It was like watching chaos unfold in real time.

They had only just managed to get everyone to ingest what some had already started calling the "awakening fruit," and it was becoming painfully clear that the Elders had not been exaggerating when they listed out their reminders and warnings.

"Don’t stand too close to each other!"

"Anyone who has ideas or even relevant family hearsay should inform us so we can make preparations."

"When trying to call forth your ability for the first time, think about non-offensive moves first. Do not skewer other people."

"I repeat. Do NOT skewer other people!"

"And for the love of all that is holy, do not randomly swing those swords outside of the designated area!"

At the time, those instructions had sounded excessive. A bit dramatic, even.

Now?

Not so much.

Because as things began to unfold, it didn’t take long for everyone to understand why those warnings existed in the first place.

Even Emperor Xavian, who had come to observe and assess the situation, found himself staring at the temporary testing facility with undisguised disbelief.

He knew he should be focusing on whether any latent abilities might activate in him, but his attention kept drifting back to the sheer commotion happening before him.

People were moving everywhere.

Calling out.

Testing.

Failing.

Yet inevitably trying again.

With the sudden success of Countess Jenna Taylor’s awakening spurring everyone to throw themselves into the task, they were now faced with this—

A scene that could only be described as the physical manifestation of insanity.

Extreme (questionable) immersion.

At this rate, he couldn’t even dare to name the people doing it for the sake of their dignity. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Ahem.

Some jumped straight into the prepared pools of water, fully committing to the idea.

Others hugged trees like their lives depended on it, whispered to leaves, or tried to strike up conversations with the beasts that had been coaxed into participating.

A few lay flat on the ground as if hoping to merge with it, while others stared at candles with such intensity that they started going cross-eyed.

There were even those who kept jumping repeatedly, as if waiting for gravity to suddenly answer back.

And then there were others who opted for more understandable methods: weapon testing.

It was, quite frankly, the kind of scene no one would ever willingly recreate under normal circumstances.

As such, one little system felt the need to add a disclaimer that one should not try this at home, as footage of the session had to be stored for record-keeping.

Safe to say, for the Emperor of Solaris—who had lived his life studying the past and learning from it—this was rather overwhelming.

Of course, he had tried to prepare himself for something unusual, but seeing it unfold in real time was something else entirely.

Considering how few bloodline ability users existed in recent history, watching everyone discover their own abilities would’ve surely shocked even his predecessors.

So yes, despite the very real likelihood of being scolded by the Elders—even as Emperor—for standing idle when he should’ve been focusing on himself, for a brief moment, all he could do was take everything in.

Then, the gawking Emperor heard a sudden outburst that cut through the noise.

"Oh shit!"

"Head Maid Gloria! Your hammer—it’s changing color?!"

The dwarf’s shout instantly drew attention. Heads turned, conversations stopped, and all eyes landed on the Head Maid just in time to hear—

THUD!

A heavy impact echoed across the grounds as her hammer dropped to the floor.

Actually, more like crashed into it.

It landed with such force that the ground trembled beneath their feet, as if something massive had been slammed down from above. For a split second, it genuinely felt like the floor might crack open if not for Elder Shen reacting quickly, placing a stabilizing spiritual barrier beneath it.

The Emperor’s gaze sharpened.

"Try lifting it again," Elder Shen instructed.

Gloria nodded, though she clearly didn’t understand what had just happened. She reached down to pick up the tool she handled every day—

And strained.

Visibly.

Her muscles tensed, her face flushed, and the effort showed as she struggled against the sudden, overwhelming weight.

"!!!"

"Imagine it being lighter," Elder Shen said calmly.

The instruction sounded odd. After all, it was the very same thing she handled every single day. She not only practiced with it, but also swung it at anyone who dared covet the goods from the bakery!

So how could it suddenly be like this?!

But still, despite the panic, she followed his instructions.

And in the very next moment—

She almost fell backward.

Because the hammer lifted far too easily.

"...What?!"

Cece’s eyes lit up, practically sparkling with excitement. "Oh damn! That’s got to be a difference in mass, right?"

"Wow! You just changed its mass! Try it again! AGAIN!"

The flustered Head Maid swallowed hard, still trying to process what was happening, but she obeyed. She focused again, adjusted her thoughts—

And succeeded once more.

"!"

Cheers broke out. Butler Gary, who was usually calm, clapped in surprise, shouted, and called out in excitement at the successful manifestation.

In the Butler’s mind, this would probably be worrisome for the soldiers who liked playing pranks or playing hooky, but that was their problem, not his. So this was still something to celebrate.

But the exaltation didn’t last long.

Because—

SPLASH!

A loud burst of water diverted everyone’s attention.

The Emperor, already on alert, turned sharply toward the source.

There, in one of the designated pools, was the youngest Chief of Staff on record, Killian Nox.

Sitting—no, more like plopped, and looking very drenched.

Completely soaked from head to toe.

He had fallen onto his back, knees bent, hands braced behind him, half-submerged in water that clearly hadn’t been that disturbed a moment ago. His expression was one of pure disbelief, blinking as if trying to understand how he’d ended up like that.

Apparently—

A small tide had formed behind him.

And promptly shoved him in.

After a brief pause, Killian raised a hand, regaining some of his composure.

"I’m fine," he said, voice carrying his usual exasperation as he ran a hand through his soaked hair. "But I think the records were right about an affinity with water."

"!!!"

The brief silence that followed shattered instantly.

Cheers erupted again.

Marquise Evelyn was already moving, practically rushing to her son. "Oh my goodness, Killian! Son! You did it!" she exclaimed, hands hovering near her face as she beamed with pride.

Killian pressed his lips together, looking mildly trapped as his mother hovered over him.

"Mom, it was an accident," he admitted, though there was a hint of understanding in his tone now. "But I think I get what the Elders meant by following the tug. If you can trace it all the way, something might actually happen."

A pause.

"I just didn’t expect a tidal wave."

Well, of course he didn’t. In the first place, who would have ever thought about the possibility of randomly calling forth their bloodline abilities?

He could somehow understand Kyle chancing upon it through a wild coincidence as someone who still went to the front lines...

But Killian—

The Imperial official who could now make tidal waves?

Who would’ve thought?