"Get the hell up, idiot!"
Clide sat there, looking back at the boy with a look of confusion, struggling to utter a single word. The boy had had enough and turned away, leaving Clide behind. He stood up, feeling embarrassed and still unsure of what had just happened. Suddenly, a shiver shot down his back, cutting through him like a sharp blade.
"Why?" Clide thought to himself. "Why is everyone staring at me?"
Surrounded by a sea of eyes, Clide felt as though their gazes were eating at his soul. It was as if he were the star of a twisted play, with them as the audience. He could hear their whispers and gossip, unable to respond. He stood there with his head down, trying to avoid eye contact.
Then, a loud voice rang out, diverting the children's attention away from Clide and toward the podium in front of them, where people wearing red robes stood, looking down at them. It was the High Council of Etheria, the ones hosting the Court of Souls ceremony, which had finally begun.
All the children turned to face the podium, standing in line with their hands behind their backs. Of course, Clide was the only one standing out of line. Suddenly, several rows of chairs materialized behind them, accompanied by a burst of golden light that illuminated the space for a brief moment.
As everyone took their seats, quietly waiting for the High Council to begin, Clide awkwardly sat in an empty seat next to him. Immediately, the Council started to speak.
"Welcome, new Maltropes, to the Court of Souls," they began. "In this event, you will be judged based on your performance in the star evaluation. This will take place in pairs, from which your number will be drawn from the Fountain of Averidia. Depending on your performance, you will be granted a star that determines "Your rank as the newly assigned Maltropes."
There was a moment of silence after the council spoke, but eventually the children began talking again—this time even louder. Clide still felt slightly embarrassed and remained quiet, watching them. Suddenly, someone poked him on the shoulder.
This took Clide by surprise since he didn't know anyone there. He turned to see who it was and, to his astonishment, it was a friend he had met about a year ago when he was nine years old.
"Uriel," Clide whispered.
"Yes, Al, it's me", she responded, matching his tone to lighten his mood. It didn't take much to cheer him up; just seeing her there made him smile like a child receiving candy.
Clide: Uri! I haven't seen you in so long! What are you doing here?
Uriel: I haven't seen you either. It's been a while. Oh, ya, about that, I know it's been a while, and we should catch up, but I just noticed that you're pretty lost on what's going on here.
Clide: What gave it away?
Uriel: I don't know, maybe the wandering around or the bumping into people.
Clide: Speaking of—who was that boy? You know the one I bumped into.
Uriel: Oh, him. That was a Royal-blooded Seraphim — Shikimori Yatsui.
He is the 12th heir of the Yatsui family, and I think you pissed him off.
Clide: From what I'm hearing he just sounds like some spoiled rich kid... Wait a sec—how do you even know this?
Uriel: Al.. Are you forgetting? I'm a Royal dummy.
And if you haven't noticed yet, you're kinda sitting in the Royal zone.
Clide: Wait what? Should I leave? I'd like to not get anyone in trouble, especially not you.
Uriel: Aww you're so sweet, but you don't need to go anywhere—it's not like they'd notice that one of their Nobles has switched spots with a commoner.
Clide: I think I should go, I honestly don't know what I'm even doing here.
Uriel: Weren't you listening? They're going to measure your soul energy.
Clide: Hmm. Soul energy—what is it?
Uriel: Wait.. what? ..... Haaaaaaaaaa??
***
Soul Energy. The Energy that powers all living and nonliving organisms.
Everything has Soul Energy, from the rock on the ground of the tree to the birds in the sky; it is in everything— it varies in potency depending on where the Soul Energy is coming from.
For Example:
A dog would have a miniature soul energy storage count compared to a bear.
Bear ——— [060]
Dog ——— [005]
But a Bear compared to the Soul Energy count of the average human Child is significant.
Human Child ———[125]
Bear ———[060]
But of course it isn't as simple as that, having a higher Soul count doesn't mean everything when you can't release, because in truth a bear would mangle the average human child if they were to fight.
Having a 'high' Soul Count is simply the amount of Soul Energy you can store.
Storage capacity is important, of course, but there's something more important: " The Intensity release", it's basically the amount that can be released at the moment.
These are all determined by the rank of the casters, but that's not impressive right.
***
Uriel: "Seriously? Are they actually that uneducated?
Your parents really didn't teach you anything did they?"
Clide: "Hey! Don't blame it on my parents, I just never bothered to learn."
Uriel: Well, it's not like I can teach you anyway, you learn eventually, so you should just....
Oh, they're starting now!
The Robed figure began the ceremony by lighting carefully placed fire stands surrounding a podium with two doors beside each other facing towards the kids. Now let the Souls begin their grading! one of the Robed people shouted.
The Robed people suddenly started chanting as the fire erupted in a spiral that sent a shockwave throughout the entire adventure. The fire eventually disappeared, leaving two numbers.
Maltrope's number:
3 and 312945
Please make your way to the podium, the flames of Averidia call upon you.
The first number is me!? Clide exclaimed.
The other was someone Clide had already met, he sat up from the very front of the crowd, walking elegantly and proudly—his snow white hair flowing in the wind, his golden eyes glimmered with purpose as to show that he didn't have a single care in the World.
Clide also got up—less impressively of course.
They both walked side by side to the podium, but the other never even layd an eye on Clide as he didn't find anything of worth in Clide at all.
Clide noticed that this kid was the same one he had bumped into an hour ago—"Shikimori Yatsui" the 12th heir of the Yatsui family.
"Step in front of the two doors" One of the Robed figures said as the two Maltropes made their Way to the podium.
Clide was still a little wary of the Robed people, but had no Choice but to continue—chosing to step in front of the white door, on the other hand Shiki stepped infront of the left door, his expression of confidence still burned bright.
With a final chant from the Robed ones, it had now truly begun.
With much anticipation, both boys pushed open their respective doors before stepping inside.