Chapter 5 – A Few Days Earlier

  A few days earlier.

  Before Kael left for the Royal Academy.

  Before the fox.

  Before the fight.

  The royal family gathered inside the Hall of Awakening.

  It was one of the oldest chambers in the entire castle. Massive stone pillars reached toward the high ceiling, each carved with ancient symbols that pulsed faintly with magic. At the center of the room stood the Awakening Stone, a massive crystal glowing with golden light.

  Nobles from across the kingdom filled the chamber.

  Everyone knew the importance of tonight.

  The king’s children were about to awaken their classes.

  And one of them would eventually sit on the throne.

  King Aldren Silverhart sat high above the hall on a stone throne, his tired eyes watching everything carefully.

  “Begin,” the king ordered.

  The Eldest Prince

  Prince Valerian Silverhart stepped forward first.

  The entire room grew quiet.

  Valerian had always carried himself like a ruler. His posture was straight, his movements calm, his expression completely controlled.

  Many nobles already believed the throne would one day be his.

  He walked to the Awakening Stone without hesitation.

  When his hand touched the crystal, the stone erupted with golden light.

  A system appeared inside his mind.

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  Class Awakened: Dragon Knight

  Rank: Mythical

  Valerian’s expression barely changed, but inside his chest he felt a surge of pride.

  Dragon Knights were legendary warriors.

  Ancient records said they could one day bond with dragons themselves.

  Valerian removed his hand from the stone and stepped back.

  The nobles immediately burst into whispers.

  “A Mythical class…”

  “Incredible.”

  Valerian ignored them.

  He had expected nothing less.

  The Second Prince

  Next came Prince Darius Silverhart.

  Unlike his older brother, Darius looked like he was attending a party instead of a ceremony.

  He walked forward with a lazy smile, his hands casually in his pockets.

  Darius was charming.

  Funny.

  But many nobles secretly feared him.

  He enjoyed manipulating people far too much.

  When he placed his hand on the Awakening Stone, the crystal flared again.

  His system appeared.

  Class Awakened: Shadow Sovereign

  Rank: Mythical

  Darius blinked once.

  Then he laughed quietly to himself.

  “Now that’s interesting.”

  Shadows.

  Darkness.

  Control over the unseen.

  Darius stepped away from the crystal with a satisfied grin.

  “Oh this will be fun.”

  The Third Prince

  Prince Magnus Silverhart walked forward next.

  Where Valerian was calm and Darius was sly, Magnus was something entirely different.

  He was loud.

  Massive.

  And loved fighting more than anything else in the world.

  Magnus cracked his neck before placing his hand against the Awakening Stone.

  The crystal exploded with light again.

  His system appeared immediately.

  Class Awakened: Titan Berserker

  Rank: Mythical

  Magnus stared at the words for half a second.

  Then he burst out laughing.

  “Yes!”

  The nobles flinched slightly at the noise.

  Magnus pumped his fist excitedly.

  A class that grew stronger the longer a battle lasted.

  A class built purely for destruction.

  Magnus loved it.

  The First Princess

  Then Princess Seraphina Silverhart stepped forward.

  Unlike her brothers, Seraphina moved with quiet elegance.

  She had always been the most intelligent of the king’s children. While the princes spent their days sparring in the training yard, Seraphina spent hers studying magic and ancient knowledge.

  Many nobles believed she might actually be the most dangerous sibling.

  Seraphina placed her hand on the crystal.

  The Awakening Stone glowed softly.

  Her system appeared.

  Class Awakened: Arcane Oracle

  Rank: Mythical

  Seraphina’s eyes sharpened slightly.

  Fragments of magical knowledge flooded her mind instantly.

  An Arcane Oracle could manipulate powerful magic and glimpse pieces of possible futures.

  She stepped away from the crystal calmly.

  A small thoughtful smile formed on her lips.

  Useful.

  Very useful.

  The Youngest Princess

  Finally, the youngest royal stepped forward.

  Princess Lyra Silverhart.

  Lyra looked gentle compared to her siblings.

  Her soft expression and quiet voice made many nobles assume she would awaken something harmless.

  Lyra approached the Awakening Stone slowly.

  She placed her hand against the glowing surface.

  The crystal suddenly burst into brilliant light.

  Her system appeared.

  Class Awakened: Celestial Enchantress

  Rank: Mythical

  Lyra blinked in surprise.

  Magic flooded through her mind instantly.

  Illusions.

  Charms.

  Power that could influence emotions and manipulate the minds of others.

  Lyra tilted her head slightly.

  A playful smile slowly appeared.

  “Oh… this could cause a lot of trouble.”

  The hall erupted with excited whispers.

  Five royal heirs.

  Five Mythical classes.

  It was something the kingdom had never seen before.

  The nobles were ecstatic.

  The royal bloodline was clearly blessed with incredible power.

  But none of them noticed one thing.

  Despite the excitement…

  Two of the siblings briefly looked toward the back of the hall.

  Toward the place where their sixth sibling had been standing earlier.

  The prince most people pretended didn’t exist.

  Kael Silverhart.

  Neither of them said a word.

  But both of them were thinking the same thing.

  If the throne was going to be decided by strength…

  Then the future of the kingdom would eventually become a battlefield.