Two years passed and soon, it was Vastarael's sixth birthday. It was the day when the young boy would finally receive his abilities. In Spheraphase, birthdays are celebrated three times in one's lifetime.
The first is when the child is six or seven years old (for late bloomers it was seven). This is when the child would receive his abilities. This is considered the most important birthday in a child's life. The second birthday is when the child reaches seventeen years old, the maturity age of all Mortals and Immortals. It is held to welcome the child to adulthood. The third birthday is at the age of twenty. This one focuses on the achievements of what the child has done for the past two decades of their lives. If they have none, then living for twenty years is an achievement on itself. After that, no massive birthday parties are conducted. Of course, one can still send birthday gifts year after year.
That was how he received a holographic device on his third birthday, seventy million Enousi on his fourth birthday and an extremely precious book on his fifth. And now, he was about to receive a lot more and abilities.
Unlike all birthdays, the sixth birthday is celebrated by family and friends alone. This is because of the child's ascension. At exactly midnight on a six year old child, whether mortal or immortal, they undergo an ascension. Depending on the being, there might be weather changes. If a child is born with the power to control storms, then the sky will slightly turn dark. If the child gets the power of telekinesis, then things would float around the child.
But one thing is inevitable.
Whatever the case, no matter how many relievers the child has, unimaginable pain will affect the child. They would not pass out but the pain would be unlike anything they have ever experienced. For Vastarael, it was something that was not new to him. He experienced all sorts of pain while being experimented on that he was used to it already. He didn't know if his resistance to pain would be different in a different body but he didn't care.
Vastarael stood quietly, his sight enveloped in darkness by the soft blindfold his stepmother Caresse, had tied around his eyes. Her touch was gentle as she held his hand, her voice soothing yet teasing as she guided him forward.
"Just a little farther, Vastarael."
"I know it's a surprise, Mother Caresse. Do you have to blindfold me?"
"Yes. Come along now."
He heard the faint echo of their footsteps as they walked. He knew that they were holding a surprise party. It was so obvious since the servants were all busy during this time. Even though it was supposed to be celebrated by family and friends alone, he knew that it still wouldn't be a simple party.
Finally, they stopped. The sound of a door creaking open broke the silence and the faintest whispers of light began to seep through the blindfold's edges. Then, Caresse untied the fabric and let it fall away. The room before him came alive with breathtaking brilliance. The grand hall of Dynasty Richinaria was transformed into an ethereal haven.
His father Dilasyus stood tall at the far end of the hall, flanked by his other two wives, Lysameria and Opera. The Viaca family, the esteemed Dukes of the dynasty, were positioned near the grand table. They raised their glasses in unison as they looked at him. At the center of it all was a grand table laden with delicacies: sugared fruits, spiced cakes and crystal decanters brimming with vibrant nectars. Surrounding it were gifts wrapped in gift papers.
Caresse leaned down. Her voice was a gentle murmur in his ear.
"Happy Birthday, Vastarael. Today, you step into a destiny only you can fulfill."
For a moment, Vastarael stood in awe. As his lips curved into a small, hesitant smile, the hall erupted in cheers and applause, the first step of his journey celebrated by those who would forever shape his life. He was dressed in a suit and if anyone looked at the six year old, they were utterly smitten.
"Come on, give a speech," said a beautiful crimson haired woman with radiant blue eyes, gently led him in front of the party. It was Opera.
The others were all silent as they saw him exhaling. He cleared his throat and began to speak, even though he had no idea what to say.
"I... didn't expect a birthday surprise. But that doesn't mean I don't like it! It's just... I didn't think that you'd do this much for me..."
He was speaking about his honest desires.
When he was on Earth, birthdays were a thing for the rich. And as for poor people affected by the Dystopian society like him, they found birthday celebrations to be a waste of time. So instead, they celebrated them in form of gatherings. The days would be normal as usual but it would focus on the birthday boy or girl. But even though they were fun times, there were some moments where he wished that he would at least have a birthday party. Every so often they sound see birthdays of rich children on the holographic screen on their hall and admire how grand they were. Never did he expect a grand party like this to be carried out for him. He thought it was going to be a simple birthday celebration since it wasn't known to the public but...
It was still something.
"And I want to say... thank you for this. Sorry, I'm not good with words—"
He paused, trying to steady himself, but a sudden wave of pain surged through his body, cutting off the rest of his sentence. The sharp sensation in his chest felt like an iron spike. His body tensed and he gasped, struggling to catch his breath.
The room spun around him, the voices of his family now muffled. He staggered. A cold sweat broke out across his forehead as the pain intensified.
'What's happening...'
Then, just as suddenly as it had started, he saw his mother before him. She was kneeling in front of him. Her hands were gripping his shoulders tightly. Her lips moved but her words didn't reach him. Her eyes widened in horror.
'Wait. What's happening? Why are they all looking at me like that?'
The pain was overwhelming as though every nerve in his body was on fire. His heart raced and his chest felt like it was being crushed. His vision blurred and he could barely hear the others around him as his mind was consumed with the growing agony. Without warning, he collapsed to his knees, gasping for air. His hands pressed against the cold stone floor.
"Darling, it's happening!"
Lysameria's voice cut through the fog of pain. He barely registered her words. She was holding him now, pulling him into her arms, trying to soothe him but nothing helped. The pain was only growing worse.
"He's having a Reversal Ascension!"
His mother's words barely made sense to him. His mind was consumed by the pain and it was all he could do to focus on staying conscious.
A wave of raw, uncontained energy surged from him. The force of it was so powerful that it seemed to shake the very foundation of the room. The walls trembled. The floor beneath him cracked with a deep, resonating sound as though the entire building were about to crumble.
He screamed.
The sound ripped from his throat as the energy surged from him in a violent torrent. But still, his mother held him. Despite the power radiating from him, Lysameria was unaffected. She held him tightly with one arm around his waist and the other cradling his head as his body trembled in her arms. Dilasyus was there too, rushing to his side. His presence was as unshaken as his wife's. He knelt beside them.
"What is happening to him? What is causing this?"
Lysameria looked to her husband.
"It's the Reversal Ascension but... it's not always like this. The energy is too intense. What could be triggering this?!"
Vastarael barely heard them. He could barely hear anything.
And then, as though responding to his agony, something else began to form. Frost-like crystals began to form around him, spiraling outward in every direction. The crystal layer spread across the floor. Vastarael's body trembled uncontrollably. Every exhale sent more energy spiraling from him. The crystal frost continued to grow. His head felt like it was about to explode from the pressure and yet it seemed like there was no end to it.
And then, it suddenly ended. He passed out the second it stopped.