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Covenant: Valhalla
Second Awakening

Second Awakening

For Ethan, the days blended together into a routine of sweat, bruises, and slow, steady progress. By the end of the second week since he first managed to channel prana, something changed. During one of Himmel’s afternoon sessions, the moment he had been striving for finally happened.

“Good, Ethan. Now stabilize it,” Himmel instructed, his sharp eyes watching every twitch of Ethan’s muscles.

Ethan gritted his teeth, his hands glowing faintly as the prana flowed through his body. It was different this time. The energy that had once felt like a wild river now coursed through him like a steady stream. He could feel it, control it, guide it. For the first time, he wasn’t just reacting to the prana; he was commanding it.

The faint glow subsided, and Ethan exhaled, a shaky grin on his face. “I think I did it.”

Himmel gave a curt nod. “You did. You’ve stabilized it. Congratulations, Ethan, you’re eligible for the Second Awakening.”

The term struck a chord among the other recruits nearby, who had been eavesdropping while working on their own exercises. Ethan turned to see Zane, Yin Xue, and Iris—his closest teammates—exchanging glances. It wasn’t long before the rest of the recruits were murmuring amongst themselves.

That evening in the dorm lounge, the topic was the only thing anyone could talk about.

“Two weeks,” Zane said, plopping onto one of the couches. “Can you believe that? Two weeks and we’re already here.”

“It’s not just you, Ethan,” Yin Xue added, her expression calm but her voice tinged with excitement. “Most of us are ready for the Second Awakening. Himmel said so earlier.”

Yara, sprawled on the floor with her back against the wall, let out a dramatic sigh. “I’m dying to know what my innate ability is. But I’m also nervous. What if it’s something lame?”

“There’s no such thing as a lame innate ability,” Iris said firmly, shooting Yara a pointed look. “Even a so-called ‘small’ ability can change the tide of a fight. It’s all about how you use it.”

Herbie, sitting cross-legged on the table’s edge, fidgeted with his hands. “Still… what if it’s something I can’t use properly? What if it…”

“Stop overthinking it,” Zane cut in, shaking his head. “You’ll make yourself crazy. Just let it happen. Besides, we’re all in the same boat here. Even I’m… curious, I guess.”

Ethan stayed quiet, listening to his friends while absently twirling a pen between his fingers. He wouldn’t admit it out loud, but he shared their feelings. The idea of uncovering something hidden within himself, something unique, was thrilling. But it was also terrifying. What if it wasn’t enough? What if, after everything, he couldn’t measure up?

When Thursday morning arrived, the recruits gathered on the training field, the sun rising lazily over the horizon. The usual clamor of warm-ups and drills was absent, replaced by a hushed tension. Himmel and Gabriel stood in front of the group, their presence commanding attention. Behind them was a large, shimmering crystal, easily the size of a small boulder, radiating a faint light.

Gabriel’s grin was as relaxed as ever. “Now, before any of you start getting ideas,” he began, gesturing toward the crystal, “no, this isn’t some mystical, all-seeing artifact. It’s not going to tell you your destiny or anything dramatic like that. This is just a reflection crystal. All it does is show you what’s inside… to you and only you.”

The recruits exchanged curious glances.

Gabriel continued, his tone casual but informative. “When you look into it, you’ll see your inner body. Don’t freak out; it’s not as creepy as it sounds. Focus your prana while looking at the crystal, and you’ll be able to guide it toward your innate ability—the thing that’s been slumbering inside you since your First Awakening.”

“And what kind of abilities are we talking about here?” someone in the back asked.

This time, Rudra stepped forward, his serious demeanor contrasting with Gabriel’s lightheartedness. “Innate abilities can fall into several broad categories,” he explained. “Elemental manipulation, summoning, physical enhancement, healing, support, and even rare hybrids that combine traits of multiple categories. But don’t get too caught up in comparisons. What matters is how you develop your ability. Even the rarest skill is useless without practice.”

The recruits murmured among themselves, a mix of excitement and apprehension in their voices. Ethan caught snippets of their conversations—speculations about who might awaken what, jokes about someone getting a useless ability, and quiet reassurances exchanged between friends.

Gabriel clapped his hands, drawing their attention back. “Alright, enough chit-chat. Let’s get this show on the road. Herbie, you’re up first.”

The group fell silent as Herbie stepped forward, his usual nervous energy now tempered by determination. Ethan watched as his friend approached the crystal, the faint glow reflecting off his wide-eyed expression. Herbie took a deep breath and placed his hands on the surface.

Herbie stood in the center of the field, his small frame looking almost comical amidst the tension hanging in the air. He closed his eyes, his expression one of nervous concentration. The recruits watched in silence, anticipation thick as fog. Then, without warning, a golden light erupted from Herbie’s body, bright and overwhelming. Gasps filled the air, and many shielded their eyes from the sudden brilliance.

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Gabriel, standing nearby with his arms crossed, chuckled lightly. “Well, it seems our little Herbie has quite the spark in him. Silly as he might be, the boy’s got some serious capability.” He turned to one of his colleagues, an older man with sharp eyes and a swift gait. With a single nod, Gabriel sent him running toward the staff building.

Back on the field, Herbie’s golden aura continued to surge, though its intensity began to wane after a few moments. The momentum slowed, the light dimming to a soft glow around him. As the golden sheen faded completely, Herbie’s eyes fluttered open. He clenched his fist experimentally, his cheeks noticeably red.

Just as Herbie opened his mouth to say something, Gabriel raised a hand, cutting him off. “Ah, before we move on, there’s one important detail I might have forgotten to mention,” he began, a sly grin tugging at his lips. “Innate abilities are unique to each individual. There’s only one of its kind in existence, and if it’s gone, it’s gone for good.”

The recruits exchanged uneasy glances, their excitement tempered by the weight of Gabriel’s words.

“Now, here’s the fun part,” Gabriel continued, his tone turning playful. “The crystal—this big beauty here—it names your ability for you. We could stop it from doing so, but Loki, in all his wisdom, decided it’d be hilarious to give it that feature. Of course, the other big names approved it unanimously, and Loki still boasts about it to this day.”

The recruits groaned, some laughing nervously.

Gabriel smirked. “Don’t worry. The crystal doesn’t record what your ability actually does, just gives it a name. So, Herbie, what’s the name of your shiny new ability? You don’t have to share what it does if you don’t want to. Keep it a secret if you’d like.”

Herbie’s face turned beet red, his embarrassment palpable. He shifted awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck before mumbling under his breath.

“Drama Queen’s Favor,” he muttered, barely audible.

The field went silent for a beat before laughter erupted. Even Gabriel and Rudra’s mouths twitched, though they valiantly tried to maintain composure.

Gabriel coughed into his hand, his voice strained as he spoke. “Ahem, well, Herbie, step forward and place your palm on this smaller crystal. Let’s see what we’re working with.”

The older colleague had returned, holding a palm-sized crystal that shimmered faintly in the sunlight.

Gabriel gestured to it. “This little guy was crafted by Daedalus, Hephaestus, Vishwakarma, and Ptah. It’s designed to detect the potential of the awakened skill and determine if it’s fixed or evolving. Go ahead, Herbie.”

Herbie hesitated for a moment before stepping forward and placing his hand on the crystal. It glowed briefly with a bluish hue before fading.

Gabriel glanced at the crystal and read aloud, “Potential: B+, Type: Evolving.” He nodded in approval. “Not bad, Herbie. Evolving skills are rare and unique, though your potential does limit its growth slightly.”

Herbie’s embarrassment faded, replaced by a wide grin. He stepped back into the crowd, looking genuinely pleased.

The ceremony continued as recruit after recruit stepped forward to awaken their abilities. Some were met with awe-inspiring displays of light and power, while others were subtler but no less significant. Then came Zane’s turn.

A greenish-gold aura exploded from Zane the moment he touched the crystal, swirling around him in mesmerizing patterns. The recruits watched in awe as the light pulsed with a rhythm that seemed almost alive. When it finally settled, Zane opened his eyes, a triumphant smirk on his face.

“Name?” Gabriel prompted.

“Thorned Benediction,” Zane said, his voice brimming with pride.

Gabriel nodded approvingly. “Sounds impressive. Step forward for the potential assessment.”

Zane placed his hand on the smaller crystal, which glowed with the same greenish-gold hue as his aura. Gabriel read out the results: “Potential: B+, Type: Fixed.”

Though his skill wasn’t evolving, Zane seemed content, his grin never faltering as he rejoined the crowd.

The ceremony moved on, the recruits’ excitement growing with each awakening. Elara was called shortly after, her movements deliberate as she approached the crystal. She placed her palm on it, and a fiery red aura erupted, flickering like flames dancing in the wind. The intensity of the light was almost overwhelming.

When the light faded, she spoke, her voice steady. “Infernal Waltz.”

Gabriel raised an eyebrow. “Fiery name. Let’s see what’s under the hood.”

Elara’s potential assessment revealed: “Potential: A-, Type: Fixed.” She returned to the crowd with a satisfied expression.

Iris was called immediately after. Her aura was a brilliant bluish flame, ethereal and haunting in its beauty.

“Lament of the Horizon,” she said, her voice soft but clear.

Gabriel’s expression softened slightly. “A fitting name for such an aura. Step forward.”

Her potential: “Potential: A, Type: Fixed.” Iris’s calm demeanor didn’t falter as she returned to the group, though there was a flicker of satisfaction in her eyes.

About ten minutes later, Yin Xue’s name was called. She approached the crystal with a calm grace, her movements almost serene. When she placed her hand on the crystal, a greenish-blue aura enveloped her, exuding a sense of calm and balance.

“Stillwater Requiem,” she said, her voice as steady as her aura.

Gabriel nodded approvingly. “Potential: A, Type: Evolving.” The murmurs in the crowd grew louder; an evolving skill with A potential was a rare combination. Yin Xue returned to the group, her expression unreadable but her presence commanding.

Finally, Yara’s name was called. She stepped forward confidently, her hand brushing against the crystal. A soothing green aura seeped out, spreading across the field like a gentle breeze. The recruits fell silent, mesmerized by the aura’s calming effect.

Yara opened her eyes and smiled. “Veil of Verdance.”

Gabriel glanced at the smaller crystal after Yara’s assessment. “Potential: A+, Type: Evolving.” A collective gasp went through the recruits. She had the highest potential among them so far. Yara’s confidence only grew as she rejoined the group, her aura lingering like a soft whisper.

And then it was Ethan’s turn. He placed his palm on the massive crystal, its surface cool against his skin.