"I promise you."

I was abruptly roused from sleep by a subconscious response. Through my half-closed eyes, I discovered my hand pointing towards the ceiling, trying to reach out to something -but only to fail. Retracting my hand, I rubbed my still drowsy eyes and surveyed my surroundings.

Sensing something unusual, I gently touched my cheeks, only to find them moist with tears, which left me bewildered.

"What was that voice? Who was she? What did I promise her? Why am I in tears?"

Unable to find answers to my inexplicable dream and unanswerable questions, I rose from bed and stretched my numbed body. Drawing back the curtains and opening the window, the morning sunlight flooded my room, while the cheerful chirping of birds reminded me of the dawning of a new day. Inhaling the fresh, humid air, I felt a renewed sense of vitality.

"It rained heavily last night, didn't it? Those thunderclaps nearly deafened me."

While I was enjoying the fresh breeze, a knocking sound echoed from the door. I recognized my mother's voice saying, "Aryan, hey Aryan, wake up! You've been sleeping like a log for almost 10 hours. What's happened to you?"

I was taken aback. "10 hours! That long?"

I hurriedly opened the door, revealing my middle-aged mother. "I'm awake, Mom."

"Oh, but you've never been this late before. The breakfast I prepared has already turned cold," she inquired, her tone filled with concern.

I had no answer to answer. Should I say I just say that some unknown woman came into my dream and caressed me like her son- making me fall into deep sleep? I searched for a plausible excuse.

"Well, yesterday was an exhausting day for me. I spent most of the day training my body, so I needed more rest, that's all."

With a worried expression, my mother asked, "Are you injured somewhere?"

"Nah, just tired. Why are you so concerned? Today is a special day for me, you know. I've been anticipating this day for eight years. I was so excited that I ended up overexerting myself."

Relieved by my explanation, she sighed and said, "Alright, go get yourself ready. I'll reheat the meal."

"I'll be ready in seconds."

I hastened toward the shower room. The event I had been eagerly awaiting was none other than the renowned Awakening Ceremony. On this day, young individuals like myself would visit the branch headquarters of the Elemental Association to awaken their elemental affinities. Though the Awakening Ceremony took place annually, its popularity never waned. Everyone, regardless of relevance or irrelevance, desired to participate in this event. The origins of awakening elemental affinities can be traced back to the Stone Age.

Approximately 4000 years ago, a brilliant mind named Advan became intrigued by a feeble Elemental beast his father had hunted. This creature could emit "Sun" from its mouth, and Advan yearned to possess the same ability. Driven by curiosity, he embarked on a quest for truth. After meticulously dissecting the beast, he compared its anatomy with similar feline creatures incapable of producing the 'Sun.' It was then that he discovered an organ absent in ordinary beasts.

Following this lead, Advan began experimenting on the beast's body and eventually iother specimens. After countless sleepless nights, he succeeded in detecting the mysterious energy contained within the foreign organ. However, he was unable to utilize it. Frustrated by this impasse, Advan's desperation led him to inject the energy into his own body. This reckless act resulted in the awakening of a new energy within him, accompanied by three weeks of intense fever.

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Following this successful awakening, he felt a newfound energy within himself, making him more spirited, robust, and passionate than ever before. Yet, he struggled to control it or develop its potential. Thus, Advan returned to his scholarly pursuits.

Only after thousands of failed experiments on other elemental beasts did Advan finally decipher the process of channeling the energy, now known as Origin energy, inside a human body. It was through this discovery that he created the first-ever "Primal Origin Art" and became the first Elementalist.

His aspiration to breathe fire would go on to change the fate of humanity, granting them the means to fight back in this harsh Origin world.

Following in his footsteps, countless ambitious geniuses like Advan dedicated their lives to the path of elemental cultivation.

The human body consists of five elements: Fire, Water, Wood, Earth, and Metal. Wind is a peculiar element in this case. However, humans do not interact with all these elements in the same manner. Certain elements exert a greater influence on humans than others. Hence, close interaction with a specific element generates an "Affinity" toward that particular element within the human body. Elemental cultivation is built upon this elemental composition and affinity.

After millennia of evolution, every human in this era possesses an affinity for a fixed element. However, this list is not limited to the five major elements. There are also deviant elements like Lightning, Darkness, Light, and Sound. Nevertheless, possessing an affinity and awakening it are two distinct concepts. The Awakening Ceremony we partake in today is meant to awaken our affinities, paving the way for us to wield those elements.

Yet, mastering the manipulation of elements is no simple task, as the density of a single element can disrupt the delicate balance within the human body. Thus, a mature body capable of withstanding this disruption is necessary. And Human body enters the phase of maturity only at the age of 16. Therefore, starting from the age of 6, those of us who dream of becoming Elementalists practice Body Enhancement Methods to develop a compatible physique capable of harnessing elemental energy.

The same holds true for me. With dreams of becoming an Elementalist embedded within me since my earliest memories, I diligently cultivated a body-enhancement method called "Vajrasana Body." I have no idea where my father obtained it, but I pursued it nonetheless. This method focuses on solidifying the five elemental compositions within your body, preventing an imbalance caused by an excessive increase in any particular element.

Although it was initially arduous and painful to practice, I persevered. Yet, my entire world shattered when my perseverance yielded a result: a bulky and unappealing physique in the middle stage of the art. Even I was disgusted by my disproportionate figure, characterized by a small head atop a massive body. It nearly drove me to abandon the path of an Elementalist.

I vividly remember the day I wept before my mother.

"I want my enemies to fear my strength... Sob... Sob... Not my appearance, Mom. Father gave me this weird body-tempering method, and look at what it has done to me."

Hearing my heart-wrenching cry, mom couldn't control herself anymore. She brandished her weapon of planetary destruction, albeit her broom, and stormed off to confront my father, demanding an explanation.

"Aryan, don't be sad. You know your dad loves you. I would never choose something that would harm you. Everything will return to normal as you reach the final stages of the Vajrasana Body," my defeated father assured me with a smile, though his pity-filled eyes betrayed his words. It was evident that he, too, knew nothing about this body-tempering method. Despite the air of suspicion, my naive and innocent self decided to continue practicing it.

Thankfully, his words rang true. After enduring years of bitter persistence and enduring the trials of body enhancement, I have finally reached the final stage of the Vajrasana Body. My physique could not be more perfect than it is now. As those bulky muscles contracted, my body transformed into an impeccable figure with heightened muscle density. At first glance, anyone would take me for an ordinary teenager, unaware of the power I possess within.

"Muscle Power!"

And finally, the long-awaited day has arrived! Today is the day when I, along with my peers, will awaken our elemental affinities. My excitement knew no bounds, enough to forget that weird dream that made me shed tears in my sleep..