Kapitel 16: Chapter 16: Breaking the News

When Bridge and Kain entered the living room they saw all 9 children in the orphanage, plus the orphanage director Silas along with their neighbours Farmer John and his wife Sally, sitting on the couch, chairs, and floor.

Kain could tell that they were taking extra care to manage their facial expression. However, none of them were skilled actors. All of them had varying combinations of disappointedness, sadness, frustration, and pity on their faces. Probably as a result of his and Bridge's results already being 'spoiled' by Cherry's interpretation.

'They really are my family,' thought Kain.

Kain took a deep breath to compose himself and prevent his laughter from escaping. While similarly, Bridge lowered his head with his shoulders shaking in laughter.

Thankfully, based on the increasingly solemn expressions of his family members, they mistook their attempts at smothering their laughter as trying to choke back tears.

"I'm sure you all know what today was," began Kain. Everyone slowly nodded. "And I am sure you all know that the chances of awakening are not high, so Bridge and I were already emotionally prepared to fail going into the ceremony."

Everybody's shoulders dropped. Key and the two youngest children, Charlie and Melody, looked as though they would burst into tears at any moment.

"Fortunately, Bridge was able to awaken a B-rated affinity to wolf-type spiritual beasts!" Kain put down his solemn façade, and Bridge raised his head to reveal a large smile.

Everyone's faces froze into expressions of disbelief before breaking out into large cheers.

"Really? Really?!"

Hearing the expressions of disbelief, Bridge proudly released Lady from the space in his star. "This is my first contract, Lady! The most beautiful Huricanine in the empire. No! This planet!" Everyone, especially the children immediately swarmed Lady, while trying to touch her. Thankfully, as Merida said, she's very obedient and didn't attack any of them.

The adults were more focused on the rest of what Kain said. "Did you say a B-rating," questioned Director Silas with sparkling eyes. Kain and Bridge both nodded.

Farmer John and the director immediately burst into delighted laughter, while Sally enveloped Bridge into a hug.

"Our boy is going to be a beast tamer! And may even enter one of the top colleges!"

After ten minutes of celebration, when the children had finished tossing Lady around, and the adults calmed down. Everyone's faces dropped into awkward expressions once they realized that Kain had never announced his results. Half of the room couldn't even make eye contact with him.

Kain changed his voice into a pitiful whisper, "As for me…"

Whimper

Key, Charlie and Melody finally couldn't stand it and burst into tears. Seeing this Kain immediately rushed to put them out of their misery and loudly declared "I received an S-rated affinity!"

Once again, the room froze. But even after a full minute, everyone did not react.

Ahem. "Did you guys not hear Kain? An S-rated affinity!" repeated Bridge.

Sally was the first to unfreeze. "We heard you. Kain, we heard you, it's just that…"

"It's too hard to believe!" Finished the director, "That one of the few S-rated individuals in our Celestial Empire's history will be coming from my orphanage."

Seeing that everyone was still not 100% confident that he was telling the truth, Kain removed the incubator from his bag. "Here is an egg I exchanged for at the school's breeding grounds, only newly awakened individuals have that privilege."

Everyone began to gradually look more lively but still didn't seem to 100% believe him. After all, confirming he awakened is very different from saying he also had an S-rating.

Remembering another detail, Kain dug through his bag.

"All the students with a rating of B or higher received a certificate from Principal Waters with his signature that would grant us entrance into the admissions tests for the top 5 colleges. It also includes our ratings. Both Bridge and I received one! Here!" Kain announced after handing the slightly crushed certificate over to the director.

After processing that it was an official certificate, with the Principal's signature and a stamp from the local government official, the director's hands began to shake. Farmer John and Sally, were also no calmer.

"I think today calls for a feast!"