The moment students saw the orb, the entire classroom went silent. Nobody needed an explanation. Everyone recognized it immediately.
The Awakening Orb. The artifact responsible for awakening countless lives every year.
Lily unconsciously straightened in her seat. Even her breathing slowed.
The teacher guided the floating platform to the front of the classroom before turning around. For a moment, she simply looked at the students. A faint smile appeared on her face.
"Everyone, today is your awakening ceremony. If you fail to awaken, do not worry, as this is only your first time. You'll have another chance next year, and the year after that. Of course, it would be great to awaken on your first try, haha."
Thanks to the Federation's deliberate timing, before university, the average age range in a middle-school-to-high-school class stayed very similar.
One could only be older, never younger. In Lily's class, the youngest was sixteen and the oldest was seventeen.
