Chapter 8 - Revealing Talents

Seeing the blood evaporate, both Logan and Lisa were stunned. There was clearly something unusual happening, yet neither could understand what had just occurred. Any serious explanation had to wait as the main butler noticed both teenagers were not ready and warned them about the limited time before the banquet.

"It seems you have some kind of magic going on, but I guess we will find out what actually happened later. Anyways, see you at the party. Bye," Lisa said hurriedly.

Before he could respond, Lisa took off. From what Logan saw, she wasn't ready; her hair was still wet, and she looked like she hadn't used any makeup.

Logan hurried back to his room to ask for shoes and whatever else the maid would have him wear. He decided not to fight against her suggestions since the banquet could be what the class needed to find a way back home hopefully or to finally get some answers.

 

Sometime later, the class was guided to a large banquet hall filled with a diverse array of cultures, each person radiating an aura of power, some of them like the blue princess's bodyguard but in various colors. Logan could instantly see desert nomads clad in tunics of beige and gold conversing with others in silk robes reminiscent of East Asian attire. Loud royals, likely from a snowy northern region, were bundled up in heavy, fur-lined coats adorned with terrifying wolf or bear heads. Others from tropical climates appeared to be suffering from the kingdom's cold night, dressed in delicate, thin clothing.

Each table the students passed was adorned with different colors and emblems representing various factions or kingdoms. The butler finally guided the class to a central table where the king, his family, and two priests sat. The table was laden with food of every kind and luxurious cutlery made of precious metals, atop tableware in the kingdom's colors of red and gold.

"I am glad to have our heroes join us tonight for this grand feast my kingdom can provide. Please sit as we begin this ceremony with the help of the Temple of the Seven Spirits," the king announced, rising from his spot and using a special voice-amplifying tool to greet the students. The room, once filled with chatter, finally settled as everyone's attention turned to the teenagers.

The oracle, a high priestess, suddenly stood up and greeted the class with a bow. She was a woman of around 40 years of age, her beauty still apparent within her slightly wrinkled, well-aged face. Her striking silver eyes gave her a clear otherworldly presence, shining in different colors at times, reflecting the various jewels she wore around her vestment.

"Welcome to our world, saviors. We have been waiting for your arrival, as you were called forth by the spirits to aid this world in peril. Tonight, I shall help you understand your powers and reveal the mysteries of each of your talents. To do this, I will require you to come forward and hold this crystal."

Her voice, soft and directed solely at the class, carried an air of calm authority. She walked towards a pedestal where a peculiar jewel lay, its vibrant hues shifting through seven different colors, overpowering the room's lighting as the priestess waved her hand over it.

"Now, please come forth one by one so that I may interpret your abilities."

Despite the priestess's beckoning, no one in the class seemed to move. Each teenager was waiting for someone to be brave enough to step forward. This hesitation ended when Brian took a deep sigh and chuckled to himself.

"Will I have to be the first one again? Man, you are all chickens. How about we push Logan to be the first one next time?"

Some in the class laughed while others looked relieved. Despite the awful remark, Logan silently thanked Brian for his decision to be today's guinea pig.

"Let's see, the spirits are telling me that your power stems from the Great Spirit of Flames, meaning your strength is rooted in physical prowess. The term 'Champion' comes to mind. You are a master of powerful martial arts and can enter a berserk state when the battle calls for it. You shall bring destruction to any opponent in your path and have been granted a high growth rate within your class."

Brian raised his hands proudly as the crowd cheered with the reveal of the first hero's power, to go even future he did a backflip and landed right where he stood within the class.

Seeing that they had nothing to fear, Jonathan, one of Brian's lackeys used the momentum of the cheerful atmosphere and went towards the priestess full of expectation.

"Hero, I see an affinity to the Earth Spirit, specifically his domain over steel. You will be able to wield the most unruly of swords with deadly precision and ease. The name 'Sword Saint' comes to mind, as your slashes will be unrivaled on the battlefield."

After he returned to the class, his friend George went up to see what he had going for him.

"Your potential lies in spearmanship. Like the hero before you, the Great Earth Spirit has blessed you. Your strength will come not only from the sharpness of the blade but from the balance of its shaft. Your ability to wield and control a spear will allow you to defy nature itself."

As the "idiot trio" finished and gave courage to the others to go up, the audience continued to celebrate while the top figures were already planning who to approach after the ceremony.

"You will influence the flow of battle using your voice, as the Wind Spirit will allow it to resonate farther than any arrow. You may not directly harm others, but your sonorous ability will affect both your allies and foes with a myriad of effects, capable of turning the most dire of battles around with ease as a Songstress."

Alma, who had joined the fray, was cheered with more enthusiasm than the guys, something that could be attributed to her short dress with slits revealing her well-defined thighs.

"Child of light, I see in you the greatest affinity to the spirit of light, the power of life swirls around you as this eras Priestess, with this I hope you can vanquish that which is evil and purity this world."

Unlike the rest, while talking to Lisa, the priestess seemed to change her tone to one of excitement, she seemed eager to present the beautiful girl to the room and even grasped her shoulders with both hands.

After a small chat between the two, Silvia slowly walked forth with an uncaring attitude.

"It is strange, child, but you will be guided by the wisdom and knowledge of various spirits. As a Sage, you will possess a unique magic known as Arcana. This power will allow you to grasp the strongest abilities of each elemental mage effortlessly. With this gift, you will unlock the mysteries of this world, and your search for knowledge will be your greatest strength."

 

As she finished, more students in the class went forth to discover their unique abilities. There were summoners, enchanters, paladins, and mages of all kinds and elements, some capable of creating the greatest weapons or armor, while others could rebuild a city in hours. Among the familiar faces were Owen the Sharpshooter, Darin the Geomancer, and a strange loner like Logan who became a Shadowchaser, able to hide himself in any dark spot within the room.

Others had simple but useful roles, like a girl who became a chef, capable of performing miracles with her meals, and a farmer who could harvest plants within days. A boy was quickly sought after when his class, Alchemist, was revealed. He could turn metal to liquid, ice to fire, and perform all sorts of strange phenomena with everyday items, but his greatest strength was in creating potions with various effects.

Before Logan could muster the courage to go up, Ms. Claire, who had finally found comfort in a layered dress that covered most of her body, gracefully approached the priestess.

"Welcome, Ms. Claire. Please forgive us for summoning you without notice. It seems the spirits have chosen you to guide the children, for you have been granted the power of Orator. This class comes from the combined power of the Great Spirit of Light and the Great Spirit of Wind. It allows you to infuse mana into your speech. Words spoken with this power will carry authority, enabling you to lead them effectively."

 

With everyone having already gone up, all eyes were on Logan, who, as usual, was the last to step forward. He took it as his cue to approach the pedestal where the shining jewel stood. It was three short steps above the ground, ensuring everyone in the room could see him. With all attention on him, Logan began to tremble slightly.

Once he reached the priestess, she placed her cold hand gently over his and closed her eyes in concentration. For a while, she made various expressions, ranging from joy to worry, and a tinge of fear could be seen soon after. But with a calming deep sigh, she opened her eyes and prepared to speak for all to hear.

"Logan, was it? You are the last hero to be announced at this banquet. You have been given the power to tame with the help of both the Great Spirit of Darkness and the Great Spirit of Light—the ability to gain strength through trust and the ability to connect with others. Will you embrace this gift, forging bonds and learn to lead those who follow you? To gain strength with every new connection and guide this world through its dark times…"

Logan seemed to understand that the priestess not only wanted to announce his power to the audience but also to warn him of something deeper.