"On very rare cases, yes... late awakeners... and on those cases, they tend to awaken an overpowered class," Danny whispered.
"Oh? So late awakeners might have more potential?" Victor inquired.
"That is usually the case from what I've heard," Danny nodded.
"Interesting... and this Screening thing is happening a month from now?"
"Yes, Vic I said this earlier... your brain gotta stop lagging. It's probably because you fap too much," Danny replied.
"I can't help it when your sister's Insta pics are so hot," Victor made an up-down gesture like his fingers were wrapped around something.
The boys laughed in response while Danny raised his middle finger.
"Either way, that's when the screening and registration process starts. Until then, we're supposed to focus on understanding our system interfaces and practising basic skills," He added.
Max whistled. "A month to figure out how not to blow yourself up? Good luck with that."
The atmosphere in school today was noticeably subdued as Victor slouched in his chair, watching his classmates shuffle about like zombies.
The Awakening Test had been the highlight of their lives, the event that could have catapulted them into fame and power. Instead, for most of them, it had been a crushing disappointment.
The ones who hadn't awakened—and they were the vast majority—carried an invisible weight... Their shoulders were slumped and their eyes looked downcast. Even the teachers seemed to sense the melancholy and tried their best to lift spirits.
"Remember, not awakening doesn't mean you're useless," Mr. Conrad, their homeroom teacher, said with forced cheer. "Many great contributors to society were non-awakened!"
Victor raised his hand with a mock-serious look on his face. "Like who, sir? That one guy who invented toaster socks?"
The class chuckled weakly, but Mr. Conrad just sighed. "Thank you for your input, Victor."
Victor leaned back in his seat, smirking. If nothing else, he could still get a few laughs.
By the time lunch rolled around, the mood in the cafeteria was anything but dull—for some, anyway. The few students who had awakened were practically celebrities now, swarmed by curious classmates eager to catch a glimpse of their new abilities.
Danny sat at the centre of one such group, flanked by a gaggle of students who hadn't paid him any attention before. Among them were several pretty girls who giggled at his every word.
Victor, Jake, and Max watched from the corner of the cafeteria with their trays untouched.
"Look at him," Jake muttered while stabbing at his mashed potatoes. "He's loving it. The fame, the attention. He's not even trying to be humble."
"To be fair," Max said, "if I had Berserker powers, I'd probably show off too. It's not every day you wake up with super strength."
Victor snorted. "I bet Danny already forgot our names. He's probably introducing himself as 'Danny, Level One Berserker Extraordinaire.'"
As if on cue, Danny stood up and flexed his arms. He rolled the sleeves of his uniform to his biceps. "Alright, check this out!" he voiced loudly.
He placed his hands under the edge of the cafeteria table, and with a grunt, he lifted it off the ground—plates, trays, and all. The crowd around him gasped and cheered as he held it aloft effortlessly.
"Just a little taste of Berserker strength!" Danny grinned.
Victor groaned before slumping in his chair. "Show-off. It's a table, not a car."
Jake smirked. "You're just jealous."
Victor shot him a look. "Of course I'm jealous! Look at him! He's got powers, girls swooning over him, and the admiration of our entire class. Meanwhile, I'm over here wondering if they're serving actual meat or recycled cardboard."
Across the cafeteria, others who had awakened were putting on smaller, less disruptive displays. One student conjured a small flame in their palm, another levitated a spoon with a flick of their finger, and Victor's crush, Amara Blake, summoned a tiny glowing fly fox that hovered above her hand.
Victor's gaze lingered on her. She looked radiant and her confident smile lit up the room as her admirers fawned over her.
"I almost forgot that Amara awakened too," Victor's voice was tinged with a bit of bitterness.
"Yeah," Max followed his gaze. "Summoner class. Figures, right? She's practically perfect."
Victor sighed. "Perfectly out of my league, that's for sure."
The bell rang, signalling the end of lunch, and the cafeteria began to clear out. Victor trudged to his next class, trying to shake the feeling of being left behind.
The rest of the day dragged on.
The classes were dull and uneventful. Victor barely paid attention as his mind wandered back to Ascendant Realms and the strange experience he'd had that morning.
The burst of speed, the feeling of qi flowing through his body—it had all been so surreal. But as the hours passed, the memory faded, replaced by the monotony of school life.
When the final bell rang, Victor packed up his things and prepared to leave. As he walked toward the exit, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out and saw a text from his mom:
'We're out of milk. Stop by the store on your way home and pick some up. Thanks, sweetie!'
Victor groaned. "Milk. Of course. Because why wouldn't I be the family errand boy?"
He waved goodbye to Jake, Max, and Danny, who was still basking in his newfound popularity. "Later, guys. I've got a hot date with the dairy aisle."
The convenience store was small but well-stocked. Its shelves were packed with everything from canned goods to fresh produce.
Victor grabbed a basket and wandered the aisles, muttering to himself as he checked off his mom's list.
"Milk, bread, eggs… Why does it always feel like I'm grocery shopping for a family of twelve?"
As he reached for a carton of milk, a voice interrupted him. "Excuse me, can you help me with something?"
Victor turned to see a figure standing behind him with her back facing his direction. She was gesturing toward the top shelf.
Her height prevented her from reaching a box of cereal perched precariously high.
"Sure thing," Victor stepped forward and stood right behind her.
He reached up, easily grabbed the box and handed it to the person. "Here you go. Pro tip: next time, bring a ladder."
The person laughed softly, and Victor felt a flicker of familiarity in their voice.
The moment she turned around his heart nearly stopped.
Victor froze as words died in his throat. Her long, chestnut hair framed her face perfectly, and her eyes sparkled with the same confidence she exuded at school.
She looked at him with a slightly amused expression.
"Victor, right?" she said while tilting her head.