"You've been chosen as a demigod."
Following Nightwalker's words was a consonance of cheers and whistles from the students around.
Except from Aegon and the auburn-haired girl who sat beside him.
He stared at her confused, looking around to see all the girls were starstruck with the Paragon but her.
He saw her jaw clench, and fist squeeze the hem of her top in frustration.
'What's up with her?'
He thought but couldn't say anything, not only was it inappropriate given the time but he also didn't know her name.
He turned to Mirage who stood arms folded in the centre stage while looking at Nightwalker from below.
The cheers slowly came to a halt as Nightwalker raised and lowered his hands gesturing them to settle down.
He gradually lowered altitude back onto the stage. Ignoring Mirage's glare and addressing the students again.
"So, now that your confidence is through the roof, let's get into the boring part— There are five Faculties of Aether.
First we have the Elemental Faculty, the ability to bend nature, composed of affinities like fire, water, ice, wind, lightning... Ha, maybe you even have a light affinity like me.
Then we have the Beast Faculty, a faculty of bonds, contracts and primal power, with affinities like beastbonds, summons, transmutation, dominion and so much more.
The Soul craft Faculty— of mind, space and illusions, like our mentor mirage here; phasing, dreamweave, possession, mirage and so on.
The Mechania Faculty, the faculty of inventions where technology, aether and cultivation collide.
With affinities like forging, interface, mechaniaflow and overdrive.
Fear not, these words might seem strange to you but your teachers and mentors will explain it all to you.
You should have already heard at least one of these affinities, or the others I failed to mention,from the system when you accomplished your awakening trial—"
"Kheum," Mirage cleared his throat to draw Nightwalker's attention.
Mirage moved closer to him and whispered to avoid having the students overhear it.
"You forgot about Aether Studies."
Nightwalker tilted back, surprised, and with a lack of filter blurted out loud, "We're still doing that?"
Murmurs and laughter arose within the crowd prompting Aegon to face palm himself.
'I just had to awaken the useless Faculty.'
Mirage shook his head and took over.
"There's also the Faculty of Aether Studies, the faculty responsible for creating our cultivation techniques. Aether manipulation and the evolution of Aether itself, with affinities like insight, synthesis and replication."
"Okay, now that we're done with that," Nightwalker stepped in front of mirage with a smile.
"Let's get into the ranks of awakened there are—
Novus, the beginner rank and where all of you find yourselves, when you just begin to feel the Aether in the air and can grasp it enough to reach your affinity.
Then the Adept, when you survive the next awakening and your reach of Aether increases and with it so does your affinity's potency.
Third, Ascendancy, where the fusion between your body, soul, affinity and Aether begins, true mastery starts here.
Fourth, Vanguard, like Mirage and his gloomy ass, here you can start to get creative, the laws of nature are more of a suggestion here.
Fifth, Arbiters, you'll be able to draw aether from the human body itself, those who can enforce their will over nature.
Sixth, Paragon, from demigod to God, yeah with a big 'G'. Divine understanding of their affinity with the Aether reach of miles away.
That's where you'll find me."
"Then why you too pussy to go for the next trial?"
A random voice spoke within the crowd.
For a second—
Aegon saw Nightwalker's face.
Nightwalker's face contorted violently, jaw tightened, upper lip and eye twitching rapidly— and yet it all happened in a second.
An expression of utter disgust.
Exhuding an aura that was excruciatingly painful, it tied Aegon's chest and hitched his breath making him grip onto the bench for support.
In the next second, Nightwalker's smile returned as if shaking off the comment.
"Hahaha," he laughed, "that's a story for another day, young man."
A chill ran through Aegon's spine as he whipped his head in every which way, hoping someone else saw it.
Luckily, someone did.
The same auburn-haired girl next to him, her hand gripped her chest and sweat beaded on her forehead.
He couldn't help himself anymore, he grabbed her wrist, "You saw that too right?"
She tore her arm from his grip and placed a finger on her lips to making a shushing gesture.
Aegon's wide eyes remained locked into hers— her eyes stood with his, then trailed towards the side of her head.
Pointed at Nightwalker.
'Holy fucking shit. I shouldn't have looked at him at all.'
He thought but said nothing as he understood what she meant.
Nightwalker, the most loved man in the nation, the Paragon of Veltharion and the most powerful awakened— is fucking crazy.
Before they could speak any more their were drawn back to Nightwalker.
"Oh while we're at it, I'd like to introduce you all my son, probably going to be the first Paragon amongst you all, the first and only awakened to have a double affinity..."
"..."
He stopped for a while and let anticipation build up within them.
Aegon sat in his seat, gritting his teeth as he hoped internally, 'Don't say Micheal. Please don't say Micheal. Any name but Micheal.'
"Micheal Anderson."
Nightwalker's hand guided their eyes to a figure who sat in the bleachers perfectly ready for the stares and the spotlight.
'Plot 1 - Aegon 0'
Murmurs within the students as they turned to Micheal.
Annoyingly perfect.
With a smirk he waved to his father who smiled back at him.
Mirage couldn't take it anymore, somehow Nightwalker had turned orientation into a spectacle and now he just wanted to get it over with.
"There are five dormitories, all co-ed, but with regular surveillance; Solmere, Dravon, Frostmere, Aureline and Noxvale Hall.
You all should already already know which is for whom, if you don't make your way back to the main hall where you'll be resigned and give your school ID with all your necessary information."
Mirage wasted no time, running through everything else like a man who had an appointment.
"This is Friday, so there won't be classes till Monday, get yourself accustomed to the environment and your roommates, everything and anything left that should be communicated to you will."
And with that he stepped off the stage, not turning back for anyone.
All eyes drifted back to Nightwalker who said one more thing before blasting through the auditorium roof like a rocket.
"Welcome to godhood."
And with that all students began to leave the auditorium with their ID cards close to their eyes like a guide.
The dorms weren't far or hard to locate from the Auditorium, it was all user friendly as the buildings each had their name on them.
Aegon logged his box before finally arriving at a dorm whose sign read 'Dravon Hall'.
His ID indicated room six on the third floor.
He pushed past countless other newly awakened before reaching his dorm door.
He sighed, finally, pulling it open—
"Haah... Uugh... Aaah"
The soft yet pleased moans of a girl filled his ears.
Her back arched, face slammed into the bed and eyes rolled to the back of her head.
Aegon stood there frozen, his brain had short-circuited, his eyes unconsciously began to trail up until—
He locked eyes with that of his blue orbs.
~BAM!~
Without a moment's breath, he slammed the door back shut.
Rubbed his temple furiously, muttering, "Fucking roommates."