Chapter 29 - Awakening (2)

It was my turn, and with each step I took toward the platform, my nervousness intensified. The weight of several gazes bore down on me, their collective scrutiny almost palpable.

It was as though the entire room held its breath, waiting for the unveiling of my awakened power.

As I reached the platform, I couldn't resist stealing a glance at Professor Adriannel. His sharp gaze met mine, and he acknowledged me with a knowing smile.

It was a subtle confirmation that he had noticed, that he understood the immense well of mana that surged within me. After all, how could he not? He has The sanctum's 5th floor weapon the 'Reincarnation wand',

As maybe he was not the strongest in the world but he was one of them,He must have felt 'Zendal bracelet' and it's effect on me.

I continued to move forward, closing the distance to the stone tablet with each step. My heart raced, a cacophony of anticipation echoing in my chest.

This was the moment I had prepared for, the moment when the arcane mysteries of the academy would grant me a unique ability.

Hope welled within me, a fervent desire to receive a power that would match the depth of my potential. With every ounce of control I possessed, I approached the stone tablet, ready to embrace whatever destiny had in store for me.

As I put my hands on the stone tablet, a hushed ripple of whispers and giggles swept through the crowd. I couldn't help but overhear some taunts and snickers.

"Mana transmutation? What a peculiar ability!"

someone whispered, and others joined in, their comments a mixture of curiosity and mockery.

It seemed like the choice of my power had raised some eyebrows, and I could feel the weight of their judgment. Except for Professor Adriannel, who remained a silent observer with a hint of intrigue in his eyes, none of the other professors paid me much attention.

Their indifference stung, but I knew better than to let it deter me.

For me, this ability was a gift, a twist of fate that I had been waiting for. The enormous mana reserves within me, regenerating at a swift speed, were like a hidden boon.

I could feel it, the potential to shape this mana into something extraordinary. It was a power that had the potential to make me stand out, to prove that even the most unconventional abilities could become something great.

As I stood there, my hands firmly planted on the tablet, I felt a rush of energy surging through me.

It was as though the stone itself acknowledged my potential. With each passing moment, I could sense the connection between myself and the mana deepening, a bond forming that would allow me to harness this gift to its fullest extent.

The whispers of the crowd faded into the background as I focused on the wellspring of mana within me. With "Mana Transmutation," I had the power to convert this energy into any form I desired – attacks or defenses limited only by my imagination. It was a double-edged sword, consuming mana at a rapid pace, but I was ready to master it, to find that delicate balance between unleashing its potential and preserving my precious reserves.

This was my moment, my destiny unfolding before me, and I was determined to make the most of it.

<Valeriana's POV>

As I watched the procession of students, my gaze landed on the same boy I had noticed earlier, the one who had been silently chanting something in his mind.

His presence felt peculiar, like a jigsaw piece that refused to fit into the puzzle.

I couldn't help but turn my attention toward him as he stepped onto the platform.

His name was something like zeph had crossed my mind, a name I hadn't paid much attention to until now.

As he placed his hands on the tablet, I saw the words displayed above him in shimmering letters: <Mana Transmutation> It was a common ability, one that lacked practicality due to its rapid mana consumption, a fact that made it less favored among students.

A subtle sense of disappointment washed over me.

Perhaps I had overlooked him, expecting more from someone who had, until this moment, remained in the background.

It seemed my initial impression of him being different had been mistaken.

I couldn't help but classify him as just another weakling among the many students gathered here, waiting for their awakened powers.