Chapter 5: The Grimoire Ceremony
The day of the Grimoire Ceremony arrived quietly, as though the world itself hesitated.
Children were gathered in the central square of Hage Village, the air thick with anticipation. Wooden scaffolds lined the area, banners fluttering in the rare wind. Though the ceremony was simple, it carried immense weight. For many, it was the first moment the world recognized them. For Hage, it was a fragile beacon of hope.
I stood beside Asta and Yuno. The contrast between us could not have been more stark.
Asta, fists clenched, standing tall despite a body unblessed by mana, radiated determination. Every fiber of him screamed, "I will not fail."
Yuno, calm and composed, allowed the mana around him to flow naturally. It twined around him like a cloak, elegant and unstoppable even before the ceremony began.
And me—
Calm. Observing. Calculating.
> "Raphael: Observe and prepare. Artifact interaction imminent. Probability of anomaly detection: elevated."
I nodded internally.
---
The ceremony began with a simple chant from the village priest. Crystals hovered above the wooden podium, waiting for the touch of a new grimoire owner. Each child approached, one by one, the crystals flickering slightly as they gauged potential.
Some children faltered, their hands trembling. Some succeeded, their crystals humming with life. Most were ordinary, unnoticed by the world.
Then came Asta.
He stepped forward. His hand hovered over the crystal. For a moment, nothing happened. The crystal remained dull, lifeless.
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
He clenched his fists, refusing to retreat. The crystal trembled but did not respond. Yet Asta's eyes burned brighter than any magic ever could.
> "Observation. Subject Asta: anomaly confirmed. Persistence remarkable. Potential: extreme."
Next, Yuno approached.
The crystal erupted in brilliant light the moment his hand touched it. Mana surged and swirled around him, creating a miniature windstorm. The villagers murmured in awe, the priest's eyes wide with reverence.
> "Observation. Subject Yuno: anomaly confirmed. Potential: extreme. Dominant affinity: wind."
Two extremes. One void. One flood.
---
Then it was my turn.
I stepped forward, hand extended toward the crystal. Raphael's voice echoed in my mind.
> "Caution: artifact records mana flow. Minimal interaction recommended. Concealment reinforced."
I allowed a barely perceptible flow of mana to reach the crystal. A faint shimmer appeared, soft and understated. The villagers blinked. The priest whispered, "A subtle grimoire… delicate, but present."
Exactly what I wanted.
> "Analysis: grimoire threshold passed. Artifact reaction minimal. Status: concealed."
I received my grimoire. Unlike the standard four-leaf or rare five-leaf variants, mine was unassuming. Its cover was plain, unadorned, but beneath the surface, it held infinite potential. Raphael's presence guided my perception.
> "Grimoire detected. Affinity: undetermined. Capabilities: extensive with proper cultivation. Future evolution: adaptive."
While others' grimoires radiated obvious power, mine hummed quietly. A whisper of potential, waiting. To the world, I was just another child. To Raphael, I was a blank canvas ready to be painted with strategy and skill.
---
The ceremony continued around me, a series of blessings and chants, each child recognized for their abilities or lack thereof. Yet all the while, I remained calm, observing. Every flicker of mana, every subtle pulse, every movement was recorded internally.
I felt the subtle pull of fate tightening around the village. Asta's determination would shape him. Yuno's affinity would make him extraordinary. And I—
I remained the observer, the strategist, quietly weaving the foundation of future influence.
> "Recommendation: maintain concealment. Activate passive internal optimization routines. Begin data acquisition on local magical ecosystem."
I smiled subtly to myself. This was not a day to show strength.
It was a day to prepare.
> "Conclusion: Grimoire Ceremony completed without attracting external attention. Strategic advantage established."
As the sun set, casting long shadows across the village, Asta trained relentlessly. Yuno's aura pulsed with quiet energy. And I—hidden, calculating, patient—positioned myself between inevitabilities, ready for the challenges that lay ahead.
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End of Chapter 5