Talent Evaluation

It was late in the evening, I'd found my way back home after the encounter with that old man in the cathedral. After the Rift incident my life has spiraled out of control leading me to so many questions that my head hurt everytime I think about everything.

'I need to use the TEC card in someplace secluded.'

***

"Brother you're home."

As I opened the door Rennie came rushing to me with his arms open. He was always the most empathetic out of the two. Reggie resembled me a lot in this. Not that he didn't care he was just unable to express himself well.

He always showed it in gestures though, like cleaning up the place or placing all the books they read in order. He was a bit of a neat freak I don't know where he got that from.

"Did you get the TEC card?"

Reggie said as he stood up from the kitchen chair. I could see the glimmer in his eyes even though his face remained somewhat expressionless.

"Yes I did, I'm going to do the evaluation in the basement in a couple of minutes. Want to join me?"

Both the twins nodded exitedly. This is going to be a make or break situation as it is what will solidify everything I've been told up until now.

***

{Raphael's basement}

"Look kids, your brother is going to be in a vegetative state for thirty minutes. Until the time is up you both will look over me."

"Of course."

They nodded profusely as they talked in sync. I take out the TEC card holding it in my hand for a moment. This is it, this is going to be where my path takes a different turn.

The TEC card has three main functions, the first is to evaluate your current level of strength in proportion to the Rifts and your potential as a Rift Walker.

The second is to act as a system that tracks your skill progress, marking details and as a storage that you can later mount to a battle suit worn inside the Rifts called a Xertor.

This happens after it is used for the first time as it upgrades to X.W or Xerith's will where it connects to the Warmind.

The third is to act as a catalyst for your innate talent awakening and skill selection after recieving your markings.

'This is going to be for the better, I hope.'

I activated the TEC card, I slowly fell out of consciousness after Infusing the TEC card with Xer. White light now sorrounded me, I'm currently in my consciousness.

Suddenly dim blue light errupted again, it was very familiar. The flashbacks hit as reality rebuilt around me. I was back at the castle. Facing the door I barely closed to fend off the shadow creatures.

"As foretold you are here again, Son of Night."

I quickly spun on my heel when I heard the familiar voice again. I was now met with two bright ruby-red eyes that were piercing at me. It was the ironclad lady that I'd faced before sitting on that same throne.

"Y…you again, how?"

"It was only a matter of time, it is still far too early this is merely a glimpse of your consciousness, and I'm simply a fragment of ————- soul."

"Why can't I hear you."

"You will, in due time."

Raising her hand she waved it and in the blink of an eye I was pushed through the door back into the castle hall again.

'Well, this hurt.'

Dusting myself off I push upwards and get off the ground. The part I'm in right now looks different. Moonlight is hitting the red velvet carpet leading through the hall. The burnt torch smell mixed with a soothing lavender fragrance makes it feel like I'm in a royal palace.

[Come to me.]

As soon as those words echoed through the walls and hit my ears my body reacted on its own.

'I feel powerless right now.'

My body quickly glided through the hall and I was now in front of the door across. My shaking stopped after I gave in. This was a fragment of my consciousness I wouldn't sustain any damage if I somehow got physically hurt.

"Clank."

The door opened and it revealed a single soldier in armor similar to the lady on the throne. His stance was low with a hand on his sheathed sword.

[En Garde]

Clink!

'What the hell.'

Reflexively I held my dagger up as I heard the word and the sword which was sheathed only a fraction of a second ago was now at my throat. The only thing that kept it from severing my head was my dagger.

Clink!

Again the knight struck my lower body as I parried barely with my dagger again. His stance was low with almost no openings. Unsheathing my other dagger I quickly swing at his head.

Clink! Clank!

His sword parried my dagger quickly and with the hilt of the sword he smashed the dagger out of my hand. Lowering his stance again in a flash he slashed at my lower body but this time I couldn't react.

It cut through my lower half clean. I felt my heartbeat rising as my insides churned. This should be impossible, how am I feeling pain. My thoughts ran as I could only muster up a groan before churgling a mouthfull of blood before my vision blacked out.

"Arrghh"

[En Garde]

This phrase hit my ears again as I regained consciousness again. My eyes open and I blankly stare at the knight who was back at the exact position he was in the beginning.

'What the hell is going on.'

The pain I felt just a moment ago was real, I was clearly cut in half how am I back here. Lowering my stance I took a defensive stance.

'I only need to fight right, so be it.'

Clink! Clink!

The sound of his sword and my daggers parrying ecchoed through the empty room lit by torches and dim moonlight.

'This fucker is sturdy, everytime I hit his sword he doesn't budge.'

My train of thoughts was stopped when his sword hit both daggers out of my hands and cut cleanly through my throat.

'H…how..?!'

My vision darkened again.

[En Garde]

***