Chapter 2
As the Awakening Ceremony began Eric like the other students walked toward the school field worried with anxious thoughts, albeit with a composed silent expression, differing from the rest.
'Is this it?' staring at the dull lit array sewed with complicated patterns within the pitch, he breathed a subtle sigh of anticipation. His presence was barely noticeable, or rather, he had been acknowledged as such.
Drawing the attention of the crowd, a middle-aged man seemingly walked out of the array. Or in another sense, phased through it from the other side, making the students draw their breath with none daring to utter a word.
"Hello everyone. I am the host of this Awakening Ceremony. Please line up in an orderly manner and wait for the activation of the array!"
Hearing this, there began a series of subtle movements within the crowd alongside hushed whispers with unconcealed anticipation and fear, everyone stared fervently at the Array while waiting for those at the front to step forward.
"I'm so nervous, the awakening is about to begin!"
"I hope I'll be lucky!"
"I heard that being the host of the awakening ceremony is extremely profitable!"
"Of course, such an important matter like the awakening ceremony isn't something that just anyone can host."
...
"I wonder what talent grade this host has."
"Someone who can host such a ceremony must have a High-grade talent!"
Eric waited quietly, listening to the hushed conversation beside him, only for his face to turn grim at the thoughts that crossed his mind.
'After all these years, it shouldn't be that bad right?' feeling funny at his own thoughts, he couldn't help loosening his muscles as he took in the surrounding crowd.
Observing a few of the students who he knew were in similar financial situations as him, albeit far off with their family compared to him.
'In what sense am I different from them?' Eric thought.
If misfortune suffered equaled a chance of Awakening a good talent to become a Mystic, perhaps, if not a few people who would be content with what they had, the richests might as well forsake everything they had and create their own version of riches to rag in hopes to further the chance of Awakening something good. The pattern at which Talents awakened was randomized, so no one really knew what to expect.
Ignoring the chattering around him, Eric refocused his attention to the array, slightly piqued to see who would be the first to step out.
And just then, the crowd was struck with a wave of silence at the figure that walked forward towards the array.
Dressed in similar sky blue pleated skirt and white blazer. Famously known as the School's Belle and number one top beauty, Elina walked forward under everyone's gaze, her luscious black hair cascading behind her with a modest elegance in her steps, fair skin, her lips was a contrasting piece to beautiful face.
'Her?' Thrown in a daze, Andrew watched his once upon a time crush stretch her hands towards the Array, as the lit gleam in his eyes quickly diminished, reminded of his bitter fate. Surely she was a person destined for greatness.
While everyone watched in anticipation as the array was lit up. A mechanical voice was suddenly heard, reaching the whole of the crowd and sending them into an uproar after that.
"Awakened Elina. Talent: Frost Light. Level: A"
Shocked? the whole crowd felt so, but he didn't, perhaps because he had long since noticed the sophisticated Aura around her, he realized that there was probably more to her identity than what the public knew about her.
It was then the crowd burst into an echo of chaos…
"Whoa, an actual A-level talent! This is too ridiculous!"
"An A-level talent? There aren't many in the entire school! Her future IS BRIGHT!"
"Sheesh, I've given up completely. It's impossible for us to have a chance at dating her."
"I'm so envious. An A-level talent will most definitely be the Federation's ace in the future, an existence that everyone looks up to!"
Some of the students were envious, some jealous, and some regretful that they weren't close.
Reveling in the burst of exclamation and supposedly hushed whispers, Elina calmly walked towards the opposite side of the pitch while showing not a bit of emotion on her face.
Revealing fawning smiles, the least shameless ones shouted out to her…
"Congratulations!"
"As expected of the school's Belle, she will definitely achieve great things in the future!"
"Congratulations, Elina, for awakening an A-level talent. When you become rich in the future, don't forget us old classmates."
But Elina ignored them and assumed her seat. It wasn't that she was rude, but instead, this was how she treated everyone, and they had long since come to terms with it.
The ceremony continued…
"I've-awakened an E grade talent, swordsman,it's an offensive "
" Look at you , I awakened an F grade ability Crusher"
" I am now an elemental, cause my talent is Ground Devastator D grade"
" Bro, you are so cool, unlucky me awakened an F grade ability, House Merchant."
" What kind of dog shit talent is that "
'That should be on the quirk side, probably doesn't support growth and stagnant.' hearing the latter comments, Eric thought as he assumed a feint glass's at the youth who had been talking on the other side.
' Its just me?' but suddenly he realized that he was the only one standing on this side of the pitch, as the whole field became silent, staring at him with expectations.
Popularly known as Eric Maxwell, the only one who was able to compete with Elina academically in their class, there was no doubt that he would awake a High grade talent, they thought.
But Eric himself couldn't be more nervous in his heart as he walked towards his unknown fate, the array centered on the pitch.
Will he be a carp that never leapt through the dragon gate or a dragon that will soar the heavens.
While the crowd were whispering debates of which kind of talent he'll awaken, Eric stood before the array as it gradually lit up, sewed patterns of gold color. There was a gray crystal entombed within that revealed itself… And then there was nothing, the lit array receded until it was dim.
Meanwhile, unbeknownst to the crowd and Eric, there was a light gray puff released from the crystal that suddenly disappeared and the pendant around his neck glowed softly before dimming.
Seeing the array dim, the whole field was suddenly overwhelmed with grave silence. And Eric, sensing his anxious heart skip a beat, clenched his fingers into a fist as the seemingly mechanical emotionless voice broke the silence… A reverse of what it should have said.
"Talent: none"
"Elemental affinity: none"