The hall was incredibly big, there was a stairway on each side of the room each leading upwards to the same place. There was someone on each stairway guiding people up.
'I am guessing that's for the important guests, it sure looks fancy'
I couldn't go up there but after seeing the princess of Crimson Clan going up there it wasn't hard to guess.
And the place for commoners like us was below. There was also a stairway that goes down. On each stair is a row of chairs. There's around 15 stairs, each row having at least fifty chairs on each side.
"Where do we sit?" Charles asked.
"Let's sit at the top row." Chara replied.
I looked at the top row and asked, "Why is that?"
"So we can look down on the other students of course."
"I like that." Charles was the one who spoke this time.
And so we all approached the top row and sat at the ending of the row on the left. The right one was almost filled.
Chara sat at the direct ending, Charles sat next to her while I sat next to Charles.
In front of all the seats was a massive stage. It's big enough to fit all the graduates.
The three of us started talking about who might be the prettiest girl as we waited for the event to start.
After a few minutes of waiting a man came on stage. I couldn't discern his appearance because of how far away we were.
'Charles could probably see him.'
Charles' ability is heightened senses. He is also able to reduce the senses of an opponent. It'll be a deadly power if he becomes a Saint.
Rousers each had a hierarchy system, the lowest being Rousers, then Nascent to Exalter to Hyper to Paramount, also known as Saints. After that are the Outliers, Demigods which are Sacrosanct, and Seraph. At the top of it is a God, Celestial, which only belongs to one person — the man I'm trying to surpass, the hero and god of this world, Alfred Elion. From Rousers to Saint is rank E to A, so to make it easy to understand for non-Rousers.
"Who is that?" Charles sensed I was talking to him. He looked towards the man and said, "He seems to be in his thirties, he's most likely a Hyper."
The man's voice then resonated within the hall. "Good day ladies and gentlemen, I am your host for tonight, Oscric Mournhald. I am here to congratulate our graduates on behalf of the realm. As you know your exams ended and each of you here are the only ones to graduate and we have ranked all of you. As some of you may know today is not only for you to graduate, it's also where each representative from every squad comes to recruit you. Everyone here is guaranteed to join a squad but the higher your rank the higher the benefits. If you are approached by at least 2 squads you are free to choose whichever you want. And no one can decide to choose neither."
'That is a way to confine us to the realm.' Custos thought.
He knew fairly about this but his ambition is beyond this realm so he was going to decline joining any squad. Looks like he doesn't have any choice but to join one. 'Maybe it isn't so bad, if I become a Saint then maybe I can leave. Moreover the squad comes with benefits. The best one will be experience.'
Oscric's words kept resonating through the enchanted speakers. "Before I announce the rankings let me tell you guys a common story about the beginning of us Rousers. All of you would know the common one. Ten thousand years ago a meteor landed on our planet killing millions but the meteor didn't come alone, it came with monsters and a blessing to humans who became Rousers. The monsters attacked and killed humans. Humans resisted naturally but it wasn't enough. Rousers couldn't fight the monsters openly because they were labelled as monsters too. So they were fighting two battles. At least some of them were. Some Rousers got drunk in power and started killing humans too. Akashic then made a proposal to the government to allow him round up the good Rousers to fight against the monsters and those who are truly monsters. With cooperation between humans and Akashic as the leader of Rousers we finally subdued the monsters and those who are truly monsters. I am sure most of you have heard about those who are truly monsters. The reason I am telling you this is to warn not to become a monster just because you are fighting against monsters. It is not so uncommon to lose oneself in our world. You not only need to be strong physically but also mentally and emotionally. The strongest people are not those who are able to kill any monsters or anyone, but those who remained themselves no matter the challenges they faced. Someone who could not be bent by the world could someday bend the world. I do hope and pray to Lord Efion that you all become great Rousers someday. Shall we begin the rankings. The top 10 students will come on stage here."
Of course the story about Akashic's deeds didn't stop there. It went on to how he united the world making it so humans and Rousers could live happily together. Some even got married. Akashic started being revered as a god even though he wasn't one. One day Akashic disappeared, no one knew where he went, he was just gone. And so ended the deeds of Akashic, the god who is human and Rouser.
'Someone who could not be bent by the world could someday bend the world... wonder if I could bend the world someday.'
The rankings were about to start. I paid utmost attention to it.
"I am going to start at the top of the rankings. At the top we have Kairi... uhm... there seems to be no last name."
At that moment the front door burst open with 3 people rolling down the stairs. They finally came to a stop at the middle of the stairway. A boy stood up while the guards were still on the ground. "I am Kairi without a last name." A skinny boy whose hair is long blue hair, which was really rough, came forward. He was looking haggard which was weird considering what today is. His clothes were really tattered and dirty. But he's very handsome. The type of guy girls will die for. "They didn't want me to come in because of how I looked and I apologized to them that this is the best cloth I had at the moment." The boy had an innocent smile on his face. "I heard my name, am I going to be rich?"
"Oh, he's actually that strong." Chara said beside me.
I looked at her. "You know him?"
"Sure do, he came to my academy a few years back saying he's a hermit in need of money. Our instructor allowed him to enrol in the school, saying he will be rich soon. Though I rarely met him."
"Why?"
"Personal reasons."
I looked back at Kairi with confusion. 'I am sure everyone here is also confused. This is so weird. There are a lot of prominent students here from different houses and yet a tattered boy like this was at the top.'
"How can we be sure that you are not lying?" Oscric also looked at him with confusion, so did everyone in the hall.
"Each ability is unique to its owner, why not check my ability? I am sure some people here know what my ability is. If I display it then I'll be telling the truth." The boy said calmly.
"You are right, then show that ability of yours." Oscric told him.
There are some people who know everyone's ability but it's not something they tell anyone. Moreover it's going to be hard for a Rouser to imitate another person's ability except if their ability is imitation itself.
The boy raised his hand towards Oscric and fired a lightning bolt at Oscric. The lightning dispersed before hitting Oscric.
"Were you trying to attack me?" Oscric looked at Kairi without a hint of annoyance.
"I was just showing you my ability." The boy replied. "I am hungry, when do we eat?"
"A banquet will be made for you shortly if you can wait for some moment." Oscric looked at the boy with pity.
"Ah right, I can wait. Thank you so much mister." The boy said happily.
"Wait at my back while I continue my rankings." Oscric ordered the boy.
Someone from above in the VIP lounge stood up then said angrily, "Sir Oscric, are you joking with us? How could you readily allow that boy at the top without proper testing? Are you saying a trash like that is better than all of us?"
"I myself confirmed that he is the Kairi, no need to worry Julian. If you still doubt my judgement, you are not strong enough to go against it." Oscric looked at the list in front of him then said, "Oh by the way, you are number two, Julian the prince of House Francis."
The boy came down. He was looking muscular, even more than Charles, wearing a black embroidered tailcoat with gold patterns. He had a brooch representing his house. He had black hair and fierce red eyes. He had a sheathed sword around his waist. He came to the stage with an annoyed look on his face but you could tell by his elegant appearance and demeanour that he's of blue blood. He walked past Oscric and looked at Kairi with a look of disgust.
Kairi tried acting friendly towards him but he angrily looked at Kairi which made him stop.
"Next on the list is Custos Stark."
I stood up in complete shock. "You mean me?"
"Is there anyone bearing Custos Stark among everyone here?"
Charles stood up to hug me. "You did well, but you are still weak. Imagine being topped by a tattered boy." I laughed at his joke when Chara also congratulated me too. I walked towards the stage with a lot of eyes on me wondering which commoner is this. I greeted Oscric whose aura was really strong. 'Charles was right he's a Hyper, I probably wouldn't hold a candle against him.' I stood beside Julian, I was so shocked.
I was initially aiming for top 100 but I guess I did better than expected.
Kairi was the one who broke my thoughts. "Congratulations. Also what are we being ranked for?"
Julian was about to punch him then I stopped him then told him, "He wasn't here during the announcement, be calm." He shook my hand away and said to me, "Don't you dare touch me you commoner."
I was about to retort him then Kairi came in front of me.
"I am sorry for my ignorance, I am sorry on his behalf too—or is it on my behalf? Doesn't really matter, I'm truly sorry."
"I am sorry though." I said looking at Julian. "The heir of a prominent house being topped by a tattered boy."
Julian looked really pissed now. "Let all this be done, I will kill both of you."
"What is it you are trying to say, Custos Stark?"
That question came from behind me.
'What is with girls talking from behind me today?'
At my back is the princess of House Crimson. I quickly kneeled with a knee and bowed my head towards her. "I am sorry princess, that insult was only meant for him."
Kairi, looking confused at my back, did the same gesture I did too. "Who is she?" he whispered.
'This guy is really clueless.'
I whispered back, "I am just joking around. You don't need to do what I do too. Also the ranking is about strong graduates and you are the strongest — act like it."
"Oh..." He seems surprised himself.
The princess of House Crimson looked at me with a hint of... creepiness? "What are you doing?"
I stood up and dusted my knee. "Sorry, I was just joking around. I didn't know they called up the next person."
"Is that why you knelt down?"
"It is kind of a joke, you see me and two of my friends would like to be your sla— friend." 'She's really pretty up close.'
"I am not allowed to have friends, sorry." Then she looked away as if saying I shouldn't bother her.
'What does that even mean?.' I let her be for the time being.
Another person already came in. After a while 10 people including Oscric making it 11 were on stage. The princess of House Crimson is the only girl on the podium. I and Kairi were the only commoners. I could tell the rest were from different houses from their outfits and crests, brooch or whatever they used to represent their clan.
Oscric then raised his hands and looked up to others. "Behold people, these are our future," he then looked at us. "A new generation begins with you. Be sure to lead it well. You can go have fun."
"Finally, where do we go to eat?" Kairi asked.
"Go back there, they are waiting for you." Oscric replied then looked towards the students up front. "The rest of the list will be pasted on the screen for you lot to see where you rank. You guys will be rewarded accordingly."
"Is our reward going to be lots of money?" Kairi again.
"You'll receive a lot more than money." Oscric smiled at him.
We all moved towards the backstage. There was a big table in front filled with different kinds of food and there were 5 seats on each side of the table numbered from one to ten. There was also a seat at the top of the table and a woman in an elegant black dress sat on it and welcomed us. She was emanating a strong aura that pressed down on all of us. She wasn't hostile towards us and we were already dripping with cold sweats. When I say 'we' I mean me and Kairi; the rest of them were feeling the pressure but it seems like they were already used to it, they didn't show much discomfort. Then she smiled at us. "Welcome, I'm Isabella. Seat according to your number."
"I think this meal might be my last." Kairi said.