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Chapter 3 - Testing Day Part 2

In the centre of the village sat the ceremony stage, on a platform off to the side was a seating area for the visiting guests from the different academic institutions, that the youths would soon be heading to.

To the right-hand side of the stage was the start of the youth's queues were already some of the youths were starting to queue. Many wanting to be at the beginning of the queue, hoping to stand out from the crowd.

The village guards were guiding people to their position as Aven made his way forward towards the queue for testing.

Villagers were heading to the viewing area at the front of the stage.

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As mid-day drew near the crowds filled out the seating areas and finally the guests from the academic institutions started to arrive.

The first was a man. He had long black hair that he kept up in a long ponytail that reached his mid back. He kept his orange eyes forward tuning out the world around him waiting for the time to pass.

Next came a man with short grey hair that was slicked back, giving the man the feel of a businessman more than anything else. He watched everything going on with bored interest in his hazelnut eyes.

The third guest to arrive was a woman who had long purple hair that she wore on one side. Wearing a vibrant blue and white dress, that matched her eye.

The final guest was a young man appearing to be similar in age to the youths being tested that day. He had spiked white hair that had hints of blue running along the tips. His pale blue eye seemed to be peering through the people around him.

The guest took their seats as an older gentleman using a cane walk out to the middle of the stage. He stood at the front and cleared his throat.

"Today we are all gathered here to witness an important time for the young of our village." He boomed as the crowd quieted down.

"Please welcome our guests from the academic institutions Raven's Deep, Heaven Rain, Shadow Tower and Ritrove Cove. "With this said the people started to clap. "Now let's start the ceremony".

The old man was the village chief, after he finished talking, he walked towards the back of the stage as two young men carried forward a book on a stand.

They placed the book on the table and then placed a knife alongside it. After they completed their task, they bowed to the chef and made their way off the stage.

"You will come up on to the stage one at a time and then place two drops of your blood on to the page on the book." The chief of the village said.

With that he gave the signal and a guard escort the first boy from the queue up on to the stage. The boy was trembling slightly as he made his way towards the table with everyone staring at him.

The boy picked up the knife and pressed it to his finger, blood pooled on his finger and dropped on to the book page underneath. As the blood soaked in a light flashed across the page surface.

Name: Trevor Haven

Age: 16

Talent: Heat control

Trevor starred at the page as the village chief read out from the book. Silence answered his word as the crowd waited for the guests to say their peace.

After a short discussion the grey hair man with his hair slicked back stood up.

"My name is Damian Grover, from this day forth you will be a member of the Ritrove Cove institute" with that he reclaimed his seat and Trevor hurriedly left the stage.

The next youth up was a blue haired boy, he strutted on to the stage with the guard beside him. He made his way over to the table gripping the dagger and repeated the same process as Trevor.

Name: Victor Garbell

Age: 16

Talent: strength enhancement

With the announcement the purple hair woman stood up.

"My name is Sabrina Mycoth and hence forth you are a member of Heaven Rain." She quickly returned to her seat without another glance.

Victor practically glowed as he made his way from the stage.

Next to advance was a blonde-haired girl. She confidently moved to the table.

Name: Julia Rose

Age: 16

Talent: Light affinity

The younger man stood up from his seat staring straight at the girl and smiled.

"My name is Jonathan Thompson and hence forth you are a member of Shadow Tower."

With that he reclaimed his seat and Julia stepped down from the stage.

Another girl with waist length red hair walked up onto the stage and stood before the book.

Name: Lavender Glow

Age:16

Talent: Night sight

After the reading the black long hair man and Sabrina Mycoth started having a lively conversation. They went back and forth for a while before finally the man stood up.

"My name is Joseph Randall, hence forth you are a member of Raven's Deep."

More and more youths were tested and only two turned out to have no talent. Finally, after more than an hour of testing it was Aven's turn, his future would soon be decided.

Aven made his way on to the stage, keeping his senses as high as he dared with the guests so close by. Even though it was a risk as they could take it as a threat if they realise, he was doing something, it made himself feel safer.

He reached the table and picked up the dagger bringing it to his finger, the blood pooled and dropped down onto the paper. The flash blinded him for a bereft second.

Name: Aven Fire-Rose

Age: 16

Talent: Shadow Summon

Absolute silence meets the declaration as Aven looks on confused.

'What the, what is that I've never even heard of that one?'

Aven didn't know what to do, no one was talking, and he really just wanted to leave.

Suddenly all of the guests other than Damian Grover huddled together, having a rush argument. There really was no other way to look at it. After several minutes Joseph Randall moved forward.

"Hence forth you are a member of Raven's Deep."

All of them returned to their seats and Aven beat a hasty retreat from the stage, trying to get his head around what just happened.

'At least I was accepted into an institution, I won't have to stay here for much longer, but what even is my talent. What does it even do I really can't place it or even something similar.'