Bab 2: The Awakening Ceremony [Part 2]
Auren had never been to the main temple before. On Sundays, his family usually attended the branch temples within their estate—that was, if he was unlucky enough to be found. The doors of the main temple opened only once a year.
And that moment was now.
The air inside the temple carried a solemn chill, fragrant with incense and a faint metallic tang, like freshly polished steel.
Glass chandeliers stretched like luminous constellations across the high ceiling, scattering cold, shimmering light over pristine white walls.
The hall seemed endless, its grandeur almost suffocating.
"Hey, hey, hey... if it isn't the Talent of the Empire himself," a boy called out with a teasing whine as Auren entered the hall.
Auren frowned slightly. "Lucien," he muttered under his breath.
"I can proudly say this entire day was prepared specifically for you," Lucien continued, his voice dripping with mock enthusiasm.
"We could hear the crowd's cheers shaking the ground. No one had to guess—the Talent of the Empire had arrived."
Lucien, a red-haired boy with a self-satisfied grin plastered on his face, walked toward Auren.
To Lucien's right stood a green-haired boy with downturned eyes and freckles scattered across his nose—a face that was hard to forget.
Beside the green-haired boy was another boy, completely ordinary in appearance except for his size. Taller than the other two, he carried a sturdy frame that suggested he would grow into a strong shield in a few years.
Auren paid no attention to either of them. His gaze remained fixed on Lucien only briefly before sliding past him, focused on something far more important than a reunion with old acquaintances.
"Excuse me, Lucien," Auren said coolly, stepping between him and the green-haired boy without waiting for a response.
Rows of polished wooden benches flanked both sides of the hall. A sparkling light danced across the space, reflecting off marble statues and state-of-the-art furniture. The air of impeccable luxury was carved into every detail.
Most of the children were visibly awestruck, their heads swiveling as they took in the majestic surroundings.
Visits to the temple were rare, reserved for special occasions. But today was different.
Today, they were going to become something they had always dreamed of.
Auren stopped in the center of the hall, his gaze fixed on the altar ahead.
There, standing in the heart of the altar, was the symbol of the Archon of Light and Hope—a colossal golden tree.
The entire temple seemed to orbit around the tree, as though it were its heart.
Golden rays spilled through the high glass windows, casting a mesmerizing interplay of light and shadow over the tree's shimmering leaves.
The sight was both humbling and overwhelming, and for the first time, Auren felt the weight of this place pressing down on him.
The Archon of Light and Hope.
Worshiped by more nations and ruling a larger domain than the other five Archons combined.
While all Archon temples held awakening ceremonies, the Zephyrian Empire—under the domain of Light and Hope—celebrated with unmatched grandeur.
Other Archon domains hosted similar ceremonies, but it was widely accepted that the Archon of Light and Hope reigned supreme. The Blesseds under this Archon had reshaped the world in remarkable ways.
The creaking of an old door reverberated through the hall, pulling everyone's attention, including Auren's.
An entourage of priests emerged from a side door near the altar. Their white robes, embroidered with gold threads and ornamental accents, flowed as they walked.
Amidst them was a figure of pure serenity, radiating an aura of peace and reverence that filled the hall.
The children craned their necks, hoping to catch a glimpse of her. Even Auren stood frozen, his chest tightening as he stared.
He had only read about such a presence in books and heard rumors in passing, but seeing it firsthand was overwhelming.
'How can such an existence be allowed to be...'
The Pontifex, the mortal vessel closest to the Archon and the spiritual leader of the temple, carried an otherworldly divinity.
Auren's brow furrowed as he tried to comprehend it.
'If only I had that kind of power…'
To him, it made no sense that such beings, wielding immense power, spread messages of hope instead of seizing control of the world.
His thoughts were interrupted as the entourage took their positions before the altar.
The priests stood in a line, flanking the altar with almost thirty of them in total. The Pontifex sat behind them at the base of the golden tree, her serene presence anchoring the hall.
Suddenly, a voice cut through the silence, sharp and commanding.
"The 999th awakening ceremony shall now begin."
The man's voice carried across the hall, its weight palpable. Outside the temple, a holographic projection shimmered to life, broadcasting the ceremony to the gathered crowd.
In a special guest room, the children's parents sat, watching the proceedings with varied expressions—some tense, others smug or proud, and a few indifferent.
"Rondel Guttamaher, step forward to receive the blessing of the Archon."
"Yes, sir!"
A tall, slim boy with unkempt orange hair stumbled forward, quickly steadying himself as he approached the altar, passing Auren.
The boy stopped in front of the priest standing before the golden tree, obscuring the view of the Pontifex.
The priest gestured for Rondel to kneel. The boy complied, dropping to one knee.
Raising his hands as if to cup water, the priest closed his eyes and began murmuring inaudibly.
A golden leaf detached itself from the tree, drifting gracefully through the air until it rested in the priest's palms.
The priest pressed the leaf to Rondel's forehead, and as it made contact, a pillar of light erupted from the ground, stopping just below the boy's waist.
Turning to the Pontifex, the priest collected a scroll of brown paper. Unrolling it, he faced the hall and read aloud:
"Rondel Guttamaher. Rare Grade Blessing of the Radiant Tempest."
The boy's face lit up with joy. Bowing deeply, he turned and jogged back to his place, stars practically gleaming in his eyes.
The priest's thunderous voice rang out again, this time catching everyone off guard.
"Auren Veyne, step forward to receive the blessing of the Archon."
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone