MARKED BY DRACONIC OVERLORD

Chapter 1: Marked As Trash

Teenage chatter filled the air as a crowd of students gathered before an elevated platform. At its center stood a crystal pillar, humming with power and shifting through every color imaginable, a wondrous sight, visible even from the back of the crowd.

To the right, seated on a floating platform, were rows of teachers. They were here to scout outstanding talent for their own tutelage, because today was the general Awakening Day for every eighteen-year-old fit to awaken.

Standing beside the crystal was a middle-aged man with short black hair and deep brown eyes, his muscular build visible through the shirt that hugged him tightly. His gaze swept the crowd, fierce and intimidating.

"I welcome you all to the annual Awakening Ceremony." His voice boomed through the stadium like a loudspeaker, though he carried no mic, it simply sounded like thunder.

"Today is the day you've all been waiting for, the day you step beyond the ordinary, made possible the moment mana reawakened and ushered us in a new era of wonders.

In this era, fantasy has become reality. Today, you've come of age to join the extraordinary and go beyond your limits, because beyond these walls lie countless wonders and opportunities. Only then will you understand just how vast this world truly is." He paused, walking in front of the crystal pillar before continuing.

"Today the choice is yours. No matter what talent you awaken or what profession you choose, you won't rise to the top overnight, you must train. The decision you make here is yours alone, and whatever comes after, you face it. Now, I declare the Awakening Ceremony... begin!"

The crowd roared as the man moved aside. Before them stood another figure, tablet in hand, his gaze sharp.

"Alright, everyone when your name is called, step forward," he said sharply.

"Finally, it begins!" a boy shouted, throwing his fist into the air with excitement.

"Kael, after waiting this long, the moment's finally here." The boy speaking had black high fade curly hair, light golden brown eyes, and a light brown complexion, his jaw well-defined and his nose the right size. He was average in height with a slender, muscular build.

"You're damn right, Bradon," Kael replied with a grin. Kael had jet-black hair styled in a low fade and sharp blue eyes, a well-chiseled jaw, and a small pointed nose. He was tall, dressed in a white polo shirt under a brown leather jacket, black jeans, and white shoes. Around his neck hung a crimson-red crystal pendant.

"John Adrian." The first name was called.

A boy in glasses stepped from the crowd, his gaze cold as he approached the pillar, which pulsed with otherworldly energy.

"Place your hand on the Awakening Pillar," the man instructed, and the boy did.

The pillar rumbled faintly as colors surged with intensity, merging into a deep purple. A golden-orange light surrounded the boy, and specks of dark purple energy danced around him.

From thin air, bones materialized, arranging themselves into a skeleton. An undead soldier knelt before him, dark purple mist rising off its frame.

Gasps spread through the crowd. The man beside the crystal swiped a finger across his tablet.

< Name: John Adrian >

< Age: 18 years >

< Talent: A-rank >

< Attribute: Necromancy >

< Attribute grade: Underking >

A holographic screen projected above the boy, and expressions of shock and disbelief rippled through the crowd. Withdrawing his hand, the light faded and the soldier dissolved into nothing. John adjusted his glasses, his expression unreadable, and walked off.

"Next, Vivian Jonah." The next student stepped forward.

Name after name was called, each awakening met with a different reaction—joy, sorrow, relief, disbelief.

"Being the smartest in the whole class, I bet your awakening's going to be something special," Bradon said to Kael, who chuckled at the words.

"You flatter me, bro. As long as the talent's decent and the Attribute 's solid, the profession's not a big deal," Kael replied.

Then a pair of arms wrapped around him from behind, catching him completely off guard as something soft pressed against his back.

"Who!" Kael spun around.

"Hi! Did I startle you?" A girl beamed at him, her blonde hair falling in curls, her blue eyes striking. Her nose was small and neat, her lips a soft rosy red, her skin flawless. She wore a pink top with long sleeves and a brown skirt that ended just above her knees, gold earrings dangling from her ears, a touch of makeup enhancing an already striking face. She was, by any measure, the kind of girl boys went out of their way to notice.

"You definitely did," Kael admitted, aware of the boys nearby already glaring daggers at him.

"Hey, Laura," Bradon said with a smile.

"Hi, Bradon," she replied warmly, before turning back to Kael and looping her arm through his. "So, Kael isn't the ceremony amazing?"

"Yeah, it really is," Kael said, blushing, unable to meet her eyes directly.

"Looks like I should give you two some space," Bradon said, making an exaggerated hand gesture. "What God has put together, let no man tear asunder."

Kael and Laura both laughed.

"This boy," Laura said, shaking her head, then turned back to Kael. "Being the smartest in our class, your awakening's bound to be extraordinary, right?" She winked.

"You flatter me too much, Laura. I have no idea what I'll get," Kael said, still avoiding her gaze.

"How can you say that, when your grades are the best and your knowledge is unmatched?" she said, leaning in, close enough that the floral scent of her perfume reached him and made his heart race.

"Whatever I get, as long as it's decent, I'll be happy," Kael said with a smile.

At that moment, a bright golden beam erupted from the crystal pillar and shot toward the sky, the ground trembling beneath it. A girl with hair as white as fresh snow stood with her hand on the crystal, her eyes a striking elven green.

Her features were delicate a small pointed nose, soft pink lips, flawless pale skin, neatly groomed brows. Around her, two elements swirled and danced as if alive: golden flame and deep blue ice. The heat and cold radiating from her forced the examiner to step back several meters, unable to withstand it as he checked his tablet.

Everyone was stunned, but the teachers understood immediately what the golden light meant.

< Name: Selene Frostveil >

< Age: 18 years >

< Talent: SSS-Rank >

< Attributes grades: Flame and Ice >

< Attribute: Primordial Flames and Absolute Frost >

Jaws dropped across the crowd.

"Holy shit! she awakened an SSS-rank talent!" a boy exclaimed.

"Someone tell me I'm not dreaming," a girl said, rubbing her eyes.

"That's a one-in-a-billion talent," a teacher murmured.

Bradon, Kael, and Laura all stared, stunned.

"That's one hell of a talent," Bradon said.

"Her awakening's quite a show," Kael added, his gaze lingering on the girl.

Laura's expression shifted to something unreadable, though no one noticed.

The girl withdrew her hand, a small smile curling her lips as she looked up at her own results.

"Next, Bradon Vale."

"Alright, guys, I think that's me," Bradon said with a grin, eyes already on the pillar.

"Good luck, bro," Kael said.

"You've got this, Bradon," Laura cheered.

Hands in his pockets, Bradon strode toward the crystal pillar, dozens of eyes following him. He placed his hand on it before the examiner could even ask.

"That's one eager lad," the man murmured to himself.

The pillar rumbled. A bright azure light shot skyward, less intense than the golden blaze before it, but still striking and the crystal shifted to a deep gold.

A swirl of golden energy coalesced before Bradon, taking the shape of a knight in golden armor, a red cape trailing behind him, a radiant sword gripped in one hand. The knight's eyes flared gold as the sword dissolved into motes of light and rushed toward him.

The light poured into Bradon through his forehead. A golden aura burst from his body, his hair lifting as it surged. The knight gave a single nod before dissolving into the air.

The aura sank into him, and he opened his eyes, stunned by what had just happened. For the crowd watching, it was a sight none of them would forget.

< Name: Bradon Vale >

< Gender: Male >

< Talent: SS-rank >

< Attribute: Sword energy >

< Attribute grade: Knight's Spark >

Gasps spread through the crowd.

"No way that guy has an SS-rank talent!" someone shouted.

"He was ranked near the bottom of the class, and he pulled a Heavenly talent?" a girl said in disbelief.

A wide grin spread across Bradon's face as he approached Kael and Laura.

"He really nailed it," Kael said, grinning.

"Bradon, you really did it!" Laura beamed.

"Kael! I really did it!" Bradon said, practically glowing with happiness.

"You sure did." Kael threw an arm around his shoulder, and the three of them celebrated together.

"Laura Aster." Laura's name was called next.

"I'm up, guys wish me luck," she said with a wink before making her way toward the pillar, drawing no shortage of attention from the boys watching.

She placed her hand on the crystal. A golden-orange light glowed around her, the pillar's colors shifting to blue as lightning sparked from the air itself, crackling around her while her hair floated unnaturally. After nearly two minutes, the lightning subsided, and she withdrew her hand, smiling.

< Name: Laura Aster >

< Age: 18 years >

< Talent: A-rank >

< Attribute: Lightning >

< Attribute grade: Heaven's spark >

"Now that's more like it," Laura said, admiring her results.

"Damn, Laura's got some talent," Bradon said, impressed.

"Thunder girl," Kael teased with a smile.

Laura ran to them and embraced Kael, catching him off guard as her chest pressed against him, heat rushing to his face.

"Kael, I awakened an Epic-rank talent!" she said, beaming, still holding onto him.

Bradon raised his eyebrows repeatedly at Kael, the universal signal for a boy's dream come true.

Kael, for his part, was speechless.

"How does this guy get a girl like that all to himself?" a boy muttered, gritting his teeth.

"Life really isn't fair," another added, unable to watch any longer.

Several boys cursed Kael under their breath, though he remained blissfully unaware, caught up in the moment with his friends.

"There are some seriously strong talents in this year's group," one teacher remarked.

"I couldn't agree more, this batch is something else," another replied.

"Kael Arden." His name rang out.

"Kael, it's finally your turn," Laura said, still holding his arm.

"Guess it is," he replied.

"Can't wait to see what you awaken, bro," Bradon said, eyes bright with excitement.

"Well, here goes nothing root for me," Kael said with a smile, then made his way toward the crystal pillar.

"You've got this, Kael!"

"Make us proud!" Bradon and Laura cheered behind him.

Every eye in the stadium turned to follow him.

"Isn't that guy ranked near the top of Class Five?" a girl whispered to the boy beside her.

"Yeah, that's him," he replied.

Kael stood before the crystal pillar, colors pulsing from it in every direction, otherworldly energy radiating outward.

"You've got this, Kael," he told himself, taking a breath before placing his hand on the pillar. It was cold to the touch. He closed his eyes.

The colors merged into a faint red, and a dim white light flickered around him.

Confusion spread across the crowd. It wasn't spectacular. It wasn't even remarkable. It came and went in seconds his Attribute didn't even manifest.

"What's going on?" Bradon frowned, watching his friend's awakening unfold.

The examiner's expression twisted the moment he checked his tablet.

"The worst talent I've ever seen," he muttered to himself, tapping through the results.

Kael opened his eyes, looking around, confused.

"That's... it?" he said to himself, not having felt anything remarkable during the process.

< Name: Kael Arden >

< Age: 18 years >

< Talent: F-rank >

< Attribute: Flame >

< Attribute: Cinderborn >

Kael's pupils widened in shock as he saw his own results.

"How... can this be?" he stammered.

Surprise rippled through the crowd as they read his information.

"He awakened the worst talent there is."

"Is this an awakening or an embarrassment?" a girl scoffed.

"Him, of all people, ending up with trash?" a boy with spiky orange hair laughed with his friends.

"Can't believe he turned out to be trash," a teacher said, disdain thick in his voice.

"No this can't be right," Bradon said, refusing to believe it.

Laura's expression shifted into something unrecognizable as she stared at the results glowing above the stage.

"No... no... no... this can't be happening," Kael whispered, still in shock, refusing to accept what he was seeing.

He had awakened the lowest possible talent one dismissed as trash. And the mockery had already begun.