Bright Academy for the Gifted and Noble stood like a monument of polished white stone and tinted blue glass amidst the hills of Brightgate.
Tall walls, manicured hedges, and hovering security drones gave it a sense of both prestige and paranoia.
This was the school Michael had enrolled his cousin in.
Since he had money now, he went for one of the best that the new city could offer.
Michael walked through the outer courtyard.
Other students passed his—some in uniform, others in casual attire.
Several glanced in his direction, and more than a few stared. Michael ignored them.
Michael was soon escorted into a reception room with polished wooden floors and a wide circular skylight that bathed the space in sunlight.
Sitting at the head of the room was a short, silver-haired woman with the kind of poise that screamed “principal,” flanked by two assistant teachers and a receptionist who looked barely old enough to be out of high school.
Michael’s gaze swept across the room. That’s when he noticed.
He weren’t alone.
Aside from the him, three students stood along the far wall, each dressed in the silver-lined uniform of the senior division.
All three radiated pressure—real pressure. Not civilians. Not mundane humans. Awakeners.
Michael narrowed his eyes.
But they weren’t all just any students.
One of them, a broad-shouldered boy with dark skin and sharp amber eyes, stood with the ease of someone confident in his power.
His aura was sharp, wild, almost feral.
A suspicion came to Michael.
He used Detect on the Youth.
[Martial Disciple Level 29]
Just as Michael suspected.
The youth was indeed a rank 2 Awakener.
However, Michael couldn’t help but look down on the youth a little.
For one.
Why was he so weak?
No. Don’t get Michael wrong.
Is just that in his head he had always imagined that Awakeners at rank two should be very strong.
However, the youth just gave a strong feeling.
Not a threatening one.
“Maybe I’m just stronger.”
Michael didn’t give it much thought.
What he wondered next was when the youth became an Awakener.
Was it two years ago?
A year ago?
Or this year just like him.
If it was two years or a year ago, Michael would be very disappointed.
If it was this year though…that would be very impressive.
Michael turned to look at the others next.
The others weren’t as remarkable.
One girl, lithe and pale with a gaunt expression, had the smell of blood about her.
The first thought was that she had been hunting a bit much these past few days and hadn’t rested well enough.
[Archer Level 13]
“Weak.”
Michael thought to himself.
He wasn’t insulting the girl.
Was just the first thought that came to mind.
However, the girl’s level also showed that she should surely be a new Awakener like him.
The last was a boy with blue hair and a faint blue glow behind his eyes.
[Water Mage Level 16]
“Rare class?”
Still, this youth was also weak.
Of course, this was to Michael.
In two months there was a possibility they might be able to advance to rank 2 just like he also planned to.
He was just more sure of his own.
Michael met the amber-eyed Rank 2’s stare for a moment.
The boy smirked.
Michael didn’t react.
He simply turned back to the principal and offered the barest nod. “I’m Michael. First time we’re meeting but it was your vice principal that arranged I and my sister transfer to your school”
The principal raised an eyebrow but didn’t question it. She’d already been informed. “Welcome to Bright Academy,” she said, her voice smooth. “I’m Principal Ilyana. It’s not common for us to accept transfers this late in the academic cycle, but… considering the recent events, we’ve made certain exceptions.”
Michael’s eyes flicked toward the other students.
Before Michael could dwell further, the principal spoke again. Her voice was calm, refined, but carried an undeniable edge of authority.
“I’m sure you already know why you’re here,” she said, her sharp eyes sweeping across the room, resting momentarily on Michael before moving on to the others. “Bright Academy may be a prestigious school, but our institution is also one of the rare few qualified to host those with awakened potential.”
She folded her hands neatly in front of her. “That includes you, of course.”
Michael said nothing.
“However,” the principal continued, “while your abilities set you apart, you are not exempt from the normal expectations placed on all students.”
The tall boy with the wild aura raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. The other two remained silent, their expressions unreadable.
“You’ll attend your standard classes alongside your peers. Ordinary humans, cultivators, awakened—no distinction. You’ll sit the same mock college exams, take the same entrance tests, and be graded using the same metrics. Merit first. Supernatural or not.”
Michael’s gaze sharpened at that.
“It is only after passing those exams that you will qualify for entry into the Awakener’s Academy division,” she said. “There, your true training will begin—specialized classes, combat simulations, and controlled rift excursions. But until then, prove yourselves academically, like everyone else.”
The principal’s voice lowered slightly. “Some of you may have been prodigies in your districts or local communities. Here, you are simply students. Do not expect to be coddled.”
She paused, letting the silence stretch a few seconds before standing up.
As the principal finished speaking, she passed a file to each of the students, including Michael. “Before we proceed, I need you to fill out this form. It’s standard procedure for all students with… unique abilities.”
The file contained various sections, some asking for basic information like name, age, and contact details, while others inquired about their abilities as Awakeners, such as their class, level, and any special skills they possessed.
Michael took the file and began to fill it out, his pen moving swiftly across the pages. He answered the questions honestly, providing details about his class, level, and a few of his abilities.
When he finished, he handed the file back to the principal, who reviewed it briefly before nodding.
The other students followed suit, each filling out their respective files.
