Fool

One of the elders, a wise and venerable woman with a calm demeanor, spoke up, her voice carrying through the hall. "The Princess of Darkness essence is associated with mastery over shadows and the night. It grants immense power over darkness, the ability to command shadows, and to see into the unseen. It is an essence that brings both fear and respect, and those who possess it are often fated to lead, whether in light or in darkness."

Leila's expression didn't change. She remained calm, her eyes half-lidded as if she had expected this all along. The crowd erupted into whispers and murmurs, a mixture of fear, excitement, and admiration sweeping through the hall like a wave.

"WOW! That's our princess for you!"

"Leila awakened an essence befitting her nickname!"

"Amazing, our class has someone with two A rank and one S rank essence!"

The students started to cheer uncontrollably.

"An S-rank essence…" someone whispered nearby, their voice trembling. "That's… That's one in a million, no, ten million, isn't it?"

"Maybe even rarer," another replied, their tone filled with awe. "And it's the Princess of Darkness… That sounds incredible."

Max could barely process what he was hearing. An S-rank essence, something so rare and powerful, right here in front of him. And it wasn't just any essence—it was one related to darkness, something that carried an air of mystery and danger. He watched as Leila calmly removed her hand from the pedestal, her expression unreadable as she turned to face the crowd.

The elder nearest to her bowed his head slightly, a gesture of respect. "Lady Leila, you have awakened an essence of immense potential and power. Use it wisely, for the path of the Princess of Darkness is not an easy one. It is filled with shadows and uncertainty, and only those with a strong will and a clear mind can master it."

Leila nodded, her eyes briefly meeting the elder's before she turned and began to walk back to her place. As she passed Max and Harry, she didn't spare them a glance, her focus straight ahead, her steps measured and precise.

Max felt a chill run down his spine as she passed, and he couldn't help but wonder what kind of person she truly was. There was something about her that was almost… unsettling. He glanced at Harry, who was still staring after Leila, his expression thoughtful.

"Well, that was something," Harry muttered, finally tearing his eyes away from Leila and turning back to Max. "Eh, you ok? Why are trembling?"

"E-Eh, I-I'm not..." Max nodded slowly, his mind still reeling from everything that had happened.

Harry shrugged, his usual carefree demeanor returning, albeit with a hint of seriousness. "Guess my turn is around the corner."

"Y-Yea, good luck," Max said remembering one of the common sense knowledge he learned today.

As Harry's name was called, a few of his classmates turned to him with encouraging smiles.

"Good luck, Harry!" one of them called out, giving him a thumbs-up.

"Yeah, show us what you've got!" another added, grinning broadly.

Harry chuckled, giving them a playful salute. "Thanks, everyone! I'll do my best," he said confidently, though his eyes briefly flicked over to Max, who still seemed lost in thought after Leila's awakening. Harry's smile faltered slightly, but he shook his head, refocusing as he made his way up to the platform.

As he reached the pedestal, Harry took a deep breath and placed his hand on its cool surface, closing his eyes. The sensation was immediate—a rush of energy coursing through him, like an electric current that prickled his skin and made his hair stand on end.

Unlike Max, however, Harry didn't feel any intrusive presence trying to pull or probe into his essence. Instead, he felt a strange, harmonious vibration resonating deep within him, as if the very core of his being was aligning with something vast and incomprehensible.

A series of messages began to flash before his eyes, appearing in quick succession:

[High-Grade resonance detected with one of the Paradoxical Essences of the Echelon of Essences.]

[....]

[....]

[You perfectly resonate with the essence...]

[Forced awakening is being initiated...]

[The Paradoxical Essence has veiled itself to match its truth...]

[...]

[...]

As these messages appeared, Harry felt a sudden surge of energy explode outward from the pedestal, rippling through the hall like a shockwave. The air around him seemed to distort, bending and warping as if reality itself was being twisted.

The ground beneath him trembled slightly, and a faint, shimmering aura began to envelop him, casting strange shadows on the floor.

The onlookers gasped, their eyes wide with astonishment. Many of them leaned forward in their seats, craning their necks to get a better view of what was happening.

"Is this… another S-rank?" one of the students whispered, awe in their voice.

"Or maybe an A-rank?" another speculated, eyes sparkling with excitement. "Look at that aura—it's incredible!"

But as the light around Harry began to fade, the screen above him flickered to life, displaying his essence and rank for all to see:

[Essence: Fool]

[Rank: F]

"..."

For a moment, the hall was completely silent, the crowd staring at the screen in stunned disbelief.

Harry, still standing on the platform, seemed to be in a trance, his eyes glazed over as he processed the information. He had no idea what to think or feel. The messages, the energy—everything had felt so intense and powerful, and yet… an F-rank essence?

And...

A Fool?

Are you kidding me?

...

"Pfft... HAHAHA!"

Then, suddenly, a sharp, mocking laugh pierced the silence.

"Hahaha!"

Following that, one of the students near the back burst out laughing, clutching their stomach as they doubled over in mirth. 

"Hah! The 'Fool' essence? Oh, that's perfect!" they guffawed, tears of laughter streaming down their face. "It suits him well!"

Another student joined in, snickering loudly. "I can't believe it! With all that drama, he ends up with an F-rank 'Fool'? That's just too funny!"

"Wait, wasn't he the class clown? He should have gotten the "Clown" essence, hahaha!"

Soon, nearly half of the crowd was laughing, their chuckles and jeers echoing through the hall. Some were pointing at Harry, while others slapped their knees, struggling to catch their breath from laughing so hard.

Harry stood there, still in a daze, as the laughter washed over him like a tidal wave. His face was flushing red, his shoulders slumping slightly, his breaths quick. 

Maybe unable to bear the mocking stares and jeers any longer, Harry suddenly turned on his heel and bolted from the platform, sprinting towards the exit.

"Hey, look! He is running away!" someone shouted, and a fresh wave of laughter erupted, louder than before.

"Run, Fool, run!" another taunted, their voice dripping with mockery.

A few of Harry's classmates watched him leave with pity in their eyes, their expressions somber as they took in the scene unfolding before them. A couple of them, clearly upset by the harsh reactions, tried to speak up.

"Hey, cut it out! That's enough!" one of them shouted, a girl with red hair and a fierce glare. It was Lily who Harry helped.

"Yeah, he just got surprised. It could happen to anyone!" another boy added, his tone defensive. It was James, a close friend of Harry.

But their words were lost in the din of the laughter. The rest of the students seemed too caught up in their amusement to notice the few voices of reason.