"After your awakening, I need you to understand the power ranks you will cultivate as you grow older. They are nothing special, but it will help if you know them well." Vexer summoned a small, worn booklet and handed it to Three. "Keep this safe. You might need it for reference later."
Three nodded, eyes scanning the booklet with curiosity, trying to absorb everything at once.
"So, the moment you awaken, you enter the first rank of your cultivation path, Pioneer. It is nothing extraordinary apart from the fact that you possess something ordinary mortals lack. This is also where you will be named. Right now, we call you Three, but when you awaken, you will carry the name of a Starborn descendant. That is basically the first rank in a nutshell."
"Do I get to choose my name, or… how does it work?" Three asked, leaning in closer, eager to understand.
"The first name is your choice. The last name is given by the clan leader. It carries the pride of your family. Now quit your questions, and let me tell you the rest of the ranks. I do not have the whole day to waste." Vexer's tone was calm, yet firm.
"After cultivating for a while, you will experience your first breakthrough and enter the Luminary rank. The details are in the book, so I will not bore you with them. After that comes Vanguard, then Harbinger, and finally Primarch. That is the rank your father and mother hold."
Three looked to his father for confirmation. Sigil nodded proudly. Achieving Primarch was no easy feat. Three understood now why it commanded such respect.
"Then comes Sovereign Manifest," Vexer continued, pride swelling in his chest. "That is my current rank, the peak this world supports. When I break through again, I will become an Immortal Sovereign. In short, I am stronger than your father and mother combined."
"Cool," Three said, eyes wide. He felt reassured. No matter how strict his father could be, Grandpa's power was a safety net he could always count on.
"Wipe that grin off your face," Vexer interrupted, popping Three's fantasy bubble instantly. "Even though I am stronger than your father now, he will surpass me eventually, once he reaches my rank. By then, he will be the man of the house."
"Now, it is time. Strip and enter the Awakening Pool. Do not worry, your father and I will not peek. You can hide behind that rock and change before entering."
Three obeyed, ducking behind a boulder. Moments later, he stepped out, naked but unseen. Vexer and Sigil extended their senses throughout the cave. They did not need to see him physically; their awareness covered every inch of the space.
"Enter the pool," Vexer commanded.
Three waded in, the water reaching his neck almost immediately.
"It is cold," he shivered, voice trembling as the chill spread through him.
"For now," Vexer said. "But it will warm soon enough. You are a man, so suck it up." He produced a small green vial, whispered a few words, and poured it into the pool.
The water glowed, and a soothing warmth spread across Three's body. Sigil watched intently, heart tight with anticipation. Awakening was never guaranteed. Even in the Starborn clan, where genetics mattered, luck still ruled. The strongest descendants could fail, yet the clan had survived for generations, dominating the world despite the odds. Sigil trusted that Three would awaken something remarkable.
Slowly, the green water began to swirl, forming a luminous cocoon around Three.
Then the temperature in the cave dropped suddenly, a cold creeping through the air, signaling the true beginning of his awakening.