Chapter 2- Soul Power
Inside a small house in a secluded part of the city, one that is considerably poorer than the other major districts, sat a young man, no older than 18, waiting impatiently as he tapped his foot on the hardwood with an anxious expression.
Emilio had been waiting for the past two hours for his best friend to come back. He sent him countless messages and received no response.
"That bastard is out fooling around with women. I'm going to break his neck when I see him." He clenched his fists. He knew Jack more than anyone else, and that friend of his was a complete and utter playboy. He spent every night with a different woman and had swayed many who were married.
He didn't care about anything except himself. A selfish bastard. However, he was still his best friend, and so, he cared about him more than anyone else.
At that moment, the door clicked, and Jack walked in casually.
"There you fucking are!"
"Hm? Why did you bombard my phone with messages? What happened?"
"You've forgotten, didn't you?" Emilio asked as he facepalmed. "You always forget important things, you know?"
"Great minds don't need to remember everything, Emi. You have to be specific." Jack replied casually as he walked to the sofa and threw himself on it casually.
"The test! It's literally tomorrow!"
"..." Jack froze for a second before he looked up. "Wait… really?!"
"Yes! I knew you forgot! I literally told you last week."
The test Emilio was talking about was the 'Soul Test' to determine the people eligible to become candidates to join the Soul Monarch Academy, the most prestigious institution in the entire world. Billions of people put their lives on the line to join that academy. All the geniuses in the world in every field will fight for those select spots to become students there.
Not only did that guarantee them wealth and social status, but it also gave them a title not even the royalties of the world could rival. Every graduate of that academy and even every student is seen as a great hero of their nation and someone revered by all people.
Every ten years, the process of choosing the next set of candidates who will try their luck at joining this prestigious academy begins with this Soul Test. Since Soul Power doesn't awaken in all beings, those who do awaken it are considered talented. The more Soul Power you have, the more talented you are.
Once someone becomes 17 years of age, their bodies will either awaken Soul Power in the next three years, or they're considered talentless. Usually, they only discover that once the next Soul Test starts and they're faced with the harsh reality, but those rich enough to buy a Soul measuring device would know way beforehand.
"I totally forgot about it." Jack rubbed his head. "Well, thanks for reminding me."
"It's tomorrow at 7 AM in the city hall. Everyone will be there." Emilio said, his expression changing a bit.
"Are you nervous?"
"Why should I be? It's just the most important test in our lives, and it would determine if we're bound for greatness or mediocrity, it's nothing too important, really." He replied sarcastically.
"Greatness isn't determined by status; it is determined by integrity." Jack crossed his arms. "Don't let some dumb title make you think less of yourself."
"Say that to people, not me. If you don't hold a worthy title, they won't look at you with respect." Emilio replied as he stared through the window. "They never do…"
"I am a poor orphan, and I have always had the respect of people." Jack shrugged.
"Maybe that's because you're a good-looking, charismatic guy. I'm not like that."
While Emilio wasn't particularly ugly or awkward, compared to Jack, he might as well be. His best friend was an attention magnet wherever he went. His playful, charming, and cunning personality, coupled with his ridiculous looks, made him the centre of every single place he goes to.
"Touche." The young man rolled his eyes.
"... Are you really not that interested in becoming a student in Soul Monarch Academy?"
"I'm not basing my whole life around it. Going to an academy is a good way to pursue my research and also go on adventures, that's what I want to do. Other than that, I don't have any interest in that academy."
Jack found it quite amusing how much people worshipped that academy. They saw it as a sort of temple only for those worthy. A place where Gods were created. Even Magalia, which is a very secluded city that doesn't have much contact with the world beyond the Lighthouse, still carried that reverence toward this academy.
For him, however, it might as well just be another school where people go to study and pretend to be smarter than others.
"Right, I forgot how much of an adventure junky you are." Emilio laughed. "I remember when you tried to blast a hole through the Lighthouse walls to go outside. Getting you out of prison was so hard."
"They are trying to restrict my greatness. But, they are destined to fail, for I am eternally great."
"Yeah, yeah, you are." Emilio rolled his eyes. "Anyway, I need to go back now. You need to sleep early tonight and don't invite any girls over. We have to be up early tomorrow, it's an important day."
"Yes, sir."
Shaking his head with a wry smile, Emilio finally turned around and left the house after bidding his friend farewell.
Seeing the door close, Jack sighed and tapped his thigh before he stood up. "Time to make some food. I'm famished."
Walking to his kitchen, Jack checked the fridge, only to realise that it was empty. "I forgot to buy groceries… Great. *Sniff* Bleh, this milk is spoiled."
After that, he gathered whatever ingredients he still had left and made a quick sandwich before eating it quickly. After that, he went to his room at the far back of the small house. His room was rather spacious and organised.
His desk was filled with tools and stuff he was working on. Stacks of paper and a blackboard filled with numbers and drawings hang on the wall.
It doubled as a bedroom and research lab. He spent a good chunk of his day in here, studying Soul Power and all kinds of other fields of science. It was his safe haven from the world.
Throwing himself on the bed, he closed his eyes.
'Tomorrow, huh?' He mused. 'I still don't know if I can use Soul Power or not. I have tried to create my own Soul Power measuring device, but… I don't have the necessary parts for it. They're too expensive and rare to come by."
With the countless ships that dock in Magalia every day, there were naturally many goods being brought in, which was why Jack was able to create the things he created. However, even he knew there were restrictions.
"If I get to have Soul Power… I wonder if I will be able to leave this place, finally."
It was one of his dreams to leave the Lighthouse and explore the world. He had never even seen the Arthurian sea or the sky outside before. Leaving was heavily restricted except for special cases. It was extremely dangerous outside, and he heard that there were creatures lurking in the depths of the sea that could kill him.
Things that people call 'Soul Beasts'.