“Null…rank?”
The word null is incomprehensible in Norman’s mind. Nobody has ever thought someone in this ceremonial chamber would get a Null rank ability. It is the worst possible outcome for someone like Norman who is a target from Nathan’s bullying. Norman was shock stock still as everyone have a varying reaction. Contempt, pity, hatred and disgust surfaced deep within their hearts.
Silence filled the air; the tense atmosphere prevents anyone from making any actions until…
“Hmph, I knew it…Norman is a low life Null rank. What a disgrace.”
To no surprise, Nathan is the one who started the disdainful remark. Obviously, he is going to take the chance to shame one of his targets. Murmurs and whispers spread around the crowd with disdain on their faces.
“Can’t believe we were living in the same house as someone like him…argh disgusting.”
“Hmph, turns out the gloomy boy is a null rank, heh what a loser.”
“I agree man, I hated him.”
“Pity the guy, he is going to be the main target.”
“That’s rough…”
Each and every whispers and murmurs passed around can be roughly heard by Norman. These hurt him deeply as if knives were stabbed into every inch of his body. A total opposite of Nathan’s shower of praise. His face grimaced when he thought about the pitiful comments, the main target, no the main target of the entire house, to shame and look down upon. It shows how undesirable this rank is, a rank which makes no contribution to protecting the city yet they work on jobs like agriculture to support them. But there is more capable individual whom can do a better job than them. A sad fate falls upon those whom have a null rank ability.
Unable to bear such pressure, he tried to leave the stage but his legs were rooted to the ground. The sheer overflowing emotions deep inside him is about to burst out at any moment. A 12-years-old kid has to face such humility, it is too cruel. He has no choice but to face the harsh reality. This reality is heavily weighing on his shoulders as if he is carrying a boulder on his back.
The staff from the church looked at him, expecting him to step down. But seeing as he still stood there, he became disdainful of Norman. Someone who does not know his place should deserve a punishment. Yet, his legs didn’t budge a single inch. It is not because he chose not to but he couldn’t move at all, the pressure bearing on him is too heavy to even take a step forward.
However, his steps were lightened as if the boulders weighing him down was cut down in half as Yato came forward to extend a helping hand. A ray of hope appeared shinnying brightly for him, guiding him out of this mess.
“Let’s go, Norman.”
The smile on his face remained the same even with his rank being the lowest of the low. It spurred him to walk forward, little by little, leaving the stage of despair. They walked down the path to the exit. Scorning Gazes continued to land on their backs, particularly Norman. Their chatter continues on even after they left.
Unlike the kids in the chamber, the adults could only shake their heads of disappointment. Some would hide their disdain in the presence of this children but once they are gone, the other side of them will be unleashed. A few of them would actually show it on their faces. It is an event which is a torn in the history of the Orphanage’s awakening ceremony. It is a huge blow to Matthias Grimore’s face.
“Silence!”
The director, Matthias Grimore, roared out a command, silencing the crowd with just a single word and instructed the continuation of the ceremony. The staff from the church continue the ceremony as the previous evaluation left a mark in everyone’s mind.
On the second floor of the chamber, the hooded figures disappeared into the shadows after witnessing such an event. This has gone unnoticed while they were distracted by the director’s command.
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On the following day, a notice was given out to the ability users to attend 3 months of lessons before leaving the Orphanage to attend the Academy. The early sunrise is filled with activity as every child in the house wakes up and go through the everyday routine of doing chores. However, there is an exception, the 12 years old have to attend their classes. It has been a traditional in this house, when a child of a coming age gone through the awakening ceremony or the God’s blessing, they will have to go through a 3 months course to learn about the city, the hierarchy, swordsmanship and the state of humanity.
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In the dorm room of the Orphanage, a boy fiddled with his fingers on the edge of his bed. Eyes full of worry and eyebrows arched downwards as if he is in deep thought. Yato approached him with a grin on his face and sat beside him.
“You got to relax, you worrying doesn’t make this situation any better.”
“But…Yato, I am pretty much a target now. I can’t help but feel nervous and scared.”
Yato sigh as he looks at the pitiful Norman in distress. He took a moment to think of what to say but none came to mind. With all things considered, he is helpless in comforting someone stuck in this kind of scenario. All he could do is to go with his guts and say what comes to mind.
“Even if you are scared, afraid, terrified, you got me to be there for you. Afterall, we are brothers, am I right?”
“But…”
“No buts, if all comes to shoved and things turns to the worse, I will protect you. It is the duty of a big brother after all. Hehe.” Yato chuckled and caressed his messy black hair roughly, giving a form of encouragement to his younger brother.
Although it did not clear the nervousness in him, it still cleared some of it away.
The morning proceeded on as the recently awakened ability users are ushered to the main hall for a briefing about the classes they are going to attend. Just when Norman was about to step foot into the hall, one of the caretakers, Gildon, beckoned him to come over. He is in charge of assigning duties to the kids of the orphanage.
“You will not be attending the classes with them, you are to do your chores assigned to you from now on.”
Gildon stated coldly and handed a piece of paper with a list of chores that he had to do. On it, the number of chores he had to do surprised him as it almost covered the entire page. It is the most he had seen while doing the chores in this orphanage in his whole life. Yet, he couldn’t get rid of the feelings from yesterday’s event. Is this the treatment I will receive from being a null rank?
There is a total of 20 chores to do, an absurd amount especially with so many orphans doing their part of the duty and he guessed that the commoner and noble rank would get lesser chores to do. A while later, he guessed it correctly when he comes across a meeting between the commoner rank ability users and Gildon.
“Oh wow! There’s only 5 chores to do in here!”
One of the commoner ranked ability users exclaimed excitedly when he took a brief look over the list of chores assigned to them. It is four times lesser than Norman and it is the lowest he has heard. Jealousy and anger flooded his face upon witnessing the difference in treatment. Damn it! Even though these emotions are ready to burst out, he had to contain it as this is the reality.
“Hey Norman, how are you holding up in your chores?” Yato noticed Norman at the corner of his eyes and asked him without a voice coming out from his mouth. Clearly, it is to avoid getting caught by Gildon for not listening his briefing.
Norman could only put on a smile to answer his question, a way to clear the worries that Yato held for him. Soon after, he walked away hiding behind a mask of smiles and proceeded on with his work.
While working on his duties, he overheard rumors about a recent attack on one of the cities closest to the Capital from a group of younger orphans. A huge numbers of soul eater breech through the walls and invaded the city of Osmos, causing a great number of casualties and even deaths. The knights assigned to protecting the city had to take action. There was even a war against the soul eaters at one of the districts.
What he heard next sent him into deep thought.
“From what I heard, there were eye witness and one of them said ‘the soul eaters looked human like us, they were wearing hoods and each of them possess strong abilities. Maybe they are actually human? I heard them talking our language and saw one saved a child.’ Isn’t that absurd to think soul eaters are humans?”
“Hmm, that’s true...but then again, we were taught that soul eaters are creatures created by god to cleanse and test humanity. So, we have to do our duty to defend against this threat.”
Soul eaters are humans?! Upon overhearing the conversation, the tugging feeling in his heart has been cleared as he came to realization. What if...
“Hmph, pathetic! To see a fellow peer to actually turn out to be a null ranked. Gloomy boy Norman, you are such a disgrace.”
“Urgh...”
Just when he was thinking about an incident a few years ago, Nathan comes forward to shame the poor Norman. He gritted his teeth as he tried to contain the surging anger deep within him. But Nathan continued to provoke Norman with more hurtful comments and disgrace him even further. The surrounding kids were watching the spectacle as they whisper among themselves.
The whispers drown out the noises around him, listening to the remarks about him, he felt humiliated. The anger in him is about to burst out into a rampage. Veins are popped out against his skin; his bod shakes not in fear but in anger. His eyes were bloodshot red as he gritted his teeth roughly and glare daggers at Nathan.
“What are you staring at, shit head.”
Norman stood his ground and puffed out his chest, arms raised ready to fight. The crowd were in an uproar when they saw this. A fight was about to breakout between a noble and null rank, the opposite ends of the spectrum are about to fight.
“Oooh, you wanna fight eh? A powerless, worthless shit like you?! Hmph, what a joke! I will put you in your place!” Nathan was anger by his actions and prepared himself to thrash the weak null rank user. Deep contempt was evident in his eyes looking down on such a small being.
The fight began, catching the attention of everyone and the director of the Orphanage.