Chapter 2: Betrayal
Leon, still standing outside the ceremonial hall, looks around the central plaza buzzing with families celebrating their children’s awakenings, while guild recruiters swarm successful candidates like vultures on fresh meat.
He moves through the crowd like a ghost. Parents pull their children closer once they spot his ash-gray classification badge. A mother covers her daughter’s eyes as he passes.
F-Rank Necromancer.
The words burn in his chest. Everyone looking at him sees the same thing—a walking failure. A mistake the System can’t fix.
Leon stands at the plaza’s edge, watching guild representatives circle Marcus Thorne. The new A-Rank Flame Berserk who is surrounded by offers that includes housing allowances, training stipends, equipment packages worth more than Leon’s family can earn in three years.
"Leon!"
He turns to see Damian jogging toward him, still wearing his ceremonial awakening robes. Silver embroidery catching the afternoon light—the mark of A-Rank success.
"There you are." Damian stops a few feet away, not close enough to touch, the distance feels deliberate.
"Congratulations." Leon forces the words out. "A-Rank Warblade. Your parents must be proud."
"Yeah, they’re..." Damian trails off, his eyes avoiding Leon’s. "Listen, about what happened in there—"
"It’s fine." Leon’s voice came out sharper than intended. "I knew the odds."