Aryan and Selena were playing with their five-year-old son, William, when a magically amplified voice echoed across the village.
"Attention, all villagers. Please note that an Awakening Ceremony will be held at the Grand Cultivation Tower next month. Every eligible child who has reached five years of age must participate."
As the announcement faded, William looked up, his wide eyes brimming with curiosity. "Mother, Father, what's an Awakening Ceremony?"
Aryan and Selena exchanged a fleeting, heavy glance before focusing on their son.
"It's a special test held every year for children who turn five," Aryan explained gently. "You place your hand on a magic crystal ball, and it reveals your potential—starting from the lowest rank of F, up to E, D, C, and beyond. If the crystal glows with a color, it means you have magic. If it remains clear, you are a body cultivator."
"And the color decides your magical affinity," Selena added with a warm smile. "Red is for fire, blue for water, brown for earth, green for wind, and there are a few other affinities."
William tapped a small finger against his cheek in thought. After a moment, he asked, "Will I be as strong as you and Father?"
"Of course!" Aryan lied smoothly, ruffling the boy's hair. "You will be even stronger than us."
Selena pulled her son into a tight embrace, hiding her face in his shoulder as a single tear slipped down her cheek. She quickly wiped it away. Both parents knew the painful truth: there was a high probability William would never be able to cross the mortal cultivation realm.
Once they sent William outside to play with his friends, the warmth faded from Aryan's face. He turned to his wife. "I am going to Alina's mansion."
Selena simply nodded, her expression tight, and began preparing dinner.
A short walk brought Aryan to the towering gates of the healer's mansion. Recognizing him immediately, the security guard bypassed the usual protocols and sent a maid to inform Lady Alina of his arrival. The maid quickly escorted him to a private waiting room.
Lady Alina rarely refused an audience with Aryan. Not only was he an honorable man who never haggled over healing fees, but he was also one of the village's strongest defenders. In a world constantly threatened by beast tides, top-tier warriors commanded immense respect.
In the clinic wing, Alina quickly assessed her waiting patients. Seeing no severe injuries, she swiftly applied minor healing spells to a few of them, asked the rest to wait, and went to meet her visitor.
As they sat down in the parlor, her professional demeanor softened. "So, how is the child's progress? Has anything major changed?"
Aryan glanced around to ensure no one else was listening. "No, nothing major. But his absorption time increases every year. Currently, we have to feed him mana once a day just to keep him stable." He leaned forward, his voice tight. "You heard the announcement. I am terrified of what will happen if I never find a way for him to break through to the next realm."
He took a slow breath. "Because of his condition, I need you there when he awakens. If something goes wrong, we need someone capable to help him."
"I understand that you are worried about your boy," Alina said softly. "But you cannot push him—or yourself—too hard. Forcing a breakthrough will not only hurt you, it will hurt him."
Aryan gave a solemn nod. "I know. I'd also like you to examine him before the ceremony, just to be sure. Can we schedule an appointment for tomorrow?"
She nodded in agreement.
With the weight on his chest slightly lightened, Aryan thanked her and left the mansion. On his way back, he stopped at the market to buy some of William's favorite foods for tomorrow.
When he finally returned home, Selena and William were waiting for him. The moment William spotted his father, he rushed across the room and collided with Aryan's legs in a fierce hug. Laughing, William grabbed his father's finger and led him toward his mother, who smiled warmly at her son's energy.
Dinner was a lively affair, with William chattering endlessly about the ceremony and the friends who would be joining him. But a child's energy burns fast. By the end of the meal, the day's excitement had caught up with him.
Selena gently tucked him into the small bed nestled in the corner of their room. Once they were sure he was deeply asleep, Aryan and Selena spoke in hushed voices. Aryan recounted his meeting, assuring her that Alina had agreed to attend the ceremony and would examine William the next day. Finding a fragile sense of comfort in their preparations, the two parents finally went to sleep, bracing themselves for the trials ahead.
The next day, as the family was having lunch together, Aryan turned to his son. "We are going to see your Aunt Alina today, William. Get ready quickly."
William nodded. He knew Aunt Alina well, as they went to see her for a checkup every few months.
He never asked questions about it, mostly because the visits never seemed to reveal anything unusual.
Once they were ready, Aryan hired a carriage to take them to the mansion. Upon arriving, they stepped out and instructed the driver to wait.
This time, the security guard didn't stop them or send a maid ahead, knowing Aryan had a scheduled appointment. They walked straight to the receptionist, who directed them to wait in Room 5 before signaling a maid to inform Lady Alina of their arrival.
When Alina entered the room, she offered a warm smile and gestured for the boy. "Come here, William."
William stepped toward her. Alina gently cast a diagnostic spell—a soft healing light that doubled as a thorough physical evaluation.
As the light faded, she found that everything appeared completely normal on the surface. When the checkup was complete, Alina turned to Selena and William. "Could you two wait outside for just a few minutes?"
Once the door clicked shut behind them, her smile vanished, and she turned to Aryan...