CH-1: Ether Aptitudes

"Hey, are you here for the assessment too?"

"Well, duh. Everyone is here for the assessment. Are you nervous?"

"Haha, is that obvious..."

"I got you bro, don't worry too much. Us plebs won't have any grades higher than Yellow anyways, so let's work hard with whatever we get!"

Similar conversations filled the gymnasium. As it was the day of Ether Aptitude Assessment, the whole world was in high spirits, anticipating this year's batch of talents. Every citizen of Jer would be required to take a test of Ether aptitude when they turn eighteen years old. Not all humans had the aptitude of at least Red. Even after nearly seven hundred years that had passed since the Armageddon, the event that changed the world forever.

As the clocks hit 9 o'clock in the morning, the bell rang and four people in suits entered the gymnasium. They were the officials sent from the government to oversee the Assessment in District 4 of Blackhaven City, a city that was governed by Blackhaven Guild. Their job was to oversee the judges of Blackhaven as they conducted the Assessment, making sure that they do not falsify the results of those that are affiliated with them. As the officials took their seats, one of the judges sent from the Blackhaven Guild climbed onto the makeshift stage and picked up the microphone.

"Ahem. Testing, 1, 2, 3. Alright. My name is Ryan Shaw, I'm one of the judges that will conduct the Assessment of District 4 with my colleagues. As everyone knows, the assessment will be done by passing a current of Ether through your body and a crystal will emit light according to the electromagnetic spectrum. The more attuned your body is to Ether, the higher your color in the spectrum will be."

"You don't have to worry too much if you are in the lower spectrum though, you can always raise your aptitude with rigorous training. Even if you don't, you can always opt for logistics as there is always a lack of manpower with logistics. You will be handed forms to apply to various facilities after the assessment is over, so don't leave the gymnasium during that period. If anyone has any questions I can answer them shortly before we start."

There were a couple hands raised, Ryan picked one from the front rows to ask her question.

"What happens if the crystal doesn't emit any light?" It was a question asked every year, regardless of place.

"That means you don't have any aptitude for Ether, but no need to worry. Even if you can't assist with positions that require you to be Engraved, you still have a life with a bright future ahead of you. Alright, next." He chose a boy from the back rows.

"Excuse me, but if we are graded based on the electromagnetic spectrum, doesn't that mean if our aptitude is above Violet we won't show any color either?"

"Good question, what is your name, boy?"

"Peter, sir."

"Alright Peter, now listen carefully. As our visible spectrum ends with violet, our aptitudes are also limited to Violet. After countless researches it's been concluded that due to Ether density on Jer does not reach Ultraviolet levels, no person can have an aptitude surpassing Violet. But as there are exceptions with everything, such as the existence of Aberrations, it was decided to collect data from the places with densest concentration of Ether in the Arctic Spatial Gates to prevent overlooking such geniuses. Every crystal is made to be able to differentiate between infrared and ultraviolet spectrum. Any more questions?" It seemed he had satiated everyone's curiosity, as there weren't any hands raised this time.

"Alright, let's get started then. Everyone, please form a line based on your placement ticket you received last week."

Everyone formed a straight line, with a few people trying to find their exact placements. Coincidentally the first in the line was Peter, the boy who asked the last question. He moved up to the stage as he was called. He touched the crystal that was the size of a head, and his body started jerking slightly.

"Relax, the influx of Ether is harmless as long as you don't try to fight it. Calm yourself and let it pass through." said another judge. She then returned to reading whatever data that was received. After thirty long seconds Peter felt that it was over and the crystal started to shine a bright Orange, it even had tinges of Yellow in it.

"Haha! What a good start, we have an Orange from the start. It is sure to be a good batch now!" said Ryan, not being able to contain his excitement. It was his other male colleague who gave him the words of reason he needed.

"Don't get too excited quickly. There are still over five hundred teens here, with half probably being infrared and the majority being red. In the worst case, he probably is the most talented in this batch."

His colleague's words quickly brought down Ryan's mood. Now he was gloomy, and it did not help that they got several infrareds back to back after Peter's Orange. The assessment went on. With the officials intense look no judge dared to interfere with the results. While all these were happening, at the end of the line there was a restless youth. He had dark brown hair and eyes, and was wearing a black leather jacket and a blue jean. He looked like the guy you would see in every urban backstreet, smoking and swearing and drinking with guys that looked similar to him. Only the swearing part was correct.

'Damn it! I woke up at five to come here early, but turns out I didn't even have to! How unlucky I can be, being the last person in a nearly 600 man line... I did not have breakfast either...'

Not able to stand anymore, he neared one of the attendants.

"Excuse me, I haven't had any breakfast today and am hungry, can I go out to buy something to eat?"

"I'm sorry, but leaving is prohibited during the assessment. You can eat after everything is over."

"But I'm really hungry! Can you buy something for me instead, I will pay for it!"

"I'm busy."

After getting shut down twice the boy returned to the line, dejected.

'If everyone keeps the same pace it will take over five hours to grade everyone, even then there are still forms to fill. I can only eat after 4 pm, it's better to call it dinner at that point!' As he was mulling over what to do a savior appeared.

"Hey Sean, did you come here without eating anything again? Man, you should really take better care of yourself, it's your last year at the orphanage for Harsens sake! You were like this too in the final exams! You are lucky I brought extra cookies to eat, here take them."

"Thanks, Ben. You don't know it but you just saved my life."

"Yeah yeah, sure. You are still in last place though."

"Shit!"

"Anyway, I will be going back to my place. I don't want judges to punish me for breaking the line. I will wait for you after I'm done with my assessment, let's fill our forms together."

"Yeah, see you." With that Ben returned to his queue in the line. He was placed around the middle, so he would wait for a long time before filling his forms. It was no biggie though. These forms would be deciding their future so they would fill them carefully. What Ben said was right, it was Sean's last year at the orphanage, being 18 years old.

Sean and Ben were childhood friends that went to the same school since first grade, they were an inseparable duo, causing mischief every turn they got. As they got older they became responsible and dependable young men. Ben especially so. No longer the kid that would pour mustard in someone's lunch when they were away.

The line progressed steadily. By the time it was Ben's turn to get assessed, there were only a handful of those with Orange aptitude. He slowly climbed the stairs and got on to the stage.

"Gulp."

He felt like his gulping was heard everywhere in the gymnasium, so he hastily put his hand on the crystal. His body jerked instantly, more intense than everyone else before. He didn't know if it was because of his nervousness or something else.

"These readings, could it be?"

"Hey hey, relax. Take it slow. Deep breaths. Yeah, just like that." Judge Ryan calmed Ben down, and after a long minute his results were astonishing. It was a yellow glow as bright as the sun. If looked closely one could see the tint of green at the edges.

-"A Yellow! Haha our school had a Yellow talent!"

"Young man, I would like to offer you a contract on behalf of the Blackhaven Guild. We need young talents like you-"

"Please do not poach the assessee. I will overlook this time due to the excitement of finding a Yellow talent, but do not repeat this again. I won't be so lenient then."

Cold voice of the official brought back the fourth judge to his senses, but he still did not shy away from giving Ben another piece of paper with the form he was supposed to fill.

"Of course, there will be no next time. I was merely excited, that's all."

With the commotion over the progression of the line continued.