Class Awakening [1]

As the formation for awakening was set, Darian clapped his hands to capture the students' attention, which they readily gave, not wanting to fall out of favor with someone of his high tier, as it could make their future difficult.

"Okay then, if everyone is ready, I would like to introduce you to my formation, which will assist in awakening your class today—whether it is destined for you or not. Students, please come forward one line at a time and stand in the middle of the formation. You will soon feel a strange energy or sensation beginning to envelop you, but do not be alarmed; let it flow through you as it will awaken the class that lies dormant within you. Come and discover your fate," he announced, and the students clapped, giving weight to his words.

"Students, you will proceed from section one, following the order of your roll numbers, and then we will continue with the other sections," the Principal instructed, as the teachers prepared for their annual roles.

"Alright, class, as I call out your number, the student will go on stage and begin the process," Cedric announced, stepping in front of his class lines.

"Number one," he called, and a student with brown hair, a common trait here along with other colors like black, blonde, and the rarer hues like blazing red, ocean blue, and forest green, walked towards the stage. But let's set aside the hair color discussion and focus on the task at hand.

He approached the stage, bowed to the principal and Darian, and stepped into the formation, placing his hand on the awakening crystal to initiate the process. 

The crystal glowed briefly, and the young man winced as an unsettling sensation crept within him. 

He fought the urge to withdraw his hand, fearing it might disrupt the awakening. 

As the sensation dissipated, his body radiated light, and an illusion of a warrior with a shield materialized above him, visible to all. 

"Ah, it seems this young one has awakened as a <Shield Bearer>. He may not be offensive, but his abilities could prove highly valuable to a party," remarked Darian, observing the apparition. The principal appeared composed, yet internally he was elated; a student had awakened to a combat-related class immediately, which, despite its limited offensive capabilities, could still be honed for combat. This would surely impress the formation master and potentially garner support for the school from the CGA branch.

As the apparition faded, the crystal where the student's hand rested began to flicker, and a letter emerged.

<D >, signifying the potential or grade of his class.

It was an established fact that hunters were categorized by their rank: those below C were deemed low in status, while those with a higher-class rank were destined to shine.

"Oh, what a shame. He has a good class but a low rank, though it's not bad," the Principal remarked. The student felt a mix of happiness and disappointment, the latter due to Miriam's comment.

After leaving the stage, he joined his classmates who congratulated him on his awakening. Their approval lifted his spirits, as he had achieved what he had worked so hard for.

The mood was buoyant until Teacher Cedric announced the next student, a girl known for her kindness and popularity. As she approached the stage, there was a palpable sense of anticipation for her to receive a high class.

She stepped into the formation for the awakening. Her body twitched in the initial phase, but then, to the silent shock of the audience, no visage appeared. The inevitable had occurred.

She emerged as a non-awakened, without a class but still possessing the mana that would allow her to live a life like everyone else.

It was deemed necessary, yet they couldn't be overly aggressive with it. Those who hadn't awakened to their classes were not entitled to become strong.

Thus, the girl's fate was sealed to a mundane job within the lord's territories.

Some stubborn individuals chose to hunt monsters beyond the protected lands in hopes of wealth, but rules and regulations thwarted them. If they ventured illegally, they were either caught or killed by the monsters.

The girl who failed to awaken wept, crouched in the formation, while Cedric, who could be haughty at times, consoled her. Despite his occasional arrogance towards teachers in competitions, he empathized with her inability to awaken a class, as he shared the same fate.

After receiving some comfort from the teacher, the girl descended from the stage to join her friends in the field.

Her fellow students were deeply saddened but powerless to help, as awakening a class was not something one could influence. Otherwise, no one would tolerate the existence of those without a class.

Following a moment of silence for the first failure, the principal gestured to Cedric to summon another student, for Darian was not a man to wait idly all day for a single group of students, given his many other responsibilities.

Evan, who was observing the scene, was keen to encounter this Lucas, potentially a future adversary. To avoid facing a formidable foe, he contemplated eliminating the threat before it could grow. It is well-known that a 'destined one' given time to develop will acquire life-saving skills and return stronger than ever.

The awakening session progressed, assigning combat classes such as knight, archer, assassin, mage, brawler, and martial artist to some students, while others received support roles like healers, shield bearers, scouts, formation masters, and tricksters—a class specializing in illusion magic and charm skills. Auxiliary roles included blacksmith apprentices, alchemists, enchanters, gardeners, and teachers. A standout was the Paladin, a high-ranking class awarded to a girl, making her the star of section one. During the visage, a low-level phenomenon occurred: a knight appeared before everyone, and as they watched, the sky above the auditorium darkened with clouds. Suddenly, a sword of light descended, and Darian, experienced in such matters, quickly formed a barrier on the roof, turning it transparent so the sword could pass through effortlessly.

The sword landed before the visage, who grasped it as if chosen by a deity. Eventually, the visage vanished, revealing the girl's talent, marked as <B >—the highest anyone had achieved.

Moreover, Darian recommended the girl for the CGA.

That concluded the entire section, with eleven remaining unawakened.

Thus, the first section's awakening came to an end. No one had surpassed a B grade, but achieving higher was exceedingly difficult and might stand as the class's peak.

Subsequently, the Principal, contemplating the repercussions of a similar event, decided to relocate, a decision Darian concurred with, not wishing to repeat the past.

Minutes later, the venue was shifted; students gathered on the field while Darian prepared the formation for the awakening.

The teachers discussed the Principal's initial preference for the auditorium, now reverted to the field, where the first nine awakenings had occurred.

They recalled advising him to choose this location, yet he had opted to attempt it indoors, to which they had acquiesced.

Now, they looked on with disapproval, while he avoided their stares, too embarrassed to meet their eyes.

And without further waiting he resume the awakening for the next section, two.

-- To be continued --