Jarek had never seen Aeren display any emotion, but he'd thought that after seeing Nil's awakening, he would at least show shock. Yet Aeren remained as expressionless as ever. Jarek continued staring at him, but Aeren didn't even acknowledge his existence.
Turning to Nil, who was still stabilizing her body with her elements and spirits, Jarek watched the beautiful gray light surrounding hall—the same light he'd seen during his own awakening.
He began thinking about his first life on Earth. This is my second chance at life. In my previous life, I was nothing but a corporate slave who accomplished nothing and died meaninglessly. But this world is different—it follows the patterns of the novels I used to read. I've learned to recognize character archetypes and identify which ones are worth aligning with. Someone like Aeren feels like a side character at best, or perhaps a minor antagonist.
I may not be destined for the protagonist role, but I understand one crucial thing—I can position myself alongside the real main characters. Nil radiates that unmistakable protagonist energy. Despite everything she's endured, there's something about her—a resilience, a hidden strength—that marks her as someone destined for greatness.
As Jarek reflected on his past and achievements, Nil opened her eyes and saw her four elements swirling around her with two spirits circling nearby.
She watched her beautiful spirits and smiled, absorbing all the elements into her body while observing her companions.
"Hello, little ones." Nil smiled at her spirits.
Light and Dark looked back at her but didn't respond. She felt slightly disappointed but didn't press the matter.
When she turned to look around, she noticed the people staring at her with hunger in their eyes, as if they wanted to devour her.
Their creepy gazes unsettled her. After enduring their stares for several minutes, she left the stage.
Returning to Jarek, she saw him watching her with a pleased smile. Understanding something good had happened during her trial, she felt relieved.
Jarek noticed the two spirits on her shoulders kept their distance, their opposing elements creating an invisible barrier between them.
"How are you feeling, Nil?" Jarek asked politely, smiling. He'd expected her to have main character potential but never to this extent.
"HAHAHAHA, I feel like I can fly and destroy anything around this place with ease! I feel so great that I want to spar with someone!"
Nil laughed as she explained her feelings to Jarek, feeling natural about sharing with him. She'd never felt this good before.
"Yeah, I know. I felt the same after awakening, but there's no one suitable to practice with here. We can spar at my place."
Jarek's gaze flicked to the VIP room, where the entire royal family watched them.
He had expected the royals to attack, seeing him and Nil as threats, but Aeren had stopped them. Now there was no one left to spar—a lost opportunity for glory.
Jarek was disappointed by Aeren's decision. He'd hoped for their attack, uncertain whether they could defeat the Empress but sensing that if they'd fought, he would have given her a hard time. If Nil had joined him, they might have won, changing everything. No one would fear the royal family anymore, they'd gain more support, and they could create a better place. But Aeren had stopped it all with one action.
Nil looked at Jarek and nodded. "Yes, I'm excited."
Jarek and Nil conversed while watching the ceremony's conclusion. Everyone had seen all the candidates, but only four people had truly shined.
Jarek drew attention for his unprecedented incident with the royals, shattering purple light to create something new, and taking Nil's side.
Nil had split the entire hall between darkness and light with her awakening, also producing the unknown new light.
Ellie was the first to show purple light in centuries, making people consider her a lucky charm, though Jarek's achievement had quickly overshadowed hers.
The fourth person, Felix, had also achieved purple light, but people weren't shocked by it—he was simply the last to reach purple.
As for Aeren, they'd all forgotten his existence. Some couldn't even remember him attending the ceremony.
Just as everyone prepared to leave, Empress Hyliana Vorthis stood and announced:
"Listen, people of Vorthis. My son Aeren has a birthday next month. I invite you all to attend. And remember—you all must come to my son's birthday, or..."
The Empress's announcement reminded everyone that Aeren had attended the ceremony, though no one remembered his light's color. This made people shiver more—no one could recall anything about Aeren's performance.
Instantly, Aeren commanded their attention as if he'd been ruling them without their knowledge.
"Hey, do you remember Prince Aeren's trial?"
"Hmm, did he even go on stage?"
"I saw him go to the stage, but I don't remember what happened after."
Everyone was stunned by their memory gaps regarding Aeren. They stared at each other in surprise, and they would have forgotten entirely if not for the Empress's announcement.
After her declaration, Empress Hyliana gathered the royal family members and departed.
Aeren observed everyone's confusion before leaving with his mother.
After the Royal family's departure, everyone sighed in relief, relaxed, and began making their way out.
Aeren and Ellie, along with the entire royal family, returned to the palace, everyone looking exhausted.
Reaching his room, Aeren sat in his chair and embraced the silence, feeling peace in the quiet of his chambers.
Hours later, Aeren straightened his posture and called out, "Raven, come out."
A figure in black clothes appeared from thin air like an assassin, kneeling and speaking: "Yes, Your Highness."
Still seated, Aeren looked at Raven. "Go to Thaddeus Umberton's territory and take all the lives there. Don't kill them at once—take your time and place all the bodies in their mansion. Write on each body: 'It was me.'"
Aeren paused thoughtfully, then continued: "Kill one person every day. If you're captured, tell them everything about me and let them know who they should fear."
Standing from his chair, Aeren approached Raven, sat opposite him, and whispered in his ear: "I want daily news and to see different bodies reported each day. Will you do it?"
Raven remained kneeling, sweating slightly. He didn't want to do this, but he had to... "Yes, Your Highness."
Aeren placed his hand on his shoulder. "Good. You can start tonight."
Returning to his seat, Aeren watched him disappear.
Meanwhile, in Ellie's room:
Ellie lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling for a while before calling out, "Rina, come out."
The same thing happened—she emerged from thin air in black assassin clothes. Ellie didn't even glance at her. "Yes, Your Highness." Rina knelt, awaiting Ellie's command.
Ellie gave her order directly without explanation: "Kill her." Only two words, but Rina understood immediately whom she meant.
"Your Highness, I'm not certain I can kill her." Rina spoke truthfully to help Ellie understand.
Ellie thought about her past and looked at Rina, who had lived with her like a childhood friend. She sighed heavily. "Never Mind."
Rina bowed her head in shame. "Thank you, Your Highness."
Ellie didn't reply, and Rina disappeared.
"I really am too soft." Ellie whispered to herself.