Kael lay on his thin mattress, staring at the cracks in the ceiling. The taunts and laughter from the day before echoed in his mind. This world doesn't look back on the weak, he thought, a hard resolve settling in his chest. I forgot that. This world has no mercy for the weak. But one day… one day I will become a Marion. And everybody will have to respect me.
The next morning, he was jolted awake by a stampede. Dozens of boys were rushing past his door, their voices a chaotic roar of excitement.
Kael sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Where the hell are you all going?" he mumbled to the empty room.
A voice shouted from the hall, "I'm going to be a Primarch Marion!"
The words hit Kael like a lightning bolt. His eyes shot open. The test. He scrambled out of bed and joined the rushing crowd, his heart pounding with a mix of terror and hope.
Out on the main ground stood a man he'd only ever seen in posters. A real Marion. His armor bore the distinct mark of a Zairo-rank warrior. His name was Alex Williams, and he looked deeply bored. In his hand was a smooth, glowing stone—the Arcane Stone that measured a person's innate magical power, the key to becoming a Marion.
"Alright, settle down, you rats!" Alex's voice cut through the noise. "One at a time! Touch the stone. It will reveal your potential. Or lack of it."
Is this really happening? Kael thought, a genuine smile breaking through his nervousness. He pushed his way through the crowd, his dream feeling closer than ever.
He saw Brad shove another boy out of the way. "Get out of my way, you asshole! I'm going to be the first to see my rank!"
Kael ignored him, focusing on the stone.
Brad grabbed the stone confidently. It flared with a brilliant, intense light. Alex's bored expression vanished, replaced by shock.
"Zairo," Alex announced, his voice filled with new respect. "Your potential rank is Zairo."
Brad grinned, triumphant. "Yes! But I'll be greater. This is just the start."
Alex watched him go, stunned. This kid has the same potential as me? Wow.
One by one, the other orphans took their turn. The stone glowed with a faint, flickering light for each of them. "Barwo." "Barwo." "Barwo." It was expected. None of them were trained. None of them knew real magic.
Then, it was Kael's turn.
His heart was a frantic drum in his chest as he stepped forward. Alex looked at him, seeing the naked hope and fear on his face. Another one, the Marion thought with an internal sigh. So obsessed with this job. They have no idea what it's really like. I wish I could quit.
Kael reached out with a trembling hand and grabbed the stone. He squeezed his eyes shut. Please. Please. Please.
A minute passed.
Silence.
He opened his eyes. The stone in his hand was dull and dark. It hadn't glowed at all.
Alex looked almost apologetic. "Sorry, kid. I guess… you don't have any magic in you. You can't be a Marion."
The silence was broken by a loud laugh. Brad's friend, Varon, pointed and shouted. "Wow! The loser is the greatest loser of all time! Hahaha!"
The crowd erupted in laughter. He heard the girls whispering, "Isn't he the one Brad beats up all the time?"
Alex just shook his head. Poor boy.
Kael didn't hear anything else. He turned and ran. He ran past the laughing faces, past Brad—who didn't even smile, but just watched him go with an unreadable look—and didn't stop until he slammed into the washroom.
He stumbled to a sink and looked into the mirror. The face staring back was tear-streaked, humiliated, and hopeless.
"Noooo!" he screamed at his reflection, the sound raw and guttural. "No! No!" He slammed his fist into the glass. It cracked, and a sharp pain shot through his hand. Blood welled from his knuckles and dripped into the white basin.
"Is this the life I wanted? NO! I will not accept this! This is not the thing I wanted!"
He grabbed the edges of the broken mirror, tightening his grip until the glass bit deeper into his palms, mixing his fresh blood with the tears on his face. He stared into his own desperate, furious eyes.
"I will beat everyone," he whispered, a vicious promise to himself. "I will be a Marion. I will become a Marion."
(Chapter 2 Fin)