The Awakening Ceremony The sun cascaded down on Starshine City, its golden rays setting the grand arches of Saint Academy aglow. A sea of students and spectators swarmed the courtyard, their excitement tangible. This was the most anticipated day of the year—the Awakening Ceremony, where the destinies of the Academy's newcomers would be revealed.
Ray's voice boomed over the crowd, his tone dripping with enthusiasm, "Welcome, everyone, to the most electrifying livestream of the year! Your favorite host, Ray, reporting live from the prestigious Saint Academy! And what a lineup we have today! Look to my right—the handsome and ever-dashing Denver, heir to the Starshine City's royal throne. To my left—the ethereal beauty, Diana, the Ice Phoenix heiress! Ladies and gentlemen, it's a gathering of legends!"
The courtyard buzzed with excitement, the energy building as the ceremony approached its climax. Students stood in neat rows, their faces filled with anticipation, curiosity, and in some cases, dread. The Awakening Crystal glowed faintly on its pedestal, waiting for the next student to step forward and discover their destiny.
Ray's voice cut through the murmurs, "And now, folks, the moment we've all been waiting for. Denver, the young lord of Starshine City, is stepping up! This is going to be big!"
Denver strode forward with an air of confidence, his noble lineage evident in every step. His striking features and sharp attire made him the center of attention. He glanced at the crowd, offering a smug smile to his peers, especially those who dared to compete with him. "Watch closely," he declared, "I will awaken a spirit that will be the envy of all."
The Sage, a wise and stoic instructor who had conducted countless ceremonies before, gestured calmly. "Place your hand on the crystal and let it resonate with your spirit."
Denver extended his hand, his palm hovering above the crystal for a moment before he pressed it down. Instantly, the crystal responded with an intense, bloody-red glow that filled the courtyard. Gasps erupted from the crowd.
"Do you see that?" shouted Ray, his voice ecstatic. "What a light show! The atmosphere is… changing? Wait a second—is that thunder?!"
Above, storm clouds materialized out of nowhere, dark and foreboding. Lightning cracked across the sky, illuminating the stunned faces of onlookers. The winds howled, scattering leaves and dust. A deep, resonating roar echoed from the heavens, shaking the very ground beneath their feet.
The crowd erupted in chaos. "What's that? A bird? No… it's too massive!" someone shouted, their voice trembling with fear.
"No way," another voice whispered. "It's… a dragon."
As the thunderstorm raged overhead, the Awakening Crystal emitted a high-pitched hum and displayed Denver's status for all to see:
STATUS BAR
Name: Denver
Age: 19
Sex: Male
Spirit: Thunder/Wind Dragon
Rank: S
HIDDEN STATUS BAR (DENVER)
Strength: 15
Agility: 10
Defense: 10
Intelligence: 15
Passive Skills: None
Active Skills: Possession
HIDDEN STATUS BAR (DRAGON)
Strength: 0
Agility: 0
Defense: 0
Intelligence: 0
Passive Skills: Recovery
Active Skills: None
The Sage's voice trembled as he asked, "Denver… did you truly awaken a dragon as your spirit?"
Denver smirked, puffing out his chest. "Of course, I did. It's nothing special." He threw a condescending glance at the other students, particularly those who were still waiting their turn. "Let's see anyone else top this."
The murmurs in the crowd grew louder. "A dragon spirit? That's unheard of!" "He must be a genius!" "The royal family will be even more powerful now!"
But then, someone in the crowd shouted, "If it's a dragon, prove it! Summon your spirit!"
All eyes were on Denver as he raised his hand dramatically. "Fine, if that's what you want. Witness the might of the Thunder/Wind Dragon!" He closed his eyes, focusing on the bond with his newly awakened spirit. A few tense moments passed. Then…
Nothing.
The crowd began to shift uneasily. Whispers spread like wildfire. "What's going on?" "Why isn't anything happening?"
Sweat formed on Denver's brow. His earlier confidence began to crumble. Just as the silence grew deafening, a faint blue glow appeared in the air before him. The glow coalesced into a shape… a small, fragile egg.
The crowd erupted in laughter. "That's it? The mighty dragon is just an egg?" "Is this some kind of joke?"
Denver's face turned beet red. His hands trembled as he stared at the egg. "This… this can't be right."
Even Ray couldn't hide his surprise. "Well, uh… folks, you saw it here first! Denver's dragon is, uh, still in development."
The laughter grew louder, and Denver's relatives seized the moment. "A dragon egg? How pathetic!" one of his cousins jeered. "Looks like the mighty heir isn't so mighty after all!"
The humiliation reached its peak when Denver's father, Lord Robert Frarandis, stepped forward. His expression was a mixture of fury and disappointment. The crowd fell silent as his booming voice echoed through the courtyard. "Silence!"
Summoning his own A+ tier spirit, the Blazing Phoenix, Lord Frarandis created an aura of absolute authority. The fiery bird hovered majestically beside him, its heat palpable even from a distance.
"For shaming the royal family with this display of weakness," the lord announced, "I hereby strip Denver of his title and status. From this day forward, he is no longer a part of the royal family. Guards, remove this disgrace from my sight!"
The crowd gasped. Denver's world crumbled in an instant. "Father… please…" he whispered, but his plea was met with cold indifference.
The guards grabbed Denver roughly, dragging him away as he struggled. Tears welled up in his eyes as he looked back at the egg, the symbol of his broken dreams. The last thing he saw was the faces of the crowd, some mocking, others pitying. Then, darkness enveloped him.