Chapter 11: Awakening Ceremony
In these four years, Nyx did nothing but eat and earn money. He was able to repay the loan the Clan had given him after only six months. A year after that, Roger had earned enough to buy the restaurant but decided not to.
Still, Nyx handed the management over to him and started looking for another venture to invest in. He finally decided on a smithy. Brandon quickly fell in love with the place. He started training under a 1 Star Blacksmith. Nyx gave the smithy some alloy recipes and product blueprints. He also hired a 1 Star Enchanter and some Enchanter Apprentices.
He quickly started generating profit with the smithy. With that money, he bought a pill shop headed by a 1 Star Alchemist. He also gave them some pill recipes. He still had some money left, so he assembled a mercenary group consisting of a Level 21 Anima Commander and four Anima Soldiers.
He did this to create a virtuous cycle. The mercenary group would acquire the ingredients and metals for the smithy and pill shop. The smithy forged tools and weapons for the pill shop and the mercenary group while the pill shop provided the smithy and the mercenary group with the pills that they needed. Finally, all of them got insane discounts at the restaurant.
Right now, Brandon and Nyx were chilling in the pool at Nyx's house. Brandon had grown bulky due to the smithing. Although he was still a fatty, he hid strong muscles beneath all the fat.
They were sitting on floating chairs. Brandon looked at Nyx and said, "Bro, we're gonna awaken our Anima tomorrow. Aren't you excited?"
Nyx replied, "I am."
Brandon said, "You're most probably gonna awaken the Ironheart Anima. I wonder what Anima I will awaken. Hopefully, I will have at least Level 7 Innate Essence."
Brandon's tone suddenly became a bit serious, "Nyx, will we still be friends if I awaken a weak Anima tomorrow?"
Nyx was surprised to hear this question from Brandon of all people. He replied, "What does your Anima have to do with our friendship? Even if you had Level 0.1 Innate Essence, you would still be my brother. That won't ever change. Never forget that."
Seeing the sincere look in Nyx's eyes, Brandon just nodded. Then, a mischievous glint shone in his eyes as he flipped Nyx's chair. Then he also jumped in the water. The boys then played until Bella came and called them back inside.
After having dinner, Brandon went back to his house, and Nyx moved to his room. He was thinking about the ceremony that would take place the next day.
When kids become six years old, their parents take them to the Awakening Center in their city. The Awakening Center is a federal agency of the Free Alliance, responsible for awakening its citizens' Anima for free.
The Celeste Anima Realm is divided into three parts; the Outer Lands, the Inner Lands, and the Origin Continent. Anima Users from Levels 1-60 live in the Outer Lands. After breaking through to Level 61, they are transported to the Inner Lands and remain there from Level 61-90. After breaking through to Level 91, they are transported to the Origin Continent.
Babies born in the Inner Lands and the Origin Continent are brought to the Outer Continent by their parents because the Anima Essence there is too dense for a baby's body.
The Outer Lands are divided into three continents and four seas. The eastern continent, Terra Nova, also known as the Human Continent, is ruled by the Aeternal Empire.
The western continent, Elysara, also known as the Demonic Continent is ruled by the Soulhaven Dynasty. Finally, the central continent, also known as the Free Continent, is ruled by the Free Alliance, an alliance of both Human and Daemon Sects and Clans.
But the Ironheart Clan was a relatively big Clan with connections to the Palace of Life, so they conducted the Awakening Ceremony inside their Clan compound thrice every year.
It was conducted in a big garden that was called the Garden of New Beginnings. They named it as such because the day a child awakens their Anima is the beginning of a new chapter of their life. They also had another reason behind choosing a garden of all places.
Most of the plants in the Garden were tame Demonic Plants. Since the Ironheart clansmen had a high amount of Plant Anima Bloodline, they felt that it would be somehow beneficial. Many tame Demonic Plants could be found throughout their territory for the same reason.
The next morning, Nyx woke up and got ready. When he went downstairs to have breakfast, he found an unexpected visitor waiting for him. He shouted, "Grammy!" and rushed into her arms.
It was Amelia. She hugged him back and picked him up like he weighed nothing. She kissed his cheeks and asked, "How's my little prince?"
Nyx replied, "I'm good. How are you?"
Amelia replied, "If you're good, then I'm good as well."
Amelia saw that Nyx was looking as if he wanted to ask her something. She laughed and said, "Are you wondering why I'm here when I said that I wouldn't be visiting until next year?"
Nyx suddenly blushed and tried to explain himself, "Grammy, I-I..."
Amelia laughed again and said, "Calm down. I know that you were just curious. Anyways, I'm here because I just couldn't bear to miss the Awakening Ceremony of my cute great grandson. And tell you what, I'll conduct today's ceremony myself."
Nyx smiled brightly and asked, "Really?"
Amelia nodded in reply and then served his breakfast. Nyx didn't know why, but he was just unable to act like an adult in front of her. None of what he said was an act. They were his genuine feelings. Maybe it had something to do with even his father being just a child in front of her or maybe it was something else.
After eating breakfast, the whole family went to the Garden of New Beginnings. Nyx noticed that the Council of Elders was also attending the Ceremony this time as many of their grandchildren were Awakening their Anima today.
Just then, he felt a pat on his shoulder. It was Luna. They started chatting and soon, Emma and Ron also joined them. Brandom was late for some reason but he also joined them. When everyone had gathered, Xander roared, "Let the Awakening Ceremony begin!"
There were about 200 children awakening their Anima. Apart from Amelia, there were 20 more people responsible for awakening the children's Anima. Each of them was responsible for awakening 20 children.
The adults called the children's names, one by one. The child in question would walk towards the Awakening Formation, which was powered by the Essence of the adult. After awakening their Anima, the child would put their hand on the Innate Pillar, which would light up depending upon the amount of the Innate Essence that the child has.
It took about 3 hours for all of the children, except Nyx, Brandon, Luna, Emma, and Ron to awaken their Anima. Most children awakened a Body Anima while the rest awakened Plant Anima. The highest Innate Essence was Level 7.
It was a boy named Trevor, and he had awakened Legs Anima. His own legs were his Anima. But Nyx was much more interested in another boy, Max. Although his Innate Essence was only Level 3, his Anima was very special. It was his blood and bone marrow. Nyx could think of a pretty interesting direction for this particular Anima.
Everyone left. Only the Clan Leader, Clan Lady, Council of Elders, and Amelia stayed. The awakening of the Young Clan Head Candidates wasn't something that everybody could witness.
The kids on the hand, were both nervous and excited. Finally, it was their turn. Although Brandon wasn't a Young Clan Head Candidate, he was Nyx's best friend so naturally he enjoyed some privileges. Amelia walked towards an Awakening Formation and said, "Brandon Ironheart."
Brandon nervously walked towards the Formation. Amelia said with a kind smile, "Don't worry. Everything's gonna be fine."
Brandon nodded and Amelia began. The Formation slowly lit up as she poured her Essence into it. Finally, the phantom of a digestive system manifested behind Brandon. His body started visibly losing fat and the phantom behind him became increasingly condensed. Finally, all excess fat had vanished from his body and what remained was a bulky physique.
Brandon was baffled at what was happening. Not only him, but even Amelia was shocked. He walked towards the Innate Pillar and put his hand on it. It almost completely lit up. Almost.
Amelia came back to her senses and shouted, "Anima, Digestive System. Innate Essence, Level 9"
Then Amelia said, "Ron Ironheart."
As she activated the Formation, a spine with a rib cage manifested behind Ron. He walked towards the Innate Pillar and it barely lit up to 90%.
"Anima, Spine and Rib Cage. Innate Essence, Level 9"
"Luna Ironheart"
As Amelia activated the Formation, a pair of beautiful purple eyes manifested behind Luna. She walked towards the Innate Pillar and it lit up a bit more than 90%.
"Anima, Eyes. Innate Essence, Level 9"
"Emma Ironheart"
As Amelia activated the Formation, a dark blue vine with lightning patterns and crackling lightning bolts manifested in Emma's hands. She walked towards the Innate Pillar and it lit all the way up.
"Anima, Lightning Vine. Innate Essence,10. Lightning Element - Supreme Affinity"
The adults present were shocked once again. This was because of the Lightning Element Supreme Affinity mentioned by Amelia. Xander accidentally crushed the handrest of his chair. Anima with Element Nature had different levels of Affinities. They were; Low, Intermediate, High, Supreme, and Childe.
"Nyx Ironheart"
Finally, it was his turn. He walked and stood in the Formation. Amelia smiled and activated the Formation but nothing happened. She increased the amount of Essence and slowly, Nyx felt his body heating up.
He felt like he was taking a nice warm bath. Slowly, the phantom of a seed began condensing behind him. The seed quickly germinated, and roots grew out of it. Then a shoot appeared and it grew into a tall and thick trunk like a banyan's which was dark brown, almost black in colour.
The trunk soon grew branches and leaves that were a deep crystalline green that looked like they had been handcrafted from emeralds with golden veins. From the branches, vines dropped down with purplish blue flowers that resembled wisterias.
As the tree phantom was almost condensed, the atmospheric Essence condensed into little balls of green light that started dancing around Nyx. All of the Demonic Plants in the Garden seemed to bow towards Nyx and the tree behind him.
All of the adults stood up at the same time in shock. Bella, who also had a Plant Anima, felt it almost instantly.
The Fifth Elder noticed that there was something wrong with the rest of the children. Their eyes looked blank. He asked, "Kids?" When they didn't answer him, he knew something was up. He infused Essence in his voice and said once again, "KIDS!"
The kids woke up and light returned to their eyes but they still looked a little out of it. He asked them, "Are all of you fine? What happened?"
Luna, who had recovered much faster than the others due to her Anima, answered, "We were just looking at Nyx's Anima because it was too pretty but...but we somehow got lost in it. I think."
The Fifth Elder walked towards the Sixth Elder, Luna's grandmother, and told her what had just happened. Like Luna, her Anima was also her eyes. She instantly understood what had just happened. She whispered, "Spirit Nature."
Back in the Formation, the phantom finally condensed completely before disappearing into Nyx's body. Nyx instantly felt satisfied. That was the only way he could explain it. Peak satisfaction.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, he walked towards the Innate Pillar and put his hand on it. It instantly lit all the way up. Looking at everyone's shocked faces Nyx said in a doubtful tone, "Um, guys...?"
Amelia came back to her senses and said, "Nyx, we have never seen your Anima before. Why don't you name it yourself."
Nyx nodded and said, "What about Banyan of Life?"
Amelia said, "Good name. Anima, Banyan of Life. Innate Essence, Level 10."
Then she took a deep breath and said, "Childe of Life."
Guys, it's late and I'm tired so consider buying me a coffee at:
ko-fi.com/libraryofenoch
Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!