51 Awakening Time 3
When the gems encrusted in the temple ceiling dislodged out of their positions, they began to tremble while emitting invisible pulses that only the strongest individuals out there could perceive.
The main point of Awakening a person's magical powers would already exist within them even before the Awakening ceremony, before the Magic Gem fused with their essence.
However, there was a finite number of distinct types of Magic Gems, in a sense, each associated with types of elemental variations, giving rise to different powers.
During Awakening, the most compatible Gems would be attracted to each individual. But one Gem with the 'configuration' 'X' could suit two different people. However, the powers each would possess would be different from the others, as their talents might differ, and their future journeys would also be unique, thereby shaping their powers differently.
But at the time of Awakening, there were a finite number of Gems, and to choose whom they would merge with, these Gems would emit pulses and 'sense' back the one who was the most compatible individual with them in the area.
Some Gems would have very little compatibility with all the young people going through the Awakening Ceremony, so they wouldn't even move. But others would find harmony with specific compatible 'hosts' and gravitate towards them.
When one of these Gems felt the 'response' of its pulse coming from Rory's body, which absorbed it completely without denial, it stopped vibrating for an instant and then flew towards him.
Seeing something approaching him at great speed, Rory clenched his fists in anticipation, realizing a Gem had chosen him.
For some of these youngsters, the nervousness at this moment was not about the quality of the Gem they would receive. Rather, it was about the fact that none of them could be sure whether they would even receive one!
It was a daily occurrence in Polaris Realm that someone would have to walk down the Awakening Platform without a Magic Gem adorning their forehead!
It was the most heart-wrenching outcome for a person who aspired to awaken their magical abilities. Nonetheless, it happened daily!
When Rory noticed a little radiant 'star' was approaching him, he felt thrilled.
The Gem drew closer while Rory eagerly awaited its arrival.
A quick moment later, it hit him, slapping him on the underside of his forehead with a force akin to that of a slap from another child of similar strength to himself.
The impact caused him to shut his eyes and momentarily flail his arms in fear he would lose balance and fall.
Then, as he felt a warm sensation lingering on his forehead, Rory felt as if someone had suddenly flipped the circuit breaker and turned the light bulb of his world on.
He had been in darkness, but now he suddenly realized the vibrant world around him!
Rory could sense every fraction of mana coursing in his body, and the strength that he felt was so impressive that he could barely recognize himself. In an instant, he had transitioned from being the boy he was just a few moments ago to becoming a Junior Apprentice!
Amid this extraordinary moment, as he beamed with joy, Rory felt as if someone was enveloping his body with something warm. Still, as he opened his eyes and scanned his surroundings, he couldn't see anything.
Nonetheless, the feeling was unmistakable, and he soon discovered his first Magic Pentagram taking shape before it connected to his being.
That was the first Magic Pentagram formed upon Awakening after the successful absorption of a Magic Gem. It was the form of power that was most compatible with the characteristics of each magician and was said to be the indicator of the path that would be taken by each magician in this world.
The Magic Gem that adorned Rory's forehead was naturally of the highest quality he could handle, so he soon felt the power of his first pentagram, although he didn't need to see it to know that it was Red, as was the case for 99.9% of the people of Polaris Realm.
As Rory sensed the power surging through him amidst his smile, he noticed the small, bright 'star' on his forehead stop glowing and take the shape that would forever define his magical limits.
While this was occurring, Vice and his men were gazing at Rory's forehead, anxious.
However, their expressions immediately changed when that Magic Gem took its true form, and they could see it.
The men, who had initially thought that Rory would get something normal, began to form wide smiles on their faces while Vicente's eyes widened significantly.
The hearts of all of them began to beat faster as they witnessed a stunning green color on Rory's forehead!
This was a magnificent talent!
Typically, the talent rank went from Red, Orange, Yellow, and only then was it Green!
In other words, Rory's talent was at a 4th-grade class, well above the average by Scott Province standards!
As for its shape, it was a dodecahedron.
Some Gems took on three-dimensional shapes, featuring distinct shades and sharp lines. That was the case with Rory's Gem, making it one of the rare kinds!
'Rory's talent and magical form are above average... It seems his father was no ordinary man.' Vicente immediately connected the dots and deduced that his friend had some special origin.
Rory was probably the bastard of some important man!
When two people of the same talents and equal magical forms reproduced, their children had nearly a 100% chance of inheriting the talents and magical forms of their parents. However, the probabilities multiplied when there was a combination of magical forms and talents.
Children could either inherit the characteristics of their mother or the characteristics only of their father. However, there could be a mixture of the two, and the child would inherit the magical form of one and the talent of the other. But that was not all. The fusion of such two different forms and talents could also give rise to something new!
As such, there was the possibility that a couple could generate someone similar to them but also less talented or more talented.
In Rory's case, it did not mean that his magical form and talent were the same as his father's. His biological father could be more or less talented than an illegitimate child!
Knowing the basics about this, Vicente had no intention of trying to compare the characteristics of Rory's Gem with anyone else's. He was just curious about his friend's lineage.
But Rory's talents would be good for his family if no one took him away, as had happened to Lauren!
Vicente left his curiosity and good impression of Rory's talents and clenched his fists, fearing that someone in the temple would take his friend by force.
The time of the Awakening Ceremony came to an end. In that instant, as the youths walked down the platform's stairs, two people approached Rory and another young man, who also had received a Green Gem on his forehead.
"Boys, we are from the royal family of Seidel. You possess above-average talents. Congratulations. Would you like to join the royal army?" A woman dressed in military armor inquired while her colleague smiled at the two young men.
Since no one else was in this place to observe today's ceremony, Vicente was spared from the agony of watching someone important to him being kidnapped this time.
The other young man with green talent immediately accepted the invitation, exclaiming, "Yes! Yes! That's my dream!"
However, Rory turned down the offer from the royal army observers, saying, "I admire the Seidel family and the royal forces. But I do not wish to live as a soldier, so I must decline."
