The Awakening Hall of Valoria was already crowded when Kelvin and his friends arrived.
Hundreds of teenagers filled the enormous courtyard.
Some were excited.
Some were nervous.
Others were trying desperately to hide their fear.
Today was the day their lives would change.
For fifteen years, they had been ordinary children.
After today, they would become Awakened.
Kelvin stood among his friends and looked toward the massive building ahead.
The Awakening Hall was constructed from white stone.
Tall pillars supported its entrance, and a large crystal emblem was carved above the doorway.
At the center of the emblem were ten symbols.
Fire.
Water.
Earth.
Air.
Ice.
Light.
Darkness.
Metal.
Healing.
Poison.
These were the ten recognized affinities of Aurora.
Kelvin stared at them.
"Which one do you think you'll get?" Lydia asked.
John immediately raised his hand.
"Fire."
Michael looked at him.
"You've said that already."
"I'll keep saying it until it happens."
Sofia laughed.
"What about you, Michael?"
Michael shrugged.
"Darkness."
John stared at him.
"Why?"
"Because I like it."
John looked unconvinced.
Sofia turned toward Kelvin.
"And you?"
Kelvin paused.
He had thought about that question for years.
"I don't know."
"Surely you have a preference."
Kelvin smiled.
"Something strong."
John laughed.
"That's not an answer."
Before Kelvin could reply, a deep bell rang throughout the courtyard.
BOOOOOONG!
The crowd became silent.
A group of instructors emerged from the hall.
At their center walked an elderly man wearing a dark blue robe.
A golden emblem was embroidered across his chest.
Whispers spread through the crowd.
"That's Headmaster Adrian."
"He's an S Rank Awakened."
"Really?"
"Yes. They say he reached Level 500,000."
Kelvin's eyes widened.
S Rank.
He remembered his childhood dream.
One day, he wanted to become one.
Headmaster Adrian stepped onto the platform.
His voice carried across the entire courtyard.
"Today, you stand at the beginning of your journey."
The students listened carefully.
"Some of you will awaken powerful affinities."
"Some will awaken ordinary ones."
"Some will possess extraordinary talent."
"And some will discover that their potential is limited."
The Headmaster paused.
"Do not allow today's result to determine who you become."
Several instructors brought a massive crystal into the center of the platform.
It was almost three meters tall.
The crystal was completely transparent.
This was the Awakening Crystal.
Headmaster Adrian continued.
"Every awakened person receives a System."
The crowd became more excited.
"The System will record your name, class, level, experience, HP, Mana, MP, titles, skills, and inventory."
He raised one hand.
"Your System is not your destiny."
The crystal suddenly glowed.
A translucent screen appeared above it.
[AWAKENING CEREMONY INITIATED.]
The students gasped.
Kelvin stared.
So this was the System.
He had heard about it all his life.
But seeing it for the first time felt different.
The Headmaster turned toward the instructors.
"Begin."
A teacher stepped forward.
"First candidate."
A nervous boy walked onto the platform.
"Place your hand on the crystal."
The boy swallowed.
Then he placed his palm against it.
The crystal flashed red.
BOOM!
Flames erupted around him.
The crowd cheered.
"Fire!"
The teacher smiled.
"Fire Affinity."
A System window appeared before the boy.
[Awakening successful.]
[Affinity: Fire.]
[Rank: F.]
[Level: 1.]
[Class: Fire Apprentice.]
The boy stared at his hands.
He had awakened.
His parents in the crowd began celebrating.
One after another, students stepped forward.
Water.
Earth.
Air.
Metal.
Poison.
The ceremony continued.
Kelvin watched carefully.
He studied every reaction.
He wanted to understand what might happen to him.
Eventually—
"Candidate number forty-three."
Sofia stepped forward.
Kelvin looked at her.
"Good luck."
She smiled.
"I'll see you on the other side."
Sofia placed her hand on the crystal.
For several seconds, nothing happened.
Then—
FLASH!
A brilliant golden light erupted from the crystal.
The entire hall became illuminated.
Everyone shielded their eyes.
The instructor stared in shock.
"Light Affinity!"
A System appeared.
[Awakening successful.]
Name: Sofia
Affinity: Light
Rank: F
Level: 1
Class: Light Apprentice
HP: 120/120
Mana: 150/150
MP: 150/150
Skill acquired: Light Spark
The crowd erupted.
"A Light user!"
"That's rare!"
"Her Mana is already that high!"
Sofia looked at her hands.
A tiny sphere of golden light floated above her palm.
She smiled.
Kelvin smiled too.
When she returned, John immediately grabbed her shoulders.
"I knew it!"
Sofia laughed.
"You knew nothing."
"Exactly!"
Michael shook his head.
The ceremony continued.
Eventually—
"Candidate number sixty-two."
John stepped forward.
He looked back at the group.
"Watch carefully."
He placed his hand on the crystal.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then—
CRACK!
Ice spread across the crystal.
The temperature inside the hall dropped instantly.
Frost covered the floor.
The instructor's eyes widened.
"Ice Affinity!"
John grinned.
"I told you!"
His System appeared.
[Awakening successful.]
Name: John
Affinity: Ice
Rank: F
Level: 1
Class: Ice Apprentice
HP: 130/130
Mana: 140/140
MP: 140/140
Skill acquired: Ice Shard
John returned to the group looking extremely pleased with himself.
"Who's next?"
Michael stepped forward.
His expression was calm.
He placed his hand against the crystal.
The hall suddenly became dark.
A black mist spread across the platform.
Several students gasped.
The instructor stepped backward.
"Darkness..."
Michael's System appeared.
[Awakening successful.]
Name: Michael
Affinity: Darkness
Rank: F
Level: 1
Class: Darkness Apprentice
HP: 125/125
Mana: 160/160
MP: 160/160
Skill acquired: Shadow Step
Michael returned without saying anything.
John stared at him.
"That's actually pretty cool."
Michael smiled slightly.
Then came Lydia.
She placed her hand against the crystal.
Soft green light appeared.
The atmosphere inside the hall became warm.
[Healing Affinity detected.]
The instructor smiled.
"Healing!"
Lydia's System appeared.
Name: Lydia
Affinity: Healing
Rank: F
Level: 1
Class: Healing Apprentice
HP: 110/110
Mana: 180/180
MP: 180/180
Skill acquired: Minor Heal
Lydia returned to her friends.
Four awakenings.
Four different powers.
Then the instructor looked down at the list.
His eyes stopped.
"Candidate..."
He paused.
"Kelvin."
Kelvin's heart stopped.
His friends looked at him.
John smiled.
"Your turn."
Kelvin stepped forward.
Every step felt heavier than the last.
He climbed the platform.
The Awakening Crystal stood before him.
He remembered his parents.
His promise.
His dreams.
He slowly raised his hand.
And placed it against the crystal.
Nothing happened.
The crowd waited.
Five seconds.
Ten seconds.
Twenty.
Someone laughed.
"Did it fail?"
Another student whispered:
"Maybe he has no affinity."
Kelvin's face tightened.
He looked at the crystal.
Still nothing.
Then—
A tiny black crack appeared.
Crack.
Kelvin's eyes widened.
Another crack appeared.
CRACK!
The crystal began shaking.
The instructors stepped backward.
Headmaster Adrian suddenly stood.
"What is happening?"
The entire Awakening Crystal turned black.
Then—
BOOOOOOM!
The crystal shattered.
A wave of invisible energy exploded through the hall.
Everyone was thrown backward.
Kelvin remained standing.
He looked at his hand.
A black symbol had appeared on his palm.
Then a translucent screen appeared before his eyes.
Unlike the other Systems...
This one was different.
[SYSTEM ERROR.]
[Awakening cannot be classified.]
[Analyzing...]
[Analyzing...]
[ERROR.]
Kelvin's breathing stopped.
Another message appeared.
[UNKNOWN AUTHORITY DETECTED.]
Then the final message appeared.
[SOUL AUTHORITY AWAKENED.]
Kelvin stared at the words.
He didn't understand.
But somewhere deep within his soul...
something opened its eyes.
TO BE CONTINUED...