A young man with brown hair , dark eyes and an emaciated physique ventured into an expensive car under the invitation of a beautiful woman.
Ashen noticed that the car was no ordinary car .The car boasted one word ... "luxury".
"As expected of famous awakened. They live in a different world compared to normal people".
A female driver steered the car through the beautiful streets of New Alexandria city.
The view was magnificent ,as towering skyscrapers boasted the streets of the city.
However ,the warm atmosphere of the world contrasted the cool environment in the car...
It was obvious that the air conditioner of this car was on another level....
After allowing Ashen to observe the exquisite features of the car and the beauty of New Alexandria City through the car mirror, Sophia cleared her throat, poured a glass of non alcoholic wine for herself, then proceeded to pour a glass for Ashen.
Due to Ashen's traumatic experiences , he was still a little bit wary of Sophia. Therefore , he hesitated for a few seconds before he took the glass from Sophia...
"Don't worry kid, I'm not gonna poison you"... Sophia shook her head as she gestured with her left hand...
'he has had it hard after all... Can't really blame him for being overly cautious around people... ' Sophia mused inwardly...
Ashen sighed " Reflex action... Being critical around people has been my fort ... Where I school, I'm always on the lookout for any sign of a bullying approach so that I can escape before it's too late... Even a smile from someone towards me could be a signal that they would come for me after school"..
"Figures ... Been there "... Sophia ruffled Ashen's brown hair, and in the process, she noticed how much texture his hair had lost... 'Poor kid..'
Ashen however, was more inclined about the last part of her statement ... "Been there?"..
"Oh .. that's a story for another time... Anyway, let's test your knowledge of the awakened .. What do you know about the awakened ?".
Ashen seemed surprised at the sudden question from Sophia about the awakened because he knew that everyone in the World of Frea had been taught in school about general knowledge concerning the awakened...
However, he did not dwell too much on the reason why she asked him such a question.
He theorised that she probably just wanted to know if there were lapses in his knowledge concerning the awakened so that in case she had to correct certain things, she would do so .
Ashen opened his mouth to speak " The World of Frea has what we refer to as 'worldly natural energy ' . In the world of Frea, certain individuals are naturally born with what we refer as dormant unique constitutions... However, some individuals are not born with dormant unique constitutions . No one knows whether or not they are born with a dormant unique constitution until their 13th birthday..
For those born with dormant unique constitutions , on their 13th birthday, the worldly natural energy naturally resonates with their dormant unique constitutions and activates their dormant unique constitutions. The activations of their unique constitutions that were dormant to an active unique constitution is what leads to the manifestation of affinities... Similarities and diversities in affinities of the awakened have to do with the similarities and diversities of unique constitutions.."
Ashen paused and glanced at Sophia who was listening to him quietly and proceeded " it's therefore safe to say that individuals with affinity manifestations that are very uncommon but powerful, for example, dual awakeners, have very special unique constitutions...
As for those who do not have any affinities in the world of Frea, it's obvious that they did not possess a dormant unique constitution at birth, hence, they do not have a dormant unique constitution for the worldly natural energy to resonate with on their thirteenth birthday for them to awaken some sort of affinity... ".
Ashen glanced at Sophia as he brought his exposition to a halt.
"Is that all.." Sophia yawned as she covered her mouth with her hand, not minding her image in front of Ashen ...
"I suppose I know something from school about the ranks of the awakened...
Awakened ranks are based on the awakened's affinity utilisation.
From what I recall from school , the ranks of the awakened are as follows in ascending order .... Can I get a sheet of paper and a pen ?..."
Ashen asked Sophia, who squinted a little and looked at Ashen in a weird, puzzled way as tough she was asking, what do you need a sheet of paper for.
Ashen, getting the gist , scratched the back of his head embarrassingly, then spoke "I'd rather find it easy writing this than saying it ..."
Sophia shrugged and gestured to the female driver who quickly handed her a sheet of paper , which she gave to Ashen .
Ashen started to write , using his lap as a small support..
[Novus rank (0-10% affinity utilization)
Basic strength , minimal impact.
- _Adeptus rank (11-30% affinity utilization)
Noticeable strength, localized effect
- _Vitalis_ (31-60% affinity utilization)
Significant power, regional influence
- Eminence_ (61-90% affinity utilization)
Exceptional mastery, continental impact.
- _Apex_ (91-100% affinity utilization)
Unparalleled strength, global impact..]
..
After writing , he showed the sheet to Sophia, who nodded in approval, before she asked Ashen ..
"Have you ever heard of skill books?"
" Yeah ... " Ashen responded...
"And...".. Sophia sighed , gesturing Ashen to finish his statement... This young man really was behaving quite introverted and on edge around her ..
Ashen then proceeded " We learnt in school that skill books are books made of nanotechnology. In some advertisements on social media, I saw that when the awakened touches a skill book, the skill book disintegrates into particles that enter the individual's head. Also, I've learnt in school that skill books help the awakened to increase the level of utilisation of their affinity ".
"So what connection can you make between the awakened ranks and skill books?" Sophia asked Ashen, who sat there quietly, pondering the question for a few seconds before he spoke " it's sensible to say that if skill books help the awakened to increase the level of utilisation of their affinity, then the higher access to highly powerful skill books the awakened has, the easier it would be for them to rise in the ranks of the awakened?"
Sophia beamed with a smile " Not bad kid... Quite the smart ass"
Ashen shook his head "it's quite obvious to make the connection "
"Just take the damn complement " Sophia sighed,glanced at the timid and insecure kid, then proceeded " Anyway what they don't bother teaching you before you awaken and start taking classes of the awakened in your high school is the fact that skill books are also grouped into ranks ..Since you decided to write on a sheet of paper to express yourself, I suppose it does not hurt for me to do the same..."
Sophia turned the sheet of paper Ashen had previously handed over to her and started writing
[_Skill Book Categories_:
* Novus skill books (0-10% affinity utilisation)
15-30 seconds (Immediate assimilation/ instant mastery).
*Adeptus skill books(11-30% affinity utilization)
. 1-5 minutes( rapid assimilation ) but with brief mental fatigue)
*Vitalis skill books (31-60% affinity utilization).
1-2 hours (notable mental strain, potential headaches)
*Eminence skill books (61-90% affinity utilization)*
4-6 hours (significant mental exhaustion, physical weakness)
*Apex skill books (91-100% affinity utilization)
-12-24 hours (extreme mental and physical strain, potential risks) ]
"Here" Sophia handed the sheet of paper back to Ashen, who glanced at the information calmly...
then asked " About the part concerning the assimilation time?"
Sophia nodded as she got the question Ashen asked and responded " After the skill book turns into particles of light and enters the head of the person, the individual has to sit down in a meditative position to fully comprehend the information in the skill book that has been transferred into their brain. Only then can they use the skill.This is referred to as skill assimilation.
The time taken for the individual to assimilate the skill is referred to as the assimilation time."
Ashen nodded in understanding " So the higher the rank of the skill book, the longer the assimilation time and the possible side effects associated with it. The side effects associated with assimilating high ranked skills possibly result from the mental exertion involved in the assimilation process."
Sophia nodded then mused inwardly 'This kid is quite smart '... .
"Ma'am, we've arrived at the awakening center. "
The female driver spoke .
"Excellent " Sophia voiced out.
"Awakening center?... Oh right... " Ashen figured out that arriving at the awakening center obviously had something to do with his awakening...
" Before we step out of the car and head into the awakening center , know that I am gonna use some of my links to register you as a dual awakener for the time being.
If anyone were to find out that you are an elementalist who have awakened five affinities, many people will be after you for their own selfish reasons. Until you become ridiculously strong enough to protect yourself , I advise that you only demonstrate two affinities to the general public.
Only use more than two affinities when you are in a life and death situation where you have no other choice but to use it.. Trust me when I tell you that Oblivion's hand and mutated beasts are not the only savages of this world . Even the awakened community is full of two faced ,selfish pricks who may stop at nothing to get their hands on you for their own selfish reasons were they to realize your secret of being an elementalist who have awakened more than 2 elements. Well in your case... You've even awakened 5 elements...so.. just listen to my advise kid..."
Ashen was not naive . He knew Sophia was an experienced awakened who knew what she was saying...
It was not a matter of whether or not he trusted her... It was a matter of taking the advise of an experienced awakened...Heck, He was just a newbie who was not even registered with the World Awakened Association yet ..
Better safe than sorry ... Quickly ,he nodded his head, and with Sophia taking the lead, they exited the car and headed towards the Awakening Association.
The awakening Center of New Alexandria City was a towering sky scraper that traversed through the clouds....
A golden insignia with a star was engraved at the entrance of the awakening center .
Ashen sighed as he stood before the awakening association . A feeling of nostalgia encumbered the young teenager.
The days of bullying , abuse, self pity, guilt... Ashen felt like taking a step into the awakening centre would leave all those days behind him... He did not know where his destiny as a new awakened would lead him...
However he knew that he wanted to avenge his parents..
He knew that Oblivion's Hand, those savages, had to die...
He knew that he did not want to remain weak and helpless again...
He knew that this world was full of mutated beasts that flooded cities and ravaged lives...
His parents would not want him to be weak again... If they were in the afterlife watching him, he had to live on for them, he had to be strong .. so ridiculously strong that no one on the planet of Rhea would be able to dictate to him how to run his life and pose a threat to him.... he had to stand at the peak.. He had to make his parents proud.
And so, with bated breath, and a deep sigh, a young man ventured into the awakening centre..
and in some time to come, his name would echo throughout the whole world... Ashen's odyssey, was just beginning ..
.