THE FORTUNIST

27. Lay

“Like the ninth cryfix, no one knows the Fortunist's identity.”

🕳️🕳️🕳️

Lay's mind goes blank for seconds when he stumbles in through the door Ciara had just pushed him through. To cope with the anxiety, he starts reliving all the events that had so far led him here going as far back when Rayton first confided in him about the loss of the Winter Solstice.

"I just wonder on the seriousness of youth nowadays," a blue haired man who had initially opened the door says before turning to his three colleagues sitting in the panel. "He kept the line waiting. There's just two left."

"I…," he stops and decides Ciara would definitely owe him for this. He studies the room instead as the blue haired man goes to retake his seat. As a prince, Lay knows most of the members of the High Class but they don't know him. Even now, he recognizes the blue haired man as Godswood Tai, brother of Nua Tai who is an active member of the Bureau Council. There is Domi Heidi from Dian House. She would be the only woman on the panel if not for the apparent outsider standing next to Godswood's chair. Denpo Xhell who was once Queen Eim's personal trainer.

"Step forward," Lord Afetor Bo, the third panel member says and Lay obeys. He sees a three feet tall metal device standing in the middle of the large room. He knows the device. He had privately taken the affinity test when he was just five.

"What's your name?"

"Lay Denwin."

Lord Indila Pakue, the one who asked for his name consults a gigantic register. "Aah, I see your name only appeared here sometime today. May I ask why you bought a token so late?"

"I… I have been working hard to save money."

"I see, a lead token. It pleases my heart when I see hardworking boys like you. Albenarum indeed has all the resources to equip a child's future."

"I know."

"If you knew, Why'd you stand for so long outside the door?" Denpo asks sharply. Lay recalls that Denpo is a woman adept at spotting lies, being an effective liar herself. Her affinity is with Dian's Teardrop, the cryfix of Dian House. She can read projected thoughts and can eavesdrop on any sort of mind conversations. Thankfully, Lay had been taught how to veil his thoughts in lights of such telepathic threats.

"I got nervous." Ciara had gotten nervous.

"You could have been disqualified."

"I didn't know that." He did.

"Ignorance knows no place in Albenarum."

"Lady Xhell, don't badger the poor kid. Saving up and working hard to afford a token, he's been through enough already," Indila says placatingly. "Now, Lay, what major house is your house subject to?"

"Zia." His own house is among the major houses.

"Do you think you have what it takes to manifest cryfix magic?"

"I hope so." Of course.

"I like your optimism Lay, now place your palms flat on the device screen," Lay obeys. He remembers going through the routine when he was five years old underneath his mother's watchful eyes. His score had been seventeen. The machine begins to count.

"Don't be scared Lay, this is just an official process we carry out. Even with just one percent you have passed. Keep your palms steady on the machine and don't move," Domi gently advises.

The score reaches five and Lay is busy playing out the scenario in his head when he would finally ask Ciara for the drawing. Maybe he should ask her first why she had unceremoniously sent him sailing through a door to a trial meant for her. It is in Rayton's character to not tell that Ciara Mulden is a brazen and rude brat.