1 Gifts

"I'm going to college soon, so my Father has decided to look for a sponsor to provide for my finances in the future.

But I did not expect him to go to the Government hall and kowtow in front of many people to plead for the mayor to accept his request.

I was just standing there, embarrassed, and even had the urge to step back and act like he was not my Father.

I am the worst son, aren't I?

For me to have the urge to escape when my Father boldly pleaded for the better for my future.

I also started to regret at that time why I kept telling my Father how badly I wanted to enter the Academy.

I always desired to become an Awakener, so I could not shut my mouth.

Now, staring at my Father kowtowing and pleading to have a scholarship for my financial education to become an awakener… all those dreams disappear in an instant.

All I wanted was to get home with my Father and live a normal life.

I wanted to tell him that.

However… I caught the mayor's expression in my peripheral vision smiling slightly.

He seemed to be amused by my father's action.

Furthermore, he even boasted of how talented his son was for awakening a Peak Grade Gift and even received an invitation letter from the Wilham Academy!

I was shocked, really shocked.

Why? I always believed those people who went through the harsh times would be rewarded with their desire.

As a person who understood a bit of the cycle of life, It came to me that as long as you are persistent in your goals, there is no way for you not to achieve them.

However, his son? Above all else?

The son who was known to our school as a tyrant? Bullying people to his amusement?

Pwe! They are a father and son, indeed!

When will Karma befall them?!

I'm really frustrated that I started to tremble.

Tears were even blurring my vision.

The people's murmur as they humiliated my father verbally made me feel helpless.

When will I have my blessings?

Until now, I had not heard the voice revealing that I received a Gift.

Day and Night, I was hoping for me to receive the revelation of that mysterious voice.

There was not a day that I hoped to earn it.

But those desires diminished and vanished.

Staring at my father kowtowing for five minutes just because of the long speech of that despicable mayor, declaring how amazing his son was, impelled me to remove those thoughts.

Starting from then on, those desires were replaced by the notion of becoming a medical practitioner to take care of my parents and my young brother, who has crippled legs.

Even when the mayor accepted my father's request, I would utilize all that money in medical school.

Since I'm smart and always topped the school ranking, it will not be difficult for me to enter a well-known school that is famous for producing top-notch medical students.

Elder White-Beard, do you think I made the right decision?" Kopi asked as he gazed at an elderly.

The Elderly has long, silky, icy hair stuck in between the resting chair and his back. His cyanic snowflake eyes were unique, a distinct trait that left Kopi awestruck and envious. His long and snowy beard was the reason Kopi called him Elder White-Beard.

Same with Kopi, he has a bony physique, appearing to be frail and sickly.

However, what amazed Kopi was that there were no cases of the elderly getting sick.

He always visited him after school for he always believed he would be at his side once he was unwell.

But, in the end, he would just chat with the Elder, with the notion of entertaining him since he lived alone in a radius of a hundred meters of his house.

He also did not know the reason either, but he did hear it should be because a hundred-meter radius of his house seemed to be too cold to live in.

Regardless, Kopi seemed to be fine and he even took out his polo and now wore a sleeveless shirt after running straight to the house after school.

"My opinion?" The Elderly contemplated.

The Elderly seemed to be filled with vigor and had a kind temperament.

He thought deeply about Kopi's question.

When he was finished, he shook his head and replied with a gentle voice, "Kopi, although your decision is definitely better, that is, in your circumstances, I believe that being an awakener will solve your problem.

You should know why you always dreamed of becoming one.

Getting fame, money, and superpowers… all those things can be acquired once you become an awakener and soar through the ranks.

Even when we are now in 50 A.A, the fiftieth year marks the end of the Apocalypse with our hero finally managing to reconquer the land for us, the needs of the Awakeners to the society never diminished at all.

Dimensional Gates would randomly appear, so the society needs as many Awakeners as possible.

Beasts naturally did not disappear yet, for most of the intelligent ones went into hiding and would only show up to wreak havoc.

With all those points taken, I hope you understand that once you receive your gift, I wish the desire to become an Awakener will return."

Kopi took those words seriously and sighed.

"To be honest with you, Elder. I was lying when I did not want to become an Awakener. Just like you said, once I receive my gift, I will not hesitate to become one.

Even when my legs are on the grave, I am adamant."

"I know." The Elder smiled. "I am aware of how reality has changed your dreams.

There was even a time when I had to sacrifice something for the betterment of us.

It was also a reality that I was forced to take."

He bitterly smiled.

Kopi was really curious about it, having the desire for the Elder to spill the tea so he could finally have an idea of the Elder's background, but he restrained himself.

"But!" The Elder shouted, startling Kopi awake. "Do you desire to surpass that son of the Mayor, right? And returned the humiliation the Mayor brought to your father?"

Kopi fell into deep contemplation and slowly nodded.

The Elder was satisfied, then thinking of something, he asked with a wry smile, "I seem to recall you usually shared your romantic life. What happened to that girl you always brought up to me before?"

Kopi was stunned and lowered his head after the image of the girl popped up in his mind.

With a downcasted expression, he replied with a gloomy tone, "She… she dated Aiden."

"Aiden?" The Elder furrowed his eyebrows and asked, "The Mayor's Son?"

"Yeah."

Kopi was more dispirited when he thought of confessing his feelings to the girl, who, in the end, rejected him.

When Aiden learned about it, it was also the time he started to bully Kopi, whether it was physical or verbal.

"Is he the cause of the bruises on your body?" The Elder knitted his eyebrows.

"..." 

Kopi's silence answered the Elder's question.

"You know…" The Elder tried to capture Kopi's attention and continued, "If you remain weak, then you will stay as a playtoy by the strong for their amusement.

If you want to turn your fate around, then you must be ready to change yourselves. 

I even advised you to delude yourself.

You are aware that most Gifts awaken depending on your environment, right?

That speculation has been proven correct by the people in the North Continent.

They even established an Academy that specialized only in Ice Elements since Ice in other countries was irregular because it was outside of the Five Common Elements.

Actually, I theorized that there is still another way to awaken your Gifts."

"What is it?" Kopi could not hold his excitement and asked with sparkling eyes.

"A desire…"

"Desire…"

Kopi pondered and tried to make sense of Elder's answer.

The Elder sensed it and continued, "If awakening the Gifts of Element Affinity was through the environment, what about SuperHuman Gifts? Weapon Gifts? Economic Gifts? And other varieties of Gifts?

Although some of them could be awakened by the environment, I think that desire plays a vital role.

Without desire, how would your Gift manifest?

We take a prodigy young man who has practiced his swords ever since he was young as an example.

There has not been a single day he didn't swing his sword.

Even when he did not receive his Gift when he was twelve, a fresh age that is said to be the early age where higher ranking Gifts manifested, he vented his frustrations through sword practice.

He deeply desired to become the Strongest Sword Practitioner out there, and the only way for him was to awaken the Gift that would aid him in reaching his goal.

Look at where he is now. He is already a Sword Saint recognized in the Qin Empire and was granted a position as a Duke. Even his story has been passed on to other countries and was even taught by the schools.

His story motivated many who aspired to be an Awakener."

Kopi's eyes twinkled and replied in excitement, "You meant the famous Sword Saint in the Qin Empire and an Archduke revered by many because of being a Transcendent? The famous story of a commoner rising through the ranks of a noble?"

The Elder's face formed a bitter smile and replied, "Yes, I am talking about him."

'But I'm stronger than him, though.'

The Elder shook his head and said, "So? What do you desire?"

"To become an Awakener, of course!" Kopi replied without hesitation.

The Elder motioned his head in denial and said, "That is still ambiguous.

Did you even understand what I said? Sword Saint practiced sword because he desired to progress through the Sword.

Just ask yourself, what kind of Awakener do you aspire to be? A mage? A combatant?"

"What kind of Awakener do I aspire to be?" Kopi murmured and fell into a daze.

The Elder laid his back on the chair, taking a rest, and sighed.

He seemed to be thinking of something.

In less than half a minute, Kopi had finally decided.

He gazed at the Elder, who noticed his stare and looked at him back, and Kopi said, "I have finally decided.

I want to become the Strongest Awakener out there!"

"The Strongest…" The Elder was stunned, but then his expression contorted to anger.

"Do you even know what I was saying, you brat?! I thought you were smart?! Come here and I will teach you a lesson!"

Kopi was taken aback and let out an awkward smile as he tried to stand up and wanted to flee.

However, he was surprised he could not move.

'Wha-?'

The sudden tingling feeling bolted him awake.

'Ah! I sat in the same position for a long time!'

The numb feeling, yet kept aching, originated from his legs, ending his failure to react when he was grabbed by the Elder from his collar.

"Umm… Elder Isolde, can you please be lenient with me?"

The Elder snorted and replied with a calm tone, "I was not planning to teach you a lesson. I only want to check your condition."

Kopi exhaled in relief as he let the Elder drop him to the floor not far from the chair where the Elder sat.

The Elder said, "Give me your hand."

Kopi obediently motioned his hand forward to the Elder, and the latter grabbed his hand.

When Kopi saw he touched the Elder, he could not help but think, 'I think this is the first time we made contact. He seemed to be afraid I would touch him, but now, look at him… casually grabbing my hand.'

Just when he thought so, a voice echoed in his head.

[The Aether core has been filled with energy. The Gift is now ready to be utilized.

Coming into contact with an existence possessing the Divine Rank of the Ice Element Gift.

Does the host want to extract the Gift? 

Yes/No?]

Kopi's soul was shaken.