Ability Tower

Waking up Zaid felt an ache all over his body as he groaned remembering what had happened yesterday.

"It doesn't matter. Today is the day."

Zaid got up, fed his mother some oatmeal, and headed out the door, ready to take on the Ability Tower.

Though it was Friday Zaid naturally did not have school seeing as Ability day was a recognized National holiday. Even if it didn't feel like it since the Ability Tower is essentially a test and he would still be there with all of his classmates...

Once a year every person who turned 16 in that year finally earned the qualifications to go to an Ability Tower, or at least ability hovel if they were poor, to complete a test and absorb the mana from the spring they are all built up allowing the teenagers to obtain an ability from the soul of the world.

The world would judge them based on their characteristics and performance in the tests to determine which ability they could handle. Sometimes a student could not take the pressure of the mana and ended up crippled by attempting to take on more than they could handle, but that was rare. After all there was a reason the government forbid anyone from attempting to gain an ability unless they were between the ages of 16 and 25.

Only people with relatively young and healthy bodies could withstand the force of mana descending upon them without succumbing to its awestriking power. The person could not be too young either otherwise their body would not have matured enough and they were also bound to be either unable to handle the mana or get a weak ability. After years of research the government determined that 16 was the best age to obtain an ability.

Though nominally it took years of research to determine this for sure it really did not take more than a month or two before people had more or less found this out however, 200 years ago. This was because when mana first descended on the world most people outside of that age range outright died, unable to handle to power. While there were exceptions, they were the minority. When the mana hit the oldest person in the world was only 50 years by the time the first mana wave was over. Nobody above that age was even able to survive its force.

As Zaid ruminated over the rich history of the world he finally made it to the Ability Tower. The tower stretched up into the sky, touching the clouds at the top. It was breathtakingly grandiose.

Zaid saw many of his classmates congregated around the front entrance of the tower along with many other people his age he did not know. He sighed and walked over to the area hoping they would not notice him. However, how could he ever

be that lucky.

*Sniff* *Sniff*

"What is that terrible stench" Nathan said looking around in mock confusion as he slowly walked over towards Zaid with is buddies behind him.

"Oh its the little Urchin, Zaid" Nathan said with a chuckle while pointing towards Zaid as if he had just noticed him.

Now at this point it should be noted that Zaid did not actually smell that bad. He made sure to wash up every other day and washed his clothes whenever he could spare to. While there was a slight stench it could not even be noticed unless you directly sniffed him from mere inches away. Sadly during his regular beating sessions Nathan had managed to smell the faint odor and of course he never let it go.

Zaid tried to ignore him but Nathan wasn't going to let him go so easily.

"Oi Urchin! Can't you see I'm talking to you?!"

"You should respond when your superiors address you"

"Scum like you could never be my superior" Zaid mumbled under his breath.

"Hey! Hey! What was that Urchin? Because I could have sworn that just heard you trying to insult me even after I so kindly pointed out your shortcomings so you would have a chance to better yourself"

"You couldn't possibly have been so foolish as to do that though, right?" Nathan said with an intimidating glare.

Zaid thought for half a second that he should back down here, but his pride would not let him. Letting Nathan crush his body was one thing but once his spirit was crushed too it really would be over for him.

"You heard me right Nathan!" Zaid said nearly shouting this time.

"Despicable, worthless, abhorrent, bullying, scum like yourself could never be the superior of anyone unless they were just as bad but with half the guts" Zaid said with a slight glance towards Nathans cronies.

"Why you little!" Nathan and his boys yelled with anger plastered across their faces while the surrounding students giggled a bit at this scrawny kid's bravery (or recklessness).

Lucky for Zaid at this moment the door of the Ability Tower opened and a man looking to be in his early 30's came out and with a blast of mana emanating from him said with a voice that stretched out across the entire courtyard with ease...

"It is time for the Ability Tests to begin!"