The moment the newly awakened students stepped out of the principal's office, the atmosphere in the hallway felt noticeably different. The formal speech about responsibility and the dangers associated with power had been useful, but it could only hold their attention for so long. They had spent the morning worrying about Awakening, and now that the ceremony was over, the tension had finally begun to disappear.
Students from different classes and years gathered outside the office, with some immediately approaching friends while others remained where they were, quietly examining the new interfaces that had appeared after their awakening. There were far more students than Elara had initially realized, and for the first time, she noticed just how broad the school's successful awakenings had been.
Most of the newly awakened students were sixteen or seventeen, but there were also several eighteen-year-olds among them. Those students attracted noticeably more attention, not because they had any special appearance, but because everyone understood just how fortunate they had been.
One of the eighteen-year-old students stood with several classmates nearby, answering questions about his awakening. He admitted that he had been convinced he would fail after waiting until his final eligible year. Another student mentioned that although awakening was never guaranteed at any age, the chances had consistently been observed to decrease as a person grew older.
Sixteen was generally considered the most favorable age, seventeen was less so, and eighteen was the final opportunity.
That made the successful eighteen-year-olds particularly fortunate.
There were three of them in the school this year.
"Three eighteen-year-olds is a good result," one of the students remarked while looking toward the older students.
Another nodded in agreement. "Especially considering the odds."
The conversation didn't turn into jealousy. If anything, the younger students seemed genuinely impressed. They understood that the older students had gone into the ceremony carrying considerably more pressure, knowing that there would be no opportunity to try again if they failed.
Elara listened quietly while standing beside Mrs. Cynthia.
She knew the same pressure existed throughout Atheria. Awakening wasn't something that could be forced through money, training, or connections. People could improve themselves through cultivation, but nobody could guarantee that the Genesis System would recognize them as Awakeners.
Luck remained the greatest factor.
That was what made the students who had succeeded today so fortunate.
Her attention eventually shifted toward the two other students from her class who had awakened.
Serene Halbrook was still looking at her own status interface, occasionally moving her fingers through the empty space in front of her as if she were learning how the system responded. She seemed excited, though there was also an obvious sense of uncertainty behind her expression.
Leon Hart looked more composed, although Elara suspected that he was simply better at hiding his excitement.
The three of them ended up standing relatively close together as the other students continued talking around them.
Serene glanced toward Elara. "I still can't believe it."
Elara looked at her. "Neither can I."
Serene smiled faintly. "I kept thinking the orb wouldn't react."
"I thought the same."
Leon looked between them before quietly adding, "I don't think any of us really knew what it would feel like."
Elara nodded.
There wasn't much else to say.
All three had spent years hearing about Awakeners and imagining what awakening might be like, but actually experiencing it was something completely different. The moment the Awakening Orb reacted, their ordinary lives had effectively ended.
Not because they had suddenly become powerful.
They were still Level One.
They still had much to learn.
But they now possessed a path that ordinary people could never access.
Serene turned toward Elara.
"You awakened as Demon Summoner, right?"
Elara nodded. "Yes."
"I've never heard of that class."
"Neither have I," Leon admitted.
Elara hesitated before answering. "I don't know much about it either."
That response surprised them slightly, but neither questioned her further. There were hundreds of people who awakened completely new classes every year. This class had only manifested a short while ago, and Elara herself had barely had enough time to look through her status before being taken to the principal's office.
Nearby, other students were having similar conversations.
People compared class names, asked whether someone had received a combat or support-oriented class, and occasionally discussed the famous classes they had heard of through school lessons or their families. Some students were already imagining what they could accomplish, while others seemed more interested in simply understanding what their awakening meant.
Elara mostly listened.
She had always been like that.
She wasn't uncomfortable around people, but she didn't feel like speaking too much with people she didn't even knew five minutes ago. So she just observed everyone.
Some were already extremely confident.
Others were noticeably nervous.
A few looked as though they were still waiting for someone to tell them that the entire thing had been a mistake.
Then someone finally suggested that they should celebrate.
The idea spread quickly.
After everything they had experienced that morning, it felt strange to simply return home as if nothing had happened. They had awakened, received their classes, joined the Federation, and officially stepped onto a completely different path from ordinary civilians.
The suggestion of a celebration was therefore received positively.
The students began discussing restaurants.
Since this was a private institution, most of the students came from wealthy or comfortable families, so nobody needed to worry about whether they could afford a proper meal. The discussion was entirely about which restaurant would be suitable for the occasion.
Several names were suggested, but the conversation eventually settled around the idea of finding somewhere impressive enough to make the day memorable.
One student mentioned Azure Pavilion, an upscale restaurant known for its private dining rooms and excellent food. Another student agreed that it would be a good choice, but getting a reservation on such short notice could normally be difficult.
"I can arrange one," the student who had suggested it said.
Several people looked toward him.
"My family has connections there."
That was enough to settle the issue.
No one seemed particularly concerned about the expense.
The newly awakened students began exchanging contact information and creating a temporary group chat so they could coordinate transportation and the reservation. Students from different classes who had barely spoken before that morning suddenly found themselves making plans together because they had all experienced the same major event.
Elara's phone chimed.
She looked down at the invitation.
[Awakening Day Celebration — Azure Pavilion]
She hesitated for a moment before accepting it.
Serene noticed.
"You should come."
Elara looked at her.
"Okay."
It was a simple answer, but Serene smiled as though she had expected Elara to decline.
The group continued organizing themselves while teachers gradually began reminding the students not to block the hallway. Some were preparing to leave with their drivers, while others were contacting their families.
The eighteen-year-olds were still receiving congratulations from younger students, and several of them admitted that they had spent months worrying about failing. Their relief was obvious now that the final result was known.
One of the younger students looked toward them and said, "You were really lucky."
The eighteen-year-old smiled.
"Very."
There was no arrogance in the response.
Just gratitude.
Elara understood that feeling.
She had cultivated from childhood because her family wanted her prepared for every possible future. Even with all that preparation, however, nobody could have guaranteed that she would awaken.
She had simply been fortunate.
And now she was standing among dozens of other people who had been fortunate as well.
Mrs. Cynthia eventually approached the small group around Elara.
"The school won't keep you here today. You are done with the Federation registration, So you're free to leave."
Elara nodded.
Cynthia looked toward the students.
"Enjoy yourselves. You've all earned a little time to celebrate."
The students thanked her before gradually making their way toward the entrance.
Outside the school, a line of expensive vehicles had already formed along the road. Drivers waited beside cars, while some students arranged transportation directly through their personal devices. Several parents were already arriving, wanting to see their children after the ceremony and congratulate them personally.
Elara's own driver was waiting near the entrance.
She recognized him immediately and walked toward the car, but before getting inside, she glanced back at the others.
Serene was speaking with a few classmates.
Leon was standing nearby, discussing something with another newly awakened student.
The older students were still receiving congratulations.
Everyone looked different from how they had looked that morning.
They were still the same people.
Though most of them were also cultivators and much more powerful than ordinary folks.
But they hadn't gained years of experience just by awakening.
They weren't heroes.
But they were no longer ordinary students either.
Elara realized that she wanted to remember this moment.
The morning had begun with fear.
Now it was ending with excitement.
Her phone chimed again.
[Azure Pavilion: Private Room Reservation Confirmed.]
She looked at the notification and smiled faintly.
Serene noticed and walked over.
"Everything's ready."
Elara nodded.
"Yeah."
Leon joined them a moment later.
"The others are leaving already."
"We should go too," Serene said.
Elara nodded once more.
"Let's go."
The three walked toward their respective vehicles before stopping near the entrance to exchange a final glance.
They would meet again at the restaurant.
For now, they were simply students heading home after an extraordinary day.