Navar and Miri stroll through the dimly lit hallway, their footsteps echoing off the walls until they arrive in the orientation room. The room has bright blue ceiling tiles illuminating the room's black walls and high-hanging lights casting a soft glow. There's also a weapons room with many weapons on display through a window and four other people. Among those four people are three draftees and their instructor.
"Take a seat," says an old gray-haired man with a smile. He is wearing a long orange and black robe with the writing "Honor" on it. His hair is a light shade of gray, and his eyes are a warm brown color that sparkles with a gentle glimmer. "Welcome to the second stage of orientation. My name is Higashi, former High Ranking Warrior of Ozania, and I will be your instructor today. During the first orientation, you were told about the three branches of Ozania and a summary about how they function as one coherent empire."
"While Ozania's Republic and Academy were both critical to its success, Supernaturals were the key to how we could grow as an empire. Having one Supernatural can equate to having one thousand soldiers during a war or battle. That made an enormous difference in the conflicts we faced over the centuries. That is also one of the big reasons it's such an arms race to gather Supernaturals among empires. In fact, one in every trillion creatures is a Supernatural, so the fact five of you are here is amazing."
"One in every trillion. That's insane," Miri thinks to herself.
Higashi slowly withdraws a mace from the folds of his robe. "Now, this separates us from the rest. Watch closely," Higashi swings his mace, and a searing heat ripples off it.
Navar becomes speechless as he watches Higashi's incredible performance, his mouth agape in amazement. "Wow, that looks so cool..."
"That was a visible demonstration of JōKai, the power within Supernaturals. The power you saw was Flame JōKai, one of the nine types of Elemental JōKai. The 9 Elemental types are Flame, Wind, Spark, Water, Lava, and Terrain, which can be divided into Soft Terrain and Hard Terrain, Sound, and Ice. Of course, there are many more JōKai variants out there, but I'm only supposed to teach you the basic types since those are the most common."
"With JōKai and its variety of powers, there are also many ways you can use it. The number of styles warriors or Supernaturals use to fight with their given JōKai are called JōKai classes."
"Warriors who prefer martial arts and brawling styles are classified as Melee Class."
"Warriors who use their JōKai on swords, maces, staffs, and many more close-range objects are classified as Striker Class."
"Warriors who wield special grade JōKai blasters, cannons, snipers, rifles, and bows are classified as Gunner Class."
"Warriors who prefer to blast out the JōKai from within themselves towards their opponent are classified as Summoner Class."
"Warriors who use their JōKai to manipulate the surrounding environment are classified as Manipulator Class."
"Now that the lecture portion of this orientation is done, who here knows their JōKai or wants to know it and show the class?"
"I'll go," says a deep, youthful voice. The volunteer is a muscular young male standing at a stifling 297 centimeters tall. He wears a deep brown metal chest plate, wrist gauntlets, oval shoulder pads, and armor-style shorts. He also wears black metal boots and a black metal headband, holding up his medium height with faded curly hair. Last, there is a scar on his left eye. His size and natural muscularity classify him as a Golem: Advanced Human Archetype.
"Hello, young Golem. Thank you for being a volunteer. Can you turn to the class and tell them your name?"
"Juyon Shiraishi."
"Ok, Juyon, may you give the other rookies a demonstration of your JōKai on that test dummy?"
Juyon turns his fist into a hard brown rock, then punches the limbless white dummy off its pole.
Higashi claps in appreciation for Juyon's efforts. "Good job Juyon! Everyone, you just saw a melee class fighter who uses Hard Terrain JōKai! Thank you, Juyon; you may go back to your seat!"
"Ok, who's next?"
"Now it's time to figure out my JōKai," Navar thinks to himself. Navar springs to his feet, the chair creaking beneath him. "I'll go!"
"Goodness, what enthusiasm! What's your name, young one?"
"Navar Okayasu."
"Okay, Navar, give the class a demonstration of your JōKai."
"Okay!" Navar grunts as he tries a summoner technique on a limbless white dummy. Despite his best efforts, nothing happens, so his agitation starts to mount. "Aw man, why ain't anything coming out?!"
"Do you know what your JōKai is?"
"Ummm…"
Higashi falls into hysterics, staring at Navar's quizzical expression. "If you didn't know your JōKai, why didn't you say so?"
"I don't know. I thought it would be easy."
Higashi withdraws a white cube from his pocket, the black lines in its crevices creating a three-dimensional pattern. "Here, try to see what your JōKai is. If you do so, your JōKai will appear on the black lines."
"Um, what do I do?"
Higashi takes the white cube and presses his hands against it. "Focus on the cube, then…." A burst of fire appears throughout the black lines. "Your JōKai will appear. Now concentrate harder and see if that works out for you."
Navar takes the cube, and he concentrates on summoning his JōKai. After a few minutes of trying to summon his JōKai, Navar feels the burn in his muscles from the effort and pants in exhaustion. "I can't get anything out."
Higashi soothes Navar's back. "Don't feel bad. You just haven't awakened your JōKai yet."
"When will my JōKai awaken?"
"I can't tell you since it varies from Supernatural to Supernatural. However, it will awaken if you keep getting stronger and fighting."
"Oh, I see," Navar trudges back to his seat, his head hung low and a defeated groan escaping his lips.
"Aw, man, that must be bad for him. He practically embarrassed himself in front of the entire class," Miri thinks to herself.
"Na-"
"Don't you worry, Miri! You and I will train twice as hard and awaken our JōKai in no time!" says Navar.
"Yeah, Navar, that's the spirit."
"Who wants to go next?" asks Higashi.
Miri raises her hand, but a voice from the crowd catches Higashi's attention first. "I'll go!" says a hotshot-toned voice.
"Dammit," says Miri.
The volunteer is an Advanced Creature: Advanced Human male who stands 165 centimeters tall. His face is pale, and he has short, spiky hair that glows a brilliant red. His eyebrows are waxed and thick, and his ruby-colored eyes sparkle in the light. He has a snug red open jacket decorated with dazzling embellishments and a black tank top underneath it. He also has long black pants, ruby-red boots, and a red bow with a white string on his back.
Miri shoots the volunteer a look of anger as she tightly crosses her arms. "What a jerk."
"Okay, will you tell everyone here your name?"
"Seiju Hikami."
Higashi notices the red bow resting on Seiju's back. "That's good that you already know your preferred weapon of choice. Impressive."
"Thanks, old man. I like to practice," He removes his bow from his back and enters the room. Seiju forms an arrow-shaped fire between the bow and the white JōKai elemental resistant string; then, he shoots the arrow toward the dummy and lands a direct shot on its torso.
"Great shot, Seiju! Class Seiju is a Flame JōKai user, and he's within the Gunner Class: Archer Subtype."
"I appreciate it a lot, old man. Thanks," Seiju's eyes linger on Miri as he walks to his seat, taken aback by her appearance. "Dang, bro! She's pretty hot," Thought Seiju. He coyly glances at her and then winks, giving her a knowing smile. "She's surely going to see a lot more of me around," Seiju thinks to himself.
Miri averts her gaze from Seiju and wrinkles her nose in revulsion. "What a creep," she thought. Miri raises her hand to gather Higashi's attention. "I'll go ahead," says Miri.
"Ok, young lady, thanks for volunteering. May you tell the class your name?"
"Miri Okayasu."
"Oh, so you and Navar are siblings. How impressive. Why don't you show the class your JōKai?"
"I don't know what it is. Can I use that cube to see what it is?"
"Sure," Higashi gives Miri the cube.
Miri places her hands on the cube and closes her eyes, focusing intensely on the surface beneath her fingertips. "Let's see if I can figure out my JōKai."
With a sigh of surrender, Miri passes the cube to Higashi, unable to channel the JōKai. "Looks like I can't use JōKai either."
"Don't take it too hard. Some people awaken later than others."
"Yeah, I know. My brother and I will train harder then. Hopefully, that'll speed up how fast we can use it."
"That's good thinking there! Now, will the last Supernatural come up?"
An athletic, bright yellow-skinned girl standing around 167 centimeters tall, with long golden hair in a ponytail, blue star-shaped eyes, and black pupils, makes her way to the front. Her clothing comprises long white silky pants, short gold boots, and a black iron half top with a red star in the middle. Her bright-colored skin and star-shaped eyes classify her race as an Advanced Creature: Hizarian Archetype, also known as "Star Wielders."
"What's your name?" asks Higashi.
"Astran Starforger."
"Starforger… so you can use one of the unique Star JōKai powers. Why don't you give the class a live example?"
Astran pulls out a Long, Thick Sword with a white handle, shimmering with gold-colored stars, from her back.
Astran grasps her blade tightly, trying to channel her JōKai into the weapon. Unfortunately, she recollects traumatic events in her psyche, preventing her from using them. "Damn, I can't do it," she thought. Astran sheathes her blade. "Sorry, I can't do it."
"Give it some time, Astran. You aren't the only one who can't use JōKai among your peers."
After Astran is seated, Higashi glances at a piece of paper. "Now that you all have shown where you stand with your JōKai abilities and listened in on my lecture about JōKai, this completes your second orientation stage. Once you exit this room, go straight and take a left at the end of the hallway. You'll begin your final stage of orientation with Lord Rai himself."
Navar and Miri's bodies prick with excitement upon hearing the name of Rai. "Wow! The Emperor himself, I would have never thought we'd meet him!" said Navar.
"Yeah, hopefully, Jax is in the room. I know he'll be just as excited as you and I."
After everyone leaves the room, a voice from the darkness sounds. "This year's class shows immense potential; all of them do. We've never had five Supernaturals in a class ever."
"Yes indeed, and this year's class is way ahead of the curve than other entries from past generations. I can sense it within them. They sure do interest me a lot."
"Good. I will begin preparing for the entry exam. I need you to give me their profiles."
"Very well, Captain," Higashi walks towards the darkness and hands him a manilla folder.
After their conversation finishes, the mysterious man basked in the darkness vanishes.