The meal ended almost as soon as it started. A rather typical occurrence under his mother's culinary guidance.
Luca and his family now sat around the table, cleared from their previous meal. The atmosphere was tense as the situation to come grew dire. The Null Trance.
Mavrik glanced at his family when he groaned softly while rubbing his temples.
"There's no need to be scared."
His calm voice took on a soothing tone as he stroked his goatee.
The Trance was an opportunity for those in the Higher districts. Nobles who had access to academies which prepared trancers with knowledge and technology that aided their trials.
But people like them had no such access.
Other than belief, there was nothing else they could give their son.
"I agree," Liora said with a sigh.
"This is a trial that many pass… I believe it will be the same for our boy."
Despite her confidence in her tone, her concerns stood out.
After all, the chances of succeeding without the prior training were one to nil.
And failure… was a disaster.
It led to the birth of a creature which also served as a conduit. A conduit that leads to the spread in the formation of these creatures. Null spawns.
So while the trance gave them something to fear, the outcome topped it.
Luca clenched his fist and peered at the Phantom knight beside him.
Confidence brewed slowly.
"There could still be the possibility that… just like you two, it might not affect me."
The Trance began during the appearance of Eidolon, a thousand years ago. Affecting babies that were newly born from that day forward.
Yet, while many experienced it, a few, such as his parents and many in his neighbourhood, had lived without ever going through it.
Many scientists and intellectuals proposed theories, but none of which explained it.
What was made clear, though, was that it was hereditary.
Though this information was far from the reach of low-income earners at the edge of the Ostaria Federation.
"Hm." Liora shook her head.
She replayed her life thus far with her son, from the moment he was born till this very day.
What stood out in those memories were the peculiarities of her son. The odd behaviours and worst of all… his drawings.
'My son…'
An image flashed in her head.
A caricature colouring of the family made by young Luca.
The family of three were made four. And one…
'... Was different.'
She pushed the thought aside.
"I can't agree to that, Luca. The chances may be higher than you think."
"Agreed." Mavrik finalised in frustration.
Though not as aware as Liora, he also felt the differences between his son and others around his age.
"Either way, we will stick with you till the very end. Through your trials, if it does happen… and through life, if it doesn't."
His worn-out fingers tapped the table as he turned to Luca.
Luca sighed in resignation.
"And the neighbours?"
When a child is born, the public doesn't just record it — they pay attention. They keep track. It's how they control a danger that threatens everyone.
Mavrik was about to reply when the door hummed with a low thrum.
A knock that jolted their bodies.
They stared at one another, ignoring the sudden spike in their blood.
"Speak of the devils," Liora muttered as she rose to her feet when a voice spread through the walls of their home.
"Mr and Mrs Elaric, are you in?"
The familiar voice rang in their ears.
"Solmir?" She rushed past their living room to the door.
Behind her, the two boys peeked with curiosity. Unwilling to reveal themselves from their spot.
She stopped in front of it.
Her fingers visibly shook as she reached for the first lock. At that moment, she began to revisit their plan.
'Why would Solmir pay a visit at this time of the day?'
Even without needing to say it out, the response came quickly.
'Luca…'
She hesitated even more now.
But an extra knock on the door snapped that right out of her system.
She moved.
With a few clicks and turns of the multiple locks, the door squeaked slightly open and revealed a bald, middle-aged man with a straight beard.
Liora's gaze travelled from his face to his feet and back to his face.
Just before blinking and widening as she glanced behind him.
"Um, Solmir, what is this?"
She was right. Unfortunately, right.
'Isn't this too quick?'
Solmir smiled.
A stark contrast to what stood behind him.
A crowd of people. A small riot, you might say. "Today's a joyous day, isn't it, Liora dear?"
Liora nearly tripped over.
"What is the meaning of this, Solmir?"
She glanced around in astonishment.
Old and new faces stared back at her with solemn expressions.
These were the same people she had lived with in the neighbourhood. Friends and acquaintances who fostered close relationships more than anything.
It was the one thing they had over those above them.
Still, the Trancer's mother remained unmoved.
'They're all here already?'
She had expected this since they never followed the procedures.
Children between the ages of thirteen and fourteen are quietly taken to the authorities two to three days before their birthday.
Sadly, Liora and her husband had wished to spend more time with their son… and thus…
Solmir blinked in confusion and turned back. He glanced over the crowd and back at her.
"You know what today is more than anyone, so understand our… concerns."
He gently placed his hand on the door.
Behind her, Mavrik stood to his feet.
Walking quickly to the door.
"Solmir, it's our child. Our Luca."
He held the door firmly in place.
"But he's also a threat. A seed of disaster. He's at the age where our days are no longer safe."
Solmir replied as he gently pushed the door.
"He should have been contained by now." He continued.
"The people are worried. We can not have him fail his Trance in our neighbourhood… I reckon you take him now, or we take him for you."
Liora swallowed hard.
It was evident they stood on business, though she expected it.
After all, they wouldn't be the first nor last family to experience this situation.
She had seen one herself, but never had she thought she would live one.
"We will contact the guardians." She said, "Please, you have to understand… he's my child. Our child… we have to say our byes."
As she spoke, she couldn't help but notice their body language.
She realised then that her words meant nothing.
A threat was still a threat.
Solmir frowned.
"You should have done that when you had the chance."
Just then, she noticed movement at the back of the crowd. One that sent chills down her spine.
Solmir walked to the side at that moment.
Revealing a group of men in armour.
Their heavy armour spoke more words than speech ever could.
"You see, officers. I told you we would get them to comply."
Mavrik and Liora paled at the Patrol Guardians before them, and their hands lost their grip when they pushed the door aside.
"We apologise for the intrusion."
One announced. A young man with bright brown hair in a bob cut and sharp eyes.
He held the reins of the small group. Standing at the sides while the others marched towards Luca.
The young boy, lost in the folds of events, could only watch as they surrounded him.
Mavrik attempted to walk up to them when the young man stopped him.
"I advise you to remain in place, sir. We will simply take the Trancer to the station until the trial ends."
The man wanted to speak, but the soldier's stern expression and the crowd of angry neighbours made things difficult.
All they could do… was watch.
'Just this morning, we feared that he would be taken away from us by the trance.' Liora thought.
'Now they've come to take him before we even have the chance to say our proper goodbyes.'
It was an escalation beyond their control, and Luca knew this.
"I hope you understand what must be done… um…" One of the guards stated.
"Luca.. Lucamir Elaric."
The boy replied as he stood to his feet.
"I understand."
By his side, the Phantom knight rose to its feet.
Arms folded and eyes peering into the young boy.
It glanced around the room… then stopped at a clock at the other end of the Living room.
Its eyes seem to flare to life with a white hum.
An increase in the depth of its gaze that Luca didn't miss.
Then it disappeared.
'What?'
"Let us go, kid."
Before Luca could comprehend what had just occurred, he was tugged forward.
Forcing him to leave behind the bundle of questions.
With reluctance, he followed after them. Stopping only when he reached the door.
With a glance, he observed the crowd that overtook his small compound.
Family friends and neighbours, he had grown to know and love.
It baffled him that they would stand together against lurking danger. Unfortunately, that danger was him.
Still, he couldn't help but admire their unity in times like this.
'Interesting.' He thought to himself as he headed down the stairs with the Patrol guardians following closely.
Luca didn't necessarily feel the urge to hate or despise any of them. After all, it was an action born of fear.
But, perhaps something else did.
At that moment, in the middle of the pathway between his parents' vegetable garden, Luca froze mid-step.
Not by his will… but the will of something else. Ancient, primal and without care.
A cold grip that seemed to cease something from within… and in turn, replace it.
He felt it spread through his body.
The alien feeling that had a mind of its own.
He lost comprehension, and his vision began to fade.
"HEY! SOMETHING'S WRONG! OFFICER, OFFICER!" One of the neighbours screamed as they backed away.
"It's happening!"
The soldier announced as they led the group away from the boy.
"STEP AWAY FROM THE TRANCER!" He commanded.
The panic escalated in waves.
"Run!"
One screamed, and the public rushed in droves away from the compound.
"Maintain composure as you depart."
The Soldier announced, though, he knew more than anyone that it was futile.
With a bite to his lips, he grabbed the parents of the child and rushed away with his subordinates.
Just in time, too, because in the next second, a wave of energy blasted from the child who remained in place like a statue.
Locked in the action he had last performed.
Luca's senses caught on to the changes that occurred… yet nothing registered.
Everything simply was and wasn't at the same time in his head.
And fighting it… was futile.
'Hah… is this it? The trial?'
The trial… the Null trance was an emergency that required actions to be put in place.
Sadly, none of that had been done.
"Lucamir Elaric! You will now succumb to the Trance!" The officer's voice boomed in his ear. "DO NOT GIVE IN!"
His senses ceased to work as if they were never there… but somehow, the Soldier's last words still registered.
"Good luck… your parents' lives depend on it."
His consciousness flipped and faded.