"Shit! Have you heard? Someone at Eastwood High awakened a Vital Instrument with the potential of a Celestial Star."
"Are you freaking, fucking, kidding me?!"
Exasperated gasps rang out through the Silverstone High Basketball court that had been temporarily converted to host the Awakening Ceremony.
The gathered crowd of students frequently cursed as they conversed between themselves, announcing the rather fortunate students from other schools that had gone through their Awakening Ceremony.
More than that, the atmosphere was filled with tension born from excitement, anxiety, and dread towards the unknown future.
Today, they would either Awaken their Vital Instruments or fail to. Even at the cost of awakening, the dice of destiny still rolled.
Would they awaken a powerful Vital Instrument capable of rising through the ranks of humanity's elites against corruption that gnawed their world, or become a low-level Awakener trying desperately to survive against the Corruption?
Doubts hung on everyone's mind. No matter how they tried to wash it down by talking out loud, their eyes shone with worry.
Including Axel, whose senses dulled to the fingers holding his palm and the group considered to be Silverstone High's biggest club conversing with him at the centre of attention.
He was lost in deep thoughts.
Just then—
"Alright, quieten down!"
The stationed speakers across the court blared with Principal Marvin's voice. Walking side by side with him as they climbed the podium was Mr. Daniel, their Homeroom teacher.
Following the Principal's arrival, the court quickly calmed to hushed whispers. Students repeatedly pointed at the black pedestal on the podium draped over by a white curtain.
"As you all know, today holds not just a very significant cause in your lives but also in the history of Silverstone High." Principal Marvin paused, letting his words take root in the hearts of the students and watching the whole court become as silent as a graveyard.
'This is the moment.' they all thought, eyes on the Principal, a Four-Star Awakener also known as Sovereign Star, a rank considered as an Elite of Stonebridge City.
Nodding his head approvingly at the silence, Principal Marvin continued.
"First, I would like to tell you that being an Awakener is not all there is to life. Despite the wealth and glory that comes with it, Awakeners battle every day, surrounded with constant dangers and are prone to die at the cost of a slight mistake."
"Not everyone is destined for greatness either. Many are born to be unknown and side characters. But it doesn't mean you have no role to fulfill."
"In case you don't awaken, you still remain the hope of humanity. No one is insignificant."
Having heard the brutal truth, the atmosphere turned solemn.
As for Axel, he knew why this was being said.
Every year, a lot of young people tend to commit suicide after the Awakening Ceremony, unable to accept their fate.
"With that, I will leave your homeroom teacher to handle the rest,"
The Principal said this and stepped back, pulling the curtain over the pedestal away to reveal a big orb swirling with black and crimson light within.
The instant everyone saw this, the gloom in the air vanished, replaced by excitement and expectation towards the Awakening Orb.
They burst out into excited cheers, shaking with joy till their Homeroom teacher, Mr. Daniel, raised his right hand to silence them.
"Lucy Fairmont stepped forward."
The instant the name was called, a girl with light brown hair was instantly pushed forward by her excited friends.
Under the gaze of thirty or so students, Lucy Fairmont quickly adjusted her blazer, overcoming her shyness and climbed towards the podium.
With each step, however, her excitement vanished. When she got to the pedestal holding up the orb, her shoulders were completely weighed by uncertainty.
Just as she felt herself about to have a panic attack, the Principal's understanding voice reached her.
"Stretch and place your hand on the orb."
Lucy did as she was told and felt her eyes involuntarily close. It was as if her soul was sucked by a whirlpool. For a moment, time no longer existed. And when it did, a small, palm-sized metallic compass, glowing softly, materialized in the air before her.
The orb's light had increased, but no one could tell what it meant except for the Principal.
"Vital Instrument: Resonance Compass.
Category: Support/Utility Type
Potential: 2 Star - Rising Star."
The instant Principal Marvin announced this, the whole court burst into a round of applause. Whistles and shouts repeatedly sounded.
On the podium, tears escaped Lucy's eyes as she was overwhelmed by joy, almost collapsing.
But holding strong, the compass dematerialized back into her soul space. Not caring about being the centre of attention, she ran to hug her friends.
To the rest of the students, this was a good omen. Not only did the first not awaken her vital instrument, but it has the potential to make her become a 2-Star Awakener. Everyone felt excited, their uncertainty lessening.
Principal Marvin could only shake his head, knowing what was to come.
"Emma Whitlock."
Mr. Daniel suddenly called, and the court fell into an abrupt silence once more.
Everyone tilted their heads in one direction, including Axel. He could feel the grip of Anna, his clingy girlfriend, tightening around his arm when her eyes fell on the breathtakingly beautiful girl coldly walking towards the podium.
Silverstone's finest Queen.
Dressed in a similar Silverstone High uniform, Emma's long white hair cascaded behind her with an aura of confidence uncannily vivid in her steps, such enough to prove that she was a descendant of one of the 8 Constellation Families.
The court held an anticipating silence as Emma stretched forth her hand towards the orb.
Whoom!
A bright, divine light suddenly illuminated and enveloped the whole court.
From afar, the Juniors and Sophomores who were in their classes glanced towards the gymnasium, dazed as they saw the piercing white light through its windows.
Meanwhile, in the court, everyone cursed. Although they had managed to instinctively close their eyes, the sudden overwhelming bright light was like a flashbang. Their senses were completely disoriented after that.
"Damn! Which bastard thought it would be funny to throw a flashbang!"
"Fuck! Get your hands from my family jewels!"
"Ah! Who punched me!"
Just as the chaos ensued, Principal Marvin was completely numb as he stared at the screen projected by the Awakening Orb in his subconsciousness.
'What is this?' He thought, shaken to the very core of his being.
Gradually, as the students recovered, they all realized something was painfully wrong.
That was no flashbang but the orb reacting to Emma's Vital Instrument.
Seeing the Principal's widened eyes, everyone knew something big enough to shake the whole city or even humanity had just happened.
After 30 seconds, Principal Marvin managed to subdue most of his shock. A shrewd glint flashed in his eyes before speaking.
"Vital Instrument, Midnight Requiem."
"Type: Extraordinary Offense/Melee."
"Potential… 6 Stars - Transcendent Star."
Silence…