CHAPTER 14: CLASS AWAKENING [3]

Evelynn smiled. "Can you ignore your father’s words,"

She spoke softly as if asking politely.

"And show your real class?"

Eden blinked, unable to process her words properly.

"....What do you mean?" He asked, looking into her eyes.

"You see, your father is a pessimistic guy." She said with a gentle smile. "He always wants to keep a low profile and hide away."

She reached out and gently began to fix his collar.

"I don’t want you to be like him." She said. "I want you to be like me."

Eden blinked again, unsure if he’d heard her right.

"Like you?" he repeated quietly.

Evelynn smiled. "Yes, dear. Unafraid, confident and beautifully honest about your strength."

Something about it made his chest tighten.

"I..." Eden hesitated. "But Father said—"

She gently placed her finger on his lips, silencing him.

"Your father is a man who fears attention. I, however, understand its power."

Eden stood still, staring into her blue eyes.

Evelynn’s hand cupped his cheek. "Do you know what happens to those who hide their light, my son?"

Eden shook his head faintly.

"They’re forgotten," she said softly. "No one remembers them cause they actively try to be like that."

Eden remained unsure as to how he should react to her words.

’Why does this sound less like advice and more like... a warning?’

Still, he couldn’t look away from his mother.

There was something hypnotic about her presence.

’What is she?’ he thought. ’A witch?’

Her hand lingered on his chest, right where his heart beat fast beneath his shirt.

"Don’t you want to show them who you really are?" she asked softly.

"Mother..." he began slowly, forcing a small, polite smile. "I’ll think about it. I promise."

Evelynn tilted her head, smiling again.

"You don’t need to be afraid, Eden." She patted his head. "Mama got your back."

She leaned forward and kissed his forehead gently, like any loving mother would.

"Alright, I should go back." She said before walking past him. "All the best."

Eden didn’t glance back as he remained still in his place.

’...What the hell is wrong with her?’

He couldn’t help but wonder as he rubbed his face.

≤She wants you to shine for her reasons, not yours.≥

Seraph’s sudden voice made Eden frown in confusion.

’Why would she do such a thing?’

≤Sadly, I can’t see through her at all.≥

’How can you say that while being a Dragon?’

≤...≥

Eden ruffled his hair as he moved back to the main plaza.

The ceremony was still going on, and people were still awakening.

’...Hm, what’s with those guys?’

Eden wondered as he looked at a few of the children standing at the side with pale faces.

[They didn’t awaken, mostly because they are too young.]

’...Ah, right, medieval era.’

Eden thought as he guessed most of them weren’t even aware of their own birthday.

"Eris Gilma Rowena!!"

The priest’s voice boomed within the place, and once again the entire place turned silent.

Eden turned as his gaze landed on a girl walking down the plaza.

’...Damn, she is beautiful.’

He mused, his eyes on the girl.

Her long silver hair shimmered faintly under the sunlight, and her calm grey eyes showed no sign of nerves or pride.

Even her simple white dress looked elegant, the fabric rippling slightly as she moved.

From the gossip around, Eden found out that she was the sole daughter of a Duke.

’A big shot.’

The priest straightened, his voice surprisingly gentle.

"Please, step forward, Lady Eris, and place your hand upon the crystal."

She nodded politely and approached the central orb.

The crowd leaned forward, whispering.

Eris placed her hand on the crystal.

For a few seconds, nothing happened.

But immediately after, a wave of white light exploded outward.

The light was calm, blinding yet soft, pure enough to make even the air seem clean.

The crowd gasped, shielding their eyes.

"W-What... what is this?" someone whispered.

The priest raised his staff with trembling hands. "Such purity... I’ve never seen a resonance like this before!"

The crystal flared brighter, and faintly, wings of light appeared behind the girl’s silhouette.

’Wings?’ Eden blinked. ’Is she... an angel or something?’

[Yes.] Sana’s voice replied quietly in his mind. [She is an angel class.]

The light began to fade, and the priest finally found his voice again.

"Eris Gilma Rowena!" he declared, his voice shaking with awe.

"Unique Class! Angel!"

Eden watched quietly as Eris bowed politely and stepped away from the crystal.

Her face calm as if none of it mattered.

’Hey, Sana, can a class be evolved?’

[Lower classes can be evolved, yes.] She replied cheerfully.

[Like her angel class has two pathways—Archangel and Fallen Angel.]

’....’

Eden rubbed his chin as he was well aware of this type of thing.

’...I bet to evolve you would need to do a lot of dangerous things.’

[...]

Sana didn’t deny his claims; she just remained quiet.

"Eden Idris Ramsey!!"

The priest called his name, jolting him awake from his thoughts.

Eden quickly moved as he reached the stage in no time.

"Please, place your hand on the crystal," the priest said, his voice weary but polite.

Eden nodded silently and took a deep breath.

He walked up to the crystal, his heartbeat rising.

’Should I... hide it like Father said?’ Eden wondered.

For a moment, Evelynn’s words echoed softly in his head. "Don’t hide your light, my son."

He let out a quiet sigh, hand hovering over the crystal. ’...Fine then.’

Then Sana’s voice followed. [If it’s more than one class, then I will help you hide it.]

Eden froze in place. "What?"

He instinctively placed his hand on the crystal.

At first, nothing happened.

The surface stayed still, reflecting his faintly nervous face.

Then....

Crack.

A thin fracture spread across the golden surface.

The priest flinched back immediately. "W-What ho—!?"

Before he could finish, a low hum filled the plaza.

The fracture widened, spilling out rays of five lights.

The ground trembled beneath Eden’s feet.

The crowd gasped.

"He’s breaking it!" someone shouted. "He’s going to destroy the crystal!"

The marble beneath Eden’s feet cracked, glowing faintly as the magic surged higher.

His hair fluttered wildly in the energy storm, and yet his expression barely changed.

’Sana.....’

[You are getting five classes.]

’What?’

[You should only show one class to the world, for your own safety.]

Before he could reply, the crystal split open completely.

BOOM!

A wave of energy burst out like a shockwave, throwing the nearby priests and guards off their feet.

But amid the chaos, Eden stood still, his hand still pressed on the shattered core.

His pupils glowed faintly, five rings of color rotating in his eyes.

The colors spiraled one last time before collapsing into Eden’s chest.

Everything turned still as the priest crawled towards the slab beside the crystal.

Eden glanced at his class as the priest stood beside him.

"E-Eden I-Idris Ramsey!!" The priest’s voice boomed within the silent plaza.

"Divine Class!! The Chosen One!!"

He finally exhaled, feeling the heat fade from his arm.

He lowered his hand slowly, feeling the eyes of thousands stabbing into him.

The silence was almost painful until a slow, deliberate sound echoed through the plaza.

Clap... clap... clap.

Everyone turned toward the royal balcony.

The King himself had stepped forward, tall and broad, a golden crown gleaming on his head.

His expression was calm, but his eyes burned with intrigue.

"Now this," the King said, his voice carrying like thunder, "is truly worth watching."

Whispers exploded through the crowd.

"He broke the divine crystal!"

"Who even is that boy!?"

"What’s with his class?"

The king’s voice echoed once again. "We should have dinner together." He spoke. "Eden."

Eden, standing under the gaze of the king, could only think one thing.

"...I really should’ve listened to Father."