Xavier took a deep breath as he approached the altar, his heart racing. Whispers rippled through the crowd, and eyes followed him like shadows, parting to let him through.
"Look at him; he's definitely going to get S-rank."
"Ha! No doubt about that."
"Maybe even A-rank!"
"Let's just watch and see."
Their voices buzzed in his ears, but he shut them out, his focus zeroed in on the crystal ball ahead. All around him, his classmates were awakening, their ranks unfolding. He would be just fine. He had to be. But an unsettling feeling nagged at him, a mysterious anxiety that he couldn't shake. Why was he so uneasy?
"Why do I feel this way?" he murmured to himself, searching for answers in the depths of the crystal ball. Time slipped away as he stood there, lost in thought, until a voice sliced through his reverie.
"Please," the goddess intoned, her voice clear and commanding. "Place your hand on the crystal ball."
Xavier stared at her for a moment, then turned back to the ominous crystal.
"Well, here goes nothing," he whispered, summoning a resolve he didn't quite feel.
He extended his right hand towards the crystal ball and pressed it gently against the cool surface. The moment was charged with anticipation, but what happened next sent shockwaves through the room. The crystal flickered like a dying light bulb, casting a dull gray hue that felt like a cruel joke.
Then, with a final sputter, the light vanished entirely. The silence that followed was suffocating—thick and heavy, resonating like the stillness of a graveyard.
"Um," Brian finally broke the quiet, his voice laced with nervousness. "Is the crystal ball broken or something?" Confused murmurs rippled through their classmates, and everyone exchanged bewildered glances.
The goddess frowned deeply. "No," she murmured, almost to herself. "That's impossible."
Suddenly, the holographic image flared to life once more. Like moths to a flame, all eyes were glued to the words that materialized.
[F-rank Summoning User]
The silence that enveloped them was chilling. It felt as if time had frozen, and the collective breath of the room was held in disbelief.
Then Dennis stepped forward, his face a mask of shock as he squinted at the image. "Xavier," he whispered. "Is that really what I think it is?"
"It is what it looks like, Dennis," a friend confirmed, his voice barely above a whisper.
"No way," Dennis replied, incredulous yet mocking. His face contorted as he glanced at the hushed students surrounding him. A moment hung in the air before it shattered into chaos.
"GAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!" Laughter erupted from the group, echoing off the stone walls and shaking the very foundations of the chamber. Some students doubled over, clutching their sides as they rolled on the floor, caught in fits of laughter.
"Oh, my goodness!" Dennis wheezed, tears of mirth in his eyes. "F-rank! He got F-rank!"
Xavier's heart sank as he locked eyes with the holographic image, horror etching itself onto his face. This couldn't be real. He had expected at least a C-rank, a glimmer of hope shattered within moments.
The goddess, hand covering her mouth in disbelief, echoed the silent shock. "It's been centuries since anyone has received an F-rank."
The laughter erupted anew, a cacophony of mockery that felt like daggers to Xavier's pride. Every peal of laughter pierced him deeper, and as he stepped down from the altar, shame washed over him like a tidal wave. He joined Brian, whose gaze was fixed on the ground, avoiding his eyes.
"What a loser," Dennis taunted, his voice dripping with disdain. "Always acting like he's better than everyone. Look at you now—useless."
More laughter rang out, a cruel chorus surrounding Xavier, who stood frozen, his expression stony and impassive. Bella, watching from the sidelines, wore a sad expression, her heart aching for the boy who had always been kind to her.
Derek, on the other hand, simply stared, his expression unreadable.
"Alright," the goddess announced, her voice rising above the chaos. "Now that everyone has awakened, you will be escorted to your rooms where you can relax. Maids will be assigned to assist you in unwinding and preparing for tomorrow's training."
"Finally!" Brian stretched his arms, relief evident on his face. "I'm sick of these outfits."
The goddess snapped her fingers, and magical doors swung open behind her, revealing a line of maidens, each more beautiful than the last, clad in revealing uniforms that accentuated their forms.
The boys gaped, awestruck, some practically drooling as they caught sight of the enchanting sight. Even the girls were captivated, though perhaps not as visibly.
"Now these lovely maids will guide you to your rooms," the goddess continued with a smile. "We're truly honored to have you here, and blessed that you are here to save the world."
As the maids began to usher the students out of the room, laughter still echoed behind them, a haunting reminder of the uncertainty that lay ahead for Xavier.Xavier took a deep breath as he approached the altar, his heart racing. Whispers rippled through the crowd, and eyes followed him like shadows, parting to let him through.
"Look at him; he's definitely going to get S-rank."
"Ha! No doubt about that."
"Maybe even A-rank!"
"Let's just watch and see."
Their voices buzzed in his ears, but he shut them out, his focus zeroed in on the crystal ball ahead. All around him, his classmates were awakening, their ranks unfolding. He would be just fine. He had to be. But an unsettling feeling nagged at him, a mysterious anxiety that he couldn't shake. Why was he so uneasy?
"Why do I feel this way?" he murmured to himself, searching for answers in the depths of the crystal ball. Time slipped away as he stood there, lost in thought, until a voice sliced through his reverie.
"Please," the goddess intoned, her voice clear and commanding. "Place your hand on the crystal ball."
Xavier stared at her for a moment, then turned back to the ominous crystal.
"Well, here goes nothing," he whispered, summoning a resolve he didn't quite feel.
He extended his right hand towards the crystal ball and pressed it gently against the cool surface. The moment was charged with anticipation, but what happened next sent shockwaves through the room. The crystal flickered like a dying light bulb, casting a dull gray hue that felt like a cruel joke.
Then, with a final sputter, the light vanished entirely. The silence that followed was suffocating—thick and heavy, resonating like the stillness of a graveyard.
"Um," Brian finally broke the quiet, his voice laced with nervousness. "Is the crystal ball broken or something?" Confused murmurs rippled through their classmates, and everyone exchanged bewildered glances.
The goddess frowned deeply. "No," she murmured, almost to herself. "That's impossible."
Suddenly, the holographic image flared to life once more. Like moths to a flame, all eyes were glued to the words that materialized.
[F-rank Summoning User]
The silence that enveloped them was chilling. It felt as if time had frozen, and the collective breath of the room was held in disbelief.
Then Dennis stepped forward, his face a mask of shock as he squinted at the image. "Xavier," he whispered. "Is that really what I think it is?"
"It is what it looks like, Dennis," a friend confirmed, his voice barely above a whisper.
"No way," Dennis replied, incredulous yet mocking. His face contorted as he glanced at the hushed students surrounding him. A moment hung in the air before it shattered into chaos.
"GAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!" Laughter erupted from the group, echoing off the stone walls and shaking the very foundations of the chamber. Some students doubled over, clutching their sides as they rolled on the floor, caught in fits of laughter.
"Oh, my goodness!" Dennis wheezed, tears of mirth in his eyes. "F-rank! He got F-rank!"
Xavier's heart sank as he locked eyes with the holographic image, horror etching itself onto his face. This couldn't be real. He had expected at least a C-rank, a glimmer of hope shattered within moments.
The goddess, hand covering her mouth in disbelief, echoed the silent shock. "It's been centuries since anyone has received an F-rank."
The laughter erupted anew, a cacophony of mockery that felt like daggers to Xavier's pride. Every peal of laughter pierced him deeper, and as he stepped down from the altar, shame washed over him like a tidal wave. He joined Brian, whose gaze was fixed on the ground, avoiding his eyes.
"What a loser," Dennis taunted, his voice dripping with disdain. "Always acting like he's better than everyone. Look at you now—useless."
More laughter rang out, a cruel chorus surrounding Xavier, who stood frozen, his expression stony and impassive. Bella, watching from the sidelines, wore a sad expression, her heart aching for the boy who had always been kind to her.
Derek, on the other hand, simply stared, his expression unreadable.
"Alright," the goddess announced, her voice rising above the chaos. "Now that everyone has awakened, you will be escorted to your rooms where you can relax. Maids will be assigned to assist you in unwinding and preparing for tomorrow's training."
"Finally!" Brian stretched his arms, relief evident on his face. "I'm sick of these outfits."
The goddess snapped her fingers, and magical doors swung open behind her, revealing a line of maidens, each more beautiful than the last, clad in revealing uniforms that accentuated their forms.
The boys gaped, awestruck, some practically drooling as they caught sight of the enchanting sight. Even the girls were captivated, though perhaps not as visibly.
"Now these lovely maids will guide you to your rooms," the goddess continued with a smile. "We're truly honored to have you here, and blessed that you are here to save the world."
As the maids began to usher the students out of the room, laughter still echoed behind them, a haunting reminder of the uncertainty that lay ahead for Xavier.