The Awakening Began

Ryo walked the familiar path to Yellow Leaf Academy, his sneakers scuffing against the cracked pavement. The air buzzed with a strange energy today—anticipation, maybe, or dread. His hands were shoved deep into his jeans pockets, the faint ache in his back from sleeping on the floor still nagging at him. His gray eyes scanned the crowd of students trickling through the school gates, their chatter a low hum beneath the distant roar of traffic.

The classroom was packed when he slipped inside, the wooden desks scratched and worn from years of use. Anaya was already there, standing near the back by the window, her damp curls tucked under a loose hood. Her gray sweatpants and baggy t-shirt swallowed her curves, but Ryo's gaze lingered anyway. She spotted him and scowled, dark eyes narrowing, but didn't move away when he sidled up beside her.

"Fuck off, Ryo," she muttered under her breath, arms crossed tightly over her chest.

He smirked, leaning against the wall. "Relax, Anaya. You're stuck with me. No one else here gives a shit about you."

She rolled her eyes but didn't argue. He was right—she didn't know anyone else in this sea of faces, and as much as she hated him, his presence was familiar, almost comforting in a twisted way.

The door swung open, and their teacher, Ms. Zhang Wei, stepped in. She was a wiry woman in her forties, her black hair streaked with gray and pulled into a severe bun. Her sharp gaze swept the room, silencing the chatter as she clapped her hands once, a crisp, commanding sound.

"Alright, everyone, settle down," she said, her voice firm but warm. "Congratulations to all of you. You've made it through the exams, and today's the day you've been waiting for—the awakening ceremony. I know you're nervous, but listen to me: don't be. Be brave. Whatever happens out there, whether you awaken a 'good' job or not, it doesn't define you. A farmer can rise higher than a warrior if they've got grit. A mage can fall to nothing without heart. This is just the start, not the end. So chin up, shoulders back—let's go face it together."

Her words hung in the air, simple but steadying, and a few students nodded, though the tension didn't fully lift. She gestured toward the door. "Come on, then. To the playground. The principal's waiting."

Ryo glanced at Anaya as they shuffled out with the crowd. "Think she's right? Doesn't matter what we get?"

"Doesn't matter to me," Anaya shot back, her voice clipped. "I'm first rank. I'll make it work. You're the one who should be sweating, second place."

He snorted, keeping pace with her. "We'll see, princess."

The playground was a wide, dusty field behind the school, ringed by a low fence and dotted with faded benches. A large circle had been drawn in the dirt, its edges marked with chalk and glowing faintly with runes etched by a tall, thin man in dark robes—a mage, his hands flickering with faint blue light as he finished the spell. Principal Li Jian stood beside him, a broad man with a stern face and a gray suit stretched tight over his shoulders. His voice boomed as the students gathered around the circle, Ms. Zhang herding them into loose rows.

"Students of Yellow Leaf Academy," Principal Li began, his tone deep and resonant, "today is a proud day. The awakening ceremony is your first step into the world beyond these walls, a chance to claim your place. Some of you will rise to greatness, others will carve your own paths in quieter ways. I won't talk nonsense here—I hope everyone can reach the heights of classmate Chu Yang and become pillars of our human race."

The Chu Yang that Principal Li mentioned was once a student at Yellow Leaf Academy. He awakened the Holy Mage job and had since become a big shot at level 80. Principal Li often cited his deeds to inspire the students.

Ryo eyed the job awakening magic circle being erected on the playground, a flicker of excitement stirring in his chest. He was looking forward to this.

In this world, fused with game-like elements, people awakened jobs in their third year of high school. Experience could be gained by clearing dungeons, conquering secret realms, joining battlefields, or killing monsters in the wild. With experience came levels, skills mastery, and enhanced strength—tools to fight against demons and monsters, carving out a living space for humanity. Countless sages had shed blood and sacrificed their lives to secure the world they lived in now.

The success rate of job awakening was 100%; the only question was whether the job would be good or bad. The most popular were the main combat occupations, followed by auxiliary roles, with lifestyle occupations trailing last. But this was just a broad classification. While combat jobs were coveted, it didn't mean auxiliary or lifestyle roles were weak. Powerful auxiliary occupations were in high demand—whether in dungeons, secret realms, or frontline battles, they were indispensable. In some cases, losing an output fighter was preferable to lacking an auxiliary. Even god-tier lifestyle occupations had proven their might in the past.

Principal Li paused, letting his words sink in, then nodded to the mage. "Let's begin. First name—Liu Tao."

A lanky boy with messy hair stepped forward, hands fidgeting as he crossed into the circle. The mage muttered something low, and the runes flared bright, a pulse of light wrapping around Liu Tao. A faint shimmer formed above his head, coalescing into a symbol—a hoe crossed with a sheaf of wheat. Farmer.

The crowd murmured, a mix of snickers and shrugs rippling through.

"Farmer, huh? Tough break," someone muttered.

"At least he'll never go hungry," another voice chimed in, dry and mocking.

Liu Tao's face flushed red, but he squared his shoulders and stepped out of the circle, head high despite the whispers. Principal Li clapped him on the back. "Good lad. Next."

Ryo nudged Anaya with his elbow, smirking. "Farmer's not so bad. Could grow some nice crops to stare at."

She glared at him, shoving his arm away. "Shut up, Ryo. You'd probably awaken as a pig—suits your personality."

He laughed, short and rough. "Maybe. Bet you'd still stick around to feed me."

"In your dreams," she snapped, but her lips twitched, fighting a scowl. She hated how easy it was to slip into this with him—hated that he was the only one here she could talk to, even if every word made her want to deck him.

Some students performed mediocrely in school but awakened powerful main combat jobs. Others excelled in their studies only to end up with lifestyle careers. Though Ryo and Anaya were hailed as the two geniuses of Yellow Leaf Academy, only stepping into the magic circle would reveal what they'd truly become.