The ceremony had ended hours ago, but the excitement in the air still buzzed in the streets of Arcanis Village. Families celebrated, students shared their thoughts, and every conversation was filled with talk of newly awakened Gifts and Classes. Yet, standing at the edge of the Awakening Hall's plaza, Kai Natsume didn't feel any sense of excitement. He felt a tightening in his chest instead, a pressure that weighed heavily with each breath.
Holding the small pouch of coins and the Basic Combat Skill Book he'd been given as a gift for completing his Awakening, Kai couldn't shake the feeling of uncertainty. His awakening as an Empath, paired with the [Analysis] skill, left him questioning everything. He could still hear the murmurs from the crowd earlier:
"An Empath? How is that useful in battle?"
"I've heard of that class… but it's rare, isn't it?"
"Not sure how much it'll help in the field."
'What am I supposed to do with this?' Kai thought. 'How do I make this work?'
Despite his doubts, the system's messages still lingered fresh in his mind. The feeling of being scanned by the Awakening Crystal had been surreal, as though the essence of his very soul had been laid bare.
[Gift Awakened!]
Gift: [Analysis]
Rank: D-rank
Description: Provides the user with insights into enemies, allies, and situations, revealing strengths, weaknesses, and tactical opportunities. Can only analyze enemies up to 5 levels higher than the user.
[Unawakened Gift Detected!]
Gift: [Empathic Mimicry]
Rank: Unranked
Description: Allows the user to potentially absorb and replicate the abilities of others through emotional connection.
Effect: Unknown until further developed.
[Class Chosen!]
Class: [Empath]
Description: Empaths have a deep connection to the emotions and abilities of others. They can sense, mimic, and manipulate emotions and powers.
'[Empathic Mimicry]… what does that even mean?' Kai wondered. His head spun with the possibilities, but the answers eluded him. It wasn't like the other students, who had straightforward abilities. Kenji with his overwhelming strength as a [Berserker] or Sakura, graceful and quick as a [Wind Dancer]. Their abilities were clear-cut, easily defined. But for Kai, things weren't so simple.
He barely noticed Hiroshi approaching until his friend clapped him on the back with a grin. "You did it, Kai. See? Told you it'd be fine."
Kai offered a small, tired smile. "Yeah… I guess."
"You guess?" Hiroshi raised an eyebrow. "Come on, you've got an incredibly rare class. Empath? That's huge. Not a lot of people get that kind of class."
Kai let out a breath, glancing down at the Basic Combat Skill Book in his hand. "But what can I do with it, Hiroshi? It's not like I can throw lightning like you or crush monsters like Kenji. I… I don't even know how to use this [Empathic Mimicry] thing. It's unawakened, whatever that means."
Hiroshi smiled, clearly not as concerned as Kai. "You'll figure it out, man. Not everything is about flashy powers. Strategy is key, right? You've got [Analysis], and if you can sense people's emotions and copy their abilities, you're going to be way more versatile than the rest of us."
'Strategy…' Kai thought, letting the word settle in his mind. He'd always been the type to think things through rather than rush in. But it didn't make the doubts disappear. Strategy didn't always win when brute force was required. "I don't even know how to start learning any of this."
"Then that's what training is for," Hiroshi said, clapping him on the shoulder again. "We're all figuring things out, even if some of us pretend like we have it all worked out." Hiroshi shot a glance toward Kenji, who was busy showing off to a small group of students. "Trust me, no one's an expert right after the Awakening."
Kai managed a small chuckle. 'Maybe Hiroshi's right. Maybe I'm just overthinking this.'
Before they could talk more, a voice broke through the crowd.
"Hey, Natsume!" Kenji swaggered over, his usual cocky smirk plastered on his face. The newly awakened [Berserker] flexed his muscles, clearly enjoying the attention from his followers. "Heard what you got. Empath, huh? Gonna cry the monsters to death?"
Several students nearby snickered, but Sakura, who was standing at the edge of the group, shot Kenji a disapproving look. "Leave him alone, Kenji. Not everyone needs brute strength to make a difference."
Kenji shrugged, his grin widening. "Maybe, but when we get out there, it's the ones with real power that'll keep us alive. I'm just saying—don't expect everyone to rely on feelings and emotions when we're knee-deep in a dungeon."
Kai's jaw clenched, his frustration growing, but he didn't rise to Kenji's bait. It wasn't worth the argument. Deep down, though, the doubt gnawed at him. 'What if Kenji's right? What if I can't hold my own when things get serious?'
"Ignore him," Hiroshi muttered, stepping closer to Kai's side. "Kenji thinks everything is about brute strength. We both know that's not true. Strategy wins battles, not just strength."
Kai forced a smile. "Thanks, Hiroshi."
Kenji, sensing he wasn't going to get the reaction he wanted, shrugged and turned away. "Whatever. Good luck, Natsume. You'll need it." With that, he swaggered off, leaving a lingering tension in the air.
Sakura approached, her expression softer now. "Don't let him get to you, Kai. People like Kenji don't understand the value of abilities like yours. Rare classes always seem confusing at first, but when they develop, they're usually the strongest."
Kai met her gaze, appreciating her words. "Thanks, Sakura. I guess I just need to figure out how all of this works."
Sakura smiled and nodded. "You will. It takes time for all of us."
Before they could say more, Instructor Maiko stepped forward, her sharp gaze scanning the students. The elder was known for her no-nonsense attitude, and her presence commanded immediate attention. "Tomorrow, your real training begins," she announced. "For now, return home, rest, and prepare. The world of adventuring is not forgiving. Your Gifts and Classes may define you, but it is your skills and teamwork that will ensure your survival."
The crowd began to disperse, but Kai stayed a moment longer, staring at the Basic Combat Skill Book in his hands. 'I need to be ready for tomorrow. This… this is the first step.'
Later that night, Kai sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the Skill Book. The house was quiet, the dim light from the window casting long shadows across the floor. 'This is where it all starts,' he thought, his fingers tracing the edges of the book's worn cover. The faint glow of the system window still lingered in his mind.
He took a deep breath and opened the book, flipping through the pages. Inside were descriptions of basic strikes, stances, and techniques—nothing particularly special, but foundational. The moment he started reading, the pages seemed to shimmer with a faint light, and a notification appeared before him.
[Basic Combat Skill Book has been used.]
[Would you like to learn Basic Combat?]
Kai stared at the words for a moment, then pressed Yes.
[Basic Combat (Level 1) learned!]
A rush of information flooded his mind—how to position his feet, the proper way to throw a punch, the rhythm of dodging and countering. It wasn't anything fancy, but it felt instinctive, as though his body had already begun to remember the motions without him needing to practice.
Kai closed the book, exhaling slowly. 'Alright, that's step one. At least now I know how to hit something.'
But even with the new skill embedded in his mind, the weight of tomorrow's training lingered. 'I don't know how this [Empathic Mimicry] works yet. What if I can't figure it out? What if I'm just… weak?'
He shook his head, pushing the thoughts away. He needed to focus. Tomorrow would be the first real test.
The next morning, the village square was bustling with activity as the newly awakened adventurers gathered at the training grounds. Excitement and nervous energy crackled through the air as students greeted each other, some still buzzing with the glow of their Gifts from the day before.
Instructor Maiko stood at the center of the grounds, her presence as commanding as ever. Her sharp eyes swept over the crowd as she prepared to address the group.
"Today," Maiko began, her voice carrying over the chatter, "you begin your real training. Each of you will need to understand not only your Gifts but also your limits. Adventuring is not about individual strength alone. It's about teamwork, strategy, and understanding your role."
Kai stood among the other students, his hands clenched at his sides. 'This is it,' he thought. 'Time to figure out how to make this work.'
Maiko gestured toward the rows of training dummies set up along the edge of the grounds. "We will begin with practical combat. Some of you may find that your Gifts are straightforward. Others may need time to develop. But today is about discovering how they function in a battle scenario."
Kai felt a knot tighten in his stomach. His [Basic Combat] skill had helped him learn the fundamentals, but he wasn't sure how well he'd do compared to the others. His eyes drifted toward the dummies, wondering how his abilities would compare.
"First up," Maiko continued, "Sakura and Kenji. Step forward."
The two stepped into the makeshift arena, dummies standing in for enemies. Sakura, with her [Wind Dancer] abilities, moved like a breeze, her form a blur of speed as she darted in and out of the training area. Her [Wind Manipulation] sent gusts of air slicing through the dummies, each strike precise and powerful.
Kenji, meanwhile, was pure brute force. His [Berserker] class gave him the strength to shatter the dummies with a single blow, his fists pounding into them with enough power to make the crowd wince.
"Excellent," Maiko observed, nodding approvingly. "Both of you are utilizing your Gifts effectively. Speed and power both have their places in battle."
As Kai watched, he couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy. Their abilities seemed so natural, so powerful. Would he ever be able to match them?
The rest of the students were called up one by one, each demonstrating their Gifts. When it was finally Kai's turn, he stepped forward, heart pounding in his chest.
'Okay, this is it. Let's see how this works.'
He focused on his [Analysis] skill, activating it as he approached the dummy.
[Analysis Activated]
Target: Training Dummy
Level: 0
Type: Wooden
Weaknesses: Fire-based attacks, Blunt force
No immediate threat.
The information appeared in his mind, clear and concise, but it didn't change much. He still had to figure out how to use it effectively.
'Come on, Kai,' he thought, shifting into a stance he'd learned from the [Basic Combat] skill the night before. With a steady breath, he launched a punch at the dummy. It wasn't as powerful as Kenji's, but it landed with more force than he'd expected, leaving a small dent in the wood.
Encouraged, he followed up with a kick, his body moving more naturally as he let the training sink in. The dummy rocked slightly under his blow, but it wasn't enough to break it.
From the sidelines, Hiroshi called out, "You've got this, Kai! Don't overthink it!"
Kai felt a surge of determination. He needed to push through. But how? His eyes drifted toward Kenji, then Sakura, and for a brief moment, he tried to focus not just on the combat but on the emotions around him—the pride in Kenji's stance, the confidence in Sakura's movements, the encouragement in Hiroshi's shout.
Suddenly, something shifted inside him, a brief pulse of energy that made him feel connected to the people around him. It was fleeting, but it was there. His eyes widened in surprise.
'What was that?' he wondered. Could this be the beginning of his [Empathic Mimicry] awakening? He had felt their emotions, their confidence, almost like a current of energy flowing through him.
Maiko's voice broke through his thoughts. "Good. You're starting to understand. Keep practicing. The more you connect with the emotions around you, the clearer it will become."
Kai stepped back from the training ground, his heart racing. It wasn't much, but it was a start. For the first time since the ceremony, he felt like he was on the right path.