The village of Redgrove buzzed with excitement.
Today was the Awakening Ceremony, the single most important day in a young person's life — the day their Talent would be revealed by the Crystal of Providence, and their future decided.
Parents lined the plaza, nobles and commoners alike, each hoping to see their son or daughter step forward and awaken a Talent that would carry them to glory.
Kaelen Drayce stood among the other fifteen-year-olds, heart hammering against his ribs.
"Today's the day," he told himself. "Today, everything changes."
Around him, he could hear the sneers of the other boys — the sons of minor lords and merchants.
"No chance for a farmer's brat like him,"
"Maybe he'll awaken a dung-cleaner's talent,"
"Even if he does, no way he gets into Astralis."
Kaelen ignored them, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles whitened.
He had dreamed his whole life of escaping Redgrove, of stepping into the great cities, of learning swordplay, magic, healing — anything that would free him from the choking dust of poverty.
And he had studied harder than anyone. Trained longer. Prayed louder.
Surely fate wouldn't be so cruel.
The Elder stood beside the towering Awakening Crystal, a pulsating monolith of pale blue light. His voice rang out over the square.
"Step forward when your name is called."
The ceremony began.
One by one, the names were called.
Bright bursts of light erupted as each boy or girl placed their hands on the Crystal.
"B-Class Talent — Flameborn Warrior!"
"A-Class Talent — Tempest Mage!"
"C-Class Talent — Spirit Healer!"
Cheers echoed with every announcement. Families wept with joy. Local guild leaders in polished armor and flowing robes took notes, whispering about which prodigies to recruit.
Kaelen waited, each name a hammer pounding at his chest.
Finally, the Elder's voice broke through.
"Kaelen Drayce."
Silence fell.
Kaelen swallowed hard and stepped forward.
He placed his palms on the Crystal.
For a moment, he felt… nothing.
No heat. No electricity. No rush of power, like he had imagined so many times.
The Crystal's glow dulled — from bright blue to a soft, almost embarrassed gray.
Murmurs swept through the crowd.
The Elder cleared his throat, his face falling into a mixture of pity and disdain.
"F-Class Talent," he said loudly, his voice slicing through Kaelen's soul. "Designation: Versatile Amateur."
Mocking laughter broke out from the students.
"Versatile Amateur?"
"What's he gonna do, almost fix a roof?"
"More like Jack of No Trades!"
Kaelen's legs almost gave out.
He stumbled backward, staring at his trembling hands.
"No," he thought desperately. "This can't be it. This can't be all I am."
His father stood at the back of the crowd, his face grim. His mother wept into his shoulder. They had hoped. They had believed.
And he had failed them.
That night, after the sun had long fallen and the village square stood empty, Kaelen sat beneath the shattered moon, alone.
The cold bit at him. The stars above felt farther away than ever.
Tears he had held back all day finally fell, carving silent tracks down his cheeks.
"Why… why even give me hope if you were going to crush it?"
As if in answer, a voice — cold, mechanical, yet somehow alive — whispered into the darkness of his mind:
[Talent Ascension System Activated.]
[Scanning Awakening Signature…]
[Hidden Class Detected: EX-Class - Jack of All Trades.]
[System Integration Complete.]
Kaelen blinked, heart pounding.
Was he dreaming?
More text flooded into his vision, burning itself into his soul:
[First Quest: Unlock a Basic Warrior Skill.]
[Objective: Defeat a monster alone.]
[Reward: Talent Upgrade - E-Class Unlocked.]
Kaelen stared into the sky.
And for the first time since the ceremony, he smiled.
The world may have turned its back on him.
But fate… fate had other plans.