Awakening

After the inconvenience we had with those two ruffians, Ryul and I finally arrived at the place where the ceremony would occur. The place is just as it had been described to me but seeing it with my own eyes is simply amazing.

The place is immense, much bigger even than the mansion of Mr. Enzo. It is all white with many pillars and at the top a large golden statue of the goddess. The entrance is also huge; I am sure that a carriage could enter without problems. There is a fountain in the front, and in the middle of the fountain, another statue of the goddess smaller than the one on the roof. Gardens surround the place with all kinds of flowers, and in general, everything looks very clean.

Ryul and I were still amazed by the beauty of the place when a crying guy walked past me, which brought Ryul and me out of the trance. There are many people around the site, the majority of whom are similar to our age. When paying attention, the vast majority have a sad expression, and there are even some crying. I imagine they are the people who received low rank or nothing at all.

"I know I told you that I wasn't that interested in being an adventurer, but after I got to this point, I would be lying if I told you that I hope not to end up like those guys."

"Imagine how I feel." I said while noticing the cat-eared girl who helped us entering the place.

"Darx, we have to hurry."

"Ah, yes..."

We climbed a couple of steps to reach the entrance, and on the way, we could hear the lament of the people around. "Damn, now what am I going to do." "I-I don't want to go back to my village." "NOT! why? Why me? shit!"

All that only made me more nervous and even Ryul, who says he is not interested in being an adventurer, looks scared.

We entered the place, and inside there was a large room which was also all white with large windows and with more statues of the goddess. In the middle, there were some long benches in which several people were sitting, and some other people were just pacing from one side to the other. There was a corridor guarded by two guards at the back of the large room in the middle, and at the entrance, there were two more guards.

"Now what, Darx? What should we do?"

"I don't know."

"Hey, you two. If you're coming to become adventurers, go to the reception first." A guard told us, pointing to the room's left corner where a girl was behind a counter.

We saw the cat-eared girl at the reception who seems to be here too for the same reason as us. When we were halfway, she finished what she had to do at the reception and sat on one of the benches. We walked to the reception, where a girl wearing a white coat greeted us. Behind the reception was a small room with a table where two more girls wearing the same white coat seemed to be working and books and scrolls everywhere.

"Excuse me, we came to become adventurers, and the guard told us to come here."

"Of course! You guys arrived just in time. You two will be the last."

"Really!? That was close." Ryul said, relieved

"In order to take the adventurer test, you only need to fill out this form and make a payment of a silver coin." The receptionist said.

"A SILVER COIN!?" Ryul said out loud. "Nobody told me that it would be so expensive."

"Payment is required if you want to proceed." The receptionist said, holding two papers in her hands.

"Damn!"

After making the payment, she gave each of us a paper where we had to answer some questions. They were basic things like our name, race, and where we came from. It seems that this place is under the supervision of the kingdom, and they have a record of all the people who come trying to become adventurers. When we finished and returned the forms, the receptionist gave each of us a card and a piece of paper with a number.

"What is this? I asked.

"When it is your turn, your number will be called, and you will have to go to the corridor that is at the back. There you will meet with the queen's counselor, who will explain what you have to do. He will also tell you how to use that card."

"Can't we go in together? Ryul asked.

"Only one can pass at a time."

Ryul and I sat on one of the benches waiting to be called. The card she gave us only has our name with blank spaces to add more information like class and rank.

"50 bronze coins as payment for transportation. 50 bronze coins as payment to enter the city and 1 silver coin to take the adventurer test. EVERYTHING IS VERY EXPENSIVE! I only had 3 silver coins, which are all my savings, and in just a few days, I already spent two! TWO! If I do not receive an S rank, I will feel deceived." Ryul said, raising his voice.

"I know how you feel, but keep your voice down. Everyone is staring at us."

"How can you be so calm, Darx? If we don't get a good rank, we are going to be so screwed. From tomorrow I'll have to start looking for work."

I guess I'm calm because I have a gold coin that I got thanks to Mia. My savings were only 4 silver coins, and I already spent two. My mother told me that everything in the capital was expensive, so I have to be careful about how I use my money.

In the time that we have been sitting, three people have entered, and about five minutes later, they come out. Of the three, it seems that none have been lucky as they have come out with a sad face. I also noticed that there is a group of people who appear to be guild recruiters at the entrance. Every time one comes out, everyone enthusiastically approaches, wanting to know his rank and class. Of the three who have come out after seeing that they received a low rank or nothing, they turn around and lose interest. It seems they are only interested in high ranks.

The next person to enter is the girl with the cat ears. After her, it will be Ryul's turn, and I will be the last. Ryul seems quite nervous. His legs haven't stopped shaking.

"Darx, I don't think I can do it. I thought if I became an adventurer, I would be more popular with girls, but I don't think I have what it takes. This is worse than the time the girl I liked rejected me ten times. "

"Ten times!?"

"It is a long and sad story of my failed loves, but I prefer that than this uncertainty."

I want to tell him that everything will work out, but I'm just as nervous. I feel like my heart is going to get out of my chest. I try too hard, and I don't want it all to end today.

After a few minutes, the girl with the cat ears appeared out of the hall. The group of recruits approached her as with the others, but their reactions were completely different. Everyone shouted enthusiastically, and a great commotion was generated in the place. Every single one of the recruiters was doing his best to convince her to join his guild.

"She received an A rank!" "Do you have a guild in mind? Would you give me a little of your time? Please?" "Ignore him. My guild is the best. We can offer you more money." "Move, don't listen to them; our guild is heading for greatness, and with you, we will reach the big leagues." "Hey, please ..."

"Did you hear Darx? The girl who helped us received an A rank."

"Yes, it's amazing!"

Ryul's turn finally came and walking in a funny way, nervously he headed to the hall.

"Good luck!" I told him.

The minutes seemed eternal, and I walked to the corridor entrance, where the guards warned me not to get any closer. After a few minutes, Ryul appeared, walking slowly facing down, looking at the ground. My first thought was that he didn't get a good rank. What should I tell him?

"Ryul, how was it? Are you okay?"

Ryul didn't answer but raised his face to see me. I could hear the group of recruiters approaching, and without saying anything, Ryul raised his right hand showing me his card.

His name was on the card, and besides, in class, it had 'Monk' written, and below in the rank section, it said:

"RANK A!!" I and the recruiters behind me, who were also looking at the card, said simultaneously.

Ryul was in shock, and the recruiters, just as they did with the cat-eared girl, quickly surrounded us and attacked him with questions trying to recruit him.

Amid all the noise they were making, I heard Ryul say. "Darx, I don't know anything about martial arts; how come I'm an A rank monk? They want me to go to the castle before the day is over. What should I do?"

Amelia was also summoned to the castle after receiving her rank. It's hard to talk with all this noise, so I just said "You should go, and we'll talk later."

"O-Okay!"

Ryul began to leave the place, trying to clear the way from the recruits who continued to follow him. Now it is my turn. I walked to the hall after hearing my number being called when I heard Ryul's voice.

"Darx, only high ranking adventurers have been summoned. I will be waiting for you at the castle. Good luck!"

He is telling me that I have to receive a high rank and meet again in the castle. I couldn't help but smile a little. Indeed, I can't fail and let him down. My mother, Oliver, and Amelia trust me too, so I won't fail.

I walked down the hallway, which continued straight, and then turned right. After turning to the right, the corridor widened, and in the middle, I saw a white double door. Next to the door was a tall guy with long hair and glasses and four more guards at each corner.

"Welcome! You must be the last one. It was a long day..." The man with glasses said. "My name is Harold, and I am the Queen's Counselor as well as being in charge of the ritual for new adventurers. What is your name?"

"Hi, My name is Darx.":

"..."

Out of nowhere, Harold held my chin, and with a very serious face, he brought his face close to mine.

"Your eyes... h-how is it possible? Red eyes should no longer exist. Who are you? Where you come from?"

"Huh? M-My name is Darx. I come from a little village called Merton."

"Does your family have this same eye color?"

"No... My father died long ago, but his eyes were brown from what my mother told me, and she has black eyes."

"How strange, very strange. I'm sorry, I got excited. I would like to talk more with you but let's leave it until after you finish the ritual since there isn't much time left." Harold said, releasing my chin and taking a step back. "I'll explain what you have to do."

What was all that? Again with the color of my eyes. Is there something I don't know? Harold seems to know something about it. I'd like to ask him later.

"Do you have your card with you?" Harold asked.

"Yes!"

"You will be in this room. Inside you will find the statue of our goddess [Imris], and in front of her on the floor will be a magic circle. Next to the statue, there will be a pedestal where you will leave your card. Your rank, class, skills, if you receive any in addition to your elemental affinity in case you receive any magic class, will be written on the card after the ritual ends."

Ryul's card was impressed with a class and rank, as well as other things that I couldn't read. Those must have been his skills.

"After leaving your card on the pedestal, you will have to stand in front of the statue right in the center of the magic circle. Close your eyes and ask the goddess [Imris] to give you the power you long for. If everything goes well after a few seconds, you will receive your awakening, but if nothing happens, unfortunately, you will not be suitable for the adventurer's life."

"I-I get it." I replied nervously.

"Are you sure you understood everything? If you have any questions, this is the moment. If you fail and don't receive your awakening, you will not have another chance."

"I'm fine. I understood everything."

"In that case, go ahead, and I wish you luck. It is not right of me to say this, but I am curious to know what you will receive."

Two of the guards opened the doors, and after taking a deep breath, I stepped inside. The guards closed the door, which makes a lot of noise as they seem to be heavy. Inside was a white room without any windows or decorations. It is just a red carpet that leads to the goddess's statue in the back of the room. The ceiling is also relatively high. I'd say about three stories tall. As Harold said, in front of the goddess [Imris] statue, there is a magic circle on the ground, and next to it, the pedestal where I should leave my card. All the goddess statues that I have seen in this place are golden or look new, but this one is different. The statue is three times my size and appears to be quite old with some cracks in different places.

I approached the pedestal and left my card just as Harold said. Then I entered the middle of the magic circle, looking at the statue of the goddess to then close my eyes and ask her as honestly as possible to allow me to be an adventurer.

A few seconds have passed, and I don't feel like anything is happening. It's only supposed to take a few seconds. Without opening my eyes, I kept asking the goddess, refusing the idea that I would not receive my awakening. More than two minutes have passed, and nothing. It can not be true... please... I-I need to check my card. Maybe you don't feel anything, but it will be written on my card that I am an adventurer. Yes, that must be it. I refuse to resign myself.

I opened my eyes intending to go to the pedestal and see my card, but... I only saw darkness... An absolute silence and darkness that doesn't let me see my hands in front of me.

What's going on? Is this how the awakening is received? This place, This place feels familiar. Just like in my nightmares...

I walk, but I don't feel anything under my feet. I look around, but only darkness. I try to scream for help, but even the sound of my voice is hard to hear.

''Where am I...?''

I'm sure I'm awake, but the feeling is the same as in my nightmares. And if it's the same, that means she must be here. And just as I thought in the distance, I saw her.

I ran to where she was. I could hear how she called me, but her voice was inside my head. I can listen to her clearer than in my dreams. I kept running to where she was, and I finally saw her. I see her very far away in my dreams, but I am practically a few feet from her this time.

Even though I'm close to her, I can't get any closer. Some kind of barrier keeps me from getting closer. Her body is immobile, covered by a hood. She appears to be standing, but in reality, she is held in chains on both hands from above. Beneath her is what seems to be a magic circle. Who is she and why is she like this? Is she a prisoner somewhere?

(I've been waiting for you.)

"Who are you?" I asked.

(I don't know.) She replied.

"Where are we?" I asked.

(I don't know.) She replied.

"Do you know me? I was in the ritual to become an adventurer and suddenly I am here. Do you know what happened?"

(I don't know.) She replied.

"What? How can you not know anything?"

(I don't know who I am or why I'm in this condition. I don't remember anything. I don't know who you are either, but for some reason, we have a connection. At times our bond is stronger, and that's when you appear in front of me.)

Those moments should be when I'm asleep. What's going on?

(I don't know why, but our connection is stronger right now, but it won't last long. I need you to help me. I don't have much time left. My energy is being extracted, and soon I will have no more. When that time comes, I will die.)

"I-I can't do anything. I can't get any closer to you."

(You can't help me here. You need to find me in the real world.)

"How can I find you if you don't know where you are?"

(Every time you get stronger, I feel like our connection gets stronger too. If you continue to improve, I'm sure you will be able to find me.)

Suddenly everything began to shake. It's the same as in my dreams, and soon I'll get out of here.

(Please help me. I feel that there is something important that I have to do. I feel an evil presence growing more and more. You are the only person who can help me.)

I felt dizzy and felt like I was losing consciousness.

(I'll help you get stronger, so look for me)

I felt a strange sensation in my body. With my last strength, I raise my head to see her once more, and from the ground, I managed to see what appears to be a horn on her head. Who ...

.

.

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Harold

He has been an advisor to the queen for three years and is also in charge of the adventurer ritual. He has a friendly personality and is a bit clumsy, but he is also quite clever.