"This has been the most successful Affinity Ceremony in our academy's history!" Stated the principal in the closing speeches once the remaining 3 students after Kain, all without an affinity, opened their eyes. "We have an astonishing 36% success rate, as well as our first ever student an affinity rating of S." The principal's eyebrows twitched repeatedly in happiness, tears pooled in his eyes.
Kain squirmed awkwardly in his seat while all of the eyes in the hall turned towards him.
"For those of you that were unable to awaken an affinity, do not be discouraged! There are a variety of very lucrative career paths for you to choose. In fact, many of you unawakened may prove to be more successful than your awakened peers."
"For those of you that do possess an affinity, do not be content. Now is when the real hard work begins. If you hope to have some measure of success as a beast tamer and be strong enough to leave city walls to enter the wilderness unaccompanied, you would typically need to become at least a 3-star level tamer.
However, of the 35 of you who can become beast tamers, less than half of you will likely ever reach such a level."
"However, our school is willing to give you a head start on your journey. Those who wish can follow me once the ceremony has concluded to select your contract from among what the breeders at our school have to offer."
The majority of the newly awakened students let out a loud cheer. After all, spiritual creatures, even the weakest of them, are notoriously expensive. For orphans like Kain and Bridge this opportunity was an absolute godsend.
However, the legacy students look unmoved. The quality of potential contracts that the school can provide would obviously greatly pale in comparison to what their own families could provide.
After concluding his speech, all of the unawakened and legacies left, 24 of the remaining students followed a teacher towards where the school's breeding grounds were located. Bridge and Kain being the only ones with a rating of B or higher to stay.
"What are you planning to bind Kain?" Bridge asked, practically shivering from excitement.
'I don't even know what I CAN bind,' Kain thought.
"Not sure. I'm not even sure if they will have anything suitable for me once we enter"
"Figures. An S-rating like you probably needs to bind something like a dragon or phoenix, huh?"
Kain flinched as his friend unintentionally dug into the wounds of his crushed dreams.
"Let's talk about this later at home," Kain managed to grit out through tears.
"Of course! Of course. But Kain, can you please help me with my first contract?"
"Are you sure, Bridge? This is a pretty big decision to entrust to somebody else."
"Absolutely sure! After all, the first contract position will have a big impact on whether I can go to a top college or not, and I can't think of anyone I trust more than you who is as knowledgeable as you about spiritual creatures. You have the top theoretical exam scores in our year for a reason."
Suddenly burdened with a decision that could completely alter the course of his friend's life, Kain nodded solemnly and entered the breeding hall with Bridge.
"What's your affinity anyways?"