To everyone on stage, the way the ground cracked beneath the altar felt unreal. The force alone made it clear this boy carried something rare, something dark. They waited for the usual burst of light, but nothing came. The shaking faded, leaving behind only a weak stream of greenish smoke that barely rose before dissolving into the air.
"Aaah… nothing," the senior beside the altar muttered, his voice uneasy. He leaned closer, hoping for a sign, but the altar stayed silent.
"Useless!" someone from the stands shouted. The crowd, expecting something grand grew restless. All they got was a puff of fading smoke.
The seniors exchanged uncertain looks, their disappointment heavy. Kerry's face drained of color, his pulse pounding so hard he could hear it echo across the altar.
"Kerry Fireborn is a zero affinity… a null," the senior finally announced. The words struck like a hammer. Gasps rippled through the crowd. No one had seen a null in years.
"A null?!" a woman shouted. "Banish him!"
Insults followed and fingers pointed. But among the shouting, one representative's gaze stayed fixed on Kerry. Something about the boy didn't fit. Power was there hidden, buried too deep to awaken.
The representative stepped forward. "Place your hand again," he ordered.
Murmurs broke out. "Huh? Again?"
Kerry's chest tightened. He moved slowly, holding back the tears stinging his eyes. He pressed his hand against the altar one more time.
The ground shuddered again louder, and harsher. A jagged crack split across the altar.
"Stop!" an elder roared from behind. If the altar shattered, the curse would fall upon the city.
The insults grew louder, and sharper again.
Diana could no longer stay silent. She stepped into the center of the stands, her voice cutting through the noise like a blade.
"Enough!" she commanded, every word filled with force.
When the crowd finally quieted, the elders descended from their seats and gathered at the altar. Their expressions softened as they surrounded Kerry, offering gentle words and small gestures of comfort. They all knew too well what it meant to stand here with nothing, no light, no power, nor a system.
On the other side, Darius and Lina stood still, their faces carrying the same heavy pity. Everyone understood what this moment meant. Awakening wasn't just some ceremony but rather, it decided your path. Without a system, your future was already caged. Awakeners got the chance to step into academies, to grow, to shape their destiny. That single spark decided whether you'd walk or be left behind.
Elder Kael, a representative of Obsidian Star Academy, stood apart from the others. He didn't rush forward. His sharp eyes stayed fixed on the boy, reading something no one else saw. Instinct whispered to him that Kerry's story wasn't over, not yet. If the system didn't awaken today, then someday it would. And if it did, it would shake everything.
He stepped closer, his steps quiet and certain.
"I'll take him," Kael said, his voice calm but firm.
Kerry's head snapped up. "Seriously, sir?" His voice cracked as he wiped at his damp cheeks.
Kael gave a small nod, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. It wasn't a forced smile. It was the kind that carried certainty.
"But I have no system," Kerry whispered, his voice small and unsure.
Kael placed a hand gently on the boy's hair, his touch steady. "Listen, kid. Not everyone's power wakes when the world expects it to. Sometimes, it hides. Sometimes, it waits. Rare systems don't follow the rules. And even without one, you're not useless to my academy."
Kerry's chest tightened, but a spark lit inside him. He nodded, hope replacing the ache that had been crushing his heart. The crowd whispered in confusion, some in disbelief, others in scorn, but Kael didn't care. His choice was made.
Soon, every participant who had taken part in the ceremony was assigned to their official academies, each about to begin their own path of training and battles ahead. But this was just the beginning. Academies weren't just filled with students from one city, people came from everywhere, carrying their own powers, ambitions, and secrets.
At each academy, the students wore different cloaks that marked their year: first, second, and third. But every place had its own rules and ways of shaping the future.
By the time the ceremony ended, the sun had already slipped low behind the horizon. Tomorrow, they would all set out to their new academies, to start the life they had only dreamed about.
Later that night, Kerry stood by his small home, his arms wrapped tightly around his mother. "Mom… will you be okay when I leave?" His voice was quiet, but his heart was heavy. Everyone had to leave eventually, it was the way forward. But knowing it didn't make it hurt less.
"My son," Diana whispered, holding him close, "don't think about me. Think about who you're meant to become. You have your father's blood. Be strong. Protect us like he does. Don't ever give up on yourself. Hard work can build strength where power doesn't exist. Even without a system, you can become someone."
Her tears slid down her cheeks as she held him tighter. He didn't pull away.
Kerry buried his face against her shoulder, letting the warmth of her voice sink deep into his chest. Tomorrow would tear him away from everything familiar, but her words would follow him wherever he went.
------------
Early in the morning, when most of the town was still asleep, the students were already being taken to their academies. Kerry and his mother hadn't closed their eyes all night. They had waited for this moment in silence, their hearts too heavy to rest.
Elder Kael landed quietly in front of their small house, standing tall on his flying sword.
Kerry's chest felt tight. He was excited to begin his journey, but the thought of leaving his mother behind burned inside him. She had always been the warmth he returned to, the reason his heart stayed steady. But now, he had to walk forward alone. Someday, when fate allowed, they would meet again.
Kerry threw his arms around her, holding on as if he could stop time. Tears soaked his cheeks.
"Mom…" His voice broke apart before he could finish.
Diana cupped his face with trembling hands. "Shh, my son. Take care of yourself. Your father would be proud of you. Please… stay safe." Her tears fell freely. She didn't try to hide them.
Kael glanced at the sky, then at his watch. "Kerry, hurry. It's getting late. The academy's far from here. The journey could take hours… maybe even days."
Diana slowly released her son. "Now you can go."
Kerry's eyes were swollen and red as he stepped onto the sword beside Kael. He reached out a hand toward his mother one last time.
"Mom!!!" His cry tore through the morning air as they rose higher. His tears fell without stopping, carried away by the wind. He didn't look away, not even once.
"I promise," he whispered through the ache in his chest. "I'll find out who I am."