The Author's Draft

Chapter 88 - 7: Evaluation II

A woman in her forties emerged from a side door, wearing official Hunter Association administrative uniform with a badge that marked her as senior staff. She was carrying something carefully in both hands, a large crystal orb about the size of a basketball that pulsed with faint internal light, like there was a heartbeat trapped inside the glass.

She set it on a pedestal in the center of the platform with practiced care, adjusting its position slightly until she was satisfied with the placement.

Behind her came a man in his fifties, salt and pepper hair, glasses perched on his nose, wearing a formal Association uniform with rank insignia that marked him as high-level administration. He had the tired look of someone who’d been working nonstop since the crisis began, bags under his eyes and tension written in the set of his shoulders.

But his bearing was authoritative, the kind of presence that came from decades of experience and the confidence that came with senior rank.

He approached the platform and addressed the group, his voice carrying clearly across the large room without needing amplification.

"Welcome," he said. "My name is Administrator Voss. I’m in charge of hunter certification and rank assessment for the London branch of the Hunter Association."

He paused, letting that sink in, then continued.

"You’re here today because you’ve awakened through non-standard means. Some of you awakened through contracts with constellations. Others awakened through circumstances we don’t have official records for. A few of you awakened years ago but never bothered with registration until it became mandatory."

A slight edge entered his tone on that last part, though his expression remained neutral.

"Regardless of how it happened, we need to establish official rank classifications and ability assessments before you can be properly registered and deployed. The process is straightforward."

Administrator Voss gestured to the woman, who pulled out a stack of small cards from a case she’d brought with her.

"You’ll each receive a number. When your number is called, you’ll approach the platform and demonstrate your abilities for evaluation. You’ll also place your hand on the testing orb, which will measure your mana capacity and give us objective data to supplement the practical demonstration."

He nodded to the woman. "Proceed with number distribution."

The woman moved through the group systematically, handing out cards without ceremony or conversation. Each card was simple, just a number printed in large black text against white background, nothing fancy.

She worked her way from one end of the room to the other, distributing cards to awakeners who took them with varying degrees of nervousness or confidence.

When she reached Aiden, she handed him a card marked "16" without even glancing at his face, then continued to the next person.

Aiden looked at the card, then did a quick count of the room. Forty-five people total, which meant they’d be here for a while if each evaluation took more than a few minutes.

He settled in to wait, watching as the woman finished distributing numbers and returned to stand beside Administrator Voss.

"Once your evaluation is complete," Voss continued, addressing the group again, "you’ll be directed to the registration desk to complete your documentation. After that, guild representatives may approach you if your abilities show promise for recruitment."

He gestured toward where the dozen representatives stood watching.

"Participation in guild recruitment is entirely optional. You’re under no obligation to accept offers, though I’d encourage you to at least listen to what they have to say. Many guilds offer resources and training opportunities that independent hunters struggle to access."

A pause, then his expression became more serious.

"Any questions before we begin?"

Silence. The awakeners stood or sat waiting, some nervous, others resigned, a few looking eager to get the evaluation over with.

Voss nodded once. "Good. Then let’s start."

He pulled out a tablet, tapped the screen a few times, then looked up.

"Number One."

A young man in his early twenties stepped forward from near the front of the group. He was skinny, looked like he hadn’t been eating well, wearing cheap clothes that had seen better days and been washed too many times. The kind of person who clearly struggled financially and probably awakened hoping it would change his life.

He climbed onto the platform nervously, his movements awkward like he wasn’t used to being the center of attention.

"Place your hand on the orb," Voss instructed.

The young man reached out with a trembling hand and pressed his palm against the crystal surface.

The orb glowed.

Faintly. Very faintly. Barely more than a flicker of light that pulsed once and faded almost immediately.

Voss looked at a display connected to the orb, his expression neutral but his eyes showing faint disappointment.

"F-rank," he announced. "Water element. Minor manipulation only. Estimated capacity for approximately three liters of water control at maximum output."

The young man’s face fell. He’d probably known his ability was weak, but hearing it stated officially in front of a room full of people and guild representatives made it real in a way that was clearly crushing.

Voss’s tone didn’t change, remaining professional despite the obvious disappointment. "Please proceed to the registration desk over there."

He pointed to a side area where staff members sat ready to process paperwork.

"You’ll receive your official documentation and hunter license. A guild may contact you regarding training or placement in non-combat support roles."

The translation was obvious to everyone in the room. F-rank water manipulation was useless for actual combat. The guilds wouldn’t want him for fighting, and support roles were typically poorly paid positions that nobody wanted.

The young man nodded, shoulders slumped, and walked toward the registration area looking defeated.

None of the guild representatives even glanced at him.

"Number Two," Voss called.

The evaluations continued.

Number Two was a woman in her late twenties with weak telekinesis that could barely lift a book. F-rank, directed to registration, ignored by the guilds.

Number Three was a man with enhanced hearing but no other abilities. E-rank, slightly more useful than F-rank but still basically worthless for combat. Registration, no guild interest.

Number Four had minor fire generation that couldn’t even produce a proper flame, just sparks and warmth. F-rank. Registration. No interest.

Five through Nine followed the same pattern. E and F-ranks with minor abilities that might be useful for civilian applications but had no combat value whatsoever.

The guild representatives stopped even pretending to pay attention after Number Five, several of them pulling out phones or having quiet conversations amongst themselves.

Then Voss called Number Ten.

A man in his thirties stepped forward, and Aiden noticed the difference immediately. This one moved with more confidence, his posture straighter, his build more muscular. He had calloused hands visible even from across the room, the kind that came from working with tools and materials for years.

He placed his hand on the orb without hesitation.

It glowed significantly brighter than any previous evaluation, pulsing with steady light that filled the crystal from edge to edge.

Voss’s expression shifted, becoming noticeably more interested. "C-rank. Ability classification: Blacksmith. Enhanced crafting with mana infusion capabilities. Material manipulation and reinforcement."

Murmurs spread through the guild representatives immediately. Several straightened from their casual poses, attention suddenly focused on the platform.

A C-rank blacksmith who could infuse mana into equipment was valuable. Very valuable. Every major guild needed them to maintain and upgrade gear for their hunters.

"Proceed to registration," Voss said, his tone warmer than it had been for the previous evaluees. "A guild will contact you."

The blacksmith hadn’t even reached the registration desk before two guild representatives moved to intercept him, both talking at once, clearly competing to make their pitch first.

The evaluations continued through Numbers Eleven to Fifteen. More E and F-ranks, one D-rank with basic physical enhancement that made him slightly stronger and faster than normal humans, nothing that caught the guilds’ attention.

The guild representatives had mostly gone back to their phones and conversations, only glancing up occasionally when Voss called a new number.

Then Administrator Voss looked at his tablet and called out clearly.

"Number Sixteen."

Aiden pushed off from the wall and walked toward the platform.

The room went quieter.

Not silent, but noticeably quieter, conversations dying down as people turned to watch. Someone wearing a mask to their evaluation was unusual enough to draw attention, to raise questions about why they were hiding their identity.

Aiden felt eyes tracking him as he crossed the room. The other awakeners watching with curiosity. The guild representatives suddenly more alert. The Association staff observing with professional interest.

And Kane, still standing with arms crossed, that smile widening considerably as Aiden approached the platform.

Administrator Voss looked up from his tablet, his expression shifting to mild surprise when he saw the mask. But he didn’t comment on it, just gestured toward the crystal orb.

"Please place your hand on the evaluation orb."

Aiden climbed onto the platform, his movements casual and unhurried despite the weight of attention focused on him.

The orb sat on its pedestal in the center, pulsing with that faint internal light, waiting to measure whatever mana capacity he possessed.

Aiden reached toward it, his hand extending slowly.

Behind him, he could feel Kane’s gaze burning into his back, could practically hear the Enforcer’s thoughts about what this evaluation might reveal.

The guild representatives had stopped their conversations entirely now, all of them watching to see what the masked awakener would produce.

Administrator Voss stood ready with his tablet, prepared to announce results.

And Aiden’s hand touched the crystal surface.

[64:01:15... 64:01:14... 64:01:13...]