Moments Before the Rite (2)

Ariase stood abruptly, his voice edged with frustration and curiosity, "Sir, did my uncle really tell you all of that?"

Mr. Gonzales sighed deeply, shaking his head.

"Yes, he did. It's a shame, honestly. If your uncle hadn't made a mistake during your purification, your soul might have been intact for the rite."

"You were the salutatorian in elementary school, weren't you? Sigh... this could jeopardize your scholarship if you don't perform well."

The words hit Ariase like a punch to the gut.

He closed his eyes, his mind racing, 'Uncle, really?! Did you have to throw me under the bus with this ridiculous excuse? Now I'll be targeted by the entire batch soon!'

Suddenly, the kindness his uncle had shown in recent days, the thoughtful gestures, and the precious storage bracelet, clicked into place.

Those weren't generosity. It was guilt.

Ariase let out a quiet, resigned sigh.

His plans for a fresh start, free of complications, were now in shambles.

Around him, the room buzzed with muted whispers and stunned expressions.

His classmates' shock was noticeable; they all understood how critical the state of one's soul was for the rite.

Success or failure often hinged on it.

Ariase even caught glimpses of pity, skepticism, and even disdain in their eyes.

Some students, who had looked at him with potential camaraderie moments ago, now seemed to hesitate, as if reconsidering any thought of befriending him.

Kevin leaned closer, his voice low with concern, "Ria, is it true? I-Is your soul really damaged...? What are you going to do now?"

Ariase looked at Kevin and felt a pang of gratitude.

Unlike the others, Kevin's eyes held no judgment.

Instead, they were filled with worry and solidarity.

It was a stark contrast to the disdain he noticed in some of his classmates' expressions, looks that reminded him far too much of his past life.

'Damn it,' he thought angrily. 'This is ridiculous. I didn't expect to be humiliated on my first day.'

The memory of his old boss berating him unfairly came rushing back, and the sting of that injustice was mirrored in the way some of his former friends were now looking at him, as though he was already a failure.

Ariase drew a deep breath, shoving down the rising anger.

When he finally spoke, his voice was calm, "Yes, it's true. My soul is slightly damaged. But it won't hinder my awakening, Mr. Gonzales."

Inside, though, his thoughts churned. 'Uncle, maybe I should thank you after all. Without this, I might still be foolish enough to think I could befriend everyone like before.'

The expressions of his classmates served as a harsh wake-up call for Ariase, forcing him to confront the reality that people aren't the same as he remember them, especially in this world.

He felt a deep sense of disappointment as he watched their reactions, their faces a mix of pity, disdain, and discomfort.

Mr. Gonzales gave him a skeptical glance but nodded. "I can only hope so. Now, please proceed with your introduction."

Standing tall, Ariase kept his introduction brief and to the point.

He didn't offer any unnecessary details and refused to let the murmurs faze him.

As he sat down, he caught someone whispering from the back, loud enough for him to hear.

"Such a grand entrance earlier, but to think he's destined to be a Mundane. What a dork."

Ariase's jaw tightened, but his face remained impassive.

'You little brat!' he thought, his eyes narrowing slightly.

'Do you think I won't stoop to your level just because I'm an adult inside? You're dead wrong. I'll be as petty as I need to be.'

Beside him, Kevin and Alex tried to comfort him, their words of support soft but genuine, making him appreciate their concern.

...

Eventually, the self-introductions wrapped up, and Mr. Gonzales turned to the blackboard.

With swift, confident strokes, he began writing as he spoke.

"I'm sure most of you already have a basic understanding of what will happen today. But let's refresh your memory. When someone with a Filipino bloodline reaches the age of 12, three major events are triggered."

"The first is the [Elemental Awakening Rite]. This is where you, along with the students from the other four sections, will attempt to awaken the elemental power lying dormant within your souls. Whether you are destined to wield an element is another matter entirely."

"Currently, there are five types of elements recorded by the NAMP or the National Association of Mystic Practitioners," Mr. Gonzales began, his tone commanding the room's attention.

"These are the Natural, Advanced, Celestial, Spiritual, and, lastly, the Forbidden Elements.

"Most of you will likely awaken a Natural element. And some might be lucky enough to awaken an Advanced one. If you manage to awaken a Celestial or Spiritual element, even with the least number of talent slots, you could qualify for substantial subsidies from the Association and the government."

The students sat on the edge of their seats, their eyes gleaming with hope, until their teacher's expression darkened.

"As for the Forbidden Elements," he continued gravely, "such as Curse, Poison, Death, Blood, Chaos, and others, pray you do not awaken one. If you do, not even the school can protect you. You'll be turned over to the government immediately."

His words sent a collective shudder through the classroom. Even the air seemed heavier as students exchanged uneasy glances.

"To give you some context," Mr. Gonzales said, softening his tone, "I awakened a Natural element, Dew."

He paused and then uttered the world command: [Ancestria]

At once, three glowing blue halos appeared behind him, and a luminous blue tattoo flared to life on his right hand.

He held it up for all to see.

"Dew is a branch of the Water element, one of the weaker branch elements. Yet, despite its limitations, I managed to reach the Spirit Bonding Realm, achieving the 3rd Halo."

The students were captivated.

Even Ariase, who had done extensive online research, found himself surprised.

Mr. Gonzales continued, his voice steady, "The point I'm making is this: even if you awaken a weak branch element, as long as you persevere, train, and evolve it, you can achieve the 5th Halo, or even higher."

"This is the essence of the [Celestial Mystic Path]. Unlike other divine power systems in different countries, our path imposes no limits. The only limitation we face is aging."

He paused for emphasis, his gaze sweeping across the room.

"Once you awaken your halo and become a 1st Halo Mystic, you'll be granted 100 years of lifeforce by the Spirit Elder of your element. This means mystic users can 'only' live up to 150 or even 200 years."

"However, unlike the Cultivators of China or the Demigods of Greece, who can extend their lifespans as they ascend through realms, we cannot lengthen our lives through normal means. This is the trade-off of our system: boundless potential but finite time."

The room was silent, every student hanging on his words.

Even Kevin and Alex, typically restless, were utterly absorbed.

"Now," Mr. Gonzales continued, "the next thing to note is the concept of talents. Upon awakening your element, a mark will appear on your right hand. This tattoo is called the [Ancestral Spirit Mark]."

He gestured to the glowing circles on his hand.

"These circles represent talent slots, where [Talent Glyphs] are embedded. In my case, I have three talent slots, with my first talent being this..."

Mr. Gonzales raised his right hand and activated his first talent with a thought, [Needle of Hundred Dews].

Instantly, the moisture in the room responded to his command.

Beads of sweat from the students and water vapor from the air coalesced into a single, shimmering water orb above his hand.

The orb then split, dividing with surgical precision into a hundred intricate water needles.

Each needle floated with fluid grace, reflecting the room's light like tiny crystals.

The students gasped in awe, their amazement visible.

Ariase, who had witnessed far more advanced techniques from his uncle and Erica, slightly acknowledged the mastery behind Mr. Gonzales's control.

However, the students, especially Alex and Kevin, were in awe of the display.

"Whoa! That's really insane!" Alex whispered, his eyes wide with admiration.

Mr. Gonzales wasn't done.

With a swift motion, he clenched his fist, causing the water needles to polymerize, harden, and compress into solid, crystalline formations.

"Watch closely," he said.

With a flick of his hand, the needles shot forward, streaking out the open window like a blur.

One needle struck a nearby tree, piercing a thick branch cleanly and causing it to fall to the ground with a heavy thud.

The class erupted into exclamations of amazement.

Mr. Gonzales coughed lightly, trying to hide his embarrassment at their praise.

"What you've just seen is Needle of Hundred Dews, an uncommon talent I've evolved to Tier 4. At full power, it's even capable of piercing through a Human Grade monster as easily as stepping on an ant."