The silence within the hall was shattered by the giant doors opening with a creak that echoed through the hall and the loud cheers that rushed in with it. Sunlight broke through the gaps of the widening doors illuminating the halls and its guests who covered their eyes from the sun that welcomed them.

  “Go forth young ones, your fate awaits you.” The middle aged official said

  Hearing this the nearly three thousand kids with squinted eyes warily walked out of the hall and into the arena that welcomed them with cheers the moment their feet left the marble floors to greet the earthly sand.

  Damon glanced around the arena once his eyes adjusted to the light and took in his surroundings.The arena was large enough to hold around seventy thousand people and the current crowd made up around a tenth of that number within the seating area.The sight of the crowd in the stands surrounding him and drowning him in cheers only caused his nerves and fear to creep up. Scanning his fellow awakeners he found some bore the same meek expression and timid gait that he had. While the rest wore nervous expressions, only it didn’t seem to come from the immense crowd of people cheering but the seven wooden platforms in the center of the arena.

  The wooden platforms were elevated a half a dozen feet in the air by four pillars on each corner. A staircase led to the elevated platform. In the center of the platform was a crystal clear ball the size of an adult human head.

  Recognizing the crystals from the books he read-Awakening Crystals- Damon knew that the moment he had been waiting for was getting closer. In desperate need of support, Damon scanned the crowd in the stands in search of his mothers warm smile, his fathers nod of assurance, and even his little sister’s adorable toothy smile. Sadly with the amount of people in the stands his little side mission was hard to accomplish. In his search for his family he glanced over the area behind the platforms where a small group of people, probably people of importance if Damon was to guess by their attire stood conversing with each other almost like they were having a small little banquet to themselves as they waited for the ceremony to start.

  The group of people wore silver robes similar to the clerks in the hall except they bore bronze stars right below the Republic's sigil signifying them as officials. Damon glanced over this group for a few seconds before resuming his search for his family but to no avail. Feeling his nerves rising his attention was once again back to the area where the officials resided and widened his eyes in shock at something he saw.

  In front of the group of officials were two men. One was a balding man in his fifties wearing an expensive looking robe bearing the three star medals right below the Republic sigil. Only it was not bronze but silver. An item only Governors could wear. The mans’ status or presence was not what shocked Damian for he has lived in Spark city for twelve years now and seen the Governor before during the New Years celebrations. The shock came from the actions of all the officials including the governor who shockingly wasn’t sitting but standing behind a bald elderly man whose clothes bore the same colors of the red-haired boy who was currently leading group A. The old man was casually sitting down in the chair usually reserved for the governor enjoying the many exotic foods on the table in front of him.

  “Come forth” A voice beckoned the group of awakeners towards the line of platforms where a dark haired average looking man in official clothes and two silver stars on his shoulder announcing his rank as Lieutenant Governor stood on one of the platforms.

  Damon and the group of awakeners trudged their way through the sand to stand in front of their designated platform. Damon stood in front of platform “D” that was right beside the platform that the Lieutenant Governor positioned himself on.

  Lieutenant Governor scanned the awakeners below and with a satisfied look, turned towards the murmuring crowd with a dissatisfied look. He narrowed his eyes before snapping his fingers. In an instant a loud bell tolled throughout the arena.

  Damon quickly covered his ears whilst turning his head left to right in search of the guilty object. A few awakeners turn to face the doors they entered from and pointed. Damon, seeing this, looked over his shoulder to see a giant bell tolling right above the double door they entered through.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  After a few seconds, the tolling stopped and was followed by complete silence. The Lieutenant Governor shifted his attention from the audience to the children in front of him. Clearing his throat he said

  “Welcome Awakeners. I am Lieutenant Governor Wilkens. I will be in charge of this year’s awakening ceremony...” Lieutenant Governor Wilkens spoke with a firm tone as he explained what to do when you step on the platform.

  Already familiar with the steps, Damon discreetly began scanning his surroundings in hopes of finding his best friend. A minute was all he needed to find his mustache wearing friend who stood within group “F” a couple rows away from Damon with a rare serious look.

  “Now, a word from Governor Grayson.” Lieutenant Governor

  Damon, hearing this, looked up to see the Governor walk up to the balcony overlooking the awakeners, but not before bowing his head to the old man sitting down, causing Damon to scrunch his brows in confusion witnessing this scene. Many others bore the same expression as they turned left and right as if they were looking for someone to tell them they weren’t imagining things. That they didn’t just see the most powerful person in the entire city just bow his head.

  Damon had a guess where the old man came from but not who he was. For this old man to make a Governor bow, his status must be high.

  Governor Bob Grayson began walking to the edge of the balcony with a large welcoming smile as he spread his arms to the side.

  “Welcome” Greeting everyone within the stadium. “Citizens of Spark City. Families, friends” He greeted the crowd before tilting his head down

  “And Awakeners.” Governor Grayson smiled at the potential awakeners. The Governor spoke with a firm yet friendly tone that was shockingly being heard from everyone in the stadium. Damon, who was behind a hundred plus people and a large platform, was left in awe that he could still hear the Governor. This small glimpse of power caused excitement to stir within Damon. Damon knew Governor Grayson was an Elemental, all City Governors were, but he had never seen him use his power he was gifted by the Spirits.

  “Today is a special day.” Governor Grayson smiled at the crowd in the stands before turning his smile to the crowd of young faces below him as he lowered his arms.

  “ Especially for you special lot”

  “For today is the day you find out how special you are. What fate awaits you? What path will you take? Where will this path lead?

  "Of course, to answer these questions you must first be able to see. For how can you know what path you have taken if you cannot see?” The Governor paused with his hands behind his back and began pacing the balcony as he continued his speech.

  “Well?” The Governor raised a brow. “Can you see the paths in front of you? Do you know which to take? Can you see your destined path?

  The group of awakeners shook their heads as they murmured a chorus of “no”.

  “No?” Shaking his head, Governor Grayson continued his pacing with a grin. “Do you wish to?”

  Silent nods and timid words of agreements came back as answers. A lack of confidence was plain to see.

  Shaking his head in disapproval the governor said “Do you truly wish to see?” Damon flinched. The words entered his ears as if the Governor was no longer standing on that balcony but standing right beside him.

  With a frown he continued “Because it does not sound like it. Do you want to see?” He repeated once more.

  “Yes,” a few others shouted back. Damon witnessing this felt his excitement rising and goosebumps spreading across his body. His lurking urge to Awaken somehow made its way through the nerves and fear inside him

  “I CAN’T HEAR YOU” Governor Grayson yelled

  “YES”

  Tightening his fists, Damon shouted with all his might as many others mimicked him. The shouts echoed from the nearly three thousand awakeners that it could probably be heard from those outside the arena.

  “Good.” Nodding in satisfaction “For Today is the day you find out all the answers to all your questions.”

  “Today is the day your eyes will open.” Governor Grayson raised his arms up to the sky.

  “Today is the day the world will show you…who you are?” The Governor spoke to the skies.

  “And who you will be. For today….”

  The Governor paused as he scanned everyone in the stadium before turning to the sky where the sun’s shine seemed to break through the clouds. The Governor’s eyes widened slightly at the sight because the sun was not by itself but was shockingly surrounded by seven stars.

  “... Is the Day of Awakening” Cheers came from all over the arena.

  The Governor returned to his spot behind the old man who was no longer eating but staring up at the sky with a frown. The Governor paid no attention to the old man as he nodded to the Lieutenant Governor who turned to the group of awakeners.

  “Lets begin”