Chapter 7: Expectations vs Reality
I woke up from the most amazing dream a young man could have. In the dream, I was spending time with the doctor in a cozy cottage by the beach, and we were having the time of our lives. But my alarm interrupted the dream and brought me back to reality.
I went about my morning routine, picking up my dirty clothes and tossing them into the laundry chute, which automatically sent them to the vacuum chamber in the laundry area. I placed an order for breakfast, asking Bootleg, my trusty support bot, to make me some pancakes and hot chocolate while I took a bath. I hummed to myself as I enjoyed the warmth of the water and the anticipation of a delicious meal.
I had never had physical contact with anyone before, let alone a woman's body, so I was still buzzing with excitement from my dream. I couldn't help but remember how stunning the doctor looked in my dream - her smooth, rosy white skin, slender body, luscious lips, small pointed nose, and captivating round eyes. She always wore large, dark round glasses at school, which only added to her allure.
As I dried my hair, a thought crossed my mind. "If I were the same age as her, would I have a chance with her? I'm confident in my looks." It dawned on me that I was infatuated with her.
In the past, people with shamanic blood had a high mortality rate, but nowadays it had drastically declined. Powerhouses tended to marry close relatives, and a male shaman with a strong bloodline could have multiple wives, while a female shaman could choose her partner without the other party being able to decline. Age was no longer a barrier to love interests, as long as both parties had reached the universal legal age of 18.
After getting dressed in my school uniform, I sat down on the couch and Bootleg placed my breakfast on the mini table. I dug into the stack of three-layered pancakes, dripping with butter and maple syrup, and sipped on my hot chocolate. As I ate, I decided to check the school's exclusive website for any updates.
But as I took a sip of the hot chocolate, I nearly choked on it when I saw the article on the main page. Bootleg rushed to clean up the mess I had made.
The article announced that the University Board Committee had introduced a new curriculum, effective immediately, which required all students aged 18 and below with an awakening rate of at least 7% to undergo additional training. The goal was to produce awakened students who would join the new elite classes by the time they turned 19.
The comments section was in chaos, with mixed reactions from students and parents alike. Most of the students in the support class were enthusiastic about the opportunity, but the awakened class felt threatened by the potential competition.
I found myself caught up in the excitement for a moment, only to realize that I didn't meet the requirements. I slammed my hand on the table in frustration. "If only my real parents were from a descent bloodline..." But then I stopped, realizing that I couldn't change the fact that I was an orphan. I took a deep breath and decided to make the most of the opportunities I did have, determined to find my own path, awakening or not.
I took my school materials, activated the house's state-of-the-art security feature, and hailed a cab to get to school. The sun was just starting to rise as I arrived, and the field was already filled with students, anxiously waiting for the preliminary examination for the new curriculum. A stern-looking school professor directed me to change into my P.E. uniform, as the exam would be physically demanding. I quickly changed, rushed to my class, and took my place at the end of the line.
The dean, a distinguished figure in his formal attire, stepped onto the platform and addressed the gathered students. "This new curriculum will revolutionize how you perceive our school and the Great Asian Alliance. Those who pass the trial and awaken their abilities will have a responsibility to contribute to our territory in the future." With those words, the preliminary examination began.
The article I had read beforehand had mentioned that the examination had three parts. The first part was to determine the awakening rate of our bloodline. Only those who reached the threshold of 7% would be deemed to have passed and move on to the next stage.
The second part tested our physical strength, which would determine the training regime we would undergo throughout the year. It was crucial to have a body that could withstand the immense spiritual energy we would soon possess.
The third and final part was designed to test our spiritual energy and categorize us into one of three types of shamans: Assault, Vanguard, or Ranged. Assault shamans focused on melee attacks, while Vanguard shamans excelled in defense. Ranged shamans were further divided into two subtypes - wide area and single target - based on their specialization.
As the examination progressed, more than half of the students successfully passed the first part. The dean and the committee expressed satisfaction with the results. The line of students waiting for their turn grew shorter and shorter until it was finally my turn.
As I took my seat, I noticed a group of students from the awakened class who had bullied me before. Their leader sneered at me and taunted, "Hey 'Mr. Genius', never thought I'd see you here after you fainted at the purge-door. Doubt they could extract even a drop of your weak bloodline." The others laughed along, trying to provoke me.
However, before I could respond, a familiar voice echoed through the examination hall. "I'm not in the mood to play babysitter here, so shut up or I'll make sure you never speak again." A dark blue aura emanated from the source of the voice, silencing everyone in the vicinity.
I looked around, trying to locate the person who had come to my defense, and to my surprise, it was none other than the doctor. It also appears that she was a shaman all along.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone