The grand double doors of the Catreed Clan Hall loomed before Neo as Adrian's footsteps faded somewhere into the castle, the polished obsidian surface engraved with ancient runes that shimmered faintly in hues of crimson and gold. With a quiet exhale, he pushed them open.
Inside, the chamber stretched vast and circular, domed ceiling glowing with arcane circuitry—lines of silver and light weaving like constellations above. Crystal chandeliers hovered midair, their flames stabilized by mana engines, casting both warmth and authority over the gathering of children and elders. The Awakening Pillar, a towering spire of crystal infused with both mana and circuitry, pulsed at the center, waiting to judge and define futures.
Neo stepped forward with the faint click of polished shoes. His red suit was immaculate, the phoenix-and-sword crest embroidered over his chest like fire frozen in time. His hair—brilliant gold streaked with flame-red, the hereditary mark of the Castreeds—caught the chandelier light, gleaming like a crown. Heads turned, whispers spread. He could feel the weight of eyes, suspicion from those who knew he had grown outside the clan walls, curiosity from those who wondered if he carried the Castreed legacy within.
Floating at his side, unseen by mortal eyes, Celeste yawned. The guardian angel twirled a pixelated blade in her hands, engrossed in the battle raging on the holographic game console only she could see. She smirked faintly, her voice brushing into his mind like a teasing whisper.
(Don't bother being nervous, Neo. I've already peeked at your results. You'll blow these little extras out of the water. Try not to gloat—ah, who am I kidding, you'll gloat anyway.)
Neo chuckled under his breath, not commenting on her sudden mood swing from murderous to jovial, eyes scanning the chamber. That's when he noticed the others—his so-called kin.
At the edge of the crowd stood Lyra Castreed, a girl about his age. She hugged her sleeves close, her long chestnut hair falling like a curtain to half-hide her porcelain face. Her amber eyes, shy yet luminous, flickered up at him before darting away again. She was trembling, but it wasn't fear—something between admiration and intimidation. Neo offered her a small nod; she flushed scarlet and looked away quickly.
'I wonder what's up with her. '
Then the atmosphere shifted as another presence stepped forward.
Orion Castreed, son of the Clan Leader, he strode forward with all the arrogance of someone born knowing the world belonged to him. His build was already imposing for his age, his black uniform inlaid with golden trim denoting status. His hair, a darker crimson than Neo's, shimmered faintly with hints of black at the roots, and his smile was sharp, predatory. He looked at Neo as though measuring a rival sword.
(Enter Bad Guy 1. Fight!) Celeste teased in his head.
"So, you actually showed up," Orion sneered. "The outsider who dares wear our crest, where have you been all this while..cousin? I wonder, do you really deserve to wear that phoenix?" Orion whispered, jabbing at the crest on Neo's suit
Neo's golden-red eyes met his evenly. "Guess we'll see if I deserve it."
(Alert, alert. The enemy has unleashed his fatal weapon—bad breath barrage) Neo smirked, ignoring her antics.
One by one, the evaluations began. Children pressed their hands to the pillar; the crystal would glow in response, displaying runic text above it that revealed their potential. Most lit up as Adept, flashes of blue or green washing over the hall. The elders nodded, satisfied. In the Castreed clan, Adept was the average—respectable, a foundation for power.
When Lyra's turn came, she stepped forward nervously, her palms pressed to the crystal. For a moment, nothing. Then the hall exploded in radiance—a golden aura bursting forth, fiery feathers spiraling upward into the air creating sharp gusts. The word shimmered across the crystal: Legendary potential.
Gasps filled the chamber. Lyra's hands flew to her mouth as though she had broken something forbidden. She staggered back, bowing awkwardly to the elders.
(She's strong. Too strong for that timid face) Celeste whispered smugly. (Background character, my wings. That one might just surprise you.)
Neo just responded with a barely audible "Guess so."
Next was Orion. The crowd's murmur reached a crescendo as he swaggered up. He pressed his palm to the pillar, eyes closed, basking in the expectation of glory.
The crystal flared violently—crimson lightning cracking across its surface. The chamber filled with the roar of a phoenix's cry, shattering glassware around the edges. Above the pillar appeared a word few ever saw: Legendary.
The crowd erupted in cheers. Orion smirked and turned his gaze on Neo, lips curling in challenge and disdain.
Finally, the hall quieted. The last name was called.
"Neo Castreed."
He stepped forward casually, the echo of his shoes calm in contrast to the fervor filling the chamber. Whispers followed him. Outsider. Pretender. Stranger. Neo ignored them, approaching the Awakening Pillar with an almost lazy grace. His hand pressed lightly against its cool surface.
For a heartbeat—nothing.
Then the world broke.
The pillar screamed with light, golden fire laced with crimson storms bursting outward. The crystal trembled, cracks running down its flawless surface. A cascade of arcane code and runes overloaded, shattering into radiant motes of light that rained down on the hall. The elders shouted in alarm, shielding the younger children as the pillar itself split and collapsed into fragments.
Floating above the ruins, glowing letters formed. But they did not spell Legendary. They did not spell anything the clan had ever seen. The runes pulsed, rearranging into an unrecognizable symbol—something beyond classification. Something… transcendent.
The hall was silent. Breathless. Every eye fixed on Neo.
He glanced at his hand, flexed his fingers, and chuckled. "Guess I overdid it."
(Show-off) Celeste drawled, smirking as she leaned on her game console. (But admit it, I called it. My Neo doesn't settle for Legendary. He breaks the damn system. Write it down, angels—first of his kind.)
Neo just shrugged, stepping back into line as though he hadn't just obliterated the sacred pillar. His red-and-gold hair shimmered with an otherworldly brilliance now, the fire in his blood undeniable.
Orion's face twisted, pride clashing with fury. He took a step forward, his voice cutting through the stunned silence.
"You may have shattered the pillar, outsider," he spat, "but you're still just that, an outsider . You don't deserve the Castreed name. I, Orion Castreed, challenge you! Here and now! Prove you belong, or leave this hall forever in shame."
The hall roared with shock and anticipation. Neo's smile only widened, cool and unshaken. His debut had just begun.
"Interesting."