The class exchanged nervous glances. No one wanted to volunteer.
"I'll go," Derek said, stepping forward before anyone else could. Of course he would. Derek always needed to be first, to prove himself.
He approached the crystal with confident strides, his usual arrogance back in full force. The court watched in silence as he placed his hand on the smooth surface.
The crystal flared with brilliant light.
Colors swirled and coalesced—crimson and gold, fierce and blazing. Derek gasped as heat radiated from his right hand. When the light faded, a glowing letter 'S' had burned itself onto the back of his hand, shimmering like molten metal.
"Extraordinary," Grand Magus Selene breathed. "An S-rank on the very first attempt."
But the ceremony wasn't finished. The crystal pulsed once more, and a magic circle appeared on the floor beneath Derek's feet. Light shot upward, coalescing into a shape that solidified with a sound like crackling flames.
A creature materialized beside Derek—a wolf-like beast wreathed in flickering flames. It was small, perhaps the size of a large dog, clearly juvenile compared to the massive beasts stationed around the throne room. But even in this diminutive form, power radiated from it. Its fur seemed to shimmer with internal heat, and its eyes glowed like burning coals.
TALENT: INFERNAL BERSERKERRANK: S
The words appeared in the air above Derek's head, visible to everyone present.
"An Infernal Berserker talent," the prince said, his voice filled with awe. "The ability to contract with fire-type combat beasts and channel their destructive power. Extraordinary."
Derek stared at the flame wolf, which looked up at him with intelligence that seemed far beyond any normal animal. Slowly, hesitantly, he reached down. The beast nuzzled against his hand, and Derek's expression shifted from shock to triumph.
The throne room erupted in excited murmurs. An S-rank talent on the very first awakening.
"Who's next?" Selene asked, her eyes bright with anticipation.
One by one, students approached the crystal.
Lily stepped forward, her hand trembling slightly as she touched the crystal. The light that erupted was deep blue and silver, like moonlight on water. The 'SS' that appeared on her hand seemed to shimmer and flow like liquid.
A magic circle formed, and from it emerged a serpentine creature—sleek and elegant even in its juvenile form, with scales that reflected light like mirrors and small fins that rippled with an otherworldly grace. It was perhaps three feet long, coiling gracefully around Lily's shoulders.
TALENT: CELESTIAL TIDE SAGERANK: SS
The court gasped. An SS-rank. Legendary potential.
"A Celestial Tide Sage," King Aldric stood from his throne, barely containing his excitement. "Able to contract with water and celestial beasts of immense power. Two talents above A Rank in one summoning!"
Blake went next. Wind swirled around him as an 'A' appeared on his hand. His contracted beast was a hawk with silver-tipped feathers, small but incredibly fast, already circling his head with excited cries.
TALENT: STORM RIDERRANK: A
Marcus touched the crystal, and golden light flooded the room. The 'A' on his hand glowed warmly. His beast was a small lion cub with a mane that seemed to shimmer with holy light, tiny but radiating protective energy.
TALENT: RADIANT GUARDIANRANK: A
Sophie's awakening brought forth green and pink light. The 'B' on her hand was delicate, almost floral. Her contracted beast was a small deer-like creature with flowers growing from its antlers, barely the size of a large cat.
TALENT: LIFE BLOOM HEALERRANK: B
Claire received a 'B' rank, her talent manifesting with swirling purple mists. Her beast was a fox with fur that seemed to shimmer and shift colors, playing tricks on the eyes even as a juvenile.
TALENT: MIRAGE WEAVERRANK: B
The ranks continued, each student awakening to remarkable potential.
Nina's 'A' appeared with a flash of silver light. Her beast was an owl with peculiarly sharp eyes, small but already radiating an aura of keen intelligence.
TALENT: TACTICAL MINDRANK: A
Grace's gentle 'A' brought forth a small rabbit-like creature with impossibly soft fur and kind eyes, already nuzzling against her leg.
TALENT: NATURE'S EMBRACERANK: A
Maya, trembling as she approached, awakened an 'A' rank. Her beast was a small dove with pure white feathers that seemed to glow with inner light, settling immediately on her shoulder and calming her tears.
TALENT: HOLY SANCTUARYRANK: A
Evan stepped forward with barely contained excitement. Lightning crackled as an 'S' burned onto his hand. His contracted beast was a tiger cub wreathed in electrical discharges, small but fierce, already growling with energy.
TALENT: THUNDERLORDRANK: S
Another S-rank. The nobles were practically celebrating now.
Jason received 'B' rank, his beast a small tortoise with a shell that looked impossibly sturdy.
TALENT: EARTHEN FORTRESSRANK: B
Troy's 'B' manifested with shadows coalescing around him. His beast was a small panther with fur like living darkness, already moving with predatory grace.
TALENT: SHADOW STALKERRANK: B
Rachel's 'B' appeared with a shimmer of pink and gold. Her beast was a small peacock-like bird, beautiful even in juvenile form, already preening.
TALENT: ENCHANTING PRESENCERANK: B
Jade's 'B' came with sickly green light. Her beast was a small serpent with purple patterns, coiled possessively around her wrist.
TALENT: VENOM WHISPERRANK: B
Zara manifested an 'A' rank with metallic silver light. Her beast was a small wolf with fur that seemed to have a metallic sheen, calculating eyes already scanning the room.
TALENT: STEEL TACTICIANRANK: A
Owen's 'B' appeared with a burst of sound waves that made several people wince. His beast was a small parrot-like creature with vibrant feathers, already making strange sounds.
TALENT: SONIC DISRUPTIONRANK: B
Quinn approached with his usual withdrawn expression. His 'A' manifested with a distortion in the air itself, like reality briefly folding. His beast was a small raven with feathers that seemed to absorb light, impossibly quiet.
TALENT: VOID ASSASSINRANK: A
Cole, their teacher, placed his hand on the crystal. An 'A' appeared with warm, steady light. His beast was a small eagle with golden feathers, proud and watchful.
TALENT: WISDOM'S AEGISRANK: A
Eighteen students and one teacher. Every single person had awakened B-rank or higher. Three S-ranks, one SS-rank, and the rest A or B. It was unprecedented. The court was in a frenzy of excitement.
That left only one person.
Aster.
Everyone had gone before him. Every single person had revealed extraordinary talent, each now accompanied by a beast companion that radiated potential. The court's excitement was palpable. King Aldric stood at the edge of his throne, eyes fixed on Aster with clear expectation.
This is it, Aster thought as he walked toward the crystal. Whatever I am in this world, I'm about to find out.
He'd been the best in his old world. Top of his class, perfect scores, mastery of everything he attempted. Surely that would translate here. Surely the System would recognize his potential.
His hand touched the crystal's smooth surface.
The world seemed to hold its breath.
The crystal flared—but differently than before. The light flickered, stuttered, like a flame struggling against wind. Colors swirled chaotically, refusing to coalesce into coherent patterns. Aster felt something wrong, a disconnect between himself and the crystal, as if it was searching for something that wasn't there.