As the first three students set foot in the water, a deathly silence fell over the room. Murmurs ceased; even the sound of breathing seemed to fade.
The first step gave no sign.
They had three chances to awaken—one for each step. With every stride, the water beneath them would seep into their pores, surging through their bodies until it reached the spirit dwelling within their minds. There, in the seat of the soul, their beasts waited.
The entire process—a meticulous scan of their potential—took only milliseconds. For centuries, scholars had wondered: where do these beasts come from? What exactly is this mysterious water? No answers had been found, and none were expected anytime soon.
All that mattered was the result.
The first step: silence. The second: nothing.
The weight of impending failure pressed down on the trio, and their heads slumped in unison.
Only one step remained to determine if they would fulfill their dreams or join the ranks of the forgotten. Their fists white-knuckled with tension.
"Don't wait for a miracle," the Director said sharply. "There are many others waiting."
His voice snapped them out of their daze. They took the final step.
Nothing.
No spark, no connection. The water simply pushed them away, a cold rejection from destiny itself.
They had failed to become Beast Masters. They were doomed to a life of ordinary human limits, facing the world's dangers without a faithful companion.
They were finished.
The remaining students took shaky breaths, trying to steady their nerves as the next group stepped forward.
Failure. Failure. Failure.
Six groups passed. Eighteen dreams crushed.
'Not even the children of the elite, trained since birth, can force an awakening,' the Director thought, shaking his head. 'I suppose this is the reality of the untalented. I've seen it a thousand times, yet it never gets easier to watch.'
"Wait, look!"
"Did someone do it?"
"Two! Two of them are awakening!"
The Director's brows shot up as he locked eyes on the seventh group.
"It's Robert Morris! The scion of the Morris Clan has finally done it!"
"And the girl... Elizabeth, General Lois's daughter?"
At the second step, both students froze. This wasn't hesitation; it was an astral journey. Their bodies began to glow with a faint, rhythmic pulse of spiritual energy.
As the energy danced around them, two beasts materialized in the air.
"A Scarlet Fire Salamander for Miss Elizabeth!" one teacher exclaimed.
But the Director's eyes were fixed on the other boy, his expression shifting to one of profound shock. "The Lion of Morris... the Crimson-Eyed Maned Lion," he whispered.
This was one of the three Great Beasts of the Morris Clan, one of the most powerful families in the Western Province. The Crimson-Eyed Maned Lion was legendary for its immediate physical improvement.
When Robert opened his eyes, they burned with a striking shade of crimson. His physique surged, his muscles toning instantly. The red hue bled into his hair, coloring several strands and causing it to grow a few inches.
"A remarkable transformation!" The Director hurried toward them, his excitement palpable. "Young Robert, Miss Elizabeth—please, step forward. Let the Rock test your talent."
As they placed their hands on the central stone, their new companions circled them. The Salamander eventually looked away, losing a staring contest with the Lion, which only fueled the Director's anticipation.
'Could it be a B-Rank?' he wondered. 'A B-Rank among those who failed their first two years would be unheard of.'
The stone glowed, revealing the first prompt:
[Summon: Scarlet Fire Salamander]
[Talent Rank: B]
[Evolution Capacity: Level 2]
"Rank B and Level 2!"
"Dammit, if only she were Level 3, she could have been one of the kingdom's legends."
"What are you talking about, you idiot? She outranked her father! She'll be a high-ranking general. What more could she want?"
Professor Owen was the one being scolded. He sighed, looking at the bigger picture.
While a B-Rank was impressive for this class, he knew the harsh reality of evolution.
A Level 2 in Evolution Capacity is, of course, very good. If she does well and is provided with the necessary resources for her evolution, she could even reach incredible heights, becoming a powerful local Beast Master or a high-status General.
But combined with Talent Rank C, that's entirely possible; with Rank B, there wouldn't be much difference. Level 2 evolution Capacity would completely limit her talent.
Talent implies two things: speed of growth in the face of evolution and the ability to manipulate the Magic Network.
In Elizabeth's case, her Rank B will allow her to grow a little faster than the rest, but she will reach her ceiling very quickly, which can be problematic for feelings of stagnation that are difficult to manage.
On the other hand, that same Rank B also affects her affinity with an elemental type of magic: fire, which is the best thing about her, at least from Professor Owen's point of view.
A Level 2 capacity would eventually act as a ceiling. Her Rank B would give her great affinity for fire magic, but she would hit a wall of stagnation far sooner than a Level 3 or 4.
Still, Owen smiled. He was proud of his student, despite the limitations.
But the Rock wasn't finished. A second message flickered into existence:
[Summon: Crimson-Eyed Maned Lion]
[Talent Rank: A]
[Evolution Capacity: Level 4]
CRACK.
The sound of a glass shattering echoed through the hall as one of the elders lost his grip. The Director's foot came down hard, cracking the stone tile beneath him.
An A-Rank. Level 4.
The room fell into a stunned trance. From Edward to the faculty, no one had imagined a world-class talent was hiding in a remedial class.
'Level 4... Rank A,' Edward thought, his heart sinking. 'If I don't awaken something incredible... this guy will kill me.'
In the entire Western Province, there were only three known Level 4 talents. Robert was now the fourth—and the only one with an A-Rank/Level 4 combination.
The Director was so giddy he forgot to move. When he finally spoke, his voice was thick with poorly concealed adoration. "Hahaha! Two such gifted youths in one class... this is the greatest surprise of the year! You are destined for greatness!"
He barely spared Elizabeth a nod; his eyes were glued to Robert. 'I'm a Level 4 myself, but my talent is barely a B... this boy will reach heights I can only dream of. I must mentor him!'
As the teachers swarmed the two stars, the third member of their group stood forgotten on the third step. He had failed.
'What do you value, Great Stone?' The boy thought bitterly. 'Wealth? Cruelty? The ability to bully?' He sighed and turned.
Behind him, Edward was waiting. The boy managed a weak, self-deprecating smile and patted Edward's shoulder. "At least accompany me to the end as a fellow laughingstock, won't you, my friend?"
Edward forced a smile. "Wish me luck. Maybe I'll awaken and I can fund your dream of becoming a writer."
"Hahaha, I'll hold you to that."
As the praises for the two bullies continued to ring out, the eighth group was called.
'It's my turn.' Edward tensed, the cool mist of the Water of Awakening swirling around his boots.