Abel entered into his classroom a few minutes late even though he ran almost all the way.
By now, his uniform was damped with sweat, his breath uneven as he walked into the class.
As soon as he entered into the class, all eyes turned to him... Some looked at him with pity, some with vengeful satisfaction and some with just clear indifference. But that lasted for just a few moments before everyone returned to their work.
Today, there would be no class since it would be the awakening ritual.
They had been preparing all their lives for this ritual... Well, at least most of them were.
Not everyone was lucky enough to participate in this ritual.
Firstly, not everyone was lucky enough to be born with talent. In fact, only a very small number, less than a tenth of a percent of the population were lucky enough to develop true spirit roots. The rest were born with dead spirit roots, or no roots at all.
Secondly, not everyone in the world had access to the awakening ritual. It was a secret ritual, it's rites only known to the clans and they were very tight lipped about it..
Those who were partakers of the rituals — the spirit masters —were the reins the noble clans used to keep the world in check and in order. At the same time, they were the guardians of humanity, their only shield and protection against the demonic invasion.
Simultaneously, the ritual was the carrot they used to draw in talents so that they had no choice but to come to their clans. It wasn't that they weren't other ways to awaken as a spirit master, but every other way was really subpar in comparison with those from the clans.
It could be said that this ceremony was the very backbone of the strength and superiority of the various clans over other factions.
As a consequence, all the clans put away their disagreements and strife, agreeing not leak out any of their formulas for the ritual.
But at the same time, they made the talent measuring test compulsory for all ten year old children.
In this way, all the talented children were made aware of their talent, and a choice was presented to them to serve under the clans.
Service to one of the clans was the only way that their talent could be fully expressed and eventually be put to good use.
They were free to refuse... At least on paper. But very few chose that option. The benefits given by the clans were astounding, plus, the awakened were the most reputable people in the world. Everyone loved them and wanted to be one of them. Plus, who didn't want to be super strong?
So in this way, the clans had a large number of all the talents in the world, only having to fight amongst themselves for them and leaving the rest for the smaller organisations.
But this was just for the very few who were talented, for the normal people, their only hope of awakening their spirit root was to join the other factions and use their awakening methods.
All this was why this group of students today felt extremely excited.
None of them could be said to be mind-blowing talents — else they wouldn't be here — but they got this opportunity to partake of the ceremony because they were chosen to by the family heirs and those monstrous talents in the main school to be their bondservants.
Most of them were orphans or rejected children, there was no promise that they wouldn't have died already, talk more of becoming anything special but they were lucky enough to be found and trained by the clan. And now, today, they would become awakened as well.
But not everyone was destined to be excited today.
Abel trudged over to his seat, his head bent low as he tried his best not to attract anymore attention. But his attempts we're futile.
On getting to his seat, a few boys were sitting on it laughing to each other.
Abel made to pivot but one of them at that time 'noticed' him and called to him.
"Hey Abel. Isn't this your seat? Where are you going to?"
Abel, turned over looking at the one who called him. He thought about leaving the classroom for today, but he immediately tossed the thought away. If he was caught loitering, he'd be punished by the clan. That would be even worse.
He'd just have to push through, It was going to be the last time anyway.
"Yeah, it is, Astrid," Abel chuckled hollowly, awkwardly scratching the back of his head. "But since you guys were talking, I thought it'd be rude to interfere."
"Haha. What are you talking about?" Astrid laughed loudly, a sadistic glint in his eyes. "Aren't we friends? Of course it wouldn't be rude."
"Haha,"
Astrid stood up from the seat and walked towards Abel.
"Yes Abel, I heard that you wouldn't be partaking in the Awakening ritual. You're talentless but I didn't think you'd be foolish as well, missing such a chance. Well, what can I say? I'm your friend so I would do my best to 'support' your choice." Astrid said, chuckling to himself while his goons laughed off to his joke.
"Seeing that we wouldn't have classes today, would you prefer we played here? I'm sure the whole class would like to watch the fun."
Hearing that, Abel's face paled. It was one thing to be bullied, but it was another thing to be bullied in front of everyone.
"Save it to yourselves, I don't want to see the sight." A voice rang from the front of the classroom. Noah, the class head turned his gaze over.
Astrid looked coldly towards Noah. Noah evenly returned his gaze properly fixing his glasses.
Not many people dared to defy Astrid in the servant school block, but Noah, the class head and the strongest person in the block was one of those who dared.
"Forget it," Astrid said his mirth gone, his eyes shaking with rage.
"Let's go."
His two goons looked at each other. Astrid was mad now and even they were scared of being around him when he raged.
They looked at each other and gulped before moving out, taking Abel with him.
Abel could only steel himself as he went out with them. Hopefully it'll be over soon. He was wrong.