Seeing the blood evaporate, both Logan and Lisa were stunned.
Something unusual had clearly occurred, but neither could make sense of it. Any serious explanation would have to wait, as the main butler noticed the two teens weren't yet ready and warned them about the limited time before the banquet.
"It seems you have some kind of magic going on, but I guess we'll figure out what actually happened later. Anyway, see you at the party. Bye," Lisa said hurriedly.
Before he could respond, she took off. From what Logan saw, she wasn't ready—her hair was still wet, and it didn't look like she had applied any makeup.
Logan rushed back to his room to ask for shoes and whatever else the maid insisted he wear.
He decided not to fight her suggestions; the banquet could be what the class needed—either to find a way back home or finally get some answers.
Sometime later, the class was guided into a large banquet hall filled with a diverse array of cultures. Each person radiated an aura of power—some reminiscent of the princess's blue-cloaked bodyguard, whose presence he now understood was a result of her blessing from the Water Spirit—while others bore different colors and energies.
Logan quickly spotted desert nomads clad in beige and gold tunics, conversing with others wearing silk robes reminiscent of East Asian attire. Loud nobles, likely from a snowy northern region, were bundled in heavy fur-lined coats adorned with terrifying wolf or bear heads.
Others from tropical climates looked uncomfortable in the kingdom's cold night air, wearing light and delicate clothing.
Each table they passed was decorated in distinct colors and emblems, representing various factions or kingdoms. The butler eventually led the class to a central table where the king, his family, and two priests were seated.
The table was laden with food of every kind, set with luxurious cutlery made of precious metals atop tableware in the kingdom's colors—red and gold.
"I am glad to have our heroes join us tonight for this grand feast my kingdom can provide. Please sit as we begin this ceremony with the help of the Temple of the Seven Spirits," the king announced, rising from his seat and using a special voice-amplifying tool to address the students.
The room, once filled with chatter, finally fell silent as all eyes turned toward the group of teenagers.
The oracle, a high priestess, then stood and greeted the class with a graceful bow.
She appeared to be around forty years of age—her beauty still evident in her slightly wrinkled but well-aged face. Her striking silver eyes lent her an otherworldly presence, gleaming with subtle shifts of color as they reflected the many jewels embedded in her ceremonial vestments, each one meant to connect to the word of the spirits.
"Welcome to our world, saviors. We have been waiting for your arrival, as you were called forth by the spirits to aid this world in peril. Tonight, I shall help you understand your powers and reveal the mysteries of each of your talents. To do this, I will require you to come forward and hold this crystal."
Her voice, soft yet firm, carried a calm authority that directed itself solely at the class.
She stepped toward a pedestal, upon which rested a peculiar gem. Its vibrant hues glowed like a rainbow was cast above it, cycling through all seven colors which belong to each spirit.
Its glow overpowered the room's lighting as the priestess waved her hand over it.
"Now, please come forth one by one so that I may interpret your abilities."
Despite the priestess's beckoning, no one in the class moved. Each teenager waited for someone else to be brave enough to step forward.
The hesitation ended when Brian let out a deep sigh and chuckled to himself.
"Will I have to be the first one again? Man, you are all chickens. How about we push Logan to be the first one next time?"
Some in the class laughed, while others looked visibly relieved. Despite the jab, Logan silently thanked Brian for stepping up as today's guinea pig.
"Let's see," the priestess said, her voice serene. "The spirits are telling me that your power stems from the Great Spirit of Flames, meaning your strength is rooted in physical prowess. The term 'Champion' comes to mind. You are a master of powerful martial arts and can enter a berserk state when the battle calls for it. You shall bring destruction to any opponent in your path and have been granted a high growth rate within your class."
Brian raised his hands proudly as the crowd cheered at the reveal of the first hero's power.
With all the attention on him, he went a step further, performing a backflip and landing perfectly, narrowly avoiding the table as he returned to the class. A wave of applause followed the display, drawing even more eyes from the audience.
Some among the crowd were already pushing to endorse him, impressed by both his ability at such an early stage and his potential.
Seeing there was nothing to fear, Jonathan—one of Brian's lackeys—used the momentum of the cheerful atmosphere to stride forward toward the priestess, full of expectation.
"Hero," she began, waiting for the room to quiet down, "I see an affinity to the Earth Spirit, specifically his domain over steel. You will be able to wield the most unruly of swords with deadly precision and ease. The name 'Sword Saint' comes to mind, as your slashes will be unrivaled on the battlefield."
After he returned to the class, his friend George stepped forward to see what fate had in store for him.
"Your potential lies in spearmanship. Like the hero before you, the Great Earth Spirit has blessed you. Your strength will come not only from the sharpness of the blade but from the balance of its shaft. Your ability to wield and control a spear will allow you to defy nature itself."
As the "three stooges" finished and gave courage to the others, the rest of the class began to move. The audience continued celebrating, while the high-ranking figures around the room were already planning who to approach after the ceremony.
"You will influence the flow of battle using your voice," the priestess told the next student.
"The Wind Spirit will allow it to resonate farther than any arrow. You may not directly harm others, but your sonorous ability will affect both your allies and foes with a myriad of effects, capable of turning the most dire of battles around with ease as a Songstress."
Alma, who had now joined the fray, received more enthusiastic cheers than the boys and men. That may have been due, in part, to her short dress with slits that revealed her well-toned thighs.
"Child of light," the priestess intoned as Lisa approached, her tone shifting with noticeable excitement, "I see in you the greatest affinity to the Spirit of Light. The power of life swirls around you as this era's Priestess. With this, I hope you can vanquish that which is evil and purify this world."
Unlike with the others, the priestess seemed visibly moved when addressing Lisa. Her tone grew brighter, and she grasped the girl's shoulders with both hands, as if eager to present her to the entire room.
After a brief conversation between the two, Silvia slowly walked forward with an indifferent expression.
"It is strange, child," the priestess said, voice calm but curious, "but you will be guided by the wisdom and knowledge of various spirits. As a Sorcerer, you will possess a unique magic known as Arcana. This power will allow you to grasp the strongest abilities of each elemental mage effortlessly. With this gift, you will unlock the mysteries of this world, and your search for knowledge will be your greatest strength."
As she finished, more students in the class stepped forward to discover their unique abilities.
There were summoners, enchanters, paladins, and mages of all kinds and elements.
Some were capable of creating legendary weapons or indestructible armor, while others held the power to rebuild an entire city in a matter of hours.
Among the familiar faces were Owen the Sharpshooter, Darin the Geomancer, and a quiet loner—much like Logan—who received the title of Shadowchaser. This class allowed him to vanish into any patch of darkness within the room.
Others received simpler but beneficial roles. One girl became a chef, able to perform miracles through her meals. Another, a farmer, could harvest plants within days. A boy drew immediate attention when his class—Alchemist—was revealed. He could turn metal to liquid, ice to fire, and perform all sorts of bizarre feats with mundane materials. His true value, however, lay in his potions, each with unique and powerful effects.
Before Logan could summon the courage to approach the pedestal, Ms. Claire stepped forward.
She had finally found some comfort in a layered dress that covered most of her body, her graceful demeanor returning as she moved to stand before the priestess.
"Welcome, Ms. Claire. Please forgive us for summoning you without notice," the priestess said warmly. "It seems the spirits have chosen you to guide the children, for you have been granted the power of Orator. This class is born from the combined blessings of the Great Spirit of Light and the Great Spirit of Wind. It allows you to infuse mana into your speech. Words spoken with this power will carry authority, enabling you to lead them effectively."
With everyone else having already gone, all eyes turned toward Logan.
As usual, he was the last to step forward.
He took that as his cue and began walking toward the pedestal, where the radiant jewel shimmered atop three short steps. Its height ensured everyone in the room could see him.
With every eye now fixed on him, Logan felt a slight tremble in his hands.
Once he reached the top, the priestess gently placed her cold hand over his and closed her eyes in concentration. For a long moment, she remained silent, her expression shifting—first to joy, then to worry.
A flicker of fear even crossed her face before she steadied herself with a deep, calming breath.
At last, she opened her eyes and prepared to speak.
Everyone leaned in, waiting to hear the verdict.
"Logan, was it? You are the last hero to be announced at this banquet."
The priestess's voice carried through the silent hall, each word deliberate and filled with a few emotions; she somehow knew what reactions her next words would bring.
"You have been given the power to tame with the help of both the Great Spirit of Darkness and the Great Spirit of Light—" She paused, as if catching herself mid-thought, before continuing, "—the ability to gain strength through trust and the ability to connect with others."
She stepped slightly closer, her silver eyes glowing faintly as she spoke.
"Will you embrace this gift? Will you forge bonds and learn to lead those who follow you? To grow stronger with every connection, and guide this world through its darkest hours…"
Logan stood quietly.
But in that moment, he understood—her words were not simply for the audience, who, unlike the presentation of the other heroes, remained silent.
This time priestess wasn't just declaring his class.
She was trying to warn him.
There was something deeper behind this power, it seemed.