章節 42: Awakening Process
After returning to his room, Ranav sat on his bed, pondering over his situation. "The countess seems so kind to me, probably because of Nanima. I also need to build connections with powerful people to pave the way for my future. They are the lords of our village—if I can maintain a good relationship with them, my family will benefit greatly."
He sighed and continued his thoughts. "She's absolutely right, whether on Earth or in this world, smart dressing is the best way to be taken seriously. No one asks about my capabilities; they judge my status by my appearance. If I can't even approach people or initiate a conversation, making friends in high society will be nearly impossible."
He frowned. "I also need her help to buy proper clothes. I don't even know the cost of high-end clothing. The shops in my village probably sell the cheapest clothes available. Father gave me three silver coins and ten copper coins, but it'll be gone in no time if I want something nice. Better to stay on the countess's good side."
Ranav's expression softened, and he whispered, "Jessica, what do you think?"
The silence around him was heavy. Over the past few months, talking to Jessica had become second nature to him. Her absence now felt unbearable. With nothing else to do, he conjured a healing needle and stared at it blankly.
A few minutes later, there was a knock on the door. Nanima's familiar voice called out, "Little imp, open the door."
Ranav smiled faintly. "At last, she's back to calling me 'little imp.' That happens when she's in a good mood."
He opened the door to find Nanima stepping in and settling herself on a chair. She gestured for Ranav to sit on the bed. He complied, perching on its edge and waiting for her to speak.
Nanima began, "You already know I'm leaving for the capital tomorrow morning. Your awakening appointment is scheduled for the day after tomorrow at ten in the morning. Don't be late. I've asked the countess to make all the necessary arrangements, so there shouldn't be any problems. Be sure to follow every instruction given by Arvind Krushna. He's an eccentric man, and if he gets annoyed, he won't help you awaken. He's the best at crafting targeted awakening arrays… even better than the royal forgemasters. So, don't miss this chance."
"I understand, Master. I'll make sure to follow everything he says," Ranav replied earnestly.
"That's what I want to hear. The process is simple. You just need to place your hand on the awakening stone and connect to your spiritual space. The awakening will happen automatically. I've already informed his assistant that your second awakening is for the darkness element, so they'll be ready."
She paused for a moment before continuing, "But I'm still anxious about your darkness element. You've consumed the voidvine flower, which aligns closely with darkness. If the darkness element tries to dominate your spiritual space, you must stay conscious. If you feel like you're losing control, bite your tongue… it'll snap you out of it. I haven't told anyone about the flower, not even the countess, so you must keep this a secret. Your primary element is light, so I'm confident the darkness won't harm you. This is just in case of emergencies. Understand?"
"Yes, crystal clear," Ranav replied.
"One more thing," she added. "Even with a targeted awakening, there's a chance a different element might emerge. Don't panic if that happens. It's normal… you'll just need another session to awaken the intended element. Got it?"
"Got it."
Nanima smiled. "Good. The countess will take care of you while I'm away. Be obedient to her. She might arrange some training for you, finish it diligently. You won't have another chance like this when you're back in the village… Do you have enough money?"
Ranav hesitated before answering, "Father gave me some coins. I think it'll be enough. Though… the countess might buy me some clothes, and they might be expensive. I won't be able to pay her back…"
"No need to worry about that. Take whatever she gives as a gift. As you are my disciple, she should be doing that for you." She stood up, handing him two gold coins. "Use this in case of emergencies." Then, without waiting for his reaction, she left the room.
Ranav stared at the coins in his hand, dazed. Finally, he shook his head with a smile. "Master gave me two gold coins just like that! If I tell anyone in Dhela, no one will believe me."
Nanima headed downstairs and found the countess busy instructing the staff. She sat on a chair and asked, "Are you done?"
"Almost," the countess replied. "The cook is coming soon, and I need to give her a few instructions. After that, I'll be free."
"Good. I'm heading to the garden for a walk. Join me when you're done."
With that, Nanima walked outside.
A while later, the countess joined her in the garden. A cool breeze brushed past them, and the soft moonlight bathed their surroundings.
"Does Ranav know the awakening process?" the countess asked.
"Yes, I explained everything to him. There shouldn't be any problems."
"That's good. Don't worry… I'll handle everything."
"I'm not worried. I just needed some fresh air. By the way, has Count Rawat faced any issues recently? I heard about a snake infiltration in the city."
"There was such a case. The Hunter's Guild took care of it. A snake soul had taken over a woman's body and was killing drunkards at night to absorb their souls. Follow-up investigations are ongoing, but it's nothing serious."
"Good. Let me know if you need my help."
"Of course. We all know your strength, Naria. Even after your long seclusion, you're still the strongest warrior in our county."
Nanima laughed. "Don't flatter me. You're a battlemage yourself, and your husband is a skilled array master. I know how many layers of arrays surround this estate."
At that moment, the count and his daughter, Paramita, entered through the front gate.
Nanima greeted them warmly. "Lord Pravas, it's good to see you. I've been waiting for your arrival. And Paramita, you're becoming more beautiful every day."
"You're too kind, Naria," the count replied. "I heard about your arrival with your disciple. Is he comfortable staying with us? Where is he?"
The countess interjected, "Ranav is resting in the guest room. No need to worry; I've taken care of him. That child is good. Let's go inside, you've had a long journey."
"Yes, let's go," the count agreed. "I need to freshen up."
They all went inside. Paramita excused herself to her room, and the others also dispersed to their respective rooms.
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