Settling comfortably in his cozy bed, John's mind drifted around as he continued to temper his body. "I suppose tomorrow I will have a pleasant surprise," thought John, staring at the ceiling. "After all, with all these core fluctuations I've been experiencing recently, my core's probably going to go through some serious change"
"Hmmmm, it'd be most beneficial to observe the changes to my core when it goes through change, to see if I can glean anything from it," thought John slowly falling into slumber, anticipating the next day.
The next day, John woke up to a knock, "Yes?" "Young Lord, the Lord has asked for you." "Ok." Getting up John wondered what the father of his body wanted to do with him. "Hmmmm, well Augustus did say something special's going to happen today, my father's probably going to talk to me about this."
Opening the "door" that was over 12 meters tall, John entered his father's office, if one could call it that. John's father, Lord Verrien's office was a vast, oval-shaped room occupying one of the highest towers of the mansion, with floor-to-ceiling windows wrapping around more than half the walls.
Outside of the windows, endless clouds drifted below and storms rumbled in the distance. In the center was a massive obsidian desk, held aloft with streams of wind. Behind it was a dark obsidian chair that looked like a throne, on which John's father was seated.
In the center of the desk was a 3D topographic model of a large province, most likely the one controlled by John's father.
"Why did you summon me father?" asked Johns, he had learned from Evans that children with core's like his were supposed to be more mature and intelligent than their peers which was why he assumed a serious stance.
"Sit my son," said John's father. "I'm sure you are confused regarding why I have called you today. Don't worry today will be a joyous occasion for you. So you are wondering what is going to happen today, yes?"
" Yes,Trainer Augustus mentioned that today is a special day, and I assume it's not because it's my birthday."
"Well, son, as you know everyone here wields aether, the energy that allows us to perform feats our body isn't supposed to be able to do. It's like a second hand to us. However our body cannot attract aether, so what's absorbing it for us? It's our aether core, a gift from the heavens for us nobles."
"Aether core's start off as seeds, small, slightly transparent, and crystalline in our souls. We cannot feel or control it, and we can only let it naturally absorb aether and grow before it awakens. Scholars call this stage of the core, the Dormant Core. "
"At this stage, cores vary. However the more large, dense, undamaged, as well as spherical one's core is the higher the efficiency of absorbing aether. The more efficient core's will also have more wiring for absorption of aether inside the core's which results in a better and stronger core. After decades of research, scholar's rate these core's as talent levels, with the higher talent's being able to achieve higher stage's and advance further on the journey of aether. There are multiple levels of core's but all you my son need to know is that you belong to the highest talent level and you possess a Brilliant Core.
Reeling from this sudden flood of information, John's eyes widened in surprise, there were different talent levels? He had the highest level of talent? Also, people aren't supposed to be able to feel or control their core's until they awaken it? Shocked, John felt overwhelmed by the information.
"Moving back on the topic of the stage's of cores, if one's core is of a decent talent level, after years of absorbing aether and solidifying itself it will awaken and enter the next stage of the core, the Awakened Core stage. At this stage, the core will fully solidify and integrate with one's soul. Now the individual will have complete control over their core."
"At this stage one will feel and control their core as if it's their own limb. Using this one can absorb much more aether and be able to channel aether throughout their body as well as outside it to cast spells."
"For low level nobles this is the level that they will stay for the rest of their lives but for the more talented they will advance into the next stage of the core, the Developed Core."
"To reach this stage, one will slowly absorb more and more aether and compress their core until they can't. They will also add several new channels for aether to flow through, greatly increasing the strength of the aether refined by the core as well as the efficiency."
"For mid ranked nobles as well as some low talent high nobles this will be the end, but if one has high enough talent they will be able to reach the next stage, Refined Core."
"Unless one is born with a Brilliant Core, at the Developed Core they will slowly refine the impurities of their core and shrink it down to increase density and increase efficiency. One will also slowly shape the core to its most efficient state, a sphere, and finally completely rewire the entire inside of the core to maximize absorption and processing of aether."
"Upon achieving all of this one will have reached the highest state that is possible to be achieved, a Refined Core. After this one will simply increase one's core until they can no more."
"Now you probably know why I'm telling you all this, with the reason being that you will step into the first stage of the core, the Awakened Core today, and become an official mage. You will participate in an Awakening ceremony where we will test and announce your talent level to show our vassals and neighbors our younger generations potential and power. So better get ready"