"Alden, it's your turn for the Awakening Power Test." The teacher's voice echoed in the sweltering classroom, interrupting Alden's thoughts.
The fan above slowly rotated, producing a rhythmic tapping noise, starkly contrasting with the Awakening Power Test machine in the teacher's hand.
Taking a deep breath to calm his nerves, Alden gently placed his palm on the machine. Soon, a dazzling number lit up on the screen.
"Awakening Power value, 60," the teacher said with a hint of resignation.
Alden's face remained calm, betraying no emotion. The teacher sighed softly and comforted him, "Don't be disheartened. Your academic grades are excellent; you can still attend a good university. Not everyone has to become an Awakener."
For three years, the teacher, David, had nurtured Alden as a beacon of hope. While having another Awakener in the class would bring subsidies, David cared genuinely for Alden beyond that. Now, seeing his efforts in vain, with a prodigy unable to awaken, even he would face ridicule from other teachers. But he didn't blame Alden.
Alden nodded silently and returned to his seat, overhearing his classmates' whispers.
"Still 60? Wasn't his Awakening Power value the same last year?"
"Shh, keep it down. Don't let him hear you. You know, when Alden first enrolled, he was personally welcomed by the school authorities. He was so promising."
"When he was 15, his Awakening Power value reached 60. He was hailed as the genius of A City No. 1 Middle School, a definite Awakener. The school even waived his tuition for that."
"Who would've thought that in these three years, his Awakening Power value hasn't changed at all. He's become just another face in the crowd."
"I thought he was holding back for a big reveal. How sad…"
The voices grew louder. Initially, they wouldn't dare to speak to Alden like this. But as his Awakening Power value remained unchanged with each test, even being surpassed by them repeatedly, their attitude towards Alden gradually shifted from surprise and schadenfreude to indifference.
Alden, with his pale fingers interlocked behind his head, gazed up at the rotating fan. He, too, wondered why his Awakening Power value never changed. In this era, becoming an Awakener was everyone'sdream. Since a nuclear war 100 years ago, the Earth's environment deteriorated, and species evolved, with humanity falling from the top of the pyramid.
Frequent appearances of mutated creatures, some so powerful they could resist human armies, forced humanity to retreat into a few cities, separated from the wilderness by high walls and iron gates.
However, among humans, mutants emerged, known as Awakeners. These powerful Awakeners could contend with legendary evolved creatures, barely sustaining the last vestiges of humanity, allowing people to thrive within the world of high walls. For Alden's classmates, becoming an Awakener meant standing out and achieving fame and fortune.
However, Alden never harbored such ambitions. His wish was simple — to improve the life of his parents and sister in the slums. In three months, on Awakening Day, those with an Awakening Power value over 100 would have a chance to become Awakeners
"Ethan, Awakening Power value 95. Very good, remember to maintain stability."
All eyes in the classroom were on the person beside the podium, filled with envy.
"Just 5 points away from awakening, Ethan becoming an Awakener is certain now."
"I'm so envious... that's what a genius looks like."
"Ethan, don't forget about me, okay?"
Ethan wore a nonchalant smile. Though he masked it well, a trace of pride occasionally flashed in his eyes as he glanced at the others. Satisfied with everyone's admiring gazes, he sat down, secretly rejoicing. Then, his gaze briefly swept over Alden.
Once, Alden was the sensation of the school, the focus of everyone's attention. Ethan even considered him as a main rival, but now... he no longer saw Alden as competition. He was about to become an Awakener, and in his view, their paths would no longer intersect in the future.
"Estela, Awakening Power value... 110!" The teacher's exclamation filled the room, and the classmates held their breaths, then erupted into cheers.
"That was quick! I remember she was below Ethan last test."
"Typical Estela, top five in our grade! A true genius!"
Praise and cheers filled with envy. Even though they were classmates, becoming an Awakener, especially one who reached the threshold before Awakening Day, meant a limitless future. Estela, amidst the praises and cheers, simply sat back down quietly.
Half an hour later, the melodious school bell rang. The setting sun cast its glow on the yellowed textbooks. The classroom was nearly empty, except for Alden quietly packing his bag.
He walked to the sanitation corner, where a trash can lay. In it, broken pieces of white stones lay silently. Alden carefully picked these stones out, wrapping them in paper. His classmates were used to this sight. These stones, called Awakening Stones, could quickly absorb Awakening Power. Students from well-off families would bring them to absorb power. Once mostly absorbed, they'd discard them.
Alden's family wasn't wealthy; his parents had already stretched their means to send him to A City No. 1 Middle School. He couldn't afford Awakening Stones to absorb power. So, every day after school, he'd silently pick up the discarded stones to absorb the scant power they held.
After tidying up, Alden was about to leave when the classroom door opened. A figure walked in, Estela, who seemed to have forgotten something. She rummaged through her desk and was about to leave when she noticed Alden crouched by the door.
She watched Alden for a moment, then asked, "Do you need this?" Alden looked up, meeting her clear gaze. He knew some would ask such questions to mock him, but Estela was different; she was genuinely curious.
Alden smiled and nodded: "Yes, I do."
"Here." Estela extended her hand, with several broken Awakening Stones in her palm.
"Thank you," Alden said.
"You're welcome," Estela replied indifferently. She hadn't thought whether her act of giving might embarrass Alden. She simply handed him the stones and walked away.
However, as she was about to step out of the classroom, she paused. Turning back, she softly said, "Actually, it's not necessary to become an Awakener. If there's no hope, I think attending university is also good."
With that, she left. Alden looked at the few larger pieces of white stones in his hand and his mouth twitched.
"Her approach is really direct," Alden thought.
Classmates knew about Alden's daily "trash picking" after school. Some, to spare him embarrassment, would secretly stuff used Awakening Stones into his desk. Others would throw them into the trash can, watching him pick them up, seeking a sense of superiority over the once-genius. Estela's direct and casual manner was indeed unique. Alden knew she meant no harm, just expressing her views. She had always been outspoken, sometimes even embarrassing the teachers.
Yet... the feeling of being looked down upon, it really was uncomfortable.