Silver walked in without hesitation, his head held high as if he owned the place.

Eyes followed him immediately, most filled with hostility while others were filled with curiosity or just plain mocking.

At the far end of the large hall, seated beneath the carved crest of the family, was his grandfather; the patriarch, Arnold Ruddington.

Old, sharp-eyed, and very much aware of almost everything going on in the room. He is said to be one of the oldest surviving people since the beginning of the apocalypse, but there is no one to confirm that.

Silver’s eyes couldn’t help but drift to the right, almost subconsciously. She was like a walking shining bulb with how much attention she was drawing to herself.

Cruella, the heroine and the former silver’s love interest. She did look her part, silver had to give her that.

Dark flowing hair, paired with green eyes and a beautiful face, she knew how to use it. She was in a white soft dress as though she was determined to be the Virgin Mary even though she had also come for her awakening.

At the moment, she was surrounded by a cluster of young men, her fish in her twisted fish tank.

If it had been the former silver, he would have already rushed towards her group and the familiar arguments would have started.

The men didn’t crowd her, no that would be crude, they stood just close enough to be seen as protective and attentive by her.

Almost like at an audition.

Silver felt like gagging, if she had been playing the former Silver alone that would have been at least better but she had a dozen lined up each being strung by the nose hoping to be picked only to be damped for the poor protagonist.

Silver recognised all of them, they were talented, rich and each came from an elite family.

"You’re late."

The words pulled him out of his thoughts. His gaze moved back to the patriarch who was glaring down at him.

Silver stopped at the centre of the hall and inclined his head slightly.

"I arrived before the ceremony," he said his tone almost dismissive.

The hall fell silent.

"That is not the same thing. You have kept us waiting for over thirty minutes."

Silver’s gaze slid briefly to Sanders who was standing at the corner most part of the hall, next to the other servants.

’So he made me late on purpose’

His grandfather’s eye twitched in irritation at his shift in concentration. Silver could see his anger building but he didn’t care, this was a common sight whenever they met.

Silver always somehow managed to piss him off. Adding to the fact that his parents had quiet love marriage making his father the least favorite.

"Shall we just start," he arrogantly said.

A faint ripple of restrained amusement passed through the whole hall.

"Silver Ruddington! What type of behaviour is this!" one of his uncles shouted.

"Stop it Silas, it’s useless he’s nothing but a lost case," another chimed in.

"He should just be expelled already," a third voice, sharper but soft chimed in.

Silver’s gaze moved towards his supposed relatives. His extended families were seated to his left, their lips lifted in mocking smiles directed at him. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

He could feel the hostility directed at him. Silver slightly frowned.

’Why on earth would they harbor such hostility towards a child’

Silver ignored them all, his gaze fixed on the patriarch.

He was really isolated in the Ruddington family, the former Silver probably never noticed it.

The Ruddingtons were a large family. His grandfather had seven wives who had given him at least twenty children then the children married.

And his parents were part of that generation. Unlike the others who had multiple wives or husbands, his parents were also black sheep due to this.

With all the many marriage partners going around, it meant there were even more grandchildren in his generation.

If his memory serves him right, there were fifty grandchildren born at the moment. Not counting the unborn. Silver was around the fortieth.

"Quiet," his grandfather’s commanding voice called for everyone’s attention.

His grandfather’s gaze lingered on him for a moment longer, then shifted away.

"Stand aside," he said flatly, " you’re not the only one here."

Knowing he had been dismissed, Silver moved without protest. Standing before those fuckers was really tiring.

He moved to the right slightly away from the crowd, especially as far away as possible from the heroine.

Silver could feel her gaze following him. It felt slimy and creepy as though something had been glued on his back.

The patriarch rose, silencing all sounds in the hall. He was in a black suit, three top buttons open, revealing parts of his tattoos.

His gaze swept across the hall, over the elders and the many youths who had come for the awakening.

Silver’s family was responsible for the awakening in the sanctuary since it had the largest number of contractors.

Breeding like mice had done its job.

In the sanctuary, there were only three ruling families. The Ruddingtons who were responsible for the awakening.

The Clametine family, was responsible for the sanctuary logistics.

And the Grandale family who were mainly responsible for finances since they owned almost three-quarters of the base’s commercial spots.

Silver’s attention was pulled back when the patriarch walked to the stage, commanding attention without even trying to.

"Today," the patriarch began, his voice steady and unhurried," you stand at the threshold between being mere humans and something much more."

His tone carried the natural condensation of the strong yet every word carried.

"In the old world, strength was measured in numbers but that world is gone."

Murmurs of agreement filled the room but were quickly suppressed by his glare.

"When the beasts suddenly rose, they didn’t rise as animals but as calamities. We learned quickly that weapons forged by man couldn’t match them. So we adapted."

He was quiet for a moment as he let the familiar almost rehearsed words dominate the room.

"We discovered soul power. Soul power is not a gift," he said," it’s a function of existence. Every living being possesses it."

His eyes shifted towards the candidates. All eighteen year olds eligible for awakening. Fully trained for it.

"But in most... It’s dormant. Shallow. Incomplete. This is where the origin stone comes in."

An attendant stepped forward, opening a case at the centre of the hall. Inside, several different coloured stones rested each emitting a different presence.

"They are not crafted," he continued," They are naturally formed where death and the world essence converge. These stones contain soul essence which is foreign, violent, and unstable, and yet... they are the key."

Most of this was common knowledge that everyone is required to learn the moment they can read.

"When integrated into the human body, they force the soul core to awaken. Those who succeed will become what you all wish to be, contractors, and gain the ability to control beasts but those who fail..."

The room fell into a tense silence.

"You will remain mediocre for the rest of your life," his eyes shifted to Silver briefly before moving on.

Silver clenched his fist behind his back. He could already see that he had been grouped under mediocrity and that meant his chances had gone down a lot.

"The strength of your awakening will depend on two things," he said, raising two fingers," the quality of the stone and the depth of your soul. Do not be mistaken. Your stone might still be the legendary multicoloured stone but if your soul power is mediocre then you have wasted something precious. If you are not talented, you’re just not talented, plain and simple."

’Depth huh’

Silver glanced at the already awakened contractors. Even though what he said might sound harsh, it was the truth. Soul power was natural born, while a good Origin stone might help boost your soul power but one or two, it doesn’t mean it will sustain your soul.

Soul talent in this world is extremely important since it cannot be increased after awakening.

The patriarch continued, cutting off the mummers.

"Awakening is not your victory. It’s your qualification," his gaze sharpened," you’re being given the chance, long enough to be useful. Do not disappoint the heart of the Elites."

This was the ultimate truth. Being a contractor is only the first step. Binding is the hardest part.

The patriarch exhaled slowly and then sat back down.

"Thats all."

For a moment, everyone was quiet contemplating everything that had been said.

Then, Cruella, the heroine, stepped towards him taking everyone’s attention with her. She came to a step a few steps from him, just off the main walkway but still middle enough for everyone to see her actions.

Her tear-filled eyes glanced up at him.

"I... I can’t keep this any longer."