Anaya's Awakening

Principal Li Jian stood with his arms crossed, his stern face creased with a faint frown as he watched the awakenings unfold. Beside him, the tall, thin mage—Master Chen Hao—adjusted his dark robes, his bony fingers flickering with residual blue light as he guided the magic circle's power. His sharp, weathered face carried a hint of amusement, a contrast to the principal's growing disappointment.

"Another auxiliary," Principal Li muttered, his deep voice tinged with frustration as a girl stepped out of the circle, a faint symbol of a shield and staff hovering above her head—Cleric. "No rare jobs yet. Not even an advanced one. This batch feels… ordinary."

Master Chen Hao chuckled, a dry, rasping sound that cut through the air. "You're too impatient, Li Jian. In a year, having one or two rare jobs awaken in the entire city is already a blessing. Advanced jobs are plenty good enough—stop chasing miracles."

Principal Li nodded grudgingly, rubbing his chin. "True. Even an advanced combat job would be a win. A warrior, a knight—something with teeth. We need strength, not just healers and farmers."

Chen Hao shrugged, his sharp eyes scanning the crowd. "Strength comes in many forms. Be patient. The day's not over."

Names were called one after another, the circle flaring with light each time a student stepped in. A broad-shouldered boy awakened as a Swordsman—advanced, but common enough. A quiet girl with glasses became a Scribe, a lifestyle job that drew a few snickers. Another boy, trembling as he entered, emerged with the faint glow of a Blacksmith's hammer above him. Solid jobs, useful jobs, but nothing to set the principal's heart racing. His frown deepened with each passing student.

Then came Anaya's turn.

"Anaya Sharma," Principal Li called, his voice steady but laced with a flicker of curiosity as he glanced at her file—first rank, top of her class.

Anaya stepped forward, walked to magic circle with full of confidence.

Master Chen Hao tilted his head, his gaze narrowing as Anaya approached the circle. He leaned toward Principal Li, his voice low but firm. "This one's different. Feel that? Her mental power—it's extraordinary. She's got the makings of a mage."

Principal Li's eyes widened, a spark of excitement breaking through his stern mask. "A mage? That's advanced at least. And if it's a special mage…" His voice trailed off, hope flickering. "A rare job. We might finally have something."

Anaya stepped into the circle, The runes pulsed once, a faint glow rippling outward—and then erupted. Fire exploded from the ground, a roaring blaze that swallowed the circle whole. Flames spiraled upward, licking the air with vicious hunger, their heat washing over the crowd in waves. Students gasped and stumbled back, shielding their faces, while Ryo straightened, his smirk fading into wide-eyed shock.

"What the hell—" he muttered, squinting through the inferno.

Principal Li's jaw dropped, his stern demeanor cracking as he stared at the blaze. "A vision!" he breathed, gripping Chen Hao's arm. "That's a rare job—has to be!"

Master Chen Hao nodded, his thin lips curling into a rare grin. "Told you to wait. This is no ordinary awakening."

In the heart of the fire, the flames twisted and shimmered, coalescing into a figure—a breathtaking woman with hair like molten rubies, cascading down her back in waves of living fire. Her skin glowed with an ethereal warmth, and her eyes burned gold, fierce and ancient. She wore a flowing robe of crimson and amber, the fabric rippling like liquid flame. She stood tall, her presence commanding, and turned her blazing gaze on Anaya.

Anaya didn't flinch. She stood rooted in the circle, her dark eyes locked with the fiery beauty's, her chest rising and falling steadily despite the heat scorching the air around her. The crowd held its breath, the crackle of the flames the only sound.

The woman smiled—a sharp, knowing curve of her lips—and stepped forward. Her form dissolved into a rush of fire, streaking toward Anaya like a comet. The flames slammed into her, enveloping her in a blinding burst of light and heat. The ground trembled, the runes flaring white-hot before dimming, and the fire vanished as suddenly as it had come, leaving Anaya standing alone in the circle.

Above her head, a symbol shimmered into existence—a crown of flames encircling a blazing scepter. The air thrummed with power, and Master Chen Hao's voice rang out, clear and awed. "Flame Sovereign awakened! A rare job—elemental mastery at its peak!"

Principal Li clapped his hands together, a booming laugh escaping him. "Flame Sovereign! By the ancestors, we've got a legend in the making! An elemental ruler—an empress of fire!"

Anaya exhaled sharply, her fists unclenching as she stared up at the symbol. Her lips twitched into a faint, smile. She stepped out of the circle, brushing ash from her sweatpants like it was nothing.

Principal Li strode over, his broad frame practically vibrating with pride. "Anaya, you've just made Yellow Leaf Academy proud. A Flame Sovereign—rare as they come. You'll be a force out there."

Master Chen Hao followed, his sharp eyes glinting as he studied her. "Elemental jobs like that don't just fight—they command. Fire bends to you now. Use it well."

She nodded, her expression cool but her pulse racing beneath it. "I will."

And before she went back to Ryo, and say something, she was surrounded by many girls and boys, asking questions and all. She frowned and said, "Can you all step aside? I don't have time to chit chat with you all."

As soon as she said, everyone frowned and felt that she was arrogant. Anaya didn't care and she pass through them and arrived at Ryo, and said with smug smile, waiting for his reply.

"You know right? We have to team with others for leveling up? And you just made enemy of everyone here?" Ryo said.

"Humph," Anaya snorted, this is now what she wanted to hear, "I don't care, many will still want to be teammates with me even if I treat them as dog."

Ryo chuckled.