Awakening Ceremony (2)

Aric didn't need to turn around. He recognized the voices instantly. Maverick and Ethan, the school clowns. They were classmates, all seventeen, and all facing their second Awakening ceremony. Aric, drawing on the memories of the body he now inhabited, knew exactly what they wanted, and it wasn't long before their predictable routine unfolded.

"Hey, Aric," Ethan said, nudging him in the back.

"What do you want? I'm not making any bets with you guys," Aric muttered, keeping his back turned.

"Aw, come on, you didn't even let us finish," Ethan whined.

"Doesn't matter. I know your game. Not interested. So just leave me alone," Aric said, his voice cold.

"Still sore about us borrowing that book a couple of weeks ago?" Maverick chimed in.

"Look, how about we make it up to you? If you win this bet, we'll give you 200 Credits. How about that?" Ethan offered. Aric stayed silent. He knew these two all too well from the previous owner's memories.

Maverick and Ethan were infamous as the school clowns. Despite being only second-year students, like Aric, they terrorized everyone, even the seniors. Their repertoire of mischief included relentless pranks, stealing valuable items and demanding ransoms, and, of course, the incessant betting. If they lost a bet, they'd deny it ever happened. But if you lost, they'd relentlessly hound you until you paid up, and many prioritising their peace over few Credits paid up.

Complaints against them piled up, but the staff and even the principal seemed to turn a blind eye. Dealing with the duo was simply too much of a headache. Nobody was paid enough for that kind of aggravation.

The two continued their attempts to engage Aric, but he stubbornly ignored them, turning his attention to the front. Timmy was shuffling towards the stage, his legs trembling with nerves. Like Aric, this was his second attempt at Awakening.

"Move it, you snail!" Ironclad bellowed.

Timmy stumbled under the pressure but managed to regain his balance. He reached the stage and, under the intense scrutiny of Ironclad and the anxious gazes of his peers, placed his hand on the Awakening Orb.

Everyone held their breath, even Maverick and Ethan momentarily ceased their antics. Despite their feigned indifference, they cared about the outcome of the Awakening ceremony as much as everyone else, perhaps even more.

Seconds ticked by. The ten-second mark passed, but the Awakening Orb remained inert.

"Timmy Bratton, failed!" Ironclad's booming voice shattered the silence.

Timmy stood frozen, staring at the Orb, clinging to a sliver of hope. Maybe he hadn't held his hand on it long enough, pressed hard enough… but Ironclad's pronouncement crushed his wishful thinking. He had failed. The reality hit him like a physical blow.

"Don't just stand there gawking! Get your sorry carcass out of my sight!" Ironclad barked.

The weight of his failure, combined with Ironclad's harsh words, finally broke Timmy. Tears streamed down his face, but he didn't dare linger under the man's glare. He fled the hall, a trail of tears marking his path.

A wave of pity washed over the assembled teenagers, but it was a fleeting sentiment. They knew this could easily be their fate.

Ironclad watched Timmy's retreat with a sneer before turning back to the crowd. "That's what happens when you lack motivation and talent," he boomed, his voice laced with self-importance. "The gift of Awakening is a divine blessing, reserved for the capable, not for lazy good-for-nothings."

"Let this be a lesson to all of you," he concluded, sounding like a wise sage dispensing ancient wisdom. The teenagers, however, seemed to buy into his pompous act, their eyes shining with admiration. Aric sighed inwardly. These kids were so naive, so blinded by the illusion of heroism.

Perhaps during the dark age, when heroes truly fought to defend Atheria Prime it would have been understandable for them to receive so much admiration. But now, with no imminent threat, the profession had devolved. They were little more than glorified bullies, preening under the public's adoration, convinced of their own godhood.

Paid to protect the world, they often responded late, allowing casualties to mount before swooping in, dressed like they were attending a gala. Throngs of cameras and media followed their every move, fueling their inflated egos. They performed their duties with an air of entitlement, expecting reverence, and the world, in its astounding stupidity, lavished them with praise, turning them into even bigger egotists, like Ironclad.

He'd been lauded so often for mediocrity that he'd become delusional, believing his Awakening was solely due to his talent and hard work. This was the sad state of modern heroes. They were praised and revered despite their flaws, their arrogance, their indifference. It was pathetic.

"Poor Timmy," Maverick said.

"That Ironclad guy's a real jerk. The kid's already facing the possibility of never Awakening, and he chooses that moment to deliver a lecture? What a prick," Ethan said, his voice laced with anger.

"Yeah, I agree, but be careful. You don't want him to hear you," Maverick cautioned. Ethan scoffed but wisely held his tongue. He was clearly fuming, but Ironclad's proximity kept him in check.

Aric sensed their outrage but dismissed it. He knew these two. Nothing they did was genuine. Not that he cared. It wasn't his problem.

While he shared their disdain for Ironclad and the other heroes, their arrogance and condescending attitudes, his dislike wasn't rooted in empathy for Timmy. What did Timmy's fate matter to him? The only disappointment Aric felt was that Timmy, had he Awakened with a useful ability, could have been a valuable tool.

The task Goddess Lila had given him had seemed simple at first, but upon arriving in this world, the reality of its difficulty had set in. His target, David Windsor, was the head of the Heroes Association, one of the most powerful and influential organizations in the world, with branches and powerful members across the globe.

Completing this mission required more than just strength; it demanded strategic allies, tools to manipulate. And who better to serve as tools than those like Timmy, lacking motivation and direction, easily molded to his purpose? But Timmy had failed to Awaken, rendering him useless.

Aric sighed. The rest of these teenagers were hero-worshippers. He couldn't imagine any of them helping him assassinate the most revered figure in their world.

With a sigh, Aric turned his attention back to the stage, where Ironclad was already calling the next name. A lanky boy walked up, placed his hand on the Orb, and failed. Then a girl in a flowery robe tried, and she failed too.

A sense of dejection settled over the hall as failure after failure piled up. Until…

"Jaxon Vale…"

A handsome young man, about sixteen, with striking grey eyes, raised his hand and strode towards the stage. Unlike those who came before him, Jaxon exuded an air of quiet confidence. He didn't stumble or hesitate. His steps were steady and sure.

Even Ironclad seemed taken aback by the young man's self-assured demeanor.

"Look at that arrogant prick," Maverick muttered under his breath. "Trying to make everyone else feel inadequate."

"He can't help it, buddy. He's cursed with an overabundance of talent at such a young age. It's to be expected," Ethan replied. "Besides, if I were him, I'd be confident too. If anyone here has a chance of Awakening, it's him."

Maverick scoffed but remained silent, knowing Ethan was right. Jaxon was a first-year student, a year younger than them, yet they knew they were no match for him, academically or in combat. His talent was undeniable. He learned at an accelerated pace, absorbing information and mastering skills with ease.

While this didn't guarantee Awakening, it was a strong indicator. Awakening, after all, simply unlocked latent abilities, allowing individuals to wield the power they already possessed. Jaxon's exceptional talent suggested a vast reservoir of untapped potential. It wasn't a certainty, but history had shown that individuals like him had a significantly higher chance of Awakening than ordinary people. Ethan's assessment, though irritatingly smug, was accurate.