Freya’s ever-serious expression morphed into shock at the manifestation, before softening into pure joy at the results. Her blue eyes, now having an almost ice-like translucency, scanned the surroundings, from Elder August to her friends, to Igris, and the younger children who flocked around him, as they beamed smiles at her. Elder August gave her time to enjoy the moment before proceeding with the rest of the reveal.
"Once more, Freya, well done, truly, on becoming this village’s first S-ranked awakened, with the talent, Winter dominion, it’ll—well, I don’t think I need to tell what it is capable of, considering your... inexpected display", Elder August said, head turning slow looking around the room, clearly at the ice and frost all over the altar.
"Sorry, Elder August," Freya replied, sheepishly smiling as she rubbed the back of her head.
"No worries, Freya, this is none of your fault. As I was saying, Winter Dominion, an S-rank talent, grants you dominion; that’s repetitive, but it’s the simplest way to say it. As I was saying, it grants you dominion, or rather absolute control, over all things ice and snow. But don’t mistake control for mastery, Freya." He said, the advisory warning clear in his tone. After ensuring Freya got the message he was trying to pass along, he nodded once, a brief smile gracing his weathered face.
"Now, Ms Winter, if you don’t mind, please step off the altar. Two of your peers still await their turn; we can’t be at this all day now, can we? There are other things to be done." Elder August said, while calmly gesturing at the way off the altar, the frost melting behind her as she left. After releasing a subconscious sigh at seeing that the ice actually melted, Elder August continued, "Aspen, please step onto the altar"
Aspen, a slender yet noticeably toned boy, with coffee-brown hair, jade green eyes and a faint grounded scent about him, similar to petrichor, walked to the altar, his head held high, not in arrogance but in what I’d like to call pre-awakening Euphoria.
"Aspen", Elder August said, not like an adult acknowledging a child, but like a cop spotting a delinquent they can’t charge for anything yet. "Place your hand on the orb, young man, and try not to do anything funny. I don’t know what it could be; just don’t try" Listening to his elder’s instruction, Aspen placed his hand on the orb. The familiar warm current, unlike the others, didn’t flow; it surged into him, eliciting a shocked gasp from him.
Elder August watched the scene with scrutiny in his eyes, making sure it was a part of the awakening, and not some new ploy. Suddenly, yet almost imperceptibly, a wave of vitality began to permeate the atmosphere, the already fresh air carrying a new energy, and the already spring-like breeze now holding a cool feeling like a soft wind after rain, as flora surged to life all around them both, from medicinal plants like Bluevein and Quietroot, to simply beautiful plants like Aurora ferns and whisperwillows.
"Wow," Elder August said, his expression visibly dumbfounded, "Aspen, I don’t know if congratulations are enough anymore, but truly and deeply, I congratulate you; your talent also scales at S-rank; its title is Verdant King. grants you control over flora of all shapes and sizes and a certain level of dominion over fauna as well." Elder August explained, "Use it wisely, Aspen. You’re now one of the biggest powerholders in this village. Try to turn over a new leaf," He added, his tone almost more pleading than it was advisory.
"Now, for last but certainly not least in this ceremony, Kazel, please step up quickly", He prompted the young man named Kazel.
Kazel, a copper-haired boy and one of the smallest of the bunch in terms of stature, his frame average-heighted and compact, walked up to the altar, a calm yet radiant smile plastered onto his face as he approached August and repeated the same process as the ones that came before him. Upon touching the orb, a sudden flash of radiant, blinding light washed over everyone present with an intensity so strong it almost felt tangible. The light, Kazel’s previously short copper hair, which was now grown down to his shoulders, had turned a bright, distinct gold that looked natural against his now almost copper-like caramel skin.
"Truly, and without a doubt, Lord Astrael has blessed this village beyond measure." Elder August said with a tentative pause of mild shock.
’I did?’ I thought in shock too, because as far as I knew, I was still simply enjoying the show. But a little bit of unearned credit never killed anyone, so, "oh well", I said aloud with a shrug as I continued watching the village from my domain.
While going over the details of the boy’s awakening, Elder August’s eyes looked like they had widened enough for another decade "Indeed, it truly is another S-rank talent. My eyes do not deceive me. Kazel, you have been blessed with the talent—Dawnbringer—it grants you the capability to wield the power of our radiant sun to purify curses and impurities, shield allies, and heal those that are hurt, as well as transform the power of the sun into powerful constructs capable of smiting your enemies"
Kazel looked at his hands for a moment, the faint glow of the awakening light still lingering on his skin, as he brought them up to touch his head, running his hand back to feel the full length of his now golden hair. Almost immediately after, he turned to leave the altar.
After Kazel walked off the altar, Elder August stood towards its centre and addressed the watching crowd, a mix of the awakened and unawakened youth as well as the adults, "Villagers of Vasyti, our great Lord Astrael has truly blessed our land beyond measure, from the alleviation of the plague to the blessing of the awakening orb. So, I see this now. Today isn’t just the day of awakening, but the start of a new beginning, the start of Vastyi’s New Dawn" Following the end of Elder August’s declaration, there was a round of feverish applause that lasted a good moment before the villagers began to disperse.
Over the next few weeks, the village underwent several changes. The A-rank twins—Frank and Francis—planned and built new residences for the villagers, with the help of said villagers, of course, using Ironbark wood, a plant that Aspen spent the majority of his days growing as a contribution to the village, but also used to practice control. And as for the tools they used, they came from the town smithy, where Igris, after weeks of trial and error and his first product looking like a cross between a misshapen lump and a mangled piece of Ferrite, reddish-black ore, the system said is commonly used for smithing, used the forge created by faith and sent down by divine energy.
As for the other infrastructures, there was an infirmary, although I didn’t really see the need, as sickness wasn’t a concept that could survive in my domain, but I’m guessing they don’t know that, since they built it intending for Kazel to use it as a sick bay to help others. Not to mention the training hall for the S-rankers; though I didn’t find it necessary due to the scale of their power, it may come in handy for future awakeners.
Speaking of awakeners.
The gentle giant fell into a rhythm of refining tools for the villagers- pots and spoons for Slyva and others too, and even shovels, hammers, nails and more for Frank and Francis- as well as crafting furniture for the villagers: toadstools, chairs, tables. It wasn’t easy at first, nor were they slight, but with the help of his talent, it’s hard to reconcile his current masterpieces with the cursed, deformed pieces of wood he originally carved.
Slyva, as bubbly yet shy as ever, settled well into the role of her ability, as her mom and dad, alongside other adults, took time to show her the ropes: what herbs held magical benefits, how to harvest most herbs and plants, how long to cook what, what needed what spice and other things too.
As for Freya and the other two... they never used the training hall. Rather, they spent most of their time close, but within the borders of the Shelter Domain, regardless, practising and sparring with each other to improve powers; they were aware of how or where they would be used. Freya’s ice manipulation had grown exponentially, now capable of freezing the ground around a 100metre radius, with projectiles of frost that were capable of piercing an ironbark tree, though still facing a bit of resistance. Aspen leaned more into his inner artist, framing his creativity as practice, as he caused flowers to bloom; at first it was flowers, then it became decorative vines, not long after it advanced into trees like Moonwillow and Starbloom. As for Kazel, he leaned into his creative side too, though not in an artistic way, more in an ’I’ll create a weapon construct and train from dusk till dawn, and if I’m too tired after, I use the sun’s energy to dispel my fatigue’ way.