The Rise of the Legendary Puppet Mage!

Chapter 4

“Xavi! Wake up!” A melodious but loud voice pierced through Xavier’s groggy state. He struggled to open his eyes, his head feeling like a lead weight—a painful reminder of the tumultuous night of his eighteenth birthday.

“Evelyn! Stop screaming like a three-horned hen!” Xavier groaned, squinting at the figure before him. Evelyn stood there in the golden-white academy robe of a healer, a stark contrast to his rundown cottage room. As his vision cleared, he found himself once again stunned by her beauty. Despite growing up with her, he never quite got used to it.

Evelyn’s long, silver hair was tied with a single golden ribbon. Her golden pupils glowed in the sunlight streaming through the broken window, creating a halo around her head, reminiscent of the goddess Thea. Her skin, a healthy reddish-brown, radiated vitality. Her lips were the color of ripe peaches, and her face was free of makeup, showcasing her natural beauty—except for the mark on her face…

“Xavi, you really have the guts to call me a three-horned hen?” Her shrill voice snapped him out of his thoughts. He winced, looking at the elegant lady worshiped by the young men of Eldoria, now acting like a rogue. “Did you forget I’m a year older than you? You have no respect for elders, Xavi! You should call me elder sister!” Evelyn lightly smacked his head.

“Please, forgive me, My GREAT AUNT! I was wrong…” Xavier replied, looking at Evelyn with a guilty face, though his eyes twinkled with amusement. This girl had been one of the kindest people to him, even when the world had given up on him.

Evelyn's expression softened, though she tried to maintain her stern facade. “You’re lucky I’m in a good mood today. Now, get up. Did you forget what day it is today?”

“Does it matter?” Xavier smiled bitterly, ruffling his hair. “No way I would be able to get affinity with any element with my lowest mana capacity. Becoming a great mage will just remain a dream…”

Another smack landed on his head, this time with no mercy. Xavier groaned in pain, looking surprised at Evelyn, who threw a bag at him before storming out.

Xavier opened the bag to find five grade-1 monster crystals needed for the awakening ceremony, along with a note: ‘Don’t be disheartened! Maybe the Magi-God stored the best for you!’ — Evelyn and Uncle Black.

A smile bloomed on Xavier’s face. He hurriedly got up, ready to embrace whatever lay ahead. He sprinted towards the Awakening Hall and paid the fee, feeling fortunate that no one was outside to mock him since the ceremony had already started.

The teacher handling the fee looked at him without emotion, handed him a golden-black pass, and vanished after a quick glance at the record. Xavier walked to the locked door of the Awakening Hall, inserted his pass, and the door opened with a hum. Everyone inside turned to see who had arrived late, their irritation and disdain clearly visible.

“Aha, late as usual, the Manaless-Wander,” someone murmured. However, no one spoke loudly, fearing the wrath of Great Mage Aron, who was floating above the Awakening Crystal, establishing a connection with the Central World mana core.

Ignoring the whispers, Xavier walked to the mana circle, unable to fly yet, his heart pounding in his chest. As he stepped into the circle, a gentle energy wrapped around him, forming a vine seat. He felt the weight of every gaze—a mixture of contempt and pity. He took a deep breath, trying to feel the presence of mana that everyone else seemed to experience so easily.

The room was grand, with high ceilings and intricate carvings depicting ancient mages and their powerful spells. Every student sat on a floating chair made from ancient mana vine, each connected to the central Awakening crystal core. The air was thick with the scent of incense and the hum of mana. At the center of the room stood the Awakening Stone, a massive crystal pulsing with energy. Multicolored mana vines entwined around it, an exotic species said to be connected to the main mana core of Eclipseria.

After the connection was made, a crystal flower bloomed in front of every student, each cradling a crystal mana core. The surface of each core shimmered with all existing types of mana, casting a dazzling, multicolored light that filled the room with an almost blinding charm.

“Please touch the crystal mana core and concentrate,” Great Mage Aron’s voice echoed within the Awakening Hall. With a swift motion, he took out a Magi-device and started pouring his magic into it. The device responded by creating a Magi-Bracelet on the left hand of every student.

Xavier, heart pounding, followed Great Mage Aron’s instructions. He approached the mana crystal flower in front of him, its brilliance almost too intense to look at. Tentatively, he reached out and touched the crystal mana core. Instantly, the core came to life, humming with energy. It began to shrink rapidly until it was no larger than a bluish-black fingernail, then shot towards Xavier, embedding itself in his chest.

A shock of energy surged through him, and he felt the crystal settle into his heart. His vision blurred, and he was overwhelmed by a sensation of warmth and power spreading through his body. The room around him seemed to fade away as he was enveloped in a vortex of light and energy.

Xavier's mind raced with questions. What was happening? What would this mean for him? As the energy stabilized, a deep, resonant voice echoed in his mind, the same ancient voice he had heard before.

“Embrace your destiny, The chosen one…”

As the light subsided, Xavier’s surroundings came back into focus. The grand hall, with its intricate carvings and soaring ceilings, reappeared around him. The murmurs of the other students shifted to an unmistakable chorus of derision.

“That’s it? A crystal no bigger than a fingernail?”

“Seriously? He’s got barely any mana at all! It was expected anyway.”

“What a disappointment. He’ll never be more than a footnote.”

“He should feel blessed that he got an element, although it’s unknown. It can be counted as an element, haha,”

Another voice said after everyone looked at the floating Magi-projector showing Xavier’s public profile:

[Name: Xavier Raymond

Race: Human(?)

Age: 18

HP: 18

MP: 2

Element: (?)

Elemental Companion: Locked]

Xavier’s heart sank as he felt the weight of their disdain. His eyes focused on the report generated by the Magi-Awekaner. His face flushed with embarrassment and frustration. The once-hopeful anticipation he had felt was now overshadowed by the contemptuous gazes of his peers. The Magi-Bracelet on his left hand, glowing faintly, felt like a cruel reminder of his newest shortcoming.

Great Mage Aron, however, seemed to be deeply interested. His gaze, usually cold and indifferent, was now focused intently on Xavier. The Archmage’s eyes gleamed with a rare curiosity as he observed the small, shimmering crystal embedded in Xavier’s chest.

“It has been many years since an unknown mana element has appeared,” Aron murmured, his voice carrying a note of intrigue. “Such a small crystal could signify either a remarkable hidden potential or an unforeseen curse.”

The Archmage’s words were heavy with meaning, and Xavier could feel the weight of the moment. The disdain from the other students was now mixed with a new layer of intrigue and speculation. Xavier’s thoughts were a whirlwind of confusion and hope. The crystal embedded in his heart pulsed gently, a constant reminder of the unknown power it held.

As the other students continued with their own awakenings, the atmosphere in the room was charged with a new tension. The whispers of disdain now carried an undercurrent of curiosity, and the once-dismissive glares were now tinged with cautious interest.

Great Mage Aron’s gaze lingered on Xavier, a thoughtful expression on his face. “You may face many trials ahead, young mage. Your path is uncertain, but it holds the potential for both great fortune and grave danger. Best of luck!”

“It’s such a pity, young man…” he murmured.

As the room returned to its usual bustle, Xavier was left with a lingering sense of unease.

Great Mage Aron began to announce the results for each student, detailing their elemental powers and mana levels. The lowest MP owner, except Xavier, had 180. Some students received elements, while others did not. Those with low-ranked elements were directed to another room, and those without elements were sent to the Hall of Diverse Arts to explore practical magic forms like crafting, farming, or alchemy.

Only ten out of a hundred students were ranked higher than B and were escorted by the Great Mage Aron to the Hall of Mages. Xavier was left behind, alone in the now-empty Awakening Room. The once grand space now felt barren, with only one vine chair and the solitary mana crystal core remaining.