Chapter 1: Awakening Day
The Grand Ceremonial Hall stretch before Leon like a cathedral of broken dreams. Hundreds of eighteen-year-old fill the marble benches, their nervous chatter echoing off the vaulted ceiling. Golden light from enchanted crystals baths everything warmly, but Leon feel cold to the bone.
His hands tremble as he grips the worn fabric of his pants—the same pants his mother patched three times this month. Around him, students wear silk robes embroidered with family crests, and their conversations are peppered with the names of prestigious guilds and legendary hunters.
"My uncle says Iron-Fang Guild is already scouting for A-Ranks," whispered a girl behind him, her voice brimming with the confidence of someone who never worried about paying rent.
Leon’s stomach churns. He had dreamed of this day for years, but sitting among Armathor’s elite, he feels like a fraud. His father’s funeral briefly flashes through his mind—the closed casket because dimensional creatures left little behind—and the Hero’s Pension that barely covered medicine for his mother’s failing lungs.
"Hey." Damian nudges his shoulder. "Stop looking like someone died."
Leon manage a weak smile. His best friend always radiate the easy confidence of someone born to wealth. Damian’s father commands an entire district’s guard force, and his mother owns three restaurants in the upper quarter. Even his clothes scream money—midnight blue silk that probably cost more than Leon’s family earn in a month.
"Just nervous," Leon said.
"About what? We’ve been planning this forever." Damian grinned. "You get your class, I get mine, and then we join the same guild, easy."
Easy for him. Damian has the build of a natural warrior—broad shoulders, quick reflexes, and a presence that make people step aside. Leon is tall but lean, better suited for books than battles. His only advantage is his sharp mind, but intelligence doesn’t guarantee a good awakening.
The crowd fell silent as Grand Assessor Vaelin took the stage. His silver robes marks him as one of the Association’s highest officials—the man who will determine their future with a single magical evaluation.
"Today, you leave childhood behind," Vaelin announce, his voice carrying without amplification to every corner of the massive hall. "The Awakening Orb will reveal your true nature. Your class. Your rank. Your place in the world."