Three years have passed since Leona received her blessing.

  Today, Ashora turns twelve.

  From early morning, excitement fills the palace. Ashora was excited for his blessing ceremony.

  He runs toward the temple with bright eyes and a wide smile. Behind him, Ikshita runs as well. She has also turned twelve today.

  “Slow down, Ashora!” Ikshita calls, trying to catch up.

  But Ashora only laughs and keeps running. He cannot wait any longer.

  Both of them are eager for the ceremony—especially after seeing how powerful and cool Leona’s two divine beasts are.

  Soon, the royal family arrives at the grand temple. The hall is already filled with children and nobles. Ashora and Ikshita take their place in line.

  After nearly two hours, the priest finally calls out, “Prince Ashora.”

  Ashora steps forward.

  His heart beats loudly in his chest. He feels nervous, but more than that—he feels excited.

  He places his hand on the Blessing Stone.

  golden light surrounds his body.

  When he opens his eyes, he is no longer in the temple.

  He stands inside his own consciousness.

  He looks around.

  “Sister said the goddess should appear by now,” he thinks. “Why is nothing happening?”

  Just as doubt begins to grow in his heart, a soft light appears before him.

  Goddess Zeravira steps forward.

  The moment Ashora sees her, something stirs deep inside him. A warm feeling spreads through his chest. It feels like the love he feels for his mother and father.

  But it is stronger.

  Deeper.

  He cannot understand it.

  He simply stands there, confused, unable to look away from her.

  The goddess walks toward him and gently places her hand on his head. She pats him softly, like a mother comforting her child.

  The warm feeling grows even stronger.

  Then she speaks in a calm and gentle voice.

  “Child, I have blessed you. But what your blessing is—you must discover it yourself.”

  Ashora’s eyes widen.

  “What? Why?” he asks quickly. “I have never heard of something like that!”

  The goddess only smiles.

  “No, please don’t leave,” Ashora says, his voice shaking slightly. “At least tell me how I will find it.”

  She gives him one last smile.

  Then she disappears.

  The golden light fades.

  Ashora opens his eyes and finds himself back in the temple.

  But now there is worry on his face.

  The Pope notices and walks toward him. “Prince, did the blessing go well?”

  Ashora takes a moment before answering. “Yes… it went well.”

  “What is your blessing, Prince?” the Pope asks.

  Ashora hesitates. “Is it necessary to tell everyone?”

  “No, Prince. It is not.”

  “Then I won’t tell.”

  The Pope nods calmly. “As you wish.”

  Ashora walks back to his parents.

  Amitrochates looks at him carefully. “Son, what blessing did you receive?”

  Ashora cannot lie to his father. “The goddess said my blessing will activate when I discover what it is.”

  Tisya and Amitrochates exchange surprised glances.

  “This is unheard of,” Amitrochates says quietly. “But what can we do? It is the will of the gods.”

  Ashora nods, but his mind is far away.

  He is not upset that his blessing is unclear.

  What troubles him is the feeling he felt when he saw the goddess.

  That deep sense of belonging.

  He cannot forget it.

  Lost in thought, he suddenly hears the priest call out, “Next is Ikshita.”

  Ashora looks up.

  Ikshita steps forward and touches the Blessing Stone.

  Golden light surrounds her body.

  Ashora hopes her blessing will be good.

  Inside her consciousness, a powerful figure appears before her.

  Veltharion—the God of Power, Strength, and War.

  He looks at her with a faint smile and places his hand on her head.

  Then he disappears.

  Ikshita feels confused. “What just happened?” she wonders.

  When she opens her eyes in the real world, the golden light fades—but something else begins.

  The Sei in the surrounding area starts flowing toward her body.

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  A strong wind rises in the temple hall as the energy gathers around her.

  Osborne stiffens in worry, but he cannot interfere.

  The Pope steps forward and waits patiently until the energy stops flowing.

  Ikshita stands still, confused but unharmed.

  The Pope takes her hand and checks her condition.

  A smile slowly appears on his face.

  “Her body is perfect for Sei,” he announces.

  Then whispers fill the air.

  Osborne’s happiness knows no limits.

  A perfect body for Sei means she can one day reach Tier 5—the pinnacle of warriors.

  Worried in his mind and happiness for his friend One year passes.

  Ashora and Ikshita stand in the training arena, their swords clashing again and again. The sound of metal echoes in the air.

  Since her blessing, Ikshita’s Sei core has grown much stronger. It is now as large as Ashora’s, but her output is greater. She can release more power at once.

  Their swords collide.

  Ashora feels the pressure immediately. Ikshita’s sword energy pushes against his. His own energy begins to weaken.

  With a strong strike, Ikshita forces him backward.

  Ashora quickly steadies himself and takes a battle stance again. He tightens his grip.

  Ikshita rushes forward without hesitation.

  Their swords crash once more. The impact makes Ashora’s hands go numb.

  Then Ikshita gathers more sei into her blade. A bright yellow glow surrounds it. She slashes forward, sending a wave of sword energy toward him.

  Ashora tries to deflect it.

  He manages to push it aside—but in the next second, Ikshita is already in front of him.

  Her sword stops at his neck.

  “You lost,” she says calmly.

  Ashora lowers his sword.

  Disappointment fills his eyes. Without saying a word, he turns and walks away from the arena.

  Ikshita watches him leave. She smiles slightly to herself. Master Androcottus had once said that Ashora was reaching his limits. Maybe that is true, she thinks.

  Ashora enters his room and lies down on his bed.

  He stares at the ceiling.

  “What am I doing wrong?” he whispers to himself.

  “Big sister is an Awakener and grows stronger every day. Ikshita was weaker than me before, but after her blessing, she keeps getting stronger.”

  A feeling of hopelessness slowly surrounds his mind.

  For a moment, he feels small.

  Then suddenly, he slaps his own face lightly.

  “What am I doing?” he mutters. “Why am I losing hope? I just need to train harder.”

  The moment his mind becomes firm again, something changes.

  His eyes go blank.

  A bright light begins to emit from his body.

  The ground beneath him starts to rise. Earth gathers around him, forming a cocoon that slowly wraps around his body.

  Behind him, a strange symbol appears—a four-petaled lotus with an inverted triangle at its center.

  The light grows brighter.

  Androcottus, Amitrochates, and Leona rush into the room, sensing the sudden energy.

  When they see what is happening, relief fills their faces.

  “Ashora’s awakening has begun,” Androcottus says calmly.

  The four-petaled lotus glows redder and redder.

  Above it, a figure begins to form—a soul covered in light. Half of it shines yellow, and the other half shines white.

  It is Ashora’s true soul form.

  As the glowing soul rises into the air above him, a beam of light descends from the sky and falls directly onto the earth cocoon.

  “It looks like Ashora’s attribute is Light,” Androcottus says.

  Amitrochates and Leona smile.

  Light is one of the rarest attributes. It often means the soul is noble and pure.

  The soul continues absorbing the light from the sky. It begins to grow clearer, taking the shape of a complete human figure.

  The yellow light becomes brighter. A white crown of light forms above its head.

  The soul now looks like a king—someone strong enough to carry the weight of the entire world on his shoulders. His back is broad, as if it can shield everyone behind him. This transformation shows the nature of awakner.

  As the three watch, an unexpected thought appears in their minds.

  A feeling of worship.

  They are shocked.

  How can they feel such a thing while looking at another person’s soul?

  Amitrochates speaks softly. “Maybe this is related to his blessing… which we have no idea.

  Soon, the beam of light from the sky fades.

  The lotus symbol disappears.

  The soul form vanishes.

  The earth cocoon slowly returns to the ground as if nothing had happened.

  Ashora opens his eyes.

  He sees his grandfather, his father, and his sister standing around him, protecting him.

  He smiles gently.

  “Father,” he says softly, “I awakened.”

  Everyone feels relieved and happy.

  Androcottus steps forward and looks at Ashora carefully. “How are you feeling?” he asks.

  Ashora smiles. “Very good. It feels like I have been reborn.”

  Androcottus nods. “Good. Come with me. Let us test your power.”

  Ashora’s eyes light up with excitement. He agrees immediately. Amitrochates and Leona follow them to the training ground.

  Soon, they stand in the open arena. Ashora and Androcottus face each other.

  Ashora asks, “Grandfather, I can feel the power inside me… but how do I use it?”

  Androcottus replies calmly, “First, try to use the earth element.”

  “How?” Ashora asks.

  “Close your eyes,” Androcottus says. “Feel the earth beneath you. It will tell you how to use it.”

  Ashora closes his eyes.

  He focuses on the ground under his feet. He feels its weight. Its stillness. Its strength.

  After a few minutes, he opens his eyes.

  “I am ready,” he says.

  He kneels and places his palm on the ground.

  The earth beneath him begins to tremble.

  Suddenly, large boulders rise from the ground and rush toward Androcottus.

  Androcottus does not even flinch. With a simple movement, he destroys the boulders into pieces.

  Ashora quickly controls the broken chunks of stone and throws them at high speed toward his grandfather.

  Androcottus stops the flying pieces in midair.

  “Excellent,” he says with a faint smile.

  Then he speaks more seriously.

  “Ashora, when a person awakens, he begins to understand his soul. He learns to control his emotions and awaken the true nature of his soul. With each level of awakening, a person also understands the elements his body is made of—earth, water, fire, wind, and space. With each level, a person gains control over them.”

  He pauses.

  “But the most important part of awakening is the soul and the use of soul power. What you just used was one of the elements your body is made of. Now try to feel your soul. Discover your soul’s attribute.”

  He looks at Ashora carefully. “Like me, whose soul is like wind. Or your father, whose soul is like earth. Or your sister, whose soul attribute is lightning. Close your eyes. Look into your soul.”

  Understanding his words, Ashora sits down and crosses his legs.

  He enters his consciousness.

  There, he sees his soul—bright and shining. His soul stands before him. It seems to speak, but he cannot hear its voice clearly.

  He looked the flow of power and began to understand it

  Ashora opens his eyes.

  “Grandfather,” he says softly, “I understand.”

  “Then show me,” Androcottus replies.

  Ashora closes his eyes again and focuses on his soul.

  A small bright light forms in front of him—a tiny yellow particle made of pure light.

  He shoots it toward Androcottus.

  The speed is incredible. Even Androcottus has to move quickly to dodge it.

  The light strikes the wall behind him.

  It leaves only a small scratch.

  Androcottus nods. “The speed is impressive. But the attack power is still weak.”

  Ashora focuses again. This time, he merges two light particles into one and fires it again.

  The speed is slightly less—but when it hits the wall, it creates a visible dent.

  Ashora breathes out slowly. “This is my limit for now.”

  Androcottus smiles. “You have just awakened. This is more than good. Now go and rest.”

  Ashora nods.

  As he walks back toward his room, Amitrochates approaches him and pulls him into a warm hug.

  “Congratulations, my son,” he says proudly.

  Leona steps forward with a grin. “Good job, brother. Now we can train together.”

  Ashora nods, smiling faintly.

  But now that the excitement fades, he feels tired.

  Amitrochates gently pats his shoulder. “Go and rest.”

  Ashora agrees and walks toward his room, his heart full of quiet determination.