By noon, the main hall of Shale City administrative building was packed.

Dozens of children—between twelve and thirteen years of age—stood in small clusters or sat nervously along the marble benches that lined the sides of the grand chamber. A low buzz of conversation filled the air, occasionally broken by the screech of a chair leg or thrum of a spirit lamp overhead. The excitement was palpable, but so was the unease.

Some kids stared at the sealed chamber doors with a mixture of awe and fear. Others fidgeted with their clothes or whispered guesses about what this new crystal might be like. The first ceremony had ended in confusion, and many had been left without answers.

Now, hope had returned.

Among them sat Joshua Clementine.

He kept to himself, eyes fixed on the polished floor. His fingers were clenched tightly around his knees. Every breath he took felt heavy, like his lungs were filled with water. The memory of the crystal shattering beneath his touch still haunted him—how the warm glow shifted, how the cracks webbed across the surface before it exploded.

Was it his fault?

Could he even be reawakened now?

Would the crystal fail again?

He flinched slightly when a loud creak echoed through the hall.

The ornate doors at the far end of the chamber opened.

City Lord Richard stepped out first, now properly dressed in a deep burgundy robe embroidered with silver thread. Behind him, draped in imperial black and crimson, came Lord Darius. His expression, as always, was unreadable—stern, composed, and cold.

The room fell silent.

The two men came to a stop on a slightly elevated dais near the front, where a lectern bearing Shale City's crest had been hastily set up.

Richard cleared his throat. "Children of Shale," he began, his voice carrying across the chamber with the aid of a small voice amplifier. We thank you for your patience, and we apologize once more for the disruption that ended your prior awakening ceremony."

A murmur ran through the crowd. Some of the children exchanged glances.

"The Empire," the city lord continued, "in its wisdom and fairness, has deemed it necessary to complete what was started. Thanks to the efforts of Lord Darius, a new crystal has been brought from the capital."

He stepped aside and gestured to Darius, who stepped forward with measured grace.

Darius clasped his hands behind his back. His gaze swept across the children—not unkind but coldly evaluative, like one assessing raw ores for hidden gems.

"This chamber will be used to assess your potential—one at a time," he said. "Each of you will be summoned in turn and brought into the awakening room. The process will proceed without interruption."

The children felt utterly still.

Darius continued. "Should you awaken with a potential of yellow or higher, your name will be recorded and reviewed. I will then submit your results to the Imperial Academy for consideration."

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Sharp gasps came from one corner of the room. One boy nearly dropped the spirit-infused badge he was holding. Even the city hall clerks standing near the walls exchanged glances.

The Imperial Academy.

It was one of the highest institutions of learning and cultivation across the continent. Most in this room had never dreamed of stepping foot near it.

"That does not guarantee acceptance," Darius added. "The standards are high, and the decision lies with the academy itself. However, this is an opportunity not often offered to provincial cities such as yours."

Joshua clenched his fists.

Yellow… or higher?

My result glowed a radiant yellow before shattering. But what if I fail once again?

He didn't know if his heart could handle it.

The city lord clapped his hands, and a list was passed to one of the clerks.

"We will begin now. Please remain seated until your name is called. Each session will take no more than a few minutes. We will base the sequence on the last awakening ceremony."

The doors to the awakening chamber creaked open.

The first name was called.

"Joshua Clementine."

A wave of silence crashed over the hall.

Joshua's breath caught. For a heartbeat, he couldn't move—his legs felt like they'd turned to stone. Dozens of eyes turned toward him, some curious, some sympathetic, a few even wary. He swallowed hard and stood, legs stiff beneath him.

The guards didn't rush him. One simply gave a short nod, opening the polished wooden door with a soft groan that echoed like thunder in Joshua's ears.

Inside, the chamber was quiet and cold. Smooth black stone lined the floor, while silver runes etched into the walls pulsed slowly with spiritual light. In the center stood the new awakening crystal—larger than the last, floating just inches above a pedestal reinforced with darksteel plating and imperial sigils.

An attendant waited beside it, dressed in neutral academy robes. Both the city lord and the imperial representative were seated in a corner of the room.

"Place your hands on the crystal when you're ready," the attendant said gently, her voice calm and practiced. "Let your spirit flow naturally. There is no need to force anything."

Joshua nodded mutely. His heart thudded in his chest like a war drum.

What if it cracks again?

What if I break it?

He shook his head. No. This was his chance. He took one final breath, stepped forward, and pressed his palm against the crystal.

At first, nothing happened. Then the light within the crystal began to stir.

A dim glow emerged, slowly brightening. It shifted between pale tones—whites, soft grays, before beginning to settle into a solid hue. The energy hummed slowly, vibrating against his palm.

Joshua felt something tug within his chest—a faint warmth, familiar, yet distant.

Then the crystal pulsed with color.

A bluish green.

A clear, steady, unmistakable blue-green. A little more bluish hues and it would become true blue.

The light held for several seconds before fading gently, and the crystal returned to its dormant state.

Joshua stared, stunned. His heart was still racing but for an entirely different reason now.

Green. A little more and it could be blue.

He hadn't broken the crystal. He hadn't failed.

He had awakened.

The attendant gasped. "Green, but nearing blue. Congratulations, Joshua Clementine. You've awakened a green potential. Nurture it and it will become blue someday."

Joshua stepped back from the pedestal, the tightness in his chest finally easing. A smile crept onto his face—not of triumph but quiet relief.

As he bowed towards the attendant and the two powerful men in the corner, he left the chamber, the doors closed gently behind him.

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