The old man let out a thoughtful hum, stroking his beard as he studied the golden glow still lingering around James. Then, with a measured tone, he spoke.
"Arcane Ranger, huh? A rare class, no doubt...but also one of the hardest to nurture." His gaze settled on james as if weighing his resolve. "Rumemasters are powerful, but their strength doesn't come easy–it comes at a cost. Inscribing runes, harnessing arcane energy, refining techniques...it all burns through money faster than most expect. If you don't have the resources or the patience to master it, the class will never reach its true potential."
James swallowed, his fingers tightening at his sides. He didn't have wealth–not like Leon, not like the others who had privilege backing their growth. But resources weren't everything. He had something else. He had determination.
He took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the old man's words settle over him. He knew the challenges ahead–the cost, the difficulty, the endless struggle to master both runes and archery. But giving up? That was never an option.
Lifting his chin, he met the old man's gaze with unwavering determination. "I don't have wealth, and I don't have privilege," he said, his voice steady. "But no matter how hard it gets I'll give it my all".
The old man studied him for a moment longer before nodding slowly. "Determination is important," he said , his voice carrying the weight of experience. He stroked his beard slowly before continuing,"Never let desperation cloud your decisions. Power built on reckless ambition crumbles faster than you think."
Then, he straightened, his voice carrying across the crowd with authority.
"With that, the Awakening Ceremony is concluded,"he announced. "All you who have received a class–head to the Mission Hall established by the Academic Federation. There, you will recieve your basic supplies, along with your crystal cards with the balance of one hundred credits to assist you in the beginning of your journey."
With the ceremony now concluded, the newly awakened individuals began making their way to the Mission Hall.
James followed the flow of the crowd, his mind still lingering on the words of the old man. The journey ahead would be difficult, but that only fueled his determination further.
Leon strode ahead, maintaining his confident demeanor, though the subtle tension in his movements betrayed his lingering frustration.
As the crowd dispersed toward the Mission Hall, Leon lingered behind, his steps deliberate as he closed the distance between them.
"You think you're special now, don't you?" Leon's voice was low, sharp, cutting through the hum of chatter around them. His stepped closer, his smirk gone,replaced by a cold glare. "Stealing the spotlight like that...don't get used to it. You're just a commoner, and no flashy awakening is going to change that."
James turned to face him, his expression calm but resolute. He didn't flinch under Leon's gaze, nor did he respond immediately. The silence only seemed to irritate him further.
"Enjoy your little moment," Leon sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "Because I'll make sure it's the last time anyone looks at you like that."
James didn't react. He didn't glare, didn't scoff, didn't offer any words in return.
Instead, he simply turned and walked away, his posture steady, his stride unhurried. Leon watched him go, and scoffed under his breath.