him.

Kranos felt a wave of discomfort wash over him. His vision shifted, and he suddenly felt dizzy, his stomach lurching. He fought the urge to vomit, holding it in. Most children weren’t as strong-willed as him, and they puked their guts out due to irritation from the spatial travel.

The elder waved his hand after everyone was done, and the waste was purified in the bits of white light. Kranos was amazed, but this only increased his urge to awaken an elemental affinity. The children saw that the place they appeared in was something like a holy ground, at the center of the holy ground stood a single glowing black marble, radiating with dark light like a star in the night sky.

…

Outside, the elders watched the screen, now showing the scene within the realm. They nodded inwardly, seeing Kranos and the others’ calm behavior after the spatial teleportation.

“It is finally the time.”

…

The elder turned to a black-haired boy and nodded. Seeing the elder look at him, his nervousness increased. “Go and place your hand on the marble, and your aptitude and affinity will be displayed.”

The boy didn’t hesitate for a moment and went forward to place his hand on the marble. Moments later, the marble glowed faintly with a neutral light. At the same time, the information was displayed both within the boy’s mind and on the screen outside.

[Name: Awara]

[Cultivation Aptitude: D-Grade]

[Elemental Affinity: None]

Seeing the information, the elder sighed. It wasn’t uncommon to have no elemental affinity; in fact, it was very common; having an elemental affinity was the rare case. Still, without affinity, a cultivator’s journey would be much harder. While one could still gain an affinity upon reaching a higher realm, that path was long and uncertain. On top of that, a D-grade aptitude was below average.

“You did well,” the elder said kindly to Awara before turning to the next child.

Kranos, watching from behind, felt a complex mix of emotions as he saw the first awakening he had witnessed since he came to this world; he couldn’t help but feel sad for the little boy, although he knew that only 1 in 10 people could awaken an elemental affinity. He didn’t think that the first kid that was called would be so unfortunate.

I hope I awaken an element, and a good one at that; besides, I also hope for an A-grade aptitude. I’m not asking for much. As a reincarnator, I should at least have an advantage.

The awakening ceremony continued.

…

[Name: Johanna]

[Cultivation Aptitude: C-Grade]

[Elemental Affinity: Water]

…

[Name: Gathoda]

[Cultivation Aptitude: D-Grade]

[Elemental Affinity: Earth]

…

[Name: Harold]

[Cultivation Aptitude: B-Grade]

[Elemental Affinity: Fire]

…

Time passed, and one by one, the children awakened. Finally, it was Kranos’s turn. As the fourth young master and a famed prodigy, the elder decided to pick him first among his other cousins.

Kranos was stunned for a moment before calmly walking up. After taking a deep breath, he placed his hand on the marble; the marble fluctuated for a moment, but there was no response. Kranos was shocked, and so was the elder, as well as everyone else.

“No aptitude or affinity? Could the marble be malfunctioning?”

…

Outside, shock spread among the elders, princes, and even the king.

“He’s just a mortal?” The king muttered, frowning.

Prince Raphael appeared disappointed, but composed. Whatever he is, he’s still my son. I’ll make sure he lives well. The throne isn’t everything—family matters more.

Raphael’s brother smirked. “Sixth Brother, it seems your wife bore a mortal. I always had a bad feeling about that white hair.” He didn’t miss the opportunity to tease.

The king frowned once more before sending a mental message to the elder inside the realm.

…

Receiving the command, the elder turned to Kranos, waking him from his shock, “Try placing your hand on the marble again.”

Kranos barely heard him. His shock wasn’t due to the absence of an affinity—it was because a message had appeared before his eyes:

[Detected fragments of the Time Dao…]

[Time System Loading…]

[Loading: 1%… 30%… 50%… 100%]

[Name: Kranos]

[Cultivation Aptitude: ETERNAL-GRADE]

[Elemental Affinity: TIME]

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