Chapter 1: The Testing Center

"Hello Little Exiles," a man in a lab coat said as he sat in front of three dirty and bloody children in an interrogation room. "Welcome to the Testing Center. You must pardon us for taking you to this room. You see, we are not like you Exiles and we have to ask you a few questions before admitting you into our city, permanently."

"He scares me. You answer him," Catherine said as she held her brother's arm and refused to look at the scientist.

"Let us begin with the formalities, children. I am Doctor Jasper Gavin, one of the chief researchers of the city. What are your names?" the man asked.

"My name is Edward and this is my younger twin, Catherine. She's fine being called Cat. The boy to my left is my cousin, Vincent," Edward answered.

"Wonderful. Wonderful," the man said as he wrote down their names on a laptop. "Do you know where you are?"

"Black Gate City. My cousin led us here," Edward nodded.

"Oh, he did? Vincent, how did you know to come here?" Dr. Gavin asked.

"My father lives here," he said, stunning everyone.

"Eh? He does? I thought you said he was dead," Catherine gasped.

"If he came back and begged to be my dad, he would be," Vincent said darkly. "I only had my mother."

"May I ask who he is?" the doctor asked.

"No. I won't tell you. I'd rather have no relations with the man," Vincent said. "I only came to this city because my mother would have wanted me to be safe. I also led my cousins or they would have died in the wilderness. That's it."

"What do you know of history?" the scientist asked.

"I only know that we are Exiles, people who were born and raised outside the cities," Edward answered.

"Some people turn into monsters if they get bit. It would be better if they did," Catherine trembled. "My mommy told me about the virus. The Catalyst Virus, she called it. I miss mommy....."

"It's okay," Edward said as the doctor gave him time to calm her down as she cried.

"The Catalyst Virus. That is precisely what it is called. According to the ancient records, it all started in a lab back in the year 2419. Mankind finally found a cure for cancer, one that did not require surgery or chemotherapy afterwards. It was in its testing phases, waiting for approval by the International Board of Medicine and Narcotics. No one could have expected the virus to go wrong

But it did and everyone and everything got infected. Half the population died within the first year, the infection spreading in all manner possible. Whether it was in the air, land, or water; you could not avoid getting infected. Most of the people who survived were immune. After five years of research, we discovered the rest of the survivors had compatibility with the virus. It changed them, but they remained human. Humans were born with a crystal core in our bodies after the year 2419, when the Catalyst Virus broke out.

Thanks to research on the crystal core, humanity was able to discover its power and fight back. However, only 15% of the Earth is populated by humans now. Countries only exist on record. Truthfully, the city states we made are our own countries. We can only accept those we know will never become one of the monsters that tried to kill us. That is why you three, and a boy who was found immune. are here," Dr. Gavin explained.

"So that's why those bad men shot at the others," Catherine said.

"They're not bad men. They have just rejected so many Exiles that they have grown numb to the pain of guilt," the doctor sighed. "Humanity used to be the head of the pyramid. Now? Who can say?"

"What happens to us now?" Vincent asked.

"We get you three tested further. Depending on your results, you will get sent to an academy in five years to harness that power of yours, the ones in your crystal cores. The means to make most of our human technology was lost, but every city state was able to retain some of it. Otherwise, we would have no electricity, medicine, gasoline, and other technologies that make us better than primitive species," Dr. Gavin smiled. "Now, follow me."

"What are we going to be tested on?" Edward asked as they followed him out the room.

"First, you children need a good, thorough shower," the doctor said. "Once you're done, then we'll talk. Catherine, the shower is to your right. Gentlemen, to your left. Clothes of various sizes are available inside. All children of the city are tested at age ten."

"What if they fail?" Edward asked.

"Ah, they never do. If your parent was immune or compatible, you would be too. Otherwise, this city would be chaotic and the adults would be afraid to have children. The human population is barley one billion after who knows how many years," the scientist sighed.

"Ah, to be clean again. Running water that I can take my time with," Edward sighed with relief as he stepped out the shower room with a white shirt and white pants.

"At least you could. I had to use a bucket and douse myself over and over. I just had to get a deep scratch," Vincent sighed.

"Nice and clean? Good. Come. First, we'll take something called an X-ray. It will scan your body and see how it is faring on the inside. Then we awaken your crystal core," the doctor said.

"Is it painful?" Catherine asked.

"The X-ray is not. The crystal core might be as reactions upon awakening vary to a degree. Remember, during the X-ray, please remain still and calm. It will be over within a few minutes," the doctor said as he led them to a room. "See that large machine with the tunnel in it. A table will slide out, you lay back on it, and the table slides in. The roof and wall of the tunnel is curved and will scan your body. There may be an annoying sound and light will move up and down your body. This is normal."

"This is weird," Catherine said as she shivered after the X-ray.

"I thought it was okay," Edward said.

"I really want to scratch my bandages," Vincent sighed.

"If you were already awakened, then the wound have already begun regeneration and you would not have a scar," the doctor said. "You can think of the awakening as a process to evolve humanity into a higher species. We call those who can harness the power of the crystal core, Neo Sapiens."

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"Not everyone can harness the power?" Edward asked. "Does that mean they can't fight and use supernatural powers?"

"In a sense, yes," the doctor nodded as they stepped into a large chamber. Several scientists, guards, and people wearing armor and robes all stared down at the three Exiles and the professor as they looked down from the second floor.  Catherine felt scared and hugged Edward's arm as they approached a giant orb with four scientists inspecting it. The orb was the color of a ruby and contained a mysterious energy that swirled inside it.

"We welcome the three Exiles to Black Gate City," the four scientists said as they saw the three orphans stare at them. "First, do you have any magical items or monster parts you wish to sell for our city's currency? It will be added to your accounts after you are tested."

"Edward and Catherine dumped a bunch of magical items from their backpacks, causing the people above to stir in an uproar! To think those little kids had so much treasures! They were sure there family had to to have been in the wilderness for many generations. They turned to Vincent to see what he would sell.

"I only have this carcass. I killed it before I got here," Vincent said, the body of the four-eyed, two-tailed wolf dumped onto the ground. He had no plans to sell his Silver Thorn or the gourd. The gourd was special in that it could contain three types of liquids in a seemingly limitless amount as the space randomly enlarged over time. One special liquid was contained while the gourd also held a lot of fresh water. In the wilderness, fresh water was scarce due to monsters making nests near them.

He also had his ring, but no one but him could tell it was magical. After all, a drop of blood on a non-magical item was the same as a drop of magical blood on a bonded magical item. If no one could sense the magic in it, no one would think twice about it. The crowd murmured as Edward revealed that he and Vincent already had weapons when the scientists offered to give them one if they were interested in a combat occupation if they qualified.

"What were the results of their X-rays?" one of the scientists asked.

"The girl has pink crystal core, her twin has a snow white crystal core, and their cousin has a grey crystal core," Dr. Gavin answered.

"And the size?" they asked.

"Each of them are the size of a thumb print," Dr. Gavin answered.

"Good. Then they should have no problems being awakened," the scientists nodded.

"Okay kids. Now I want you to listen very carefully. There is something Exiles don't know about the crystal core inside of them. I want you to stay calm and listen to the words I am about to say, alright?" the doctor asked as he stared into their eyes. "I think it's best to hold your twin's hand as it might comfort her enough to listen to what I say."

"Big brother?" Catherine asked as Edward held her hand and told her to be quiet for a bit. Vincent narrowed his eyes as he held the dragon tooth necklace around his neck, rubbing some of the wolf's blood of it. Guards removed the carcass and items and began accounting the items to decide the cost.

"Okay. You weren't raised here so this will come as a shock. You see, the crystal core is your mutation. Humans who were not immune were supposed to become monsters. However,we had some rare traits that actually consolidated all of the virus in our body and formed the crystal core inside all of us. Only the immune are truly without cores but are also powerless before the monsters. Haven't you ever wondered how, in rare moments, you were faster and stronger than before. Especially you, Vincent. How else would a child survive a mutated wolf? Your reflexes saved you in a heightened state," the doctor said.

"So this awakening is to fully unlock that power?" Edward asked as he saw Vincent stare at his necklace, his expression darkening.

"Yes. When you awaken the crystal core, you will see the mutation you were supposed to be. You must fight it. Take control of it. Otherwise, you become the very thing you have been escaping from your entire lives," Dr. Gavin said as he pointed at the guards. They all watched as a guard made an incision on the chest of the wolf and pulled out a crystal orb that emanated a flame like energy.

"That is inside every human not immune to the virus. Crystal cores are orbs of power. What kind depends on the person in question. The mutation always asks you which path you wish to take. There are five paths and you must give up one path to specialize in another. The other three paths of power will grant you those powers over time. All you need to do now, is touch that giant crystal core," Dr. Gavin said as he pointed at the crimson orb. "That is one of the first one hundred found before control of the world was lost to humanity. Very few cities have an orb like this. Our cities are the ones with the most responsibility as we are the ones to awaken the crystal cores of others. Now, touch the orb and awaken your power. Do not fight the energy that comes from the orb. Let it in and make it flow to the crystal core inside you. If you have a bonded weapon, it is best to hold it to help you. The girl will follow you after we give her a suitable weapon."

"It's a whole new world out there. You ready for it?" Edward asked his cousin as he brought out his spear, Frost Bite.

"Yeah. It's time we stop running," Vincent said as he let go of his necklace and took out Silver Thorn.

"Those are powerful weapons. Where did they find those?" the people above murmured as the two boys walked up to the giant, crimson orb and placed their palms on it. The mysterious energy entered their hands and they sat down and closed their eyes, laying their weapons on their laps as they let it flow to their crystal cores.

"What happens now?" Catherine asked as she stared at her cousin and brother.

"Now, we wait and see what happens," Dr. Gavin said.

"This power.....if I could harness it, could I avenge my mother?" Vincent thought as the energy reached his grey crystal core and his vision went dark.