"Congratulations on completing the class change ceremony," the principal announced. "Regardless of your chosen path, life's journey is long. I hope each of you will shine in your own field."
"With one month left before the final exams, those in civilian professions will have dedicated instructors to guide them. Combat profession students will need to form their own teams and head to the **Initiation Dungeon** to hone their skills."
"Work hard now, and you'll thank yourselves in a month."
With the principal's closing speech, the class change ceremony finally came to an end.
"Still down about it?" Billy clapped Bastion on the back. "Come on, don't worry! So what if you're a Beast Summoner? I'll have your back! We'll be fine!"
"Oh, stop it. You should worry about finding a team first! My family's waiting for me, so I'll head home." With that, Bastion casually waved goodbye to Billy and headed off.
Soon, he arrived at the gates of his home.
"Hey, Bastion! How'd the class change go?" asked **Luke**, the friendly gatekeeper.
"Hehe, that's a secret!"
"You little brat!" Luke chuckled. "Go on in. The director's ordered a feast tonight to celebrate your class change."
As Bastion walked through the gates of **Heartstone Orphanage**, he was greeted by a group of young children in clean clothes. Their faces lit up when they saw him, and they shouted out in sweet, childlike voices.
"Big brother Bastion is back!"
"Carry me, big brother!"
The little ones swarmed around him, clamoring to be picked up. Before long, Bastion looked like a tree, with a dozen "little monkeys" hanging off him.
Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a handful of candy, which he handed out to each of them.
"Thank you, big brother Bastion!"
Hearing the commotion, the director stepped outside. Her face softened when she saw Bastion, though it darkened when she noticed the candy in the kids' hands. "Dinner's almost ready. Save the candy for later!"
"Hello, Director!" Bastion sheepishly put the children down. He held deep respect for this woman. In this life, he'd lost his parents, who had sacrificed themselves fighting the Abyss, leaving him an orphan. The Heartstone Orphanage had taken him in, along with other children who had lost their families to the Abyss. The **United Federation** made sure they never lacked for anything, and the director cared for them as if they were her own children.
The director, a kind woman in her fifties, smiled and asked, "So, what was the result of your class change today?"
"Beast Summoner. Combat class."
The younger kids reacted with awe.
"Wow! A Beast Summoner! Bastion's so cool!"
"That means he'll have awesome pets!"
"Can I have another candy, big brother?"
"We wanna see your pet!"
With a fond smile, Bastion waved his hand, summoning a fiery red egg onto the ground.
The kids' eyes widened as they stared at the egg, which was much bigger than a chicken egg.
"Wow, it's huge!"
"Why hasn't it hatched yet?"
The director explained, "The first summon for a Beast Summoner is a random companion. You need to be well-prepared before hatching it." She then turned to Bastion and asked, "Do you have a goal for the final exam?"
The question triggered a memory in Bastion's mind—a moment from a few years ago at the orphanage's entrance.
A girl in a white dress had stood before him, her smile radiant enough to outshine everything around her. The golden sunlight glinted off her hair, making her look like an angel descended from heaven. She gently ruffled his hair and said, "Bas~ Big sis is heading out first. You're a few years younger, after all."
"I'll be waiting for you at **Horizon Academy**. But no pressure! If you don't make it, I'll see you at **Ironwall Outpost** instead. And hey, don't act so grown-up all the time! Smile more, play with your friends. Okay?"
He remembered how, as a newcomer to the orphanage, he'd felt out of place due to his memories from his past life. He'd been a loner, but she'd always treated him like a little brother, saving a portion of every treat for him.
Without hesitation, Bastion answered, "Yes, I want to apply to Horizon Academy."
"Horizon Academy?" The director raised an eyebrow, then frowned. "Are you sure? I know you want to see **Lily**, but Horizon Academy's entry requirements are extremely high."
"The United Federation has countless prestigious academies, but only Horizon Academy, located at Ironwall Outpost, stands unrivaled."
"The requirements are daunting. You'll need to reach at least Level 16 to qualify, which alone weeds out most candidates."
"Lily got in because of her unique hidden combat class. As a Beast Summoner, it will be much harder for you…" The director chose her words carefully. "You'll be under a lot of pressure."
"I understand, but I want to try," Bastion said, his gaze resolute.
A little girl with pigtails suddenly beamed up at him. "Heehee! Big brother Bastion is going to see big sister Lily? You have to bring us candy if you do!"
"Yay! More candy!"
"Wedding candy!"
Bastion playfully tapped her on the head. "Do you even know what wedding candy is?"
She covered her head and said confidently, "Of course! When two people like each other, they give out wedding candy!"
"And don't think you can back out! Big sister Lily said she'd marry you and give us wedding candy!"
Hearing this, even the director looked at her in surprise.
"Huh?" Bastion asked in confusion. "When did she say that? I don't remember."
The little girl wiped her nose with her finger and declared proudly, "Last time, when we were playing house!"
Bastion couldn't help but laugh, while the director chuckled. "Silly child. That was just pretend."
Turning back to Bastion, she continued, "As for Horizon Academy… it's worth a try. The academy has strict entry requirements, but the resources are exceptional. They control many high-level dungeons and secret realms. If you get in, you'll be able to level up much faster."
"Come with me to the office. I have something to give you."
Bastion put the egg back into his inventory and followed the director to her office. The room was small but cozy, filled with trinkets gifted by former orphans who had left and kept in careful preservation. The director unlocked a safe at the bottom of a bookshelf, pulling out a file.
Handing it to Bastion, she said, "This is your inheritance, left by your parents. It's about a hundred thousand in total."
"I've been holding onto it for you until today. It might help you with the Horizon Academy entrance exam."
After a moment's hesitation, she added, "If it ever feels too overwhelming, you can always come back. Heartstone Orphanage will always be your home."
Taking the file, Bastion felt a weight in his chest.
"You kids are all so independent. I won't say any more." The director smiled warmly. "I've asked the chef to prepare a special dinner tonight. Enjoy it with your little brothers and sisters."
After a hearty meal with his "family," Bastion returned to his room.
Though it was an orphanage, each child had their own room from the age of sixteen, and Bastion was no exception.
Sitting on his bed, he waved his hand, and the fiery red egg appeared on the floor.
The egg was covered in strange markings and emitted a soft glow.
His heart pounded with excitement—it was finally time to prepare for the hatching!