"All right, next up, let's get a move on it."
The instructor's voice rang loudly through the calm auditorium.
The hall was packed with teenagers, all gathered for their awakening. As always, at the front of the auditorium stood the crazing stone. The students sat side by side in long rows, waiting for their turn, and one after another, they would step forward to place a hand on the stone.
At that moment, another student was called forward. The boy walked up to the crazing stone and raised a trembling hand. His nervousness was clear in every movement as he placed his palm against it.
A moment later, the stone began to glow.
The crazing stone lit up brightly, its radiance spilling outward across the hall.
Seeing that, the instructor gave a gentle nod and said.
"Very good, very good. Even among awakeners, you are a Class C Awakener, a Seeker class. That is amazing. You will make a fine warrior immortal."
The boy simply smiled nervously, bowed, and returned to his seat as applause followed after him.
Then another student stepped forward.
The line continued like that, one person after another. Each of them would approach the crystal, place a hand on it, and depending on how brightly it shone, their power capacity would be revealed for all to see.
Not too far from the line sat Mylo Foster, with Sheila right beside him.
Sheila had been Mylo's longtime friend, ever since he had lost his parents and grown up completely alone. Back then, all he had was Sheila, who stayed by his side through everything.
Mylo had always done his best for her, taking part-time jobs just to support them and make life a little easier. Sheila too had no parents, so in many ways, the two of them had grown up relying on each other. They were close—so close that anyone looking at them would practically call them a couple. And truthfully, they had been together for a while, even if neither of them needed to say it out loud.
But none of that mattered right now.
What mattered was this moment.
It was time for them to receive their summoning and undergo their awakening. Everyone knew what that meant. Those who awakened gained immense abilities, and once they entered service, the payment they received was enough to change lives.
For a poor man, that was like hearing the ring of a golden bell. It was the sound of hope. The sound of money. And that mattered.
That was why Mylo sat there so nervously, trying his best to stay calm, while Sheila remained composed beside him. He did not want to show how anxious he truly was, so he kept to himself, sitting still and forcing himself to endure the wait.
But as the line continued to move, his fear only grew.
Some students stepped forward, placed their hands on the crystal, and nothing happened. No glow. No sign. Seeing that filled him with dread. Each failed awakening made it harder for him to breathe, because all he could think was that the same thing might happen to him.
'No... no,' he thought inwardly. 'I have to stop thinking like that. I just need to do what I have to do. I can feel it in me. I can feel that I'm about to awaken. I just need to know my class, and then we can finally begin.'
He tightened his fists, trying to strengthen his resolve, but even then, he could not help but wonder how Sheila managed to stay so calm. She looked completely confident, her eyes filled with nothing but determination.
And then, in due time, her turn came.
Since she was ahead of him in line, Sheila rose from her seat and began walking toward the crystal. She did not tremble. She did not hesitate. Every step she took was steady.
She reached the crystal, stepped up to it, and placed her hand against it without the slightest delay.
And the moment her hand touched it, a loud glow burst out as light instantly began to shine.
The bright light shone brilliantly, almost like daylight, and within that radiance, it revealed an obvious high rank Class.
The instructor's expression changed at once, his face lighting up as he declared, "Wow, a Vanguard Class. Very good. Take pride in that, congratulations."
The entire auditorium followed with gasps, wows, and loud applause. As all that attention fell on Sheila, she slowly removed her hand from the crystal and stepped away.
Mylo was happy for her. He clapped immediately as she moved, but the moment he looked at her closely, he noticed the change in her expression. She was still smiling, and there was still a hint of pride in her eyes, but something about it felt different.
He knew instantly that something was wrong.
She was a Vanguard. They both knew exactly what that meant. Her life was set now. And for someone like him, who had pinned so much hope on this very moment, the realization hit harder than he expected.
Then it happened.
"Mylo Foster."
He barely heard his name being called at first. The instructor's voice snapped him out of his trance, and he paused before rising to his feet.
With that, he began to walk forward.
As he moved, Sheila was already on her way back, but she did not pay attention to him. She did not even look at him.
Mylo did not say a word either. He simply walked down through the auditorium and stepped up to the crystal. He paused for a moment, then slowly raised his hand and pressed it against the crystal.
The moment his hand touched it, unlike before, there was nothing.
Nothing at all.
The crystal remained dull and lifeless for several seconds.
Finally, the instructor looked at him and said, "Come on. Step back."
But Mylo paused and said, "Wait… just give me a few more moments."
The instructor shook his head. "There's nothing to give."
Mylo Foster came from the Foster family, a family known for its outrageous magic. It was one of the great families. And yet, although his parents had abandoned him, his grandfather had never paid him any mind, seeing him as nothing more than a commoner.
Mylo had never understood it. He had been born into this world, thrown into it without explanation, and in the end, he truly could not understand why.
And now, he could not even awaken.
At that moment, it felt as though life had no more surprises left for him.
With that, he slowly pulled his hand away and turned back toward his seat. As the line continued to move and the instructor kept calling others forward, Mylo returned to his place and sat down.
But Sheila did not speak.
She did not comfort him.
She remained exactly as she was, the smile gone from her face.
And with just one glance at her, Mylo knew instantly that they were done.
Whatever friendship they had, whatever love they had once shared, it was over. She had seen something better, and she would take it, leaving him behind like the worst possible outcome—something to be discarded and left to rot.
'So that was what she chose,' he thought inwardly.
He lowered his head and stared at the floor.
At last, the roll call came to an end, and all the others had received their classes.
Mylo, not knowing what else to do, remained seated with his head lowered, while beside him, Sheila sat wearing that lovely smile on her face.
"Hey, Sheila, right?"
Mylo immediately lifted his gaze and saw Carlos, the only sorcerer besides Sheila who had awakened as a Vanguard B Class. Carlos was dressed finely, his luxurious clothes making him stand out with ease.
Carlos looked at Sheila and said, "You're Sheila, right? I guess we're the only ones who got the Vanguard Class in Mota. I figured that's why I should come speak to you."
"Yes, I am," she replied.
The moment Mylo saw the way she answered, he understood.
Something about her had already changed. She seemed more open now, more attentive, more drawn toward Carlos as she stood before him.
And that alone told Mylo everything he needed to know. He already knew how this was going to go.
Then Carlos said, "Sheila, you should join my group. We're going to form our own force in Mota. We'll become the strongest and the richest, and besides, I already have all the right connections. What do you say?"
For a moment, she looked like she wanted to say yes immediately. But then she stopped herself and said, "No... let me think about it first. I need to finish up something here."
As she said that, Carlos flicked his eyes toward Mylo, then back to her, and gave a soft chuckle before saying, "All right, then. Do your thing. Why don't you meet us outside in Mota later? We're having a celebration party. By the way, my name is Carlos."
With that, he turned and began to walk away.
Then Sheila looked toward Mylo. He was standing a short distance away, silent, already knowing what was coming.
She turned fully to him and said, "Mylo—"
But he cut her off at once.
"Don't. Just don't."
She paused for a moment before speaking again. "They helped me then. I have to... I have to take care of myself now. I hope you take care of yourself too."
And with that, she turned and walked away.
Mylo remained where he was, his body feeling strangely heavy as he watched her leave. She followed behind Carlos, only a few steps behind him.
And just like that, he was left alone again.
'It's just like always,' he thought inwardly. 'I was abandoned again. I can't even awaken. I can't even be of any use to myself. I can't even build a decent life before I die... even if it's only a few days from now.'
At that moment, he did not even have the strength to fight the thought.
The noise that had once filled the place had completely faded. Mylo let out a soft breath and slowly straightened.
By then, the auditorium was empty, aside from the crystal still standing where it had always stood.
He muttered, "Oh well... let's get going then."
And with that, he stepped outside.
The night breeze met him at once, and the streetlights of Mota came into view, along with the last few students still lingering around.
As he walked, his thoughts would not stop.
'Just a commoner,' he thought inwardly. 'Just like the rest of the powerless humans in this world.'
So he kept walking.
In the end, he went home with no one coming after him, no one looking for him, no love, and nothing at all.
His life was nothing more than the mess it had always been.