The Unprecedented Awakening

Now, only two of us remained—me and one other.

“Elio Valcrest, step forward.”

Elio Valcrest, son of Duke Valcrest. The most promising prodigy of this generation. He was expected to be one of the strongest of our time. His father was a close friend of my father, having fought alongside him and King Orion in the war.

I glanced at them—my father, the King, and Duke Alden Valcrest, also known as The Radiant Warbringer. Standing beside them were my mother, Duchess Selene Valcrest, and the Queen. Our families were close. I hoped Elio and I could be too.

One could only imagine how talented someone like him would be.

Elio stepped forward, placing both hands on the ceremonial crystal. The room fell silent as the ceremony began.

Three spirits appeared—Fire, Light, and Space.

And all three were Ancient Spirits.

Gasps filled the hall. This was a sight rarely, if ever, seen before.

“This… this might be the greatest talent of the century,” someone whispered.

The ceremonial crystal pulsed with blinding light, its glow surpassing every other candidate before him. His mana pool was tremendous.

Watching him, I felt a chill.

Could I even compare to that level of talent?

Elio stepped down, greeted by thunderous applause. He turned to his parents, who embraced him with pride. His father patted his shoulder, his mother smiling warmly. He had inherited both of their affinities—a perfect blend of their power.

I felt my hands clench at my sides. What would I get?

After the commotion settled, the announcer’s voice rang out again.

“And now, the last participant for tonight—Velanova Silvannor.”

Silence.

I took a deep breath and stepped forward, feeling the weight of countless eyes on me.

My heart pounded. My palms felt damp.

I glanced at my sister, Yuna, and Prince Alistair. They cheered for me with bright smiles. My mother gave me an encouraging nod, while my father’s gaze remained firm—watchful, expectant. Even the Queen gave me a small smile of reassurance.

I wanted to return their excitement. I really did.

But I was terrified.

I stepped up to the altar, every step feeling heavier than the last.

The murmurs began.

“He’s from the Silvannor family. Surely, he will surpass even Elio.”

“With his lineage, it’s impossible for him to have anything less than three affinities.”

“What if… what if he’s actually untalented?”

That last comment made my stomach twist.

“Place your hands on the crystal,” the mage instructed.

I hesitated.

What if… what if nothing appeared? What if I was a failure? What if I embarrassed my family in front of the entire kingdom?

No. I couldn’t think like that.

I took a shaky breath and placed my hands on the smooth, cool surface, closed my eyes, and braced myself for the worst.

The crowd whispered, expecting at least three, maybe even four spirits to appear.

But only one spirit emerged.

One.

A murmur rippled through the hall.

“That’s it?”

“A single spirit? What a disappointment.”

“To think someone from such a prestigious bloodline would have such poor affinity…”

Their words stung. My hands trembled slightly, my breath caught in my throat.

I wanted to disappear.

Was I truly… nothing special?

“Mage, what is the element?” The King’s voice cut through the noise, commanding attention.

The mage didn’t respond. He stood there, frozen, his face pale.

“What’s wrong?” my father asked, his brows furrowing.

The mage’s mouth opened, but no words came out. He tried again, his voice trembling.

“I-I-I… It’s… It’s impossible.”

The murmuring in the hall grew louder.

“This spirit… this spirit—”

The mage swallowed hard before shouting,

“It’s the Spirit of All!”

The room fell into stunned silence.

The Spirit of All.

“The child possesses the power to wield every element. He can control all forms of magic!”

The hall erupted into chaos.

“WHAT?!”

“This can’t be real!”

“A legendary spirit? In human history, that has never happened before!”

Nobles gasped. Some looked in awe, some in jealousy, and some in suspicion.

“This… this is unheard of,” Duke Magnus Cindrael muttered, his sharp gaze locked onto me.

Lady Isabella Fennhart adjusted her glasses, her fingers trembling. “The Spirit of All… such a thing should not be possible.”

Meanwhile, Marquis Drayden leaned in close to Count Veremont. “If that child can wield all magic, then he is beyond prodigious… He is dangerous.”

Count Veremont’s eyes narrowed. “Indeed. He may become a beacon… or a threat.”

The King’s gaze hardened as he turned to the mage.

“Are you certain?” His voice was firm.

“Yes, Your Majesty! There is no mistake! This child—Velanova Silvannor—has the potential to wield every magic affinity in existence.”

The King let out a deep breath, then smiled.

“Amazing. Congratulations, Velanova.”

My father exhaled, his expression unreadable. My mother stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder, her warmth grounding me. Yuna beamed at me, practically bouncing with excitement. Alistair grinned, nudging me playfully.

The mage wasn’t finished.

“Your Majesty… there’s more.”

Silence fell once again.

A soft glow emanated from the spirit. Then, it changed.

The once-indistinct figure took on a humanoid form—one that resembled a teenage girl.

She was mesmerizing.

Her hair shimmered like woven stardust, cascading down her back in waves of glowing silver. Her eyes held the vastness of the cosmos, irises shifting between deep blues, purples, and golds, as if galaxies swirled within them.

Her dress, ethereal and flowing, reflected every color of magic, shifting seamlessly from fire’s crimson to water’s azure, from the deep brown of earth to the soft gold of light. She was the embodiment of every element, every force of magic.

An aura of power surrounded her, but not an oppressive one. It was warm, inviting, almost comforting.

Then, she smiled.

And my heart stopped.

She was… beautiful.

Then, she spoke.

“Child, will you form a contract with me?”

I hesitated.

“Uhh… Yes?”

“Good. Extend your left hand, palm down.”

I obeyed.

A mark appeared, glowing faintly on my skin.

“With this contract, you can call upon me whenever you need. Simply pour mana into the mark, and I shall answer.”

“…Also,” the voice continued, “I am speaking directly into your mind.”

I stiffened.

“Yes, you can hear me. As my contractor, your mana pool will expand beyond normal limits. They won’t be able to measure it properly. Just think of it as… having an endless supply of mana.”

It chuckled, then vanished into the mark.

I stood there, stunned.

The mage cleared his throat, though his hands still trembled.

“L-let’s proceed with your mana pool test, Velanova.”

I nodded, still processing everything.

I placed my hand on the crystal once more.

For a moment, nothing happened.

Then—

The crystal shattered.

Gasps filled the room.

I blinked.

“What… does that mean?” I asked.

The mage exhaled shakily.

“It means… your mana pool is beyond comprehension.”