CHAPTER 64: CHAPTER 63 - ECHOES OF AWAKENING

The eastern corridor of the Valderacht residence was quiet that morning.

The air still carried the chill of lingering dew, and sunlight filtering through the tall windows drew golden lines across the polished stone floor. The walls were adorned with portraits of Valderacht ancestors and symbols of grandeur, silent witnesses to the generations that had once walked these halls.

The footsteps of four people echoed softly, steady and composed.

At the front, Lyrienne led the way with a straight back and graceful posture, her dark blue gown unwrinkled despite her firm stride. Her beloved folding fan was neatly tied at her waist, swaying slightly with every step. Her low ponytail caught the morning light, and though her face remained calm, her eyes were harder to read.

She glanced back.

Briefly. A second at most. But it was enough to furrow her brows once again.

That girl... Mira.

The small girl with the messy hair and innocent smile who had only just awakened yesterday. She was no one of importance. Not a noble. Not from a great family. Just the daughter of a commoner...

But the image from yesterday still echoed in her mind.

Three affinities.

Lyrienne pressed her lips together. That wasn’t just a number. It was... an omen. A miracle.

In other words, Mira held three Laws within her. Laws that shaped the fabric of reality. Laws that only Lawbearers could touch. Which meant that, by definition, the girl was already Awakened.

And that man... her older brother.

Lyrienne’s gaze shifted to the figure walking beside Mira—Riven.

There was nothing striking about his appearance. His face was plain, unremarkable in every way. But beside him, walking with effortless grace and not the slightest hint of hesitation, was Ashtoria Belmore—the Queen. Heir to the highest noble bloodline. A woman who should have stood apart from commoners.

Yet her hand, cold and elegant, was holding his as naturally as if it were habit.

Lyrienne stared at them for a moment before looking away, a storm of thoughts brewing beneath her composed exterior. She could feel a quiet frustration and confusion rise in her chest.

Who are these people, really...?

Behind her, Ashtoria still held Riven’s hand without the slightest hesitation. Her grip was light, yet firm, as if it had always belonged there. Her fingers were warm, though her expression remained calm and unchanging.

In contrast, Riven looked noticeably stiff. His shoulders were slightly tense, and he glanced now and then at their interlocked hands. His face wasn’t red, but his body language betrayed his discomfort.

Ashtoria noticed.

"I haven’t explained yet, have I?" she said quietly, not turning her head. Her voice was clear and composed, but there was a subtle softness in her tone—a willingness to share. "About the cultivation ranks and talent levels of a Lawbearer."

Riven turned slightly, glancing at her profile. "You haven’t."

"Then listen carefully," she continued.

Their steps echoed through the turning corridor leading toward the eastern wing of the Valderacht estate. Tall windows to their left revealed a misty garden not yet touched by full daylight.

Still holding his hand, Ashtoria walked with effortless poise, taking her time, as though savoring the lesson that peeled back the nature of their world.

"When someone discovers their affinity," she began, her voice calm but edged with clarity, "they automatically become an Awakened. That is the first stage... and from that point on, they are formally recognized as a Lawbearer."

Riven gave a slow nod, eyes focused on the floor ahead as if absorbing every word. Mira beside him listened just as intently, leaning forward a bit like a child eager for a story.

"Above Awakened is the stage known as Marked Soul, or in some paths, Foundation Core. From there, one ascends to Runed Core, then Reality Binder. And finally, the pinnacle... the highest realm attainable by mortals: Lawborne Sovereign, or simply, Sovereign."

Riven and Mira exchanged glances. Their expressions were serious, perhaps a little tense. This wasn’t just idle information—it was a map to their future.

Ashtoria’s words flowed smoothly, undisturbed. "As I said before," she continued, now more softly, "to become an Awakened, one must first discover their affinity, or more precisely, the Law that resonates within them."

She glanced briefly at Mira as she said it.

Her gaze wasn’t sharp—gentle, even—but to those who knew her, it carried weight.

"And to discover such a Law," she said, "requires something that cannot be taught—talent."

She turned her eyes forward again. Her tone returned to that cool neutrality, though its weight lingered in the air like destiny spoken aloud.

"That’s why tools were created, to measure one’s potential. From there, a person’s aptitude is ranked... even before they ever touch the power of the world."

Mira gave a small nod, while Riven frowned slightly, working to remember everything.

"The lowest rank is F-Rank, called Dull. Those born with this... are rare, but not like gemstones, more like curses. They’re often sickly, unable to resonate with any Law. Most don’t live long. Cultivation is impossible for them."

Riven’s brows drew together.

"Next is E-Rank, or Flicker. This is the most common. Ordinary folk. People with this rank can live normal lives, perhaps even reach Awakened with enough hard work... but nothing beyond that."

Ashtoria turned slightly, just a glance over her shoulder. Riven caught the faint red gleam in her eye, like a cold ember.

"Then comes D-Rank, or Kindled. This is the minimum threshold to be considered a proper Lawbearer. Most will only reach Marked Soul and never ascend further."

"And after that?" Mira asked softly, her tone innocent but curious.

Ashtoria gave a faint smile. "Then we have C-Rank, or Attuned. This already counts as talent. They can progress into the Runed Core, though most will plateau early."

Their footsteps continued, quiet and rhythmic.

"For context," she added, "even elite knights of the kingdom often only possess C-Rank talent. It’s not easy to attain."

Riven gave another small nod.

"Next is B-Rank, known as Resonant. Those born with this are considered gifted, even among nobles. If they train diligently, they may reach Reality Binder... but even then, only with luck, bloodline inheritance, or something beyond."

At that moment, Riven instinctively glanced toward Lyrienne Valderacht, walking ahead of them.

He recalled their first meeting vividly—how haughty she’d been, how piercing her gaze, filled with superiority. She had looked him over from head to toe, not as a person... but as something unworthy to be near the Queen.

And now?

She led the way. And the Queen was holding his hand.

Together, they were walking toward a test that could reshape everything.

Riven narrowed his eyes, a question curling in the depths of his mind.

What will the result be? My talent... and Mira’s. Where do we stand on the ladder of this world?