Auren woke up with a start.
His breath caught in his throat, his chest constricting as though iron bands had been hammered into his ribs.
A splitting pain carved through his skull it tore him from his comfort of sleep and threw him into the kind of waking that felt more like drowning than breathing.
Auren could feel something pressing down on him, it wasn't a hand or the weight of flesh but a deep ancient presence. It was heavy and suffocating, making his thoughts murred and his breath shallow.
The presence coiled itself around his spirit, the air felt sharp like frost and scorching like flames.
His body trembled as he held the sheets tightly. His soul was burning, sweat dripped down his face and collarbone wetting his cloth.
"Auren!"
The door crashed open, his mother's voice echoing in his ears. It felt like he was underwate, her voice distant.
Auren looked up as Seraphina swept into the chamber, her silver hair flattered behind her as she walked briskly to his bed. Her eyes, cerulean and deep as the frozen seas, widened with recognition and alarm.
Auren leaned on her abdomen as she held him close.
"Your burning up! "
She exclaimed, her voice trembling as she manifested ice on her palm and placed it on Auren's head.
Earlier as she was in the garden she had felt the ancient presence that descended. It felt even older than the blood running through her veins and more ancient than her dragon bloodline. It has bloomed in her youngest son's room like the shadow of a forgotten god.
From a young age, Auren had been weak and even though he went to school and trained. Grew up well... It was like... he was an empty vessel with no life.
[ Maybe this would be a blessing?] She thought worriedly.
Auren was dazed wondering why his mother is more panicked than usual but his mother's heartbeat helped sooth his mind. Seraphina looked up when she heard the hurried footsteps echoing in the hallway.
The first to appear was Caelith her second son, his black hair tousled from sparing and his crimson eyes smoldering like coals. His presence was sharp the mark of the Fenrir Bloodline flowed in his blood.
He paused at the door, his gaze narrowed as he observed around the room. He slowly approached his mother who was holding his youngest brother close.
"Mother, is it time?" He asked, voice calm and deep.
"Mm" Seraphina hummed as she continued to cool Auren down.
The second set of footsteps appeared and it was Rai'en, the fourth son. His red hair flared like embers in the rooms light as he ran to Auren.
His blue eyes mirrored his mother's wide with alarm and worry. He also went through this a few years ago but it wasn't as bad as Auren's.
"He's having his awakening now?"
Rai'en asked worried because yesterday Auren was quite sick. Seraphina nodded in affirmation.
Rai'en looked to his brother who's only younger by a few years and silently said a prayer for him to be successful in his bloodline awakening.
Auren who was seated, unbending even under the heavy presence, felt the pain deepen, becoming worse and he couldn't control his body. He writhed under the weight of himself, his body was bearing the brunt of his blood and soul.
Yes, what was awakening right now was Auren's soul and his bloodline.
Memories poured into him like a river breaking through a dam. He saw faces he did not recognize, lives he had lived but could not hold.
Screams filled his mind, laughter, betrayals, warmth. All these sensations slammed into him at once, he was drowning in his sense of self.
Auren felt his vision blur, he clawed at the sheets then his own chest. He felt arms holding him in place but he tried to escape. His mind believed that the chains had returned once more.
The pain in his mind became too much and he was losing himself to the weight of the memories. Anymore and he'd become a retard unable to function even with a strong soul.
Just when he thought it was over, that he would perish,
The knot deep in his soul pulsed to life.
Deep within the furnace of his soul, the purple-gold Thread stirred. The knot glowed and pulsed faintly and brought order to his soul. Like a hand sifting through scattered fragments, it separated memory from madness.
All irrelevant memory shards collapsed into silence and the important memories that contained the lessons he learnt, the scars he overcame and the truths revealed to him were retained.
Auren could feel his mind getting clearer and lighter as the knot devoured the irrelevant shards.
He gasped, eyes opened wide and glassy the weight of his memories settled comfortably in his mind as his soul quickly found stability.
He looked to the right and saw his older brother's worried faces and his mother's teary eyes. He parted his lips to speak but no words came.
What could he possibly say? That his soul had been chained and used through endless lifetimes? That the darkness of the void tried to erase him? That he had been reborn naturally and not through system or theft or an accident?
He could not. Instead Auren swallowed the truth and sat up in silence with his brother's help. His chest rose and fell with raged breaths as he settled down.
"Son, don't worry. Even if the Awakening failed you'll always be safe with us"
Seraphina said while caressing his face confusing Auren more.
[What awakening?] He thought.
He was about to ask when he felt something stir within his veins. His soul had to awake first for his bloodline to follow.
The rooms presence shifted once more as a growl echoed not from his mouth but in his blood. Auren felt his vision dim, he couldn't help but think,
[Not again]
His vision tinted red for an instant as he felt his blood roar to life.
[Oh.. this is different]
The Fenrir Bloodline within him snapped awake, ancient and furious. Alongside it, another roar cracked through his bones, Draconic and Regal. A dragon bloodline, the mark of his mother's lineage.
The chamber shuddered with the pressure of awakening.
Auren doubled over, body convulsing as both bloodlines surged at once. The black flame of the Fenrir scorched the air forcing Caelith and Rai'en back. Just as it appeared the chilling heat coiled and weaved itself into the marrow of his being.
His aura flared, shaking the walls, making the air tremble like glass about to shatter. Seraphina's hands flew to her mouth, eyes glistening with relief as her heart thundered with disbelief and joy.
She thought her son's awakening had failed but..
"Fenrir and Dragon" she whispered, voice trembling.
"He awoke both bloodlines!"
Without hesitation, she summoned her maid. Her command was sharp and joyous,
"Bring word to the king. Tell Fenvaros his youngest son has awakened!"
"Yes Queen Seraphina"
The maid darted off, nearly stumbling in haste, for news like this would shake their Dominion to its roots.
Caelith's crimson eyes softened as he went to hold his emotional mother. Rai'en let out a cheer, fists pumping with pride. Auren laid back on the bed, light breaths escaping his lips.
The chamber filled with celebration, their joy rising like dawn breaking through night but Auren's gaze, despite his happiness was distant.
His family rejoiced the Awakening of his bloodline, at the dual power that formed within him. But, they did not know the truth behind his eyes. They did not hear the echoes of endless lives clawing at the edges of his mind.
They did not know the knot in his soul. That is wasn't only his bloodline that awakened but also his soul.
Auren closed his eyes for a breath, steadying himself as he stared at the ceiling. His family already left to go prepare a banquet in his honor. In that silence he could feel the fragments in his mind.
He exhaled.
Why did his soul awaken now? Why did he remember things now and not earlier when he was a cub?
The question gnawed at him and even in that confusion, clarity sparked to frusion. He had been reborn and this life was his and his alone.
He was not a parasite to a vessel but he was of his own self. There was no chains dragging him around, no mindless slaughter and ruin. He could decide for himself, feel for himself and live for himself.
Joy filled his heart so much that he flipped the sheets and strode to the window opening it wide.
He looked to the sky, at the sun that glowed with splendid light and the 3 moons overshadowed by it's brightness. Auren took in a deep breath and let out a joyous roar.
He could live, truly live. A smile was on his face as he took in the feel of the air. The servants of the royal household thought he was happy to awaken dual bloodlines and even though that was a joy, nothing beat being free.
But...
Auren's smile faded as he remembered the knot within his soul. He owed the Thread too much for this gift and deep down he knew it's not free.
Within his heart something shifted, something subtle but deep.
The memories, the scars, the fragments of despair had carved themselves into his soul's marrow. The pain of losing what was once his, hollowed him out leaving emptiness.
Now he has a family, he had people to call his own. A strange fire kindled within him.
[I will not let go of what I have.]
Auren's gave darkened, glinting with a promise. He looked to the sun that rose higher and vowed,
"This life is mine and no one will take it away."