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The Day of Awakening has arrived. The sun rises over the golden capital, casting its divine light upon the grand temple, where noble heirs gather to receive their ancestral magic. Banners of the four great houses ripple in the wind, priests chant ancient blessings, and the city's elite watch as the next generation takes its place.

He, Vaelin Obsidian, stands within the temple's sacred halls. The air is heavy with incense and divine energy. Today, he inherits the full power of Shadowforged Magic and steps into the council as the new Duke of House Obsidian.

The grand temple loomed over him, its towering pillars bathed in the golden glow of morning light. The scent of sacred oils and burning incense filled the air, mingling with the soft murmur of prayers. At the altar, beneath the colossal statue of the God of Light and War, stood his father—Duke Vaelar Obsidian—his presence as imposing as the dark armor he wore.

His breath was steady, but the weight of the moment pressed down on him like an iron gauntlet. Today, he ceased to be just Vaelin. Today, he became Duke Vaelin Obsidian, head of his house, master of shadows, and architect of the unseen war.

His father’s voice was deep, unyielding.

"Kneel, my son."

The command was absolute. Around him, the other noble heirs watched in silence, each undergoing their own awakening. Yet their fates were nothing like his. They would serve, but he… he had a higher purpose.

He lowered himself to one knee before the altar. The cold marble beneath him sent a shiver up his spine. The High Priest, clad in shimmering gold and ivory robes, stepped forward. He held an obsidian dagger, its edge etched with ancient runes, pulsating with dark energy. It was a relic of his bloodline—one that had baptized every Duke of Obsidian before him.

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The High Priest spoke, his voice echoing through the sacred chamber.

"By the will of the gods, let the bloodline be renewed. Vaelin, son of Vaelar, heir to House Obsidian, do you swear fealty to the golden kingdom, to the gods above, and to the light that guides us?"

A hollow oath. One he must speak with conviction, knowing his true path lies in the shadows.

The dagger hovered above his palm, waiting.

The words left his lips with perfect clarity, a vow that rang through the sacred halls.

"In the name of House Obsidian and the holy gods... I swear my undying loyalty."

The High Priest nodded in approval, oblivious to the irony laced in his oath. The golden-robed clerics surrounding the altar lifted their hands in reverence, whispering prayers that danced through the air like unseen threads binding him to this moment.

His father remained motionless, his dark eyes fixed on him—not with warmth, but with scrutiny. He had trained him for this day, forged him like the very weapons his house produced. And now, the torch passed to him.

The dagger descended. Its edge kissed his palm, slicing just deep enough to draw blood. Dark crimson pooled in his hand, glistening in the divine light.

The moment it left his skin, the air in the temple shifted. A pulse of ancient energy surged through him, crawling up his arm like unseen tendrils. The shadows around the temple flickered unnaturally, stretching toward him as if recognizing their new master.

His magic awakened.

A voice, not of gods but of something older, whispered in the depths of his mind.

"You are the unseen blade. The whisper in the dark. The storm hidden within the calm."

He clenched his fist, feeling the power course through his veins. Shadowforged Magic had chosen him, and it was stronger than ever.

The High Priest turned to the gathered nobles.

"Rise, Duke Vaelin Obsidian, master of war and steel, protector of the realm."

He stood. The ceremonial chains of his house—black metal woven with silver sigils—were draped over his shoulders. He was now the Duke.

From the side, his father stepped forward. He spoke quietly, only for him to hear.

"Do not fail, boy. We have waited too long."

Then, without another word, he stepped back. His role was finished. The council awaited.

The Grand Hall of the Golden Council was next. His first test as Duke was about to begin.