(MC POV)
I wake up bright and early—or at least I think I do. It's a beautiful day outside: the sun is shining, and I can hear birds singing.
"On days like these… Wait, no. I'm in another world. How exactly did I forget that?" (Twil)
I fiddle with my system absentmindedly, only to find something interesting in the SOUL menu.
[
SOUL:MAIN TRAIT:Determination (Current)SUB TRAIT:(Choose)
]
"Ooh, I see. I can select a supporting sub-trait to complement the main one. Based on the powers of the soul traits, which would be a good fit for my current situation? I can always swap them later, so it's not a pressing decision right now." (Twil)
"...Thinking about it, the main thing the SOUL traits affected was their inherent magic. Based on my memories, this seems to be a cultivation-type world. I wonder how it will play into cultivation in general." (Twil)
I leave my room in my new robes, tossing my torn ones into my inventory. They vanish—but don't show up inside it. "I guess they don't count as an ITEM or something like that."
Out in the hall, the other disciples' doors are opening as they start walking down the corridor. The old man from yesterday did say we'd have another test, so I followed the crowd. Even though I'm just blending in, I notice others glancing at me—blatantly, even. I did place first on the initial test, so it makes sense they're curious. Supposedly, we have two more tests, so hopefully I can pass those as well. Maybe not in first place again, though. I should probably be more low-key.
We're led into a small circular room with various stone plates set into the floor. A different old man stands in the center. Once everyone enters, the doors shut behind us.
"Attention, Apprentice Disciples.You have all passed the first test by ascending the minimum required steps. However, none of you should get cocky—we're now moving on to the real test that will determine your future in the sect.
*Each of you will sit and meditate with a testing marble in your hands. It will test your soul aptitude by displaying a color. The faster it lights up, the stronger your aptitude. If it fails to light up, you will be expelled from the sect. Depending on the color, you'll be assigned as either an inner or outer disciple. I'll pass out the marbles now." (Mysterious Old Man #2)
As soon as he finishes speaking, I feel a weight in my hand. Looking down, a clear marble has appeared. Everyone else seems to have one as well. I sit down on one of the stone mats and try to figure out how this works.
"If this were a cultivation novel, I'd need to direct my inner energy into the marble so it can detect my strength. But how do I direct my soul at it?"
Looking around, the others are sitting in lotus position, their marbles softly glowing—though not yet showing color. Mine, however, remains clear. Closing my eyes, I open my menu.
[
NAME:
{ Twil }
STAT:LV 1RK 0EXP: 0NEXT: 10HP: 20 / 20EN: 20 / 20AT: 10 (0)DF: 10 (5)
ITEM:WEAPON: StickARMOR: Sect RobesGOLD: 0
SOUL:KILL / MERCY: 0 / 0TRAIT: DT / N/ASKILLS: N/A
]
"I guess I should try to enter battle with it? If you can fight a dummy, a marble shouldn't be too hard. The only soul trait I know that actively attacks is Justice—let's try that." (Twil)
I select Justice as my new main trait and try to engage the marble in a "battle." Opening my eyes, I find myself in a black-and-white space, the marble floating about three feet away.
I raise my right hand in the shape of a finger gun and will myself to attack, saying "Bang" out loud. Suddenly, a yellow energy bullet shoots from my fingertip and hits the marble dead-on. Instead of lighting up, it shatters like glass.
In a blink, I'm back in the circular room. Everyone's staring at me. I'm no longer sitting, and my marble is a pile of dust on the floor. The mysterious old man stares at me, jaw dropped.
"Oops." (Twil)
The room falls into silence. Then the old man quietly escorts me out, telling everyone else to continue. In the hallway, he gives me a bewildered look.
"How did you do that?" (Mysterious Old Man #2)
"I just hit it with my soul. Wasn't that what we were supposed to do?" (Twil)
"No! You were supposed to enter a meditative state and let the marble scan your soul—not attack it! You shouldn't even be able to do that as an apprentice. That's an outward soul technique—something only masters can use! How did you do that?"
"I closed my eyes. When I opened them, I was in a black-and-white room with the marble floating in front of me... so I blasted it. That's all." (Twil)
"...You can enter your own soul space?! If you'd said that earlier, you could've skipped the test entirely! Where did you come from, kid?!" the old man says, now looking somewhat crazed.
"I don't know! I just woke up in the forest near here!" (Twil)
I reply in a panic as he grabs and shakes me.
"You came out of the Forbidden Forest?! How are you alive?!"
"I DON'T KNOW!!" (Twil)
I yell, nearly screaming.
At that moment, a middle-aged man appears behind the old man. I didn't see where he came from. He calmly places a hand on the old man's shoulder.
"Asorus, calm down. You're scaring the poor kid." (???)
He looks at me with a kind smile.
The old man instantly bows. "I'm very sorry, Sect Leader." (Asorus)
"Wait, he's the Sect Leader? I was expecting some ancient guy with a Gandalf beard. He looks more like your neighbor's sporty uncle." (Twil)
Now that I know the old man's name—Asorus—he settles down and just looks at me silently, and then suddenly asks.
"You're quite talented for someone so young. Would you like to be my disciple?" (Sect Leader)
Asorus looks stunned. Before I can respond, ten more people rush down the hall toward us.
"SEEEECCCCTTT LEEEAAADERRR, WAAAIITTT!!!!" (???s)
Now I'm stuck in a crowded hallway with thirteen people—including myself. Judging by their robes and presence, these must be the sect's council members... and they all want me as their disciple.
So much for staying low-key.