The soldier's finger pointed at one of them.
"You!" the soldier commanded. "Hold this orb."
The youth quickly stepped forward and held the orb in his palms, trembling.
Its surface remained unyielding, devoid of any magical response.
The other youths tried, their expressions shifting from anticipation to bewilderment.
The soldier's gaze softened, recognizing their confusion.
"It proves," he said, voice matter-of-fact, "that you still have no Aptitude."
Once they hold the orb, a mark on their hand should light up, indicating that they have Aptitude.
As they entered the wall, they saw that the entire area was filled with craters that looked like they had been bombed and scattered with various explosives from aerial vehicles.
Buildings and houses lay in ruins and were no longer habitable.
After an hour, they could see the enormous wall that seemed to reach the clouds.
One of the youths in Mira's group remarked, "Wow, even a bird wouldn't be able to cross this wall."
"We've arrived at the Main Gate," the driver announced, slowing the carriage.
The youths immediately descended to enter the gate.
Similar to the process at the outer gate, they underwent checks, and a guide directed them towards the Moolson church.
As they walked through the dark area beneath the long wall, they spotted light. And when they emerged out of it, over a hundred amazed youths found themselves inside a modern city.
It was filled with towering buildings featuring large, fragile windows and vehicles of various designs.
Heavily armed soldiers wearing blue military uniforms patrolled the place. They were equipped with different kinds of weapons.
Mira's heart skipped as she felt a thrill of excitement.
This was the life of Elaris; this place was way more vibrant compared to their place before.
'I wish you could see what I'm seeing right now, Kaviel…' Mira whispered to herself, a tinge of sadness and longing in her voice.
They were all loaded onto military trucks to be taken to the church.
After a half hour, they finally arrived at the Moolson.
Its towering ziggurat dominates the skyline. The structure was adorned with colorful glazed bricks and intricate carvings.
As they entered, they were handed over to a new guide wearing a white robe from the church.
Within its sacred walls, the church's grand halls echoed with the soft murmur of prayers and the flickering light of eternal fires.
Priests clad in ornate robes tended to sacred rituals.
The youths were in awe as they admired the church's ancient architecture.
"This way," the guide said, pointing his hand.
Soon, they reached a large dual door. Upon opening it, they entered a massive hall where about a thousand other youths were waiting for the Aptitude ceremony to start.
They joined them, and soon, hundreds more began arriving. Once they reached the exact number, they started the process of unlocking their Aptitudes
The man in the white robe stepped forward onto the stage. His robe billowed like a cloud touched by dawn.
His eyes swept over the assembled crowd, and when he spoke, his voice was a gentle command that echoed throughout the room through the speakers.
"I believe everyone is here," he announced. He paused, then gestured to an assistant.
The cloth covering the golden table was whisked away, revealing a glass box.
Gasps echoed through the chamber.
The box defies reality. At its heart, a sphere spun. Light energy seems to come out of its core like a miniature galaxy caught in stasis.
The man's voice resumed, low and reverent.
"Inside this thick glass are the gifts from our god."
His gaze swept the room, connecting with each youth. "These have been left for us to combat the coming calamities and war."
Then he extended his hand toward the sphere.
"We called it the Sphere of Aetherium." he added, "Once you touch it, you will receive the Aptitude meant for you."
The youths exchanged glances, hearts pounding.
"You, right there, the man with brown hair at the back. Come here," the man called out.
He gestured for Melvin to come to the front.
The room fell silent as all eyes turned to Melvin, who stood up straight, his well-built frame exuding confidence.
Melvin took a deep breath and walked towards the front, his steps steady and unhurried.
As Melvin approached, the man said in a calm but authoritative tone, "Give me your right hand."
Melvin extended his hand without hesitation, his expression showing curiosity.
The man, dressed in a flowing white robe, pulled out a tiny, gleaming knife. He held it with practiced ease and cut Melvin's palm with a dagger.
Some winced as if they could feel the cut of the dagger themselves.
Meanwhile, Melvin flinched slightly, but he didn't pull back.
The man then gestured towards the glowing box.
"Touch the sphere," he instructed as he opened the box.
Melvin nodded and stepped closer to the sphere. He could feel the eyes of his peers on him.
With his heart pounding in his chest, Melvin reached out and placed his palm on the cool, smooth surface of the sphere.
As soon as his palm with blood made contact, the sphere began to glow brighter.
Melvin's eyes widened in awe. And when he looked up, light illuminated his eyes.
He closed his eyes, feeling a sense of something new and powerful awakening within him.
"Blood is an offering to the god," the man explained. "Through blood, he will discern your strengths and weaknesses, whether your body can withstand it, and how far its capacity reaches."
"After this," the man continued, "it will examine your memories, your determination, strength, and your desire. After this process, the Sphere of Aetherium will awaken your Aptitude."
In an instant, Melvin's hand, with the cut, began to glow. The room filled with a soft, golden light as a symbol started to form.
Everyone watched in awe, some leaning forward to get a better look.
A clear and bright symbol appeared: a flipped letter "C," but instead of a curved line, a straight line was used. It means he is Rank 2.
The man in the white robe's eyebrows furrowed in surprise. The lower the number, the more powerful the person with the Aptitude is.
Melvin defied the odds. Rank 2 is a rarity in these times.
Most youths emerged as Rank 4 or 5 in the past five days since the kingdom asked everyone to return to Elaris from various places.
'I knew he looked strong,' the man muttered, 'but I didn't expect his aptitude to be on par with the knight captains.'
Soon after, Melvin woke up, and his wound miraculously healed before everyone's eyes.
"Congratulations. You can now return with the others," the instructor announced.
Excitement buzzed through the room. Each person eagerly awaited their turn, eyes wide with anticipation.
One by one, they approached the sphere.
Most of them are Rank 5, and a few lucky ones are even in Rank 4.
But the man in the white robe didn't explain the meaning of the mark to them.