The chamber door slid open with a pneumatic hiss. Luka burst in, his massive frame nearly filling the doorway.
"Son! That was absolutely incredible!" He closed the distance between us in two giant strides. "I’ve never seen a fire Aspect do anything like that! Thermal Incision? You’ve been holding out on me!"
Before I could respond, he wrapped me in a bear hug that threatened to crack my newly developed ribs. The air rushed from my lungs as he lifted me clean off the ground.
"Can’t... breathe..." I wheezed.
"Oh! Sorry!" Luka set me down, patting my shoulders with hands the size of dinner plates. "I’m just so damn proud of you! My son, a C-Rank with A-Rank potential!"
I rubbed my ribs, forcing a smile. "Thanks... Dad."
The word felt foreign on my tongue, like biting into something you expect to be sweet only to find it’s savory instead. Not bad, just... unexpected. Luka’s entire face lit up at the word. Christ, this guy was easy to manipulate. Just toss him the occasional "Dad" and he’d follow me into traffic.
Washington cleared his throat from his console. "Mr. Kuzmina, if you’re quite finished crushing the subject, we need to process these results. You’ll be escorted back to the main hall while we finalize the registration."
"Right, right." Luka gave my shoulder another hearty squeeze. "Let’s go, son. This calls for a celebration dinner. Maybe we can pick up some ramen?"
"Sounds good," I said, checking the silver bracelet now attached to my wrist. It felt warm against my skin, almost alive, like it was taking my pulse. Which it probably was, along with a dozen other measurements.
We continued through the labyrinthine corridors of VHC Central. The walls were adorned with portraits of famous Hunters, their faces stern and confident. Most were probably dead, having found out the hard way that confidence doesn’t stop claws or fangs.
We emerged into the Guild Pavilion, a vast atrium filled with display screens, registration kiosks, and clusters of people in various guild uniforms. The ceiling soared hundreds of feet overhead, culminating in a massive skylight that bathed the space in natural illumination. The entire place felt like a cross between a stock exchange, a military recruiting center, and the lobby of a five-star hotel.
Reed directed us to a waiting area near one of the larger screens. "Your results will be processed and displayed shortly. Please wait here."
Then she was gone, swallowed by the crowd of Hunters, administrators, and wide-eyed applicants who filled the pavilion.
The minutes crawled by. Every so often, the main display would flicker and show new registrations—mostly boring D and E-Ranks getting their official licenses. The crowd would offer polite applause, then return to their conversations.
My gaze lingered on a cordoned-off section of the atrium—the VIP area, judging by the higher quality furniture and the small army of security personnel stationed around its perimeter. Through the glass walls, I could see people in expensive suits mingling with Hunters in custom gear. The elite talking to the elite.
"That’s where they process the high-value applications," Luka explained, following my gaze. "A-Ranks and sponsored legacies."
"Sponsored legacies?"
"Children of famous Hunters or corporate executives like Reyna is. They get fast-tracked." He shrugged. "Politics."
I was about to ask more when the main screen flickered again. The pavilion fell silent as two new entries appeared simultaneously:
APPLICANT: REYNA CABANA | ASPECT: [VOLT MARIONETTE] | THREAT LEVEL: A-RANK | POTENTIAL: S
APPLICANT: SATORI | ASPECT: [THERMAL INCISION] | THREAT LEVEL: HIGH C-RANK | POTENTIAL: HIGH A
A wave of applause and excited chatter erupted, primarily directed at the first entry. Camera flashes lit up the VIP section where a curvaceous figure in a crimson jacket stood surrounded by handlers and reporters.
"C-Rank with A potential!" Luka slapped my back hard enough to propel me forward a step. "That’s my boy! Do you know what this means? You’re guaranteed entry into New Vein Academy now! No entrance exam needed for C-Ranks and above!"
That... was actually useful information. One less hurdle to worry about.
As Luka continued gushing about my bright future, I noticed a subtle shift in the atmosphere. People were glancing in our direction, whispering behind hands. Some guild representatives who’d previously looked through us now studied me with renewed interest.
"Is that him?"
"High A potential..."
"Thermal Incision? Never heard of that Aspect variant."
I felt like a zoo exhibit. The bracelet on my wrist seemed to tighten slightly, as if reminding me of its presence.
"Come on," Luka said, oblivious to my discomfort. "Let’s head home and tell Kimiko the good news."
We began making our way toward the exit, Luka parting the crowd effortlessly with his massive frame. I followed in his wake, acutely aware of the stares tracking our progress.
As we approached the main doors, a commotion erupted near the VIP section. The crowd parted like the Red Sea, revealing a procession moving through the pavilion. At its center walked a young woman in a form-fitting crimson outfit, her hair a matching shade of vibrant red tied in an intricate braid that fell to her mid-back.
Reyna Cabana. In the flesh.
Our paths were set to intersect directly in the center of the atrium. Luka, seeing the approaching media circus, tried to steer us toward a side exit.
"Let’s avoid that mess," he muttered.
But it was too late. Reyna had spotted us—or more specifically, me. Her emerald eyes, so vivid they seemed almost unnatural, locked onto mine across the diminishing space between us. A flicker of recognition passed over her features, followed by something harder to define. Interest? Calculation? Challenge?
She altered her course slightly, heading directly toward us. Her entourage scrambled to adjust, nearly tripping over each other in the process.
"Miss Cabana, how does it feel to be the youngest A-Rank in VHC history?" a reporter shouted.
She ignored him, her gaze still fixed on me. The crowd around us fell silent, sensing the unusual deviation from script. Even the camera drones seemed to hold their mechanical breath.
She stopped five feet away from me. Up close, she was even more striking. Her face was a perfect oval with high cheekbones and full lips currently set in a neutral line.
"You’re Satori," she said, her voice a melodic contralto that somehow carried without being loud. "The late bloomer with Thermal Incision."
It wasn’t a question, but I nodded anyway. "And you’re Reyna Cabana. The Viridian Comet."
A flash of annoyance crossed her face. "That’s my sister’s nickname. I’m La Sirena."
"My mistake." I offered an apologetic smile that didn’t reach my eyes. "Congratulations on your A-Rank classification."
"Likewise on your C-Rank." Her gaze flicked to the monitoring bracelet on my wrist, then back to my face. "High A potential is... impressive."
Behind her, her entourage exchanged glances, clearly confused by their charge’s interest in some random newcomer.
"Thank you," I replied evenly. "S-Rank potential is equally impressive."
A tight smile curved her lips. "We’ll be classmates at New Vein, then."
"It seems so."
"I look forward to seeing your Thermal Incision in action during practical exams."
Someone whispered something in Reyna’s ear and she nodded. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Satori. Perhaps our paths will cross again soon."
With that, she swept past me, her entourage rushing to keep pace. The cameras swiveled to follow her, momentarily forgetting about me. I watched her go, processing what had just happened.
Luka whistled low beside me. "That was unexpected."
"Lucky me," I muttered.
As we exited the building, I glanced down at the monitoring bracelet. What had the evaluator seen during my demonstration? What had triggered Reyna’s suspicion? And most importantly, how the hell was I going to navigate New Vein Academy with both the VHC and a prodigy like Reyna Cabana watching my every move?
The System chimed in my head.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[RIVALRY] Trait has resonated with a high-potential individual.
[A true predator has entered the arena and her eyes are on you. She sees a sparring partner, a stepping stone. Prove to her that you are so much more than that.]
New Scumbag Sovereign Mission Unlocked: [The Siren’s Discord]
Objective: In your first confrontation at New Vein Academy, you must force Reyna to acknowledge you as an equal, or a threat.
Success Rewards:
+150 SP
Reyna Cabana’s initial disposition towards you is set to [Intrigued Rival], unlocking a unique path in her future "corruption" arc.
Failure Penalty:
-50 SP Deduction.
You are granted the permanent Title: [Siren’s Bait].
A title for a weak little fish that exists only to be eaten by a much bigger one. It will make recruiting powerful women much, much harder.