Rise of a Genius

The Central Square was noisy and filled with crowd while the four of us were standing next to each other as we were watching the scene.

One by one people were called by their name to the central stone tablet which was shining in the sunlight, the stone tablet was designed to measure one's innate talent to absorb Qi energy.

This year like every other year people from all across the empire came with their family's young kids to measure their talent.

Most families like drake's cannot afford even a low level pill so they have to afford on luck because having a young genius in family means family will rise to a higher position.

The stone tablet divides talent from low to high on scale of D to A, 75% of the young ones are D grade it happens every year. Geniuses with A grade talents can be counted on fingers.

Our names finally got called out we get on the central stage one by one and touched the stone tablet,

From the stage three seats of old man could be seen and with them was a domineering man wearing gold silk clothes he was the emperor of black pearl empire.

Sigh.. "our empires growth depend on the talents we nurture but this years talents seems to be low grade as well" said one of the old man on seat

"we can't do anything in that" another old man said "with our empires expenses getting a low level pill to major families is the only thing we could afford"

Sign.. "I know"

"Don't worry elders I have a feeling this year will be different than rest" said emperor a light could be seen in his eyes.

The three old man looked towards emperor with confused eyes. But emperor was busy looking towards a certain young man after giving a curious look towards Mike.

The young man was wearing red clothes with Phoenix tattoo on his left arm. His eyes were sharp and filled with ambition.

When the four of us got on stage crowd gave us curious looks because the four of us were fairly handsome and seem to come from big families.

The first one to touch stone was Mike, just as he closed his eyes, two shining lined appeared on the stone tablet indicating that he was a C grade talent.

"huh we were just fantasizing for nothing"

"oh... just a C grade"

"tsk another normal talent"

People in the crowd spoke in a disappointed tone

My turn was next as I got on stage just as I touched the stone, my mind started spinning and everything started fading

The next instant I was standing in a field of grass with no one around anywhere I look, but then I felt someone staring as I looked above me,

The blue sky was shining in a golden light as a majestic beast of golden fur was watching me silently like a deity,

"you are need to grow quickly, you are not ready right now" the majestic Golden Lion said slowly

"hey Alex... Alex are you okay?"

I opened my eyes and saw Claude looking at me as I was standing at central stage

"Don't worry an C grade talent doesn't mean you are trash" Claude said looking towards me

'what I got C grade? What was that Majestic beast? Did only I saw him?.... What did it mean by I am not ready?'

I was filled with questions on my mind as Claude's name was called and he walked towards the stone tablet he closed his eyes.

The stone tablet shined with 4 lines as everyone became silent. Even a step could be heard, the three old man looked happy as emperor nodded towards them.

"A-A grade talent another genius..."

"every year there are one or two of them this young men's future is bright"

"what is his name? He is a new genius! "

The crowd was filled with praise as Claude was smiling looking towards us