Nil woke up and saw the ceiling above her head, recognizing it. She had lived here for a month in this room. She remembered about her time with Aeren, and tears started falling from her eyes—silent tears that made her feel an ache in her heart.
She looked around and remember her next work.
She stood up and thought, Why do people like bullying others? Why can't I be like other people? Why do I have to feel all the pain around me? Why doesn't anyone see me like they see others? I thought I would live my life better now, but I was wrong. I miss you, Mom, Dad.
She started tearing up and thought, Tomorrow, I will be awakened and wait for a chance to run.
Nil wiped the tears from her face with her hand and showed a face of determination.
"I'll show you all."
She stood up from her place, left her room, and went to the kitchen.
The next day...
"Aeren, Ellie. Don't be nervous—today is your shining day among all the trash around the world." Empress Hyliana stared at the massive magic tower with beauty and a smile.
She was happy about her son taking his first step to become emperor. As for Ellie, she was Aeren's sister but not her daughter. She didn't care much but spoke as a formality.
"I'm not nervous, Mother."
Aeren lifted his head to his mother and spoke to her. Hyliana turned her head to Aeren, and a smile came without any reason. She didn't hide her smile as she looked at Aeren's face.
Aeren looked handsome and had beauty on his face that couldn't be rivaled by anyone. She thought of him like that, but Aeren was the most average boy they could find in this world.
The Empress saw her son's face and couldn't take anymore. Her hand went to Aeren's head and patted it. "Yeah, I know." Her smile didn't leave her face as she continued staring at his handsome face, falling in love again and again.
Ellie watched this and saw her mother, who was hiding her face with fan and staring at Aeren and the Empress, who had taken her position because she was stronger than her.
Ellie saw this and grabbed her mother's cloth, pulling her to her side and signaling her. Ellie's mother saw her and ignored her signal, saying, "Listen, Ellie. If you don't surpass Aeren in this awakening, then forget about living in the palace. I'll marry you to a duke, and you'll live with him forever. Forget about being a princess."
Ellie continued staring at her mother and turn her head Aeren, who was still loved by her mother. She thought, I'm better than this useless crown prince.
"But Mother, I already surpassed him. Can you see? Brother Aeren doesn't even do anything all day. I train every day, and even my master said he's never seen talent like mine."
Ellie's mother turned her head to Ellie, watched her for a few seconds silently, and said, "It doesn't matter. After this awakening, Aeren might surpass you. So don't judge him now. And he is also the crown prince."
Ellie's mother's cold eyes looked at Ellie, making it clear: Even if you surpass him, he can do anything to you, and no one will support you. So step carefully and wait for the right time to act.
Ellie saw her cold eyes and understood her mother's meaning a little.
Nil was behind them, watching the tower with awe on her face, her body covered in scars.
The Empress left her son's side and said, "Let's go."
The Empress led the way, followed by Aeren, Ellie, and Ellie's mother Viviana, with some maids, butlers, and knights behind them for protection.
The Empress entered the massive Magic Tower, and her presence made everyone around shiver, though they all knew she would come here with her son.
The Magic Tower master was waiting at the entry. He went directly to the Empress, bowed to her, and smiled politely.
"Your Majesty, welcome to our small magic tower." The Magic Tower master spoke politely, having waited for hours here to see the Empress.
Because the Empress was the greatest magician they had seen in their lives, and they had high expectations for Aeren to be like his mother.
The Empress looked at him with cold eyes. She just nodded and saw the people of noble families who had come too. They were all whispering around her, but she ignored everyone and spoke:
"Are the stage and circle ready?"
Magic Tower Master Aldwin was shocked by her cold tone and saw all the nobles staring at them. He understood she was telling him, Get lost. I don't need your praise. Let's start.
He had always wanted to meet Her Majesty, but he didn't expect to meet her like this. He sighed and nodded his head.
"Yes, Your Majesty." He still used his polite tone with a small smile. "Come this way."
They walked silently while whispers filled the place.
"He is the crown prince. He's quite handsome. He's perfect for you, Lisa." One of the mothers looked at her daughter and spoke loud enough to be heard by the Empress and others. They all knew she was trying to butter them up, but the Empress believed her words and lifted her chin.
"Hmm, he is the crown prince after all," another commented.
Lisa turned her head to Aeren but didn't reply or respond to any of this because she also knew this was the best chance for them to be noticed.
Ellie heard this and looked at the mother and daughter—both looked like heaven-made girls.
Ellie sighed and thought, Power makes people blind...
All of them reached near the stage and saw the big platform where a large magic circle was drawn in different colors and shielded by yellow light.
"Here, Your Majesty. You can send Crown Prince Aeren to the middle of the stage. This stage measures his talent and breaks the limit of humans."
The Empress saw the big stage and circle drawn on it. This stage could tell which talent was better for his body, break that limit, and show the world his talent. The stage could tell people the last limit of a person's body through colors shown on the stage.
White – limited to the lowest level (last limit B-rank)
Blue – limited to middle level (last limit S-rank)
Purple – limited to the highest level (no limit)
The Empress turned her head to Aeren and spoke to him loudly:
"Listen, Aeren. Go there and show the world why you are the crown prince."
Aeren saw the stage and thought, I don't think I have any talent to get anything. But I can at least try for my new freedom.
Aeren turned his head to his mother, nodded, smiled at her, and said, "Yes, Mother."
Aeren took a step forward, reached the stairs of the stage, and started stepping onto it.
Aeren exhaled and took a step forward, reaching the center of the stage.
He waited for seconds. Nothing happened...
Seconds went to minutes, and still nothing happened...
All the people around started whispering about Aeren: "How useless is he?"
They all whispered among themselves, and the mother who had spoken about her Lisa hid her daughter behind her back and didn't let her be seen.
Aeren stared at the stage and thought, I expected that.
Aeren was about to leave when something started forming on the stage...
Everyone's eyes went to the stage—there was no color showing, no reaction. It was creating its own body on the stage. Everyone watched with surprise; no one had seen anything like this. No color was showing, but someone was forming their own self.
Aeren also stared in shock, and after 13-20 minutes, a human was born.
A human who looked exactly like Aeren from the outside, wearing black clothes. No color showed on the stage, so no one knew the real power of this newborn human or spirit.
Aeren stood looking at him and smiled...