All four took the brunt of the heat of the courtyard. Mido stood in the middle, squinting his eyes as spectators from all sides watched their master appraise a new face. Watcher Enzo closed his eyes and concentrated. He opened his mouth and said an incantation.

“Alto’s ebb and flow, grant me thy eyes to look through thee. Let thine hands graciously receive this power.”

“Come! Appraisal: Macroscope.”

He swiftly punched the air, and three circular runes glowing with the cold primal color that was aqua horizontally arranged themselves against Mido. When looked through Enzo’s perspective, the runes perfectly fit the boy’s stature. More runic texts floated around him. It is said that only appraisers know how to read these, and these are not actually forming sentences, but thoughts. It is up to the them to interpret the texts.

“Now, kid. Show me your power.” Enzo called out to Mido across him.

There was one problem. He does not know how to release his ability.

Before long, Mido started to doubt himself. Is he really meant to be here? Is he really a Vassal? His vision slowly blurred out. He felt nausea, caused by the indirect pressure of many people observing his exploits. What’s more, the fear of being abandoned by D-7 swept across his face.

He tried to think. He even got to the point of relishing the flames that burned him and his hometown. He found flames, but he could not bring himself to wrest it upon his palm.

Trying in vain to manifest the tones, he stressed his mind, searching for clues. All was blank. Such as his memories. He reached out with his hand, hoping that some spark of whatever his ability is will spawn.

All was naught.

“I… can’t…” He said helplessly.

“Don’t chicken out! We’ve been this far!” Enzo yelled as his ability hummed.

“You did not prepare him for this, Watcher! It’s natural!” exclaimed Gris.

“No. This is right. Those who do not have faith in themselves must be pushed eventually!”

That’s right. Mido did not have faith. He does not believe he’s a Vassal. But to those people who saved his life? They expected him to be it. What should he do, as his mind was torn apart by broken memories, expectation and distrust?

“I had to assimilate with you. I guess I still need to babysit you, child.”

A sudden booming voice erupted. It was loud, yet it did not tremor his eardrums. Mido frantically looked around, trying to find where it’s source. Eerily, No one seemed to noticed the voice’s sound.

“Focus!”

‘Who are you?’ Mido said. It was a strange feeling, but his mouth did not open when he said that. Rather, a conversation was struck from inside his mind.

“A wayward flame, stuck beneath a lifeless storm. One that needs kindling.”

Mido cannot comprehend the voice.

“Confused, are we? *chuckle* Let me put this straight: I am and will be your weapon.”

‘Weapon?’

“We are bound. Hmm, was it destiny? Coincidence? Purpose? I assimilated you, and that was the only smidgen of what you call ‘past’ I can muster.”

‘Wait… Are you a Vassal?”

The voice laughed, albeit in a strained manner, as if it did not laugh for a very long time.

“You sure jest, child. You. You are The Vassal. And me, I am the Singularity.”

“We will talk. But now, enough of it, and let us ace this appraiser to the pulp.”

“With me, child.”

A sudden font of knowledge filled Mido’s head. An incantation to arouse the flames. He was given this voice, power. It might be his ability, but as of the moment, he was very unsure. However, they incanted in unison, seemingly of one mind.

“Where dark sets afoot, light the torch.”

Mido’s vision returned. He still faced the circle, now rippling with energy, with Enzo behind it.

“Where fireflies are called, be wary.”

He felt a warm heat emerge from his extended hand.

“With fire gives light, and light gives life.”

Tonal ripples manifested into an aura around him. It was a force that was invisible to the eye but was felt by everyone. Both Gris and Fein had goosebumps just from the waves it emanated.

“Come and bask in the flames!”

…

Firis.

A sound akin to that of a sonic boom shuffled the stone pavement. A plume of fire quickly emerged from Mido’s reaching hand and slowly condensed into an orb the size of a shot-put ball. The old man slowly felt the tones gravitate into it. It was slightly unstable, and its unstable ebb threatens to explode at any moment, but Mido was doing his best to control its intensity. The voice in his head was gone, and it was all left to him to have faith in this flame.

“Flames?” Fein sternly looked at the boy.

“Fein, could it be—” Hide it if he can, Gris’ hairs went straight up.

“No. If it was him…” Fein pondered.

“He is out of the question. Look closely, Gris. It is a pure, golden flame.”

“You’re right. He described those that destroyed the town as purple. The void. More so, I do not feel evil from him.” Gris nodded.

“Hmm… At this rate, we will have to observe his true power. I have a feeling that this is just the beginning.”

“Amazing! Simply amazing~~!” Enzo was about to leap in utter joy.

Without warning, Mido launched the orb of golden fire. The Watcher composed himself and took the hit with his ability. The boy collapsed into a kneeling position as the fire hurtled in between the runes. The circles contained the projectile, and immediately arranged themselves around it. However, the circles erratically spun and resized themselves. The old man was visibly struggling.

“Argh! What it is with this Tone?!” He exclaimed as he was slowly being pushed by gusts of wind coming from the orb. Other monks helped him.

“Hey, Fein. Do you have a feeling that this ball of fire might come down on us?”

“Now that you say it… Let’s get Mido first.”

Mido was still at the center of the courtyard, motionless. The two carried him quickly into a bench as the monks were trying to control the orb at the background.

“Is he hiding this much power?” Gris was impressed yet concerned.

“We don’t know that yet. Let’s just hope the old man does his job well.” Said Fein, brushing away the sweat from Mido.

“Right.”

“I got it, don’t worry!” Enzo’s macroscope finally adjusted to Mido’s ability, and soon stabilized the orb. The purpose of the runes was to both contain and probe the ability inside its sphere. As analysis was underway, the appraisal part comes to Enzo as he interprets the symbols displayed around him. There are other methods of appraisal abilities, but this is perhaps the most common.

Minutes passed and the orb slowly dissipated. As the runes processed it, the components of the orb broke down into mere yellow fractals, and flew silently into the air, back to its base tones. After a while, Enzo created an imprint and pulled out a small block of a somewhat metallic material shaped like an ID card. He then stuck the imprint to the metal and it etched its information. He carried these items to the two, who were tending to Mido at a bench.

“We’re done. How’s the kid?”

“He collapsed. Too much strain.” Fein filled in.

“I have to say, that much power startled me! It was a long time since a Vassal had my heart racing!” He laughed, as if he had just brushed off that threatening ball of fire.

“We were shocked too. This kid does not even think he’s a Vassal, but shit. That was enough to prove himself.” Commented Gris.

“He did not believe himself, hmm? I guess my method worked after all!” Enzo snickered. He looked at Mido, who was unconscious and slumped into the bench.

“Kids these days are full of surprises. Ha! I remembered your appraisals too, you two. It was boring!” He jested. He had hoped to incite some reaction from them, but to his surprise, they all laughed at the same time.

“I just had to put a gem, old man! That face when you saw it was priceless!” Gris used his large hands to slap Enzo in the shoulder. He just shrugged it off. Fein also smiled.

As they were reminiscing their past experiences, Mido soon came to his senses. Now conscious, he slowly lifted his head up and looked around to assess his surroundings.

“Is it over?” He groggily asked. The three ceased their laughing and turned to Mido.

“Mido, are you alright now?” The boy nodded, trying to get a feel for his hand. It was slightly numb, to say the least.

Watcher Enzo approached Mido and looked upon him with a proud face.

The old man clapped slowly. “You were a shocker. That was great performance, kid.”

“Performance? Thanks… I guess…” He ushered. Enzo smiled, and showed to him the card he’s holding. He held it into his hands. The obsidian-colored metal was quite warm, with imprints Mido cannot understand. The only word he saw was the line, ‘Name’ at the top space.

“Do write my name here?” He asked as he looked at the old man.

“Yeah, but I get to write it. I have to ask kid, but do you have a full name?”

Mido involuntarily searched for his name, not the name “Mido.” It was a long shot, but as he expected, he cannot remember it. He looked at Gris and Fein, and both replied to him with smiles that seemingly encouraged him.

“Mido. Just Mido.”

“Hmm… let’s have it at that then!” Enzo took back the card and flicked his hand to the space. Mido’s name soon emerged into the card as a readable imprint.

“This serves as your record and signifies you as a qualifying member of Vassal United. Take this to their office. Oh! Be sure to tell them Watcher Enzo vouched for you!” He snickered as he handed the card back to Mido.

Deep inside, something was fulfilled. It was a huge leap for him. The old man’s words were like confirmation that finally, someone had faith that he has what it takes. And all the more, Mido, at firsthand, finally saw that he was a true Vassal. He looked at the piece of metal. He proudly smiled.

Finally, he can repay these people, and find the means to avenge what has been lost and taken from him.

As he basked in the euphoric atmosphere, the warm sun danced with his emotion, and the voice echoed again.

“Thank me later, child.”

“Thank you… so much.” Said Mido.

“It was your own effort kid! If you chickened out, I would’ve slapped you!” Enzo smiled.

“Still, you are tired. You need to work on your tonal capacity. I trust these boys will help.” He pointed at his companions, now formally, his colleagues.

“By the way! If you think that was easy, brace yourself for the office tests! I heard they are rough!”

“He will not go to the offices, though. As captain, I had him in a personal vouch to our Apprehension Group. Designation Seven.”

“Hmm… Good for him then. No need to fuss his mind over, now that he has automatic membership. So, are we done here, or are there any more surprises? I have a whole monastery to clean, if you must know!”

Thus, the Primal Monk, Watcher Enzo, waved the trio goodbye from the monastery. It was a fast event, but crucial to Mido’s acceptance as a Vassal, now that he has convinced himself. For the old man, however, every successful appraisal is his responsibility, and he was truly shaken from Mido’s sheer power.

As the three walked down the steps, Mido started to gain his composure.

“You are adapting quite quickly, kid.” Gris commented.

Out of the blue, Mido asked. “Sir Gris, is Watcher Enzo really that upbeat?”

“Papa Enzo takes his life serious, and that is his was of being serious. ‘A good life, in harmony with nature, as he says. Hahaha! To think being a snickering jest is his way of showing that ideal…”

“He is that lighthearted. That is why his students and colleagues alike look up to him.” Added Fein.

“Well, he’s pretty strong.” Commented Mido.

“You’re strong yourself, kid! Why keep it in, after all this time?” said Gris.

“It was kind of… Not me. But someone else. There was a voice that pushed me on and gave me that power. Maybe that is why I was able to make that orb of fire…”

“A voice?” Both were confused.

As the three walked down the stone path and into the archways, Enzo was mesmerized.

‘You’re a mysterious kind of Vassal, kid. You rival the sun’s flame, and yet, I only saw but a fraction of your tone.’

How do you not know you have the potential to change not just the people around you, but all of Alto?

“Well, no matter! Looks like Fein found another kid to take to his ventures!” He laughed his thoughts off as he closed the monastery’s gates.

And thus, Mido, the boy who is in disbelief, finally found faith as a Vassal, through the voice inside him. As for D-7? Where there were six, they are now seven, officially staying true to their namesake.

Noon fell upon them, and they heard a loud growl.

“What was that?” Fein asked, but he already knew where it came from.

“Well…” Mido timidly said.

“Hahaha! Boy’s hungry, and so am I.” Gris scratched his head.

“Let’s get lunch, then. I’ll call the others.” When Fein said that, his stomach growled in response.

“We will not let this day pass without celebrating our new member!”