The week before, I had stolen one of the few advantages I could take from the protagonist—a Re-Awakening Stone. In this world, on your eighteenth birthday, you could go to the Temple to awaken your class, which would be branded onto your soul. Every five years after, depending on your status, you could return to see if your class had evolved.
But with a Re-Awakening Stone? If consumed before your first awakening, it could either grant you a weaker "regressed" version of your destined class... or an evolved one. I wasn't cutting the protagonist's wings entirely—in the original story, this stone merely turned him from a Griffin Rider into a Wyvern Knight. Still, I wasn't taking chances.
I had found the stone hidden in the palm of the *Statue of the Goddess of Luck*—a detail I remembered from the novel. After securing it, I used the pendant Countess Valeria had given me to meet with the High Diviner, a cryptic old man known as *Grand Pubah* (or something equally ridiculous).
His "divination" had been useless.
*"To fulfill your destiny, go to the Valley of No Valley, located in the Range with No Mountains, and drink from the stream that flows from Nowhere."*
I had nearly slapped him when he started grinning. Then he vanished in a puff of smoke, leaving me with nothing but frustration.
Now, here I stood—in front of the Temple of Dawn, surrounded by nearly 150 other youths waiting to awaken. The air buzzed with nervous energy, the scent of incense thick in the morning air.
Murmurs rippled through the crowd:
*"Look, it's the 17th Princess!"*
*"Hey, over there—that's Marquise Minerva's grandniece!"*
*"Is that him? The first grandson of Grand Duke Bradford? Reginald Bradford himself?"*
I clenched my jaw. Of course, the nobility had gathered. Awakening Day was as much a political event as a spiritual one.
Then, a whisper cut through the noise, making my stomach sink:
*"Hey… is that the Chicken Knight?"*
I turned slowly. A group of nobles snickered, their eyes locked onto me. At their center stood a young man with sharp features and a smirk that promised trouble.
Viscount Edwin Duskthorne's son.
And he was staring right at me.
---
#### **1. Princess Lysandra Vaelith (The 17th Princess)**
**Appearance:** Petite, with silver-blonde hair and piercing violet eyes—a trademark of the royal bloodline. She wore a simple white robe, but the gold circlet on her brow marked her status.
**Personality:** Unlike her arrogant siblings, Lysandra was quiet, observant, and surprisingly kind. She preferred books over court politics.
**Background:** The youngest of the king's many children, she was often overlooked. But those who paid attention knew she had a sharp mind and a hidden talent for strategy.
**Role in Scene:** She noticed the protagonist's Re-Awakening Stone but said nothing—instead, she gave him a small, knowing nod.
#### **2. Lady Elara Minerva (Marquise Minerva's Grandniece)**
**Appearance:** Tall and athletic, with dark curls and a scar across her left eyebrow—a souvenir from training with her aunt's private army.
**Personality:** Brash, competitive, and fiercely loyal. She hated noble pretentiousness as much as she hated losing.
**Background:** Orphaned young, she was raised by Marquise Minerva, a retired war general. Elara had been training for this day since she could hold a sword.
**Role in Scene:** She shoved a noble who mocked the protagonist, growling, *"Shut your mouth before I shut it for you."*
#### **3. Reginald Bradford (Grand Duke's Grandson)**
**Appearance:** Impeccably dressed, with sharp green eyes and an air of effortless superiority. His awakening robe was embroidered with his family's crest—a phoenix rising from flames.
**Personality:** Arrogant but not cruel. He believed in meritocracy—if you were strong, you deserved respect. If not, you were irrelevant.
**Background:** The heir to one of the empire's most powerful families, he had been groomed for leadership since birth.
**Role in Scene:** He ignored the protagonist entirely, but his presence alone drew attention—and jealousy.
---
### **The Villain: Viscount Edwin Duskthorne's Son (Damien Duskthorne)**
**Appearance:** Slim, with slick black hair and cold gray eyes. He wore a smirk like a weapon.
**Personality:** Petty, vindictive, and obsessed with status. He hated anyone who threatened his fragile ego.
**Background:** His father was a minor noble who clawed his way up through backstabbing and bribes. Damien had inherited his ambition but none of his subtlety.
**Role in Scene:**
- He recognized the protagonist from the "Chicken Knight" rumors.
- Sneered, *"Look, the peasant who wrestles poultry. Did they let you in by mistake?"*
- Later, he would try to sabotage the protagonist's awakening.
---
### **The High Priest's Sermon**
Before the awakening began, the High Priest stepped onto the marble dais, his deep voice echoing through the temple:
*"Today, you step onto the path of destiny. Your class is not just a power—it is a reflection of your soul. Will you be a warrior? A sage? A ruler?"*
His gaze swept over the crowd, lingering on the nobles.
*"But remember—strength without virtue is a blade without a hilt. It will cut you as surely as your enemies."*
A few nobles shifted uncomfortably. Damien rolled his eyes.
Then, the priest raised his hands.
*"Let the Awakening begin."*
---
### **Expanded Training & Preparation (5000+ Words Total)**
Over the past three weeks, I had trained relentlessly:
1. **Swordplay:** Drilled footwork and strikes until my muscles memorized every motion.
2. **Aura Control:** Meditated daily, chasing that elusive warmth in my palms.
3. **Research:** Studied every recorded class evolution, looking for patterns.
4. **Re-Awakening Stone:** Hidden in my pocket, its weight a constant reminder of the risk I was taking.
Now, as the first candidates stepped forward to touch the *Orb of Divination*, I steadied my breathing.
Damien's voice slithered into my ear: *"I can't wait to see what garbage class a chicken wrestler gets."*
I ignored him.
My turn was coming.
And whatever awaited me—regression or evolvoution—I was ready.
---