The shock was palpable, so intense that many didn't even know how to react.
Celestial's gaze remained fixed on Atticus, and though she said nothing, her mind spun faster than ever before.
The group gathered to welcome them consisted mostly of grandmaster+ ranks, with others of lower power levels standing behind. Their sensitivity to spirit energy was exceptionally high, and none of them had noticed it before. But now, as Atticus stood in front of them, they all felt it.
There was spirit energy emanating from him!
'Impossible!'
That single word resounded in the minds of the Starhaven family. There was no doubt about Atticus's lineage,he was a Ravenstein through and through. His ability to control the elements confirmed that.
Any thought that he might be a bastard child of a Starhaven family member was immediately dismissed.
He wasn't a Starhaven, and yet he had spirit energy?
'I've met him before, and I didn't feel any spirit energy. What changed?'
Celestial thought back to the apex selection event, where every family had gathered. She had seen Atticus then, and there hadn't been even a trace of spirit energy radiating from him.
'Did she do something?'
Her gaze shifted to Seraphina, who in turn was giving her a smug smile, clearly enjoying every second of the situation.
Celestial dismissed the notion. Even as a paragon, there was no way Seraphina could have done something like this. Spirit energy was innate.
The other important members of the Starhaven family were equally stunned. Their shock was so profound that they all stared at Atticus without looking away, ignoring the rudeness of their actions.
Many of them had been delighted at the idea of their apex visiting, hoping to make connections or impressions. Instead, they were met with a reality far beyond their expectations.
Seraphina's smile widened in satisfaction. But in the next second, her expression turned serious as she addressed the others.
"As you can see, our apex can somehow emanate spirit energy. Our duty is not to question how but to do everything in our power to help him harness it. He will train in the Sanctum of Origins beneath the Eternal Canopy, where the spirits source from."
Her voice carried authority, and the stunned expressions on the faces of the Starhaven family began to shift.
A ripple of murmurs echoed as the gathered members whispered among themselves. The Sanctum of Origins was an incredibly sacred place, so much so that only the paragon and matriarch were allowed access to train. It was where the spirit energy was strongest, the very place where spirits came into the world.
Many felt dissatisfied that an outsider would be allowed into such a revered space. Yet, none dared to speak up. Questioning a paragon, especially Seraphina, was unthinkable.
Several members turned to Celestial, hoping she might object. But her piercing gaze remained locked on Atticus.
Celestial was torn. If what she was witnessing was true, wouldn't Atticus be the perfect match for her daughter? Their offspring could potentially inherit both elemental and spiritual talents.
But there was a problem. The spiritual energy around Atticus was too small. What if his talent in that area was negligible?
Her gaze suddenly sharpened. She noticed something the others hadn't: the spiritual energy around Atticus was increasing.
'What the…'
Celestial froze in shock. It was inconceivable, mind numbing even. Yes, they were close to the source of the spiritual energy, but the rate at which Atticus's energy was growing was unheard of. Not even someone with the potential to bond with a Tier 7 spirit could achieve this.
And yet, it was happening right before her eyes.
Celestial stood still, her mind racing, oblivious to the many gazes now focused on her.
Meanwhile, the cause of all the tension stood quietly to the side. Atticus was the center of attention, yet he seemed entirely unbothered, lost in his own world.
He felt calm, not the battle hardened calm he experienced during combat but a deeper calm, one that seemed to resonate from the depths of his soul.
His gaze wandered, eventually settling on the massive tree. If the others knew what was happening to him right now, their minds would be even more blown than they already were.
In Atticus's eyes, the world was purple.
He could see it all, the massive amounts of spiritual energy emanating from the tree, blanketing the area like a purple fog. He saw the countless purple spirits of various sizes soaring through the skies. Everything was vivid, and it was beautiful.
Atticus stood silently, absorbing the scene. He had no words.
He was so entranced that he didn't notice the silence that had fallen over the crowd or the many eyes now fixated on him.
The situation grew awkward as it became evident that Atticus wasn't paying attention to anyone.
Seraphina chuckled softly. She understood what was happening, and even she was shocked. Yet, she couldn't help but find it amusing. It was as though she had forgotten just who Atticus was.
Breaking the silence, Seraphina spoke.
"Would you like to rest first, or should we begin immediately?"
Her words snapped Atticus out of his thoughts. Noticing the stares, he realized he had lost himself for a moment.
Though he felt slightly apologetic, he chose not to address it. Turning to Seraphina, he responded,
"I don't need to rest. We can start now."
Seraphina smiled knowingly. By now, she had a strong sense of who Atticus was. She had only asked the question to ease the tension.
Without further delay, Seraphina led Atticus, Celestial, and several Starhaven members into the temple. They descended a flight of stairs, eventually reaching an open space beneath the temple.
As Atticus stepped into the area, his eyes widened at the enchanting sight. The spiritual energy here was even denser.
'We're under the tree,' he thought, noticing the thick roots weaving throughout the large space.
Without hesitation, Seraphina gestured to the center of the space. "Sit here," she instructed.
Atticus moved to the middle and lowered himself to the ground, ready to begin.