Each Gutterborn took a step and Herring still looked at Zane.
Zane had said shut up as best as he could to Herring but the man laughed in return.
"I am just trying to lighten your mood. And mine too. That was scary. I almost spoiled my pants."
Zane said nothing.
But Herring did.
"I can't wait to touch the Haloheart. My mother has been working for as long as I remember. She is the only one I have. I can't wait to give her the life she deserves. I will take admission here and change her life forever. I am so excited."
Zane looked at Herring for a moment, and this time, he nodded. Something finally got through him.
Herring smiled.
"Let's both do our best."
Zane didn't reply and Herring kept chatting.
His voice had shivers, Zane also saw the sweat on his face.
Kairon scared him to the bone.
Zane would never forget the name.
He let Herring talk and occasionally dropped some 'hmm' during the talk.
The gutterborns and Commoners kept moving forward and after thirty minutes, Zane was one step away from entering the Citadel.
It took this much time as only after the turn of five Halocrats, the turn of one Commoner and Gutterborn came to touch the slab.
The Halocrats were given tokens and the Citadel also prepared a seating arrangement for them as well. No lines for them.
They were given exotic ales and delicacies to eat as they waited for their token number to get called out.
Everyone wanting to touch the slab today were all eighteen years old people as the slab only works at this age for some reason.
Zane peeked inside further.
From the whole Dwarkam, everyone who turned eighteen today had come to the Citadel.
Be it the Gutterborns or Commoners or the Halocrats.
But only the Halocrats who were not from Eldros continent—where the Golden Slab was—had to pay the fee of ten Lumens to enter. The Halocrats, situated in Eldros, had free entry as why would they pay for something that belongs to them in their own continent?
The entry for the Gutterborns and Commoners was also free, no matter from which continent or city. Not counting the hours of standing though.
Zane's chest itched, and for some reason, ever since he stood in the line, this was happening.
Must be an infection from standing close to that rich guy.
Zane rubbed his chest, feeling the scar, and the line moved.
He raised his leg and finally placed his foot inside the Ironhalo Citadel.
And before he could take in the view…
"Ugh."
His chest throbbed. Harder than before.
Herring heard that and looked at Zane.
Zane scratched the scar on his chest.
"What is… that? A marking?" Herring asked.
"It's a scar." Zane said.
Herring raised his brows.
"That's a big one. How did you get it?"
"I don't know. I have it for a while."
Herring didn't ask further about it.
But he did feel pity for Zane.
The red scar ran from the shoulders of Zane to the ribs, forming an X in the middle of his chest.
A wound that Zane really doesn't remember or he doesn't want to. Herring didn't know.
While lightly scratching his chest, Zane looked around.
The ceiling of the Citadel touched the clouds and while roaming his eyes, he finally got the first look of the golden slab, the Haloheart. And it looked exactly like something that bestows people.
It was situated in the middle of the Citadel and it is said that the Citadel was built around this slab when it first came from the sky and slammed on Dwarkam.
They say only one fourth of the slab was out of the ground, the rest was inside.
Beside the slab, a man with white clothes stood with a smile.
Zane didn't know the man but he did know what he was.
A Priest.
A Priest from the Glory Order Church.
Zane looked above the slab and saw that there was no ceiling.
He shrugged and from the corner of his eyes, he saw the seating area of the Halocrats.
They were seated at the left side of the slab and in the last row, at the corner seat, Zane saw a familiar face.
It was the same short black haired girl.
A sword rested on her lap and the royal man stood behind her seat, eyeing everything.
And since he was eyeing everything, he definitely felt a stare.
He looked right there and met Zane's eyes.
Zane flinched and if that wasn't enough, the girl looked at him too.
Shit.
Zane turned his head to the slab and scratched his chest.
The man and the girl let it be and focused on themselves.
Zane sighed and waited for his turn.
Like Herring, he too wanted things.
Whatever he gets from the slab, he would use it to get more jobs.
Brickhauling didn't pay that much in proportion to the hours and efforts he puts in.
The line moved forward at a snail's pace and after another thirty minutes…
He was a little away from his turn.
But it was now Herring's turn.
The Priest called the Gutterborn with a wave of his hand and Herring beamed.
"Wish me greatness." He said to Zane and bolted towards the center stage.
He climbed the short circular stairs reaching the slab and stood in front of it.
The Priest walked and stood between the slab and Herring.
Herring said some things and the Priest did the same.
But Zane couldn't hear them. Or maybe he could.
Because as he reached closer to the slab, his chest acted wild.
He wanted to rip his chest but he only rubbed it lightly and slowly. No scene he wanted.
While hoping his chest heals, he locked eyes on the stage.
The Priest stepped to the side and Herring was finally in front of the slab.
With sparkling eyes, Herring reached out his right hand and placed it on the slab's surface.
Everyone waited in silence other than the Halocrats as laughter and jokes ran amok from their area, not caring about anyone but themselves.
Soon, the slab hummed and then a golden pillar of light erected from it.
Deciding the fate of the scrap picker Herring.
But anything that has a 'Halo' in its name…
Zane knew it wouldn't care about the dreams of a scrap picker.