Chapter 19: Awakening Ceremony
??? POV II 1/2
An old and gentle Ice Giant grandma named Draugann begins the ritual of awakening at my side, as she inspects my body with her wrinkly face, her eyes are semi-closed, and she seems to always be licking her dry lips.
"Hmm, hmm. You are quite the pretty girl, aren't you?" she said, as she patted my head and smiled back at me.
I was a bit nervous, this was the time when it was finally decided what kind of Talent and Attribute we were able to wield.
My parents were watching over me from the sides, I instinctively looked at them as they smiled at me and gave me their thumb ups... I love them.
Due to their cheers, I quickly fight against the nervousness making my body stiff like a tree and brace myself.
The old lady quickly begins a strange incantation, as a flow of blue-colored essence begins to pour out of her hands into my own body.
This is... this world's fantastical element, Mana.
From what I have learned, Mana was the power that Ymir could wield, when he died, all of his mana covered the world of Yggdrasil, and very living being in here was able to wield it as well.
Until then, Mana was only a power that Gods and Titans could use.
It was thanks to our ancestor's sacrifice that we were able to wield such power...
The mana begins to flow through my body like a river of cold wind, it does not feel bad, however, but rather comforting, almost soothing.
Suddenly, something within the middle of my chest begins to glow brightly, the light even began to glow out of my skin, showing it off to everyone.
The lady kept pouring mana into me, as the glow continued.
I felt... strange.
This was... my Mana Core.
I was finally awakening, so I can use magic!
The old lady quickly stops as she nods in affirmation, petting me again.
"Ooh... Little girl, you are indeed quite talented... A-Grade Talent... It has been dozens of years since the last A-Grade Talent Mana Core... A bright future awaits you."
A-Grade... talent?
Really?
ME?!
I am so happy...
I cannot believe it!
I am... really that talented at magic?
Mana Cores have many Talents... depending on the talent that a person has, they can cultivate quickly or slower and have an easier time using magic than others.
A-Grade Talent is the highest grade of talent possible... I am incredibly talented then!
Woah...
The old lady quickly begins to say the good news to everyone, as the people cheer and my papa and mama run towards me, embracing me in a tight hug.
"We are so proud of you, Benladann!" said my papa, embracing me.
"I knew that our little rabbit would be talented!" said my mama, kissing my cheeks.
In between papa's warm muscles and soft beard, and mama's kisses and silky hair, I am happy.
I want to be forever with them...
"So? What is her magic attribute?" asked one of the elders at the side of the elder lady.
"Let's see that," said Draugann, as mama and papa let me go, telling me to walk back with the lady.
"Let's see... my dear. Please, point your finger to that piece of wood," said the lady.
I did as she said, and I pointed my index finger to it.
"Good, now... think about... releasing it. Release what is within the depths of your soul, of your mana core. My dear... With such talent, it should be easy for you to express the beauty of Mana to the outside world... Embody it within your mind, and show its splendor to the world, like a blossoming flower on spring..." said the lady, as I did as she told.
Like a blossoming flower in spring.
What lies... deep within me.
I have to... take it out...
I begin to put my intent into my own soul, into my own mana core.
I begin to pour mana into it rather easily, even though I never learned how, it seems that with such talent, I learned it without even needing practice.
Suddenly, I feel something!
There is... something within me.
Is this the magic attribute?
I can... sense it.
If I expand my mind more and sense it deeper.
Come on...
Within the darkness of my inside, I see a lump of something.
Is this it?
It seems dormant.
I quickly begin to pour mana into it.
Come on, come out now and show yourself to the world!
And then...
It begins to move.
It...
Eh?
What is...
What is this?
The lump begins to move... like a slime.
It begins to move everywhere, expanding like vicious and moldy black veins.
It doesn't have eyes, but I feel as it glances right into my very soul.
W-What?
Is this...?
It... followed me to my second life?!
No...
Not this...
No... please... do not come out...!
NO!
"Nooooo! I do not wanna! Nooooooooo!"
I quickly try to suppress it from coming out, as I scream and fall over the snow, sudden exhaustion takes hold of my body as I spent all of my Mana without realizing it.
"Eh? What is happening?" asked the elders, as the old lady takes ahold of me and begins to conjure something into me.
"Oh my... this girl..." she muttered, as I heard mama and papa running towards me.
"Benladann!!!" cries my papa, as I hear his loud footsteps getting closer.
"My daughter!" cries my mama, as she approaches me slowly.
But before I can hear them get any closer, I fall unconscious...
Within the Ice Giant Tribe, the elders begin to discuss what happened to the young Benladann, the promising and talented girl.
The old, blue-skinned ice giant elders surround a small bonfire, as they discuss the current events.
An old Ice Giant man speaks.
"Draugann... Speak. What did you see?"
Draugann, the old lady that did the awakening ceremony remained silent as she clenched her fists.
"Within that little girl's soul... I saw darkness... Pure and pitch-black darkness..." she said.
"Darkness? Then, was she Dark Attribute? It is rare, but not really something bad." Said another elder.
"No... that's not it... She is not Dark Attribute... This darkness... It was like an abyss... When I took a glance at it... it glanced me back..." said the elder woman, as her hands began to tremble.
"What does this means? I don't understand." Said another elder.
"She contains... within her... Darkness... no, something, an entity... The girl is weak and not strong enough to fight against it... She had managed to suppress it but... At any time... it could come out... We might have awakened something that we should have never bothered..."