Sun City was one of the most prosperous metropolitan hubs on Blue Star—a place where wealth, power, and opportunity converged.
At its center stood an academy whose name carried both prestige and unbearable expectation.
Sun City Academy.
Today, its vast central plaza was overflowing.
Colorful banners fluttered high above marble walkways. Arcane projection screens hovered in the air, broadcasting the stage from every angle. Students stood in perfectly arranged rows, uniforms crisp, expressions tense.
The atmosphere buzzed with restrained anticipation.
This was no ordinary gathering.
It was the Awakening Ceremony.
The day every citizen waited for.
The moment fate revealed its hand.
On Blue Star, when a person turned eighteen, they awakened a Class—Combat, Support, Life, Production. Common, Rare, Legendary.
From that single instant onward, their entire future could change.
Upon the elevated platform stood an elderly man with neatly combed silver hair and eyes sharp as unsheathed steel.
Principal Edmund Hawthorne.
Once an S-Rank professional who had stood at the pinnacle of global power.
He tapped the microphone once.
The plaza fell silent.
"Students," his calm yet commanding voice echoed across the grounds, "today marks a turning point in your lives."
Thousands of eyes fixed upon him.
"Many of you believe that the class you awaken will determine your worth. That a weak awakening guarantees a weak future."
He paused deliberately.
"That belief is wrong."
A ripple moved through the crowd.
"Your class does not define your destiny. Effort does. Resolve does. I have seen ordinary classes climb to the summit—and legendary classes collapse under arrogance."
His gaze swept across the sea of nervous faces.
"So if you awaken something modest, do not despair. And if you awaken something extraordinary, do not grow complacent."
The silence deepened.
"This world does not reward talent alone."
He raised his hand.
"Now—let the Awakening Ceremony of Sun City Academy begin!"
Thunderous cheers erupted.
---
The process was simple.
When called, a student stepped forward and placed their hand upon the Awakening Crystal—a massive translucent prism suspended above a glowing magic array carved into the stage.
The crystal would resonate.
And destiny would be declared.
"Ethan Moore!"
A nervous boy hurried forward.
The crystal shimmered green.
"Class awakened: Shield Bearer. Combat class."
Applause followed.
"Liam Rodriguez!"
"Class awakened: Wind Archer. Combat class!"
"Sophie Lin!"
"Class awakened: Healer. Support class!"
Joy. Relief. Disappointment. Determination.
Emotions layered the air with invisible weight.
Then—
"Noah Patel!"
The crystal flickered faintly.
"Class awakened: Herbalist. Life class."
A subdued murmur passed through the crowd.
Noah lowered his head—but his fists clenched tightly.
Not every path required a blade.
---
Among the countless students stood a young man who did not try to stand out—
Yet inevitably did.
His hair was dark. Not brown. Not soft charcoal.
Black.
Deep and absolute, as if light itself struggled to cling to it.
After the World Catastrophic Change—when rifts tore open the sky and mana flooded the planet—mutations had become common.
Silver eyes. Crimson irises. Elemental streaks in hair.
But pitch-black eyes?
Those were rare.
Extremely rare.
And Xavier possessed them.
His irises were a uniform abyssal black, without visible pupil differentiation unless seen closely. Calm. Still. Reflective like polished obsidian.
His features were well-defined but not exaggerated—sharp jawline, straight nose, steady gaze. The kind of face people remembered without being able to explain why.
Handsome.
But not overwhelmingly so.
It was the composure that made him noticeable.
He stood with his hands in his pockets, posture relaxed, expression unreadable.
An orphan.
No noble lineage.
No powerful surname.
Yet he had risen to the top of Sun City Academy through sheer ability.
Perfect academic scores.
Exceptional combat theory results.
Flawless evaluation records.
Everyone believed the same thing.
If anyone here was destined for a rare or legendary class—
It was Xavier.
He watched the stage quietly.
Classes don't define destiny…
He repeated the principal's words internally.
Even so—
The pressure existed.
Expectation had weight.
---
A sudden surge of excitement rippled through the plaza.
"Madison Caldera!"
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Madison stepped forward with confident strides. Long crimson hair cascaded down her back, her amber eyes sharp with inherited pride.
Heiress of the Caldera Family.
She placed her hand on the crystal.
Blinding golden light exploded outward.
Gasps erupted.
Burning sigils formed in midair around her.
The principal's voice rose slightly.
"Class awakened—Legendary Profession: Infernal Valkyrie!"
The plaza erupted.
A Legendary class.
Fire authority.
Aerial dominance.
Battlefield devastation.
Madison lifted her chin, satisfaction glinting in her eyes. Her gaze swept across the crowd—
Then stopped on Xavier.
A silent challenge.
Xavier met her stare.
Calm.
Acknowledging.
Unmoved.
---
"Aditya Roy!"
Another ripple.
Aditya strode forward in academy robes embroidered with holy runes. The heir of the prestigious Roy Family.
He placed his hand confidently upon the crystal.
Golden-white radiance burst forth.
"Class awakened—Legendary Profession: Radiant Paladin!"
Shockwaves of noise crashed through the plaza.
Two Legendary classes.
In one ceremony.
Unprecedented.
Aditya's lips curled slightly as admiration washed over him. His gaze slid toward Xavier.
A flicker of competitiveness—barely concealed.
"Let's see what you awaken," he muttered under his breath.
Xavier did not respond.
He never did.
---
Names continued.
The tension coiled tighter.
Finally—
The principal glanced at the final entry.
His expression shifted.
The plaza quieted instinctively.
"Xavier."
No surname.
Just one name.
Yet it seemed to echo louder than any before.
Every eye turned toward him.
The air thickened.
Xavier stepped forward.
His black hair moved subtly in the breeze. His pitch-black eyes reflected the stage lights without revealing anything beneath.
Whispers followed.
"He's definitely Legendary…"
"Maybe Mythic…"
"Look at those eyes…"
Xavier stopped before the Awakening Crystal.
Up close, it hummed faintly with contained energy.
He raised his hand slowly.
Just before his fingers touched—
The crystal pulsed.
Once.
Twice.
The light inside it flickered.
Unstable.
Xavier's eyes narrowed slightly.
The mana within the prism began to swirl erratically, as if resisting something.
The crowd leaned forward.
Madison frowned.
Aditya's confident expression stiffened.
Principal Hawthorne's brows furrowed.
The crystal trembled.
Then—
The light dimmed.
Silence fell.
Not normal silence.
Heavy.
Unnatural.
Suffocating.
Xavier's fingertips hovered just short of contact.
Something unseen stirred within the crystal.
Something vast.
Something that did not feel aligned with the world's natural order.
And for a brief moment—
It felt as if fate itself hesitated.
---
Author's Note
Hey everyone!
Welcome to the beginning of Xavier's journey! I'm so excited (and maybe a little nervous) to share this story with you.
If you couldn't tell from that cliffhanger—yes, I ended it there on purpose. Runs and hides
Xavier's awakening is going to be... well, let's just say it won't be what anyone expects. Not even him. And definitely not Madison and Aditya with their fancy Legendary classes. (Sorry not sorry, Aditya.)
I've poured a lot into building this world and this character. Xavier's calm strength despite being an orphan with nothing but his talent—that's the kind of energy I love writing.
So what do you think? Too many cliffhangers? Not enough? (Be careful how you answer—I have more where that came from.)
Drop your theories in the comments! Is Xavier going to awaken something broken? Cursed? Something that's never existed before?
Add to Library if you're ready for the ride. Next chapter has already arrived!
Your author,
Glitch Monarch
...