Epic beast eggs were hard to come by.
It was even harder for someone to actually bond with one, as they rarely hatched, even from Epic-ranked eggs.
So, the fact that one had appeared in such a small region was unexpected.
No one other than the barony could have afforded to buy eggs of this quality, yet even they couldn't manage it.
That only left a single possibility.
The one that claimed that the Obsidian Cat came from an inferior-ranked egg, which was not entirely unheard of.
This was something that had always happened.
Ranking eggs wasn't an accurate practice, and it was full of errors, guesses, and assumptions.
At the end of the day, it all came down to luck and one's fate.
If someone were fated to achieve something great in their life, they would be blessed with the means to achieve it.
The moment the ceremony master made an announcement, the crowd went wild.
No one expected such a talent from Elderglass City.
The chances of that happening were ridiculously low, and now that the gathered spectators had witnessed the improbable, they all lost control.
Some exploded in chaos.
Some cheered.
But they all showed excitement in different ways, creating an even bigger mess than they did with Noa.
"Obsidian Cat? I have heard about it. Isn't that the thunder beast with a high affinity?"
"I think so too. They have tough skin, and the agility boost they provide is one of the best in their rank."
"That girl… who is she? She looks breathtaking."
"I know, right? Not only is she beautiful, but her father also owns the nearby thunder caves, and from what I have heard, she has been trained by a Thunder Monk."
As people conversed about her station and future, some of them even looked at her with jealousy.
Especially the youngsters who had either awakened with a weaker beast or had yet to complete their rituals.
The disdain and greed were apparent as well.
They came from minor nobles present, as they sought to get hold of her and exploit her potential for their own benefit.
Suddenly, amid the constant commotion, the ceremony master spoke,
"Amazing! Your potential shines through the darkness like a last thunder before a morning sky. Fate is truly on your side. I wish you all the best," his voice was louder than usual.
It was the first time he commented more than necessary.
Even when Noa's egg showed the infamous Graveworm, the only reaction he showed was his lowered brows and squinted eyes.
Now, he looked eager. Thrilled. Excited.
Some princes and princesses didn't have beasts at their disposal.
Yet the red-haired, tall girl before him had something everyone, including him, had once dreamed of.
She, however, looked completely unaffected.
Anine Nubia was a cold, aloof beauty with even fewer emotions than her face showed.
Despite a successful ritual, an epic-ranked beast at her side, a guaranteed future, and all eyes fixed on her, she didn't lose her composure.
She just nodded at the ceremony master and swiftly glanced back at her cat.
It was no bigger than a real animal.
But its fur looked way more majestic, electric, and even its eyes glowed blue like her master's.
As everyone was busy with her, Noa didn't dwell too much on her.
His eyes found Kaelor and Elara looking back at him, and they too didn't care if someone else bonded with an even divine-ranked entity.
All they cared about was their son.
And it showed.
The father's jaw looked sharper than ever, his shoulders showing signs of tension Noa wasn't familiar with.
Elara had pressed her hands onto her chest.
Her gaze was fixed on him, as if trying to sympathize with the feelings he should have been going through.
They both saw how much he had pushed himself these past few days.
That's why the pain they felt for their son was deep.
Kaelor then tried to smile at him. It felt like forced encouragement, ending with his twitching lips.
Elara didn't stay still either.
Her palm lifted just a little, as if she wanted to reach and pat him through the glassed window.
Meanwhile, another name was called.
More awakenings.
More mixed emotions.
Cheers for the lucky ones, and mockery mixed with pity for the unlucky ones.
Yet, no one could look as miserable as he, as even the common beasts others had awoken had some kind of potential, while he was doomed to be Tier 1 or lower Tier 2 at best.
Of course, it was only what others, including his parents, thought about him.
Noa didn't blink at them.
The final spark of the ancient knowledge settled in his head like the last piece into a puzzle, making his temples throb for a moment.
'Feed the ashes. Wield the shadows,' he thought, eyes still lingering on his parents.
'If the world mocks my Graveworm—the dragon that will grow so strong that she can destroy kingdoms—I just have to teach them to fear what crawls in the dark,' Noa added inwardly.
And for the first time since he looked at Kaelor and Elara, his lips flickered into a thin, dangerous smile.
It felt like a declaration.
With a proud nature of his that spoke to his parents from afar, promising that he wasn't affected by what happened.
Then—
Without saying a single word, Noa strolled out of the arena.
He disregarded the stares he was getting. He ignored the whispers that followed his every step and didn't waste a second with them.
All he did was leave the venue and wait for his parents inside the carriage.
'Let's see how they will react,' he thought, anticipating the meeting up close as his heart was ready for everything.
The carriage was peaceful.
No chaotic sounds or whispers reached his ears.
He simply sat silently when a sudden knock on the door snapped him out of his daze.
And just before Noa opened the door, a soft voice broke the silence. "Young Master, I am here."
Noa immediately recognized who it was.
Relief washed over him after hearing Thalia's voice, as his maid was finally back.
But something was off.