CHAPTER 12: CLASS AWAKENING [1]

[Two Days Later.]

"Are you all ready!!!"

A loud voice echoed outside the mansion of Ramsay House.

Ten different carriages were lined up, with a lavish one situated in the middle.

The rest of the carriages carried the soldiers of the Ramsay Baron family.

Osmund, the head of the family, looked out of the window, his gaze on the captain of the soldiers.

"Move." He spoke, his chubby face jiggling as he leaned back.

The captain gave out his orders as the carriages began to move.

Inside the lavish carriage, the family of four was sitting together.

Abel sat with his father, while Eden sat beside his clinging mother.

---

’Why are there so many people with us?’

Eden wondered, peeking outside the moving carriage.

From his perspective, taking this many people was nothing but a waste of time and money.

"Are you feeling nervous, Eden?" Osmund asked with a grunty voice, taking his attention.

Eden shook his head. "Not really." He spoke. "I am just wondering, can’t we just visit the capital without so many soldiers?"

"What a fool." Abel snickered, looking at him. "You think this is for show?"

"What else is it then?" Eden asked calmly. "Father can deal with anyone who tries to attack us, can’t he?"

Osmund chuckled. "Damn right. This is just a show."

Eden blinked. "Wait... so it is for show?"

Osmund grinned, his belly shaking as he laughed. "Of course, we need to keep an image in front of other nobles."

"Why?"

Evelynn chuckled softly beside him, brushing his hair back with a smile.

"So they don’t attack us." She said. "There is a saying within the kingdom: ’a poor noble is just food for a richer noble.’"

Eden looked at her in confusion. "Nobles can fight and Royals don’t do anything?"

"As long as the winner provides more taxes and actually develops the acquired land," Osmund spoke, his voice a little serious,

"Then no, they won’t do a thing."

Eden just nodded his head as he got the gist of it.

[Don’t think too much, you can bend the rules to your will when you are strong enough.]

Sana’s cheering voice echoed in his mind, making him nod his head slightly.

’....Yeah.’

He quickly turned back to his mother, changing the topic. "How does this Awakening thing work, mother?"

She tilted her head. "The class awakening?"

Eden nodded. "Yeah, that. What actually happens there?"

Evelynn smiled softly, her fingers still gently brushing through his hair.

"It’s a sacred ceremony, dear." She spoke in a gentle voice.

"Every child who reaches the right age must stand before the Divine Crystal in the capital that reveals your class."

"Divine Crystal?"

"It’s a crystal sent by the Almighty God directly from heaven," Osmund spoke softly. "They are rarer than any metal."

"So, it just... decides everything for you?" Eden asked, his brows furrowing.

"Not everything," she said calmly. "But it sets your foundation."

Osmund, who had been sitting still, leaned forward toward Eden.

"There... there is something that I wanted to talk about, Eden."

Eden tilted his head as he noticed the concern on his face. "What is it?"

"I want you... to not show your class to anyone." He spoke, looking into his eyes.

Eden frowned. "Why?"

"The crown prince of the kingdom is also going to take the class awakening ceremony." He spoke softly.

"...And I have a feeling that it would create a problem if you have a better class than him."

Eden stared at his father, blinking in disbelief. "Wait... you’re serious?"

Osmund nodded, his expression grim for once. "Dead serious."

Eden leaned back, confused. "Why would the prince care what class I get? I’m just a baron’s son, not some royal rival."

"Exactly," Osmund said. "Which means if your class outshines his, you’ll be seen as a threat."

Eden nodded his head as he could see the logic in his words.

Evelynn frowned but didn’t interrupt. Her hand, however, tightened slightly on Eden’s arm.

It seemed she wanted to say a lot but held herself back.

Osmund leaned back on his seat. "Think it through, Eden."

Eden just nodded without saying anything else.

---

The carriage kept on moving throughout the day and only stopped at night.

The captain had chosen a local church as their base for today.

Eden walked out of the carriage as he stretched his body.

’Man, this thing is a lot more comfortable than it looks.’

He thought as he helped his mother walk out of the carriage.

Evelynn took his hand gracefully as she stepped down, her long silver-blue gown brushing the ground.

"Such a gentleman," she teased with a soft smile.

Eden opened his mouth but chose not to say anything.

He already felt uncomfortable around her; he didn’t want to make it worse.

"Hm!" Osmund’s booming voice came from behind them as he climbed out of the carriage with a grunt.

"This place will do."

Abel followed soon after, his expression deadpan.

Eden looked around the old church that was surprisingly in good shape.

Whoever was in charge was taking care of the place properly.

≤They will always do that.≥

Seraph’s voice echoed within his mind.

≤They say God made humans first and humans take pride in that.≥

’Hmm, was God biased towards humans or something?’

Eden wondered as he looked at the church with curious eyes.

’But how can he be an almighty God when he can have favourites?’

The soldiers quickly spread out, forming a protective circle around the area.

Torches were lit, illuminating the ancient stone walls of the small church they were using for the night.

Eden stood silently, his eyes lingering on the weathered stone walls of the old church.

’Wait, are there also churches of those Goddesses who brought me here?’

[Of course, they have it.]

’I see.’

[You can also meet them there if you ever want to.]

’Hmm, that’s good to know.’

Abel was already barking orders at a few soldiers setting up tents, while Osmund spoke to the local priest.

The priest was a frail old man with kind eyes and an old, wrinkled face.

Evelynn, as usual, was smiling serenely, her presence calming everyone around her.

The woman quickly noticed his gaze on the church as she playfully nudged him.

"You can go and see how it’s from the inside." She said, smiling. "No one is going to stop you."

Eden glanced at her and smiled. "Thanks for telling me."

He then moved towards the door as he was already drawn to it.

He pushed them open carefully.

They groaned in protest, and the warm light from the setting sun spilled through the cracks.

The inside of the place was eerily quiet with no one inside.

He walked slowly down the aisle, his footsteps echoing against the marble floor.

At the far end stood a statue of the so-called "Almighty God."

And Eden froze at the sight of the statue.

A woman wearing a nun uniform who was minding her own business stopped at the sight of Eden.

She quickly rushed towards him. "A visitor at this time?"

Eden came out of his shock as he quietly turned towards her.

The nun smiled. "Do you have any questions?"

"What’s...the name of the Almighty God?" He asked as his gaze turned back to the statue.

....Which had devil-like horns and sixteen wings behind his back.

"There are a lot of names given to him." She spoke cheerfully. "Like the first creation, the reflection of light, and some even call him—."

"What’s his name?" Eden asked, cutting her off.

The nun blinked before she responded.

"Lucifer Morningstar." She spoke cheerfully. "Or as some say, Satan."