"Alex, are you aware that we're in the middle of a class?" Benjamin, stern-faced, rapped the blackboard sharply from the lectern, reprimanding, "If you have personal grievances, settle them elsewhere. This is a classroom, not a playground for your disputes!"
With the fall of his words, an invisible aura of authority emanated from him, silencing the room instantly.
John, aware of Benjamin's former strength as a gold-tier gale magus, chose not to counter and further provoke Alex, respecting his teacher's presence.
On the other hand, Alex, having been chastised out of the blue, was seething with rage.
His face flushed with anger and his body trembling, he glared at John with fiery eyes.
Pointing at John, he struggled to articulate his thoughts.
With Benjamin present, he dared not act rashly.
After a tense moment, Alex, filled with resentment, threatened, "John, after today, I'll show you the vast gulf between you and me!"
John, indifferent to such childish threats, didn't even spare Alex a glance and returned to his seat.
Daniel, John's desk mate, brimming with excitement, gave John a thumbs up, "Man, John, you rock! I've always disliked Alex, flaunting his wealth, thinking everyone should bow to him."
Daniel's family was also well-off, but his personality was worlds apart from Alex's.
Having shared a desk with John for three years, their relationship was solid, both sharing a common disdain for Alex.
After a pause, Daniel voiced his concern, "But still, John, be careful. I heard the Foster family recently connected with some big financial tycoon. Watch out, he might seek revenge."
John waved his hand dismissively, "Don't worry, I can handle that kind of guy."
John had never been one to shy away from trouble.
Even unawakened, he wasn't afraid of someone like Alex, let alone if he awakened today.
The classroom soon returned to its usual tranquility.
While Benjamin continued his monologue, often likened to pouring out 'chicken soup for the soul', John promptly sprawled across his desk and succumbed to sleep.
The exertions with that woman had indeed left him drained; he needed to rest up, gathering energy for the upcoming Awakening Ceremony.
Time trickled by, and soon it was midday.
At the strike of twelve, a voice, both majestic and solemn, echoed throughout Stellarburg: "The hour has arrived, the Awakening Ceremony officially commences!"
"All unawakened individuals in Stellarburg who have reached the age of eighteen, please proceed to the Awakening Temple under the guidance of your instructors. Upon reaching the Awakening Square, everyone is to wait in place. Disturbances and loud noises are strictly forbidden. Any violations will result in forfeiture of this awakening opportunity."
The booming announcement jolted John from his slumber.
Lifting his head, he noticed that everyone in the class was fixated on the scene unfolding outside, their eyes ablaze with excitement.
Turning to look, John's gaze was captured by the spectacle in the sky.
There, figures shrouded in radiance hovered above Stellarburg.
Some held staffs twinkling with starlight, others were draped in mystical, rune-etched priest robes, and some donned glittering golden armor, resembling deities descended upon the mortal realm.
The voice that had spoken belonged to none other than Eldritch Blackwood, the principal of StellarSea Academy.
Blackwood was the only individual in Stellarburg to have reached the transcendent-tier of level seventy, a Sacred Word Priest.
He stood as a true high-tier awakener, a figure of awe and reverence.
Benjamin straightened his clothes, his expression solemn as he announced, "Everyone in Class 1, Year 3, follow me to the Awakening Square. No pushing or shoving!"
Thirty students from Class 1, Year 3 of StellarSea Academy filed out of the classroom and followed in Benjamin's footsteps towards the school gates.
Outside, numerous students from StellarSea Academy had already gathered, awaiting their turn.
Once everyone had assembled, the group set off for the Awakening Temple.
The temple, situated a mere few hundred meters from StellarSea Academy, was not far.
The crowd quickly reached their destination.
The Awakening Temple was a tower-like structure, nearly a hundred meters tall, with ornately carved beams and painted rafters, exuding grandeur.
Inside, it was said to house statues of legendary awakeners from the past century.
At that moment, the sprawling Awakening Square, spanning nearly a kilometer, was packed to the brim.
The square, teeming with at least ten thousand people, continued to swell as more individuals streamed in. Judging by their uniforms, many were not from StellarSea Academy but from other institutes in Stellarburg, here for their awakening.
John scanned the surroundings, his keen eyes picking up on a particularly distinguished group from another academy.
This group, about a hundred strong, wore uniforms of black with gold trim, adorned with intricate gold embroidery.
Their attire was impeccable, and each member carried themselves with a poised and extraordinary air.
Especially notable were the handsome men and beautiful women at the forefront, whose every gesture and conversation hinted at a non-ordinary family background.
Amidst this group, a girl at the very front captured everyone's attention.
She had long blue hair, delicate features, and a cool demeanor.
Her tall stature, easily around 1.78 meters, combined with an aura of icy coldness, made her particularly striking.
John observed that the students from this particular academy seemed to subtly recognize the girl as their leader.
Their looks towards her were tinged with deep respect and admiration.
Despite being well-traveled and knowledgeable, John couldn't identify these individuals.
He quickly caught up with Benjamin and asked, "Benjamin, what's the deal with that group of affluent-looking students?"
Their relationship was quite informal, allowing for such direct questioning.
"With so many eyes on us, can't you at least pretend to show me some respect?" Benjamin retorted with a stern glance at John, before revealing, "They are the scions of noble families from a prestigious academy. Their backgrounds are extraordinary. They're here for the awakening ceremony at the city lord's behest, a rare sight under normal circumstances."
John realized why these faces were unfamiliar to him.
These noble offspring usually resided in the noble district at the core of Stellarburg, with their exclusive Awakening Temple.
Commoners like him seldom had the chance to encounter them.
"What about that girl in the front? She seems quite exceptional," John queried further.
Benjamin stiffened, glanced around to ensure no one was eavesdropping, and then whispered, "Keep it down, will you? That's Seraphina Winters, the city lord's daughter. Don't you dare provoke her. If you offend her, no one can protect you."
John replied in resignation, "What are you thinking, Benjamin? I was just curious about these new faces. I wouldn't dare to mess with someone of such evident noble lineage."
"As long as you understand," said Benjamin, keeping his eyes fixed ahead, especially since Principal Eldritch was up front.
It wasn't a good time to be caught off guard.
Time swiftly passed, and the square grew increasingly crowded.
By one o'clock, nearly all academies in Stellarburg had assembled.
Principal Eldritch announced loudly, "The Awakening Ceremony officially begins!"
As his words echoed, the first batch of students began queuing to enter the Awakening Temple.
From the grand hall, rays of light, some dazzling, others dim, began to shine from the statues within.
An awakening mentor stood by, calmly declaring the outcomes:
"Olivia, awakening failed!"
"Mason, awakening failed!"
"Liam, awakened as a life class: Blacksmith, talent level: E-level!"
"Eliza, awakening failed!"
"Isabella, awakened as a battle class: Berserker, talent level: D-level!"
…
The first batch of students emerged from their awakening, presenting a myriad of human emotions.
Those who succeeded beamed with joy, while the ones who failed were crestfallen, some even breaking down in tears on the spot.
They understood that this failure could very well mean a lifelong disconnection from becoming an awakener.
Although there were other means to awaken, such as through rare and expensive awakening tomes, these were not feasible for the common folk.
Out of a hundred students, astonishingly, less than twelve succeeded in awakening, and all into rather ordinary classes, with the highest talent level being merely D-level.
Even John, known for his stoic nature, felt a twinge of anxiety at this revelation.
He had often heard Benjamin talk about the minuscule odds of awakening to a class, but it was only now that he truly grasped the brutal reality of these odds.
Atop the Awakening Temple, in a room filled with an air of antiquity, Eldritch and several other powerful individuals observed the students below through a MystiMirror.
One of them, a muscular man clad in golden armor, shook his head and remarked, "This batch of students doesn't look promising. Not even a twenty percent awakening rate, and all into insignificant classes."
Eldritch, with his white flowing beard, stroked his chin and chuckled, "General Stratford, no need to be hasty. This is just the beginning. Besides, Lord Winters' daughter hasn't taken her turn yet. There should be some promising talents appearing later on."