Aelius Bloodheart watched his charge nod and narrowed the distance between them. His eyes rested on Daiden, and ventured deeper still in a conquest for information. As an Evaluator, Aelius represented a wall that blockaded those unworthy. He loved his world, his country more, and to him, Daiden ranked as a candidate with the potential to impact both.

The Earthen Realm noticed it as well – an unnatural existence in the pursuit of one of its children; but despite attempts at rejection, Aelius clung to the world with conviction, dutybound to the task at hand. He rested his palm atop Daiden’s head and slowly retreated to a state of partial slumber. With a tremble, a sheet of aeter outlined the entirety of the Evaluator’s body; it thickened with time, and then relocated to the arm in contact with Daiden. The energy – with minor intelligence – hesitated at the idea of entry into a foreign body; it moved nonetheless, on command and without further resistance.

The aeter now outlined Daiden, and just as it was with the shard, the brilliant red subdued to a pale yellow, and then a vibrant white. In acclimatization, the aeter weakened and dispersed into non-existence. Aelius calmed at the sight and waited with patience. In time, the light returned with more information. It separated from its temporary host and returned to the source of its origin. With the process’ completion, Aelius removed his arm from contact with Daiden.

The retrieved aeter coagulated to form a sphere; it swirled with restless energy, but rested upon the palm of its creator. With the wind, the sphere moved a little away and underwent transformation. It widened, on account of the information it had acquired – first the chest, and then the limbs. The aeter followed with the creation of a head, a face, and slowly the hair. On completion, Aelius compared the transformed result with the original – his test-taker.

“This should do,” concluded the Evaluator, positively.

***

Daiden struggled to comprehend the situation in front of him. It was a first, and it left him agape – the manifestation of aeter. He understood it through the assistive nature of his contract, a process that enabled his cognitive recalibration. But that didn’t matter in that moment; it was visual, the existence of something fantastical. He shuddered with doubt at the thought of living in such a world, and in his ability to succeed given the nature of his promise.

“What am I even thinking about?” thought Daiden, with a groan. “I’ve succumbed to my desires already; might as well allow my selfishness to transform into courage for the future.”

In that instant, the sphere vibrated; Daiden refocused to the coagulated aeter and watched as it tremored into violence. The aeter expanded with ferocity, thickening to form something familiar. Daiden recognized it as a humanoid torso; in progression, it moved to take the shape of well-trained legs and practiced arms. The head appeared next, with added familiarity; the strangeness of the event had started to bother Daiden. He gulped with the features on full display, and once more upon completion. It was far from human, but humanoid with certainty. Daiden frowned at the appearance of the finished product – a copy of the original, himself.

The aeter-made exterior glistened under the moonlight, a soft, pure white – almost translucent even. It stood still and refused to react despite Daiden’s childlike curiosity. With a hint of disappointment, the latter retreated and looked to his Evaluator for an explanation.

“This is a special tier of magic, designed to function merely in the Earthen Realm; we call it the Rites of Soul Doll Manifestation,” said Aelius. “It’s a process to fully test an Awakened.”

Daiden gulped at what appeared to be the start of a lengthy explanation. He nodded along, with urgency, and in eager anticipation of what would follow.

“The Soul Doll is a representation of your potential for growth; the magic starts with the acquisition of target information, it then processes said information to create a test, a shape,” continued Aelius, unhurriedly. “Think of it as an obstacle meant to help you determine your role in our world. It’s absolute – be it farmers or soldiers, blacksmiths or healers. We’ve never once questioned its judgement or method.”

Daiden appreciated the slowness of his Evaluator’s explanation; he memorized it, word for word, and calmed in preparation of the worst. The field didn’t matter, only his determination towards creating an impressionable legacy. His eyes reflected questions, but Daiden held his tongue on the assumption of more from the other end.

Aelius read the expression of his charge and shook his head slightly, “That’s all the explanation you’ll need. It’s too much effort without knowing if you’re worth it.”

“Talk about honest,” thought Daiden, hiding disappointment. He then asked, “How do we find out what I’m suited for?”

“You’ll find out when the test begins.”

“And when will that be?”

“Whenever I want it to be.”

On closer observation of Aelius, Daiden noticed what appeared to be a hidden smile. It surprised him, to have uncovered a layer of friendliness underneath a rigid and indifferent exterior. He brightened immediately on the thought, at the possibility of a future relationship.

“I’ll look forward to it then,” said Daiden, with a warm smile. “Let me know when we’re set to begin.”

Aelius offered an expression of bewilderment in response to the statement made. He raised his eyebrows and mentioned, “Oh, but it already has.”

A mistake; Daiden felt encouraged with an opportunity for friendship, but fixated on Aelius to understand the difference. There was something there, in the latter’s eyes, something that refused the concept of equality. Daiden realized it then, the contempt of a man far above his standing; he was looked at as people would insects. There was no room for respect, let alone acceptance. He shook from the negativity, but regrouped to focus on the doll; it stirred with impatience, and in a blink – stepped into a realm of non-existence. Daiden frantically searched for the Soul Doll that had disappeared. He heard Aelius hum through the effort, at his expense. It distracted him, enough to miss the re-emergence.

With a pained expression, Daiden traced to the source at his shoulder – an arm, aeter-strengthened, and purposed to function like a blade; it pierced flesh and muscle alike, without mercy. His face distorted as the Soul Doll pulled away, but calmed as his body adapted to the pain. In that moment, he thanked Ehedus in a quiet prayer.

“You’ve been evaluated as a combat type by the Soul Doll,” revealed Aelius, blankly. “And now, I leave it to you to pass this test.”

“Ah, fuck!” thought Daiden, with a frown. “I hate this old man.”