After disembarking from the Skyrail, Vaelor merged with the morning crowd and descended via the terminal's main elevator. A brisk ten-minute walk through the bustling streets brought him to the sprawling campus of Thornhaven First Combat Academy—an institution that dominated nearly a thousand acres of prime real estate in the city's eastern district.
Throughout the Valdris Federation, hundreds of metropolises rivaled Thornhaven in scale and prosperity. Each housed multiple combat academies dedicated to nurturing the next generation of warriors. Yet despite thousands of such institutions scattered across the nation, only a few dozen true Combat Universities existed at the apex of the educational hierarchy—elite establishments where legends were forged.
Vaelor navigated the familiar corridors until he reached his senior year classroom. Students in crisp academy uniforms clustered in animated groups, their conversations dominated by nervous speculation about today's ceremonies.
"My stomach's doing backflips," a girl with auburn braids confessed to her friends, wringing her hands anxiously.
"You and me both," another agreed, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Stay positive! We've trained hard—I bet at least one of us awakens a mage-class talent," a third girl chirped, trying to lift everyone's spirits.
"Honestly, I'd be thrilled just to get a healer profession," the first girl admitted. "At least then I'd have guaranteed employment."
The small circle of female students continued their mutual encouragement, each trying to mask their terror with optimism.
Across the room, a different energy permeated the male students' conversations.
"So, Kessler, feeling confident about today?" A lanky boy flashed a knowing grin at his friend.
The boy in question—a somewhat unfortunate-looking fellow with perpetually greasy hair—wiped his nose with the back of his hand and declared with absolute conviction, "Obviously. I'm definitely awakening an S-rank talent. Just watch."
His companions erupted in laughter.
"That's hilarious! If you awaken S-rank, I'll legally change my name to 'Kessler's Dog,'" one boy wheezed between laughs.
"For real though, you'd be lucky to scrape E-rank with those stats," another added mercilessly.
Kessler's face flushed crimson, and they started arguing.
.....
Someone grabbed Vaelor's shoulder.
He turned to find his best friend Cade Fenrir grinning at him.
"So? Feeling good about the awakening?" Cade asked with characteristic cheerfulness, his amber eyes gleaming with curiosity.
"Not particularly," Vaelor admitted with a slight shrug.
"Liar. You've got that confident face going on."
As they made their way toward Vaelor's usual seat, they discovered it was already occupied.
A petite girl with her dark hair styled in twin buns had claimed the desk as her personal napping spot, her delicate features peaceful in slumber.
Vaelor stared at the scene in silence, unsure whether to be annoyed or amused.
Cade leaned in conspiratorially, lowering his voice to a stage whisper. "Dude, I'm telling you—Sera totally has a thing for you."
"Don't be ridiculous," Vaelor muttered, though his ears reddened slightly.
The sleeping girl was Seraphine Vex, currently ranked among the top three strongest students in their entire class. Her combat assessment scores were nothing short of monstrous.
Rather than wake her, Vaelor simply claimed Seraphine's empty seat nearby. Cade immediately dragged over another chair, settling in with the clear intention of continuing his gossip campaign.
"Think about it logically," Cade pressed, warming to his theory. "Why would she always nap at your desk specifically? Out of dozens of options? She likes you, man. And honestly, if your origin talent awakening goes poorly today, you should seriously consider becoming a trophy husband. Sera's family is loaded—"
"LOOK! The teleportation array!"
A student's excited shout near the windows cut through every conversation in the room. The entire class surged toward the glass like a tide, pressing their faces against the panes to witness the spectacle unfolding below.
On the massive training field—easily large enough to accommodate tens of thousands of people—an enormous magical formation had materialized. Intricate geometric patterns pulsed with otherworldly luminescence, casting dancing shadows across the assembled crowd.
"That's definitely it," a boy breathed, his face pressed against the window. "The Primordial Awakening Array. Stand on that thing and it'll transport you straight to the Origin Temple for the ceremonies."
"I heard anyone over sixteen can use it," a girl added nervously, twisting her academy scarf between her fingers. "The array reads your potential and determines your eligibility for origin talent awakening and job awakening."
"Right, but here's the scary part," another student interjected grimly. "People with strong aptitudes get sent into trial dungeons for testing. Score high enough and you receive bonus rewards. But fail the trial..."
"What happens if you fail?" someone asked, though their tone suggested they already knew the answer.
"Job awakening denied. You remain civilian class."
A collective sharp intake of breath rippled through the gathered students.
"Great, now I'm even more terrified..."
Within minutes, their homeroom instructor—a stern woman named Instructor Selene Mordain—strode into the classroom and efficiently herded everyone toward the athletic grounds.
The various senior classes assembled in designated sections, creating a sea of nervous young faces.
"What profession are you hoping for?" one student asked his neighbor as they walked.
"Assassin, hands down. Stealth kills, moving like a shadow—it's the coolest thing ever."
"I'm leaning toward support classes, honestly," a girl chimed in. "You can contribute meaningfully without having to face Abyssal Spawn directly in combat."
"Warrior for me. Classic never goes out of style."
"Archer's supposed to be in high demand right now. Great job security, plus you fight from range..."
The animated discussions continued as students filed into formation, everyone simultaneously eager and terrified for what lay ahead.
Cade suddenly tugged on Vaelor's sleeve, jerking his chin toward a particular section of the assembly area.
"Look alive—the Elite Class is making their entrance."
Vaelor turned his attention to the new arrivals and immediately understood why the crowd had fallen silent.
The Elite Class students moved with an entirely different bearing than ordinary academy attendees. There was something about their posture, their confidence, the way they occupied space—it marked them as fundamentally different. Regular students instinctively parted to create a path, as if proximity to such talent might somehow prove dangerous.
Among the elite group, five individuals stood out with particular prominence: three young men and two young women who seemed to radiate power even while standing still.
"That's Aldric Wintercrown," someone whispered reverently. "Top-ranked in Elite Class. His family's been producing Tier 7 warriors for three generations. Word is he's already on the verge of reaching Tier 1 even before his job awakening."
"Wonder what origin talent someone like that will awaken..."
"Don't forget Cassius Shadowbane from the Shadowbane Clan, or Rowan Ashford—his dad runs the Ashford Conglomerate. They're all guaranteed to awaken rare professions."
"Oh damn, the Twin Goddesses are with them too. Lyris and Kaelith—they're so far out of our league it's not even funny."
"If any S-rank talents manifest today, it'll definitely be from that group."
Vaelor studied the elite students with analytical interest. They certainly looked the part—every one of them practically vibrated with barely contained power and absolute confidence in their own abilities. They shone like celestial bodies in a sky of lesser stars.
His gaze lingered particularly on the two young women who'd earned the academy's unofficial "Twin Goddesses" title.
The first—Lyris Ashenvale—possessed striking violet hair and matching purple eyes that seemed to capture and hold light. A playful smile curved her lips as she surveyed the assembled students. She stood nearly 1.75 meters tall, and her white academy uniform did absolutely nothing to conceal a figure that had launched a thousand inappropriate daydreams. Slender waist, curves in all the biologically advantageous locations, and legs that seemed to stretch on forever. Despite her youth, she radiated a magnetic sensuality that made even faculty members do double-takes.
The second—Kaelith Frostborn—presented an entirely different aesthetic. Raven-black hair cascaded down to her thighs like a waterfall of midnight silk, contrasting dramatically with piercing azure eyes. She stood approximately 1.7 meters tall, with features so perfectly symmetrical they seemed almost sculpted rather than born. But where Lyris exuded warmth and playful charm, Kaelith's expression remained frozen in perpetual icy disdain. She regarded the assembled crowd the way one might observe insects—with vague awareness but zero interest. An absolute glacier in human form.
"Those two standing together is genuinely unfair to everyone else's self-esteem," Cade sighed wistfully. "I wonder what professions they'll awaken..."
Before anyone could speculate further, Headmaster Gareth Ironveil appeared on the elevated platform overlooking the assembly. Various instructors and official Warrior Association representatives took up positions around the perimeter of the teleportation array, prepared to respond to any emergency situations.
"Students!" Gareth's voice carried easily across the field despite using no amplification. "You have spent three years training within these walls. Three years learning about the world's true nature. Three years preparing for this singular moment."
Every eye fixed on the imposing headmaster as he continued.
"Today marks your origin talent awakening and job awakening ceremonies. Today, your futures will be determined. Today, everything changes."
He paused, letting the weight of those words settle over the nervous crowd.
"A powerful profession offers tremendous advantages," Gareth acknowledged. "However, I want to be absolutely clear about something: awakening a common talent or basic profession does not mean you cannot become a respected warrior. History remembers countless heroes who achieved greatness despite humble beginnings."
"Whatever origin talent manifests within you, whatever profession the System Integration assigns you, I hope you will accept the results with grace and determination rather than despair."
"I won't waste more time with speeches."
Gareth's weathered hand rose dramatically.
"Now—activate the Primordial Awakening Array!"
"May fortune smile upon you all."
The instant his final word echoed across the field, the massive teleportation formation erupted with brilliant light that shot skyward like a pillar connecting earth to heaven.
When the radiance finally faded, the athletic field stood completely empty. Every single student had vanished.
"I wonder how many rare professions we'll see this year," mused the academy's Vice Principal—a distinguished Tier 6 Arcanist who stroked his silver beard thoughtfully.
"The Elite Class prodigies have excellent odds," offered the Dean of Academic Affairs optimistically.
Headmaster Gareth shook his head slightly. "Perhaps. Or perhaps not. Nothing is certain until the results manifest."
Meanwhile, in another dimension entirely...
"So this is the fabled Origin Temple..."
Vaelor stood in absolute awe, his neck craned back as he attempted to process the impossible architecture surrounding him.
The chamber defied conventional physics and aesthetic sensibility simultaneously. Impossibly tall pillars of what appeared to be solidified starlight supported a ceiling lost in infinite darkness. Angelic statues flanked the main approach, their stone features somehow conveying both serenity and barely restrained violence. At the far end, elevated on a platform that seemed to float unsupported, hovered an enormous crystal approximately the size of a small house.
And inside that crystal, entire galaxies swirled and danced.
"Right, so... I just need to touch it, I think?"
Vaelor approached the suspended crystal with significantly more confidence than he actually felt. His heart hammered against his ribs as he extended one hand toward the alien surface.
The moment his fingers made contact, the crystal blazed with inner light.
[Welcome, Human of Planet Aetheris, to the Origin Temple]
[Initiating origin talent selection protocol...]
Warmth spread through Vaelor's body, concentrating in his chest before flowing down his arm. A faint flicker of flame materialized in his palm—weak, orange, barely larger than a candle's light.
[Ding! Congratulations on manifesting: E-Rank Origin Talent - Emberwood Flame]
Vaelor's expression froze like someone had dumped ice water down his spine.
The ranking system was brutally straightforward: F, E, D, C, B, A, S, SS, SSS. Each letter represented an exponential increase in power and potential.
"E-rank..." he whispered, his voice hollow with dismay.
This was... catastrophically underwhelming. An embarrassment to transmigrators everywhere. Protagonists in web novels awakened god-tier abilities. They got system cheats and legendary bloodlines. They certainly didn't get E-rank trash talents that probably couldn't light a decent campfire.
But just as despair began settling over him like a familiar blanket, the crystal suddenly detonated with impossible rainbow luminescence.
Light flooded the Origin Temple—not merely illuminating it, but becoming the space itself. Colors that had no names in human language painted reality in new hues.
[DING! Congratulations on manifesting: Primordial Origin Exclusive Talent - UNLIMITED AMPLIFICATION!]