As Ahiro left the tech synthesis class that day, his mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and revelations. The information Professor Thorne had shared was both enlightening and daunting. He had never truly appreciated the protective dome they lived under or the unique challenges and opportunities it presented.
He had a lot on his mind so he decided to retire back to his dorm room. Reaching his room he lay down on his bed. Thinking about today's events.
For the first time, Ahiro understood the true significance of the protective dome they lived in. It was more than just a physical barrier; it represented the boundary between a world of relative safety and one fraught with uncertainty.
Gratitude filled his thoughts as he considered the people who had paved the way for him to be here. Miss Remi, the enigmatic woman who had believed in him and even gave him a recommendation to attend this academy. ATR personnel who had selected his course had placed their trust in him to be an explorer.
Ahiro couldn't help but look forward to the day when he would be strong enough to venture outside the dome. He knew that this journey would be challenging, filled with trials and tribulations. But with each passing day, he felt more determined to be stronger and to be able to live up to the hopes of the ones who had paved his path.
Waking up early the next morning, he noticed that he hadn't even realized when he had fallen asleep.
As he got dressed for physical training, he opened his screen on the way to the ground to check his current status. His gym attire monitored his vital signs, physical performance, and various other metrics. Every day, these stats would be displayed on his screen, and witnessing the visible progress fueled his motivation.
After gruelling training Ahiro joined his friends, Melvin and Emilly, at the cafeteria. They chatted about their day ahead and exchanged thier thoughts. Ahiro shared a brief about his classes at tech-synthesia and so did Melvin about his classes in awakened theory and how he was excited to finally able to have a real meal in his culinary class this afternoon.
After the meal, they made their way to the designated room where their AGS scores would be assessed. The academy had a vast testing facility, and the hall was filled with multiple rooms, each equipped for individual evaluations.
With a supportive pat on the back, Melvin wished Ahiro good luck and headed to his assigned room. Ahiro, too, entered his designated chamber. It was a stark, white room, much like the ones at ATR where he had undergone his initial assessments.
A single spotlight hung from the ceiling, illuminating the center of the room where Ahiro stood. He felt a mixture of anticipation and determination.
As he waited for further instructions, Ahiro couldn't help but reflect on how far he had come since his arrival at Valarious Academy.
After some time Miss Gia's hologram appeared in front of Ahiro.
It instructed Ahiro " Candidate 00157 please begin with the assessment, we would like to see your manifestation of ability first" the hologram stated, as if a recorded message was playing.
This was a familiar process for him, something he had been practicing diligently ever since he awakened. With a focused mind and a clear intent, he started the manifestation process.
A soft, almost ethereal glow enveloped him as his ability came to life. He started showing his most stable form Two-handed shield, extending both hands forward a shield materialized in front of him. The shield radiated a soft golden hue. Next, he switched to the use of a one-handed Barrier, it was still a work in progress but currently, it was much more stable due to his diligent practices.
Miss Gia watched closely, her holographic image capturing every nuance of Ahiro's manifestation. Ahiro held the shield steady for a few moments, demonstrating control and stability.
"Excellent, Ahiro," Miss Gia commended. "Your manifestation stage 1 is stable, But stage 2 still requires some practice. Now, let's move on to the next step of your AGS assessment."
Ahiro nodded, feeling a sense of accomplishment. The first part had gone smoothly, and he was eager to continue with the assessment.
"Next is a test of your Amplification do you have any idea about that" Miss Gias hologram said.
"Sorry mam but since I am a very recent awakened I do not know much about other things than Manifestation" Ahiro admitted
"Hmm in that case taking into account your ability I would suggest that you think of expanding the shield as if you are attempting to cover yourself." Miss Gia hologram said, this time in a much more human way.
Miss Gia observed Ahiro's attempt to expand his shield, but it remained a similar size to his previous manifestation. She noticed his struggle with amplification, and as it became evident that he couldn't achieve the desired expansion, she decided to move on.
"Alright, Ahiro, let's try something else," she suggested. "Shrink your shield as much as you can. Imagine using the least amount of energy possible."
Ahiro took a moment to consider her advice. With focused intent, he tried imagining expending the least energy, and he manifested the shield once more. However, this time it appeared shorter in height.
Maintaining its stability proved challenging. The shield wavered and began to disperse prematurely. Ahiro gritted his teeth in frustration as he failed to maintain it, causing the shield to disappear.
Miss Gia's holographic image gave Ahiro encouraging feedback. "Good effort, Ahiro. Keep practicing, and you'll improve over time."
"I have taken into account the control you have demonstrated so far, and I can say that you are still lacking. However, considering that your awakening has not been more than five weeks, you have made significant progress, and for that, I congratulate you," Miss Gia's hologram said.
"Until now, your score is low and is as follows: Manifestation Stage 2, Amplification 0, Attenuation Stage 0.5, Control Stage 1, Adaptation Stage 0," Miss Gia's hologram said.
"The reason for the low score in the Amplification stage is evident, and as for Adaptation, there is little to adapt in such a non-versatile skill. But fret not, we will work on it. For now, we will focus on Attenuation and increasing your control." Miss Gia reported.
"But first, let's move on to the next and final stage: Mental Fortitude."