Blessed are those with Mana.
The more mana one has, the better. Although, most of those with higher mana reserves were nobility.
If your heritage contained even a drop of Oeglinn or Daeglinn, you're set for life. A life with mana for use to sustain one's life through work.
That was not usually the case for the common folk. Though they crave and yearn for even an ounce.
Year 7794. Present day.
On every Saturday of the last week of the month, children in the age of 7 are required to have their bloods tested in the community health center or hospitals. They were seeking to register all children into categories, each with varying levels of mana reserves.
Today is such a day. A married couple had just arrived at their community health center, as the hospitals were too far into the city and it is more than a week's worth of travel for townsfolk like them. They had a little boy on the father's arms, which they have finally put down on the ground when they arrive by the outside door.
"Evan, do you remember what to do?" The mother, Sylvia, asked, smiling at their kid. She has short, black hair and dark brown eyes. She's wearing a simple, off-yellow sundress, as if the dress itself was worn countless of times in repetition. She looks simple, clean and kind. There is a small smile on her face, as she leans down to look at her son.
Evan nods his head, his unkempt, brown hair moving slightly as he did so. His brown eyes twinkling in excitement and his movements mirrors it too. "Yep! Go to the lady wearing violet scrubs, mention our last name and follow her instructions." He's wearing a red shirt, shorts and slippers. His hair was wet while they were walking but it seemed to have dried up by now.
The father chuckles and pats his head, the ruffling motion of his hand making a bigger mess on top of Evan's head. "Good! That's right! Me and your mom will stay at the lounge. Don't forget the ID or envelope they will give you." He looks almost exactly like Evan, only older and wiser that reflects in his eyes and physique. The only difference would be that his eyes were black. He's wearing a white shirt that looks slightly form-fitting, with black pants and work boots.
Evan grins, before heading through the open doors, leaving his parents whose smiling faces turn upside down once the boy couldn't see their expression.
"He hasn't shown even a little control over water or wind like we did, Erwin. I'm worried." Sylvia says, watching as their child slowly disappear from view.
"He'll be fine, Sylvia. We can only hope he gets just a little bit and his future is set." Erwin could only place a hand around his wife in comfort. "The tests do not lie. They'll detect even the littlest we can't."
"I hope you're right."
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The children with Evan were all lined up in their last names' alphabetical order. There weren't many today, maybe because last month's batch were compiled immediately due to the order from the council.
All of the children's blood were taken, a small syringe that barely felt like a prick. Evan looks around him and noticed that there were no more than three lines, each line had a dozen lined up children.
Now, they are just waiting for their names to be called to get their IDs.
"Rotewed, Evan." It was finally his turn.
Evan made his way in front towards the lady that made the announcement. There was a hint of pity in her eyes, as she hands an envelope that no doubt contains the ID that will now be his identification for the rest of his life, at least, until before the next testing in a few year's time.
He takes it, not opening it yet as he was ushered back to his place in the line up.
It didn't take a few more minutes before the names were done being called. When the lady was about to talk once again, another person walks in, almost as if he owns the place. He grabs the microphone from the lady and had the widest grin on his face.
The man was tall, with light-blue hair and eyes. He's wearing a white, long-sleeve inner shirt, dark blue two-piece suit with a light-blue tie and black shoes, completing his look. The most noticeable feature of his wasn't the color-coordinated outfit, but the horns on top of his head, curved but not quite meeting in the middle.
"Good day, children of the wood village, during this beautiful day in Aquitt." The person greeted. "As you all know, mana is an important part of life. You can be adopted or invited to work for a noble family if you have Category L and higher. The council has decreed this and I'm sure your parents are well aware of this fact. Though, this is further down the line, something you don't have to worry about until the time comes."
He began to walk from the left slowly, looking at the children lined up as if he was scanning and searching for something as he spoke. It took him a while before he got to the right, and Evan could swore he made eye contact with the man and there was barely hidden disgust in his stare.
"However, to those unchosen, that is fine. All children are required to attend school regardless of ability or lack thereof. No matter the result of your test here, your mana reserves can and will be able to improve, depending on your innate talent and will. So, I'm sure I will see some of you at the Stardust Academy next year after passing the entrance exams."
As if on cue, the door on the right opens and three students came up through it. Each one of them goes to each line, handing a brochure to each child. Evan looked at the paper for a moment before recognizing the stamped logo of the Stardust Academy at the front.
"Those paper you have now contains information about the entrance exams. Exclusively for Stardust Academy, of course. I'm not the only one who's here to advertise a school, after all. So, feel free to show that to your parents and apply. If you do get in, I will be your Mana Reserves Trainer, Sir Thomas Maxwell. Good day once again~"
As the man and the students with him left, Evan thought about what he had just heard. He has heard of the Stardust Academy. It was the very school he wanted to get into. It is the most prestigious school that only a selection could get in and when they finish their studies, has a guarantee of life satisfaction in the end. Even those non-nobility can apply for work that can sustain them after graduation from the academy itself without the need for further education. It was not only Evan, but most of the children's dream school too.
The lady was handed back the microphone and her sigh was audible. "Children, you all may go now. As Sir Thomas have mentioned, feel free to show the brochure to your parents as well. If you have a different school in mind, most of the brochures will be by the lounge with your parents so you don't have to look for it yourself. Thank you for your cooperation!"
As the children finally dispersed, Evan felt a weak punch on his arm. He turns to it and saw his friend, Samuel.
"The sir guy seems rude." Samuel blows a raspberry. "Are you still planning on getting to Stardust Academy with me?"
Samuel is close in height with Evan, with short, dirty blonde hair and dark green eyes. A bit of his hair is tied up in a ponytail on the back, so it looked a little tidy. Because of the ponytail, the protrusions shaped like scattered corals from the top of his head were more obvious. He's wearing a simple green polo-shirt, shorts and shoes. He's dressed neatly, something that most of the children here weren't. He has been Evan's best friend since way back, since their parents had been long-time friends too.
Evan nods his head, giving Samuel a weak punch on his arm back. "Yep! We promised to get there. Not sure if we'll be in the same class but I'm sure we can both get in!"
Samuel grins. "Yeah! If you want a practice buddy, come over! Mom had always hoped I get Category V or U so I might have that especially since we're branch of a branch of a branch with an Daeglinn! Let me know what yours is!"
Evan hums. "I haven't opened mine yet. As long as I'm not Z, I think I have a chance to get in Stardust."
"That's the spirit!"
It is true. With Mana Reserves calculated by Category, A is the highest and Z meant none, it meant the initial test they just went through were under the Low Rank, which meant untrained. As long as someone is not at Z, the body can be trained to soon go up a category. It is why Mana Reserves Trainers were highly paid. But even when improvement is limited, it it still better to train young. Which is why schools tried their best to get students to come and attend their studies their as soon as they get their first test done to ensure the highest capacity or capability of a person will be met in the future.
There are also abilities, which were what mana fuels, but they were something only mentioned. Young ones has the idea, but it wasn't explained to them how those were categorized. Evan remembered how his mom used the wind to dry their wet laundry and how his dad used water to do water the fields of their small farmland. He should have shown signs of harnessing water or air like his parents, but he hasn't yet. Still, it was only a matter of time. Evan had heard his parents mentioned that Low Intermediate is when it will be recorded on the IDs, which means it's never too late to wait until his abilities show up.
Evan and Samuel were walking alongside each other as they made their way towards the lounge. Their parents seems to be talking even before they arrived. Both Evan and Samuel hands the brochure and envelope to them.
As the envelopes were open, Samuel's parents seemed to cry tears of relief and pride. While Evan felt his mom's arms wrap around him, but not in tears of happiness like he was expecting.
"I'm sorry, Evan." Sylvia whispers to his ears, and hugged him even closer. "I'm sorry..."
Evan's card shows his name and the Category of his mana reserves test he just took.
Category Z.