Timmy glanced around the room, his gaze lingering on two figures in the front row. There was Kaleb Blackthorn, with his meticulously styled dark hair and an air of effortless coolness, and Wan He, exuding an aura of wealth and privilege.
These two, Timmy knew, were the only ones with enough influence, courtesy of their powerful families, to potentially rig the supposedly random emblem selection. But why? Timmy couldn't fathom a reason.
While Wan He, in particular, seemed to relish looking down upon those he deemed beneath him – especially those without powerful backing, like Timmy, an orphan barely scraping by – Timmy couldn't see how that alone would warrant such a targeted action.
'Maybe I'm just overthinking this whole thing,' Timmy muttered to himself, finally letting the thought go. He tuned back into his friends' conversation, which had shifted from playful banter to a discussion about their desired guilds.
"What about you, Timmy?" Marcus asked, noticing his friend's return. "Any guilds you're hoping to join after activating your bloodline ability today?"
"Nah, haven't really thought about it," Timmy replied with a shrug. "As long as it helps me earn some decent money, I'm good."
"Come on, man, you can't just settle for anything!" Marcus exclaimed, giving Timmy a friendly slap on the back. "You gotta aim for the top, you know?"
"Says the guy who wants to join the Bluefrost Guild just because it's full of girls," Arthur interjected with a smirk.
"Hey, the sky's the limit, right?" Marcus retorted with mock seriousness. "Clouds, stars, they're all part of the sky." This sparked another round of laughter among the three friends.
"Speaking of which, why haven't they started the ceremony yet?" Timmy asked, once their laughter subsided. "It's already almost half past ten."
The ceremony, scheduled for 10:00 am sharp, was now running significantly late.
As if on cue, the doors of the grand hall swung open. A man with piercing brown eyes and a commanding presence, dressed impeccably in a black suit, strode through. It was Mr. Garrett Baxter, the school's vice principal.
Without a word, he walked directly to the stage. The chatter in the hall died down instantly.
"Good morning, everyone," Mr. Baxter addressed the students, his voice booming across the silent hall. "Firstly, I apologize for the delay. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the principal is unable to supervise the ceremony today. I will be taking his place, so when you hear your name, please come up to the stage immediately."
And with that, he began calling out names. The students weren't surprised by his no-nonsense approach; it was classic Mr. Baxter.
"Lara Webb," he called out.
A young woman with flowing blonde hair stepped forward, her nervousness barely concealed despite her best efforts.
As she reached the stage, Mr. Baxter handed her a vial filled with a shimmering blue liquid. Lara downed it in one gulp, her face contorting in discomfort as the bloodline optimization fluid coursed through her veins, attempting to awaken her dormant abilities.
The discomfort passed as quickly as it came. But the process wasn't over.
"Please place one hand here," Mr. Baxter instructed, gesturing towards a device on the stage.
Lara obeyed, placing her hand on the designated spot. A sharp needle shot out from the device, pricking her finger and drawing a small amount of blood.
[Blood of candidate detected. Bloodline assessment undergoing… Bloodline assessment completed. Bloodline activated to 18%. Bloodline ability: [Elemental Control_ Fire]] a mechanical voice announced, breaking the silence that followed.
The blonde girl's face lit up at the announcement. Eighteen percent activation, while not extraordinary, was considered average. After all, the highest recorded bloodline activation in humans was only 48%.
With a satisfied smile, she returned to her seat.
"Up next, Elizabeth Clarke," Vice Principal Baxter announced.
A girl with striking white hair and elaborate makeup, dressed in a colorful, layered dress that gave her a doll-like appearance, sauntered towards the stage. Her face, which had been carefully neutral, contorted in pain as she downed the bloodline optimization fluid.
The assessment was swift.
[Blood of candidate detected. Bloodline assessment undergoing... Bloodline assessment completed. Bloodline activated to 30%. Bloodline ability: [Elemental Control, Ice]] the AI voice declared, prompting cheers from the audience.
Unfazed by the attention, Elizabeth returned to her seat with the same bored expression.
The next student, another girl, elicited gasps and excited murmurs. She had awakened a rare bloodline ability: [Blood Regeneration] at a respectable 28% activation. Relief and joy washed over her face as she returned to her seat, the envy of her classmates evident in their gazes.
Healing abilities were highly sought after, making them invaluable in their world. And Blood Regeneration was the rarest of them all. It held the potential to heal almost any injury, even regenerating severed limbs, with the right approach. A bright future awaited this girl; powerful guilds would undoubtedly be vying for her attention.
Mr. Baxter cleared his throat, silencing the buzzing crowd, and continued calling names. One by one, students walked onto the stage, their excitement palpable. The initial high spirits, however, began to dwindle as reality set in. Some students failed to awaken their bloodline abilities entirely. Others awakened abilities considered weak or, worse, powerful abilities with frustratingly low activation percentages. Disappointment clouded the room with each unfortunate outcome.
"Up next, Marcus Grant," Vice Principal Baxter's voice boomed.
"Well, guys, looks like it's my turn," Marcus said, attempting a confident smile.
Marcus, despite his best efforts to appear calm, Timmy still detected a tremor in his friend's voice.
"Good luck, buddy," Timmy offered with a reassuring smile.
"Go get that awesome bloodline ability!" Arthur added, giving Marcus's shoulder a squeeze.
"Thanks, guys," Marcus said, gratitude filling his eyes. He needed that boost of confidence.
Taking the vial from Mr. Baxter, he downed the bloodline optimization fluid in one go, squeezing his eyes shut as the familiar wave of pain washed over him.
Moments later, he opened his eyes, ready for the assessment.
[Blood of candidate detected. Bloodline assessment undergoing... Bloodline assessment completed. Bloodline activated to 32%. Bloodline ability: [Stronghold]] the AI voice announced.
A wave of awe swept through the crowd. Stronghold was a renowned defensive ability, highly prized for its rarity and power. It not only granted the user incredible physical resilience, turning them into a human tank, but also fortified their minds against mental manipulation, fear, and other psychological attacks.
After a brief moment of celebration, Marcus returned to his seat. The ceremony continued as it soon was Arthur's turn. He, too, received good news, awakening [Elemental Control_Lightning] at a remarkable 34% activation.
Timmy's heart swelled with pride for his friends. But watching their successes only amplified his own nervousness. His turn was fast approaching, perhaps even sooner than he'd anticipated.
"And up next, Timmy Tim…"