The awakening platform stood in the heart of the Moungen kingdom.
A sacred place where fate is revealed.
Kids crowded around the gleaming crystal of Fate, their eyes filled with fear and wonder. Today, their future would be decided.
Among them stood Arthur, a small, frail boy with pale blonde hair and a cane supporting his trembling leg. He looked around nervously, feeling the weight of unfamiliarity pressing down on him.
Just a few days ago, he had awakened in this world– reincarnated into the body of a boy named Arthur.
The name was a cruel joke.
That had also been his name in his past
life.
Arthur McCall.
All he knew now was that Arthur had a mother he barely saw. And they lived in a worn-down home on the outskirts of the kingdom.
But judging by the worn clothes and empty cupboard, he knew their situation was dire.
Arthur looked around him as different faces looked at him and whispered.
He understood what they meant.
Not because he was a transmigrator.
But because he was crippled.
"Why is he here? Are cripples also allowed to join?" The kids, who were dressed in fancy robes, whispered.
Arthur was not the only one dressed in rags; there were other kids who were dressed like him, but at least they weren't crippled.
He had wished for a good life.
He had prayed for it before dying.
A better life, to be born whole.
To be free.
But instead the gods cursed him into this uncertain world he wasn't used to.
Once again he was stuck in a broken body.
It was supposed to be a new beginning. But it felt like a cruel joke.
He remembered the crash.
The moment his so-called friends shoved him into a speeding car.
He had tried to run but with his crippled leg, he didn't stand a chance. He was hit.
That memory haunted him.
And again. as if it was not enough, he was bearing the same cursed name.
Arthur.
I should have never attended. Arthur thought, as he tried to keep his head down.
A man appeared on the platform wearing armor.
Knight. Arthur jotted.
At least he had learned a few things.
The knight stood next to the crystal.
Holding a long scroll.
Arthur wondered what it was.
Recently, he had been called to attend this ceremony—not that he knew what it meant, but because it was the order of the king and it was important for every kid to attend to awaken their ability.
Arthur's mom. Alice, hadn't mentioned this to him. Which made him wonder, if all this is necessary.
Though he knew this world was different from his previous world.
Here it is, a horse instead of a car, and soldiers here are called knights.
Even the houses were built of old bricks, and the palace that is visible on the outskirts of the kingdom is old but big and wide; they wore robes instead of suits and hoodies.
Arthur knew all this, and he had gotten used to it in the few days he had awakened here.
But he didn't hear about ability or magic; he had always thought they were myths, but now he was going to experience it.
The knight stepped forward in front of the crystal, his chest puffed out. He stood with pride, his grey hair colliding with the sunlight.
"Hey everyone, as you all know, today is the day every kid of this kingdom has waited for, and the day is here. And from the direct order of the king of Moungen, we are to begin the awakening ceremony."
The knight finished and stepped backwards and another knight brought out a globe and placed it beside the crystal.
'What is that?' Arthur thought.
"Now we will begin the ceremony," the proud knight announced.
The kids split into two lines. The kids in fine robes stood on one side, while those in rags–like Arthur– stood on the order.
Arthur didn't understand any of this; he looked around him as the fancy kids all chatted happily.
"Hey," a kid around Arthur's age called.
"You are new here, right?" The boy asked as he lined up behind Arthur.
"I am Razel."
Arthur wasn't sure if he should tell him his name.
But he went ahead and said, "I am Arthur."
Razel nodded. He was shorter than Arthur and more robust, and he had brown hair, dark green eyes, and a round small face.
"I could tell. You know nothing of all this, right?" Razel asked.
Arthur looked at the boy. "Yeah, I am just a little confused."
"Well, it is how it should be. That is the discrimination between the noble and the commoner races. Those there are the noble; we here are the commoners."
Arthur glared at the kid. "Commoner?"
Razel laughed. "Well, the noble are the only ones likely to awaken an ability here.
Because they are the ones who are mostly blessed with more mana."
"It's called Crystal of Fate for a reason. Because it awakens your ability, and if you are capable of a worthy manner, then you are fortunate. But those that fail to awakened are called goulers."
"Goulers?" Arthur mused.
"Being a commoner is okay. But been a Gouler. Is worse, Cleaning team if you're lucky. Cannon fodder otherwise." Razell laughed.
Arthur looked at this strange boy; his dark green eyes looked sad.
Arthur could feel pain there, but he masks it up again.
"Well, we should keep our hope alive." Razel said, slapping Arthur on the shoulder.
Arthur nodded.
He wasn't sure, but at least he was going to try for once in his life.
"Arthur," someone called.
Arthur turned to look at the caller.
Well, his supposed stepbrother. During his brief time here.
He had come to know that he had step brothers and some of them are John.
John smiled at him. "I hope you awaken and not be a ghoul." He smirked.
Arthur looked away.
"Now come forth," the knight announced.
A noble kid stepped up on the platform.
He placed his hand on the globe, which glowed brighter than the crystal and gleamed a blue light.
The knight looked inside the scroll. "kael, B class, necromancer."
The kids from the noble lines clapped.
Kael laughed.
Then he got down from the stage.
Then another kid climbed onto the platform, and another kid.
Arthur watched as different ones of them went up the platform and awakened their class and ability.
The knight continues calling their class from the scroll.
And different name that made Arthur confused.
Razel sensing his confusion, whispered.
"They are different kind of ability. Well we have many necromancer, mage healer and others but they don't manifest their power now, until when they start training"
Arthur nodded in appreciation.
"Razel," the knight called.
Razel answered, then looked at Arthur.
"Wish me luck" and then he raced up to the platform.
The noble kids whispered among themselves.
Razel didn't pay attention to them; he placed his hand on the globe, which glowed brighter.
The crystal gleamed green. "B class, healer," the knight announced.
The commoner roared with shouts.
Arthur smiled.
Razel beamed; many more commoners were called, and some of them awakened, while some failed.
Arthur feels for them because they were going to be ghouls of society.
Stuck in cleaning team or cannon whatever.
"Arthur" the knight called. Looking down at him.
it was his turn.
Arthur took the platform.
He passed John who whispered to other kids and they smirked at him.
I can do it. Arthur breathed; I can awaken, after all he is from a noble family.
Some didn't even know Razel didn't know.
He placed his hand on the cold crystal, it spread a warmth of confidence in him. Arthur breathed.
Concentrating his mind on his past.
His pain.
Then his present.
I have to awaken.
The Crystal shone brighter.
Please, he begged.
I can't afford to be a loser in this world.
The crystal gleamed black.
The crowd gasped.
They had never seen the color like this before.
It was the first.
The knight looked at the scroll, then he looked back at Arthur.
His eyes examining the kid.
Then with a more Grimm voice he announced.
"Non-class ranked. No ability I am sorry, Arthur, you don't have a worthy mana."