Jenson nodded, but he did not take Headmaster Basil's words of comfort to heart.
When he returned to his class, what greeted him were countless pairs of eyes—filled with pity and regret.
Silently, he summoned his Soul Panel:
Name: Jenson
Level: 10
Class: Dragon Tamer (First Rank)
Strength: 21
Agility: 26
Spirit: 24
Constitution: 23
Contract Beast: None
Equipment: None
Skills:
[Dragon Mastery] (Active, LV1) — Allows the user to attempt forming a soul contract with a member of the dragon race, turning it into a battle companion. (Note: Only effective on dragons.)
[????] — ??? (Locked)
[????] — ??? (Locked)
[????] — ??? (Locked)
[????] — ??? (Locked)
The four remaining skills were all greyed out, unusable. Clearly, they were powers tied to draconic breath, draconic might, or draconic soul—and without a true dragon companion, they would remain forever sealed.
Which meant that, compared to before his awakening, his combat power had barely improved at all.
The thought made Jenson's heart grow heavier.
Could it be… that in this life, he was destined—just like in the last—to spend his days working at the bakery with Daisy, living out an ordinary existence?
He could endure a life of hardship, but it pained him to think of Daisy—who had raised him with such effort—never being able to live a better life.
…
In the blink of an eye, the Awakening Ceremony came to an end.
Each person's joy or disappointment was something they could only swallow alone, before returning to their own homes.
The week ahead would be a long holiday before the Kingdom's Grand Examination.
During this time, the academy's students would train with all their might—leveling up, mastering their skills—so they could achieve the best possible results in the Kingdom's Grand Examination.
Jenson returned home—to an old stone building in the White Raven Port's historic district.
The first floor housed a bakery; the second floor was a modest yet cozy two-bedroom apartment, where he lived with his aunt, Daisy.
At the moment, the bakery's wooden door was half-shut, a sign that it hadn't opened for business today.
Pushing the door open, Jenson headed straight upstairs.
The moment his foot touched the wooden steps, the rich aroma of cooking drifted through the air.
"Daisy, I'm back," he called, forcing some cheer into his voice as he tossed his schoolbag onto the sofa.
From the kitchen came a soft sound, and then a woman in her mid-twenties emerged, her long hair swept up in a high bun, carrying a steaming plate in her hands.
Her skin was fair as snow, her delicate features like an elven sculpture, her smile warm and gentle. Her figure was graceful, curves in perfect proportion—an earthly beauty few could rival.
"Jenson's home? Go wash your hands, dinner's ready," she said with a smile like spring sunlight, melting away much of the gloom in his heart.
She was Daisy—Jenson's aunt.
Eight years his senior, Daisy was now twenty-six, an age where beauty and maturity blended perfectly. In White Raven Port, she was known as the Rose of the Bakery. Despite years of hard work raising Jenson, neither her looks nor her figure had faded; if anything, they shone even brighter, outshining many a noble lady.
For Jenson, crossing into this world, the greatest blessing had been having such a gentle, beautiful, and resilient aunt.
"Alright, I'm coming," Jenson replied with a smile. He washed his hands and took a seat at the table.
The table was already laden with a spread of dishes, each fragrant and inviting—clearly prepared with care.
Daisy's cooking was exceptional. Even if her meals lacked the "restore stamina" or "recover mana" effects of magical recipes, their aroma alone was enough to make one's mouth water.
"Daisy, why such a feast today?" Jenson asked, picking up a piece of golden-roasted meat.
"Hehe, because today is a special day," Daisy replied.
She untied her apron and set it aside, sitting down with a smile. "It's your Awakening Day. So? Did you succeed? What profession did you get?"
At her question, Jenson's expression dimmed slightly.
Sensing his mood, Daisy's gaze softened. "What is it? Didn't awaken into a good profession? That's alright. If it's a life-skill profession, I'd actually feel more at ease. If you went to the front lines to fight monsters or delve into ruins, I'd only spend every day worrying about your safety."
Jenson gave a wry smile and answered honestly, "It's a combat profession… and a hidden one at that."
"What?!"
Daisy froze for a heartbeat, then nearly leapt from her chair in delight. "Really?! A combat profession, and a hidden one too! I knew you could do it! You'll definitely have a brighter future than me—no, much stronger than me!"
But Jenson had to temper her excitement. "Daisy… my profession is Dragon Tamer. Even though it's a hidden class, without a dragon… it's not even as practical as an ordinary life-skill profession."
He let out a faint sigh as he finished speaking.
Daisy paused slightly, but her expression didn't betray much disappointment. Instead, she spoke first to comfort him. "Dragon Tamer… that's alright, Jenson. Being able to awaken a hidden combat profession already proves you're exceptional. It's just… luck wasn't on your side this time, that's all."