The vast grounds of Ulfgard College, swarmed with life. Over two hundred nine year old children filled the field, their nervous chatter was a low hum. Northern guards stood at intervals, their presence was a reminder of the gravity of the day.
Aurelion stood apart from the jostling crowd, a solitary figure near the edge of the field. His posture was deceptively relaxed, but his eye missed nothing, absorbing the scene in front of him.
His gaze lifted to the high dais on the main college building, where three figures watched over them. The central figure was a middle aged Northerner in severe black attire, his short, silver hair gleaming in the light. His stern demeanor was unmistakable.
Aurelion's lip curled slightly. "Of course, a Silverfang," he thought. "The War Chieftain spreads his men everywhere."
To the man's right stood an Orc, a sight that made Aurelion pause. This one was bald, with deep red skin, and was dressed in fine, tailored clothes, a stark contrast to the brutish Orks he knew. He stood with a calm stillness.
"I've never seen one of them before," Aurelion mused "Interesting to see one in this city. When they surpass a certain physical level, they change, much like Evolution. But they also grow more savage."
And on the left was an elegant figure in a flowing green robe, her light brown hair braided with simple wooden beads. Long ears peeked out, marking her as a Forest Elf.
Aurelion's brows furrowed slightly. "In a city of Northerners... first an evolved Orc, and now a Forest Elf? Harkan was a Saharan, too. This is either the effect of a new policy gathering strength regardless of race or the War Chief is far more interesting than I ever thought."
Up on the dais, the silver haired man, gave a curt nod to the Orc. The Orc, stepped forward. He took a deep breath, and unleashed a guttural roar that rolled across the field. The nervous chatter of two hundred children died instantly, replaced by a ringing, absolute silence.
Silverfang stepped to the forefront of the dais. His gaze swept across the silent, upturned faces of the children below.
"I am Ulrich Silverfang, Headmaster of the College of Ulfgard," his voice was not loud, but it carried across the field with easily. "In a few moments, your potential will be measured, and a decision will be made on whether you are worthy of being trained. This will happen in several stages, but first, we will learn if your Core has even matured. Those whose Cores are not yet ready will be eliminated directly. You may try again next year."
He turned his head slightly toward the guards positioned at the edge of the field. "Bring it."
The children watched with a curiosity as his command was carried out. After a moment, four guards emerged, carrying a heavy wooden platform. Upon it rested a one meter tall stone that pulsed with a faint, purple light.
As the stone drew near, a pressure settled over the field. Some of the children flinched, a few even cried out softly and clutched their heads as if struck by a sudden migraine. Their weak, undeveloped energy was already being damaged by the stone's mere presence.
The guards placed the platform directly before a large, open gate set into the foundation beneath the dais.
Ulrich spoke again. "This stone was brought from the Dark Continent. It is called a Malinger Stone. It has few uses, but it possesses one key property. it weakens all energy in its vicinity."
He gestured toward the gate behind the stone.
"Those among you whose Cores are strong and stable will be able to walk past it, through the gate, and enter the grounds of the college. This is the only condition to set foot within these walls. A word of warning," he added. "if you push yourself too hard, you can be seriously injured. If you cannot pass the stone, give up. And for the others we await the rest of you on the other side."
With that, Headmaster Ulrich turned without another word. He, along with Kargath and Faelia, entered the college building through a door on the dais, leaving two hundred children alone outside the walls, their future separated from them by a single, ominous stone.
For a moment, an absolute silence hung over the field, thick with the unasked questions of two hundred children. Then, a burly Northern boy with a defiant expression broke from the front line, letting out a war cry as he charged toward the stone, eager to be the first.
He moved with impressive speed, but as he entered the stone's effective radius, his charge faltered. He staggered, his face paling as he clutched his head. His legs buckled, and he collapsed onto the grass with a pained groan, several meters short of the gate. Two guards moved in without a word, dragging the boy away from the field.
The display sent a ripple of fear through the crowd. Many who were at the front took an involuntary step back.
Seeing this, Aurelion allowed a small smirk to touch his lips. "Of course," he thought. "Far more logical to weed out the majority this way than to deal with two hundred children one by one."
He began to walk forward, his pace steady and unhurried. Seeing him move, a few other children, emboldened by his confidence or viewing it as a competition, also surged forward, some even trying to run past him.
Aurelion glanced at them. "Children," he mused. "It's natural for them to be foolish."
He didn't quicken his pace. As the small, eager group approached the Malinger Stone, several of them began to stumble just like the first boy, clutching their heads and falling to their knees. Aurelion, meanwhile, activated the power of his Seal. With his good eye open, the world shifted into his state of Void Focusing. He could now clearly see the sickly purple energy washing out from the stone in waves. As the energy neared him, his own Core reacted instinctively.
Faint golden sparks began to dance across his skin as his internal energy flared to life, forming a chaotic but effective shield.
He walked past the children who were now struggling "'m using my energy inefficiently," he noted internally, "but it's better than letting that purple filth touch me."
As he drew closer to the stone, the sounds of pained cries and whimpers from behind him grew louder. He glanced to his left and saw a familiar figure. Ylva Silverfang, taller and more imposing than she was two years ago, was pushing forward with a determined frown, a shimmering silver aura flickering around her as she resisted the stone's effect. She noticed Aurelion looking at her, a flicker of surprise in her eyes, before her frown deepened and she turned her gaze forward once more.
Just a few meters from the stone, Aurelion heard the angry shouts of the guards. He glanced back and saw them berating a pair of children who were trying to help each other up.
"It was obvious the guards were here to prevent that," he thought, and was about to turn back when he finally identified the source of a pained grunt that had been following just behind him.
He stopped.
Ylva, noticing no one at her side, also paused and looked back with curiosity, her eyes landing on Aurelion, who was now looking down at a boy on his knees. It was Harek.
Harek looked up at Aurelion, a pained, smile on his face. "A pathetic sight, am I not?" he managed to say.
"Yes," Aurelion replied.
Harek let out a weak laugh. "I'm afraid I'll be injured if I try to go further, Aurelion. I challenged you once, and you accepted, but... I can't even continue."
Aurelion looked from Harek to the stone just a few meters ahead. "Yes," he confirmed. "You might get injured if you go further." He met Harek's gaze. "But that is a decision you have to make for yourself, Harek."
Without another word, Aurelion turned and resumed his steady walk. Ylva watched this cold exchange with a look of slight surprise before shaking her head and continuing on her own path.
Aurelion approached the Malinger Stone. He glanced at the stone as he passed by and continued unaffected.
He stepped through the gate and into the college courtyard, where a small crowd of who had waiting.
As Aurelion walked into the courtyard, Ylva was looking back at the children.
Then Aurelion too look back and he saw a few more children stumble through, their faces a mask of relief and pain. Among them was a guard, an unconscious boy slung over his shoulder like a sack of grain. The boy had made it past the stone, but his Core had clearly paid the price.
Aurelion clicked his tongue in disdain and turned his back on the gate.
"Determination alone is not enough, Harek," he thought, the image of his struggling former rival flashing in his mind. "You also need to prepare yourself. I have been working to get stronger since the moment I was born. That is why I passed this simple obstacle with ease."
He walked further into the college grounds, leaving the sounds of the test behind him.
"This is the fate of the weak."