Chapter 127: Eighteen
Six months had passed since Asher survived the True Awakening. Throughout those months, he did nothing but train, eat, sleep, and occasionally gist with Ella, Hito, and Tom. His daily routine rarely deviated from this cycle, as though the rhythm of repetition gave him a sense of order amidst the silent walls of the Wargrave estate.
Once again, he was the only Sun or Moon still residing within the Wargrave estate, being the last among his siblings who remained in training. The only other Wargraves still present were his grand-uncles and his grand-aunt, all of whom were far removed from his daily affairs.
Asher’s chest rose and fell with calm rhythm as he slept. The morning sun seeped gently through the window, casting its golden rays across his face. Moments later, stirred by the brightness warming his eyelids, Asher’s eyes fluttered open, returning to the world with quiet acceptance.
He remained lying there for a few minutes, simply staring at the ceiling in silence. Today, he wouldn’t be heading to the First Training Ground, he had officially graduated from it.
Trainees who turned eighteen were now considered "graduated trainees." They could now join the Wargrave Knights Order, though at the lowest possible rank, owing to their lack of experience and underdeveloped combat capabilities.
Today, Asher had turned eighteen years old. That meant, by Wargrave tradition, he was no longer permitted to use the First Training Ground, or any training ground, for that matter.
He wasn’t the only one who had recently graduated. Several others, including Tom and Ella, had already departed before him. Hito was set to turn eighteen the following week, which meant he too would soon leave to see the world and uncover what it had in store.
There was no special celebration to mark a trainee’s graduation. No ceremony, no feast. Instead, each trainee was handed a single document meant for submission to the Knight Order. This document detailed their record of training completion, along with an evaluation of their overall performance and progress during their time at the training ground.
Asher shifted from his lying position to a seated one. Despite having reached such a milestone, eighteen years of age, there was no banquet, no father to offer birthday wishes, no brother, no sister to toast to him long life and prosperity. No one came bearing gifts or heartfelt words.
It wasn’t as though Asher had expected any of that, but the absence of warmth made this birthday feel particularly hollow.