EQUINOX || The Catalysts Series, #3

IX

"We get our ability readings immediately?" Lena asks, incredulous—but also nervous.

She doesn't know what to expect, since it's her first time.

There's also the excitement of being ranked for the first time. And yet, it is equally mixed with a level of buried fear.

"Yes," Roen replies. He sits casually, leaning back against a columned spire of one of the many walkways across the courtyard of Arcane Academy. He stretches his long legs over the artificial grass bathed in sunlight, squinting against the five-dimensional space. "You know, technology."

There are students duelling at—literally—180 degrees above them, the flash of powers prominent. As Lena hangs her head back, she is unsettled to find the constant exchange of raw skills and weapons directly above her as she is trying to relax during their break among classes. Occasionally now she finds herself getting accustomed and easily disregarding the chaos of academy grounds; but today, it is disorientating not only because of the strange dimensional gravity Lena still isn't used to—the fact that a duel is taking place directly above them as they lounge so casually without any of her friends pointing out is highly concerning.

However, whatever law of physics governs this place, it doesn't seem to bother anyone except Lena.

Further beyond, around 30 degrees from the duel, a vast field stretches out, and students are playing ability-driven game sports. Some students from Lena's class are active in these games, and are competitive against other classes.

"Technology," Lena echoes. "But what exactly do they read within our system?"

"I can't be bothered with this question, malady," Roen apologises unsympathetically. He winks at a cluster of girls passing across the courtyard where the fountain stands, waving toward some of them. "But you may ask me about soccer."

Neesha scoffs to his left. "It's all about soccer to him, even if we do have different type of sports that require using our abilities. Hard to fathom he's grown up here."

"I like soccer!" Roen argues, ready to fight for his mundane sport of choice.

"No one's going to take that away from you," Neesha says, laughing with Lena. "Anyway, I can't answer your question either, Lena. Just like yesterday's trials, we barely know what they measure or see when the authorities are testing us. Just go with the flow and show your abilities; the technology of this city will do the rest."

It's already the fourth day of the week-long trials. Somehow, with only three days of unknown left, Lena is still doing fine—even if she has no idea what part of her system or abilities is being measured and tested. She hasn't been called out as an oddity, and Caelus hasn't been seeking her out to give her advice, so she's figured she can begin to relax a little. It's not that bad, after all.

As the trials go on, the groupings get more specific and specialised—but the authorities who are the ones doing all the testing and classifications are all giving the students easy to follow instructions. All Lena has to do is to follow obediently and perform as she's told, even if she doesn't know how or why they are being grouped as such.

"What was yesterday's one for?" Lena asks anyway, hoping her friends, being more experienced in this city than her, have some explanation.

Right after the four general groupings, the students are further branched out into two classifications for the next stage. Azure Dragons are divided into mind-states and physical-states. While all Azure Dragons require an object for the activation of their abilities, some do not need to physically touch them to make them work—just like Lena, who found out recently she can alter her 'visions' to different places and time periods of her command. These students are put into the mind-states.