Kael sat at the edge of the long dinner table, quietly eating with the family in the warm, familiar silence that had become normal over the years.
"Hmmm." Baron Munchausen Draven cleared his throat, breaking the quiet. "Tomorrow is the Awakening Ceremony. I hope both of you are prepared?"
His eyes moved between his foster son Kael and his biological son Adam.
"Yes, Father. I'm more than ready," Kael replied between bites, his voice steady. "All I have to do is awaken my bloodline, and our family can finally rise."
"Pffft. Awaken a bloodline?" Adam scoffed, his tone dripping with derision. "You really think that's going to happen?"
"Adam!" Vivian Draven's voice was sharp, a clear reprimand.
"What, Mother?" Adam shot back. "We all know his birth is… questionable. He might not even awaken the faintest rune."
BANG!
The sound of the Baron's fist slamming on the table echoed through the dining room. "That is enough from you, Adam!"
The atmosphere turned tense in an instant. Vivian's expression grew livid, her hands tightening around her cutlery. The Baron's face was dark with anger.
Clank.
The sharp sound of Kael setting down his cutlery cut through the heavy silence.
"It's okay, Mother, Father," Kael said calmly as he rose to his feet and bowed slightly. "Adam is only feeling the pressure and frustration from tomorrow's ceremony. It's natural for him to act out of character. I apologize on his behalf."
His expression remained collected, almost polite, as if he were mediating between two difficult clients back in his old life.
In truth, Kael was not particularly bothered by Adam's words. The hostility had started when they turned ten. That was when Adam realized Kael was quicker at lessons, better at noticing details, and received more quiet praise from their parents. The younger boy had begun to act out — hiding Kael's books, "accidentally" spilling ink on his clothes, making snide comments when their parents weren't listening. The close bond they once shared as young children had slowly eroded under the weight of Adam's growing envy.
"Tsk. Humans really are capricious creatures," Kael thought to himself, the old rule surfacing in his mind once again.
The Duke and his wife looked at Kael with clear gratitude in their eyes.
"Ah, such a sensible child," the Baron said warmly, his tone softening. Then he turned to Adam, his voice becoming strict once more. "You should learn more from your older brother."
"Yes, Father," Adam muttered, lowering his head. His fists clenched tightly under the table. From the corner of his eye, he could see Kael's calm, almost indifferent expression. It stung more than any scolding. No one ever took him seriously anymore.
No one ever does… Adam thought bitterly.
The rest of the meal passed in uncomfortable silence. Kael finished eating without another word, his mind already turning toward tomorrow. The Awakening Ritual. The capital. The chance to finally see what this world's power truly felt like.
He excused himself early and returned to his room. The faint glowing runes carved into the bedposts cast a soft light across the wooden furniture. Kael sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the floor for a long moment.
Twelve years in this family had softened something in him, even if only a little. The warmth from Vivian's hugs, the quiet pride in the Baron's eyes, the small everyday moments — they had created a crack in the wall he had built around himself. But he had not forgotten his rules.
...
A quick, restless dream was all it took for the night to pass.
Chirp! Chirp!
The cheerful sounds of morning birds filled the air, joined by the soft twittering of sparrows flitting between the trees outside the window.
The early rays of sunlight pierced through the thick black curtains, landing straight on Kael's face. His long, narrow eyes fluttered open, thick lashes blinking against the sudden brightness.
He sat up slowly, letting out a yawn as he stretched his arms above his head.
Bang!
The bedroom door slammed open, making him jolt. Vivian stepped inside with quick, elegant steps, already moving toward the windows to tie back the curtains.
"Rise and shine, Kael," she said in a sing-song voice. "Today is your Awakening Ceremony."
"Good morning, Mom…" Kael greeted back, still groggy.
"You have to get ready quickly. We can't afford to waste any more time," she continued, already heading toward the door. "I need to go wake your brother."
Kael was about to lie back down when Vivian suddenly reappeared at the doorway, shooting him a reprimanding glare.
"And don't you dare sleep again!"
Kael raised both hands in surrender, a small laugh escaping him. "Okay, I won't."
"Good." Vivian gave a satisfied nod before finally leaving, her footsteps echoing down the hallway.
The moment she was gone, Kael's expression returned to its usual calm, collected state.
"Awakening Ceremony, huh…" he murmured to himself.
He raised his right arm. A tiny wisp of darkness appeared above his palm — a small black hole that gently drew in wisps of surrounding essence. The moment the energy touched it, a sharp, cold pain shot through his head. His vision blurred for a second, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
He immediately cut off the flow.
He had awakened his rune even before the official ceremony — something highly unusual. According to what he had learned from his foster father and tutors, it was almost impossible to awaken a rune without proper guidance. Without a trained circulation technique, direct contact with Prime Essence was extremely dangerous. The energy could overwhelm the body, damage the soul, or cause partial reversion — turning parts of the person into primal chaos. That was why even aristocratic families insisted on attending the official Awakening Ritual, where experienced officials from the Sovereign Houses and the Academy guided the surge safely and helped form the initial rune circuits.
If his guess was right, this devouring ability was his golden finger — just like those webnovels he had read on Earth.
"It seems I'm quite the favoured son of heaven," Kael muttered, stroking his chin with a quiet chuckle.
It didn't take him long to dress and prepare. He stepped outside and joined his family of four as they climbed into the carriage, setting off for the capital and the Awakening Ceremony.
The journey to the capital had been quieter for Kael.
His adoptive family's carriage moved at a steady pace along the same wide roads that many noble houses used. The Draven barony was smaller and less influential than the Voss ducal estate, so their group was modest — two carriages, a handful of guards, and the quiet presence of Lord and Lady Draven. Vivian had insisted on coming despite the long trip. She sat beside Kael most of the way, occasionally reaching over to adjust his cloak or offer him water, her touch warm and familiar.
Kael watched the scenery pass without much comment. The open fields gave way to denser woodlands, then to rolling hills dotted with small villages. He noted the way the guards grew more alert as the forest thickened. He noted how Lord Draven's hand stayed near his sword. Small observations, stored away like pieces of evidence in an old case.