SSS Class Awakening: I Can Forge My Beast Soul Avatars
Chapter 3: The day

Chapter 3: The day

The announcement came as a shock to Atlas.

Though it was a joyful announcement for everyone including himself, this was not what the announcement that had gotten him happy was about in the old timeline.

In the old timeline, the orphanage was given tickets and the freedom to travel out of the Northern Spire for a better chance at life in the mainland. The mainland was a place that royals occupied, where anyone who went there could easily become someone.

They had taken the opportunity, and everyone at the orphanage traveled. Before he knew it, most of the children were adopted.

He wasn’t part of the chosen few who got adopted, but he had found a job and started making a living from fishing in the deep, dark sea.

The payment for each fish sold was of considerable value because of the dangers of the deep, dark sea, and in the end, he ended up making a name for himself in the mainland and becoming a successful fisherman.

But this — he wasn’t in any way expecting this. This went against all his knowledge and understanding of this world. Was everything going to keep changing like this, or was this the last straw?

"The ceremony will be conducted tomorrow at the academy. This is a chance for you kids to be able to be better people in society, so please, make me proud," she concluded with a bright smile on her face.

Each kid finally stood from the sofas and rushed toward the head of the orphanage, their happiness over the roof as they hugged and celebrated with her.

Atlas stared at the celebrations, his hands deep inside his pockets. He wasn’t angry or annoyed, but he wasn’t exactly happy either, because he knew the stakes involved.

To be able to awaken required a considerable amount of effort, which none of them were given. Only the rich were given private tutors to educate them on the essence and importance of awakening, and which paths enabled them to awaken faster.

They would run tests using a specialized system to gather all the possible traits already visible and pinpoint possible awakening paths, then go further to train the kids in those paths to help them master them on time.

But kids who had not been given a chance like that hardly ever pushed past the awakening mark. Moreover, the academy had a cutoff for whoever got in.

The Academy was a pristine place where kids who awakened powers were taken to be trained in the aspect and class they were awoken to, giving them a full understanding of their powers.

If they performed well in the academy, they were further given chances by important individuals to travel to the foreign lands for a better chance at life.

That was everyone’s dream, but not everyone got that dream fulfilled, especially those at the orphanage. To Atlas, it was just another way to show them that they were nothing but filth in society, so he never really liked the idea.

Emma, who had noticed his expression, stood up and walked over to him, her expression one of worry and confusion.

"Are you not happy about the announcement?" she asked.

He turned his gaze toward her and her innocent nature, unable to grasp the full weight of the situation they had just been put through.

"I am happy, just not overjoyed like them. It’s good to keep the celebrations at the end, not the beginning," he responded in a casual manner, not trying to worry her.

She nodded at his response, though she did not fully understand what he meant by what he said. Just that he wasn’t completely wrong with his choice of words.

"I guess you’re right. Celebrating now is indeed not a bright idea. We should save it for when we get into the academy," she said, seeming to understand his point of view.

He turned and left for his room, leaving the orphanage staff and their quiet celebrations behind.

Emma watched him leave and couldn’t help but wonder why his mood had suddenly gotten so sour. ’What is he truly about?’

In his room, he sat on the top bunk bed, laying down and staring at the white-stained, muddy ceiling.

’The awakening ceremony...’ he recalled a future memory.

The real reason he seemed to be wary of the ceremony was because back in the future, after he got to the mainland, he had tried his luck at the awakening ceremony and failed drastically, pushing him toward the dark side of life and inevitably making him a successful fisherman in the end.

’If reality repeats itself, I’ll be back in this orphanage by tomorrow, and the difference is that I’ll never get to be the successful fisherman I had once been.’

His expression turned to that of a full-blown frown, kicking his feet up in the air with annoyance. ’This is stupid. I despise the idea!.’

****

Morning arrived as fast as it always did on a suspenseful day.

The orphanage itself was in a frenzy as everyone moved about the building, preparing themselves for the ceremony.

Children rushed into the bathroom, and the caretakers arranged for reasonable clothes for the children to wear; after all, they were meant to look presentable, not like kids who actually came from an orphanage.

The chef prepared food as quickly as she could so everyone could eat on time, while Atlas remained in bed like none of what was happening concerned him in any way.

’It’s five in the morning and it’s already this noisy. The enthusiasm they have right now will inevitably be shattered once they return back to the orphanage without anyone getting into the academy,’ he thought, slightly opening his eyes and glaring at the muddy ceiling. ’Stupid idea.’

Eventually, all the kids had gotten ready and were all lined up in the kitchen for breakfast, including Atlas. If there was anything he never wasted, it was food.

In this place, food was a rare phenomenon, so missing out because of a sour mood was a stupid thing to do.

"Next," Chef Maya called out, dishing out the hot potato and stew as fast as she could.

"Come on kids, we have one more hour to leave. If you have anything you want to carry with you, or anything you’re forgetting, now is the time. We won’t be back until evening," Caretaker Mara announced, moving around the orphanage to make sure everyone heard her loud and clear.

"Thank you." Atlas grabbed his food and left for the dining hall.

Atlas sat down on a stool, adjusting the straps on his shoulders so he wouldn’t be obstructed. He was made to wear black trousers with suspenders, a white long-sleeve shirt, and a bow tie.

His emerald-green hair was combed and curved backward with oil, the edges done properly. He was looking like a kid from the 19th century, but the outfit fitted him.

"Hey..." Emma called out, her plate visible in her hands.

Atlas turned around and was stunned at her dressing. She looked beautiful.

Emma wore a cream-colored dress that had clearly been saved for special occasions. Though old, it had been carefully cleaned and mended, making her look far more elegant than anyone expected from an orphanage.

’Wow,’ he exclaimed in awe as he stared at her. She looked like a jewel.

"Can I sit with you?" she asked.

"Yes, sure you can." He shifted the stool closer to him and indicated for her to sit.

She dropped her food on the table and elegantly sat down on the stool, adjusting her gown so it didn’t disturb her meal.

"Wow, this morning was hectic," she mumbled, her face drowsy.

"Yeah, it was..." he responded, his hands hovering above his food, staring at the table.

"What do you think will happen today?" she asked, adjusting her chair closer to the table.

"I’m not sure, but a lot of kids at this orphanage will be left disappointed today, that’s for sure," he responded with a cold voice.

"The chances of a kid from the slums awakening a rare trait enough to get him or her into the academy is almost impossible. That’s the reason I didn’t like the idea in the first place."

She stared at him, her expression turning sad. "You shouldn’t say stuff like that. I’m very sure some of us will awaken something today. You’ll see!"

He made a side glance at her. "I do hope so," was his final response before he turned to his food.

’I do hope you’re right.’