The Awakening Hall stood in the middle of the city. It was huge, tall, and filled with light. The roof was so high it almost disappeared in the dark above, and glowing runes moved faintly along the walls. Dozens of lanterns floated in the air, lighting the white stone floor and shining off the banners of every noble family.
The whole place smelled of incense and old stone, mixed with the sharp metallic feeling that came from the Fate Pillar at the center. The crystal tower was taller than a man and glowing with threads of light inside it, humming like it had its own heartbeat.
Every sixteen-year-old in the city had to come here. This was the Ceremony of Fate. The System would show their class, stats, and sometimes even special skills. Some would walk out as heroes. Some would walk out with nothing. Nobody could escape what the Pillar decided.
On the balconies, people whispered, unable to hide their excitement.
"Who will be the best this year?"
"The Dharva family always shines."
"And the Veyra heir… can he even awaken?"
Samir Veyra stood near the back and his stomach tight. His hands were sweaty and his heart was pounding in his chest. His black tunic was plain, his boots were worn, and his hair was messy. Around him, his classmates wore silks, gold chains, and fine embroidery. Compared to them, he looked like he didn't belong there.
The voices around him cut into him like knives.
"Arjun Malvek," Guru Devran called, his voice echoing in the hall.
Arjun is tall and broad,he walked forward. He pressed his hand against the Pillar. A burst of golden light shot out, and a screen appeared in the air.
[Name: Arjun Malvek]
[Class: Warrior]
[Strength: 12 | Agility: 9 | Intelligence: 8 | Vitality: 11]
The crowd clapped politely. "A decent Warrior," one noble said. "Not the best, but steady."
Arjun's chest rose proudly as he bowed and stepped back.
Next came Priya Tanreth. She walked carefully, her steps light. When her hand touched the Pillar, a soft green light covered her palm.
[Name: Priya Tanreth]
[Class: Healer]
[Strength: 5 | Agility: 6 | Intelligence: 13 | Vitality: 9]
Gasps spread through the crowd. "A Healer… rare and valuable." Priya's eyes filled with tears as she bowed and returned with smiling through her shaking lips.
Then Ravi Senra marched up with his grin wide. "Watch and learn," he bragged. He slammed his hand on the Pillar. Sparks jumped out.
[Name: Ravi Senra]
[Class: Archer]
[Strength: 9 | Agility: 14 | Intelligence: 7 | Vitality: 8]
The crowd cheered. wow look his "Agility 14! He's blessed!" Ravi threw his arms up, laughing as if he had already won the world.
Then next came Ishara Vedren. She looked nervous and her steps slow then She touched the Pillar. At the first nothing happened, then a weak, flickering light appeared.
[Name: Ishara Vedren]
[Class: —]
[Strength: 3 | Agility: 4 | Intelligence: 5 | Vitality: 4]
Whispers turned cruel. "A failure." "She's useless." Ishara bowed quickly, tears running down her face, and hurried back to her seat.
Samir's chest grew tighter. One by one, they had all gone before him. Some strong, some weak, but at least they had results. His turn was coming.
"Rajin Dharva," Guru Devran said.
The room grew tense. Rajin walked like he owned the place, his black and gold robes flowing behind him. His smirk found Samir, sharp and mocking.
"This will be fun," he muttered.
He pressed his hand to the Pillar. Light exploded, brighter than anyone before. The screen appeared.
[Name: Rajin Dharva]
[Class: Scion of Flames]
[Strength: 14 | Agility: 12 | Intelligence: 11 | Vitality: 13]
[Unique Skill: Flame Sovereign's Descent]
The hall erupted. "A Unique Class!" "The Dharva bloodline always wins!"
Rajin raised his hands, basking in the cheers. His eyes found Samir again, full of mockery.
Then it came.
"Samir Veyra," Guru Devran called.
Every head turned to him. His father, Lord Varun Veyra, watched him with cold eyes. His mother, Lady Meera, clutched her veil tightly, unable to look at him.
Samir's legs felt heavy as stone and His chest hammered so hard he thought it would burstout there.Step by step, he walked forward. The silence was crushing him. Every whisper, every mocking smile weighed on him.
He placed his hand on the Pillar. The crystal hummed under his palm. For a moment, nothing happened.
Then sparks flared, wild and violent. The light inside the tower twisted like broken glass. The screen appeared—flickering, broken, full of errors.
[Name: Samir Veyra]
[Class: —ERROR—]
[Strength: ?? | Agility: ?? | Intelligence: ?? | Vitality: ??]
[System Stability: Critical Failure]
The hall gasped. Rajin's laugh rang out loud. "Even the System doesn't want him!"
The crowd roared with laughter. Pointing. Mocking. His chest heaved as panic clawed at him. But then—something flashed.
[Future Event Detected: Rajin Dharva betrays the Dharva Clan.]
The vision was sharp. Rajin has dagger in hand And flames raging around him as he turned against his own family. Then the image shattered with leaving only glitches.
No one else saw it. Only Samir.
His hands shook and his chest was heavy. His father's jaw was tight. His mother looked away and The crowd's laughter blurred into noise.
But inside Samir, something shifted.
He had seen the future. Not only seen it but he understood that this broken System wasn't useless. It was showing him paths that nobody else could see.
The laughter around him is no longer mattered.
Samir's lips curved into a faint smile. Not of fear. Not of weakness. But of quiet determination.
He thought Let them laugh.
They had no idea what he just gained.