As I opened my eyes, I was greeted with the plain roof of my room, the same roof I had woken up to for eighteen years. The faint lines and cracks across the ceiling looked almost familiar enough to be comforting, yet today they filled me with a sense of nervous energy. Everything about this morning felt heavier, more significant.
Slowly standing up from my bed, a sense of excitement came over me. Today was the day, the day I was going to awaken my Beast Taming Space, and maybe, if I was lucky, awaken a Beast Taming Talent as well. The thought alone sent a shiver down my spine. For years, I'd watched those older then me awaken, each ceremony changing their lives forever. Some walked away with radiant smiles destined for greatness, while others left hollow-eyed, their dreams shattered in a single moment.
After awakening my Beast Taming Space, I would finally be able to sign a contract with a beast and start my journey toward becoming a true Beast Tamer. It was the dream of nearly everyone my age, to bond with a creature, nurture it, grow stronger together, and carve out a place in this dangerous, ever-changing world.
Exiting my room, I was greeted by the silence of my one-room apartment, not another person in sight. It was the same way it had been since my parents died when I was fifteen. All they'd left behind was this small apartment and a modest sum of money, just enough to get me through high school. It wasn't much, but it was enough to survive.
Letting out a quiet sigh, I was snapped out of my thoughts by the sudden chime of my phone.
Ding.
I unlocked it to find a message from my one and only friend, Henry.
Henry: Yo Leo, I'm outside.
A grin tugged at my lips. I quickly gathered my things, slung my bag over my shoulder, and headed for the door.
The moment I stepped outside, I was met with the sight of the giant himself. Henry stood like a wall of muscle, easily over six feet tall with the build of a professional bodybuilder. His shadow practically swallowed me whole.
Walking up to him, my head barely reached his chest. I couldn't help but laugh as I lightly punched him in the chest. "You excited for today? Think you're gonna awaken a talent?"
He smirked, puffing out his chest a little. "Ha! Is that even a question? The teachers said people with better physical fitness have a higher chance of awakening one. If that's true, I don't think I'll lose out to anyone."
I couldn't even argue. He was right. Henry was a monster when it came to training, he'd dominated every school fitness test since our first year. Still, I wasn't exactly out of shape myself. My strength came more from endurance and agility, the kind you get from years of calisthenics and street workouts.
"Let's get going," I said, adjusting my bag as I started down the path toward the school.
Henry fell into step beside me, his heavy footsteps thudding against the pavement. The streets were already busy, filled with other students heading the same way, all with the same hopeful look in their eyes. Today, everything would change, for better or worse.
After a fifteen-minute walk, we arrived at the school. The massive iron gates stood open, welcoming the flood of students pouring in from every direction. Walking through the front gate, we saw that all the students in our year were already gathering on the main field, forming orderly lines while chatting excitedly. The morning sun glinted off the glass windows of the academy buildings, casting long shadows across the trimmed grass. The air buzzed with energy, anticipation, nerves, and hope all mixed into one.
Already knowing what we were meant to do, Henry and I joined the line for our class. Around us, everyone was talking, their voices overlapping in a constant stream of speculation and excitement. The only topic anyone cared about was, of course, the awakening, who might awaken a talent, who might not, and what kind of beasts people hoped to bond with.
"Did you hear? Apparently, someone from Class 2 awakened an S-rank talent last year," a girl whispered behind us.
"No way, that's just a rumor," another replied. "There's no way anyone from our school could awaken something like that."
Henry leaned over to me with a grin. "Watch me prove them wrong today," he whispered confidently.
I chuckled, though deep down, I couldn't help but feel the same mix of confidence and fear. What if I awakened nothing? What if I was just… ordinary?
After a couple of minutes, a sharp whistle cut through the noise.
"Okay, quiet down!!!"
A powerful voice boomed from the front, instantly silencing the field. Every student froze, not wanting to make a bad impression or risk losing their chance.
"Alright," the voice continued, belonging to one of the instructors standing near the stage, "one by one, each class will enter the awakening array. We'll begin with Class 1."
A low murmur swept through the lines as the first class stepped forward. The principal, a tall man with graying hair and an aura that radiated quiet authority, stood waiting on a small stage.
As the first student approached, I craned my neck to get a better view. Suddenly, a bright flash of light erupted beside the principal, and from it appeared a majestic stag with luminous antlers. Its eyes glowed faintly blue, and arcs of energy pulsed through its body.
The creature let out a deep, resonant sound that echoed across the field before its horns blazed even brighter. As the light intensified, a shimmering magic circle formed on the ground, a perfect array etched with runes that seemed to shift and pulse like they were alive.
Everyone watched in awe as the student stepped hesitantly into the center of the circle. The air around him vibrated, and faint motes of light began to rise from the runes. A moment later, text made entirely of golden light appeared above his head.
[No Talent Awakened]
The words hung there like a cruel joke. The student stared up at them for a moment before his shoulders slumped. His expression fell into quiet despair as he stepped out of the array, his dream of greatness crumbling before it even began.
A hush spread through the crowd. Even though we all knew most of us wouldnt awaken a talent, seeing it happen right in front of us hit harder than expected. The difference between those with a talent and those without was like night and day.
Because although, yes, someone without a talent could still become a Beast Tamer… they would never amount to anything truly great. Without a talent, their beasts would grow slower, their power would plateau early, and their potential would forever remain limited.
The reality was harsh, but this was the world we lived in. And as I watched the next student step up, my heart pounded faster, "Please just allow me to awaken a talent." I whispered over and over.