"The Gateway…"
*H-hello?*
"The Gateway seal.."
*Where am I? Can anyone hear me?*
*The Gateway seal will be-*
"*Arrgh!*" Qen woke in a sweat. His eyes throbbing as they fought to see past searing white lights.
*Snap* *Snap*
"Hey, kid, look at me! Remember me?" He cringed as he felt a hand wiggle its way into his thick, curly black hair. He thought back to the night before, gaging as he recalled the night's events.
"Get off me! Were you the one talking in my sleep just now?"
"No… I just came in here to check on you. Which I'm starting to regret with all that attitude of yours. Oh- and I was gonna feed you this in your sleep." He pulled out a pulsing black crystal, same as before.
"Are you crazy? I'm not eating that!"
"*Shhhhh*" He put a finger to Qen's lips.
"Don't forget to keep it down. There are trained Gifted just outside this medical room. They figure out what you are now and it's game over." He took his finger off his lips and smiled a mischievous grin.
"Now open wiiiiide." Qen slapped the crystal into the air, turning his head in defiance. Atlas simply guided it back to his hand with a flick of his finger.
"What even is that thing?!"
"*Sigh* It's a Wraith soul."
"I ATE A- *Mmhhmm* *mmm*" Qen pulled at his jaw.
*I can't open my mouth. It's like it's sealed shut!*
"Come on…" Atlas paused for a moment.
"Huh, I never did catch your name. Well, anyway, You don't have to worry about it going down like yesterday. You can absorb it sublingually. When I open your mouth you shouldn't have any objections, correct?" Qen shook his head.
"Well, can they at least wait until later?" He thought for a moment before nodding.
"That's the spirit…Champ?"
"*GASP* My name's Qen you moron." Atlas flung the Akino chunk directly into his mouth. He fought to keep it from accidentally going down his throat before guiding it under his tongue.
*Eugh… the taste is still horrible but I can bear it until I can get a chance to escape. There's no way I'm doing this everyday!*
He felt the Akino melt into a thick gelatinous smoke as it absorbed its way into his body. It felt warm coursing through his veins.
"Alright! Let's hope that'll be enough to activate your gift. Otherwise the Director will kill you for sure…"
Qen paused for a moment before spraying Akino all over his bed covers.
"Calm down! You're gonna waste it! Since you seem fine, let's get you into some new clothes."
Five minutes later…
Qen studied himself in the mirror. The long white robes, a stark contrast to his rich dark skin.
"So… I've been asleep for three days?"
"Yup, Sleeping like a little baby." Qen rolled his eyes.
"Do you take anything seriously?"
"Well, when you're as strong as me, you never really have too." Qen shook his head in confusion.
"I don't understand why… why do I even care? I've never cared about anyone's stupidity before, let alone angry or irritated. What's happening to me?"
"That feeling, what you're experiencing, that's called having a soul. Those cores you've been consuming are mixing and developing into a shape that could now be defined as… well… you. We don't usually study the effects of Akino on the Soulless cause you know… we don't keep 'em alive long enough. Safe to say, I don't really know how this is going to affect you."
"Huh…"
"*Sigh* If we can't get you to manifest your gift and quick, it won't matter anyway. That's why you have on those robes. We aren't supposed to let the ungifted in here. I told them you had potential. If it turns out I'm wrong and you get executed, your blood will be on my hands. That's something that I do take seriously." He placed a hand on Qen's shoulder.
*What is this feeling… Is this respect?*
"And I just really don't wanna lose my job."
*Just like that It seems to have… disappeared.*
"So you said it's been three days right? Where are all my injuries?" He grazed his fingers over his shoulder and eyed the area where his head had been sliced open.
The skin was smooth, unmarked.
"While your elevated levels Akino do increase your recovery speed, it's not the only thing that helped you. Here in the world of Akino, glyphs are a crucial part of daily life, practically allowing miracles to happen. I'd tell you more but unfortunately we're a little short on time, so I'll fill you in later. For now, let's get you to the Directors room."
Upon leaving the room he was surprised to find just how many people lined the sterile halls. A few murmurs caught his ears as he made his way down the corridors, It didn't take long for new emotions to wash over him.
Shame and embarrassment…
"Just how many people here saw me earlier?" Atlas stretched his arms as he turned to face him.
"Well, all things considered, pretty much everyone who was here that day saw you. By the way, you could've told me you pissed yourself before I flung you over my shoulder."
"Yeah? My bad for not telling you such crucial information when I was, you know, fighting for my damn life!"
"*tsk* *tsk* *tsk* Excuses, excuses."
"What do you mean excuses!"
"Oh brother, are you still talking about that? Eyes forward Qen, down that corridor is the director's office. I need you to focus."
"What am I supposed to do? You haven't even told me how to awaken my gift!"
"Don't worry, you can calm down. I have a solution. Remember what I told you five minutes ago? This here..." He pulled out a small circular sticker with a peculiar symbol.
"Is a glyph. And it's your ticket into the world of Akino. It represents the Aries zodiac sign. Different glyph combinations allow you to imbue them with different actions. This one will jumpstart your ability to detect your own Akino and force it to flow. Unfortunately the "manifestation of your gift" part is up to you."
Atlas slapped the sticker onto Qen's back. He immediately felt a fire, pushing its way into his veins. He collapsed to the ground as the heat developed into a bubbling lava.
"*Gaahh *Arrghh* Get it off! Take it off me!" He ripped at his robes in a desperate attempt to remove the accursed Glyph at his back. Atlas grabbed him from behind, wrapping his arms around him as he clawed and snapped to get free.
"Calm down Qen, breath! The more you fight the glyph, the more it'll burn. Your body isn't used to the flow of Akino yet, let alone such a large amount. Close your eyes, focus on the bottom of your core. Can you feel it, the core of your being, the center of your Akino?"
Qen closed his eyes through gritted teeth and white hot pain.There, within the depth of his spirit, he sensed it, a pulse. The pain fell away as he concentrated on each calming burst of energy. With each beat a picture began to form, with shape, with mass, with pure radiant energy. He probed at the wispy jelly forming before his very eyes.
*So soft… it seems so delicate.*
He wrapped his hand around the mass… squeezing softly. He felt his body compress, grow denser, stronger. He fully clasped his soul, squeezing tighter and tighter untill…
"*Gasp*" His head shot up, the fire reduced to a stable glow, like the warmth of a summer sun glowing beneath his skin.
"*haha ha… HaHa HaHa*" Qen turned to face Atlas who clasped his thick black locs in pure delight. His laughter echoed through the halls.
"Do you know what you just did!? Akino reinforcement without any gift or even a basic fundamental understanding of your own soul! Qen… you're one and a million- no, two! You don't even know how special you are, do you? You don't even know how special you can be! Without a shadow of a doubt, you'll be my greatest student! Go Qen, go and show me that I'm right, that you deserve the title of Executioner!"
Qen stood in front of the director's door. A stark difference from the sterile environment maintained around it. Rusty hinges supporting rotted peeling wood. A warm musty odor seeped from its cracks, damp and ancient. The only thing stronger than the stench being the ominous aura which radiated from within.
*This place is… just horrible. The only person here I've met is crazy, I've felt nothing but judgment from its halls but even now… all I feel… is hope.*
Qen marched through the door and into the miasma within, a few solitary candles illuminating a feeble little chair. He took a few cautious steps forward, door creaking closed behind him.
*No turning back now… I don't see the director though… Am I too early?*
He took a deep breath, crawling into the chair as the silence clawed deep into his mind. He made note of the few walls he could see. Endless glowing glyphs lined the corners of the room, their purple light refracting off low hanging mist.
*Qen…*
He launched forward out of his chair but froze as he felt his body rest against its crusty surface once more. Panic set in as he again ripped himself away from the seat, opening his eyes to find himself right back in its grasp.
*Qen… Martin…*
"Hello? Who's there!"
*I'm… I'm sorry. I've not yet unveiled myself.*
As if appearing from the void, a pedestal appeared before him. On it laid a perfect sphere and within its viscous walls stared-
*Is… that a baby?*
*Sorry if my image disturbs you. An unintended side effect of my creation. If all goes well, I'll mean you no harm.*
"Creation? Like your birth?"
*These details are unimportant… we must commence the test.*
"Wait! Can you please just give me a moment?"
*I'm sorry but that's not an option.*
"But-"
*It's alright… I know you don't have access to your gift.*
"Wait, you do! Can you read my mind?"
*Akino… it speaks to me… reveals the truths within.*
*Oh… oh no.*
His body trembled. The impliction of that statement rolling off his forehead into warm beads of sweat, bubbling through layers of anxiety.
*The test of your ability is now at hand. I will now remove the glyph at your back as it will interfere with the results.*
Qen tensed as he felt the glyph burn away, the embers of hope drifting past his face and into the darkness. A ball of Akino appeared before him.
"Is that what I think it is?"
*Yes… though just a piece of a larger whole, before you is my core Akino, what you know as a soul. You will lay your hand on its surface so I may gauge your potential. I'm sorry to tell you this but If you fail to manifest your gift, you will be silenced.*
"Don't you think I know that already? I don't understand. Why would I be executed for not possessing a gift? Can't you just send me home?"
*That of Akino and those who wield it can not become common knowledge. Too many would abuse its power. Wraiths would run rampant and the world would never know peace again. That's why those without the natural capability to use it should never learn the truth. Though fleeting as my life may be, I truly do hope that day comes when humanity gains the wisdom to use and not abuse…*
It paused for a momment…
*Excuse me, I fear I've carried on for far too long. Please place your hand upon my core.*
"No, you're fine, I really don't mind!" He forced out a laugh… echoes fell into silence. The time for words had ended. He tinned his resolve, trembling as he reached a hand forward.
*This isn't what Atlas prepared me for, how could he have possibly thought I could do this?*
He shuttered as his hand made contact. The world around him fell into darkness.
*It feels so heavy, so… dense. Its pulse is so strong compared to mine, too strong. Is it…
supposed to do that.*
He pulled back his hand, turning away as the Akino core bulged and contorted with each beat, growing, burning with white hot intensity. He could only flee a single step before his body was completely absorbed by the fiery hot mass.
He opened his eyes back in the room, fighting false flames as he regained his senses.
"*huff* Was that it? What was the test? Did… I pass?"
*No… I'm sorry Qen but you did not pass.*
"Wait, why! What the hell was I supposed to do there! A test is something I should be able to do, that wasn't a test. You didn't even give me a chance to move!"
*Qen, while I do understand you trying to rationalize your situation, I find it… unbecoming of any human to lack accountability. For that reason alone you would have been turned away. Unfortunately for you however, the consequences are far more dire.* His stomach dropped.
"Wait… wait this isn't right… this isn't fair! What gives you people the right to judge me when I didn't even ask to be here!"
*I know you don't understand but this is how it has to be. This isn't your choice.*
"No!" He launched out of the chair, clawing into its core. The deep dark returned as he stood face to face with the pulsing mass. He balled his fist into hardened steel, the ball expanding in return.
*I've spent my whole life devoid of everything that makes us human and when I finally found it, you wanna take it away? No… No!" He slammed his fist into the mass, causing a shockwave to ripple across its surface.
"I…
Want…
To…
LIVE!"
The core retreated as he cracked his fist against its fleeting mass. It's energy wrapping around him as he poured his heart and Akino into the assault. Each blow strengthened the next in an unending flurry. His hand lit ablaze as he channeled every ounce of his energy into a single point.
His muscles tensed to stone as he shot forward in a disgusting show of fury, falling forward as he reawakened in the room. He shot back up, readying his stance as he prepared to attack.
*Well done Qen. You passed.*
He lowered his guard for just a momment.
"Are… you sure?" He held strong.
**Giggle* Calm down. I can assure you, you passed.*
"How, I didn't get a gift?"
*Of course you did. That strength you felt as you attacked my core, that Gift is unique to you and you alone. The ability to syphon Akino is very unique indeed. With proper training, I see you becoming a very valuable asset against those who would abuse Akino."
"I… I don't know what to say."
*You don't have to say anything. Your actions aswell as your Akino will tell us everything we need to know. If you maintain the passion and raw emotion you displayed here today, I have no doubt you will make an excellent Executioner.*
"Well, what happens from here?"
*Once you leave, you will be introduced to the members of your squad and be told your rank. I hope you are well recived considering your… percularities. Speaking of which, I ask that you remember something before you leave here.*
"Okay?" Qen cocked his head in confusion.
*It is very rare for us to encounter those of your kind, even rarer that they are allowed to survive. I simply ask that you refrain from abusing my kindness in this matter. While I don't sense malice within you, this must be stated. This is an incredibly rare opportunity you've been afforded, I would hate for it to be wasted on someone with vile intentions. For now, I will choose now to be fooled once… it won't happen again.*
"Wait, what do you-" Before he could even finish his sentence, he found himself outside of the directors office. He held a hand up to his face, wiping the blood off a freshly made cut mere millimeters from his eye.
"Shit…"
"Congrats!" Qen jumped, turning to face Atlas who raised a fist in celebration.
"God, you scared me!" Atlas rolled his glittering golden eyes as he wrapped an arm around his sholder.
"I knew you could do it! Sooooo, come on, I won't tell, what's your gift?"
"I… I don't know?" He raised his hands starring at them in an attempt to find some answer.
"Well, what do you remember doing?"
"You won't get mad if I tell you what went down in there… right?"
"The only thing that could even slightly upset me, is if I walked in there and the room was in shambles. Even then, I'd be more upset about the earful I'd get!" He gave a hearty laugh.
"Well, I got mad, and I sorta… attacked its core. I did black out a little after that but what I do remember was its "Akino?" wrapping around my hands when I was hitting it. Right as I was going to hit it with everything I had, I felt the energy all concentrate into my fist. He pulled me out before I could land the hit though."
"Hmmm… I get it! Your gift allows you to syphon off the Akino from whatever you're attacking and distribute it back out. From the sound of it, you can even focus it into a single point for more destructive power. That's so simple…"
"..."
"..."
"What do you mean… simple?"
"Hey, I didn't mean it like that. Let me put it like this. Most gifts are like onions, simple on the surface with many diffrent layers of applications that make them unique. These gifts can be tricky though. Many users take a very long time to discover all their uses. Most end up dying before they can ever even reach their full potential. You on the other hand can spend all your time honing your gift into a deadly weapon, without worrying about finding every little application. This is good… this is really good!"
"Really?"
"Let me phrase it a different way, would you fear the guy who's played every fighting game once, or the guy who's played one fighting game a thousand times?"
"I… I've never played a video game before."
"Y-you're kidding right?"
"No… before today, I'd never really done anything before. My parents never really put any resources into me, said it'd be a waste of money on someone like me."
"Hmmm… well, I think it's about time we change that. We'll start by meeting my students in Phoenix squad. I'm sure they're already dying to meet you! After we get you outta those rags though... they're so depressing."