The high priest finished his prayers to activate the skill awakening altar and with a flourish he bathed each som and daughter from each household in golden light.
The light entered their chests and glowed in their hearts. Before a rush of power flowed throughout their blood and glowed from all over their bodies.
The high priest went through each child and nodded as he announced, "Each child has awoken their skills! Go and report to your families how you will help this kingdom going forward!"
Each child excitedly ran back to their parents... All except one. Franz was walking back in a daze.
He heard the Rubyspear congratulate their twins for awakening four innate skills each. A hard to find combination among the nobility or knight houses.
His family were worried as they noticed his focused and serious face.
Soon he reaches them and goes, "Father... Mother... Sisters... I have... Some shocking news... About my skills."
His family all listen closely as Seth asks, "Go ahead son. We won't judge. What did you get?"
Frank opens up his stats and tells them.
Franz Bronzewing
Rank: Junior Knight (Exp 11/100)
Str: 18
Agi: 19
End: 21
Mag: 5
Spirit: 9
Stat points:
Skills:
Innate: Axe Mastery (Rank F)
Enchanting (Rank F)
Magic resistance (Rank F)
Enhancing (Rank F)
Growth boost (Rank E)
Gained:
Sword mastery (Rank D)
Dagger mastery (Rank D)
Armor mastery (Rank E)
Blacksmithing (Rank D)
Bronze wing family were all confused. They were impressive skills but no one knew what it meant for Franz to have gained innate skills that seemed to be unrelated to either parent.
They decided to look through their family records and figure out where such innate skills came from.
But as Franz began to shake his father kneeled down and said, "Worry not son. You may not have become a sword skill holder. But you have something better."
Franz was stunned as his father finished, "You have a supportive family that will help you understand and master these skills. You will bring our household to the next generation with the skills you have awakened and will master! I promise you my son that you will become an amazing head of the family."
Franz teared up a bit and hugged his father close. But in his head he was sweatdropping, I will take to my grave the fact that I was shaking in excitement at how many innate skills I gained this time instead of frustration that none of the skills I trained in since 12 were my innate skills.
He smiled into the hugs and enjoyed the warmth.
As they turned to leave they heard the grating voice of the Rubyspear families twins that just went through their awakening.
"Aw what happened to Franz? Did he only awaken two skills? Gasp! Don't tell me he only awakened one?! If so then he is a noble failure!!! Hahahahahahah!"
Franz rolled his eyes and turned to face the sneering faces of his former friends Luke and Diana Rubyspear. They used to play until their training as knights began.
And they soon pulled ahead of him with their fire magic and mastery of spear techniques.
While he floundered in trying to mastery the normal weapons of his own family.
Luke continued, "Oh well we will see how well you can master your ONLY skill in the upcoming inter house torunament in two months! Good luck! Hahahahah!"
His sister giggled wickedly and gave him a mocking salute as they left. Rinne was seething while Marta was mean mugging them hard enough to crack stone.
Their mother simply patted their shoulders and led them back to the carriage. Seth gritted his teeth as this was a battle between the next generation of households. He leads his son back to the carriage as Franz seems to be grinning.
Raising an eyebrow they all sit and Seth addresses the grin, "Son they insulted you and you grin at them. What are you hiding from them?"
Franz smiles and looks at his stats, "Because I know what Growth boost does based on a story I read about another knight. Remember the royal head knight of the king? He was a commoner but someone who suddenly rose to such high ranks and class. And the recorded skill he had that allowed him to do this. Was Growth boost. But not many people remember this cause it was struck from the records."
His family smile and now know why he didn't rise to the taunting of the Rubyspear family.
Franz was smiling too. But on the inside he had to admit to himself. Annnnd another thing to take to the grave. The royal knights I served alongside in the war told me about their captain and how he got so strong. Better keep that to myself until my dying days.
With such hope now in their chests Franz began to focus on what he can do to grow and train his skills up to a higher level. And he thinks back to the handaxe his mother made for him. After all he will need to learn how to use it more effectively now.