The sun hung high in the sky, its golden rays cascading over the grand cathedral, making its towering spires glisten with an almost divine brilliance.
For the citizens of Fayburgh, the cathedral was not just a place of worship—it was the fulcrum upon which their futures were determined.
Within its sacred halls, a single ceremony would decide whether one ascended to the ranks of the elite Soul Construct or remained shackled to the life of a lowly commoner.
Today, another ceremony was being held. At the center of the hall stood an ancient crystal—ore, or whatever it might be. Since its inception, no one truly understood what it was.
The ancient crystal emerged from the earth, leaving only its peak visible at the surface.
Standing beside it was an old priest and a scarred veteran with a deep wound stretching across his face.
Before them stood children between the ages of 14 and 16, their eyes burning brightly, full of passion and naivety.
This was the day they had been waiting for their whole lives—a chance to awaken their Soul Construct.
Among the children, three stood out, their ragged, worn-out clothes a stark contrast to the others.
"Dain, what do you think our Soul Construct ranks will be?" Garrik asked, staring at his best friend.
Standing at the center of the trio, Dain kept his gaze focused on the ongoing awakening ceremony but still responded to Garrik's question.
"I don't know. As long as we all awaken a decent-rank Soul Construct, that's enough. With it, we can help the orphanage."
"Indeed. We can't compare to the city children. As long as we manage to awaken a Battle-Class Soul Construct, we'll be fine," Astrid, the last of the three friends, added, a longing expression on her face.
She glanced at Dain from the corner of her eyes, a mix of expectation and admiration in her gaze.
The three were not citizens of Fayburgh but came from a nearby town—Westcross.
As orphans, they had been childhood friends since they were young, growing up together and eventually becoming the young leaders of their orphanage.
In a bid to improve their run-down orphanage, the three had risked their lives traveling to Fayburgh City.
In a world where Dimensional Collapses could happen at any moment, venturing outside without a powerful Soul Construct was akin to suicide.
Yet, these three had not hesitated to take the risk and here they were.
The ceremony continued as one child was called after another.
"Farming Class. Gardening Soul Construct—Inferior Rank." The scarred old man's voice echoed through the quiet hall.
A girl with an ordinary appearance wore a lifeless expression as she heard her Soul Construct's classification and rank.
"Next."
A boy walked confidently to the altar and touched the ancient crystal. Instantly, a radiant glow emanated from the crystal, enveloping him in golden light.
"Battle Class. Blaze Sword Soul Construct—Refined Rank."
A look of shock flickered across the scarred old man's face. Even the expressionless priest turned to the boy and smiled.
"What?! He awakened a Battle-Class Soul Construct and a Refined Rank?"
"Gosh! Why couldn't that be me?"
"You must be dreaming. Don't you know he's from a noble family? He's probably been practicing the Soul Strengthening Technique since he was young—unlike us."
"Right, right… but I still envy him."
The boy ignored the murmurs around him as he sauntered away from the altar, his arrogance apparent in every step.
Although a Refined Rank Soul Construct was rare in a Fifth-Tier city like Fayburgh, it was not unheard of.
The awakening ceremony continued in full swing, with most of the children awakening Inferior or Common Rank Soul Constructs.
As for the highly sought-after Battle-Class Soul Constructs, only a handful of children managed to awaken them.
Then, another person awakened a Refined Rank Soul Construct.
"Battle Class. Tempest Bow Soul Construct—Refined Rank."
Standing to the side, Orion watched as the girl stepped down, a fierce competitive spirit flickering in his eyes.
He had thought he would be the only one this year to awaken a Refined Rank Soul Construct, but he had been wrong.
Lyra turned to look at him before returning to her seat.
With another Refined Rank appearing, both the priest and the scarred old man were filled with anticipation.
More Refined Rank Soul Constructs meant a brighter future for their city.
Unfortunately, after another twenty children were called, not a single Refined Rank appeared.
Still, the number of Battle-Class Soul Constructs pleased the old man.
At the back, Garrik looked at his two friends nervously. "It's almost our turn."
"Next!" the old man shouted.
Without looking at his friends, Dain walked calmly toward the altar, feeling the weight of many eyes on him.
Standing before the ancient crystal, he placed his hand on it.
Instantly, a bright light enveloped him from head to toe.
"What do you think his class and rank will be?" Garrik asked Astrid.
"Do you even need to ask? It'll be a Battle Class with at least a Common Rank Soul Construct," Astrid responded confidently.
Then, the old man's voice echoed through the hall.
"Battle Class. Appraiser Soul Construct—Inferior Rank."
"What?!"
A stunned silence filled the hall. What kind of combination was that?
Even the priest and the old man were confused. This was the first time they had seen such a strange class and Soul Construct pairing.
And with an Inferior Rank, it would be useless.
Instantly, the atmosphere inside the hall grew tense. Everyone looked at Dain as though he were nothing but trash.
Even those with useless classes and Inferior Ranks scoffed at him. At least their classes matched their Soul Constructs.
Dain walked through the crowd, but it felt like he was drifting—disconnected, weightless, as if he no longer belonged.
The voices around him faded into a distant hum, meaningless noise in the background of his thoughts.
An Inferior Rank Soul Construct.
The words echoed in his mind, each repetition heavier than the last. He had known that talent wasn't something he could control, but still… he had hoped.
When he returned to his position, he tried to mask his conflicted thoughts.
Garrik and Astrid wore unsightly expressions, unsure of what to say. Just as Garrik prepared to speak, he was called.
Sighing, he muttered, "Dain, don't think about it too much. The class is what matters most."
With Dain awakening a seemingly worthless Soul Construct, he couldn't help but feel nervous. Would he suffer the same fate?
"Battle Class. Thunder Spear Soul Construct—Refined Rank."
'Huh?!'
A collective gasp filled the hall. Another Refined Rank!
Garrik himself was stunned. He had prepared for the worst, never expecting to awaken both a Battle Class and a Refined Rank.
'Hahaha! My future is about to change!' He grinned inwardly.
As he left the altar, he felt countless gazes on him, filling him with pride.
"Wow! Garrik, you're a hidden gem!" Astrid exclaimed. "From now on, we'll be in your care."
"Haha, don't worry! I'll take care of you and Dain," Garrik said arrogantly. He glanced at Dain, but his best friend's face remained expressionless.
'What's with that attitude? With such a trashy Soul Construct, can't he at least be happy for me?'
He scoffed inwardly and turned to Astrid.
Next, it was her turn. She turned to Garrik and muttered, "Wish me luck."
"Battle Class. Gold Dagger Soul Construct—Common Rank," the old man announced.
Hearing this, she breathed a sigh of relief and returned to her position, a bright smile on her face.
"Haha, congratulations!" Garrik beamed.
She stole a glance at Dain but quickly masked the pity in her eyes.
Shortly after, the ceremony ended, and the children were allowed to leave.
Outside, thousands had gathered, eager to witness the newly awakened.
The moment the young awakeners appeared, they were immediately swarmed by the scouts.
Dain stood at the edge of the crowd, watching as Garrik and Astrid were surrounded by eager scouts, their faces filled with excitement.
Laughter and chatter filled the air as hands eagerly reached out, offering contracts, wealth, and opportunities they had never dared to dream of.
For a moment, he simply observed.
No hesitation. No second glances. No whispered reassurances.
They had forgotten him.
A dull ache settled in his chest, heavier than he expected. He had known things would change—hoped, even. But not like this. Not so suddenly. Not so completely.
A small, bitter smile curled on his lips.
'How naïve.'
He had spent years thinking they were different. That no matter what happened, they would stand together, like they always had.
But now, in the face of success, the bonds they had once cherished crumbled like dust.
Dain turned away, his steps slow but deliberate.
But what did he expect?
A pat on the back? A vow to stick together no matter what?
Foolish.
Just before he vanished into the crowd, he caught Garrik's gaze. His former best friend's lips curled into a sneer, his eyes filled with something Dain had never seen before—dismissal.
"From now on, both of us are from two different worlds."