Chapter 9. The Assessment
Echo and Elsa walk inside the Assessment Hall.The doors of the Assessment Hall closed behind Echo with a heavy thud.
The sound echoed through the enormous chamber like a warning.
Inside, the hall was far larger than it had appeared from outside. The ceiling stretched high above, supported by massive stone pillars carved with glowing runes. Blue light flowed slowly through the carvings like veins of energy.
Warriors that was waiting nervously filled the room ,some leaned against the walls, arms folded and officials wearing grey robes. Walls covered with weapons and strange measuring devices.
Others sat quietly on stone benches. A few paced nervously. When Echo and Elsa entered, several heads turned.
Whispers followed. "A New recruit…"
"Who brought him?" "That's Elsa , a Warden … from the Night Cycle."
Echo felt their eyes on him making him feel uneasy. Elsa walked calmly as if none of it mattered.
At the far end of the chamber stood a long stone desk. Behind it sat a tall man wearing dark grey robes trimmed with silver thread. His hair was completely white, though his face showed a little age.
His sharp eyes moved from Elsa… to Echo.
They stopped before the desk. The man rested his hands together.
"Name," he said. "Echo."
His eyes narrowed slightly as he wrote something onto a thin metal tablet.
Then he looked toward Elsa.
"Sponsor?"
Elsa answered without hesitation.
"Warden of the First Ring. Night Cycle."
He nodded and looked at her robe.
""What authority mark do you hold within the halls?" "Mark Four," Elsa replied. "Vanguard." ". He nodded.
More whispers spread across the room.
The examiner looked back at Echo again.
"Origin?" Elsa spoke before Echo could.
"Recovered beyond the Sacred Waters."
Her reply , caused the entire chamber to grow quieter. Even the warriors pretending not to listen shifted slightly. The examiner studied Echo for a long moment.
Then he nodded once.
"Very well." He stood. "Assessment will begin immediately." He motioned toward a set of large double doors behind him.
"Follow me." They entered the first chamber.
This room was circular and quiet. The floor was covered in delicate runic markings that glowed faintly beneath the stone.
At the center stood a tall crystal pillar. The examiner walked beside it. "This is the Resonance Crystal." Echo looked at it curiously.
The crystal was perfectly clear, but faint threads of light moved slowly inside it like drifting mist. "This test measures Core Density," the examiner explained. Echo frowned slightly.
There is nothing like core density in the multiverse, echo said. The man nodded. This realm is different , we measure power base on core density....not measly colours! , he said in barely control rage.
Echo was surprised how the man reacted the question, he simply nodded.
The man continued. "Every warrior possesses a core. It is the center where energy gathers within the body." He tapped the crystal lightly.
"The denser the core, the more power it can contain, absorb… and release." Echo nodded slowly.
The examiner stepped aside. "Place your hand on the crystal." Echo approached.
The room had become completely silent.
Even the scribes standing along the walls stopped writing. Echo lifted his hand and placed it against the cold surface.
For a moment… Nothing happened. Then a sharp pain tore through his chest , he stepped back immediately. The examiner's brow narrowed.
"Try again is your last", a voice broke the silent.
A light glowed undetected by everyone in his core.
Echo started to shake. He placed his hand on the crystal.
Then the crystal began to hum. Ahhhh, Pain exploded through his chest. Echo staggered back, a scream tearing from his throat."
He felt like there was war going on as if his core doesn't want intruders.
A faint glow appeared deep inside it. Thin lines of light spread across the runes on the floor. The glow brightened slightly. Then the scribes began writing quickly.
The examiner watched carefully. "What's happening to him, no one feels pain when they touch it", elsa said.
Then the light flickered strangely. For a brief moment, a second color flashed through the crystal. A deep violet.
It vanished almost immediately. The examiner's eyes narrowed slightly. But the crystal soon returned to a steady pale blue.
The hum faded.
"Enough," he said calmly.
Echo stepped back shaking with sweat dripping. The scribes finished recording the result.
Let's move on to the next test..