Rory was getting quite fidgety by the time he heard the vice-principal call, “Mr. Killean Walsh.” His nerves were making his whole body shake. Every name called had meant one less person between him and his future.
Sixteen other kids, not including Killean, had been tested and they either had sufficient compatibility to be a hero to humanity and the Empire, or not and become a normal human.
As this was class one, it was expected that they would perform well. And that expectation had been met as more than half of the sixteen tested kids showed compatibility with a Soul Construct. Including Alison, there had been five level 1’s, three level 2’s, and one level 3 so far. Two of the level 2’s were granted water, one level 2 received terra. All in all, an excellent outcome, which might have been why Vice-Principal Macmillan was smiling so widely. It would reflect exceptionally well on the Institute, reaffirming its position as one of, if not the, the premier soul learning institutions on Earth. There were obviously other schools all over the galaxy, but the Sol system, and Earth in particular, was considered the best.
Killean went up and followed the same procedure as the rest. Rory was grinning widely when the second circle showed up for his friend.
He ended up as a level 3 Soul Crafter, which was amazing and what his family was known for. His construct was some sort of infuser, which is a medical tool of some sort. When his friend didn’t receive an element, Rory was disappointed for him but still cheered loudly, which caused him to receive a dirty look from the vice-principal. But Rory didn’t care and just kept on clapping and yelling for Killean until he vanished into the recovery room followed by the floating drones.
“Mr. Ruairi Sheehan!” the vice-principal snapped. “If you would stop making that racket, perhaps you can join us on the floor and get tested?”
Rory winced at his real first name. He didn’t like it when he heard what only his mother called him, and only when he was in trouble. He had everyone call him Rory for a reason.
In a mix of excitement and terror, he walked forward and past the annoyed vice-principal who he completely ignored, being in his own world.
I can do this. I’ll get a construct, I know it.
Rory was confident. He really was. But there was a nagging sensation in the back of his mind that feared he would not walk away from this a Soul Wielder that could work with his da. The fear of failing him just wouldn’t leave his head. Over the last days and even weeks, Rory had been seeing the same two images of himself every time he closed his eyes. One was of him walking proudly up to his father, his arms raised and his face beaming in delight and satisfaction. And a second image of him, shoulders slumped, head down, tears falling from his eyes as he slowly shuffled up to his father in failure and shame.
It was like a vacuum was sucking his life out of his hands and into the handles he was holding. Every experience he had had in his life was pulled out of him and he feared the machine was draining him of everything he was.
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What’s going on? Is something wrong? Is the machine trying to erase me? It is going to kill me?
Every experience he had had in his life was passing before him and was being vacuumed away.
Just when Rory felt like he was going to lose everything and nothing would be left of him but a body, a single memory faded into view and focused his mind.
He had just watched his da and friends practice in the guild house courtyard. They liked to show off for Rory so one of his da’s friends, Callum, started twirling his twin dagger constructs and showing off some amazingly quick slices and stabs on a dummy.
The vision faded with the laughter of the friends and their calls of encouragement.
Rory became aware just in time to see a fourth circle fill up. The four full circles started spinning and shortly two images, not one, appeared. They were… two more but larger empty circles? His brain couldn’t process anything so he couldn’t makes sense of what he was seeing.
Then the images faded and he realized he felt weaker than he had ever felt in his life. Even worse than after their running and exercises in school. The tube lowered and the two men caught him just as he collapsed.
His mind scrambled, Rory couldn’t comprehend what was going on while being supported into a seat to recover for a few minutes.
“Holy shit!” a high-pitched voice spontaneously called into the silence of the room, startling Rory.
He winced as the vice-principal screeched, “Mr. Cohen!” Clearing her throat, the woman spoke again, this time somewhat shakily. “Mr. Sheehan. I’m not sure how, but you showed as having a level 8 compatibility. And you awakened to a mixed-service dual-weapon construct. Congratulations on being the first twice over in the history of this institute if not the Empire. You are the first to awaken at level 8 and then again to awaken such a multi-use weapon as Chakram.”
Rory heard her stutter slightly, “I-I’m not sure…” His mind just couldn’t catch up to what he was hearing. Nothing made sense. Then his mind caught an unfamiliar word and he was barely able to focus just enough to ask a one-word question. “Chakram?” he asked weakly.
He heard her clear her throat and answer, her voice sounding like she was thrilled to be able to latch onto something she could teach. “Chakram are weapons that can be equally effective at melee and short to limited medium-ranged combat, depending on how you advance your body and weapon, which you’ll learn about tomorrow.” Her tone lost the teaching aspect and simply sounded full of awe as she said, “No matter what you receive for an element, you will be in the highest of demand, including by the Crown.”
Rory was still processing, but felt a little better and was able to shake his head, trying to clear it the rest of the way. “I’m joining my da at his guild.” That he knew for sure. No matter what, he was working with his da and their friends. Then it hit him.
The process was normal until a single color kept flashing, bright blue. But oddly, the machine seemed to be malfunctioning because the lights kept going black. Rory was worried again but then the circle rose and the floor flashed with a blue so bright it was almost white until it went black again. And then everything was back to normal.
As soon as they faded, Rory felt drained again, but this time he could barely keep his eyes open. He was able to make out some voices as he wobbled on his feet.
“Gentlemen,” the vice-principal snapped at the normals. “Can you figure out what’s wrong with the tester? Quickly, please. It seemed to be blinking out for this… student.” Clearing her throat again, Vice-Principal Macmillan spoke again but the voice, and all sound, starting fading. “Well, congratulations Mr. Sheehan. You have been granted ice. An impressive and exceptionally rare element specializing in both damage and control effects. I don’t know what to say. The Crown will be notified and your father will be receiv-”
Rory collapsed into unconsciousness.