Omen

As Lassim stood before the audience, his halberd crackling with the energies of both lightning and water, a stunned silence fell over the hall. The deacon, his eyes wide with astonishment, could hardly believe what he was witnessing. Never before in Nexia's history had a spirit warrior awakened two elemental spirits—a feat that defied all expectations and traditions.

The deacon's voice trembled as he spoke, suddenly kneeling before Lassim, his words echoing through the hushed hall. "Ladies and gentlemen," he announced, his tone filled with awe and reverence, "we are witnessing a historic moment—a moment that will be remembered for generations to come. Lassim, son of the Iron Marquis, has become the first spirit warrior in Nexia's history to awaken not one, but two elemental spirits."

As Lassim's dual elemental awakening reverberated throughout the hall, the audience's initial excitement gave way to murmurs of concern. Whispers spread like wildfire among the gathered families, their voices tinged with apprehension and speculation.

"Two elemental spirits... What? Why?"

 "One was always enough to become a formidable warrior. But two? The sheer power he will wield... It could make him a terror on every battlefield."

"It's unheard of... Surely it's a sign."

"The Dragal will tremble before him, but at what could this mean?"

Their voices rising in a thunderous roar that reverberated throughout the hall, some also knelt down in reverence of the display from the gods. Others, those with scars and obviously more battle experience, showed deep concerned expressions. 

The audience, though awestruck by the display of power, couldn't shake the feeling of foreboding that settled over them. In a world already ravaged by constant attacks from the Dragal, the emergence of a spirit warrior wielding the power of two elements seemed to portend an uncertain and potentially perilous future.

As the murmurs grew louder, Lassim's father, the Iron Marquis, and his uncle Gryphon exchanged worried glances. While they couldn't deny the incredible strength their son and nephew now possessed, they also understood the weight of responsibility that came with it.

"The boy has always been headstrong," the Iron Marquis muttered under his breath, his brow furrowed with concern. "But this... This changes everything."

Gryphon nodded in agreement, his expression grave. "He'll be a force to be reckoned with, that's for certain. But at what cost? What dangers lie ahead for a spirit warrior of such unparalleled power?"

Their words hung heavy in the air.

For the people of Nexia, Lassim's achievement was nothing short of miraculous—a symbol of hope and possibility in a world filled with constant attacks from the Dragal. However, to others, it was also an omen of the things to come. The wisdom of the average 10,000 year life span and the countless attacks of the Dragal only begged one question to mind for these individuals, "Why now?"

The deacon, being a righteous and pious man, he could only marvel at the magnitude of Lassim's accomplishment, but also grow extremely concerned of the future that would require such a hero to be born. In that moment, he knew that the spirit of Nexia was in trouble, but he was also fueled by the boundless potential of this young man in front of him.

As Lassim stood on the stage, his halberd surging with the elements, he couldn't help but feel the weight of their gazes upon him. The cheers of the audience, once jubilant, now seemed muted against the backdrop of their fears and doubts.

There was also a glimmer of determination in his eyes. He knew that the path ahead would be fraught with peril, but he was determined to face it head-on, for the sake of his family, his people, and the future of Nexia.

After Lassim's historic awakening, he returned to his seat beside his uncle Gryphon and his father, the Iron Marquis. The atmosphere around them was charged with a mixture of awe, excitement, and apprehension, as the remaining children awaited their turns to awaken their elemental spirits.

The deacon continue calling names as audience returned to watch the ceremony unfold, with more elemental awakenings taking place. Lassim couldn't shake the sense of responsibility that now rested heavily on his shoulders. He knew that his dual elemental awakening had set him apart from the others, and he couldn't help but ponder on the warning given by Famthar.

His father and uncle watched with a mixture of pride and concern, as they glanced at Lassim, but their eyes returning to be fixed on the stage as each child approached the pedestal to offer their prayers to the gods.

As the remaining awakenings unfolded, it became clear that none were as shocking or impactful as Lassim's.

One by one, the children were blessed with the gifts of fire, wind, water, and nature, their elemental manifestations appearing with varying degrees of intensity and flair. Some wielded weapons that burst into flame, others twirled with gusts of wind or floating mists of water, while still others made the the earth itself shake as if ready to do their bidding.

Yet, within the displays of elemental power, none could rival the magnitude of Lassim's awakening. His dual elemental halberd crackling with the energies of both lightning and water, the storm, had left an indelible mark on the ceremony, setting a new standard for what it meant to be a spirit warrior.

As the last child received their blessing and the ceremony drew to a close, the audience erupted into solemn applause. Next was the chance for each child to become a student at one of the many prestigious martial spirit academies in the continent. 

Exiting the grand Exalted Altar of the gods and into the bustling streets of Golden River Lotus City, those who had just completed their awakening were greeting with the faces of the representatives of the various academies. All eagerly awaiting the opportunity to recruit the newly awakened spirit warriors. The commotion that Lassim had caused had surely not gone unnoticed. 

Lassim felt a surge of anticipation as he looked upon the faces of the academy representatives. Each one represented a different path, a different opportunity for growth and training. He knew that his decision would shape his future as a spirit warrior, and he was determined to choose wisely.

With Sir Ian's recommendation, and the knowledge of his mother's Rohese family, he looked for the representative for the Myriad Spirit Academy, his eyes scanning the crowd. This would be the place he'd hope to spend the next 7 years at while his spirits grew until reaching the spirit growth stage. 

His father, the Iron Marquis, and his uncle Gryphon stood beside him as they navigated the throngs of people, their eyes scanning the crowd for the representatives of the most renowned academies. Quickly he noticed the iconic banner that stated Myriad Spirit Academy with a profound elemental glow on each of the letters.

As Lassim approached the representatives of the Myriad Spirit Academy, there was an undeniable air of eagerness and anticipation. The academy's reputation for excellence in martial spirit cultivation preceded it, and Lassim had long held a desire to study there. His mother's family was also based in the Myriad Spirit City where the academy is located. He'd finally get to greet that side of his clan.

The representative, adorned in the academy's colors of blue and gold, practically beamed with excitement as he caught sight of Lassim. "Lassim, son of the Iron Marquis!" he exclaimed, stepping eagerly forward with an outstretched hand, practically grasping him so that he couldn't run away.

"What an honor it is to meet you! Your performance at the Spirit Awakening Ceremony has shocked the town and representatives. The Myriad Spirit Academy would be absolutely thrilled to welcome someone of your potential among our esteemed students."

His words were filled with a palpable enthusiasm, and there was a hint of desperation in his voice as he continued, "We are prepared to offer you not only the finest training in martial techniques for elemental spirit cultivation of your weapon but also a unique opportunity to train with our Spirit Transformation level elders every month. And as a special incentive, we would be more than willing to provide you with not one, but two spirit encouragement potions to aid in your training and development."

The representative's offer was quite generous, and it was clear that he was pulling out all the stops to entice Lassim to join the academy. His eagerness was infectious, and Lassim couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement at the prospect of studying at such a prestigious institution. He was already planning to join the academy but they were determined that he attend!

"Thank you," Lassim said, his voice clear with gratitude. "Your offer is incredibly generous, and I am honored by the opportunity to study at the Myriad Spirit Academy. I look forward to beginning my training and making the most of everything your academy has to offer."

With a hearty laugh that echoed through the bustling streets, the representative of the Myriad Spirit Academy expressed his exhilaration at having secured Lassim's enrollment.

"Great! Great! Great!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with jubilation. "Those old coots back at the academy are never going to believe this!"

As he regained his composure, the representative adopted a more serious tone. "Please be sure to prepare yourself and your things," he instructed, his demeanor becoming more businesslike. "We will gather with the other students I accept at the north gate of the city tomorrow morning at daybreak for our journey to Myriad Spirit City. Make sure to be on time."

Lassim nodded in understanding, his excitement tempered by a sense of responsibility. "I'll be there," he assured the representative.

With a final handshake and a parting nod, Lassim bid farewell to the representative of the Myriad Spirit Academy, his mind already racing with plans for the journey ahead.

As he made his way through the bustling streets of Golden River Lotus City back to his inn with his father and uncle, he couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation for the adventure that awaited him at his new school. However, the looks of almost worship and other of slight fear as he crossed the many bridges added a bit of pressure to his mind.