Borin's shack felt almost like home after the tavern. The old man was mending a net when Riku walked in and stood by the door.
"Well? Don't just stand there letting the damp in, boy," Borin grumbled without looking up. "Did they make you a warrior or what?"
"They called me a 'Designer-type,'" Riku said, slumping onto his straw pallet. "Said it was useless."
Borin snorted, "Told you they were picky, didn't I? So… back to fishing with me or what?"
"Not really. I still got my hopes up," Riku muttered, explaining everything that happened. Kayra, the training and the 'second chance'.
"Kayra, huh?" Borin called the name. "Lowtown celebrity hunter, said to be a Tier-3 upper. A lone wolf that's got nothing doing with the tower. She doesn't pick up strays, so you must have done something to get her interest. That glowing ball trick?"
"It's a strategically deployed—"
"Okay, okay. Don't use the big words. Those aren't going to take you anywhere," the old man waved dismissively, folding the net and setting it aside. "Be careful around her though," he added.
"Hm? Why's that?" Riku asked, wondering what it was about her he should be cautious of. He knew she was hiding something when he asked about why she didn't join the Ascendancy, but was it his problem really?
"She has a bad record with the Ascendancy," Borin started, picking up something in a wrap and throwing it to Riku. "They must be leaving her because she's been helping to clean their messes here at Lowtown and possibly still have their hopes up on recruiting her. Hanging around her only gets the tower's eyes on you as well."
Riku didn't quite understand why being watched by the Ascendancy was a bad thing. It was normal to monitor someone who was acting out of the law's system, wasn't it? He decided to just shrug it off, unwrapping what Borin tossed him, revealing some well garnished roasted fish. "Ooh, thank you. Bought some ingredients, I see. Tastes better today," he muttered to himself, putting a small piece in his mouth.
"What did you say?" Borin squinted.
"Hm? Nothing," Riku smiled and looked away. Feeling the old man's gaze linger on him, he picked up a book and start to thumb through the pages.
Borin scoffed and shook his head.
Two days passed in a blur of harsh trainings with Kayra and understanding what more the useless 'designer-type' power could do.
Riku made Borin's shack his lab, experimenting on different ways to use his power. Riku had learnt that he could make illusions, but it was only limited to one thing, for now: a wall, though a small one that even a dog could easily jump over. He could now increase the size of his toy soldier by 2% and he could move the light orb faster, though it always drained his Nega reserves.
When a body is compatible with Nega energy, it creates a reserve where the energy can be stored for future use. The size of reserves vary with Tiers and ability types. Complete use of the energy in the reserve doesn't mean the end though, as the body takes unfiltered Nega energy from the air to replenish a users reserves.
Riku always had to wait about two to three hours before his small Tier-5 reserves were fully replenished.
Today, Riku had that same determined look he had when going to the Lowtown garrison.
"Fancy how you still think you got a chance with the tower," Borin watched Riku from his own pallet.
"It's my shot. Not losing it," the latter replied.
"This is not evaluation we're talking, boy, we're talking a real test. You fight, not face a crystal," Borin explained concerned. "The Spire is something else. Different world up there."
Riku nodded, rolling his shoulders. "Alright, thanks for the tip, but I'm still going."
Borin snorted, "Stubborn, eh? Your choice. Say, don't you need a writ from the adjudicator to get in? I don't remember them giving it to people who didn't pass."
Riku's stomach dropped as he remembered Varia handing him a blank parchment. He had nothing to show, but that didn't stop his drive. "I have to try at least." he muttered, making the old man nod.
An hour later, Riku and Borin walked into the city. Riku noticed a big difference between the Ascendant city and Lowtown. The floors were concrete right from where the city started, people didn't wear patched clothes, it didn't smell like rot but rather flowers from several behind-the-fence gardens, the houses were actually well made and had glass windows and there was still so much more to note out.
They got to the Ascendancy Spire. It was a mighty tower of steel and stones, a monumental building that surprised Riku who had come to believe this world had nothing good to boast about.
"Alright, here you are," Borin clapped Riku at the back, already shuffling away to head home. "Don't get arrested, boy,"
Riku took a deep breath in then out. He went to the gates where two guards stood. Riku could feel the aura coming from them and could tell they were likely Tier-3 mid or upper.
"Writ?" One of the guards asked, stopping him.
"Oh, I don't have one. Actually, I was summoned. Adjudicator Varia?" Riku tried to look confident telling a blunt lie.
"No writ, no entry,"
"Hear me out, she ordered I be here. My name is Riku,"
"I don't care if your name is the Blighted King. No writ, no entry!" The guard snapped, pointing at where Riku came. "Get lost."
Riku accepted defeat and walked off, thinking of a new plan. Three aspirants who had already submitted their writs but came out to get something walked to the gate and Riku quickly fell into step behind them, trying to act like he belonged.
He made it two steps past the guards when a hand yanked him from behind, shoving him out. "You, we said no!"
Riku walked back. 'Dammit, fucking hair,' Riku thought holding his hair tightly. It was a bright yellow that was too obvious to be mistaken.
After a few more tries and threats received, he eventually gave up. "I guess I should just go back? But come on, I made it this far for nothing?" he muttered.
"Leaving so soon?" A voice came from ahead. He looked up to see a blonde haired man in the Ascendancy grey, but a darker shade. His aura was no joke either and the badges he held had a deep story of power and authority behind them. This definitely had to be a top personnel in the Ascendancy, Riku thought, though the man looked too familiar.
Riku's brain had been one to quickly deliver a lie in such tight situations on the go. A skill he had for clients when on the phone back in the real world. "Oh, I uh, just had an upset bladder and decided to come out and… you know,"
The man smile warmly, "We have a place inside. I get the nervousness all you aspirants come with. A common issue," he patted Riku's shoulder. "Come with me."
The guards couldn't say anything as the man took Riku in, though the latter did well to hide his face as well.
The man showed him to the building where he was to put in his information and the restroom before leaving.
Riku walked to the counter and the lady there started to ask him the necessary questions. "Name?"
"Riku."
"Place of origin?"
"The Eastern grove."
"Ability name?"
Riku hesitated, thinking what he was going to name his ability. Then he remembered what he told Kayra, "The Architect's Design."
The lady wrote it down and paused, looking up at him. "Really? So you're a designer-type," she scoffed. "Tier?"
"Five," replied Riku after another moment of hesitation.
The lady palmed her face and sighed, muttering to herself, "Definitely going to get himself killed." But she wrote it down anyways and told him to go inside.
Riku nodded happily and left. He finally made it in. Riku stepped into the the trial hall and joined the group of other aspirants, most of who he never saw. Of course, it wasn't Lowtown alone that took the evaluations.
There was a small arena space at the center and a gate on the other end. Ahead was a raised dais where six judges sat. The ones to determine who was Ascendancy material and who wasn't. They were legendary figures.
These people were recognized as the Six pillars of The Ascendancy, all Tier-1 uppers. They controlled the Ascendancy from the inside out.
They were here now to determine who was needed in their army.
Riku quickly recognized them thanks to the books and drawings he had seen and could attach little known information to each person, though he didn't know their real names.
The first was General Torvin. A mountain of muscle with severely scarred hands behind golden gauntlets. His eyes were intimidating and his aura was entirely something else, known for his brute blow for blow principle. Enhancement-type (body), 'Sentry's Crusade.'
Second, Lord Valerius. Another hulking man, not as big as Torvin, but nonetheless intimidating. He had a burn scar across his nose. His eyes were white, yet he wasn't blind, a master of flames. Elemental-type, 'Flames of Purification.'
Third, Baroness Shadowgrave. A calm looking lady who seemed to suck off the light around her as shadows swirled beneath her crossed legs. Her eyes were daggers on whoever they fell on, her elegant technique created the belief that brute force wasn't always the key. Manipulation-type, 'Umbral Weaving.'
Fourth, Lady Ironwood. A woman with a bored expression and an irritated look. Her seat was interlaced with living vines that came out from the earth. She seemed to be fidgeting with her legs out of boredom, a small but thick vine moving beneath her foot with the same rhythm. Elemental-type, 'Songs of Nature.'
Fifth, Master Kalen. The man who helped Riku get in. Riku now understood why the man looked familiar all this while. He was the most jovial-looking of all the pillars, with the same warm smile from earlier plastered on his face. The brains, tactician and weapons expert of the Ascendancy, though he didn't use his ability much. Enhancement-type (weapon), 'Star Gift.'
And lastly, The Silent Brother. Just as his name implied, he was a tall and lanky hooded man who barely spoke or did anything under the eyes of many. Very little was known about him. How he rose to the ranks was something of surprise if no one really knew what his class was. Class? Unknown. He was the mystery box of the Ascendancy.
The trials were about to begin and Riku was prepared to show these six figures why a designer belonged in the tower.