As I stood on the podium, still absorbing the sea of surprised faces around me, the crowd began to stir with curiosity.

My physical transformation was undeniable – a stark difference from the slender figure that had entered the training space a year ago.

Among the whispers and murmurs, a question arose, echoing the doubts of many present.

"Child, what exactly did you do during your training year?" rang out a familiar voice from the crowd.

I immediately recognized who it was. The Arashi Family, while led by the patriarch, also relies heavily on the counsel of elders.

These are influential and powerful members from the various branches of the Arashi family.

Even though they are not from the direct line of the Arashi main family, their leadership is pivotal in maintaining harmony among the branches, effectively reducing any chance of rebellion against the main one.

This structure is crucial for the family's stability, as it ensures that the patriarch, while a central figure, does not act in self-interest. His decisions and actions are often guided and influenced by these elders.

"You were supposed to focus on enhancing your intelligence stats, but looking at you now, it seems like you've that wasn't the case." The elder continued.

The question hung in the air, reflecting the skepticism in the eyes of everyone present.

It was a valid concern; the Arashi family, known for valuing magical prowess, would certainly find my heavily muscled physique surprising, if not alarming, given the their expected focus on intellectual development.

Taking a deep breath, I prepared myself to respond to the elder's probing question. "What do you mean, sir? Obviously, a training session is meant to allow one to 'train'. That's exactly what I've been doing."

The elder's expression shifted to one of annoyance at my response. It was clear that my answer, while truthful, was seen as evasive and unsatisfactory.

The ambiguity in my words only served to reinforce his suspicion that I had neglected the training of my intelligence stat.

"Child," the elder said, his tone now edged with a hint of frustration.

"Kaien, Sir." I gently corrected.

"Child..." the elder began again, a touch of impatience coloring his voice.

"It's Kaien, Sir." I reiterated calmly yet firmly

The subtle tension in my exchange with the elder was palpable. My insistence on being addressed by my name, Kaien, was a small but firm assertion. I was determined to command a certain degree of respect.

Reflecting on my past life, I realized that my fundamental mistake had been in seeking recognition for my efforts, when what I truly needed was to assert my right to respect.

This time around, I was resolved to stand firm, even if it meant challenging the authority of those above me.

I understood now that respect was not something to be passively hoped for, but rather something to be actively demanded, regardless of the stature or influence of the other party.

My stance was clear: if respect was not given, it would be firmly, yet respectfully, requested.

The elder, taken aback by my assertiveness, paused momentarily, his gaze sharpening as he assessed me.

The gathered members of the Arashi family, accustomed to strict hierarchies and protocols, watched with wide eyes and hushed tones. Whispers fluttered like leaves in the wind, each carrying a hint of disbelief and surprise.

"Can you believe it?" one spectator muttered to another. "He's actually correcting an elder!"

To correct an elder of such high standing, was unheard of. It was a gesture that defied conventions, a clear departure from the submissive posture expected of the younger generation.

The crowd held its breath, the atmosphere charged with a mix of anticipation and unease.

In the midst of this tense standoff, another elder's voice cut through the silence, easing the growing tension. He was a well-respected figure within the family, known for his wisdom and his ability to mediate in difficult situations.

"Why exactly are you so... muscular, Kaien?" he asked, his tone more of curiosity than accusation. It was clear he wanted to steer the conversation.

As the conversation between me and the elders unfolded, I suddenly became aware of another presence – the patriarch. Seated above the rest, he observed the proceedings from his elevated position, his eyes keenly focused on the scene below.

To my surprise, the patriarch remained silent, not intervening in the exchange between me and the elders, nor raising any questions about my transformation. His gaze was fixed on me, but it wasn't filled with judgment or disapproval. Instead, there was a discernible hint of curiosity in his eyes, as if he was intrigued by the turn of events.

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As the tension from the elder's question still lingered in the air, I chose to keep my answer enigmatic. "I believe you already know why, there's no need for me to tell you as you will soon find out."

Before anyone could further question me, the atmosphere shifted dramatically.

The time had come for the commencement of the Coming of Age ceremony, a pivotal moment in the life of every Arashi family member.

Each year, at a precise moment, the deity granted new members of the Arashi family their own unique active skill.

However, there were two crucial prerequisites for this blessing. First, the individual must possess the Pyromancer's class, a class exclusive to the Arashi family, bestowed by the deity himself. Second, the individual had to be exactly 15 years old – not a year more, not a year less.

At the center of the podium where we stood, was a majestic statue, a representation of the deity revered by the Arashi family.

This deity was no ordinary figure; it was the embodiment of the true essence of fire, revered as the strongest magical mythical beast in existence – a dragon. Specifically, it was 'Ignite, The Dragon King', a being whose power and majesty were legendary among our people.

As the ceremony was about to commence, the statue of Ignite, The Flame Dragon King, began to be engulfed in flames.

This spectacular display signaled the start of the ritual, effectively drawing everyone's attention away from the previous conversation.

The elders, including the one who had questioned me, now had their focus entirely on the ceremony.

I knew this would happen, which is why I hadn't provided a detailed answer to their inquiries. But I was aware that soon, everyone would learn about my stats.

A few meters from the statue, a magical device was set up. As each child crossed this device, their stats and passive skill would be displayed above them for all to see, just before they received their active skill from the deity.

The first to step forward was a young girl, with a look of nervous excitement on her face.

As she crossed the line marked by the magical device, her information appeared in the air above her. It showed that she had achieved the demanded 10 points in intelligence. However, her other stats like strength, agility, and vitality were all at a moderate 5 points, though this was expected. Her acquired passive skill was displayed next: Magic Amplification.

As the young girl stepped in front of the statue, the open mouth of Ignite, The Flame Dragon King, exhaled a dramatic burst of fire. The flames, far from harmful, swirled around her in a spectacular dance, signifying the moment she was bestowed with her active skill.

Above her head, a holographic display materialized, showing only the icon and name of her newly acquired skill. The crowd craned their necks to see the display.

https://i.imgur.com/65K7n55.png [https://i.imgur.com/65K7n55.png]

[Raven Ignition]

'I remember her. She's the only one who had such skill...'

The limitations of the device meant that only the basic details of the skill were displayed, leaving out a comprehensive description. Hence, a fire-resistant dummy had been strategically placed behind the deity's statue, serving a crucial role in the ceremony.

An attendant, positioned next to the dummy, respectfully addressed the young girl. "Please demonstrate your active skill so that we all may see its power." he requested.

The girl, still enveloped in the excitement of receiving her active skill, nodded in agreement and faced the dummy.

She took a deep breath, her hands rising as she concentrated. The crowd fell into a hushed silence, their eyes fixed on her.

As she channeled her magic, a surge of energy flowed from her, culminating in a spell that took form before our eyes.

Flames erupted from her hands, shaping themselves into the form of a raven made entirely of fire.

With an elegant flap of its wings, the fiery raven soared towards the dummy. The crowd held their breath, expecting a dramatic explosion upon impact.

Instead, the raven passed through the dummy seamlessly, dissipating into the air on the other side. However, the dummy itself burst into intense flames, engulfed by the fire left in the raven's wake.

The crowd erupted into applause, impressed by the skill's subtlety and effectiveness.

Watching the skill in action, a memory flickered in my mind from my past life. On my deathbed, I had heard tales of a young prodigy within the family who had risen to prominence with her spectacular and powerful skill.

This girl, renowned for her ability to summon majestic birds in almost infinite numbers, had captured the respect of the Arashi family.

Her name was Hikari Ashira, also known within the family circles as 'Phoenix Caller'. The skill she demonstrated today, creating a fiery raven that could ignite anything it came in contact with, was just a glimpse of her true potential. Her nickname, 'Phoenix Caller', was a tribute to the elegant and formidable avian forms her magic could conjure, each embodying the fierce spirit of the mythical phoenix.

Hikari's fame wasn't just due to her skill's power but also her beauty and her grace with which she known to resemble a phoenix's.

As the ceremony continued, one by one, the Arashi children crossed the magical line, their stats and passive skills revealed for all to see. The air was thick with anticipation and wonder, each display of newly acquired active skills adding to the excitement of the event.

The diversity of talents within the Arashi family was truly a spectacle to behold.

Applause and murmurs of admiration filled the space as each child took their turn.

The elders and family members watched with keen eyes, perhaps already considering how these new skills could contribute to the family.

"Next!" said the attendant.

Finally, the moment arrived for me to step forward.

This was it – my turn to reveal the culmination of my year-long training and to receive the active skill that had destroyed my path to greatness in my previous life.

I took a deep breath and stepped across the line, ready to face whatever came next. The eyes of the entire Arashi family were on me, their gazes a blend of curiosity and skepticism.

But I was ready. Ready to handle the outcome of my choice and ready to handle the adversity of my cursed skill.

Crossing the threshold, my stats appeared overhead, a collective gasp echoed through the crowd.

The numbers displayed were far from what anyone had expected.

"What is this!" someone exclaimed from the crowd, their voice laced with disbelief. Murmurs spread like wildfire, each member trying to make sense of the figures hovering above me.

The shock and surprise in the eyes of the family members were evident. My appearance had already set me apart, but now my stats painted a picture of a path less taken, one that defied the conventional Arashi way.

Strength: 5

Intelligence: 5

Vitality: 20

Dexterity: 5