“Right. Who wants to go next?” Lut asked, drawing their attention back to the assessment.

There was a moment of hesitation, then Tuk stepped forward. “I-I will.”

Lut nodded. “Hands on the orb then.”

Tuk licked his lips and approached the machine with a shaky exhale. The device rose up to match Tuk’s height, and when it stopped at his chest height, Tuk gulped, and placed his hands gingerly around the orb.

His double-jointed long fingers overlapped each other across the orb, and he looked at Lut with evident concern.

“It’s fine. And… Start!”

With a sharp intake of breath, Tuk looked back to the orb.

He licked his lips again, and a frown scrunched up his expression, as he stared intensely at the now, back to normal, shifting gray substance within the orb.

Nar sneaked a look at Lut, expecting her to tell the ring tosser to relax, but she simply stared at the orb, unconcerned by Tuk’s antics.

Nar looked back at the shimmering gray, and waited in patient silence with the others for something to happen.

Slowly, as if turning into some sort of fine particle material, the substance seemed to coalesce into tiny grains. The grains then started shooting around within the confines of the orb like crazy, making Tuk jump in fright at the ricocheting sound that they made in between his hands.

There was, however, no change in color, brightness or temperature in the orb, and Tuk turned a panicked look at Lut.

“Does this mean anything?” he asked.

“Hush. Just keep going,” Lut told him, tapping away furiously on her screen.

With an audible gulp, Tuk looked back down to the orb in his hands.

“Ugh… It’s just like him,” Mul whispered, having returned with Cen. “Full of annoying energy and excitement. I’m tired just looking at it.”

“Shhh!” Cen said, covering his mouth.

“Alright, that’s all we’re going to get from it,” Lut said, looking up from her screen. “You can let go of it, Tuk.”

Tuk removed his fingers from the orb, almost reluctant to do so, and rubbed his hands together.

“That didn’t work, did it?” he asked, looking down.

Lut shook her head. “No, it didn’t. But don’t worry, this is actually what happens in most cases. Only 30% of Ex-Climbers come out of the gates and get their affinity on the first go. What happens now is that we’ll need to find out your affinity.”

“H-How?” Tuk asked.

Lut gave the machine a lazy wave.

“Basically, the affinity accessor has an enormous amount of data, or information, to make its assessment on, but it still requires the auramancer to have a good understanding of themselves and of who they are, or who they want to be,” she explained. “When that’s the case, like Mul, it reveals what the affinity is to us. But in your case, again, the majority of the cases, it instead gives us some good ideas of what your affinity might be. Pointers, if you will. Knowing those, we can put you in positions where you are likely to unlock your affinity through what is called moments of enlightenment. That is, a moment of realization, or understanding of yourself. An awakening, if you will.”

She tapped something on the screen. “The faculty will have access to this data and they’ll use it to make the most out of your training and assessments. More than that, I cannot tell you. Any premature knowledge I give you, any hints, no matter how vague, could potentially affect your affinity. It can delay your awakening or maybe even knock it of course into becoming something else... And with that, change your path and, at its core, who you really are. And who you’re meant to be.”

“Crystal…” Cen whispered.

Tuk eyed the orb before him with a wide-eyed stare.

Lut sighed and reached over to pat the trugger’s shoulder.

“Look, it’s all good,” she said, squeezing his shoulder. “And once you go through the first aura class later today, things will make a lot more sense, okay? Just know that we are doing everything in your best interest and that of your paths. Tsurmirel has no interest in shaping your futures. You have far more potential walking and building your own natural paths than having us forcing you down something else less appropriate for you. That goes to say that we will also do everything to make sure you stay on the right path, alright?”

Tuk nodded. “Thank you…”

“Alright, next?” Lut asked, as Tuk stepped aside.

“I’ll go,” Gad said.

“Alright. You know the drill. Hands on the orb and just wait.”

Gad nodded and once the machine adjusted to a slightly higher height, Gad grabbed onto the orb without hesitation, covering it almost entirely with her strong and mighty hands.

Nar peaked at the orb, through the tiny gaps in Gad’s fingers.

Not magic… Then what is it?

He shook his head. It looked like until he finally got to that first aura class, no one was going to tell him anything. However, he had waited for months to understand things, he could wait a few more hours.

The moment dragged, and like Tuk, there was no dramatic change within the orb.

“You can let go now, Gad.”

Gad nodded, undaunted and serene, and removed her hands from the orb.

With his sight finally unblocked, Nar leaned in to have a closer look. The substance had changed. It seemed to be circling around the orb in perfect unison, slowly going round and round within its confines.

“The faculty will know what to do,” Lut told the tank. “Like I said, don’t worry about it.”

“Thank you,” Gad said.

“Alright, next?”

The moment of hesitation was longer this time around, and Nar considered whether to step forward. Instead, Kur, who stood on his other side, discreetly held onto his arm.

Don’t go? Nar wondered, confused. He had no idea what his party leader was up to, but he decided to stay put regardless.

“I-I’ll go!” Jul suddenly said.

“Good. Hands on the orb, then,” Lut said, smiling at the quam.

Nar traded a look with Kur, while they waited for the machine to adjust to Jul’s height. Kur indicated the left with his eyes, and Nar followed it.

Viy? Nar thought, frowning. Then realization hit him. You want them to go first, so they’re not left for last?

Kur wiggled his eyebrows, trusting Nar to have understood his intentions. Nar gave him a discreet nod.

Yeah. That makes sense. And he probably means Cen as well, Nar thought to himself. The three of them are probably already shaking with nerves, waiting their turn. Leaving them for last would only make things worse.

He hid a chuckle behind his hand.

As always, showing why he’s the one in charge…

“N-Now?” Jul asked, when the machine stopped moving.

“Yes, please. Just two hands will do.”

Jul did as she was told, her two other hands clasped tightly behind her back, and Nar leaned on one leg to try and get a better look over Jul’s shoulder.

The effect was immediate.

But instead of a bright, searing light, the substance darkened to an inky and very dark gray. In between eye blinks, Nar was now staring at a nearly black gas, softly shifting within the orb with flashes of metallic gray

The gas moved in an almost hypnotic way, drawing him in even as felt the urge to look away. To run from it. To hide. To make himself small and to not be found…

He could hear his parents shouting his name, throwing around what little broken furniture they had in their house. They had drunk it all, and now, when their bodies and broken minds craved more, there was no more to give them. And it was going to be his fault. It was always his fault!

A sob escaped his throat and he covered his mouth, trying to make himself silent. Tiny. Invisible. To disappear from the very Creation. But he knew they were going to find him. They always did…

Jul screamed and let go from the orb, stumbling backwards.

Her entire body shook, and her hands were frozen on the way to her face.

The gas raged within the orb, as though it was trying to break free, furiously clawing to reach Jul. Nar felt a shiver run down his spine, even as he was still reeling from what he had just experienced.

Without Lut having to announce it, he instinctively knew what it was.

“Jul?” Nar called out to her, taking an uncertain half-step towards her.

The quam turned around to look at him. There were tears glimmering in her green-blue eyes, and her lower lip and chin quivered, trying to hold in her emotions.

“Why?” she breathed.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Then she buried her face in his chest.

“It’s… It’s going to be okay,” Nar said, holding her tightly.

Then he looked at Lut. “Right?”

Lut considered the screen with a pensive look.

“Fear is not an easy one,” she almost whispered. “Emotion paths are powerful, but often difficult to master. It will be up to her to make of it what she wants to.”

“But it’s not bad, right?” Mul asked, almost shouting it. “She’s not a bad person!”

“It’s not bad,” Lut agreed. “It simply means that like rage and anger are an integral part of who you are, manifesting through fire, fear is the one that truly defines her. Whether she allows herself to be controlled by it, or unleashes it upon her enemies, will be up to her.”

“Can she change it?” Nar asked, still holding on to Jul’s trembling form.

At his words, he felt Jul move her head, to look at Lut with was probably a desperately hopeful look.

Lut pursed her lips and considered whatever it was displayed on her screen. Then she sighed.

“No…” she said. “This is a very, very strong manifestation of affinity. Perhaps… No, not perhaps. There is no point in lying… This is a true affinity of fear. Unlike Mul’s, which manifests through fire, Jul’s affinity is one that is almost purely fear. And fear is what her path will be.”

Jul looked down.

“Wait! This is a good thing!” Lut said. “True affinities are very rare! What I can tell you, Jul, without overstepping my role too much, is that this doesn’t mean that you will always be afraid. Fear keeps us alive! It makes us cautious and pay attention. And turned against your enemies, it can be very powerful indeed. It will be up to you, to continue to let fear dominate you, or instead, to learn to control and wield it. But your masters will know better than I what to do, and how to help guide you. Okay? Just know that this is really, really good. The brass will love it! You’ll almost 100% definitely get invited to stay for the two year delve!”

Jul swallowed and nodded. She let go from Nar and wiped at her eyes, furiously, as though embarrassed.

“It will be okay,” Nar said, unsure of how to help her. “You will build a really strong path. I know it.”

Jul looked up at him and her chin quivered again. She offered him a brave smile though, and stood tall at his side. Nar stayed where he was. Unmoving. Stable. The sibling and true family that she deserved to have, and which her parents had denied her.

Within, Nar felt his aura boil at the emotions and memories that had come from her, as her affinity unlocked. How could they have done such things? It made him want to find them and… And give them a piece of his mind.

“You’re not alone anymore,” he whispered to her. “Or ever. You hear me?”

She nodded, pursing her lips.

“Mul…” Lut said.

“I know,” Mul said simply.

Lut’s mouth opened and closed, and she just nodded.

“Alright, next?”

“I… Me,” Cen said, raising her arm. “I’ll go next.”

Nar swallowed.

What will it be now?

Cen waited for the device to come down to her height with a blank, albeit very pale gray expression. Nar had never known the meaning of her yellow irises, and considered what he understood of Cen.

She lied to us, yes, but she eventually came through to us. And she’s been honest ever since. Caring and helpful in every way. So I don’t think lying is her affinity. Cen really wants… Something. Not power, I think. But something… No idea what though.

With a grimace, Nar hoped that Cen would unlock a good affinity. Something to match her enthusiasm for learning and understanding the mysteries of aura and its yet unknown capabilities. Something to excite her… Not punish her for her moments of weakness.

“Okay. Hands on the orb,” Lut instructed her.

Nar watched Cen with his heart on his throat.

Please, be something good, he hoped. He prayed.

Cen stood diagonally from him, and through her small hands, Nar could see the gray substance clearly.

Time stretched, made longer by his nervous heartbeat, but the substance did not change in the slightest. At least not to his untrained sight.

“You can let go, Cen,” Lut said, offering her an encouraging smile. “Don’t worry, the faculty will know what to do. You’ll get there.”

Cen nodded, trying not to look too dejected and walked away from the orb, which, even now, looked completely unchanged to Nar.

He sighed in relief. At least it’s not something bad…

But was it worse, not knowing, and now having to wait longer to find out whether her affinity was something “evil” or not?

Hang in there, Nar urged silently, watching Mul pass an arm over Cen’s shoulders and give her a squeeze. For her part, Cen replied with a smile.

She’s brave… She’ll be okay, Nar thought. And she’s got all of us with her. Whatever happens, we’ll be there for her.

With Cen through, that left only himself, Kur and Viy left. And Nar knew that Kur wanted Viy to go next.

He quietly stared at the floor, trying not to give anything away from their plan.

“I guess it’s my turn next, right?” Viy asked, looking directly at the two of them.

“Oh… Uh. If-if you want…” Kur managed.

“Thank you,” Viy said, smiling brightly at Kur and at Nar. “I appreciate it.”

She stood in front of the orb, and once again, Nar’s heart rose to a painful gallop.

Viy had suffered the most, mentally, in their Climb.

It was clear that something had happened to her, back in the cubeplant, and that it was something that to this very moment, she still carried with her. It definitely bothered her, hurting and affecting her to an extent that Nar still did not understand by just how deeply. And now, they were maybe about to find out what it all was about.

Like Nar, everyone else watched Viy with frozen expectation, breaths held, and jaws shut tight in worry and anticipation.

“Hands on the orb, please,” Lut said, in a subdued tone. She had clearly picked on the party’s mood change, and knew to expect another intense assessment.

Viy gave everyone a brave smile, and then placed her hands around the orb.

At first, Nar wasn’t sure what he was looking at. It was like the gray substance was melting into nothingness, even as it adopted a new color.

From gray, it went to dark gray, then into dark brown, and as it seemed to completely disappear, the orb began to radiate a dim, and deep, dark purple-blue glow.

It dragged him in. Pulling him into its waiting arms… And then it closed around him with a vice-like grip! Crushing! Choking him!

He felt nothing, knew nothing, other than the crushing, all-encompassing weight that squeezed him into lifelessness, even as it pulled him deeper and deeper into that deep purple and blue glow.

Nar clawed at his throat, struggling to breath, desperate to escape the pull that was even now drawing him deeper and deeper into an endless void of dark blue purple.

His lungs cried for air. His mind cried for release!

And deep down, something called out to him…

“That’s enough!”

Nar inhaled deeply, and burst out coughing.

Around him, the others hacked and coughed in similar ways. Cen, Tuk and Kur had fallen to their hands and knees, and were now gasping for their lives.

Nar clutched his throat, breathing out of sync, and found that Lut had dropped her screen, in her rush to pull Viy away from the orb.

Viy herself was still staring at the orb, her expression vacant, but otherwise seemingly unaffected by what had just happened. She didn’t even seem to notice that Lut was still holding on to her hands.

“What was that?” Tuk whispered, staring at the now back to normal orb with evident fear.

Lut let go of Viy’s hands, gently, and picked up her screen again.

“Guilt,” she whispered. “Manifesting as weight.”

Before anyone could speak, Gad stepped forward, placed both hands on Viy’s shoulders and pulled the spear woman into a crushing embrace.

“This doesn’t change anything,” Gad said. “We are family. If you wish to talk, we are here. We are here for you. Always. You understand?”

Viy nodded against Gad’s chest, her expression blank, her eyes empty.

Gad took Viy away, and Cen followed after them, holding onto Viy’s right hand.

Lut sighed and tapped something on her screen.

“That one might change. Might,” Lut told them. “But it won’t be easy. And of course, it will depend on the source of the guilt… But if she can clear it up… She might have a chance.”

“I understand,” Kur said. “Thank you.”

And with a heavy sigh, he turned to Nar. “Do you mind if I go next?”

Mutely, Nar made a vague gesture towards the machine. He was still staring at Viy.

It was so… Crushing. So helpless. Crystal… What happened to you? No. What did you… Do?

It was hard to believe that Viy could have done something so severe as to be burdened with such a deep and all-consuming guilt. A guilt so strong it had become her aura’s very affinity, the core of who she was.

She had acted bratty, and selfish, at times, but never in malice, or cruelty, or a desire to harm anyone. However, the weight of what she carried was undeniable, and this time, the orb had not even given them any hints or revelations as to its source.

Whatever had happened, they would all have to trust in her from then onwards. Believe, or hope, that she could be trusted. But it was hard not to let one’s imagination run wild… A lot of bad things went on in the dark corners of the cubeplant.

“Okay, hands on the orb,” Lut said.

Kur placed his hands around the orb with a resolute expression. From close to him, however, Nar caught the slight tremor that ran down his shoulders, down his arms and elbows, and into his slightly shaking fingers.

It surprised Nar.

He had expected Kur to be one of few that had nothing to fear, together with Tuk and Gad. However, truth be told, neither him nor, to his knowledge, any of the others, knew why Kur, a manager brat, had decided to take the Climb. Were they about to find out something unexpected about their party leader?

Kur looked down at the orb in his hands, and Nar tried to still his heart.

It will be alright, right? He asked himself.

He leaned towards Jul, in search of a gap through Kur’s big hands, but he failed to find one.

Moments passed, and unknowingly, Nar started to balance from one foot to the other, waiting for something to happen.

He wished that he could do something. That he could influence the outcome of what was happening here today. To give Mul, Jul and Viy better affinities, and to help them resolve and come to grips with the things that had followed them out of the cubeplant. However, he knew himself powerless to do so… At least for now. One day he would be stronger. More knowledgeable. Better. Smarter.

One day, he would be able to make a difference in their lives. And not just them. But everyone else he met. He would help everyone.

Yes, he could do it. He could make them shine, and through them, he himself would finally prove to everyone else that he was right in leaving the cubeplant. That there was nothing he could’ve done for his workers. That it was the place he was, the cubeplant, that had made him fail, and not that he had given up! Or abandoned anyone in search of…

“That’s okay, Kur,” Lut said.

Kur took his hands away from the orb with a deep breath, and scratched the back of his head.

Nar’s head cleared off of Kur’s thoughts, and he was finally able to see what was going on with the substance inside the orb. It had turned into some kind of softly gleaming liquid, almost metallic.

Bronze color, the System provided Nar.

The bronze liquid gathered fully to one half, then it came down and gathered itself on the other half, and then it returned once more to the other side, reaching a moment of balance in the middle of the orb.

“To make a difference manifesting through influence,” Lut announced. “An interesting affinity. Very leadership-like. The faculty will know what to do.”

Kur gave her a curt nod. “Thank you.”

“No worries,” Lut said, and then, her eyes slid over to Nar. “And that leaves you, at last.”

Nar nodded, clenching his jaw.

“It will be okay,” Jul whispered to him, and her words managed to wring a small smile out of him.

With a deep breath, Nar stepped forward, and waited for the device to reach his height.

His heart thundered in his chest, blasting blood against his cheeks and temples and the back of his neck.

His breathing came up shallow, and he tried to steady it.

Whatever happens, happens, he thought. I’ll take anything if it means power.

But invariably, his mind turned to the moment at the end of the Ceremony, when he had almost abandoned his party, and further down it went from there.

He recalled his resentment at being forced into aura. He remembered the cannibals, and the hopelessness of that cage. He remembered the burning bodies on the bridges, the open Doors to the cubeplant they had saved and the Clean spitting at his feet.

He recalled his parents' deaths. And his dad, and the tiny, shiny blue dot that had appeared on his finger, and that was even now spreading across his body.

“Nar?” Lut called him.

Nar startled and found the orb waiting for him.

“Oh. Sorry,” he mumbled.

Without any ado, he placed his hands over the orb, and knew immediately that nothing was going to happen.

He felt nothing looking down at the shimmering, shifting gray substance. His aura did not react in the slightest.

He exhaled slowly, unsure of whether to feel relieved or disappointed.

He grimaced and looked at Lut. “I don’t think anything’s going to happen.”

She nodded.

“Yes,” she said. “Like Cen, a very unknown affinity as of now. But we got something from that, and the faculty will decide what to do with the both of you, as well as with Gad and Tuk.”

She tapped on the screen with finality and then made it disappear, and stored away the cylinder.

“If we consider your party member Rel, whose affinity is one of repentance, manifesting through pain and suffering, then more than half of you guys have discovered your affinities,” Lut said. “You’re above average in that. This will give your party an advantage in terms of individual strength, but aligning all of these paths so early might prove challenging.”

Kur nodded slowly at her words. “We’ll find a way.”

Lut gave him a slow nod in return.

“Anyways, you’re done here for now. Once you’ve discovered your affinities, and trust me, you will know it, I’ll see you back here to confirm what they are. And when that happens, remember to not speak of it at all, until you've come to see me! You can still affect the outcome! Even then!” she warned them. “Until then, good luck and work hard. And off to the quartermaster you go next.”

“This way, please,” Gharuhkl said, seeming to sprout out of nowhere.

With a mumble of thank yous, the party filtered out after them in a muted and dazed state.

“The quartermaster has set up shop just a few doors down the corridor,” Gharuhkl explained to them, once they were back outside. “You can’t miss it. Good luck.”

And with another mumbled chorus of yeses and thank yous, they started down the corridor.