At the front of the hall stood a tall, raised platform, polished to a shine and decorated with silver banners and glowing runes. Jax's sharp gaze landed on the center of the stage—where a crystal orb, about the size of a watermelon, hovered above a stone pedestal. The orb shimmered with a soft white glow, its surface swirling like mist trapped inside glass.
That crystal… was the Awakening Stone—an artifact passed down from ancient times, capable of revealing a person's innate talent.
Jax narrowed his eyes slightly and shifted his gaze behind the crystal. A group of figures sat in ornate chairs, each one dressed in elegant robes bearing unique emblems and colors. There were men and women, old and young, but all gave off an aura of power and refinement.
> "Those must be the academy representatives," Jax thought to himself. "They're here to recruit students with exceptional talents into their respective academies."
It was said that every year during the Awakening Ceremony, representatives from the region's most powerful magic academies would attend in person—searching for the next prodigy or the next genius.
But even among the crowd of seated powerhouses, five individuals stood out. They were positioned at the very front, occupying the grandest chairs, each marked with a crest of gold.
They were the representatives of the Five Great Academies.
Every child in the Star God Realm dreamed of entering one of these academies, for they were the gateways to becoming true experts—mages, beast tamers, divine warriors, or even kings.
> "The top five…" Jax murmured under his breath.
But just as he finished that thought, his eyes paused on one figure.
Among the five prestigious representatives, a young man sat quietly, dressed in dark blue robes embroidered with faint silver threads. He had jet-black hair that fell neatly across his forehead and a flawless face that carried an aloof, almost lazy expression.
Unlike the others, who were scanning the crowd with analytical gazes, this man had his eyes closed—arms folded, back straight—like he was asleep.
Something about him didn't sit right with Jax.
> "Who is that guy…? He doesn't look older than twenty-five, but there's a strange aura around him. Calm… but deep. He doesn't even seem interested in the ceremony."
Before he could dwell on it further, an elderly voice echoed through the Awakening Hall.
"Welcome, children of Starfall City!" the voice rang out.
Jax turned to see an old man in flowing white robes step onto the stage. His hair was silver, and he carried a long staff topped with a moonstone crystal. With a gentle smile and a voice like thunder, he addressed the crowd.
"Today marks a sacred rite of passage for all of you. At the age of twelve, you stand before the Crystal of Destiny to awaken your innate talent—your gift from the stars. This talent will shape your path in life, whether it be as a mage, a warrior, Holy knight, or a healer. Some may awaken rare talents... and some, even legendary ones."
The room grew deathly silent, as the man spoke.
"Now, when your name is called," the elder continued, "step forward, approach the platform, and place your hand on the Awakening Crystal. Let the stars judge your soul."
He paused, raising a scroll in his hands.
"I shall now begin calling names."
As murmurs swept across the hall, Jax looked once more at the crystal. His heart pounded.
> "What kind of talent will I awaken?"
"Will it be strong enough to change everything…?"
He clenched his fists tightly, trying to calm the storm in his chest. He had waited twelve years for this moment. Twelve long years of quiet preparation, of hiding his genius behind a humble life.
"Calm down sweetie, it will be alright okay" Martha immediately held onto Jax's sweaty hands to help relieve the stress he was currently going Through
The elder's voice rang out again.
"Arlo Fenwick! Step forward."
A boy from the front row stood up, trembling slightly, and walked toward the crystal.
Arlo reached the platform and hesitated only for a breath before placing his right palm on the crystal's cool surface.
Hummmmm—
In an instant, golden light burst from within the orb, swirling and spiraling into the air above him. A bright symbol began to take shape inside the glow—two crossed bow and arrows, gleaming with radiant energy.
The crowd erupted in whispers.
The old man overseeing the ceremony gave a calm nod and smiled. "Archer Talent. A fine path—swift, precise, and deadly from afar. Train well, and you may one day become a true Marksman of the Sky."
Arlo's eyes widened with excitement. He turned to the elder and gave a deep bow.
"Thank you, Elder!" he said respectfully, then rushed off the stage with a wide grin. He returned to his seat beside a man with a proud smile—most likely his father—and sat down, beaming with pride.
The elder glanced down at his scroll and continued.
"Lumo Greaves! Step forward."
This time, a round, pudgy boy in loose clothes awkwardly waddled to the stage. His cheeks jiggled with every step, but he wore a confident grin, clearly hoping for something grand.
He placed his hand on the crystal.
Hummm...
The crystal shimmered softly for a few seconds, then lit up with a strange glow—less vibrant than before. A moment later, a kitchen knife and spoon appeared, crossed over a small cauldron.
A hush fell over the hall.
Jax raised an eyebrow.
> "A… cooking-type talent?"
The elder blinked, then let out a light chuckle. "Chef Talent. A very rare support path. While not suited for combat, chefs hold great value—capable of refining spiritual food and increasing the cultivation speed of others."
Lumo's smile froze as he heard this.
"…A… chef?" he muttered in disbelief, his lips twitching.
The elder looked at him with a kind expression and said, "Do not be discouraged, young one. The academy often treasure gifted chefs more than fighters. The road may be different—but the destination can still shine."
Lumo gulped, nodded slowly, and gave a shaky bow before waddling off the stage. The sparkle in his eyes had dulled slightly, but the elder's words lingered in his heart.
Back in the crowd, parents whispered to each other.
"A chef, huh?"
" Poor kid, he thought he was going to awakening a high level talent but...."
"Well… better than no talent."
"A rare one too, if refined properly."
" Yeah!, I just hope my son can also awaken a good talent."
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End of Chapter 2