"Come on Kane, the testing will start soon." His mother called from downstairs.
"I'm coming mom!" Even from upstairs, Kane's voice could be heard brimming with excitement and before long wild steps could be heard running down the stairs.
"Slow down Kane, you could hurt yourself!" His mother exclaimed, hearing his rushed footsteps.
A young boy just the age of fifteen reached the end of the stairs with a flushed look.
He could barely contain himself. Today was the fateful day of the test. A placement test that was held for every new student of the academy.
An annual event held every single year since the formation of the dome. It measured the abilities of each student and where they would be best suited in the Heighdal military. The passing rate of this test however? A little less than 10%, but that didn't stop Kane from having high hopes of passing and joining the covided scout core. The mysterious core that explored the ashlands and helped people outside the dome. He dreamed ever since he was little to be a man of the people saving the outsiders from the treacherous monsters of the ashlands. It made him bubble with joy just imagining himself sweeping in saving people as they all cheered his name in unison.
This, in reality, was just a pipe dream as Kane didn't have a Phantasm to speak of. Nevertheless he refused to face reality and continued to push forward.
"Come on Kane lets go." Kane's mother stood by the door preparing herself to leave for the testing grounds that located itself at the edge of the city. They lived on the lower floors of the city so it would take a while to reach the grounds.
"Yep let's go!"
"Wait, Wait Kane."
Kane's mother stopped Kane at the door fixing his tie and straightening his uniform with a gentle smile.
"Much better, look at my little man looking sooo handsome."
Kane's mother said this while pinching Kane's cheek and Kane could do nothing, but let out a small laugh.
"Come on mom, we are going to be late!"
The door loudly creaked, expressing it's old age. Kane took a deep breath, taking in the pungent smell of the lowest floor. Smoke, rotten food, and other strange smells filled Kane's nose. Others might have found this smell repulsive, but Kane enjoyed it. Saying "it was the smell of home" to his mother.
The streets were filled with people , however there was no talking. Only the unison sounds of walking rung across the streets. Kane playfully skipped down the streets drawing an ample amount of looks from the people. Seeing someone as happy as Kane was rare if anything else. Some people decided to share Kane's cheerful smile, but many just deepened their scowl.
As they went farther from their house Kane's mother began to feel rather ill. Kane tried his best to keep pace with his mother, but she found herself lacking farther and farther behind as they continued to walk. Kane's mother wheezed, struggling to breathe as she walked. Sweat stuck to the back of her neck and her knees began to feel hollow and weak. She told Kane that she would be okay to drop him off at the testing grounds, but now she felt unsure. Her head began to spin and she began to lose herself to her surroundings.
CRASH
"What the hell are you doing woman?!!"
Kane turned to see a man yelling at his mother. A cart was seen next to his mother, the fruit it contained scattering in all directions. She had collapsed and stumbled into a fruit cart.
"Do you know how much money you wasted?!" The man continued to yell.
Kane rushed over to help his mother up and apologized profusely to the vendor.
"I'm so sorry! She didn't mean to."
"I don't care if she meant to, ya just ruined me business."
The man spoke with a heavy accent and stood tall above Kane. His shirt cut deep exposing a large scar running across his broad chest. He rolled his shoulders back, greatly intimidating the timid Kane.
"Ya better be paying for this you hear me?" The vendor yelled at Kane and as he did so he jabbed his chest with his finger.
"How much?" Kane asked, wiping some of the vendor's spit off his face.
"One hundred." The vendor claimed.
"A hundred!? No way this is worth that much." The fruit was in poor management, many of the fruit rotted and infested with bugs.
"Are ye telling me that I don't know me own business eh?" The man straightened up and looked down at Kane.
"No… but we don't have the money for that." Kane stepped back avoiding the strong gaze of the vendor. A hundred would be enough for two week worth of food, maybe more if he ate one meal a day.
"Well you better get some money or we're going to have a problem here." The man leaned down and spoke into Kane's ear. His breath stank of smoke and Kane gagged at the concentrated scent when he came close.
"Please sir, can you just forgive us this one time?" Kane begged.
At this point the vendor noticed a silver necklace around Kane's mother's neck. A gift she received from her late husband.
"Hmmm, well I could forgive ya if you would be so kind as to give me that necklace."
Kane didn't even have to turn around to see what the vendor was speaking of, his mother only owned one necklace.
"No, I can't give you that sir. It's important." Kane pleaded with the vendor.
The vendor pulled Kane off the floor and brought him close to his face.
"You're either going to give me that necklace or scrap up a hundred silver to give to me, do you understand?"
"Sir I can't give you either of those-"
The vendor threw Kane to the floor not wanting to hear the rest of what Kane had to say. Kane hit the floor hard, a sharp pain searing throughout his entire side. He might have been able to fight off the vendor before, but now his vision was dim.
The vendor walked over Kane and grabbed onto the necklace his mother wore. His mother, still feeling nauseous, could do nothing, but lightly grip onto the necklace that the vendor was attempting to rip off.
"No!..." Kane yelled
Thud
A man's piercing scream could be heard from coming beside Kane . The vendor's arm that gripped onto the necklace had been cut off. The vendor thrashed around the street doing his best efforts to stop the bleeding that spilt all over the pavement.
"Are you ok?" Xanis asked, kneeling in front of him.
"My mother…" Kane had hit his head against the concrete floor and he struggled to make sense of what exactly was happening. So he just uttered the first thing that came to mind when Xanis walked in front of him.
Xanis nodded and walked his way over to his mother who sat unresponsive to the chaos around her.
Kane's mother looked lost and afraid clutching onto her necklace with what little strength she had. The boy pulled a small vial out of his bag, it a bright blue liquid. He gently brought it up to the woman's face and poured it into her mouth. He was patient waiting to make sure she had drunk all of it.
"Please give me some too!" The vendor greedily yelled to Xanis.
The vendor still layed on the floor clutching onto his stump in pain. Xanis smiled and walked over to the vendor. He pulled out yet another vile and raised it above the man. The vendor looked up in optimism only for it to be shattered along with the vial. Reaching up for the vile with his remaining arm the boy dropped it as he came close.
The blue liquid poured itself across the street as the boy watched the man, smirking.
"Lick it." The boy said in a commanding tone.
Pain overridden this man's sense of dignity and he began to lick the blue liquid off the street.
"Look at you, you're disgusting." The boy whispered.
He wanted to step on the man and crush his skull beneath his feet, but it would be in poor taste with all the witnesses surrounding him. Looking at him groveling on the street, licking the liquid off the floor like a dog brought him enough pleasure anyways.
The boy helped Kane up, giving him a vial containing a red liquid. Kane's pain dissipated. He stood up opening and closing his hands and feeling around his body. He not only felt fine, he felt incredible.
"What did you give me?" Kane asked the Xanis.
"A potion of healing from the alchemy store in the shopping district."
Kane nodded to fake understanding, he knew that if it was from the higher districts that he wouldn't know what it was.
His attention was now towards his mother who laid motionless on the street floor.
"Mom!"
Kane rushed to her side resting his head on her chest to make sure she was alive.
"Don't worry I gave her something similar, she should be stable within a couple of hours." Xanis reassured me.
"Are you sure?" Kane asked.
"Positive." Xanis responded
Xanis outstretched his hand helping Kane to his feet. Kane felt uneasy about his mom's condition, but he trusted the boy. Why else would he help them other than for good intentions? Through this whole exchange people around them continued with their day, caring little for the vendor crawling around in pain. They had all seen this before more or less. The government cared little for the lower districts of the dome. Leaving them to fend for themselves. It was a place anyone would want to avoid if possible. So it begged the question of why this boy was here, if he was wealthy enough to buy these potions Kane was sure he would live in the higher district.
"What are you doing down here…uhm...sir?" Kane said awkwardly.
"Call me Xanis, please." Xanis asked with a warm smile.
Kane returned the smile, however he failed to stay investing in small talk with his mother lying unconscious behind him.
"Don't worry about your mother, I can take her to the hospital." Xanis offered
"Sorry, but we don't have the money-"
"No please, I don't mind sparing a little money for a classmate." Xanis cutoff
Kane looked at what Xanis was wearing for the first time, it was the green collared uniform of the Heighdal Military Academy. The very same uniform he was wearing.
"Oh you're going to the Academy test too?"
"Yes I am. So please let my maid take your mother to the hospital. I would hate for you to miss the test."
Xanis looked over to his maid who nodded. She walked over to Kane's mom and picked her up. Kane opened his mouth to protest, but he held his tongue. He had never allowed anyone else to take care of his mother before, but if they were sending her to a hospital maybe her illness could finally get treated.
"How can I ever repay you?"
"I don't need anything in return, it would hurt my pride if I took anything anyways." Xanis answered.
Kane walked as the strong armed maid put his mother in the backseat of the car. He felt anxious seeing someone else handle his mother.
"Please do not worry about her, she will be fine."
"Yes of course." Kane replied.
Kane forced his eyes off the car as the maid drove off and now looked at Xanis standing before him.
"Oh crap, my name is Kane Cadman, thank you for saving us Sir Xanis."
Kane outstretched his hand as he introduced himself, bowing his head before the boy who so generously saved them.
"Please save the formalities. Xanis is just fine and the pleasure is all mine." Xanis said, amused by Kane's uptight introduction.
Instead of receiving Kane's outstretched hand he outstretched his own in a closed fist. Kane happily fist bumped Xanis with a look of delight. Kane had not expected this from someone from the higher districts. He was normal?
Xanis turned his back on Kane and motioned him to follow.
"Come on, the test starts in an hour, let's not be late."
Kane rushed up to Xanis and walked beside him.
"Soooooo, what made you want to join the Academy?" Kane asked, trying to spark conversation.
"Hmmm, I would have to say my father inspired me to join." Xanis replied.
"Was he a soldier too?"
"Somewhat… How about you, why did you join the Academy?"
"I want to join the scout core and save the people outside the dome!" Kane said this with pride, he had dreamed ever since he was little to become a hero. A dream that every kid would dream of at one point, but would die down as they aged. However Kane was different, his hunger and determination to become a "hero" only grew as he aged. It was why he would join the scouts, the core that specialized in going into the farlands. The mysterious lands that appeared on their countries borders hundreds of years ago. Out of these lands would come forth the Ashborn, monstrous black creatures that ravaged village after village and stories of the scouts slaying these beasts would always circle the city. It were these very stories that drove Kane to want to join the scouts and no story was greater than the tale of the Evergreen.
"That's quite the ambition, but it's always nice to have high goals." Xanis encouraged.
"Yep, I still have a long way to go. It's going to be tough… especially without a Phantasm." Kane answered in a somber tone. A Phantasm was engraved into the identity of their soul and to be born without one was incredibly rare. Almost all people have a Phantasm, however weak it may be.
"I see, to be born without a Phantasm is quite the tragedy." Xanis apologetically remarked.
"Yea...it's unfortunate I know." Kane dropped his head, talking about the fact that he was a cripple was a sore spot of discussion. Xanis noticed this and decided to give Kane some words of encouragement.
"However, don't let that discourage you from your goal… I don't have a Phantasm as well, but I don't think I'm any weaker than any other student."
Kane shot his head up at these words. Was what he heard correct?
"You… Don't have a Phantasm?" Kane asked.
"I'm as cripple as I can be." Xanis bluntly announced.
"That's awesome man, you're so strong even though you don't have a Phantasm. How did you do it? Strength training? Martial arts?" Kane pressed.
Xanis stepped back overwhelmed by Kane's sudden interrogation.
"I just learned from experience."
"Experience?" Kane tilted his head in confusion. He thought all the richer people would get private tutors to help with their growth.
"Yes, I used to be quite the ruffian when I was young. Picking fights with anyone I could lay my eyes on." Xanis affirmed.
"YOU did? You don't seem like that kind of guy." Kane jokes.
"Haha, I'll take that as a compliment... Here we are."
Kane and Xanis both look up to the testing grounds, it was a giant metallic box connected to the edge of the dome. The back of the building disappeared into nothingness, the result of the illusion the dome created. Everything inside the Dome, the temperature, the sky, the seemingly endless green hills was all just a fantasy created by the administrator. It was just as the name provided, a dome. And where they stood was where it all ended.
"So this is it?" Kane asked in awe.
"Yep, this is the testing grounds." Confirmed Xanis.
Xanis walked up to the featureless metallic wall and pushed his hand straight through the wall. It molded around his hand as he pushed his arm deeper into the wall. It didn't feel wet, but it felt cold and quite strange. It could be closely compared to pushing around a bag of water. Xanis looks back at Kane before pushing his entire body in and being met with the other side.
The lobby was filled with children all around Xanis and Kane's age. They chattered loudly as they waited for the headmaster to finally come out and announce the first test.
Hundreds of kids lounged on chairs, couches, and on the floor. Some held weapons in their hands while others drank tea beside their maids and butlers.
Joining the military was considered the most honorable job of the Heighdal Empire. The rich and poor alike would all test their skills to get into the Academy, here it didn't matter where you came from. All that mattered was if you could best your opponent in battle. But of course the rich didn't like being treated equal to the people they considered peasants and many of them could be seen picking fights with other kids.
"Woah." Kane utter from behind him.
"It is quite the site isn't it, Kane?" Xanis asked.
"Yea." Kane jarred in amazement to the grand room he was in.
Kane and Xanis walked together to situate themself in one of the open spaces in the lobby. Despite the hundreds of people inside there was still enough room to fit hundreds more. The walls went as far back as the eyes could see and marble pillars stood as the only decoration in the large lobby.
The duo found themselves resting on the back wall right of the entrance. Xanis watched participants walk in ever so often as Kane lost himself looking at the art on the ceiling.
"Students please quiet down."
A man's voice was loudly projected across the room as the students quickly went silent.
A decorated man walked into the lobby looking at groups of students with disapproving looks. His hair was slicked back and his beard was sharply cut. Both were white showing off his pure Balanos blood. His well built shoulders were emphasized by his perfect posture as he imperialistically marched down a path made by the students. As he made his way closer to the center of the lobby, students stood in anticipation.
"Disappointing." The Headmaster stated
Hearing this many of the students dipped their heads in sadness. To gain disapproval from the headmaster this early on was not a good sign of the things to come.
"Good morning students."
"Good morning headmaster!" The entire lobby responded.
The headmaster nodded in approval.
"This year, due to the number of students participating in the testing, we will be adding some new tests. Instead of a tournament the first test will be a retrieval mission. You are tasked to bring back the crystal heart of the Ashborn."
Mummering began to fill the lobby.
"An Ashborn?, is he insane?"
"Is he telling us to go kill ourselves?"
"No way I can't do that!"
"SILENCE!" The headmaster bellowed.
The student went quiet.
"You can leave right now if you find this task to be too difficult, but wait till after I finish explaining... "
The headmaster looked around the lobby to see if anyone dared to question his authority, and as could be expected no one did.
"As I was saying" The headmaster continued. "Your task will be to bring back the heart of an Ashborn. Depending on the purity of the crystal you will get points. These points will be used in the next test so do try your best. And also bringing in a purple heart will earn you an immediate spot in the highest class."
As the headmaster finished a student raised their hands.
"What is your question young lad?"
"What are the rules sir?"
The headmaster chuckled. His face wrinkled as his mouth curled up into a smile.
"There are no rules... You have five days worth of time. Good luck."
With those final words the headmaster disappeared with a flash of light. Some students decided to leave immediately while others headed outside the dome. Most, however, stayed where they were unsure of what action to take.
"Come on Xanis! Let's get that purple heart!" Kane said with great enthusiasm.
"Wait Kane."
Xanis pulled back on Kane's collar, stopping him from running off.
"What is it, Xanis?"
"It would be best if we were to delay our departure." Xanis replied.
Kane looked at Xanis and tilted his head, confused.
"The headmaster said we have an entire week to get a heart. There is no need to rush."
Kane nodded in understanding, but he was still restless and wanted to leave immediately.
"But won't all the weak Ashborn be gone by the time we get there?" Kane questioned.
"Ashborn clutter the farlands in large numbers, I doubt they will go extinct anytime soon."
"I guess." Kane pouted.
"Also Ashborn aren't the only things we have to worry about on our trip, leaving late will allow us to travel without any disturbances."
"Ohhhhhh." Hearing this Kane began to understand Xanis's motives. The path to the farlands harbored many beasts and wild animals that could possibly pose a threat to even the most seasoned traveler. Even so, if animals aren't hungry, there is no reason for them to hunt.
"Come on, we'll leave tomorrow morning, you can stay at my house." Ushed Xanis as he made his way back to the entrance.
"Nonono I can't-"
"If this is about your mother she is in a hospital. She will be discharged in a few days so I insist."
Xanis was right, he had wanted to go home and see his mother, but if she wasn't there… staying a night in a lavish household wouldn't seem so bad.
"I guess if you insist."
"Yes, so come. You look malnourished. I will have the maid prepare something for us." Xanis cheerfully stated.
"Thanks man." Thanked Kane.
"Of course." respond Xanis.