Chapter 2: Graduation Day
[20 years later]
News Reporter: Welcome to Imperium TV, how're we all doing? Today we have a special guest here, everyone. Well, surprise surprise! It's Professor Darwin.
Professor, It has been 10 years since your invention "Mana Bracelet" was released. The world that we once knew is no longer the same. I have been following your news for quite a long time and quite impressed with what you've been doing. It's a huge honour to see a man like you sir.
Darwin: Thank you for your compliment, miss. You can just call me Darwin. No need for "Professor"... You shouldn't say that the world changed because of me. Every single one of us helped shape this world. My contribution is just a little bigger than others.
News Reporter: *chuckles* A little is definitely an understatement...It's always a pleasure to see a humble man like you living among us, Darwin. Your invention have become world wide sensation since 2006 and now people refers you as "The Chosen One". You have practically become a hero for all of us.
So, can you teach the young generations who're watching this video, how did you manage to achieve something impossible alone? It's quite an impressive feat. No, it would be impossible for normal humans like us.
Darwin: Hahahahah, you know how to joke, miss reporter! Impossible is not a fact, it's only an opinion. Anyone who works hard can achieve it as long as they don't give up.
Kids! Never let go of your dreams no matter how hard it seems. Once you give up, it's hard to get back on track again.
I was just twenty three years old when I first discovered Professor Aaron's diary. It was so mysterious for me since at that time everyone's eyes were on digital inventions. Aaron's dedication made me curious. To be honest, at that time I just wanted to know whether this scientist is just another madman or someone who truly found something big. Well, as you can see... it is gold mine. One of the biggest discoveries in this world, that is.
News Reporter: Wow...you might be one of the luckiest we humanity might have ever seen. Also one of the most brilliant, ofcause. It's not an easy feat to create a bracelet that can let us humans control the energies. Heck, it can even detect what affinity a person's soul has!
Now that we're talking about this topic...I was wondering, Darwin. Why doesn't the affinities in our souls change? Since your theory states that the affinity of the soul is depending on one's personality...
Darwin: Many of my acquaintances asked me the same thing. Why doesn't one's affinity change? It's simple, really. A cat will always be a cat. Not tiger. With science, there is nothing impossible but it's a taboo to forcefully change one's affinity since they represents who a person is.
For example, Flame Affinity user can be action-oriented, assertive, confident, decisive, responsible, and task-dominant. That's just who they are and they should be proud that's the reason their soul has flame affinity.
News Reporter: Thank you Darwin for taking such a long time to expla-
-----****The video stops****---------
"Well, this video talked about what I already taught you... I guess there's no need for further explaination. Now everyone line up, we're going to gymnasium." the frowning teacher asked everyone to line up and went outside without waiting for any responses.
Today's the last day for Year-12 students. It's very exciting to finally be free from high school.
"No more pop quizzes for life!"
"HECK YEAH!!"
But that's not the only reason everyone's excited.
Every year since 2006, when Professor Darwin released his inventions, one of them is a machine that can make normal humans into the so called "The Awakeneds" by unlocking the first seal in their souls.
Yes, seals. Darwin's theory stated that every single one of the souls have their potentials locked inside by seals. How to unlock it? One needs to absorb a huge amount of their affinity energy and forcefully unseal it.
That's why normal people can never become the "Awakened" no matter how hard they try. That's why Darwin is considered very important in this era. His invention "Mana Bracelet" can detect which affinity a person has. Not just that, the mechanism in this bracelet help the users control the mana. Most people rely on this to use skills of their own creations unless they're very experienced and talented.
...
The first seal unlocks the potential to control the mana to absorb affinity energy. One can train to have a higher absorption rate so that they can unlock more seals. Darwin never stated how many seals there are or what are the effects from unlocking higher seals. It's hard to know since even Darwin himself was only able to unlock until 8th seal. He is the second awakened to unlock more than five.
Who was the first?
Siddhārtha Gautama, the Buddha. He was the real enlightened one who has unlocked his soul's potentials to unimaginable degree. Most people assumed that buddha have at least unlocked more than fourteen seals.
How did buddha awaken the first seal?
No-one knows. It's already a miracle that someone from more than 600 years ago knows how to control mana. Not only that, Buddha taught his disciples the way to unseal as well. Unfortunately, young generations thought of his teachings as a spiritual development and nothing more than that.
...
The gymnasium is full of year 12 students and class teachers. There's a huge machine on the stage with a big screen. Clearly, that's where kids will become "Awakened ones". Everyone's excited and nervous seeing the machine.
"Bro, my palms are sweaty..I'm getting nervous already."
"Dude, calm down! You're not the only one here!"
"Uhh guys, y-you need to be quiet. The ceremony is starting..."
"Shut up Billy! I can't believe you're not excited! This is a dream come true! We all have been waiting for this moments since young.."
"I-I'm excited too ya know! I want to know wh-"
"QUIET EVERYONE!" one of the teachers shouted so loud that caused the whole gymnasium to went silent. A short old man with proud expression walked slowly to the centre of the stage and stopped. A big red light halo ring appeared behind his back and the man shouted while pointing his index finger towards the ceiling.
"Rising Phoenix" The black bracelet on his wrist started glowing, the red energy can be seen twirling around his index finger and suddenly, it start shaping into a huge bird made out of flame then went straight to the direction the finger was pointing.
BOOOOMMMM
The target was destroyed immediately but the flame didn't stop. It started spreading around the area.
" Water Bullets!" Two teachers shouted while their fingers pointing at the spreading fire. Same thing happened but unlike the principal, the blue coloured energy starts twirling around.
It quickly shaped into floating balls made of water then fly straight towards the fire. These balls doesn't look beautiful and elegant unlike the skill principal used but they still look pretty cool.
Flame finally died after multiple shots of water bullets. The two teachers sighed then glared at the principal for the trouble he caused.
"Ahem,*cough cough* students! This is the final year of your high school. As you all know, high school graduates are given opportunity to unlock the first seal to awaken. We have already sent the mails to your parents whether they agree to pay for the fees since this isn't free. Students whose parents have agreed will start lining up when their names appear on the screen.
"Noah Beck, Class B-A" a named appeared on the black screen and soon red haired boy with a cocky smile came out from the sitting crowd.
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CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
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