Awakening Ceremony (1/2)

(thanks for reading and do correct me if you see any mistake ☺️)

In the early morning all the members of Ophelia family currently present in the mansion were gathered in the dining hall they were joined by the members of the Magus Tower who had now been staying at the mansion for a week.

Mostly the members of Ophelia family had breakfast in their rooms or at the garden but today was not a regular day as today two of the young masters of the family were going to have their awakening ceremony.

As soon as the breakfast was finished Elaine was the first to get up in her usual authoritative tone she spoke "James and Willow today the two of you are going to have your awakening ceremony and I expect you to be mentally prepared by now, I will not tolerate any mistake to occur from your side, while there have been significantly less cases of accidents occuring in the awakening ceremony thanks to development in this field of magic, accidents still happened and I don't think I need to tell the both of you effects of such accidents now, do I ?" She said looking at both of us and then casting her gaze towards the mages and asking them about the necessary preparations.

Though Willow ignored their conversation and was busy in his thoughts ' while there isn't any direct risk associated with mana awakening, there are still some dangers present. The most common risk is mana poisoning, which occurs when the awakening candidate is unable to withstand the high mana density in the room and passes out in a fit of voilent blood coughing. Another risk is when the candidate is not able to withstand the pressure that comes when awakening mana

and faints, this risk is increased if the the candidate is weak. In a fortunate case the ceremony will be stopped and the candidate will be rescued, In an unfortunate case when the candidate faints in a critical moment of awakening, then he will suffer worse than mana poisoning as his body still containing pure mana which without any chance to awaken will start wrecking havoc their body.'

Willow thinks about the after- effects of failing the ceremony 'If this wasn't enough the people who fail this ceremony are crippled in their mana sensitivity and can never sense mana if not given various high grade resources and a master healer, the conclusion of failing also harms their body making enlightening as an aura user harder. though I don't need to worry a lot as the mana poisoning issue can be avoided with the help of Joe who is a mage specialising in mana and the the mana pressure can be slightly reduced with the help of wind magic by Amanda and in case we faint Greg is there to save the us and Elaine herself can also easyly rescue us.' thought Willow reassuring himself.

As the conversation between Elaine and the mages was done the family and th emages left the dining hall. Outside Martha ,Alfred and a group of knights and servants streching throughout the hallway could be seen. The noble family and mages were escorted in the middle of knights and were led towards the eastern section of the mansion where the room prepared for awakening is present.

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As they entered the eastern section of the mansion they walked towards a door that stood out of from the rest of the doors, as this door and the entire chamber inside was made out of matheranite a unique alloy that is created due to the help of alchemy. It is regarded as one of the best mana conducters and is more affordable than rest of the mana metals though it's still quite expensive.

A dazzling, glowing blue magic circle covered with intricate runes, arcana and geometric shapes filled with further more runes and lines appeared as Willow and the family members entered the room.

<Willow POV>

Zorc made his way towards the magic circle giving everything a final careful inspection with scrutinizing eyes, before making his way towards us. "Esteemed young masters the magic circle is ready to use and can be activated any moment I asked you to get prepared mentally"

He then went to Elaine to inform the same. James put his hand on my shoulder in his usual jovial tone he uttered " little brother, don't be nervous and make sure to properly focus on the awakening" trying to comfort me while I tried my best to not retort with that he was looking more nervous than me as he was literally sweating but I didn't and replied with a nod then he walked towards his mother Annie, and hugged her. 'Damn isn't he a bit too nervous' I thought to myself.

A group of servants carrying a large floating trolly filled with mana crystal entered the room and started placing those crystals in the different geometric shapes present within the mana circle under Zorc's guidance. and left with the trolly after emptying it.

Zorc had already made his way towards a triangle present at the border of the magic circle even that was filled with runes and started chanting in arcane—the ancient language of mana— the runes started growing and after some time passed a certain pressure started forming in the room moments later, Joe the mana sensitive mage said " the mana density has reached the disire level stop increasing it." Well he couldn't have said it any later as currently even though I was not in the circle I could steel feel like I was carrying 10kg (22lbs).

The counts family and Greg had started making their way outside the chamber, whereas Amanda was waiting for us to enter the magic circle and enter we did. As soon as I entered the magic circle my knees nearly gave out as I felt my body weight grow more than double it's original weight, still I made my way towards the center alongside James we proceeded to sit back to back. At that moment Amanda casted a spell to decrease the pressure I felt by atleast half and she also made her way out after this. Now the only one left in this room were four of us: Me, James, joe and Zorc.

I didn't focus on any of them and started breathing in a regular motion trying my best to intake and sense mana.

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Nearly an hour later

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Slowly but surely I could feel a certain energy filling my body going through it in as If part of my blood and then

" uurgh"

I felt my heart tighten as indescribable and uncomfortable feeling spread throughout my body and it went away as suddenly as it came and a relaxing warm feeling spread throughout my body making me feel refreshed.

I opened my eyes and looked at my body covered in sweat and impurities expelled which smelled so bad that I nearly vomited. The pressure caused by the density of mana could barely be felt me now, this was not cause I have grown stronger, mana awakening doesn't gives any great strength boost it does increase strength by negligible amount but it's what happens inside the body is the true fruit of awakening our body adapts to mana and releases impurities from within making our resistance to various disease increase and also making it so that we don't get any problems such as pimples, acne, rashes, etc.

I tried to check my elemental affinity the way I had read in a book. I closed my eyes trying to feel the energy inside me, I was sensing the movement of an energy going through my blood this energy didn't felt particularly warm or cold, nor soft nor gentle, an energy which signifies life and all living organisms. If that was not enough I could also feel a different energy which was soft and flowing.

"Haha...." I couldn't control myself and ended up releasing a laugh, after all I have—" You seem happy with your affinity, care to tell your big brother what they are?" I was interrupted by James but I was too happy to mind it. "I have affinity for pure healing element and the water element"I spoke with excitement.

"...ha... hahaha..." at first James was silent then he broke out in loud laughter. It was then I noticed that he was spotless not a single sweat or impurity could be seen on his body.

"THAT'S GREAT, two elements huh and both can be used for healing they will truly be helpful" James spoke in a craze fervour and then he looked straight in my eyes with his emotionless eyes " Joe clean him up, Zorc immobilize him" he spoke coldly.

Joe launch a water spell cleaning all impurities away from me and Zorc said some words in Arcane sending yellow energy vines binding my arms and legs and one on my neck.

While this was happening I wasn't standing still but was trying talk some sense into him.

"Brother calm down, if you have some problem we can talk it out, there is no need to do this" when the energy rope came around my neck I grew more desperate "Argh STOP WHAT DO YOU WANT, SH!T COUNTESS, GREG, PRIMROSE"

In a cold tone he said "There is no use in calling for help Zorc has casted a silencing magic circle they won't here anything."

"what do you.....want?" I asked growing more desperate as the bindings tighten and lifted me in air.

"What I want huh?" he looked at me, his eyes still cold.

But the next thing that happened suprised me greatly, his hands started getting covered in a pure black hue which seemed so ominous and malevolent.

"How?....."

that's the only thing I could ask before he brought his hand closer to me I tried to evade but the bindings tighten and brought me closer to him.

"What I want is ...."

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