Elian was guided into a room within one of the buildings, where he laid his eyes on an elderly man clad in what resembled a gown or robe. The old man sported white hair, a weathered face, a beard, and a monocle. He was deeply engrossed in inscribing something on the table, seemingly oblivious to their entrance.
The officer and Elian stood quietly near the doorway until the old man spoke, his attention finally shifting. "What are you waiting for? Have a seat." They settled on the sofas surrounding a central table.
After some time, the old man turned towards them, having completed his inscriptions. "What brings you here, Sir Arthur?"
The officer who had accompanied Elian responded, "I've brought this young man to register for an ID."
The old man sighed, replying, "How long do you plan to persist like this? The authorities are already struggling to cover up your mess."
"Uncle, please don't attempt to dissuade me. You know perfectly well why I'm doing this," the officer retorted.
The old man let out another sigh. "As you wish." Then he shifted his gaze to Elian. "I presume this is your first visit here, young man?"
"Yes, sir, it's my first time here." Elian affirmed.
The old man nodded and posed his question carefully, "Hmm, I don't mean to be impolite, but you don't strike me as someone with considerable wealth. Can I assume you're here for the assessment?"
"Assessment?" Elian inquired with a puzzled expression.
Seeing Elian's confusion, the officer clarified, "The assessment involves evaluating your knowledge, affinity, and talent. Passing it grants you eligibility for the initiation rites, which, upon completion, qualifies you to become a summoner."
Elian began to fidget, his anxiety surfacing. "Is the assessment free?" He aspired to become one of these summoners he glimpsed in his memories. However, he worried that gaining access to the assessment might come at a hefty cost.
The old man chuckled, "In the event that you pass the assessment, the association will cover the cost. However, if you happen to fail, you'll be responsible for the expenses. If you can't afford it, you'll need to labor within the association until you've repaid the debt. You see, our resources are finite, and we must utilize them appropriately."
"Can you tell me what the assessment's about? When can I take it? Should I prepare or bring a weapon for it?" Elian asked eagerly.
The old man laughed heartily. "You're pretty excited, young man. But, let's start by getting you an ID."
His tone grew serious as he asked, "Do you have an existing ID? Remember, everything you say now must be true, or you could face fraud charges."
Elian hesitated, uncertain of whether this body had a prior registration. In the end, he chose to be truthful, driven by his genuine desire to become a summoner. "Well, I woke up in the forest, and I don't remember anything. I don't know if I have an ID or where I'm from. I only know my name and some basic stuff."
"Is that so? How did you end up here then?" Arthur inquired.
"I found a river and followed it downstream. Along the way, I met a group of adventurers, led by a man named Richard. He told me how to reach the village," Elian explained.
The old man laughed, "A river, you say? I must say, young man, that's a rather ballsy move. You could've run into a riverclaw and never made it here."
Elian simply scratched his cheek, choosing not to elaborate further, as he had indeed been chased by a riverclaw.
Then the old man rose from his seat and retrieved an object from one of the cabinets. It appeared to be a stone tablet, about the length of an arm, covered in numerous inscriptions of unknown text.
"In that case, we'll proceed like this. This stone connects to various tablets from different villages and cities. Inside, you'll find records of countless registered individuals. You could think of it as an index of all the residents," the old man explained.
"Beyond simply recording personal information, this stone tablet can also identify the individual holding it," the old man continued. He demonstrated by projecting a beam of light from the table, displaying the following:
. . .
Name: Lucas Sterling
Age: 86
Rank: Terra Sculptor
Attunement: [█ █ █ █ █]
Refinement Talent: C
Location: Verdant Village
. . .
"Once you've acquired mastery over Aetheric Essence control, you'll be able to shield any information from being revealed. Despite its rugged exterior, this stone tablet represents one of the most advanced pieces of technology developed. It assists in tracking criminals and individuals with talents," the old man explained.
"Now, let's begin. Place your hands on the tablet. If there's a response, it means you have a registered identity from somewhere. If not, we can proceed with the registration," the old man instructed.
Elian stood and approached the tablet, hovering his hands above it...
. . .
After a moment, to his relief, there was no response from the tablet.
Unbeknownst to them, inside the stone tablet, there were numerous faint lights flickering, almost as if they were attempting to make the world aware of their presence.
. . .
"Excellent, then let's proceed with your registration," Lucas, the old man, declared as he returned the tablet to the cabinet.
He then approached his table and reached into one of its drawers, retrieving a metallic-looking card with no inscriptions or markings. It was a plain metal card with nothing on it.
"Since this is your first registration, there won't be any fees. However, if you ever lose this card, you'll need to pay for a replacement. I'll help you inscribe the card with your details."
"Now, young man, please state your name," Lucas beckoned.
"My name... My name is Elian... Elian..."
. . .
"Elian, ELIAN!!!" Arthur shouted, his voice filled with urgency.
"It's your turn. What are you spacing out for?" Arthur asked, clearly impatient.
Coming to his senses, Elian entered the room, leaving Arthur waiting outside, his curiosity piqued regarding how Elian would perform in the assessment.
Inside the room, Elian found a single orb resting atop a pedestal in the center of the pristine white space. The examiner who had accompanied him urged, "Touch the orb. Your talent will be assessed based on the number of light spots within the orb. If there's no spot of light, it means you possess no talent in refinement. One spot indicates an F, the lowest talent; two is an E, three is a D, four is a C, five is a B, and six is an A."
Don't worry too much. In our village, the highest talent achieved in last year's assessment was only a B. Additionally, the probability of having a talent in refinement is 1 in 300 if you lack the blood of a summoner, which increases the odds. So don't be too disheartened if you don't possess talent."
The examiner continued to offer reassurance and guidance, saying, "Even if you have a low talent, it doesn't mean you'll never advance to higher ranks. The probability is lower, and it's undoubtedly more challenging, but it's not impossible. Conversely, if you do possess a talent, you mustn't let it inflate your ego. Only a few of the talented summoners survive and manage to grow into pillars of our village."
As Elian was about to place his hands on the orb, his mind couldn't help but revisit what Lucas told him earlier. "As per the protocol, I still need to explain everything, regardless of whether you're familiar with it or not."
"Humans are distinct from both beasts and elementals. Beasts possess inhuman strength, heightened senses, and agility that enable them to dominate for survival. Elementals, on the other hand, absorb and utilize energy known as [Elemental Essence], hence their name. They grow by absorbing elements and employ them to create phenomena otherwise impossible. Humans, however, possess the capability to control a form of energy called [Aetheric Essence]. This essence is mostly harmless, but its unique ability lies in its conversion into various types of Elemental Essence."
"However, not everyone can freely convert their Aetheric Essence into any Elemental Essence they desire. It requires a specific affinity for that element, which we refer to as [Attunements]. Without an attunement to a particular element, you won't have the capability to transform your Aetheric Essence into that type of Elemental Essence. For instance, if you possess an attunement to fire, you can only convert your Aetheric Essence into fire Elemental Essence. You won't be able to produce earth Elemental Essence or water Elemental Essence, only fire Elemental Essence."
"But the rate of conversion varies from person to person. This is what we refer to as [Refinement Talent], categorized into seven levels from F to S in increasing order. To put it simply, imagine we both have one fruit and attempt to extract juice from it. You might get 1/3 of a cup, while I might obtain over half a cup of juice. This means that I can extract more juice from the same amount of fruit compared to you. In reality, individuals with higher talent can condense Aetheric Essence into Elemental Essence with greater ease and efficiency."
"But why is this significant? Because the condensed Elemental Essence we possess is far more potent than the Elemental Essence found in the environment under ordinary circumstances. However, possessing Elemental Essence is distinct from knowing how to use it. Humans lack the ability to control Elemental Essence, which is why we must make contracts with elementals to access some of their capabilities."
"Summoners are individuals who have formed contracts with elementals. These contracts benefit both humans and elementals. Elementals can absorb your Elemental Essence to grow, while humans can temporarily borrow some of their control and affinity for Elemental Essence while they're unsummoned. However, when the elementals are summoned, the humans will loose that capability. As the elemental and the summoner grow together, they can synergize, perhaps even learn new techniques, and develop bonds beyond explanation."
"In the summoner world, there's a famous saying: 'An elemental isn't just a companion; it's the purest form of trust, a connection that runs deeper than words.' When you and your elemental become one, trust becomes your strongest bond, unspoken yet unbreakable." Lucas shared with a touch of emotion before refocusing.
"But ultimately, all of this only matters if you do possess a talent. I'm rooting for you, young man. I hope you won't let me down. I'll inform the officers handling the assessment in advance that someone is coming." he informed Elian before turning to Arthur.
"Sir Arthur, I'll leave Elian in your care. Please accompany him until he completes his assessment."
"Understood, Sir." Arthur replied crisply, clearly delineating between his professional duty and their personal relationship.
Returning to the present, Elian sensed time itself stretching as his fingers, trembling with a mixture of trepidation and anticipation, brushed against the cool surface of the orb. Uncertainty etched its path across his face, leaving a trail of furrowed brows and questioning eyes. Beads of sweat gathered upon his forehead, glistening like fragile crystals under the weight of an impending decision. And inside, his heart raced, a thundering crescendo echoing in the chamber of his chest, a primal rhythm of connection and choice.
. . .
Author's Note: Hello everyone, I've done my best to explain things clearly, but if you still have any questions, please feel free to ask in the comment section. Thank you!