The ceremony waited for no one. after a series of speeches, the awakening started. name after name was called—sometimes there was joy, sometimes there was agony, and everything in-between.
Until finally i heard my name.
" LIE TIAN "
I flinched at the sound—not because of embarrassment.
No. It was from the unyielding hope that i couldn't quench, there was always sliver left. I though that maybe i could turn my cruel fate around.
I slowly walked up.
The crowd parted left and right. The sound of mockery filled my ears from all around me— subdued but still there, I tried my best to ignore it. my only focus, the only thing tethering my mind to sanity was the thought.
i might be able to change my life.
When I reached the podium i felt eyes lock onto me never like before— but i pushed through it.
" Li Tian?" He said, looking down at a sheet of paper he held firm in his hand.
" Yes " I said in a meek voice
Headmaster Xiang looked up and eyed me up and down slowly before opening his mouth.
" put your hands on the stone in front of you"
I looked down.
In front of me stood a small podium, atop it a dome of black obsidian like stone its surface dark and reflective.Filling me with unnerving sense of dread.
The rock seemed like a monument of all the crushed dreams its collected.
I slowly reached out, my body tense with expectation and fear.
Once my hand touched its cool surface i felt a jolt surge through my body—sharp but also strangely comforting.
I closed my eyes in discomfort awaiting my verdict,
the verdict that decides wether i could turn my future around.
My eyes snapped open a second before he spoke.
"LIE TIAN ...
A pause
"G-Rank Talent."
"....."
Those harrowing words entered my ears—impartial, Indifferent... and utterly cruel.
All my hope i had tried to cling too, had been destroyed.
Completely and utterly destroyed.