Waking up on an unfamiliar bed, Arko sat up and looked around confusedly. "right, I joined the Army". After he had spoken with the bald army administrator the day before, Arko had been led to the new recruits barracks. Having walked for the whole day he had fallen asleep directly, missing supper entirely.
Standing up Arko looked around, the room was crowded with bunk beds and the stench of sweat permeated the air. Most of the beds were occupied by fellow recruits.
Suddenly the blaring of a trumpet shattered the morning silence. As the trumpet's echoes faded, a stern-faced sergeant burst into the room, his voice like a whip cracking through the air. "Rise and shine, you maggots! On your feet, now!"
"Get moving, I want everyone out on the testing field immediately !"
All the recruits quickly got dressed in their military uniforms, a simple grey, knee length tunic with a large leather belt securing it. they had also each been issued a pair of leather arm bracers, boots and simple hemp pants.
Arko followed the first recruits out of the room, until they reached a larger square type area situated in the middle of the military facilities. A small stone stage stood in the center of the square with a peculiar device on it. It looked like some type of crystal but imbedded in a metal contraption with a dial.
One by one, the rest of the recruits filed out into the testing area, forming an ordered assembly that faced the stage. Then, a man walked up onto the stage and stood before the device.
"Listen up, recruits!" his voice boomed, carrying across the square. "Today, we will test your abilities to assess which army division you'll be assigned to. "All of you here today have stated having touched upon aura."
Pausing for a moment, he continued, "Unfortunately, most of you probably have extremely poor aptitude. Such aura users would have to train for years before even reaching the consolidation stage. Which is why we, the Tadashitia kingdom's aura division only accept those with medium grade aptitude and above."
The man continued, "This device on stage will gauge your aura aptitude and type. Each of you will come forward and place your hand on it. It will measure your affinity to harness aura energy."
"who wants to go first ? Those who fail stand to the left of the stage, the rest on the right."
A blond haired youth stepped forward confidently, walking up to the stage he placed his hand on the device. For a moment nothing happened, then the crystal started emiting faint white light. For a few seconds the crystal got brighter and brighter but then it abruptly stopped increasing.
"Healing type, low aptitude, Fail." Announced the instructor, his expression unchanging. "Next !"
The confident youth's smile disappeared, His face contorted horribly. "Impossible ! I am the best in my village, you're lying !"
The instructor's gaze remained unwavering. "Guards remove him !"
kicking and crying the youth quickly disappeared from the square unable to fight off the soldiers dragging him.
"Next !"
Another recruit walked up to the stage and placed his hand on the device. this time the light it emitted was green in color.
"Speed type, medium aptitude. Pass !"
This greatly reassured Arko, the first test had triggered a spike in his anxiety due to the test's apparent difficulty. The test continued on and one by one the recruits walked up to the testing device.
"Strength type, low aptitude. Fail !"
"Endurance type, low aptitude. Fail !"
"Strength type, medium aptitude. Pass!"
...
Next up, a huge man walked up to the stage. Arko gawked at his sheer size, standing in front of the instructor he was a whole head taller, he estimated his height at more than 7 feet. What was even more peculiar the fact he had a baby face, with pudgy cheeks. Placing his hand on the device, immediately a strong red light filled the area.
"Berserker type, High aptitude. Pass!" The instructor's face broke into a rare smile, he actually shook the big man's hand and asked, "what's your name ?
"Entar."
"Excellent, Entar. go join the others on the right"
As the recruits continued their march onto the stage, each testing their aura aptitude, Arko watched Entar's form recede into the ranks of those who had passed.
Finally Arko's turn arrived. As he stepped onto the stage, he placed his hand on the device. A cool sensation spread through his fingers, an almost tingling connection to the crystal. In an unexpected spectacle blue light cascaded from the device, intermingling with some tendrils of orange. The instructor's brow arched, a flicker of surprise traversing his features.
"Double attribute – Strength and Endurance, both at the medium level," the instructor stated. "Pass."
Sighing with relief and a bit of confusion, Arko stepped down from the stage and over towards those deemed fit to join the aura division.
As the testing continued, Arko settled into a rhythm of observing his fellow recruits' outcomes. While some met their fate with disappointment, others, like himself, emerged victorious.
Finally, the testing drew to a close, the recruits who had passed stood together, all of them in high spirits. Among them, Entar's presence loomed large, a symbol of exceptional aptitude and the potential for greatness.
"Gather close, those of you who've shown promise," the instructor beckoned, his tone firm yet inviting.
"Congratulations on proving your aptitude," he began, his words resonating with authority. "But remember, your potential is a canvas waiting to be painted with skill and dedication. Let me enlighten you on the workings of aura, the very essence that pulses within us all."
He cleared his throat, his gaze steady as he delved into the intricacies of aura manipulation. "Aura can be harnessed from a variety of sources. Fallen aura users, monsters, humans – their aura lingers, ready to be absorbed. Even the environment itself brims with aura. It surrounds us, waiting to be absorbed."
"The key lies in your aptitude. For those with high aptitude it's easier to draw aura from their surroundings. Likewise, absorbing from the deceased is the same. The higher your aptitude, the less aura you waste, ensuring you gain the most benefit. A person with average aptitude can absorb up to 25% of a dead aura user's accumulated aura. As you can imagine absorbing from the dead is many times faster then simply absorbing the aura in the environment. "
He gestured toward the crystal device on the stage, its presence still palpable. "This device merely glimpsed at your affinity, but it doesn't define your journey. Your mastery over aura will demand relentless training, the kind that molds raw potential into formidable strength."
The instructor's eyes gleamed with a knowing glint. "There are several types of aura, each with its unique properties and potential. Blue represents strength, green for speed, white for healing, and orange for endurance. But that's not all."
His voice dropped, imbuing his next words with a sense of mystery. "There are rarer variants, hidden in the corners of the world. Red aura is the domain of berserkers – warriors who gain strength as battles wear on, as wounds accumulate. Then there are exclusives, like the black aura, a signature of the shade race, and the deep green of the elves, a symbol of vitality. And lastly orcs, the most powerful of them can awaken the devouring aura. it allows them to absorb 100% of the dead's aura"
"You, the chosen ones, must cultivate your potential, mastering your chosen path," the instructor emphasized, his words ringing with purpose. "In time, you'll come to realize that aura is a reflection of your inner self, a conduit to the essence of your being."