The classroom was buzzing with excitement, full of students eagerly discussing the upcoming Awakening Ceremony. They had been anticipating this day since childhood, each one already planning which spiritual creatures they hoped to contract. But today, all their plans might shatter.
The chatter stopped when the head teacher entered. He had a striking appearance—blonde, almost golden hair, pale skin, and a youthful look that immediately grabbed everyone's attention. His eyes stood out above all else: sharp, with golden pupils in the shape of a predator's gaze. When he looked at someone, his eyes could intimidate even the bravest. This was the ability he had gained after fusing with The King of All Animals, the Angelic Lion. His appearance was also the result of this fusion, which changed the color of his hair and eyes, making him more attractive overall. These were the benefits that came from forming a contract and fusing with spiritual creatures.
As everyone stared at him, their insides burned with the desire to contract and fuse with their own spiritual creatures. The girls, especially, were going wild over how fusion could change one's looks. They imagined themselves as princesses after the ceremony, but their dreams were about to be shattered—today, most of them would fail the talent test.
Teacher Kendrick set the books he had carried all the way to the classroom onto the table. He then began to speak:
"Hello, everyone," he said, pausing for a moment before continuing. "Today, we will test whether you have the talent to become a Spiritborn. As you all know, even if you have the lowest talent—an F—you still have a chance to become a Spiritborn. Becoming one can change your entire life for the better. But once you become a Spiritborn, you will no longer be considered a human. Instead, you'll belong to the category of Spiritborns."
The students paused for a moment, considering his words. It was true—after forming a bond and fusing with a spiritual creature, they would be reborn as Spiritborns. This would allow them to access spiritual energy and begin cultivating. But none of them really minded the idea of no longer being considered human. Power came with a price, and they were willing to make that trade. After all, being able to defend themselves and survive was far better than staying human and dying because of being weak.
Teacher Kendrick continued:
"Now, let me explain how your talent is determined. Talents vary from F to S, with F being the lowest and S being the highest and strongest. Your talent level depends on what type of creature you can contract. For example, if you can contract any aquatic creature present in Astrivale," he paused, letting the name sink in, "then your talent is easily classified as S. However, if you are only able to contract one specific type of creature, or have difficult contracting conditions, your talent will be classified as E or F."
He stopped for a moment, thinking deeply, before continuing:
"Remember, if you attempt to contract a spiritual creature that is incompatible with you, there will be great backlash. The spirits of you and the creature will resist each other, which can lead to permanent damage,crippling you, rendering you unable to ever become a Spiritborn."
As his words echoed through the classroom, everyone nodded in understanding.
Teacher Kendrick cleared his throat and spoke again:
"Okay then, let's begin testing your talents."