[14th Everdusk 2103]
The next class to awaken was Section Two, which boasted some of the batch's top performers. However, everyone understood that academic excellence didn't guarantee a high-class designation.
The atmosphere was a mix of excitement and tension, with the fear of being left without a class looming over everyone.
As the teacher stepped forward to call out the students by number, one boy, Lucas Bennett, appeared utterly carefree amidst the anxiety. The class topper, Lucas was a striking figure with his cold demeanor, standing at 5'8" with black hair and eyes that added an extra charm to his already captivating face. His nonchalant attitude was precisely why all eyes were on him, including those of the second-ranked girl who usually sought to challenge him but was visibly nervous at the moment.
Tess, standing before the class, hoped that each student would awaken to their class, not for the sake of competition but because she couldn't bear to see her students falter under pressure.
She called up the first student, who walked towards the stage, and the process began anew. A vision of a chef baking a cake appeared, bringing delight rather than dejection to the student, whose family owned a bakery. This revelation was a boon to his family business.
Then the talent emerged before him, a
He returned from the stage to the applause of his friend. He took his place in line as Tess called the second student, and the ceremony continued.
After twenty-one students, only twelve had managed to awaken their class while nine had not.
"Okay, class, now roll number twenty-two will take the stage," Tess announced, drawing everyone's attention to a girl whose beauty was impossible to ignore. She was Lyra Dawnfield, ranked second in the entire batch and the sole heiress of the prominent Dawnfield family.
Her family, known for their mage lineage, was renowned throughout the country.
The question on everyone's mind was why she attended this school. The story goes that years ago, she competed here and was defeated in the finals by Lucas, the prodigy. Vowing to surpass him one day, she enrolled in the school, her prestigious background and her father's consent aiding her admission.
But the true reason for her presence remained a mystery.
As she walked towards the stage and bowed to Master Darian, she approached the formation to determine her destiny.
Placing her hand on the crystal, a crimson light, unlike the usual blue or red, enveloped her. A rare phenomenon unfolded, leaving the audience in awe, witnessing what seemed like a miracle for the second time that day.
Once again, the sky filled with black clouds, but this time, instead of a visage, a flickering light began to dance above. It shone as if heralding the first light, and then, with a dramatic tear, the clouds parted, and a majestic phoenix descended in a missile-like manner. Spectators expected a crash, but it gracefully halted and landed before the assembly, transforming into a lady adorned in a mage-like outfit, flames flickering intermittently from her suit.
The class she awakened was unprecedented, and Lyra's eyes opened wide as she assimilated the knowledge of her new class.
"The Flame Witch," she whispered to herself, her words reaching the ears of the astonished onlookers, for such a class was indeed unique and unheard of.
Cheers erupted, affirming that Lyra was a force not to be trifled with.
The ranking process commenced, culminating in the revelation of a letter before the crowd.
, it read, initially silencing the masses before they burst into applause, recognizing the birth of a genius that would bring the school immense support from the CGA to foster more students.
"Wow, it seems our class queen is destined for greatness," one girl remarked, with others nodding in agreement.
"And I doubt that first-rank ruffian... the handsome brat stands a chance against her," another added, eyeing his nonchalant demeanor.
Darian, awestruck, snapped out of his daze and approached to recruit her for the CGA, but the principal intervened, preventing a grave error.
Upon discovering she was a direct descendant of the Dawnfield house, Darian dismissed the thought as quickly as it had come, knowing well that the noble families would never permit their offspring to join such a faction.
They established their own guild, and their offspring became its members.
No one would dare approach an rank class individual from their ranks.
She exited the stage and approached Tess, who was brimming with pride.
After receiving congratulations, she returned to her place, where her friends gathered to celebrate her success. Meanwhile, Tess announced the next student. It was Lucas, who strolled towards the stage with the nonchalance of a park walk.
He passed the Principal and Darian, then positioned himself within the formation and laid his hand upon the crystal.
The crystal illuminated, followed by his body, and the ritual commenced once more. The crowd awaited the revelation of his class, curious if it would surpass the impressive class of the second-ranked.
As the light dimmed and it seemed no class would manifest, a visage emerged, bringing relief to Tess and the others—it was confirmation of his class acquisition.
The visage displayed before the crowd, his armor a unique blend of metal and leather, suggesting a warrior-mage hybrid. The scene shifted dramatically when he levitated his grimoire, releasing an aura that momentarily paralyzed students and teachers alike. Even Darian, a second-tier individual, was briefly immobilized, though he recovered in a mere second, his amazement evident at the power emanating from a zero-tier youth.
He was certain that the newcomer possessed a high-ranking class, yet he pondered why the expected phenomenon hadn't occurred. Considering it an anomaly in the awakening process, he was elated, seeing it as an opportunity to recruit him.
The crowd was equally astounded, interpreting this as a sign of two high-class individuals emerging consecutively. Lyre was taken aback; despite her noble lineage, she couldn't fathom how this boy had acquired a class surpassing her own. Yet, she wasn't prepared to concede defeat, clinging to the hope that this twist of fate might still turn in her favor if he had received an 'A' rank class.
Anticipation hung in the air as they awaited the results of the rank assessment test. When the outcome finally materialized, it left everyone in disbelief, for what it revealed was utterly unexpected.
The rank he received was....
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-- To be continued --
A/N: If you're eager to discover the outcome, stay tuned for the next chapter, folks. Don't forget to add it to your library; this will ensure you're notified as soon as the chapter is released.