The boy, Azul, calmly greeted the aristocrats who had come to seek his favor. After some time of formalities and greetings, the middle-aged man among the three stepped forward and said, (Everyone, the young master is still a child and is currently in the learning process. He has not yet had any contact with material immersion. So please refrain from putting pressure on him until the assessment results are out. Now, if you'll excuse us.)
(Yes, you are indeed right, Mayor. We shouldn't put too much pressure on this young kid who has yet to grow up. Everyone, let's retreat back to our seats and wait for the assessment results,) an aristocrat who seemed to be the most experienced among the crowd agreed with the middle-aged man and motioned for the others to retreat as well.
The middle-aged man is none other than the mayor of the thirteenth district and rumored to be a loyal member of a big faction in material immersion belonging to the noble household: Cadzle.
Upon hearing the mayor labeling him as a child, the boy's eyebrows twitched, and an almost imperceptible displeasure glazed his eyes.
Detecting the slight displeasure from Azul, the old man, who had an unperturbed expression until now, shot a murderous glare at the mayor.
Sensing a hostile intent from behind him, the mayor felt a cold chill run down his spine. Turning his head around, he met the sharp gaze of the elderly man. Beads of sweat broke down his face, but soon the elderly man returned to his unperturbed demeanor, causing the mayor to heave a sigh of relief.
With that, the three people got seated on a levitating inscription seat close to the grand podium and waited for the assessment to begin.
After a five-minute interval , the grand podium started glowing, and a swirling pattern of digital lines began circling atop the podium. At last, a beam of light shot from the digital lines and into the ether sky and soon vanished into specks of tiny lights.
Amidst the glimmer of sparkle, a life form resembling a mass of alien materialized atop the grand podium.
"Welcome, guests. Since all who registered for today's primeval analysis have arrived, let's start the process. Please remain patient and send your children to the podium according to the number displayed on your augmented cards,) the alien said in an unrecognizable voice. Subsequently, a crystalline ball, shimmering with rainbow colors, manifested atop the podium.
(So that's the 'Alphis'? But didn't you say the Alphis could only exist in material immersion?) Void suspiciously scrutinized the alien form and questioned his aunt in a demanding tone.
(Like I said, the analysis tower has an original link to material immersion and could be counted as a part of it. Thus, it's only natural for an Alphis to materialize in physical reality through that connection channel. Moreover, the tower has been augmented and can perfectly house a material life form like an Alphis,) Sarah replied in exasperation at Void's demanding to know the answer tone.
(Mom, what's our beacon number displayed on the identification card?) Sora asked curiously.
In correspondence, Sarah conjured a digital runic card in the ether. On it, two numerals were displayed: {V = #77 ~ S = #74}.
(It seems I'll be the 77th child to be called among the hundred or so children in the Hall,) Void muttered in nonchalance.
(Hehe. I got one over you with my 74th numeral,) Sora Delightful giggled.
(When did it become a competition of who's going first?) Void looked at her in astonishment.
Meanwhile, a young human girl, who seemed to have gotten beacon numeral #1, approached the grand podium. The girl had wavy brown hair and scarlet eyes. As she landed on the podium, the alien Alphis addressed her, saying, (Please touch the crystal ball so that it can scan your being and analyze your potential.)
The girl complied and did as the Alphis asked. She tentatively touched the vibrant crystal ball in nervousness. In that instant, the rainbow-colored program seeped into her very being, scanning for peculiarities.
The girl felt as if she was being sucked into a disorderly rainbow, where her existence momentarily ceased to animate.
The audience watched in silence and anticipation, especially the Guardian of the human girl. She felt anxious about whether her daughter has attunement to material code and had any chance of formulating a source.
Her daughter dreamt of being an ability user and always wanted to immerse herself in material immersion. By doing so, she hoped to search for her missing father and bring him back home someday. But if she didn't even have attunement to the material code, then... she couldn't even imagine how her daughter would be able to bear the hope-crushing blow.
After ten seconds, the primeval program returned to the vibrant crystal ball. Consequently, digital words started forming in the ether above the grand podium.
[Analyzing the talent...Calculating the potential]
Everyone's eyes fixed on the Ether Screen, and the girl's mother didn't even blink her eyelids, fearing that she might miss the essential process of the forming words. The scarlet-eyed girl also snapped out of the unexplainable sensation and resolutely gazed at the ether screen.
[Assessment Results:
@ Code Attunement ~ {29%}
@ Source Formation ~ {Possible}
@ Hypothesized Source Distinction ~ {Normal}
@ Uniqueness ~ {Scarlett Bombardment}
@ Elemental Affinity ~ {Lightning, Gravity}
@ Spiritual Aptitude ~ {14%}
{Analytical Disclaimer: Remember, these are only results in the present and might change in the future in accordance of the child's circumstantial growth}].
Gazing at the results, the brown-haired girl's scarlet eyes sparkled with brilliance, and her small hands clenched in excitement. Unable to contain the adrenaline, she jumped off the podium and drifted towards her mother, while her joyful voice resonated in the hall.
(Mom, it's done! Did you see the results? Now I have the possibility of formulating a source by the age of ten and became an ability user!) She jumped into her mother's open arms and embraced her tightly.
(Yes, dear, and I'm glad that you could attain your dream one day,) the mother smiled in relief. But for some reason, a sense of trepidation hid in the depths of her eyes.
Watching the mother and daughter, the people have diverse expressions - some were unshaken by the emotional display, remaining nonchalant, while others sympathized with the girl's naive excitement. Well, at least the majority of the commoners looked at them with smiles and shook their heads.
As for the majority of the aristocrats, because of their positions, they had seen too many talents that had more potential than the scarlet-eyed girl, and some had even witnessed those with distinctive sources. Besides, in material immersion, there was no lack of extraordinary talents emerging from all across the cosmos. So basically, in their eyes, the scarlet-eyed girl's analysis results could be summarized as ordinary..
(Mom, did you see that? It's so touching, I feel like my eyes are going to tear up,) Sora gripped her mother's sleeves and complained softly. Her eyes turning misty beneath the white cloak.
Sarah gently patted her daughter's head while amusingly whispering to herself, (Scarlett Bombardment, huh? What an intriguing trait. It seems like her future adversaries will be subjected to quite a bombarding hell.)
Overhearing her murmur, Void gazed at the girl intently and entered into a state of thoughtful contemplation. After a brief pause, he smiled and muttered in fascination, (I'll remember you.)
Sora, who had regained her composure and returned to normal, sensed the fascination in his audible voice. She frowned, feeling uneasiness creepting into her heart. 🔺🔺🔺🔺🔺