"W-What?"
The elder woman blinked, her composed demeanor faltering for a moment. She studied Max closely, taking in his shy demeanor, his downcast eyes, and the faint tremor in his hands.
'This one… seems really afraid?' she muttered inwardly.
'Um...'
Her heart softened, and she shifted her gaze to their director - whose expression calm but with a faint, apologetic smile indicating the elder to spare the boy. The elder woman sighed, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "Very well. If you're uncomfortable, we'll proceed directly to the Essence Awakening."
A murmur of discontent rippled through the students below. "No fair!" one of them shouted. "Why do they get to skip it?"
"Yeah!" another added, their voice tinged with frustration. "We had to show ours!"
The elder woman opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, the student council president—Ashley—rose from her seat. Her sharp gaze swept across the room, her voice cutting through the noise like a blade. "Quiet."
The hall fell silent instantly, the students shrinking under her commanding presence. She gave a small, polite bow to the elder and sat back down, her expression calm.
The elder nodded in gratitude before turning back to Max. "Let's begin."
Max closed his eyes, his breathing steadying as the elder woman placed the Awakening Crown on his head. The runes on its surface glowed faintly, and the room fell silent once more, all eyes fixed on Max.
Just like Harry, Max's expression was calm, almost serene, with only the occasional tilt of his head suggesting any internal activity.
The elder woman watched him closely, her brow furrowed in confusion. 'Wasn't he weak and afraid? Why is he similar to the previous boy...?'
'Or... Is he gonna end up...'
Soon, Max opened his eyes, a subtle and faint blue glow playing in his gaze. The light from the crown faded, and the old and same translucent screen materialized above him, displaying his essence and fragment.
[ Essence ]
Name: The Traveler
[ Personal Fragment ]
Name: Traveler's Burden
The hall went silent for a moment, the air thick with tension. Then, previous scums burst into laughter once again, pointing at the screen and shouting.
"The Traveler? Traveler's Burden? What kind of fragment is that?" one of them jeered.
"He's carrying a burden? Sounds like he's just a deadweight!" another added, their voice dripping with mockery.
Max nodded to the Elder who was showing a gentle expression.
But to his surprise, the prez girl stood up once again, shutting the noisy students up once more.
'...'
'Why is she doing this?'
_____ __ _
"Why is she doing this?"
Harry muttered with an annoyed expression.
"She didn't stand up for the others like this? Why is she doing it for only Max?"
'Is she perhaps one of his love interests?' He mused inwardly.
"What, are you jealous?" Tim smiled.
"Me, jealous?" Harry glared at Tim. "As if. Besides, she isn't my type. At all."
"Hehe, if you say so." Tim chuckled teasing him even more.
"Stop laughing, it's gross. Ah, go, it's your turn now." Harry retorted.
"Alright, alright, stop sulking." Tim stood up, brushing off his pants and giving Max a quick nod on his way before heading to the stage.
As Tim stepped onto the stage, the elder woman showed the same treatment as the others.
"Umm..." Tim hesitated, rubbing the back of his head awkwardly.
He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, his expression a mix of nervousness and hesitation. Unlike Max, who had acted shy and hesitant, Tim's discomfort was more genuine, though laced with a hint of concern.
The elder woman frowned, her brow furrowing slightly. "What, do you want to skip too?"
Tim's eyes widened, and he quickly shook his hands. "No, no, no! In fact, I want to see it. It's just that… I can't see my attributes or other info aside from my health, name, and stamina. It seems like Harry's way of seeing status doesn't work very well."
As soon as Tim finished speaking, a murmur of agreement rippled through the students who hadn't yet undergone the awakening.
"Yes, he's right," one of them called out. "
That fool fooled us."
Another added, "I can only see my health and stamina too. What's the point of this?"
The elder woman sighed, her gaze flicking to Harry, who sat in the crowd with a perfectly serious expression as if he hadn't just caused a minor uproar. She shook her head, muttering under her breath, "This guy..."
Turning back to Tim, she said, "Alright, we'll continue as intended. Now, close your eyes."
Tim gave one last glance at Harry, who responded with a quick wink.
'I told as he said, now let's focus.'
"Thank you." Bowing to the elder, Tim started his own awakening.
____ __ _
Harry leaned back in his seat, his arms crossed and his smirk widening as he read Tim's status screen. "Guardian's Resolve, huh? Not bad, Tim. Sounds like you're destined to be the team's babysitter."
Tim rolled his eyes as he returned to his seat, plopping down beside Harry with a sigh. "Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up. At least I'm not stuck with something called 'Fool's Logic'."
Harry's grin didn't falter. "Hey, don't knock it till you've seen it in action. Besides, being the 'babysitter' suits you. You've always been like that."
Tim groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Great. Just what I needed—more responsibility. And why do you speak like you have known me for decades?"
"Huh? Are you saying I don't? You are like an open book, you know."
"Urgh..."
Max, sitting quietly beside them, glanced at Tim, his brow furrowing slightly. "Guardian's Resolve… What does it do?"
Tim shrugged, his expression a mix of curiosity and resignation. "From what I can tell, it's a supportive type of fragment. Something about enhancing defense and protecting allies. Not exactly flashy, but… useful, I guess."
Harry clapped Tim on the shoulder, his grin turning mischievous. "Useful? Tim, you're basically the team's shield now. Congrats, you've officially been promoted to 'human meat wall.'"
Tim shoved Harry's hand away, though there was no real malice in the gesture. "Shut up, Harry. Not all of us can rely on banana peels and words to win fights."
Harry's smirk only deepened. "Hey, don't underestimate the power of a well-placed banana peel. You'll see."
The three of them fell into a comfortable 'debate' as the awakenings continued, one after another. The hall buzzed with a mix of excitement, disappointment, and occasional laughter as each student's fragment was revealed.
Some awakened fragments that drew admiration, while others were met with ridicule or pity. Harry, ever the observer, kept a close eye on the reactions, his mind already working through the implications.
But one thing was clear - it was not at the level he and Max were ridiculed.
Finally, the last student stepped down from the stage, their status and fragment displayed for all to see. The elder woman let out a long breath, her shoulders relaxing as she turned to Director Evelyn and Lord Alric. "The awakenings are complete."
Director Evelyn stepped forward, her presence commanding as she addressed the room. "Today, you've taken the first step toward understanding your potential. Each of you has been granted a fragment of your essence—a reflection of who you are and what you can become. Remember, strength is not measured by the power of your fragment alone, but by how you choose to wield it."
Lord Alric followed, his deep voice resonating through the hall. "Tomorrow, your training will begin. You will learn to harness your abilities, to fight, and to survive. The road ahead will not be easy, but it is one you must walk if you wish to endure the trials to come."
The students listened in silence, the weight of their new reality settling over them. For some, the awakenings had been a source of pride; for others, a bitter disappointment.
"For now," Director Evelyn continued, her tone softening slightly, "you are free to rest and prepare. Lunch will be served shortly. Use this time to reflect, to bond with your peers, and to ready yourselves for what lies ahead."
The hall erupted into murmurs as the students began to disperse, some heading toward the dining area, others lingering to discuss their fragments. Harry stood up, stretching lazily. "Well, that was fun. Who's hungry?"
Tim groaned, though there was a hint of a smile on his face. "You're always hungry."
"Guilty as charged," Harry replied, his grin unapologetic. "Come on, Max. Let's see what kind of medieval grub they've got for us."
Max nodded, his expression thoughtful as he followed Harry and Tim out of the hall. The three of them made their way to the dining area, their conversation light but laced with an undercurrent of tension. They all knew that the real challenges were yet to come.
As they sat down to eat, Harry leaned back in his chair, his smirk returning. "So, Tim, ready to be the team's shield tomorrow?"
Tim sighed, picking at his food. "Do I have a choice?"
Harry's grin widened. "Nope. But don't worry, I'll make sure to throw a banana peel or two your way. You know, for moral support."
Tim groaned again, though this time, even Max couldn't suppress a small smile. For a moment, the weight of their situation seemed to lift, replaced by the familiar banter of friends.