Eight weeks ago, awakening ceremony of the Voidbane duchy.
Seraphiel Orithis POV
"Seraphiel my dear daughter, remember what I have told you all these years, today you should awaken and your talent will be above that of everyone in this world, you must keep this a secret from everyone except the Duchess and her son!"
Seraphiel rolled her eyes at her mother.
She couldn't believe how many times her mother had told her this story.
To her, this was just a fairy tale made to make her feel better since she hadn't awakened during the years.
Her mother was a D rank awakener with no bloodline and talent for plants.
She didn't know who her father was, since he had died in a rift before she was even born, leaving her mother to take care of her all alone.
Although they never needed anything, and she had always studied in the best schools, ate the best foods, had nice clothes, and honestly, never lacked anything, Seraphiel couldn't understand how this was the case.
Someone who has a herbs shop makes decent money to live, but not to live like they did, but she never asked, she always thought that her dad had left an inheritance for them and her mother just worked on her shop to avoid running out of money.
"Mother I'm already an adult, are you seriously still on with that fairy tale of the Goddess coming down and sealing my potential?"
"Daughter... You will see when you awaken today that I have never lied to you..."
"I will say no more, I was told you would understand everything when you awaken the Apex Network today."
She was getting a bit irritated at the fact that her mother kept this charade going, although the Duchess was an idol to everyone, since she had lived a good childhood without depending on the actual duchess's help of the commoners, to her the duchess was just the protector of the North.
Yes she was an exemplary woman.
Yes she was one of, if not the strongest S rank in the Brax continent, even above the emperor himself.
Her husband was said to be the only SS rank to have ever existed.
But that had nothing to do with her, and her mother kept trying to push her towards the Duchess and her son who, like her hadn't awakened.
"Whatever..."
..
Standing on top of the Podium next to the awakening altar was Celine Voidbane.
Her presence alone felt suffocating even if she wasn't using her aura.
"Attention!"
"Today, you will embark on your life as awakeners."
"No matter the talent, bloodline, or skills you awaken, every one of you is an essential component in our continent."
Hopefully I can awaken something useful above C rank so that when I go to the academy I'm not on the lower end of the new awakeners...
"First in line, my son, the heir of the Voidbane household, Calux."
Seraphiel looked up to see a young man, with white hair walking up to the altar.
He was tall, appeared to be in great shape, and was definitely a beautiful man.
She didn't really care, she had never looked at a man like Calux and expected anything, she was realistic.
Even if his potential wasn't as good as his parents, he was still a Duke's heir.
To Seraphiel, their standings were like heaven and earth so she didn't even bother to care or imagine what being with someone like him could be like.
I don't understand why mother keeps trying to push me into this family when we have never met them, and they have never met us.
After a couple of seconds, she almost gasped when she saw the public Apex Network display of the Altar.
"Congratulations Calux VoidBane."
"Potential - S Rank"
"Bloodline - S Rank"
"Talent - S Rank"
Woah... So it's possible to go above B rank when we awaken at the altar?!
Calm down Seraphiel, you have to chill. It's probably a one in a billion chance and this guy who was mocked by the world was just rewarded for his perseverance.
Yes yes..
Seraphiel looked at Calux, who seemed to be gazing at his status screen in awe and shock.
I guess he didn't expect it either heh...
"We have another S rank potential awakener in our Dukedom!"
Seraphiel saw everyone congratulating Calux, but she could see that his face, instead of happiness held both happiness and confusion.
As if he didn't understand something.
Calux stepped down, and then the ceremony continued with another member of the duchess's entourage officiating.
People kept walking up and their ranks were always below C rank.
It was disheartening to see, considering someone before them had actually awakened as a fabled S rank.
Suddenly she was finally called.
"Seraphiel Orithis, please step up to complete your awakening ceremony."
She nodded nervously, and started walking towards the altar.
Please give me something useful.
Please. Please.
Finally walking up to the altar, she waited in silence while the altar started the process.
There was a small rumble, a bright light covered her and everyone thought she was also going to awaken as an S rank.
"Congratulations Seraphiel Orithis."
"Potential - B Rank"
"Bloodline - B Rank"
"Talent - B Rank"
This was what was shown to everyone, and the officiate was pleasantly surprised, she was the only B rank potential talent so far.
However, on the altar, Seraphiel was freaking out.
"Error. Administrative intrusion detected."
"User: Seraphiel Orithis."
"Potential has been sealed by a higher authority."
"Reach B-Rank to unlock your true potential."
..
--Welcome to the Apex Network--
--Status--
Name: Seraphiel Orithis
Age: 18
Potential: Transcendent[Locked] -> B
Bloodline: Creation Sovereign - Transcendent[Locked] -> B
Talent: Infinite Cognition -Supreme[Locked] -> B
Mana Rank: F-
Body Rank: F-
Innate Skills : Absolute Creation
Techniques: Creation Sovereign's Conversion
Affinities: Origin
--
What the fuck... Was my mother not lying?
What the hell is going on!
Seraphiel felt her mind working overtime, as if she had multiple brains at the same time analyzing the situation.
She had never felt her mind so clear, like she was able to perfectly see different outcomes and solutions and the same time.
She suddenly noticed that she had an incoming message, but this was not from someone she had added as a friend since she had just awakened but from an administrator.
"Hello Seraphiel, I'm sure you are wondering why your potential was sealed right? Speak with your mother, she has the answers you seek."
Holy shit...