A gray-haired man stood above the huge crowd. The moment everyone noticed him, They went silent immediately.
"Welcome to the Zenkai Selection Trials," the man announced. "I am Sensei Laen Neves, and I'll be selecting those talented enough to join Zenkai dojo. Alongside me is Sensei Amari."
A calm-looking man appeared at his side, hands clasped behind his back.
"I am Sensei Amari Unil of Zenkai Dojo," he said smoothly. "If your name is called, step up to the Monolith and place your hand on it. The crystal will take care of the rest."
At his words, the participants quickly formed a line, each person stepping forward in turn to touch the glowing Essence Monolith, waiting nervously as it measured their power and stability levels.
Off to the side, Itsuki turned to Shion, squinting. Something about him looked way too familiar.
"Hey... Shion," Itsuki said slowly, "isn't that my training outfit you're wearing?"
Shion blinked. "What training outfit?"
"You know, the one I wear every single day? My special training outfit?"
Shion looked away, face tightening with mock innocence. "Never heard of it."
Itsuki crossed his arms. "Uh-huh. So the inscribed 'ITSUKI' on the sleeve is just a coincidence? HUH???"
Shion coughed into his hand. "Must be another Itsuki. Common name, really."
Meanwhile in the front of the line, the testing had already begun.
A young man around their age stepped forward, Beaming with so much confidence. As soon as he placed his hand on the Monolith, it flickered faintly...no brighter than the dance of a candle flame.
"Tier 1, Low Power and Low Stability," Amari announced.
The boy shuffled back into the crowd with his head hanging low.
Kairo watched him go and muttered, "Low power and low stability… rough luck."
Shion who was behind kairo in line closed his eyes briefly and sighed. "He probably didn't train enough."
"Yeah...Maybe he didn't," Kairo said quietly.
One after another, more candidates approached. Each touch brought a different reaction. Some made the crystal glow steadily, But one girl's touch made the Monolith pulse rhythmically...like a living heart made of light.
In Vilaris, everyone was born with a birthright—an ability that is tied to their soul and is fueled by 'essence'. The tier system was brought in around 899 AWC by the trueborns to establish every Virelian's grade of power.
Awakened (tier 1), Kindled (tier 2), Resonant (tier 3), Ascended (tier 4), Transcendent (tier 5), Eclipsed (tier 6)
Most Virelians don't ever get past tier 3 as it takes years of hard work and determination just to reach it.
Everyone in the trials was mostly Tier 1...Freshly awakened
"Kairo Huisiji!"
Itsuki watched his friend step forward. Kairo walked up calmly and placed his hand on the crystal.
The light came on steady. No flicker. No weird surges. Just clean, stable light that lasted three seconds before fading.
"Tier 1, High Stability. Good control," Amari announced.
Kairo walked back and stood beside Itsuki.
"Not bad," Itsuki said.
Kairo glanced at him. "You're up soon."
"Yeah, I know."
Another name. Another test. Each candidate has to write something about the promise.
"Takumi Leo!"
Takumi nearly leapt for the Monolith. When his palm touched the crystal, it exploded. The blinding light flooded the courtyard, so bright that some of the onlookers had to shade their eyes. But the light did not remain constant-long enough for anyone to gaze at it as it danced and coursed around the courtyard. Tiny sparks jumped from the crystal right into Takumi's hand.
"Tier 1, High Power, Moderate Stability!"
Takumi ran back, grinning huge. "Did you see that? You guys saw right? RIGHT?????"
"We saw," Kairo said flatly, crossing his arms. "Very flashy."
"Hey, at least it shined," Takumi shot back, glaring at Shion.
Shion didn't even blink. "Oh yeah. Super bright. Almost blinded me." When he didn't even see it.
They observed more contestants. A girl with a contact that made the crystal pulse with unsteady rhythm and a boy who could steady the glow between the third cycle.
Another girl stood with such a stable, intense glow even Amari was impressed.
"Sayaka Veyra, Tier 1, Excellent Power and Control."
The crowd had to clap for her as she was the highest yet.
"Itsuki Naoya!"
Hearing his name, itsuki mind flew away from his body.
He approached the monolith. It loomed over him, warm and smooth to the touch. He could sense something within it...Then he touched his hand to the crystal...
Nothing happened at first...
Silence wound down. Itsuki got sweat on his palm where it rested upon the cool metal. Had he acted in error? Was his power not strong enough to...
Then the Monolith started to glow...
Not with constant illumination. The light oscillated and then moved through colors that didn't exist at the same time. Blue went green went purple went to another color. It throbbed in a manner that was illogical, shifting patterns that were off-beat.
The silence grew. Amari stared at the crystal, then the device in his hand, then back at the crystal again. His face was perfectly expressionless.
"Tier 1," he said deliberately. "High Power, High Stability, but..."
He stopped. Every participant in the district stretched their heads to listen.
"Unusual pattern of resonance. Very unusual."
Rolling whispers swept through the crowd. Itsuki snatched bits and pieces. "Never seen that before." "What did that?" "Is the crystal shattered?"
Itsuki pulled back his hand. The crystal dimmed.
"Interesting," murmured Sensei Laen. "Very interesting indeed."
Itsuki retreated on trembling legs to his friends.
"What was that about?" asked Takumi, wide-eyed.
"I don't know."
The crystal had been strange. As though it was trying to understand something about him and couldn't. As though it couldn't quite figure out what he was.
The additional candidates were filtered out. Finally, they called Shion's name.
Itsuki watched his friend approach the Monolith with definite reluctance. The tremor came into Shion's hand as he placed it onto the crystal.
The light was weak. It was barely more than a flicker. It throbbed with uncertainty. Hardly perceptible to be noticed at all.
"Tier 1, Low-Moderate Power, Moderate Stability."
Amari's voice was quieter this time.
Shion walked back normally, acting like nothing happened. But when he reached the group, Takumi, Itsuki, and Kairo were all staring at him with the straightest faces possible.
Complete silence.
"...What?" Shion said.
They just kept staring.
"Stop looking at me like that."
More staring.
"I hate all of you."
Sensei Laen's voice cut through the tension. "Testing is done! Combat demonstrations will proceed."
"Show the product of your training by defeating your opponent."
The mood in the crowd immediately shifted. A ring had been set up right in front of the Monolith.
"First match. Takumi vs. Inara!"