Path Of Dreams

Chapter One: Awakening Ceremony

The hall was filled by the time Oberon and Sam arrived, the students chattered endlessly amongst themselves and the instructors settled their Stern gazes upon them from the stage.

Oberon felt a gaze burn into the back of his neck as he and Sam made their way to the section where their classmates were seated.

“You see. I told this was going to happen.”

Sam said as he stole a glance at instructor Randal whose gaze was fixated upon the duo.

“You should have left me, then you wouldn't have gotten into trouble.”

“Left you and let you miss the ceremony? Never!”

Sam retorted as they both sat down side by side.

“Oberon don't you get it? This is the biggest day of our lives, the day we get to awaken our pathways and step into the path of greatness. It would be a sin to miss it.”

Sam sighed and began fiddling with his fingers while Oberon observed the hall and the students that filled it. He could see a few unfamiliar faces who had come to observe and perhaps a few that were rumored to have come for a reawakening.

Not everyone awakened on their first try, it was one of the reasons why the students were nervously discussing amongst themselves. To awaken a pathway was the dream of everyone, after all once they had awakened they could become mystics and they could earn wealth and attract fame.

“What pathway do you think you're going to awaken?.”

“The pathway of creation of course, you should know that it's my family's legacy. Every single one of us has awakened into this pathway one way or another.”

“Right, I nearly forgot you're a legacy.”

Sam scratched the back of his head and chuckled awkwardly after answering the question. Seeing that Oberon was looking a little gloomy, he immediately drew his attention away from the topic.

“Look, it's the headmaster. The ceremony is starting.”

Upon hearing this all the students turned their attention to the podium where the instructors stood. A tall, bald, white bearded man dressed in a neatly pressed three piece suit, made his way onto the podium, looking down at the students with a firm smile on his face.

"Today marks the end of your childhood. You have spent years learning about Mystics, the Void, and the Paths. Today, knowledge gives way to truth."

He paused, letting the weight of his words settle.

"Some of you will awaken to Paths admired across the realms. Others will awaken to Paths few understand but remember this….your Path will shape your journey, but it will never decide the measure of your resolve."

His eyes hardened.

"The Void does not care about your family name. It does not care about talent, wealth, or pride. It devours the arrogant as readily as the weak."

A heavy silence settled over the hall. As the students expressions grew solemn at the mention of the void.

"If you awaken today, you will no longer live as ordinary men and women. You will become those who stand between our world and the countless horrors that wait beyond its borders."

The headmaster drew a slow breath.

"Wear that responsibility with honor, and should fate grant you the strength to one day stand among Saints, Demi-Gods, or even greater beings... never forget that every legend gathered their first shard with trembling hands."

A faint smile appeared on his weathered face.

“Now let the ceremony commence.”

The students gave a deafening round of applause to the principal who went to seat at the reserved table for instructors, directors and the principal alike.

The first student was called to the platform to attempt his awakening. The student was a short clumsy, curly brown haired boy with freckles along the bridge of his nose. He fiddled nervously with his fingers as he went onto the stage and stood on the stone platform.

An instructor came up behind him and went down on one knee before placing both hands on the surface of the stone platform and speaking a few inaudible words. Right after the symbols inscribed into the stone platform lit up in a calm green glow.

Green motes of light seemed to gather from the air before forming a calm stream and encircling the boy. The boy glanced around nervously, obviously unsure of what to do. The stream of green light encircled him a few more times before flowing away from him and back, injecting itself into the boy's chest.

The boy gasped as the stream flowed into him and he spread his hands apart as if welcoming it. He was briefly lifted into the air and the students watched in awe as his body glowed green for a brief moment before he was finally set down and after which the stream disappeared.

“Cliff Wilder. Successful awakening. Pathway of Nature. Herbal Mystic branch.”

“Wow. That's Cliff Wilder right? From the renowned legacy family specialized in the Pathway of Nature?”

“Yeah it is. He awakened under the herbal Mystic branch just like his father's brother. It's not a particularly offensive branch but as long as he's a legacy it's smooth sailing for him.”

“Of course it's smooth sailing for him and every other legacy. Their family provides all they need to advance onto the next ranks, they don't need to do anything.”

The students discussed amongst themselves after hearing what pathway Cliff awakened and his branch. How could they not, it was a successful awakening and Cliff was set as a Mystic for life.

Cliff was shown off the stone platform and back to his classmates while the next student was called. This time, the next student called onto the platform made everyone stare in awe, admiration, respect and even envy.

A tall, blonde haired girl with a slender figure that would put most girls to shame walked out from a row of students and made her way onto the platform. She had a cold job clam expression on like she was prepared for anything and she carries herself with grace.

No one needed to ask who she was for they all knew. The prodigy, one of the top geniuses and one of the top beauties of the graduating year.

The instructor began the process without wasting a second. The stone platform lit up in a myriad of colours, flashing from blue to red and from red to brown amongst other colours. Motes of lights gathered from the air before forming a stream as colourful as a rainbow.

“Wow, so beautiful. The goddess is truly a prodigy.”

A student said, already captivated by the sight. The crowd watched as the stream encircled her like it had done towards Cliff, only more colourful and more vibrant. However the blonde haired beauty didn't seem fazed by the situation, instead it seemed like it was something she was used to.

The stream flowed around her a few more times before flowing into her. She let out a soft almost inaudible gasp as she glowed radiantly and was lifted off the platform. Her hair flowed calmly in the hair like it was being blown by a calm wind and the colours flickered briefly beneath her closed eyelids.

After a brief moment she was set down and the light faded. She settled her gaze upon the students before turning to look at the instructor calmly. The students also looked at him with bated expressions of anticipation.

“Jane Sterling. Successful awakening. Pathway of Elements. Branch of the Flame Warden.”

The students and even some of the instructors drew in sharp breaths, even Oberon who had been nervous and quiet couldn't help but gasp in awe. Flame Warden, an offensive branch that could deal explosive damage and also use AOE damage spells.

A mystic with this pathway and branch was like hot cake on the market, guilds would clamor to have her under them and students would also rush to befriend her just to curry favour. Although she wasn't a member of legacy families, she was on equal footing with them, after all her father owned one of the top and most renowned guilds in the city.

The golden cyclops guild. A massive guild boasting close to a thousand members all of prestigious pathways, branches and enviable strength. She could as well be a legacy if she wanted to.

“I always knew she would awaken one of the best pathways and even one of the best branches. There were rumors that she could feel and even slightly control her essence at a very young age after all.”

Sam whispered as he inches closer towards Oberon who still looked captivated.

“Really? That's an almost impossible feat.”

Oberon replied.

“Not if your mother awakened under the pathway of souls.”

Jane was shown off the platform and instructors discussed in hushed tones amongst themselves, even the headmaster nodded with a satisfied smile as he combed his white beards.

After Jane was shown off, the instructor called in more students to attempt awakening. Most of them awakened fairly popular and common pathways and branches while some awakened slightly rare pathways and branches.

However it happened, what most students had feared from the very beginning of the ceremony.

“Peter Peterson. Unsuccessful awakening. Please kindly step off the platform and make your way back to your seat.”

“What? Unsuccessful? That can't be. It's an error you have to try again. Try again.”

The student, Peter looked confused at first but then dejected when the instructor remained unmoved towards his pleas. The sight made the previously excited students gloomy and the atmosphere turned solemn immediately.

Oberon's breathing grew ragged and quickened and cold sweat broke out on his forehead. However he felt someone grab his shoulder.

“Relax, I'm going to awaken and so are you. And together we'll become prestigious mystics.”

Sam said reassuringly. Oberon nodded his head and took in deep breaths in an attempt to calm his nerves.

“Yes. Yes we will.”