Free Web NovelChapter 1: Chapter 1: Awakened but what Rank?
A pre-orientation was being held.
Nothing in depth, nothing too serious.
—
"Rifts came alive in the sky. Most of you should know this," the presenter said.
"The rifts came with their unique experiences, mostly bad initially."
"Monsters beyond our military might."
"Wars against foes never once expected."
"This was our reality for a while."
"Not until the very rifts that came out to us as a threat provided our salvation."
"The rifts came not only with monsters but mana."
"The sky was filled with it."
"Mana descended after saturating the atmosphere, birthing mages in our modern day."
"There’s many theories as to why rifts exist, but I won’t go into that today."
"Before stepping forward to know your talents and ranks."
"Mages usually only govern a single element."
"Most of you will fall under this category."
"Do not expect to be extraordinary like Merlin or Vlad."
Most of the candidates knew this, but this wasn’t going to stop them from reaching for the skies and literally beyond.
"That’s all for this session."
"You may proceed forward."
The presenter was done.
He really just gave rather basic knowledge. Most of them knew this.
This was nothing special. That’s why it was a pre-orientation.
The real thing probably comes right after the awakening.
Everyone could be mages thanks to mana being everywhere.
However, one’s compatibility with mana is entirely uncertain.
Those who awaken with classes less than C are unsuitable to be combat mages.
They do groundwork, like teaching, spell binding, sales, etc.
Teaching mages should never be looked down on.
I mean Merlin retired from combat nearly 20 years ago and now he exclusively teaches at the his own Circle School of Mages.
There was a rumor heard around these parts.
The rumor was always at its heights in these ceremonies where young men and women think they’re going to be the one.
That chosen one who somehow awakens the coveted god system.
Rumor has it, the god system is capable of just about everything.
The presenter made no mention of the god system. There was no need.
Years and years had gone by with the pre-orientation mentioning the insignificance of the fabled system, but yet most would still go in expecting to be different from the others.
What do they think? Well, they’re different, maybe better than those who’d come before.
The rumors had claimed so many young mages’ lives.
Stories has been told.
All based on different perspectives, as these mages were from different circles and schools.
The rumors sometimes led mages down the wrong path.
They all felt defeated, mostly because they didn’t awaken the system as they awakened as mages.
This is...
"Step forward for the ceremony."
"Please place your hand atop the staff."
They all marvelled.
That was no ordinary staff.
It was Merlin’s.
’Is that...’ Roe thought.
There was no need to complete it.
He knew it was Merlin’s.
"This staff will unlock your residual mana."
"Form a single line and let’s get this event started," the presenter ended.
The all-enthusiastic bunch immediately rushed. They definitely weren’t going to joke around.
Pushing was always expected. Maybe not to this extent. This bunch seemed a bit extra.
Roe wasn’t in a haste like the others.
He was patient. He probably had his reasons.
’No point rushing. Revel in the anticipation,’ he thought.
The presenter looked towards him.
He noticed this particular individual wasn’t in a haste.
He walked up to have a conversation with Roe.
I guess he wanted to know where his nerves and mind were at.
"Hey," he said, waving.
Roe just smiled.
"Hey."
"Don’t you want to get this over with like the others and get other things done?" the presenter asked.
"Hmmm." Roe smiled again, this time wider than the last.
’Well,’ he thought.
’How do I...’
"Ok, there’s no point. They all already know that our potential is kinda fixed, so why rush in checking something that can’t and won’t change."
"What’s the purpose? Nerves? If so, that’s a weak answer."
Roe was smart, or at least that’s the impression he gave the presenter.
"Besides, I’m different from the others." ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom
The presenter was intrigued at first, but now that he said this, the presenter knew he was no different from the other ego-obsessed, self-glazing idiots he’d seen time and time again.
He stood up before Roe could say anything else.
He didn’t want to waste his time.
"Sorry for wasting your time," the presenter said.
He felt he had, however, truly wasted his own time and not Roe’s.
"Have you heard of fate?" Roe said.
The presenter was really about to move, but that statement intrigued him.
"Not destiny?" he asked.
Roe smiled.
"You know what I meant."
The presenter wasn’t sure.
’There’s no way he knows of fate?’ the presenter thought.
He wanted to ask a follow-up question.
Before he could, Roe stood up.
He joined the already diminished line.
He was next in no time.
He placed his hand on Merlin’s staff.
"You may remove your hand, sir?" the mage on the counter said.
Roe didn’t.
He thought something was wrong.
The mage had to forcefully remove Roe’s hand.
Something was wrong.
Yet at the same time.
Something was right.
Roe looked terrified and in shock.
The mage called for the presenter.
This was impossible.
The presenter came quickly. freēwebnovel.com
He thought it was some unprecedented failure, like Roe not awakening at all or being only F rank, which was rare.
He was disappointed. Roe seemed to know something.
He came, he saw Roe’s reaction, and then assumed he knew pretty much what happened.
He did not.
He looked at the screen and even he was filled with shock.
’That’s impossible.’
Almost instinctively, he fell to the ground.
This boy had achieved a feat that could only have been destined.
’Why doesn’t he seem happy or pleased?’ the presenter thought.
"Hey Roe, let’s talk," the presenter said.
He was using a transformation spell.
He disengaged the transformation.
It served no purpose.
"As you can probably tell, I’m no random mage," the presenter said.
Roe didn’t seem impressed or interested.
He gave no answer, almost like he was looking off in the distance.
"I’m Solomon. A disciple of Merlin."
"Please follow me. I’ll take you to him."
There was commotion in the next hall.
"Hey, did something happen?" one person asked.
Before long, the others who had already entered the hall came out.
They noticed Roe, a random guy, being escorted by someone who seemed to be Solomon.
Solomon was Merlin’s top student.
Merlin trained him like you would a son.
"Wow, he must have been something like A or S rank for him to be getting to meet the big man this early on," one said.
"Well that can’t be it. If he was only A rank, then why only him? I’m A rank, so that answer doesn’t cut it," Ramon said.
"What’s the problem? Why do you seem disappointed?" Solomon asked.
’Did they not tell him?’ he thought.
’In that case...’
"Roe, stand proud."
"You have awakened successfully as a mage."
"Not just of any rank or class, but the first in at least 6 decades to be born with the potential to rival Merlin as a fellow SSS-ranked mage."
Solomon followed with a kneel.
The ultimate gesture in this world.
Roe did not stop.
He visibly began crying.
Solomon looked up.
He saw Roe’s face and said,
"What?"
