Unfortunately, since those not awake were moved to a corner of the hall to avoid disturbing them and so that those awake could mingle, Bridge couldn't tell from the location of the chair if the student was Kain.
Fortunately, with his height, Bridge was able to easily see over the sea of heads to the student that just woke up.
"It's not Kain," Bridge whispered with his shoulders slumping.
"He's also not likely awakened any affinity if the tears in his eyes are anything to go by." Said a student with no affinity standing next to him who looked at the crying student with empathy.
Realizing he had no affinity to test, all of the remaining students walked away without a second glance. After all, he's the 59th student with no affinity so far, and they all react the same way—by crying pitifully. Unfortunately, making this a sight that all teachers and students have grown accustomed to.
A teacher, likely that student's homeroom teacher, went over to comfort him, and likely to confirm that he has no affinity to be recorded.
"Like I said, any student that hasn't woken up yet has no affinity. Why do we have to even wait for everyone to wake up before concluding the ceremony? We should just leave those talentless losers here and leave," said the C-rated legacy.
"Shut up!" yelled Bridge. However, the next second he was shocked by his outburst. He never would have dreamed of saying that to a legacy in the past. But he couldn't stand how he was talking about Kain.
"Tsk, whatever." The legacy muttered before walking away.
At first Bridge was surprised that someone so cocky and from an influential family would back down from him, an orphan. However, upon looking around Bridge got his answer.
There were 2 conspicuous areas of space everyone else was giving a wide berth. Each only occupied by students with ratings B or higher that were sitting in groups. Students that still had a chance to enter one of the nation's top 5 colleges.
Scratch that. There were THREE isolated areas, one with Bridge alone. That's when he realized that his fate, and the treatment he would receive has already changed forever.
"Look another one woke up over there!" Anxiously Bridge looked where the finger was pointed, but instantly he knew it wasn't Kain. After all it was a girl. And not just any girl, Heather Frost. One of the legacies. Unquestionably, the most famous legacy in the school, both beautiful and rich. Supposedly her family is even a distant branch of one of the most powerful families in the empire. A family descended from one of the five founders no less.
Surprisingly, like the previous individual that awoke, she was also crying. However, that didn't last long before her delicate features twisted with pure rage and she gave the most blood-curdling scream while smashing the chair she was sitting on.
"Argh! I don't believe this! I don't believe this! That bitch! I don't believe that bitch could awaken as she did and I can't at this goddamned ceremony!"
"Miss Frost, please compose yourself!" Yelled her homeroom teacher, Mr. Evergreen. One of the few teachers without an affinity, but was able to get this position due to his being admitted into one of the top 5 colleges based on his academic entrance exam scores alone.
Mr. Evergreen reached to restrain her.
Smack
Everyone stared in shock as the teacher's left cheek turned bright pink.
"Don't touch me you affinity-less trash! Learning from you probably did this to me!"
"She's lost it!" One of the D-rated students snickered. A non-legacy that never would have dared to even look in her direction just yesterday.
'The results of the awakening ceremony really determine how you're treated in life huh,' thought Bridge.
"MISS FROST!!! RESTRAIN YOURSELF THIS INSTANT" Yelled the Principal. The spiritual power coming from a three-star beast tamer that was injected into his voice caused several of the weaker students to even drop to their knees.
"Your behaviour is absolutely unacceptable and we will be reporting your conduct to Mr and Mrs Frost." He said, before dragging out a now subdued Heather with streaks of tears running from her piercing blue eyes and her long dark hair covering her face.
"And then there were four…" Drawled Nigel, one of the few B-rated students, before everyone turned to look at the four individuals still sitting with their eyes still closed.
'Come on Kain!'