[awakening centre]
I stood in front of the Awakening Ball, surrounded by adults. The aunty in front of me flashed a kind smile
(who even named this thing?)
I thought to myself, staring at the ball
I felt my heart hammer against my ribs.
At the ripe age of twelve, every child had to take a test, one that decided whether they had awakened or not.
The child's mana affinity, skills, and traits would all be revealed.
One test to decide the trajectory of your entire life.
Amazing, right?
I placed my hand on the glassy sphere, letting my mana seep into it.
'It's… cold.'
Is this what mana is supposed to feel like? I remember the adults saying something about a warm sensation though
I shut my eyes, trying to calm the trembling in my fingers.
If I awakened something useful…
I could finally change my life.
I wouldn't have to stay in that damned orphanage forever, getting those annoying injections that make me want to stay asleep
Maybe I'd even get to eat something other than that sludge.
Maybe someone would want me and adopt me from that hellhole.
But if I didn't awaken?
No big deal…
I still had six more chances after all, right?
The latest age someone could awaken was eighteen.
Why? Why would I know? Ask god (if they exist) that not me.
In the end, all it meant was staying in that hellhole for a few more years.
Just a few more years, and then I'd awaken, right?
The mana wrapped around me, thicker and thicker, until…
A faint pulse.
The ball flashed.
It was done.
"…?"
Huh?
A panel shimmered into view as I opened my eyes
——
**Name:** Elio
**Skill:**
• *All-Seeing Eyes* (EX)
• *Ice* (EX)
**Affinity:** A
**Traits:** *Destined Villain?*
---
At first, I was enamored
'I'm EX rank?!'
What rank even is that?
Not only that, i had 2 skills! Not just the usual one!
My mana affinity was A but hey! That's the top ten percent of the population (I think)
Sadly, the feeling of ecstasy lasted only a few seconds
'Destined.. villain?'
"What the hell does that mean?"
"Are you done with checking your skills? Please tell this aunty what you see in the panel!"
The kind hearted aunty sitting In front of me asked.
"Ex rank..?"
The pen she was holding dropped and at that moment, it felt like all eyes in the room were on me.
Oh right? Did I mention?
This "test" was taken alone, in a room full of adults.
That's scary!
As I looked at her shocked expression I quickly corrected myself
"Ah! No I read wrongly.. it's… B rank!"
It's not b rank! Why did I say that?!
My mind panicked but there was one thing I knew for sure.
That trait was definitely not a good thing!
I looked around my surroundings, some muscular dude was walking near me
'Did he see my trait? Am I going to get killed?!?!'
Countless thoughts ran in my brain
I looked up at him as he was a breath away from me
On his shirt, a nametag was hanging on
'Hwang sijo'
That name sounds familar, not that I could remember who he was though
He flashed a "gentle" looking smile (it looked horrifying)
"I'm sorry, could you tell this uncle what your skill is? This uncle has bad hearing now"
And I think my heart stopped
"Ah all s-… B rank Ice"
"Ah, is that so? What are your traits and affinity"
And.. wait my heart already stopped!
"No trait and uh…"
I looked down at the panel
"A rank affinity"
The "uncle" (uncles are handsome?) smiled
"Ah, if you're lying, you could get penalized. It is best to say the truth! Don't worry, we won't judge"
I started trembling
"I'm… nwot lwieing."
Wait, was I crying?
No! Stop!
The man looked surprised as he stared at me trembling
The kind aunty quickly stood up and led me away
As the aunty led me through a door, putting a hand on my shoulder and comforting me, I could hear something something about the likes of "what's his name?"
The aunty led me out of the room, placing a candy in my palm and patting my head
"Don't cry, don't cry. The sun god is always here to protect you, nothing is to be feared."
Her gentle voice calmed me as I wiped away my tears
"Sun god?"
I stammered
She simply smiled, continuing to pat my head
"Ah, you must not be from around here. The sun god is the god the khasdo empire worships."
From a bag, she took out a loaf of bread
"Your awakening test is done, if your guardians have any questions please remember to contact us by #######"
I held the loaf of bread she had given me in my arms, looking up at her
Noticing my confused gaze, she simply explained
"Young boys like you should eat more. Remember to eat healthy."
'?'
Okay I guess.
Free food!
I bit into the bread, it tasted way better than whatever slop I usually ate at the orphanage.
The woman led me out of the centre before bidding farewell, waving at me
I waved back at her, still chewing on the bread.
I looked around my surroundings
Around me were a bunch of posters, advertising things such as "the wife next door is my husband".
Ignoring them, one of the posters took my attention
It was painted in red and had not a lot of words that I could read.
"The church of the wicked:
Beware! They will kill your children and turn them into nightmarish abominations!"
'The church of the wicked?'
I heard that phrase before at the orphanage
Shrugging it off, I walked into the alley, going to the orphanage