"Since there's not much time, the process will begin soon. I hope you all remember all that I have said during the preamble and the process I mentioned earlier?" Hay asked, but he was replied with silence. "I will take that as a yes then."
"And before I forget, any talent you awaken will come with a rank. We have ranks ranging all the way from D to A, and there is also the S rank, the highest rank so far. But do not worry, none of you is fit to awaken the S rank yet. Let's focus on the A to D, right? Right."
'So, this instructor is a petty talkative. He should go on already.'
If it was enthusiasm or fear, Buji couldn't tell. He only wanted to either be part of what was about to happen or be against it. That was the same feeling most students in the hall possibly had. And the hall reeked of it—the feeling of enthusiasm mixed with fear.
"Ehmm…" Hay clears his throat. He now stood in front of Kyrexis, which had its orb shimmering, giving out a blue sensation. Looking down at the paper he held, and looking up to the crowd, he started.
"The first student," Hay's voice echoed around the hall. "Bruno Gattison! Recommended by the Nico family.
Immediately, a boy with sandy hair shot out from the crowd sitting at Buji's left side. He approached the Kyrexis hesitantly and reached for it with his trembling hands. Just before touching the object's stem, he looked out to the crowd and forced a nervous smile to appear on his face.
"Good luck!"
"Good luck!"
"You can do it!"
And many other comments shot out from the crowd. Everyone in the hall tried to contribute to the boy's encouragement to take on his awakening.
A thought came to Buji's mind.
Not all will be your friends.
'But everyone here seems to be contributive.'
Buji was distracted at the moment. The boy who was the first student had placed his hands on the object. The moment the boy touched the object with his fingers, the hall was filled with a low buzz.
The orbs of the Kyrexis flared, producing a beam of light that enveloped Bruno, directing a ray of the glow to his chest. Images began showing within the light. First was a mountain shrouded in mist, which revealed a five-headed golden beast that suddenly got injured and disappeared. Allowing an eagle to come into play, flapping its wings and using them to form tidal waves which can lead to destruction. But it's mighty wings were cut apart from it's body, making the eagle to weaken and lay on the ground.
After showing the eagle image, the light faded and as if it was commanded, came to life again. This time around, it left scribbling letters above the boy's head.
Awakening Completed. A-Rank awakened. Talent: Slayer.
Congratulations.
"A-rank awakened!" Hay exclaimed holding out his hand to Bruno for a shake. "That's a rare talent you've awakened too. You're a rare gem."
The crowd erupted into a cheer on seeing what Bruno's potential was. Awakening a B-rank placed a hunter among the tops, not alone A-rank. Not just that he had awakened A-rank. His talent is "Slayer."
Bruno was relieved. His joy also knew no bounds. He had made it.
He jeered his hands upward and everyone cheered with him, especially those sitting with the Nico family.
'He is surely an extrovert.' Buji thought, referring to the boy's agility and boldness while exalting cheers from the crowd.
Hay cleared his throat, silencing the crowd and allowing Bruno to hurry back to his seat. "Next is Lorina Corvinus, recommended by the Wallos family."
A brownish-haired girl stepped forward, heading forward to where Kyrexis stood straight. Unlike Bruno, she was not hesitant but she was not as confident as Bruno was. She seemed to be ready for whatever she was going to awaken. "Whatever it may be, let it be," she muttered to herself.
"You ready?" Hay asked the girl.
Just like Bruno, she raised her eyes to the crowd and saw everyone embellishing their shouts of encouragement on her, especially the old students from the Wallos family.
Everywhere suddenly froze as she placed her hands on the object. The orb's glow intensified, unlike Bruno's, and the visions it produced were vivid and chaotic.
The light from the orbs faded and came to life again, just like it had done during Bruno's turn.
Awakening completed. C-rank awakened. Talent: Intuition.
Congratulations.
'Wow, so intuition was a talent. Does it mean Emra was saying the truth?'
Even though she awakened a lower talent, the crowd still cheered her. At least, it was better than awakening a talent with the shadows, a dark talent.
One after the other, students came and awakened each of their talents as well as their ranks. So far, the top family was the Nico family, with Bruno as a newly awakened A-rank hunter with a high talent. Not until a student came from the row recommended by establishments. Call it a public recommendation.
It was a girl.
Instructor Hay called the next name. "Kira Nova! Public recommendation."
The way he called out the 'public recommendation' was a bit funny so everyone in the hall laughed, some others made jest of it.
The girl, Kira had wavy, platinum-blonde hair that fell to her waist. Unlike other girls who had come out to awaken their talent, her beauty was astonishing. She walked briskly to the platform and placed her hands on it.
As usual, the orbs descended light upon her, enveloping her and revealing images that helped to assign her a talent. First, there came a blazing sun that descended upon the earth's surface, melting sporadically.
'Amazing, but odd.' Buji thought.
What followed next was a rushing river that seemed to be swallowed by a small red stone and another was a tree bursting into bloom.
As usual, the light faded and came to life again, revealing some golden letterings in the air.
Awakening Completed. A-rank awakened. Talent: Mage
"A-rank awakened. Talent is Mage!" Instructor Hay shouted, purposely rushing to hug the girl who slightly dodged him in pretense to respond to the jeering hands in the crowd.
Somehow, Buji waved to the girl when she looked at his side. He was a nerd, kind of, yes. But no one will see a good thing and not accept it, right?
The girl was delicately beautiful and was a little bit busty too.
'I like her.'
Once again, there was silence in the crowd as the girl went to sit back in her seat. Instructor Hay, with his face gazed at the ground in disappointment of what the girl had maybe, unknowingly done muttered.
"Next is Buji Yinyin."