Ashan withdrew his sunken fist from the jagged hole in the iron wall, flexing his fingers slowly as he turned to the instructor.
"That's enough. It's an A-rank ability. You did well." the instructor said with a calm tone.
Ashan rejoined Narasha and Nevil. The instructor paused, his brows furrowed, clearly weighing how to phrase the next words. He finally addressed them with measured authority.
"These are the final results for the three of you," he said, glancing briefly at his tablet as though confirming the numbers weren't hallucinations.
"Mr. Arashahn, you are a B-rank combat fighter. Mr. Ashvale, you are a B-rank battle mage. And finally, Ms. Corwin, you are a B+ level Psychic."
He leaned back slightly, giving each of them a scrutinizing look.
"First of all, congratulations. Becoming B-rankers places you among the third tier of the most powerful awakeners. Not only that, two of you have demonstrated A-rank abilities while still officially B-rankers. That is exceedingly rare."
Narasha exhaled softly, her shoulders relaxing under the mask. Nevil's jaw tightened in quiet pride, and Ashan simply nodded, his calm demeanor belying the knowledge of the sheer power he could wield.
"As you know, B-rankers are in high demand in society," the instructor continued, tapping the tablet lightly. "Depending on your abilities, your value increases significantly. Your lives from this point forward will be shaped by the decisions you make here."
He softened slightly, leaning on the edge of the console. "As a fellow awakener and an adult, I'll give you some advice. I don't know if you intend to join an association, but if you do, proceed with caution. Above all, do not fall for suspicious agreements."
Narasha's eyes flicked to Ashan, silently noting his composed posture. He seemed to nod ever so slightly, acknowledging the weight of the warning.
The instructor's gaze hardened slightly, as if recalling bitter experience. "I haven't sent your results to the awakeners' database yet. If I do, the recruiters waiting outside will get them in seconds. They will try everything to recruit you. And… I've seen them use women in lewd outfits to tempt talented awakeners. It's disgraceful, but it happens often."
Ashan's lips curved into a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, instructor. We're not planning to join any association yet. Our next step is entering the Awakeners' Academy."
The instructor's face lit up, eyes brightening. "Oho… that's excellent news. That is a wise decision. By waiting, you increase your value even more. Your futures will be bright indeed."
Ashan tilted his head slightly. "Ahhm… Instructor. Can I ask a small favor?"
"Yes? What is it?" the instructor replied, leaning forward with curiosity.
"By any chance, could you delay the release of our results so we can leave here without drawing attention?" Ashan asked, his tone casual but precise.
The instructor raised a brow, a small smirk forming. "Hmm… a clever idea. But I might get into trouble if I do. Even so, wouldn't they still try to chase you?"
Ashan nodded slowly. "True. But at least we can reduce the immediate pressure. If we refuse them after they approach, they might still come, but at least the advantage will be ours for now."
The instructor leaned back, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "You have a point. Very well, I'll help. I can report that the delay is due to a system error. They won't be able to claim fault against me."
He placed a firm hand on Ashan's shoulder, his gaze lingering with concern. "I'm not particularly worried about this young lady, but you… battle mages are in high demand. You can become invaluable on the battlefield, supporting both with magic and physical prowess. More importantly, your new ability is unique. Be careful. Other awakeners may attempt to use or exploit you."
Ashan inclined his head respectfully. "Thank you very much for your advice and help. We'll take our leave now."
The instructor's smile widened. "Very well. Your new identity cards will be ready by this afternoon. You may pick them up at your convenience. I suggest you leave the premises quickly."
The three of them exited the testing room.
Nevil leaned in close to Ashan, whispering with a grin, "That instructor seems like a genuinely nice person. Lucky for us he's here."
Ashan nodded, scanning the room briefly. They slipped past the recruiting agents with quiet efficiency. One agent noticed Ashan moving quickly and tried to approach, only to be left behind.
"Damn it… why are they in such a hurry? Something's off. I didn't even get their results."
All the agents wore earpieces, linked to their superiors. Within minutes, their devices buzzed simultaneously, delivering the awaited results. In an instant, the agents bolted in pursuit, desperation etched on their faces, but it was too late. The trio had already vanished beyond the building, leaving only confusion behind.
"Shit," one agent muttered, slapping his forehead. "We lost them. Three valuable B-rankers… gone. I'm done for."
…
A few days later, the day of their enrollment at the Awakeners' Academy finally arrived. Early in the morning, Ashan donned his mage attire. Since his old wand had broken, he had obtained a new one the previous day.
He glanced down at the table where his phone rested.
'Things went smoother than I expected. The academy approved our applications the same day as our rank tests. They must have been convinced after seeing our new ranks… good. That works in our favor.'
His eyes caught his reflection in a nearby mirror. His body was more defined than ever, muscles rippling in a perfect V-shape. He flexed his arm, watching his hard work manifest.
'All that training paid off. With MoveMastery, the effects were multiplied tenfold. I could probably use up to five of the Eight Gates without issue now.'
The bedroom door creaked open, and Narasha stepped out. Ashan's face flushed immediately.
She was dressed in black—a fitted dress that hugged her form, paired with high stockings and heeled boots. Long gloves covered her arms, a high collar framing her pale neck. Her silver hair flowed over her shoulders, tied with dark ribbons. Every detail of her appearance was impossibly alluring, even as she looked mildly uncomfortable.
"What kind of ridiculous outfit is this? It's too tight," she complained, frowning slightly.
Without warning, Ashan swept her up by the waist, spinning her in circles with a delighted laugh. "You are so stunning… I'm going crazy."
Narasha froze, eyes wide. "Hey! What are you doing? Put me down this instant!"
But Ashan's grin only widened. His happiness was infectious, and Narasha's cheeks betrayed her embarrassment. "Well… if you like it that much, it must not be that weird. I guess I can wear it," he said softly.
He set her down gently and picked up his phone from the table. "Shall we take a photo? I want to remember this moment."
Narasha smiled faintly, saying nothing. While holding her close, Ashan snapped a selfie, capturing the rare, fleeting peace they shared.
Inside his mind, Ashan felt a sense of relief.
'I've spent the past few days staying close to her, doing everything to make her happy. Slowly, her resistance is fading… She's starting to open her heart. The blessing must have helped immensely.'
'I can't wait for the day she takes my hand herself.'
Ding… dong…
The doorbell rang, pulling his attention away.
'Another recruiter?' he wondered. In the past days, many had come calling, only to leave empty-handed.
Activating his Byakugan, he peered through the door.
'Ah… it's Nevil. He's here earlier than expected to join us for the academy.'