The outskirts were quiet, though not in the way quiet ever feels safe.
A sliver of sunlight pierced the blinds, cutting across James's face and tugging him awake. He squinted, rubbing his eyes as the warm light fell on the cracked walls of his small room. Only then did he reach up and flick the weak bulb above his bed, which sputtered and hummed before giving a dull, steady glow. Shadows clung stubbornly to the corners, stretching and shrinking with the pulse of the light.
His father had died in a gate break when James was ten. Three years later, his mother had been caught in the collapse of a tower, leaving him entirely alone at thirteen. Now, at fifteen, he had grown used to the quiet. The government provided a roof over his head near the city wall, and a small stipend that barely covered school tuition and left almost nothing for food or necessities. Everything he owned had come either from before his parents died, found in dumpsters, or donated by strangers. Nothing in the room had any warmth. Nothing at all. Even the blanket on his bed had holes where the stuffing peeked out. The only decent thing he owned was his school uniform, folded neatly on a chair, waiting for him like the last thread connecting him to the life he was trying to survive.
James swung his legs over the side of the bed and rubbed his eyes. He stepped over a few stray cans and old newspapers on the floor, moving toward the bathroom. He turned the tap on. Ice-cold water hit him immediately. He grimaced, biting back a shiver as he splashed it over his face. Hot water wasn't an option—the housing was too cheap for any luxury beyond the bare minimum.
The shower was quick, leaving his body numb from the cold. He wrapped himself in a ragged towel and brushed his teeth, staring at his reflection in the cracked, smeared mirror. Long black hair fell past his shoulders, framing pale skin that made his hazel eyes seem almost too large for his thin face. Years of malnourishment had carved a sharp jawline and hollowed cheeks. He was painfully thin, barely standing at five foot six—a living shadow of the boy he might have been, if the world had given him a chance.
After dressing in the uniform, he stepped outside. The street beyond was quiet, though not unusual. The roads near the outskirts were often like this. Dust swirled lazily in the morning air, and the distant hum of activity from deeper within the city reminded him of the life he could never truly touch.
The first bus stop was a five-minute walk down the cracked pavement. Missing it meant walking to the next one, adding extra time to his commute. He arrived just in time, clinging to the metal railing while the bus doors hissed open. He stepped on, paid the fare, and found a corner seat, keeping his head low.
When he got off, a short walk brought him to the next bus stop, and the contrast hit him immediately. The streets here were alive, crowded, colorful. Street stalls lined the road, vendors shouting for customers over the morning noise. The smell of fresh bread mixed with fried food and dust. People pushed past one another, laughing, bargaining, living.
"James!"
He froze. The voice came from a small bread stall, a thin frame old lady bent with age but eyes sharp as knives formed over the years. A piece of bread was tossed to him.
"You'll need all your strength if you want to awaken," she said, low but firm.
James shrugged, catching the bread. "Won't increase my odds."
The vendor scowled. "Shut up and take it. And don't you be late today is an important day for you."
She was the only person who had ever been kind since his parents died—aside from a few friends at school who barely knew him. He nodded silently, stuffing the bread into his bag before heading down the busy street.
Ahead, the school loomed. Its walls seemed taller than they should, gates and security cameras reminding every student that this was where the world expected them to begin becoming something more—or to fail.
James pulled the piece of bread from his bag and took a small bite, the warm crumbs offering a brief comfort against the crisp morning air. He waited patiently outside Horizon Middle School, a sprawling campus near the city center where hundreds of students hoped for a rare awakening. The school was prestigious, and even with his scholarship, small fees still needed to be paid; resources at Horizon were too valuable to waste and James being all alone needed everything he could get.
A sleek black sedan rolled up, and Max stepped out he Had brown hair and hazel eyes with a sharp chin and unlike James he had mussel on him which made him look even better then James. His posture was flawless, uniform immaculate. His father worked for a prominent tech company studying gate technology, making him well-off, and his mother, an awakener from a small clan, had a look that made people take a second glance.
Max waved at James. "Have you been waiting long?"
"No, only a few minutes," James lied, scarfing the last bits of bread down. Max's sharp eyes betrayed that he knew otherwise.
Charlotte arrived shortly after, dropping off her younger sister, Nina. Charlotte's long blonde hair shone like sunlight, and her blue eyes were bright and warm. She gave James a quick smile before tugging on Nina's arm. "James, can you watch Nina for a bit?" Nina replied "I am not a child, I don't need to be watched like you"
James nodded, accepting the responsibility. Nina, Charlotte's younger sister, waved at Max politely but did not speak. Her features were pleasant but unremarkable compared to Charlotte's striking beauty—brown hair, green eyes, and a slightly stern expression, as if she was constantly measuring herself against her sister. She followed behind Max striking up some conversation with him as they arrive her the school.
The three of them walked into the massive auditorium, filled with over eight thousand students. Middle schoolers were plentiful at Horizon because of the low awakening rate.
The proctor stepped onto the stage, his voice carrying through the hall.
"Today, you take your first step toward your future. Every awakening is a chance to grow, to fight, to protect. Remember your rank is only a beginning. Give your all."
The ceremony began. Student after student approached the stone:
Marco Lin – D grade, Knight Ayaka Mori – C grade, Archer Riku Yamashita – B grade, Tank Tobias Reed – A grade, Knight/Archer mix Lina Morozov – A grade, Archer Hanae Fukui – A grade, Tank Aaron Delacruz – B grade, Knight Sirius Kwan – S grade, Knight/Mage mix
Whispers spread through the auditorium. Students compared ranks, classes, and families.
Max's name was called: "Max Hert Evergrow."
Gasps swept through the students. Max strode to the stone confidently, glancing at James briefly, and placed his hand on it. A brilliant yellow light erupted. A grade mage. One in a thousand students reached this rank. Cheers erupted across the hall.
Several students followed: minor A grades, B grades, and one more S grade.
Finally, Nina's name was called: "Nina Fulbright."
Always compared to her sister. She stepped forward and placed her hand on the stone. A flash of light appeared—S class mage. The announcement caused murmurs of awe across the auditorium. Nina's green eyes flicked briefly toward James, a smirk playing on her lips. Nina had long taken joy in subtle acts of humiliation, and now she could enjoy watching him wither under social pressure but she still felt inferior after all Charlotte awakened SS grade.
Then it was James's turn: "James Neo Rake."
No cheers. He walked forward, mind racing. He placed his hand on the stone, wishing to awaken, and a golden light flashed for less than a zeptosecond. No one noticed except him.
When it faded, a pale gray F rank appeared above his name. He was the only F rank that day, but something remarkable happened: his class was Paladin, the first of its kind in history although his rank would make even that undisierable.
James stepped down, his mind spinning. Max whispered with a laugh, "don't sit with us anymore I don't want you ruining our potential" Nina giggled quietly. James remained unbothered. He had expected this. He only considered Charlotte a true friend.
Hours passed. Students continued to awaken:
The ceremony lasted seven hours.
The principal stepped to the podium at the end:
"Today, you witnessed your first step into a greater world. Awakening is not a gift—it is responsibility. Every rank, every class, every choice matters. Look around you. Your peers will challenge you, your friends will support you, and your rivals will push you. Learn from all. Protect those weaker than you. And remember—your potential is only as limited as your will. Go forth with courage, strength, and purpose."
James left the building, F rank hovering in his mind. Outside, Charlotte waited, with Nina beside her. He prepared himself for mockery, expecting the usual from Nina. Instead, Charlotte stopped him.
"You still have a chance," she said. "If you rank high enough during examinations rounds and get into my high school, my parents won't interfere with our friendship. I'll be praying for you."
For the first time that day, a small thread of hope felt tangible.
*System Notice*
-Prayer received System activation underway-
1%….
5%…
What is this…