As soon as MS. Oliver went back to her office in the teacher’s staffroom she couldn’t help but look rain up in the student database as memories of the previous scene played in her head over and over again. As she searched his name nothing out of the ordinary came to be.

Name: Rain Foster

Gender: Male

Age: 15

Date of birth: 26/01/1048

Address: 23rd West Vincehelm orphanage District 421

Security code: SFT45792G

Phone No: 946584323

Martial Spirit: N/A

Description: Attainment of scholarship through academic achievements, ranked 3rd of the annual exam in the entire country of ryung.

Nothing seemed extraordinary about rain except his last name “Foster” which is given to every orphan and his high academic achievements. Looking at his profile, it seemed that nothing was wrong with this student. ”Maybe he was just lonely….”she thought as she brushed it off her mind.

After leaving the lecture room Rain headed to his room at the school’s hostel. Since “ROYALS” was the best school in ryung they naturally had the best facilities giving every student their own personal room. The room was just as he had remembered as compared to the room he had to share with others at the vincehelm orphanage this room was huge. It had a king-sized bed, toilet, physical training chamber, and information chamber.

Rain walked in front of the door as a nostalgic robotic voice sounded “Identity verification complete! Access Granted! Welcome to Royals Mr. Rain Foster”. That was the artificial intelligence assistant assigned to every student and every student had a different artificial intelligence which will be assigned to their phone and chambers when they arrive at their Quarters.

Rain was assigned “E.V.E”, it was one of his companions that accompanied him through many tough times in the past. The door slide opened as rain entered, he sighed with quiet voice “It’s been a long time hasn’t it Eve”.

”Sir ,I do not understand the command could you rephrase the command for further clarity” it replied.

Rain then remembered that “E.V.E” had returned to its stages of infancy where character and behavior is not developed, yet again a sad smile surfaced on his face.

Rain then sat on the bed and consolidated and recollected his thoughts on what had happened in his previous life. Various emotions were shown on his face as he sat on his bed and recollected his memories until "E.V.E" interupted “Sir, as a reminder the martial awakening ceremony will commence in an hour at the grand hall.”

Rain then remembered about the martial awakening ceremony, a ceremony of shame, disappointment and anger. The awakening ceremony is where the innate martial spirit of each student is awakened at the ceremony.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Everybody will have their martial spirit awakened at the age of 15, regardless of social status, race or wealth. This was a law passed by the government of Ryung ever since the country had been founded. At level 0 of cultivation, every individual possesses an innate martial spirit that they are born with and can only be evolved as new bloodlines are assimilated into themevery 10 levels. Innate martial spirits are split into 6 different ranks of talent:

Rank 0 which is often known as “ordinary” such as weak beast without any fighting capability or ordinary items as their martial spirit.

Rank 1 which is “Uncommon” which are beast with fighting capabilities or weapons.

Rank 2 which is “rare” which are primordial beast or spirit weapons

Rank 3 which are then classified as ancient they possess they power of ancient beast or weapons.

Rank 4 which are then classified as legendary, they are special bloodline that can only be attained through inheritance.

Rank 5 which is classified as godly, there is no record of this rank thus only being regarded as a myth.

Naturally, the higher the rank the stronger the characteristics of the martial spirit thus a faster the rate of cultivation. Those with stronger parents also tend to have stronger innate martial spirits.

Rain then headed for the grand hall as it started filling up with thousands of the first years. In front of the grand hall was a large stage with the statue of the spirit god nephariam.

A teacher patiently stood in front of the statue, It was the teacher Elliot Ryston who was thin and lengthy with gold rimmed spectacles and long wavyblond hair tied into a ponytail. As soon as Rain saw him, rage started to surge but it only showed for a second before a calm expression took over.

“Nervous aren’t ya! ” Chiron said as he slapped rain on his back.

“Nope!” Rain calmly answered as he already knew the answer in his head. Chiron was so nervous he was trembling while rambling on about his day to Rain and a cute chick he spotted. Rain only smiled as he saw that Chiron is still the cowardly philanderer he was yet ironically he was one of the few that still helped Rain after that “incident”. After 15 minutes of waiting, noise started to fill the hall as many begin talking among each other.

“SILENCE” Elliot shouted as he strengthened his voice with spirit energy which could be seen through the spirit of a rank 2 arcane cat rose above his head.

“ALL OF YOU WILL EACH COME UP AND TOUCH THE STATUE INFRONT OF YOU FOCUS THE ENERGY YOU FILL UNLEASH IT INTO THE STATUE! THERE WILL ONLY BE ONE AWAKENING AND THERE WILL BE NO RETAKES!”

Soon they started going up one by one, every time the results will then be shown as their martial sprit’s name will appear above the statue while their spirit floats above their heads. Elliot who was standing beside the statue would then announce the results.

“Kevin Archer, rank 1 Hammer spirit”

“Perry Hawken, rank 2 Three Eyed Hawk”

“Chiron Randall, rank 3 Demonic Mammoth, what a surprise an unusual talent” said Elliot, Rain only smiled as he already knew what it was. Majority of the people were within rank 1 or 2 with the minority in rank 0 and 3, it was till the last few that was left that Rain went up while Chiron looked at him and raised his clenched fist saying “Go for it”.

“Rain foster, rank 0 Grass snake” however despite seeing the results unlike the others who bawled or complaint, he was calm and did not say a word yet his eyes showed the light of having more ambition than any other student. Chiron, seeing this could only smile and look happy for his childhood friend as there was not much he could do.

As the event then ended, Elliot who was the only one standing on the said with arrogance in his tone and eyes “Those rank 0 and 1 as of now you shall be known as the lesser students and will wear the black uniforms instead of white, your future would be to serve those of higher status and as long as you know your place you will be able to graduate and find a stable job."

His tone was greatly despised by those of lower ranks as he spoke as if he was speaking to a lower species, however he was not wrong as strength ruled the world an those without talent could only grit their teeth and curse the heavens. Among those of lower ranks only Rain faced those words with a grin on his face.

END