I stumbled out of the Awakening Chamber, feeling like a half-cooked turkey someone had forgotten in the oven .
The world outside hit me like a slap — too bright, too loud. A sea of students, most looking equally fried, milled around the massive circular room we'd all been herded into. Some were still staggering out of their own chambers, while others leaned against walls, trying to look cooler than they actually were.
I, of course, immediately tripped over my own feet .And of course tried to save it of like i wanted to do a push up but failed miserably.
Dignity: zero. Survival: ongoing.
[Congratulations! You have survived basic Awakening without incinerating yourself.]
[Truly, an inspiration to unstable rookies everywhere.]
"Thanks, system," I muttered. "Your emotional support means the world."
A low hum vibrated through the floor. I looked up just in time to see the giant crystal in the center of the room flare brighter — casting motes of golden light over the gathered students.
Another announcement boomed out.
---
[Phase Two: Preliminary Evaluation — Combat Specialization Assessment]
[You will now be sorted into temporary brackets based on your awakening affinity.]
[Prepare for immediate physical assessment.]
---
I squinted at the message.
They want to kill us or what?
This has been the worst back to school day i ve ever had . I don't know how am i not completely exhausted its probably that different body of mine
At first i thought i had transferred with my original body but i saw some small signs that were different my hair colour was different first of all and i saw i was a bit more well built I wasn't muscular but i was in a fine position.
A low groan rippled through the students as dozens of mini-holograms blinked into existence around the room, each floating a few feet off the ground.
Words shimmered over each one.
Flame Affinity.
Wind Affinity.
Shield Affinity.
No Affinity (Unfortunate).
The last one had a tiny crying emoji next to it.
God, this Academy had a sense of humor. A cruel one.
I scanned the room, heart thudding.
Okay, okay. Ember Seed. Fire magic. Technically, that meant...
I spotted the Flame Affinity hologram flickering near the east side of the chamber.
People were already moving toward it — students with fire magic swirling around their hands, some of them looking way too smug for my liking.
I tugged my robe tighter, squared my shoulders, and started shuffling in that direction.
And promptly got shoulder-checked by a guy built like a refrigerator.
"Watch it, shrimp," he growled, without even glancing back.
I sighed as I watched him stomp away, debating the pros and cons of setting his boots on fire.
Pros: immense satisfaction.
Cons: probable expulsion, death, and a hilarious failure.
Reluctantly, I picked "continue living" and kept moving.
When I reached the Flame Affinity group, a voice barked out:
"Line up! Alphabetical order by last name!"
Oh, for the love of—
"Vale! Thorn! Crest! Get in order!"
The instructor — a woman with steel-gray hair and a clipboard that looked more dangerous than most swords — pointed at us like she was orchestrating an invasion.
I shuffled into place behind a tall girl with silver hair tied in a loose braid. Her name tag read selene vale.
Wait.
Selene Vale?
Wasn't she... one of the top ranks?
Right. "Moon Blade," or whatever they called her it sounds cool as duck moon blade did she have like a blade shooting moon crests but I shouldn't get my hopes
Because i was now stuck next to someone who could probably kill me with a look.
She glanced at me once, her silver eyes cool and distant, then promptly ignored my existence.
She looks like those powerful side characters you see in novels . now that i think about am i in a novel??? (Oh shi he is getting consciousness ) Probably not
But honestly i appreciate that she doesn't give me any attention i hope the people of this school continue to see me as a little ant but it will be hard with my ranking
Anyways i'd been doing enough embarrassing things today without adding "weird goblin noises in front of famous classmates" to the list.
As we waited, another system message popped up.
---
[Temporary Bracket Formed: Flame Affinity Combat Evaluation]
[Preliminary Matchups Generating...]
---
Matchups?
Oh, no.
Oh no no no.
I had just survived a Warg, barely learned how to not set myself on fire, and now they wanted me to fight other people?
"Of course," I whispered bitterly. "Because this day wasn't already traumatic enough."
How packed is our schedule to do all this in one day
The roster began scrolling across the main hologram.
Dozens of names. Randomly paired up.
My eyes flew down the list, hunting for mine—
Found it.
Aster vs. Michael Flash
...
I stared.
Then stared harder.
Michael Flash.
What...???
Michael.
Freaking.
Flash.
Another name I recognized instantly.
Ranked 2nd after the Orientation Trials.
Nickname: Thunderborn. Or something like that
He is Rumored to have awakened lightning magic so strong he fried a training dummy in half.
And I... had just barely learned to light a damn campfire without crying.
"...I'm going to die," I said calmly.
Selene Vale, still standing next to me, glanced sideways.
Then, to my utter surprise, she gave a tiny snort of amusement.
"Good luck," she murmured, voice dry as dust.
Yeah.
I was gonna need it.
Another trial of troubles i just want this day to finally end
---
[TO BE CONTINUED]