Even upon hearing the announcer's words, skepticism lingered in the crowd's eyes. I, too, stood there in shock. Never in my wildest dreams had I imagined that I would be deemed a Lightning user. Just moments before, I had been drowning in fear and imagining the worst possible outcome. Life, as it turns out, is full of surprises.

I descended from the podium and took my seat. My mother's ecstatic embrace was accompanied by kisses to my forehead and cheeks, as if her long-lost son had returned from war. Other parents nearby offered their congratulatory words, while their envious children looked at me with envy. However, I paid little heed to their jealousy, for my mind was occupied with fantastical visions of my newfound Lightning element.

The ceremony continued, with more participants being announced as Fire, Metal, Wood, Water, and a surprising 17 Light users took center stage. As the day wore on, the list of participants grew shorter, and finally, serial number 413, the last participant of the day, was called.

A petite young girl stepped onto the stage, attempting to absorb the essence from the crystals, but her attempts proved futile. After trying every crystal, she eventually stood before the purple crystal, sparking hope that we might have another Lightning user. However, her inability to absorb the essence filled me with sympathy.

'What's that? No elemental affinity? Such an unlucky soul?,' I thought.

To our astonishment, the girl didn't appear disheartened. Instead, she moved towards a peculiar short red flute and attempted to blow air into it. As the air flowed through the flute, a loud beep echoed through the air, perplexing us further.

Richard rose from his seat and began to explain, "This flute is crafted from the vocal cords of the Sea Siren race. They are extraordinary sound elemental creatures, capable of ensnaring sailors in sensory illusions through their songs. Consequently, this flute is highly sensitive to sound elements, and only individuals with Sound elemental affinity can elicit a response from it. You need not concern yourselves with absorbing elemental energy, as the path to becoming a Sound Elementalist differs from that of other elements." He nodded to the announcer, who then continued.

"Natalia Arrington, Sound element user."

"Another rare case! This awakening ceremony is truly unique. And she shares the same name as Richard! Is Arrington a family of singers?" someone in the audience exclaimed.

"Who knows?" replied another.

"It seems like she was intentionally placed last by the organizers to steal today's spotlight," remarked a spectator.

The chatter amongst the public intensified. Today's ceremony had witnessed an unusual number of children awakening to Light and Darkness elements, which was a rarity in comparison to past ceremonies. Moreover, Lightning and Sound elementalists had emerged, making this awakening ceremony the talk of the city for weeks to come.

Richard continued, "Now, I would like to announce the conclusion of the Redien City Awakening ceremony for the Continental Calendar 3527. You young ones, having awakened your elements, should begin practicing the Origin arts you've been taught. Aim to establish a stable Red Origin core by October, which typically takes around six months to form. You have a nine-month window to meet this deadline. Only after forming your core will your element acquire a special property that aligns with your essence. This is what the academies of the council look for in their students. That will be all for today. We may meet again in the future should any of you choose to join the Elemental Association."

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After the ceremony, we returned home aboard a mechanika. The two moons bathed the Earth in their reddish and silvery light, casting a familiar yet mystical scene. Beneath their illumination, we journeyed back to Marlow town. Lost in thought, I wandered the alleyways on the way home, unintentionally leaving my mother trailing behind me.

Upon reaching our home, I unlocked the door and stepped inside, greeted by the initial silence of our dimly lit interior.

Just when I stepped in, the Luminous crystals illuminated, accompanied by a loud noise.

"Happy Awakening, Aryan!" The sudden shift in atmosphere startled me, causing me to shout in surprise and fall onto the floor. The sound of my startled yell was followed by a chorus of boisterous laughter.

Amongst the voices, I recognized Carl's teasing tone, "I didn't know that our ‘Mama's boi’ is also a chicken-livered. We almost scared you to death."

First being shocked, then being mocked—I could feel my temper rising. I was about to thrash Carl verbally but spotted my smiling father amongst the group, I fell silent.

My father spread his arms wide, beckoning me, "Welcome home, son."

I stood up and hugged him tightly. "Welcome back, Dad. I missed you."

"I missed you all too," he replied warmly. "It's been a year, hasn't it? Don't be surprised; no matter how busy I am, I couldn't miss such an important day for my son, could I?"

I didn't respond with words, but the joy and relief in my heart were evident. Seeing him healthy and vibrant was the greatest gift of all. After our heartwarming father-son reunion, I glanced around the room. My childhood friend, Carl, his parents, and some neighbors had all come to extend their congratulations. I expressed my gratitude for their kind wishes.

Carl was one year older than me. He was an air user studying at Savant Academy. With his amiable and honest nature, he became friends with many people, including me. We have been partners in crime from the very week we moved into Marlow town.

He asked, "Dude, which element did you awaken? Fire, water, or others?" Everyone else also gave me a curious look. I had a mischievous smile and replied, "Lightning ." Hearing this, everyone also wore a smug face,'Go on, we are not gonna fall for your lie.'

Helpless, I looked at mom and others followed my gaze. Mom just gave everyone a simple node that widened their eyes and looked at me again.

Carl stared at me with large eyes. But soon returned to his usual self. Then everyone started congratulating my parents again as if we hit the jackpot.

So, this is the "rarity value" Richard was talking about. News of my awakening rare element only brightened the atmosphere, and the organized feast proceeded as planned.

"Hey, I brought a gift for you" He gave me a medium-sized box.

"Wow. What's in it?"

"Check it yourself. But not today.", he said, while ruffling my hair.

"Oh, ok. I will check it tomorrow. I need a nice sleep now. A lot of things happened today." Even though I was curious, I decided to look at it tomorrow. Whatever father is gifting me, it must be something good and related to my awakening.

"Okay, sleep well"

"Good night, dad."

"Good night."

We bade each other good night. After laying on my bed, I pondered about today's events. Suddenly, the strange dream and gentle voice that inspired me to become stronger and ever victorious came to mind. But, my eyelids became heavy, and slowly I headed toward the land of dreams.