Kouji's consciousness ebbed and flowed as he adjusted to his new existence. The feeling of having a small, fragile body was bewildering. His intellect, once razor-sharp and commanding, now struggled against the whims of infancy. He could hear voices—his new parents, but he could not yet perceive them clearly.
Years passed in a blur. He studied the language, customs, and ways of this new world. He learned he was a member of the noble house of Luthgar, a house of warriors and adventurers. The day he had been waiting for finally arrived—his sixteenth birthday, class awakening day.
The square was filled with people, all waiting eagerly for the Awakening Ceremony. Commoners and nobles stood in line as well, waiting in turn to offer themselves and their fate. Kouji stood with his arms crossed, eyeing those who had preceded him. Some left looking unhappy, while others seemed satisfied.
"Next, Kouji Luthgar," the Grand Awakener announced, his voice clear across the square.
Kouji moved forward with calm assurance. He laid his hand upon the glowing crystal before him and felt a surge of power flood through his bloodstream. The crystal pulsed, then blazed out in a shining, dark-golden light that illuminated the entire square.
There was a general gasp. The Grand Awakener's eyes widened in shock. "Impossible… a Hidden Class!" he bellowed. "'Absolute Command'—the power to command gravity itself."
Gasps of awe and fear spread through the crowds. Hidden Classes did not exist, spoken only about in textbooks and legend. Kouji did smile, however. He had expected as much.
The Awakener cleared his throat. "Kouji Luthgar, you have been entrusted with an ability beyond all others. Learn to control it well, and perhaps you will exceed all."
Kouji nodded. "I intend to."