Things flew one after another in front of Zane's eyes after the third pillar went inside the slab.
Golden windows with silver words on it appeared with no permission and mercy.
Zane was still on the stage, in front of the slab and the only thing he was glad at the moment was his hand coming off it. That was the most normal of them all.
His scar that had stayed dormant, changed its shape.
The last time he checked scars weren't supposed to move.
The slab shot out three pillars of light when the Priest clearly said underprivileged crap doesn't get more than one.
And if that wasn't enough…
[ MANDATORY QUEST GENERATED! ]
[ Permission Not Required! ]
[ QUEST ACCEPTED! ]
Another window popped up.
Zane read it and he had no idea what it meant.
Permission not required? Whose? And for what? What did I accept? Heck when did I accept anything?
[ MANDATORY QUEST! ]
[ SILENCE PROTOCOL ]
[ Objective 1: Do Not Tell ANYONE! ]
[ Objective 2: Leave Ironhalo Citadel within 10 minutes! ]
[ Penalty: Host Override ]
[ Reward(s): ]
[ 1: Merge Point +2 ]
[ 2: Synchronization +0.50% ]
Alright. Calm down.
Zane took a deep breath and looked at the Priest for anything.
But the man was busy writing something.
Zane's throat tightened as the Priest wrote with a frown on his face.
He was already stressed enough being in the Citadel and now he did some kind of show.
And most of all, he would now be admitted in the batch of the Halocrats when he didn't even awaken three Skills.
"Er.. Father?"
"One second." The Priest scribbled faster and after a second, finally looked up.
"Yes?" He asked.
Zane ran his fingers on his chest and stared at the Priest.
The Priest stared back.
"You can… talk, son."
No reaction. So he isn't able to see these windows. I don't know if I should be glad.
Zane scratched his chest and Coin quivered his brows.
"Is it something about your chest?"
"That's… yeah. No! No. It's not about that."
As strange as it might be, the windows did warn Zane about not telling anyone.
That might also include the change of his scar. Because it didn't specify what he should not tell.
As a person who lives around thieves and killers, Zane always focuses on warnings. Even fake ones.
So even if he had the wish of discussing his scar, he won't play with his luck.
"What is it, then? There are other people waiting, son."
"Yes. Yes." Zane nodded. And his eyes went to the paper Coin held.
"What were you writing in that? Yes, I wanted to ask about that."
"Oh. This." Coin sighed. "It's just a protocol. What tier did you awaken? Your name and your admission in the Citadel. It's about that. Nothing to worry about."
"Alright. So I only got three Skills, right?" Zane asked, squinting his eyes.
Coin nodded. "Yes. As unprecedented as it is, you awakened three."
He really doesn't know. Or is he acting?
Zane had no way to find that out.
"So… what now?" Zane asked.
The Priest shoved his hand inside his robe and tossed something at Zane.
Zane caught it.
A coin.
A bright orange colored coin that Zane had seen for the first time.
But it wasn't a Lumen.
It won't buy anything.
A sun was printed on one side and the other side had a sword.
He looked at the Priest.
"This is a token for entry. Come tomorrow, show this at the gate, and you will be allotted everything the Citadel has to offer for students… of the Halocrats batch."
Zane shook his head, storing the token in his pants.
"Thank you."
The Priest sighed.
"The path ahead will be rough, son. Your luck, it made you unique among your… well, kind."
"And my kind isn't allowed to be unique."
The Priest said nothing.
Zane rubbed his eyes and sat on his knee.
He still remembers the protocol. Despite everything that happened to him today.
He kneeled in front of the Priest and the Priest stretched his hand over Zane's head.
[ 7 Minutes Remaining! ]
Is it serious?
Zane didn't know a countdown was going on.
Who… what are you? What is going on? Is this a Skill? My mind became something?
[ 7 Minutes Remaining! ]
"You can leave now, child." Coin said.
"Yes."
[ 6 Minutes Remaining! ]
I am going.
Zane stood up.
I can't believe I just answered to some words.
He turned around and descended the stage.
All eyes in the Citadel burned his back but he kept his head down and walked.
It doesn't take a second glance to know Zane was a Gutterborn and him getting three pillars out of the slab, made him the center of the attention.
The other Gutterborns were jealous, some were sorry for him.
The Commoners were surprised.
And the Halocrats… they were going to share space with Zane.
They jerked their heads, scrowned their noses just by thinking about it.
You won't die. You won't die.
Zane only needed to get away and take some time to figure things out. He had forgotten about his bloodied or probably broken nose because of the events that happened today.
[ 5 Minutes Remaining! ]
Zane let out a tired sigh and increased his pace.
He didn't know if this was real, but if it was, he didn't want that penalty on him. Also, no one was more eager to leave the Citadel than him.
The Awakenings carried on behind Zane as the Priest called out a token number.
Zane looked up out of mere curiosity and saw a Halocrat standing up from their comfy, foamed purple seat.
But his mere curiosity turned to attention as it was the same short haired girl's turn to touch the slab.
She stood up with her sword in her hand and by the grace of whatever, Zane wasn't the center of attention anymore.
Murmurs spread around the Citadel as the girl walked down from the seating area and reached the stage.
Zane's feet also stopped.
The girl climbed the stairs to the slab and kneeled in front of the Priest.
So these people kneel too. Must be to not forget how to bend knees.
He scoffed and watched the happenings.
[ 4 Minutes Remaining! ]
I know. It will be over soon. Shut up.
The Priest and the girl talked. Well, Zane only saw the Priest's mouth moving. The girl only nodded once and twice.
Then Coin stepped aside and the girl placed her right hand on the slab.
Let's see how their 'soul resonance' is compared to mine.
Zane laughed and kept his eyes on the brick.
The slab pulsated, just like it did with Zane and the next second…
SHING!
A pillar shot up.
But as the pillar reached higher, mouths opened wider.
Zane was one of them as the pillar nearly blinded every one who were too close to it.
All in all, the pillar was five times bigger and thicker than Zane.
It went outside the Citadel and Zane suddenly looked at the feet of the Priest and the girl.
They are still. The ground isn't shaking this time?
Zane didn't know why that was the case and after a few seconds, the pillar went back inside the slab.
Everyone waited to hear the verdict from Coin and the old man spread his arms:
"Hena Myreth awakened… An Aurora!"
GASP!
People gasped and now that Zane knew about tiers, his brows shot up too.
That's one of the strongest tiers. More than my Gleam. More than Radiant. Soul Resonance is something... I suppose.
[ 1 Minute Remaining! ]
Right. You are here too. I am already done anyway.
Zane turned around and finally started to leave for good.
He took long strides, scratching his chest and nose.
He was in the exit line, in the middle of the Gutterborns and Commoners' entry line, and unlike in the entry, the exit was happening really fast.
He reached closer to leave the place and a few more steps, the timer will be removed from in front of his eyes.
He saw the portion of the blue sky, the yellow cruel sun, and raised his leg to leave the Citadel.
But…
SHUP!
A hand arrived on his right elbow.
It stopped him.
He flinched and looked.
A man from the line on Zane's right, held him.
He dragged Zane towards him.
And smiled.
"Remember me?"
Zane gulped.
Please. Not now.
[ 10 Seconds Remaining! ]