To every official on the platform, the sight of the ground cracking beneath the Altar was profoundly unnerving. The sheer force of the tremor signaled something rare, possibly something ominous. They braced themselves for the expected flash of power, but no light came. The violent shaking simply subsided, leaving behind only a faint wisp of greenish smoke that barely hovered for a moment before disappearing into the air.
"Ah... nothing," the Senior Elder standing near the Altar muttered, his voice edged with discomfort. He leaned in closer, desperate for a residual sign, but the stone remained stubbornly still.
"Useless!" a voice boomed from the stands. The audience, expecting a spectacular finale, quickly became impatient. All they had witnessed was a brief tremor followed by a negligible puff of smoke.
The elders exchanged troubled glances, their disappointment palpable. Kerry's face instantly paled, his own heartbeat pounding so fiercely he could hear the frantic rhythm echo in his ears.
"Kerry Fireborn is a Zero Affinity... a Null," the Senior Elder finally declared. The words landed like a physical blow. Gasps spread through the onlookers. A Null hadn't been seen in Frostveil for years.
"A Null?!" a woman shrieked. "Get him out of here!"
Insults quickly followed, and fingers were aggressively pointed. Yet, among the hostile noise, one Academy Representative kept his gaze locked on Kerry. Something about the boy felt wrong. The representative sensed power there, hidden, perhaps buried too deep to be summoned.
He stepped forward, his movement decisive. "Place your hand again," he commanded.
Murmurs erupted in the crowd. "What? Again?"
Kerry's chest felt tight and painful. He moved slowly, fighting back the hot sting of tears in his eyes. He pressed his hand against the Altar's cool surface one more time.
The ground shuddered again, louder and more violently than before. A jagged, deep fissure instantly split across the stone of the Altar.
"Stop!" an Elder roared from the rear. If the revered Altar shattered completely, ancient lore warned that a curse would descend upon the city.
The insults from the stands became louder, sharper, and crueler.
Diana could no longer tolerate the abuse. She strode out into the center of the stands, her voice cutting through the escalating noise like a drawn blade.
"Enough!" she commanded, every syllable resonating with fierce authority.
When the crowd finally quieted, the elders descended from their seats and converged at the Altar. Their tense expressions softened as they gathered around Kerry, offering quiet words and small, comforting gestures. They understood intimately the crushing emptiness of standing there with nothing—no light, no power, no System.
On the other side of the grounds, Darius and Lina stood still, their faces etched with sincere pity. Everyone understood the profound importance of this moment.
Awakening wasn't just a ceremony; it was a decision point for one's destiny. Without a System, a child's future was already sharply restricted. Awakeners gained entry to prestigious academies, a chance to cultivate their power and shape their future. That single spark determined whether you would walk forward or be hopelessly left behind.
Elder Kael, a representative from Obsidian Star Academy, stood separate from the others. He made no rush to join the circle. His sharp, knowing eyes remained fixed on the boy, sensing something no one else perceived. Instinct told him that Kerry's true story was not finished, not yet. If the System failed to awaken today, it would certainly surface eventually. And when it did, it would change everything.
He took a quiet, deliberate step closer.
"I'll take him," Kael stated, his voice calm yet absolutely resolute.
Kerry's head snapped up. "Seriously, sir?" His voice was hoarse, cracking as he quickly wiped the moisture from his cheeks.
Kael gave a small nod, a genuine, slight smile touching the corner of his mouth. It was a look of complete certainty, not forced sympathy.
"But I don't have a System," Kerry whispered, his voice small and uncertain.
Kael placed a firm, steady hand on the boy's distinctive hair. "Listen, kid. Not everyone's power wakes up when the world expects it to. Sometimes, it just hides. Sometimes, it waits for the right moment. Rare Systems don't follow the rules. And even without one today, you won't be useless to my academy."
Kerry's chest tightened, but a fragile spark of hope ignited inside him. He nodded, the aching void in his heart beginning to recede.
The crowd murmured in confusion, some in disbelief, others with open scorn—but Kael paid them no mind. His decision was final.
Soon after, every participant who had taken the test was officially assigned to their respective academies, each poised to begin their own paths of training and future conflicts. This was only the start. Academies weren't just filled with students from one city; people arrived from everywhere, bringing their unique powers, fierce ambitions, and deep secrets.
At each academy, the students were differentiated by the color of their cloaks, marking their academic year: first, second, or third. But every institution had its own strict rules and methods for forging the next generation.
By the time the final announcement was made, the sun had already slipped low beneath the horizon. Tomorrow, they would all set out for their new academies, to finally start the life they had only dreamt of.
Later that night, Kerry stood in his small home, his arms wrapped tightly around his mother. "Mom... will you really be okay when I leave?" His voice was low, burdened by the heavy heart he felt. Everyone had to depart eventually; it was the inevitable step forward. But knowing the necessity didn't lessen the pain of the goodbye.
"My son," Diana whispered, holding him close, "don't spare a single thought for me. Focus on the man you are meant to become. You have your father's spirit. Be strong. Protect us the way he always has. Never abandon your faith in yourself. Hard work can forge strength where innate power is absent. Even without a System, you can rise to be someone formidable."
Her tears quietly traced paths down her cheeks as she hugged him tighter. She made no attempt to hide her sorrow.
Kerry buried his face into her shoulder, letting the deep warmth of her voice settle inside his chest. Tomorrow would sever him from everything familiar, but her promises would travel with him, always.
Early the next morning, while most of the town was still deep in sleep, the chosen students were already being ferried away to their distant academies. Kerry and his mother hadn't closed their eyes all night. They had simply waited for this moment in a shared silence, their hearts too weighted with emotion to rest.
Elder Kael landed silently in front of their small house, standing tall and composed atop his flying sword.
Kerry's chest felt painfully constricted. He was thrilled to begin his journey, yet the thought of leaving his mother behind felt like a physical ache. She had always been his source of comfort, the anchor that kept his heart steady. Now, he had to walk this new path alone. He swore that someday, when fate allowed, they would reunite.
Kerry flung his arms around her neck, holding on as if he could halt the passage of time itself. Tears soaked his face.
"Mom..." His voice fractured completely before he could finish the simple word.
Diana cupped his face with trembling hands.
"Shh, my son. Take care of yourself out there. Your father would be so proud of you right now. Please... stay safe." Her tears finally fell freely. She didn't try to stop them.
Kael glanced at the fading sky, then at a small device on his wrist. "Kerry, we need to hurry. It's getting late. The academy is a long way from here. The journey could take hours... perhaps even a couple of days."
Diana slowly pulled back, releasing her grip on her son. "You can go now."
Kerry's eyes were swollen and red as he stepped onto the sword beside Kael. He reached out one hand toward his mother, a final, desperate gesture.
"Mom!!!" His cry ripped through the cool morning air as they ascended higher. His tears streamed relentlessly, instantly swept away by the wind. He kept his gaze fixed on her figure below, unable to look away, not even for a second.
"I promise," he whispered through the deep ache in his chest, his voice lost to the sky. "I'll find out who I am."