The Black Lotus hall was silent; all eyes were on Seshwan as he held the previously sapphire orb in his right hand. All viewers were speechless they'd never seen a unique essence before in their lives. It was commonplace to see someone without essence affinity. To the common people, this unique essence has an unknown ability. It could possibly execute any technique regardless of essence affinity or command any element. Much was still unknown about Seshwan's abilities, which would mean this individual had potential to rise above the heavens as an ascendant. The ascendants are humans who gain the power of the gods and leave the normal plain of existence to a realm only described in legends.

A multitude of questions whirled around inside Seshwan's mind. 'was this why I was set aback? could someone really hate me for being special? Why me of all people?' all questions he had no answer too.

"Hey kid, this is probably why you got poisoned and lost your cultivation ability." Walter wore a serious expression as he stared toward his apprentice.

'I mocked this boy because I thought he was no more than some nobles son who was actually trash. Who would have thought he far surpasses me in potential strength?’ Walter now felt embarrassed for having mocked Seshwan so much over the last few days.

Seshwan's expression turned dark as he racked his mind trying to recall an opportunity to have been poisoned. No one was aware of his unique essence other than the members of this guild. Even the masters at arms in the capital all thought he was just a useless offspring of some noble. He had never taken a test like this in his entire life.

"Poisoned you say?" Master Lotus stroked his beard as he thought.

"Yes master I couldn't cultivate at all because of great pain, every time I attempted to draw in energy I experienced extreme backlash. Until three days ago I met Master Walter. Through some unorthodox methods, he corrected the damage and even gave me a cultivation technique." Seshwan recalled the details of the past few days they were mostly a blur of training, cultivating and preparation for this day.

 though his mind wondered here and there thinking of the past three days he still continued to search his mind for clues of what had happened. a large gap had formed in his memories, 'Was it always like this? why can't I remember anything? The years I spent training are mostly a blur of strung together instances, are these even my memories?' Seshwan thought the idea of a gap in his memories shocked him deeply.

"That's just it boy you’ve manifested an essence that should hold some immunity to the kind of poisoning your describing." Master Lotus continued to hold a deep expression as he thought. " The only way you could be affected to that extent would be through some form of branding or an advanced Demon curse."

Xerxes looked over at the mention of demons and cursing. "He couldn’t have been cursed. a blood curse would leave scarring on his skin and he would have suffered to death by now, at a young age if you come in contact with a curse that’s not cured by holy blessings or a shaman you will succumb to the demonic power and either die or turn into a ghoul."

Seshwan had heard of ghouls before. Corrupt rotting bags of flesh that roamed desolate towns and plains they thrived and sustained themselves on flesh and blood. Disgusting creatures of pure evil and malice. The Holy Knights order exists for the express purpose of sending ghouls and other abominations back to the unholy realms they rise from. they especially hate demons, the ones usually to blame for them being summoned.

"Master, what's this branding?" Walter asked as he was just as puzzled as the rest of the other masters. Master Lotus had lived a few centuries longer than the rest and traveled all a crossed the continent, many lost techniques and abilities along with knowledge were passed down to his direct disciples. 

"Essence branding as it's sometimes called; is a taboo art of forcibly manipulating another person's essence through old demonic contracts. You could easily cripple someone physically or completely ruin their progress in cultivation making them completely useless. The reason it's a taboo is that it of the sacrifice and ancient rites that are needed to be performed in order to use it. The name 'branding' comes from the damage left on the five realms the scarring will permanently leave a mark. Seshwan your realms must have endured an intense amount of scarring, likewise with whoever used the branding."

Seshwan had no memory of anything like this happening. "There's no way for me to know if someone else's realms are scarred like mine. Unless I gain access to their realms which id need to be in extremely close proximity to do.” Seshwan looked toward the masters of the guild. All of which smirked back at him. "Why are you all looking at me like this. I'm having a hard enough time with this."

"Kid, of course, there is a way to view another’s realms without being close to them, we do it all the time." Master crest waved his hand.

Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

"How do you think we pick our marks?" Walter stepped forward still smiling.

"Before I answer that, what's a mark?" Seshwan being a privileged nobles’ son was not familiar with some common terms of thieves.

"Ugh, you're Killing me kid. A mark is a person or group we target to rob or shakedown. Now we won't pick someone we cannot outsmart unless we can overpower them. If we can't overpower them, we outsmart them. But how would we know how strong a noble is without knowing them personally?" Walter step toward Seshwan taking the sapphire testing crystal from him and handing him a small blood colored ruby covered in inscriptions.

"What's this?" Seshwan had never seen a gem like this one before.

"That young man is an essence ‘sight’ stone." Master Hilliard piped up from the side, no doubt proud of his own creation. "I crafted these stones to detect essence strength and type at a range. They are effective up to 50 meters. I based the design off of a technique Master Kubard knows for reading another's Essence strength."

"God, you’re an arrogant prick. No one cares that you made them Hilliard." Master crest rolled his eyes. "It doesn't matter how it works only that it works for what we need it for."

Walter rolled his eyes at the small exchange before explaining; "As the two top masters of crafting and inscriptions in the guild, these two like to boast and show off their latest accomplishments. Hilliard has made more breakthroughs lately, raising his standing and contribution to the guild to a higher level than master Crest. Their rivalry tends to rear its head whenever the discussion of items comes up."

Hilliard scowled toward Crest. “Ignore whatever this lot says, they're just upset cause my inventions are more practical." Master Hilliard was proud and not afraid to show it. "Seshwan with these crystals you just inject a bit of essence into it and focus on a target. The information will be transmitted to your mind."

 "Let's play with your toys another time Hilliard." Master Lotus moved to the balcony rail to address the guild. "Ladies and gentlemen we have tested these youths. Everyone has potential to be great members and even future masters. Though they possess great potential we still must see if they can truly be helpful to this guild. In a few days’ time, we will send them on personal missions to steal items from the city. As the current guild members, you are to make these new comers earn their places. I'll give five-thousand Denarii to any thief who steals the item before them and brings it to me."

The crowd burst into cheers;

 “Do you believe this! Five-thousand! those kids never stood a chance!”

“There’s no way the masters will let us control whether these kids get in, right?”

“Got to be bullshit! They don’t stand a chance against the veterans in the guild!”

 to the members of the guild Five-thousand Denarii wasn't a large sum but it was well worth messing with some recruits. Anyone who could get their hands on the money could afford to buy an inscribed weapon or even a decent set of armor, the task was well worth the try.

The guild hall was buzzing with this news; they would be paid to mess with the recruits! While all the other masters looked puzzled. The apprentices more so than all others were stunned. A guild of thieves would be trying to bar their only way through this test.

"This is how we test to see if you're worth our time to accept and train. I changed the rules to test these four exceptional youths. We will be taking on a huge risk if we accept Seshwan and Xerxes. However, Colm and Elise should be able to manage." Master Lotus grimly smiled toward the four most outstanding apprentices. "Seshwan more than the rest possess the largest risk as he is affiliated with the nobles of the city."

The whole guild went quite again this time murderous aura rose up from the lower tiers of the hall. slanted gazes of evil intent felt as if they would pierce Seshwan's skin.

"He may have ties to the nobles but all the more reason to have him? we will have a man in the top tiers that isn't wanted for murder or theft, yet. he could easily help us get some high-grade items out of the noble families with way less risk." Master DeRosa spoke up, "No need to cut him now, you can do it later if he betrays us!"

These words were intended to claim the guilds growing unrest, and serve as a warning to Seshwan; 'don't fuck with us' was the message he meant to convey.

"I like this! My two apprentices are going to have to actually prove themselves!" Walter was grinning like an excited child who couldn't wait to see how they performed.

Xerxes looked toward Master Lotus. "If we're caught trying to steal, will killing be permitted?" This youth’s demonic heritage showed through. He was no doubt a ruthless killer. He only required permission.

"You’re not to kill anyone! You and Seshwan will also be handicapped. You must only use your human essence and Seshwan can only use his earth essence. Though he currently can't use the other if one develops do not use it." Master Lotus smiled at Xerxes and Seshwan he truly believed these boys were going to be great men one day but for now, they were to over confident in their bloodlines.

"Master, could we work as a team?" Seshwan had been previously thrown off by the handicap and change in the usual rules that Walter had explained to him days before. He now wore a look of determination and full seriousness. 'If I want to get work and access to the guilds training techniques I must pass this test. It's the only way to learn more about my essence and gain a way to find out who set me back all these years. I can't turn to uncle or any masters in the army none will believe my story.'

Master Lotus' eyes flashed with a glint of curiosity. “I’ll allow you to work together but you must pull off some form of a heist. If not there is no reason to team up. A heist will mean you pick no less than three members in addition to yourself and you must pick a target. You have two weeks to plan and submit a team list. I look forward to seeing what you have in mind Seshwan."

Seshwan nodded, "Yes sir I will not disappoint.”

This had worked out in Seshwan’s favor. He had Xerxes with a lightning essence, which if he could manifest his real guard would provide a key to future teamwork. He was already halfway to a team required to pull off the theft he had in mind. a few additions and some planning and he were sure he could easily pull off a heist. He had the perfect location in mind.