Chapter 2: School Life and Studies

Arin woke up with a strange feeling and was not sure what exactly had happened yesterday. During the night, he had nightmares filled with various monsters and creatures from a world he didn't even know. It was quite depressing and confusing. He looked at the ring that had weighed heavily on his hand during the night. He realized that the ring was probably of immeasurable value, so he hid it and didn't want anyone to take it from him. He knew that the only way he could lose it would be if someone killed him or cut off his finger.

When Arin was getting ready for school in the morning, he put on old riding gloves he had found in a junkyard to hide the ring. At school, three classmates who bullied him started to pick on him because of it. They laughed at him and made fun of him. Jackson Blackwood, the baron's son, was their leader. "Look at Arin with those ridiculous gloves," Jackson mocked. "What do you think you are, a knight?"

"Do you think those gloves will protect you from us?" added one of his henchmen with a sneer.

"Yeah, or from the dirt in your shack?" added the third, and all three laughed.

Arin tried to ignore their remarks and focus on his studies. He knew he had a long way to go, but he was determined to do everything he could to achieve his goal. The teacher in the class for poor students, Ralear, often reminded them how lucky they were to be in this class. "You are lucky to be here," he said. "Many children from your backgrounds don't even have this chance. You were chosen because you demonstrated certain abilities and potential. Make the most of this opportunity."

Ralear was an experienced teacher who treated them very kindly and tried to help them even with the minimal resources he had. He had been teaching for a long time, several decades, and was probably naturally awakened. This meant that he had not been able to fully utilize his potential and had probably not reached a high level because the amount of experience you can gain from killing monsters decreases with age. During one of his battles with monsters, he lost an arm, which greatly limited his abilities, but he still tried to pass on his limited knowledge to the students from the poor class because he came from the same impoverished conditions as they did.

One day, as Arin was sitting in class and listening to Ralear, he remembered the stories he had heard about heroes who had risen from humble beginnings. These stories always inspired him and gave him hope. He knew that if he managed to awaken, he could become one of these heroes and change his fate.

Ralear told them about different professions and their specializations:

Warrior: "Warriors are strong and resilient. They have the ability to use a wide range of weapons and armor. They are the first line of defense in battles and often lead attacks."

Mage: "Mages specialize in using magical powers for attack, defense, and support. They control various schools of magic and are strong in both offense and defense."

Thief: "Thieves specialize in speed, theft, and silent attacks. They are masters of stealth and hiding. They use cold weapons like daggers, knives, and occasionally crossbows."

Hunter: "Hunters are experts in long-range combat, usually using bows or crossbows. They are also skilled in tracking and survival in the wilderness."

Priest: "Priests heal and support their allies. They are indispensable in any group of adventurers."

When Arin returned home in the evening, his mother noticed him and asked about the gloves. "Why are you wearing those gloves, Arin?" she asked suspiciously. Arin quickly replied, "I just found them at home. I thought they might be useful." His mother sighed and said, "Alright, but don't forget your responsibilities."

Arin immersed himself in the book he had borrowed from school for one day. He knew that poor students had limited access to materials, so he had to study the book quickly and return it. The book described basic and specialized professions and also heroes who had risen from humble backgrounds. This gave him hope and determination. The book was like an encyclopedia, containing not only a bit of geography and descriptions of surrounding kingdoms but also the combinations of professions.

Arin remembered the geography lessons he had with teacher Daran. Daran was an older man who had traveled to many kingdoms and had incredible knowledge of the world. During one of the lessons, he talked about the different human kingdoms that constantly compete and fight for resources and power.

The kingdom in which he lived was one of many in this region. There were about 70 human kingdoms in total, constantly competing and fighting for resources and power. Some kingdoms were known for their specific warriors and traditions:

Northern Kingdom: Known for its Vikings and Berserkers.

Island Kingdom: Specialized in Samurai and Ninjas.

Desert Kingdom: Known for its Shamans and Slave Hunters.

Pyramid Kingdom: Known for its Pharaohs and mystical priests.

Kingdom of Legions: Known for its legions and discipline.

Other kingdoms included:

Forest Kingdom: Home of the Elves.

Mountain Kingdoms: Home of the Dwarves, known for their powerful warriors and shooters using gunpowder.

Underground Kingdom: Home of the Dark Elves, who live both underground and in dark forests.

Orc Tribes: Known for their powerful warriors and shamans.

Each kingdom and region had its own heroes and legends, who became role models for young adventurers. Arin often thought about these heroes and hoped that one day he would become one of them.

Arin knew that students from wealthy families had a huge advantage. They had access to better study materials, teachers, and support that almost guaranteed their awakening. However, Arin and his classmates had only limited access to these resources. The books and materials they had were outdated and limited.

Teachers in the classes for poor students did what they could to provide the best education, but their options were limited. Not all treated them kindly. Some teachers taught both wealthy and poor classes and were not too pleased about it. They often introduced physical punishments and other disciplinary methods. Physical punishments, such as strikes with a rod or ruler, were common, and students often suffered under the weight of strict rules and high expectations.

Ralear, however, was an exception. He tried to be fair and kind because he came from the same impoverished conditions as his students. Arin appreciated this and drew strength and inspiration from it.

In their class, however, not everyone was the same. Some students, whose parents had better status, such as the miller's son or the butcher's daughter, had slightly better access to equipment and materials for awakening. These students often boasted over the others and sometimes even bullied them. Arin was aware of this but tried not to let it affect him. He knew that his strength and determination were what truly defined him.

When Arin borrowed a book about professions and specializations for one day, he immersed himself in it and tried to extract as much information as possible. He was particularly intrigued by several pages describing the summoner profession. It was explained that the summoner is one of the most powerful magical professions, very versatile because it can summon powerful monsters to fight for it. However, it has certain limitations. It is a very mana-intensive profession, and the summoner is relatively weak in close combat if it does not have its summoned monsters. It also has problems in long-range combat because most of its spells are supportive and not meant for direct attack.

A summoner can fight by sending its monsters into battle while staying at a safe distance. At lower levels, the summoned monsters are relatively weak, such as giant rats, wild dogs, or wolves. At higher levels, however, they can summon powerful mythical creatures like dragons, hydras, or phoenixes. Some of the most powerful summoners in history even gained thrones of kingdoms or became terrifying forces capable of destroying entire realms.

Arin was fascinated by this profession. He knew it was a path full of challenges but also with the possibility of immense power and influence. He thought about how he could use his abilities and determination to become a summoner and change his fate.