In the game, Rebirth of the Fivefold Calamity, the characters, including even the low-tier NPCs who had the ability to utilize mana, were called an [Awakened].
An [Awakened] was someone who had the ability to manipulate the world's mana flow with their senses.
By doing so, one could perform various miracles that some even considered Divine.
But not all could attain Awakening.
If that was the case, then how would one become an Awakened?
The correct answer was: they just needed to be recognised by the [World's Mana].
Simple, right?
No.
A human would not obtain Mana, but it was the Mana that chose potential humans, allowing them to use it to perform miracles.
That was how the game Rebirth of the Fivefold Calamity was designed. The players were not the ones who chose skills, magic affinity, or weapons. Instead, the game world itself chose them accordingly.
By using a patented technology called 'System Real-time Organic Optimised Thoughtnet', or in short simply 'System ROOT', designed by Arcane Legacy under the supervision of the century's greatest tech genius, Haru Tsukishiro.
System ROOT scanned the player's brainwaves, analysed their thought process and latent potential, and assigned the most compatible skills.
That was what made Fivefold Calamity unique, and a global success.
And now, seated in front of a man named Orion Valentine, Leon couldn't help but recall the game's mechanism.
"Eclipse Institute of Magic and Arts…" Leon echoed inwardly, dragging his eyes back to the man.
Leon went quiet for the time being, however, this didn't make the Duke drop another bombshell on him.
"Because you are not awakened, your entry into the Eclipse Institute was rejected at first, but…"
The Duke slid a paper scroll towards Leon.
Leon glanced at it first, then, standing up, he picked it up from the desk.
He had no idea what this scroll was.
Unscrolling it, Leon read its contents.
— — — — — — — — — — — —
[Eclipse Institute of Magic and Arts]
– Leon Valentine, we are filled with gratitude and thrilled to invite you for a special interview with the Headmaster of Eclipse Institute.
– Upon passing the interview, the student will receive direct admission to our prestigious academy, as a self-sponsored student.
Headmaster, Eclipse Institute of Magic and Arts
— — — — — — — — — — — —
'Now wait a second.'
Leon was bemused.
'When did this happen?'
What Leon was trying to say was, there was no interview with the Headmaster involving Leon in any of the game's scenes.
He fell into deep thought.
In the game, Leon Valentine, despite being an [Unawakened], somehow got admitted into Eclipse Institute. It was only later in the story, that he [Awakened].
None of the players really cared about how this guy got in. Some even thought he got in because of his father's influence.
Anyways.
'If it wasn't in the script then…'
There was one explanation. And Leon didn't like it.
'Then… it all must have happened off-screen.'
In a gaming environment, a player only sees what the developer made them see. Everything else, such as the interactions between NPCs, was not necessarily the focus of the story.
'So, does this mean Leon gave an interview, and even passed it!'
Now that wasn't something a trash character like Leon would be capable of.
Then, did the Duke bribe the Headmaster too?
Leon instantly shook his head internally.
'Yeah, not possible.'
The Headmaster of Eclipse Institute wasn't some money-hungry freak.
"Look at this fool dozing off even in front of Father."
Breaking Leon from his thoughts was his elder brother, Rowan.
Leon didn't mind him very much. After all, Rowan was programmed to have this type of behaviour.
"Be grateful to Father, that you even get to have this interview."
"Rowan, don't you have Princess Rinna's birthday to attend tonight? Did you get the suit I tailored for you?"
Seated across from him, Lady Ezra spoke to Rowan.
"Mother, do I have to take this idiot with me?" Rowan mocked. "Why this idiot—"
"Quiet."
Stopping Rowan was Duke Orion. After silencing him, he lifted his head and stared straight into Leon's eyes.
"This is not a request, but an order," Duke Orion said. "If you have a little bit of shame inside you, then you better enter the institute or else…"
A pause.
"Be prepared to lose the Valentine title forever."
His command was absolute. It made even Rowan and Lady Ezra go pale for a second.
Leon didn't answer. He simply stuffed the interview scroll into his pocket.
If it was the real Leon, he might have freaked out right then and there. But Haru cared less about the name Valentine.
Heck, all he wanted right now was to know what kind of off-screen acts all NPCs could perform to shape the actual storyline.
He didn't say much—Leon just nodded at the Duke's comment.
"Alright."
For a moment, the Duke, his wife, and Rowan were surprised to see Leon acting this calm.
'He seems different today,' thought Rowan.
Leon generally was submissive in front of the Duke, but today he was acting rather dispassionate.
To Rowan's eyes, from the moment Leon entered the Duke's office, he had been looking at them as if they were worth nothing to him.
And that rather pissed him off. He wanted to beat him up right then and there, but because their father was watching, he couldn't do much.
At least for now.
'I will deal with this trash at tonight's banquet.'
A grin appeared on his face as he decided to mess with Leon tonight and publicly humiliate him in front of the princess.
'Father will be furious at him.'
— — —
CLANK!
Closing the door of the Duke's office, Leon murmured,
"Sigh… that Rowan. He thinks I know nothing."
Too bad. Leon, or more precisely, Haru was this world's creator. And he knew all the small-to-big in-game events.
Turning away from the office, he walked through the Blood Tower's corridor.
The maid was not here. Leon recalled that she would be waiting for him.
"She must be outside. Or maybe with Leon's elder sister."
The last option was very much possible. Knowing that maid was an elite comrade of the Tower Head, she must be with her right now.
But why did her sister instruct one of her elite members to serve as his maid?
This was the only question that was bugging him right now.
"What is she scheming?"
There was no way of knowing that, and Leon didn't want to interact with her right now.
"Sigh…"
A heavy sigh left Leon's mouth.
Stopping in his tracks, he turned left and gazed at the distant sky.
"Eclipse Institute, huh?"
Leon knew the fact that the character he was in right now was fated to die in that institute. His death was to heapen on the first year, by the hero's hand.
There was only one way to break that fate.
Only one path forward.
"I need to become stronger than the hero himself."
He ran a hand through his hair, pushing aside the long strands veiling his sight.
"Before tonight's banquet… I need to Awaken."
And Leon already knew exactly where he needed to go.