“Captain, do I really only need to wear this when I take my test?”

“Why, of course. Your uniform will only be issued after this.”

“*sigh* Now that I see it, it really looks like a costume.”

Mido put on the full outfit Wizbette bought for him. Complete with the beret, he looked like an old-school detective. The plain-leather brown slacks and beret made the impression more pronounced.

“Can I at least refuse the hat?” He groaned as he let the rim of the beret hang shyly on a finger.

“At least give Wiz some justice in buying an outfit for you. She might not be good at picking, but it’s the least she can do.” Fein acknowledged the young girl’s efforts.

Gris, who was also readying for the occasion, took a glance at the two. “Yeah, kid. We’ll be watching too, you know.”

‘That makes it all the more embarrassing!’ Mido thought. He did a last check on himself and nodded to Fein.

“You look good enough already. Let’s go, new recruit.”

“Right.”

They exited the room, and was greeted by a long hallway, the likes of the ones you typically walk through inside hotels.

“The facilities are below. We need to take the elevator.” Said Fein. They came to the lobby and used the access elevator just a few meters beside the desk. Pushing a button, the trio were transported into the lower depths of the mountain. Since it was likely his first time, Mido felt queasy as the platform descended quite quickly, but he soon adapted to the vertical decline.

“Just how deep does this go?” He can’t help but wonder.

“it’s pretty deep. Ever wonder why the whole city is built into a whole mountain?” said Gris.

“Why?”

“Bah. I still ask that myself, even after years of staying here. But all of this was built by the Henwales family, and they say no one questions them. They even called this city, and the whole region with their name! Talk about narcissis—”

“Well that might be embarrassing if someone else heard that, Gris.” Fein interrupted. “Without them, this region will still be within outlawed lands, and this branch will not exist. They may seem mysterious, but its thanks to them that we operate today. They are huge supporters of the Vassal United. It’s best show respect.”

“Just my opinion, captain.” Gris chuckled.

Mido heard the sound of gas escaping, followed by a loud ding. The elevator stopped and opened. When the three got out, Fein immediately told Mido to follow him. As they walked through the corridors, He observed details.

The surface and floor were made of some kind of alloyed metal, giving it a clean look as well as a pleasant, cool-hued shimmer. There were different facilities established here, and every room seemed to be different: Offices, training, armories, and some others Mido did not identify. Even still, for a headquarters below the mountain, the place was unusually crowded as personnel of different specialized outfits roamed around. As expected, Mido wore a funny outfit, and was really out of place, much to his embarrassment.

“Look straight, Mido. Wouldn’t want you to feel out of place.” said Fein.

“I am already feeling that…” Mido replied.

A few moments later, they turned to a large space. Multiple boxes were suspended by chains, and some contents were being unloaded into conveyor belts. It gave the impression of a warehouse. As Mido observed, they were mostly materials contained in even more boxes. For what possible production? He did not know. As Mido walked with the two, a man suddenly greeted them.

“Officer Fein! Good afternoon.”

“Good afternoon, Quartermaster.”

“How’s the city?”

“it’s still good as ever, sir.”

The quartermaster sighed. He was a middle-aged man, wore a white and red duster, and had a look of exhaustion. Clearly, this man was working here underground for some time.

“Is this the new recruit?” he asked Fein.

“Yes. I’m afraid we need to use your ability again, sir.” The quartermaster looked at Mido, and closed his eyes, letting down a heavy exhale as he signed a weak wave against the three, not of necessity, but of mannerism.

“it’s been a long time since we accepted a new Vassal. In truth, I was notified of your presence here. Well then, I guess I have no choice but to test you. Everything is prepared. Come.”

As he was escorted by the man to another hallway, Mido looked back to Gris and Fein.

“What about you guys?”

“We’ll be observing from another room. I wish you luck.”

“Good luck out there, kid! Ace the test!”

As his colleagues waved him, both Mido and the quartermaster winded down another hallway. This time, foot traffic became less and less active. He wondered for how long this whole facility goes through the mountain, as it was unbelievably expansive.

He looked at the man in front of him. Just by looking at his back, Mido could tell that something was bothering him. The man hunched a bit and walked lazily. If it was mannerisms, he could tell. But this man might actually be bored of his job, and the fact that Fein acknowledged he has an ability makes him a Vassal. But still, why would he act so down?

Mido tried to stake a conversation but feared that he would attract unwanted attention from him. He left his mind drift and focus on this ‘test’ at hand.

Their footsteps became beats that echoed along the narrow hallway. The busy warehouse noises behind them were no more.

After a few minutes of walking, they finally came up to two doors. One on the side, another in front. The quartermaster opened both doors using a card. The one on the side led to an upstairs platform, but Mido could only see the steps from his perspective. It was possibly higher than the door itself. The one on the front, however, led to a very spacious, gridded room. The sleek metal was polished, and wear or tear were pretty much absent.

“Get inside. Everyone is waiting on the observation.” The man said in a nonchalant voice.

“Will this be alright?”

“Of course, it will, kid. Now go.”

He stared at the huge room once more, but when Mido looked back, the man was already gone. He breathed in deep and walked inside. As expected, the doors closed behind him, and blended in with the grid. He looked up, and the ceiling was filled with bright lighting that lit the whole place, as if the sun was shining here underground. To his left, a good few meters above his level, stood an observation post. He saw figures, and as he looked closer, he definitely felt he was their subject.

He was alone in there, and everyone was observing him.

“Recruit, please position yourself on the red area.” The intercom blasted, followed by a grid turning red in the center. Mido promptly followed.

“This will be a field simulation. Your performance will be recorded through observation. Please do your utmost in the test, as your results will be the basis in final admission.”

“If you will, quartermaster.”

Mido looked around, and saw another post protruding on the wall behind him, just above the door he went in.

Inside the post, the quartermaster sat in an armchair, fitted with different implements. Without further ado, he wore a helmet and said an incantation.

“Grantor, cast upon space a part of thyself. Let image manifest, and envelop my target.”

Melting Mirage.

The intercom took one last call before turning off.

“Simulation commencing.”

“I don’t like doing this…”

Machineries hummed and groaned around Mido, as if something was moving from behind the grid surfaces.

The space vibrated. Mido was unsure what would happen. Before long, the space morphed into many, many images. Places he does not know, people he didn’t meet. Feelings he hasn’t thought. It was as if riding someone else’s memories.

Meanwhile, on the observation deck…

“it’s already starting…” Wiz commented as she, Sora, Enna and Gen entered.

“Fein, did you prepare the kid for this?” Gen asked. He was slightly unsettled.

“We shall see. For now, we need to put our trust on him.”

“But captain—” Enna was interrupted by Gris.

“This kid works wonders through unexpected ways. Just watch, Enna.”

At their back, Wizbette stood, clutching her chest firmly. She seemingly remembered some memory regarding this test. A harrowing one, it might be.

‘Pull through. Please.’

Just as pressure was about to build up, the door opened again. The staff inside immediately bowed their heads. What approached them was a woman, who wore an officer’s topcoat in white and red, oozing an irrefutable aura of authority, and stood imposing as she walked in front of the window, her piercing red eyes added only to her authoritative figure. Her deep pale complexion almost blended with her apparel, which gave her an almost deathly look.

“Secretary Ayane. Welcome.” Fein greeted her. Ayane nodded.

“Captain, I will personally observe this recruit’s performance, if you may. Truly, it’s been a while since we found ourselves a new Vassal among our ranks.”

“The pleasure is ours, ma’am.”

“I trust this boy won’t let us down.”

Mido found himself in an arid landscape. It was a wasteland; pools of mixures of gunk, oil, and mud all over. Examining himself, he wore a military uniform, and was slick with grease and quite harrowing, blood.

‘Are you there?’ He searched for consolation.

“Indeed. Truly, this is strange. Even for me.”

He noticed it as of late, but Mido was holding a rifle. It was quite bulky and had equally much wear and tear. As his hearing came to be, however, he heard gunshots everywhere. Loud, booming explosions, and an array of whizzing projectiles. His instincts kicked in, and immediately went for cover. The sky was tainted, and it reeked of a nasty odor that repulsed Mido.

‘Is this that guy’s ability?’

“Apparently, it is.”

‘There’s probably a way out—” Mido was interrupted by an explosion near him. It blew his cover, and he frantically ran to a trench, utilizing the erupted dust cloud to his advantage.

‘Shit! Shit!’ He knew it was just the quartermaster’s ability, but it all felt too real and vivid that it made his instincts jump.

“Don’t skimp around like a rabbit, soldier!” As he tried to stand up, he looked around. The trench was filled with soldiers who wore uniforms just like him. Friendlies, maybe. But just judging from their reaction, Mido was sure that they were not hostiles.

“Calm down. I can manifest an ability for you, using this battlefield.”

Suddenly, Mido’s hairs stood up.

‘What did you just say? You can create abilities?’

Judging from his way speaking, the voice was also uneased.

“Strange… I had only thought of that just now… But since it cleared up, surprisingly, I think it’s possible.”

During this exchange, a point was made clear: This voice ‘manifests’ abilities through Mido, possibly using his experiences and its own. But within this quagmire, a calm conversation cannot be made.

“We have hostiles incoming!”

“Defend the trench boys!”

The people with him ran to one side of the trench as they followed the soldier who notified. He had no choice but to follow, as he was still unsure of how this simulation works.

Before running to a fork on his right, a man screamed.

“SHIT! TURN BACK—” His scream was cut by a radiating blast, followed by what seemed like crystals breaking.

“Child. Be wary. Who knows what will happen if you die.”

‘I know. I will fail.’ He did not consider any more factors to that point, but Mido held on to that notion. Taking a peek to the fork, he saw a shock trooper, heavily built with a crude cannon on its left arm, attached to the back with tubes that ran with yellow energy. He saw something else, and to his horror, found out that the soldiers who charged just now were turned into crystal statues, their distraught faces still imprinted on their fine-sculpted surfaces.

The juggernaut must have sensed him and proceeded to walk to his position. Mido was frozen.

‘Think, damn it! Think straight!’

“Don’t think in such a childish manner, child.”

‘Don’t make fun of me! If I fail this now…’

“Think forward. That is the only way out.”

‘Shit. I’m guessing you’re right.’

Yes. The only way to live is forward. Even you should know something as simple as that, my love.

‘What was that?’ Mido startled. It was a wayward piece of thought, but it was neither his or the voice.

“It’s war, child. And I’m with you.”

With a slight of courage, Mido swiftly ran into his enemy. As it readied its weapon, Mido steeled his mind.

Intuition. Firis.

He threw a fireball at his opponent’s face, and adamantly vaulted across and behind it. He lunged the bayonet into the protruding tubes and cut it clean open. The trooper fell to the ground, but not before turning its back and trying to punch Mido using its right fist. He quickly dodged but suffered a small gash in the hip. It was not his actual injury, but it sure left a burning sensation. His enemy landed face first into the mud crashing into the crystals, slightly twitching, and uttering gurgling noises, which unnerved Mido.

“Finish it.”

He abhorred trying to kill, but Mido knew it was necessary for this test to pass. He swiftly punctured the helmet with his bayonet. Blood came out, and the trooper ceased to move. He felt the need to puke but held on. He was being observed. He needed to be strong.

He ran again, through the trenches. More hostiles came in, and he took them down gradually. He finally came to another group of soldiers and tagged with them. This time, these people were not talking. Seriousness filled their faces, and relentlessly gunned down any interlopers they saw move.

‘Hey… do you know this war?’

“We’re both at the same boat, child. I have no idea.”

“If I have to guess, this ability uses memories, experiences to project simulations.”

‘So, the quartermaster is a war veteran… That’s why he was so down to look at.’

“Whatever fits the pieces, child. For now, let’s find a way to finish this.”

Just when Mido was pondering on his thoughts, a man shouted.

“Vassal incoming!”

With only a blink, Mido saw those relentless soldiers were cut down cleanly. They dropped to the ground, gore all over. He had the intuition to run, and so he did. As he ran to the arid, marshy battlefield, Mido saw more of the carnage: corpses of different outfits littered the place. There were not just two opposing fronts. This was not just a war; it was cold-hearted destruction. But for what cause and for what gain? Mido had no time to ponder on these details. All he knew was that he needed to perform well through combat.

“Hang on.”

The voice said to him, as he heard the ‘Vassal’ chasing him spell out an incantation. Soon, he felt a piercing pain on his side. A piece of metal has made its way into his hip. It was painful, but because it was a simulation, the pain could only provoke Mido’s adrenaline further, not kill him.

“Why am I running away? This is embarrassing…” He said as he turned to his pursuer. He needs to fight. He needs to show that he has what it takes to tackle such situations. As much as just a requirement, Mido needs to prove his will as a Vassal by facing it head-on. Such was his determination to find justice.

“That’s right, child. Give me time.”

Mido gripped the rifle’s handle tight. His new opponent was a man with the same stature as him. Even though he could not see his face, Mido knew that this man will not relent on killing him.

‘These simulations are brutal. Well, you do your thing.’

Mido rushed his target as chunks of metal tried to gnash his skin. Much to his surprise, his body averted all damage and dodged the projectiles, its as if his intuition and instinct were doubled in efficiency. He tried to thrust his rifle into the man but was quickly parried by a flying scrap of metal. It scarred his left cheek. Falling to the ground, Mido immediately got up and circled the man.

Firis.

He threw a plume of fire directly. The man was unfazed, however, but the metal he’s using to attack were all melted. Mido was slightly shocked at this man’s durability. He knew bullets would just be redirected at him, so he resorted to close-range combat.

Firis.

Mido threw another fireball, this time, it’s comparable to the size of when he was appraised. It grew from a shot-put ball into a large sphere of golden flame that almost enveloped his vision of the enemy. What shocked him however, was that moments later, when the smoke settled, he found himself on the ground.

Mido was pinned by molten metal into the mud. His vision blurred, and searing pain enveloped his extremities. The man snagged his rifle and immediately pointed it at his head, foot stepping on his chest.

He saw the tainted sky, and the man’s silhouette casting a shadow on him.

“Did I… do enough?” He coughed. The man replied nothing.

He was not certain he checked out on this performance. Was his objective to triumph, or to fail?

Just as the trigger was about to be pulled…

“Alright. That is enough.”

The voice boomed across the fields, emanating a visual wave of distortion. Everything stopped, and as the waves touched matter, it somewhat glitched, phasing in and out of existence sharply. Mido was ceased from the pain and tried to get up. His opponent did not move an inch, gun still pointed to where he was moments ago.

‘Hey, what did you do?’

“I attuned to the ability’s tones and took control of it for a while.”

‘Wow… You can do that?’ Mido was truly amazed of how versatile his ability is, as it can seem to do anything.

“Only for a small amount of time.” The world distorted, and it again flashed into different images.

“I’ll drop you off to a point in his memory. Hopefully, it will stall these people for a while.”

Mido was unsure what to think. If he followed that event, if he was killed right there, what would happen then? Is his ability trying to save his skin, or is just flaunting its dominance?

He soon found himself in an empty room. A steel table in front of him, and he was sitting on a chair.

Meanwhile…

“Captain… Is this a normal scenario?” Sora asked. He was starting to feel eerie, as so with everyone.

Fein was also affected but maintained his composure. “I’m not sure myself, Sora. Secretary?” He, in turned asked Ayane, who was in front of them, facing the windows that projected Mido’s scene. She didn’t answer. She was too focused.

“This routine is not logged in, ma’am. That scenario was the only one the quartermaster formally inputted.”

“Let it run.” She commanded. “it’ll be a waste not to observe now.” The staff nodded and let the simulation be.

“Captain Van Rosa… This boy… Do you think there is something else other than his ability?”

“As you saw, ma’am, Mido has affinity on fire, a Primal aspect. So far, that was all I observed.”

Ayane raised an eyebrow. “Hmm? Do you think so?”

“What are you trying to imply, ma’am?” Unexpectedly, Wizbette stood up and spoke.

“Ma’am? I-I’m implying that Mido’s ability might be more than just flame. He diverted the quartermaster’s ability against his will. He is rusty after almost a year of not testing participants, but his ability adjusts its scenario based on the Vassal’s attributes”

“You, as far as I can remember, was faced with a scenario regarding compassion, Officer Wizbette.” Ayane pointed at her. Wiz remembered, and slowly nodded.

“The quartermaster does not divulge his own inner memories, but as far as I can tell, this…”

…

The Secretary paused.

“…This is something else within him.”

Mido saw a person enter a room. He was then given a cup of coffee. A book and quill, a handful of papers, and a lit candle appeared when he looked down. They were not there before.

The person sat across him, and placed both elbows into the table, lifted up their intertwined fingers and placed their head against it. Upon closer look, the person was feminine, her smile was only visible as her eyes were shadowed out by the dark ambient light.

“Tell me if the coffee is good…”