The sunlight flooded into Arthur's room, casting a golden glow on his reflection in the mirror. His snow-white hair shimmered as his ruby-red eyes stared back at themselves. Today marked his tenth birthday—the day he would finally undergo his 'Class Awakening.'
"I'm finally 10 years old," he said, a light sigh escaped his lips.
Ever since his death, Arthur had been more of a walking doll, devoid of emotion, only showing the little he needed to get by daily.
Even in this new life he was the same though the warmth and love from his parents had showed him something new– a feeling that he could barely remember in his past life. And as a result, he started getting a little more open with others.
But though he tried to hide it, his excitement was at it's peak already. "Class Awakening, here I come!" He whispered, pumping a fist.
A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.
"Young Master Arthur, The Lord and the his mistress are waiting in the carriage," a maid, announced, bowing slighty.
"O- okay, I'm ready." Arthur adjusted his luxurious outfit and smiled at his reflection one last time before heading out.
When he reached the door, his mother, Amelia, was already waiting. She smiled warmly, her eyes gleaming with pride.
"Arthur, you look so adorable! You're all grown up now," she teased, pulling him into a warm hug. Arthur embraced her tightly, savoring the moment.
At the age of 10, he was already close to 130cm in height and already had a perfect physique. Although it was covered by his attire, he had grown quite a bit of muscle for a boy his age.
But even at that, his appearance still remained cute and adorable as ever.
"Thanks, Mum," he said hugging her tightly.
Damian, his father, was already standing by the family carriage, dressed in formal black attire that made him stand out as a politician. "Ahem! Come on you two, we can't be late."
After a exchanging glances , Arthur and his mother smiled and joined him in the elegant white carriage, marked with the Sylvia family crest—a silver dragon atop a mountain.
As the horses trotted through the streets, Arthur's mind wandered back to his previous life. The stark difference between the noble life he now lived and the hardship he once endured was overwhelming.
•••
In his past life, Arthur was just a child when his parents died in house fire. He was left under the care of his uncle, who took everything his parents had left for him and gave him nothing but hardship in return. Arthur was forced to endure long days, running errands, hawking goods, barely scraping by. He never stood up for himself, never fought for what was rightfully his.
Even when his uncle died and left him to fend for himself, Arthur remained weak, passive. He could have fought for a better life, demanded the inheritance his mother had left him. But instead, he let the world crush him, and by the time he realized his mistake, it was too late.
'If only I had stood up for myself back then... If only I had been stronger.' His hands clenched into fists as the old resentment rose within him. 'Things would've been different. I wouldn't have lived such a pathetic life.'
•••
Damian's voice broke his train of thought. "Arthur, you understand the importance of our outing today, don't you?"
"Yeah, it's the annual Class Awakening ritual right," Arthur replied.
"Exactly. You're quite lucky to have this opportunity you know," Damian said sternly.
Arthur tilted his head in confusion, "Isn't it a ritual for everyone of 10 years of age? What does luck have to do with it?" He inquired.
Damian leaned closer, his expression turning a bit solemn, "Arthur... I believe you've noticed the difference between a noble and a commoner," he paused. "It's the same where ever you go. To be honest, some nobles weren't even able to secure a spot at this church."
'The church..." Arthur thought, 'It's said that the goddess Helia sends down her blessings every year through an artifact that can only be used by the church. I wonder if it's true.'
"Although..." Amelia added, jumping into the conversation "There's also a lesser form of the artifact that can be used by anyone eligible enough. But the downside is that your awakening would be... less efficient." She said caressing Arthur's hair "So you can thank your gods we got you a spot Arthur " she smiled
Arthur nodded, grateful but also feeling the weight of their expectations. 'They believe in me... I can't afford to fail.'
As they arrived at the church, Arthur stepped out and marveled at its grandeur. The towering spires and intricate stained-glass windows made the building look like something out of the legends in his old world. The entire building hummed with a soft divine energy, its aura calm yet powerful.
The family was lead inside the church, and after a while, a priest came to pick up Arthur and the other children.
"Go ahead, Arthur. It's time," Damian said, gesturing toward the hall where the awakening would take place.
"Good luck" prayed Amelia
Arthur joined the other kids, his heart pounding in his chest. He was led to a large hall with nothing but a glowing yellow crystal, positioned in the center of the room.
The children were made to sit on their lap in a rather Uncomfortable lotus position.— though a few proved to be a little naughty and flexed their status around.
'Finally' Arthur sighed as after a while, everything was. In order as the time had finally come.
"Relax and let Helia's divine energy flow through you," an old priest instructed.
Arthur closed his eyes and felt the crystal's energy wash over him like a warm wave. It felt strange yet calm as He was pulled into a meditative state, his consciousness slipping away.
•••
When Arthur opened his eyes, he was in an elaborately decorated hallway. Arcane symbols pulsed along the walls, and a large, semi-transparent screen floated before him, displaying countless class options.
"Warrior, Mage, Sword Mage, Priest, Assassin..." he read aloud, surprised by the vast variety of classes before him.
'Wait... Don't most people only get a few choices. Why do I have so many?' He pondered, "Well whatever." He said as he then narrowed them all down to one class in particular <[Paladin of Light.]>
"This is Dad's class right? A class that gave him the title of strongest in the entire kingdom... Paladin of Light"
Just as he reached out to choose the class, something stirred within him—a feeling of doubt.
'Is this really my choice? Or am I just trying to escape my weakness again?' He hesitated, remembering his failures in his past life.
Oddly enough, his entire field of vision changed into an empty void, a sensation he had long gotten used to.
But this time was different.
Arthur stood frozen, his breath hitching as his reflection stood before him sneering, its aura radiating confidence, power, and authority. This wasn't the timid, uncertain version of himself he was used to seeing. No, this reflection embodied everything Arthur was not—or rather, everything he had failed to become.
"Hey, Arthur," the reflection called out, its voice a deep, mocking echo of his own. A smirk stretched across its lips, the kind that spoke volumes of hidden strength. "Surprised to see me?"
Arthur's eyes widened. "What... Who are you?" His voice wavered as he instinctively took a step back.
The reflection's smirk widened, its eyes gleaming with condescension. "I'm you, obviously. The part of you that's had enough of being weak. The side you've been ignoring for far too long."
"I'm not weak!" Arthur retorted, his voice laced with defiance, though his heartbeat drummed louder in his chest as the obvious truth sank in.
The reflection laughed coldly. "Not weak? Then explain this," it said, waving its hand. Suddenly, scenes from Arthur's past flashed before his eyes like painful memories brought to life.
First, the image of his uncle loomed over him. It was the day of Arthur's parent's burial. Arthur had watched helplessly as his uncle took over everything his mother had left for him—the money, the house, everything. The man's greedy hands ripped through Arthur's future without a second thought, leaving him with nothing but scraps.
"You were just a kid, yes, but you didn't even fight for what was yours," the reflection accused. "You let him walk all over you. You let him ruin your life."
Arthur swallowed hard, his throat tightening as the memory resurfaced in vivid detail. He could still remember the coldness in his uncle's eyes, the helplessness he felt as his world crumbled around him. "I was... powerless," he whispered, fists clenched at his sides.
"Powerless? Or just scared?" the reflection snapped, its tone biting. "Scared to stand up for yourself. You let him make you weak, Arthur."
Before Arthur could respond, another scene played before him—his old job in the convenience store. His boss had been a cruel man, always finding ways to overwork him, exploiting his desperation. Long hours for little pay, constant berating, all because Arthur had been too afraid to speak up, too afraid of losing even that meager opportunity.
"Remember this? You let your boss use you like a tool. He saw how weak you were, how easy of a target you made yourself. Instead of standing up for your rights, you let him grind you down, day after day."
Arthur's chest tightened, guilt clawing at his heart. "I... I didn't know how to stand up for myself," he muttered, his voice barely a whisper.
The reflection stepped closer, its eyes piercing through Arthur's defenses. "And now? Are you still that same person? That weak boy who let everyone decide his fate? Or are you ready to finally take control?" Its voice grew harsher, pushing Arthur toward the edge of his internal battle as it stood face to face with Arthur.
The reflection's eyes bore into him. "You could've changed your fate, but you didn't. You let your fear and your weakness control you. So tell me, are you still going to be that coward? Or will you finally take what's yours?"
Arthur's hands trembled, his mind spiraling as he was forced to confront the truth. In his previous life, he had always been too afraid to take a stand, too afraid of failure. But now... now he had a second chance. He had to be stronger. He couldn't let the chains of his past hold him down any longer.
Arthur closed his eyes, memories of his miserable, lonely past flashing in his mind like a broken film. His parents gone, his inheritance stolen, years of exploitation—it all weighed on his shoulders like a boulder he could never shake. But this was his second chance, wasn't it? A life where he could rewrite his story.
His heart raced, pounding like a drum in his ears as the reflection's words cut deeper than any blade. 'I've been given a second chance. I can't waste it.'
With newfound resolve, Arthur opened his eyes, meeting the reflection's intense gaze. "No... I'm not that person anymore. I won't let anyone else control my fate ever again." His eyes burning with determination. "I'll be the one to decide my own path."
The reflection's smirk softened into a knowing smile. "Good," it said, stepping forward. "Then prove it. Don't let anyone take anything from you again. Make them regret ever underestimating you."
The reflection raised its fist, placing it against Arthur's chest. For a moment, the two locked eyes, their shared conviction pulsating between them. Then, with a flash of light, the reflection dissolved into particles, its lingering presence settling within Riku's heart.
As the remnants of his reflection faded away, Arthur stood alone in the vast space, his heart lighter yet burning with determination. He wouldn't let the ghosts of his past control him anymore. This time, he would be stronger. This time, he would forge his own destiny.
"Class awakening..." he muttered to himself, stepping forward toward the floating screen hovering before him. The word [Sage] shone brightly in front of him, filling Arthur with a sudden rush of adrenaline unlike anything he had ever known.
His lips formed a grin as he spoke up, clicking on the screen.
"Alright" a sigh escaping his lips "It's awakening time."