Episode 3: Sponsor Selection Ceremony

-10 days later

The cobblestone streets of the city centre cracked under Kaito's steps, as he walked towards the ceremony location with his eyes scanning the vibrant scene before him.

 "It is finally time for the ceremony, I wonder how many people would be choosing their astral sponsors at this ceremony."

"Look at this place," Kaito murmured to himself after seeing the busy streets and colourful banners flapping in the wind. The air was thick with excitement and a sense of unity among those who wandered in the same direction as him. He could feel all the incredible astral energy of other people as they all moved towards the ceremony location. 

"Hey, you there!" A merchant called out to him from a nearby stall, he was displaying an array of trinkets that glittered under the sunlight. "Care for a charm to protect you during the ceremony? It will guarantee to attract the strongest astral beings!"

Kaito politely declined his offer and continued his journey. His mind began to wonder, thinking about what lies ahead, and how it could change his life forever.

"Have you heard the stories?" Suddenly a voice whispered near him, It was a woman who was talking with her companion. "Some individuals have gained incredible powers through their sponsored astral beings."

Kaito's ears perked up at the mention of the incredible powers. He knew that he needed a strong sponsor to help him overcome the challenges he would inevitably face. But the thought of such responsibility also filled him with trepidation. He also wondered how astral beings treat the incarnates.

"Indeed," the other woman replied. "One of my cousin was chosen by an astral being of high ranking last year. He can now use a grade 3 unique skill." 

"grade 3 unique skill after just a year? Seems like he got very lucky and was sponsored by one of higher ranking ones." she replied.

There are ranks even among the astral beings, and they're mostly based on their own power and influence over the realms. There are mainly 5 different ranks amongst the astral being. 1) celestial 2) Luminous 3) ephemeral 4) Nebulous 5) Primordials. Though Primordial beings never sponsor an incarnate. And even Nebulous are so rare that roughly only one in a million incarnates are interested by Nebulous beings. Most of the people do not even know of the existence of those two as incarnate sponsor, they simply call those "Cosmic Rulers", and think that there are only 3 ranks amongst the astral beings who sponsor incarnates. 

Moments later, Kaito arrived at the ceremony area. It was a dome created using highly refined Spatial spell. A woman with blonde hairs, cold silver eyes and dressed in the royal attire came forward.

"Attention, everyone!" She was the administrator of city of Orville, 'Frostblade', the Archduke, Hana-Yurim Yuki.

"Look, It's Frostblade, one of 10 strongest people of theia." Everyone seemed to look at her with respect.

"This is a pivotal point of your life, your life might change completely depending on the kind of being decides to sponsor you. But even after that, do not forget who you really are." 

'I guess for a high ranking noble, she does seem different than those depraved bastards.' Kaito wondered. 

"Let the ceremony begin, after all some of you are exciting the astral beings."

The moment incarnates step foot inside the ceremony dorm with active spell on it, the astral beings can already see those within it. They are those who possess immeasurable powers, even a low ranking celestial would be stronger than a veteran with Luminous' incarnate. 

The ceremony began, as Kaito watched the space around him transform into a vibrant, otherworldly landscape. The skies, No everything around him were turned into what seemed like infinite star like objects shining, even the air was as if very essence of astral energy was woven into it. It was flowing with such refined astral energy that no one there had ever experienced before.

There were hundreds people gathered at the ceremony. Some were just as young as Kaito while some were older. Some used spears, bows or swords as their weapon while others used a staff to focus on their spells more. 

As the connection between realms solidified, countless astral beings began to come closer, The tales of the incredible powers that could be gained by those lucky enough to form a bond with these otherworldly divinities rippled through the crowd.

Moments later, people were surrounded by fragments of lights. Brighter the lights, stronger the astral beings. They link with everyone in the ceremony using a highly advanced telepathy skill, This way they can both introduce themselves and tell name of their interested incarnates. An astral being is only allowed to take in one incarnate every year. 

Soon, those who looked to be promising started to shine with bright lights around them. Even some people had already decided their sponsor just minutes after the ceremony had begun.

But out of hundreds of people that were gathered there, two of them were particularly standing out from everyone else in the vanity. First was a man, who looked to be 21 years old, Majestic golden hairs, Imperial topaz shade eyes. He was without a doubt surrounded by the highest amount of lights around him. The sheer amount of astral beings around him was incomparable to anyone else. He alone had more than half of the total ephemeral ranks summoned eager to sponsor him. 

Everyone stopped their selection for a moment to just to witness this majestic scene. 

"I wonder, whom will he choose?" crowd started murmuring. 

One of ephemeral said,"I am, Fiery phoenix guardian. I would like you to be my incarnate."

"Woah! An ephemeral rank!?" Everyone seemed to be impressed.

After that, even two more ephemeral ranks, 'Fading mirage' and 'whispering shadow' introduced themselves and showed interest in that man.

After a moment, suddenly a voice that echoed throughout the whole vanity said," Hello, my name is Michael, I would also like to become the sponsor of that man."

Everyone were shocked as where that voice came from. It was using a refined telepathy spell which was in a class of it's own. Suddenly an angel appeared before that man. He was in a human like form, Unlike other Astral beings, who are unable to show their forms during this ceremony and remain as a light source.

Everyone looked towards the man with a surprise, even the frostblade had been surprised.

"Wa-wait, isn't that 'Eternal judge of fire', One of cosmic rulers, Michael!!??" one of incarnates gasped from the crowd. 

Everyone there was shocked to see one of 'cosmic ruler', Nebulous rank 'Eternal judge of fire' Michael offer an incarnate to be sponsored. Even Frostblade was shocked to see an astral being on a level of her own sponsor 'Goddess of northern winds' Nebulous rank Chione. She thought 'In my life, I have only seen a handful of incarnates with a nebulous rank deity as their sponsor, even amongst them Michael's reputation is very high.' 

"Hello, my name is Hikari Enko, I am honoured to meet the eternal judge of fire, Michael."

"It has been decades since an incarnate like you had last appeared, to make me want to sponsor. I offer you to inherit a portion of my powers."

It was an obvious choice for Hikari, he accepted to be incarnate of Michael. Even though everyone was shocked, after some time they all continued their own choices. 

On the other hand, the second person who stood out the most after Hikari was, Kaito Mizuki. The only person in this ceremony vanity who had not a single radiant of light around him.