Tatm Hsu glanced around nervously as he waited his turn in line to talk the the admissions office personnel. Today was the biggest day of the year: the winter solstice - Stormpoint Entry Examination Day. All across the continent of Vjr, thousands of men and women 17 to 18 years of age will travel to a major city in order to take an examination. Tatm had travelled from his hometown, the fishing port of Bleu, to the small metropolis of Xaansall. While Xaansall was a few hundred times the size of his home, it was still the smallest testing location on the continent. In his hands Tatm held two documents. The first was proof of citizenship and the second was an information packet that needed to be filled out and turned in before he was to be admitted into the testing room.
“Next in line.” The admissions officer at the front desk glanced over his spectacles at the young man walking up to him. “Name?”
“Tatm Hsu.”
“Place your information packet on the right stack and the proof of citizenship on the left stack.” The officer studied the young man in front of him more closely. He had dark blonde hair and an average physique. He wore a plain light green shirt and form fitting beige pants. A single white streak ran down from the top of his head through his bangs. “Say, kid. Are you his son?” The officer asked, nodding to a massive mosaic of the Army General plastered on the back wall of the room.
“I am.”
The officer flashed a smile “I am, sir.”
“I am, sir.” Tatm echoed.
“Go through the doors just ahead. Your seat number is 472.”
Tatm caught his breath upon walking through the doors. Held within was a massive auditorium, complete with a glass ceiling and hundreds of metallic grey desks forming a grid, flush with the ground. Almost half of the desks were occupied with applicants, each waiting for the start of the test. The restless tapping and click of footsteps filled the otherwise silent room, and Tatm quickly wandered towards the center to find his seat.
416, 436, 456, 466, 476, 475, 474...472. FInding his assigned desk, Tatm analysed it. The desk was very simply designed. As far as he could tell, it was just a tile from the floor extruded upwards. The desk more closely resembled a podium, as there was no chair to accompany it. The desk was slightly tilted towards the back of the room, facing him.
Noticing a blue hue from the occupied desks around him, Tatm placed his hand on the desk’s surface. Immediately, the desk came alive in blue light. Keeping his hand positioned, blue lines outlined the surface of his hand and symbols formed above.
After a moment, the desk rose silently upwards, ever so slightly, so that it was positioned at the center of his chest.
Hand now at his side, Tatm looked at those around him. The empty desks in the room were slowly being filled in. On his right stood a man slightly taller than himself, with brown hair and a brawny physique. Catching Tatm’s eye, he nodded silently at him.
“I’m Tatm Hsu.”
He frowned “Xzav.” Xzav had a gruff voice and a heavy northern accent. “Have you done this before?” Xzav waved his massive arms around him gesturing towards everything.
“This is my first time.”
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“Don’t be so nervous. This is my second time. You always have another chance if you miss. Me? No. I should be nervous, not you.” Xzav shook his head and looked away, seemingly disturbed by what he said.
Chuckling inward, Tatm recognized that Xzav did not want to be bothered further and unfocused his gaze, staring blankly ahead while waiting patiently. Time crept by slowly and soon the sound of whispering overtook that of footsteps and tapping.
“Hey streaker. Over here.”
Glancing to his left Tatm saw a woman slightly shorter than himself looking at him.
“Yeah, you. I’m Jyyna Lee. Who're you?”
“Tatm Hs-”
“Listen up Tatm,” she interrupted “You look smart. Why don’t we help each other out here, huh? Whaddya say? This is my last chance here and I’m desperate, alright? Show some sympathy towards your betters.”
“I’d rather-”
“Listen now, you don’t gotta be that way. There is room for both of us at the academy. If we- HEY! Don’t ignore me while I’m talking to you!”
Tatm turned his head towards his desk and sighed, ignoring his new neighbor’s slur of curses and threats. Honestly. Just do your own work and leave me alone. Keeping his eyes on his desk, Tatm kept to himself and waited quietly.
“Attention. Attention. My name is Lieutenant Deron Lunt.” The Lieutenant's voice reverberated across the auditorium, silencing everyone within. “Welcome to the annual Stormpoint Military Academy Enrollment Examination. I have been placed in charge of administering the test in Xaansall this year, and I demand absolute obedience throughout the examination. For those of you taking the test for the first time, let me enlighten you on the procedure and rules. There are three parts to the test. First will be the written examination. At your desks you will be presented with 50 questions. Answer them to the best of your ability. The second test is the physical test. We will be testing your speed, strength, power, agility, flexibility, and endurance. We will also analyze your health. The third and final test will be revealed only if you score above a certain threshold on the first two tests. On your desk you will find a listing of all the rules for these tests. Take a moment to read them now.”
Tatm looked down, and sure enough, blue lines formed together in fine print, spanning the entirety of his desk. He read them twice and committed them to memory.
After a short wait, the Lieutenant’s voice rang out once more. “We are now on schedule to begin the examinations. Remember why you are here. Graduating from Stormpoint Academy is the only way to join the Military of Vjr. There is no higher honor than serving on the front lines. Also, keep this in mind. Across our nation there are over 100,000 men and women taking this exam. Stormpoint only accepts the top 900 applicants…The written examination begins now.”
Each desk in the auditorium lit up in blue and Tatm felt his heart skip a beat.