Zarek entered the hall with measured calm, a subtle smile playing on his lips. Though merely a butler by title, he was reputed to wield the greatest influence within the Wargrave family, second only to the Primarch himself.
Within the rigid hierarchy, the Great Elders stood next in authority, followed by the Elders. Yet Zarek had shattered this order. He held no formal rank or title, but his role as the Primarch's personal butler and trusted right hand afforded him unparalleled power.
Like Lyra, Zarek had been assigned to the Primarch from birth. He had stood by the Primarch's side from the very beginning, saving his life on many occasions during his youth.
Though only a butler by title, none dared to underestimate or confront him, fear of the Primarch's wrath was enough to keep all in check.
Of course, Asher learned much of this from Lyra. During those four days of confinement, he did far more than eat and sleep and exercise; he pressed Lyra for every scrap of knowledge she could offer, determined to understand the intricate web surrounding his family.
"Forgive my lateness, Tenth Sun. I hadn't anticipated the matter I was attending to would take longer than expected," Zarek said smoothly, a composed smile lingering on his lips.
"No problem, Zarek. A short delay is hardly an issue," Asher replied evenly.
Zarek inclined his head and approached the pedestal. "You are already familiar with the process, Tenth Sun. There's no need for me to reiterate it, unless you wish me to?"
Asher shook his head firmly. "No need. Let's begin."
'Just like every cliché story, all I have to do is place my hand on this floating crystal orb,' Asher mused.
His hand rose deliberately, moving toward the orb. It hovered above the smooth surface for a few tense seconds as he drew in a deep breath, then exhaled steadily. In the next moment, his palm made contact with the orb.
Every pair of eyes in the hall sharpened, fixed intently on him, anticipation hanging thick in the air as they waited to witness what would unfold.
Seconds stretched on, yet the orb remained inert, its surface cold and lifeless. A wave of disbelief rippled through the assembly, could a Wargrave truly fail to awaken? The silence was thick with unspoken doubts and murmurs.
Thalric's smile deepened into a knowing smirk, his confidence vindicated. He had anticipated this very outcome.
With a quiet mental sigh, Zarek prepared to announce the outcome, but before the words could leave his lips, the orb suddenly flared to life. Its glow intensified rapidly, bathing the room in a radiant light as Astra surged outward in powerful waves.
Asher felt an unfamiliar energy surge into his body, heat radiating from within as a golden aura flickered briefly around him. It was as if his very blood vessels were igniting, yet he understood this was no pain, but the awakening of his Astra veins.
A few seconds passed as the radiant glow of the orb gradually faded, eventually returning to its dormant, lifeless state. A smile slowly spread across Asher's lips.
Though he had been confident he would awaken, the brief moment of silence, the orb's initial failure to respond, had shaken him deeply.
After all, who would willingly abandon the comfort of such a powerful family to start anew with nothing?
"Congratulations, Ninth Sun. Welcome to the path of the strong," Zarek intoned calmly, a warm smile softening his features.
"Thank you, Zarek," Asher replied, returning the smile. Without another word, Zarek turned and strode away.
Whispers rippled through the hall as murmurs of relief spread among the Elders and Great Elders. It wasn't personal concern for Asher, they cared little for him individually but a complete failure by a Wargrave to awaken would have been a blight on their family's honor.
At least that stain had been averted. Among those present was the Librarian Asher had encountered four days prior.
The Sun and Moon remained as stoic and unreadable as ever. Without a word or glance in Asher's direction, they rose and strode toward the door, their personal maids silently following in their wake. Yet, one Sun lingered, seated with a faint, knowing smile fixed on Asher.
Thalric's smug expression dissolved into a deep frown, disbelief etched across his features. Though stunned, he refrained from causing a scene, quietly, he stood and exited the hall.
Neither the Great Elders, the Elders, nor the Suns and Moon cared to inquire about the weapon or element Asher had awakened. After all, one who had failed his awakening twice, how far could such a one truly rise on the path of power?
And their assumptions were not without merit. Those who awaken only on their third attempt often find themselves destined to falter early, striking insurmountable barriers that confine them forever to mediocrity.
Lyra, standing quietly to the side, watched with a subtle smile as her Young Master successfully awakened. Yet she remained silent, her gaze shifting as a figure approached, Zarek.
The moment he drew near, her smile vanished, replaced by a composed greeting.
"Good morning, Zarek."
"You already know why I'm here," Zarek said calmly. "Now that the Tenth Sun has awakened, will you continue to serve him personally, or will you return to the Circle?"
Following the awakening of their charge, a maid or butler faced a choice: to continue serving their designated Sun or Moon indefinitely, or to return to the ranks of the household staff.
Zarek had chosen the former, as had most maids and butlers before him. Yet choosing to remain was only half the battle, whether the Sun or Moon accepted their continued service was an entirely different matter.
"I choose to serve the Ninth Sun until death," Lyra replied with calm resolve.
Zarek nodded approvingly and handed her a document. "Sign this, and have him sign it as well. Return it to me no later than tomorrow."
Without another word, Zarek turned and exited. Lyra slipped the document into her space ring and gave a small nod in acknowledgment.
Asher stood firm, a faint smile playing on his lips. The moment he awakened, a subtle 'ding' echoed in his mind, a clear sign of a system activating. He didn't need an explanation; instinctively, he knew what it meant.
Eager to explore this new interface and to confirm the weapon he had awakened, though he was already certain of his element, feeling its power coursing within him, he prepared to delve into it.
The absence of anyone lingering to inquire about his weapon or element barely registered.
Before he could engage with the system, footsteps echoed from ahead. Asher lifted his gaze to see who approached.
It was the First Sun: Malrik Wargrave.