“Seven?”

  Governor Grayson scanned the skies for the missing seven stars he saw a moment ago but found no trace of the uneasy anomaly. He had heard rumors of the anomaly but the stories told were of five stars not seven. If the rumors were true then he hoped the the more number of stars the lesser the danger. Of course, deep down he didn't believe that. He just hoped his city wouldn't be involved.

  A loud boom coming from the fireworks in the sky brought the Governor out of his reverie followed by his Lieutenant Governor announcing the ceremony to begin. With the ceremony about to begin the old man from House Lyle put a stop to his meal to turn his attention to the Awakening Ceremony.

  Governor Grayson still couldn’t believe the old man in front of him was actually here in his city, sitting on his chair and eating his food. He couldn’t believe that he would ever be in the presence of the most famous war general alive, Victor Lyle, who was given the moniker, The Old Dragon of the South. A name spat out by the Southern Kingdoms in hate and respect. For he was the reason they could not set a foot into the Republic during his nearly forty years of guarding the Southern Border.

  Although retired, the old man is still considered a legend in the military world. Not only for his feats on the battlefield, but for his feats off it as well. During his twenty years in retirement he has taught some of the most famous Generals and Commanders of today: The Unmoving Turtle, The Watcher of the Sea and the famous War Hero, Commander Ricks, Sparking City's very own. Of course the general populace only knows of the name-Old Dragon of the South- but not the man. If they knew they would have thrown a parade for the old General.

  With all these achievements, Governor Grayson didn't mind having to stand off to the side as if he wasn’t a Governor and if he ever had a belly full of complaints, he wouldn't dare to utter them in fear of offending the man. With his military deeds a city wouldn’t be enough to be considered an award. Let alone the head of a man who ruled one. He would offend every soldier in the Republic if he even caused a twitch of a brow on the old man and so his eyes never left the old man who looked like he would die from a cough too strong.

  While keeping his eyes on the old man Governor Grayson noticed the famous general straightened his hunched back and adopted a serious look that rarely ever showed itself outside of battlefields. Turning his attention back down to the group of awakeners, he began his search for the reason for the old general’s reaction.

  ***

  The stadium was silent as the first group took their place on their designated platform. Among the group was the red-haired teenager donning a red silk robe with a black dragon wrapping itself around the waist of the outfit where its head ended up peaking over the boy's right shoulder.

  As the red haired boy stood before the platform that carried his fate, he held no hesitation once he was called upon. With determined steps, he made his way up the stairs followed by a creek that seemed to echo in the surroundings with each step he took.

  His body radiated the confidence of a descendant of an ancient house. But his eyes told a different story, a story that can only be seen by those close enough to witness the storm of emotions in his eyes. For example the Lieutenant Governor who made his way from “D” platform to “A” to personally officiate the Lyle boys’ Awakening. Considering who the boy was, it was only right that someone of his status would oversee his awakening. Watching the young boy of House Lyle make his way to him, Lieutenant Governor took the time to observe the boy’s body language.

  Every step was filled with poise and grace. His face carried a calm and serene look but as the boy made his way closer, LT. Governor had to hold back a smile as the eyes of the Lyle boy were clearly filled with nervousness. Looking closely he saw something else as well.

  Fear.

  Remembering who the boy was, LT Governor no longer felt like smiling. Instead he sent a silent nod of support as the boy stood in front of the table he stood behind.

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  The table carried a cloudy sphere placed right in the center, the size of an adult human head. If observed more closely you could sometimes see a flash of different colors as if something was happening but it was being hidden behind the clouds. It is said that only those monsters of legend could get a glimpse of what secrets hid behind the clouds. Considering that they were all dead, Lt. Governor will probably never get the chance to ask if it's true and if it was, what was behind the cloud? Unless he had the guts to ask an Apostle of the Windy Pavillon. The thought quickly dissipated once he recalled the uncomfortable feeling he got when he met one of their members. Broken out of his reverie by the noble boy who made his way to him, he shifted his focus back to the task at hand.

  “Are you ready?” Lt Governor asked the young Lyle boy who stood ramrod straight. Towering over the boy he had to look down to stare into the-red and the other a plain brown-eyes of the boy. A shock for anyone who had laid their eyes on the young Lyle descendant for it is known that descendants of House Lyle possess ruby red eyes.

  “Y-Yes” Stuttering over his answer before clearing his throat to answer again, dissatisfied at the way he answered.

  “Yes” The young Lyle descendant repeated, this time without a stutter hoping to fool others or maybe himself with his firm and confident tone. Although Lt Governor Wilkens found the quick scene amusing, he did not show it in fear of offending the boy who came from a background that wouldn’t have a hard time stripping him of his status or kicking him out the city. Or worse, send him off to the Southern Border to die and be given the title of a so-called Hero.

  Sending a nod the boy’s way, he began instructing the boy.

  “All you have to do is place your hand on the sphere for a few seconds until the clouds go from white to whatever element that you have affinity with. Once done you will have the strength to answer all your questions. “ Smiling gently at the young descendant of House Lyle in hopes of easing his nerves and fear.

  “Take your time” Continuing to smile at the boy closing his eyes and taking a few moments to himself before opening his eyes. Whatever crossed the young noble boy's mind within those few moments must have been all he needed as the fear in the boy’s eyes seemed to vanish, causing Lt Governor to slightly raise a brow in shock seeing as the boy’s eyes now seemed to carry the same confidence and determination his body exuded.

  With the confidence he needed, he raised his hand and placed it on the sphere. The sphere showed no change for a few seconds before the clouds started to slowly swirl. The speed of the clouds sped up until the colors of the clouds showed tints of red that darkened as time went by. Eyes filled with relief and anticipation Lt. Governor turned to see the reaction of the boy whose awakening result can probably shut down the few rumors going about.

  Instead of finding relief or excitement on the boys’ face he found nothing. The boy’s expression was blank. Feeling that the boy’s expression was due to shock, he reached his hand out to place it on the boys’ shoulder and congratulate the future Lyle powerhouse.

  “Con-”

  “SILENCE”

  The word travelled its way into his ears and only his ears, echoing inside his head causing him to quickly retract his hand and silence himself. Quickly turning his head to the balcony where the fragile looking old man of House Lyle left his seat to stand with his hands on the balcony looking over in his direction with a smile on the verge of forming. Right beside him was Governor Grayson who used the wind to send the warning into his ear, standing with a stern look on his face whilst shaking his head slightly at him.

  Seeing this, Lt Governor turned his attention back to the boy before cautiously taking a step back. The moment he took a step back to observe the boy, he saw something that he had never seen throughout his entire time officiating Awakening Ceremonies.

  With a blank expression, the young Lyle descendant stood completely still, staring into the now dark red sphere with clouded eyes that replaced his original brown and red. It was like the clouds within the sphere transferred itself from the sphere to the boy’s eyes.

  A few seconds later the boy’s eyes returned to normal. His blank expression gone. Instead replaced with confusion, as he scanned his surroundings, appearing to be lost for a moment before realization hit him once his eyes locked onto the sphere in front of him that was slowly losing its red hue. Joy quickly took over the boy.

  “Did I?...” The Lyle boy looked at Lt Governor Wilkens with excitement before asking with a big smile on his face that mirrored the old man standing over the balcony. The Lt Governor had never seen an expression like that on either of their faces during the entire duration of their stay.

  Choosing to keep his thoughts to himself, he nodded his head in affirmation before turning to the crowd that was filling the air with murmurs of excitement.

  “Draven Lyle…” Scanning the crowd of excited and eager faces, he gave the answer they were all waiting for.

  “Has Awakened.”