Chapter 4 :
Out of over 3,000 applicants, only 526 had passed the first level of the B Empire's recruitment process.
Among those selected were Solla, Van Staden, his fellow South Nation companion Nate, the hybrid centaur siblings Ariane and Doniglao, and their cousin Kurosawa. Passing the Initial Vitality Scan—a rigorous biometric and genetic test—meant one thing: their bloodlines were strong, healthy, and aligned with the energetic frequency deemed 'worthy' by the Empire's core systems.
The pressure was building.
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"How many rounds do we have to survive before we're actually accepted?" Don asked, glancing nervously at his sister.
Ariane was about to reply when Nate stepped in, folding his arms proudly.
"After this second round, which is the Mental Health Test, there's only one more: the Spiritual Evaluation."
Don raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "How do you know that?" he asked, crossing his arms with a smirk.
Nate gestured confidently. "I read the handbook. All applicants were given access to it."
Don gave him a long, doubtful stare. His silence said more than words.
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Suddenly, a familiar face approached their group.
"Solla!" Ariane beamed. "You made it! Congratulations!"
"Thanks, Ariane," Solla said, smiling warmly.
He made his way around the group, shaking hands with Nate, and then with Van Staden, who had just returned from the restroom.
"Pleasure to see you again," Van said calmly, brushing back his cloak.
Solla then turned to a girl standing a little apart from the group—a young woman with shimmering blue-black hair, and eyes that mirrored flowing water.
She stepped forward with grace.
"My name is Suthra," she said gently. "From the East of Asya. My people… are of the Riverland Race."
Her tone was polite but proud. The group welcomed her with a few nods and smiles.
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🜁 The Origin of Riverland
The Riverlanders were once a revered and mysterious race, known for their deep connection to water. Their most remarkable trait: the ability to transform their bodies into liquid form, allowing them to pass through tight spaces, evade capture, or merge with rivers and lakes.
But what was once admired became feared.
As the centuries passed, their liquid essence was discovered to hold powerful alchemical properties. It could be fused into weapons, making them unbreakable and almost invincible. Greedy warlords and black-market dealers began hunting the Riverlanders, draining them, and forging Living Blades from their remains.
They were slaughtered. Hunted to near extinction.
Suthra's family fled to the Central Land, the only place in the world where the law protected all beings equally—mortal, hybrid, or elemental.
Despite her past, Suthra never stopped smiling.
"Smiles," she once said, "are like drops of water. Even small ones can ripple through pain."
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Back to the Present…
"I thought we'd be waiting here forever," Ariane muttered, sitting on a stone bench.
"Sistah… we have been waiting forever," Don groaned, rubbing his stomach. "Six hours standing in line, and not even a slice of meat! I'm starving!"
Just then, Van Staden reached into his leather satchel and pulled out a container. "Would anyone like something to eat?" he offered politely.
Don peeked in. "Eggs? Nah, bro, we centaurs don't eat eggs," he said, waving it away.
"I'll take it," Solla said quickly, grabbing one of the eggs and cracking it open with practiced hands. "I can't even afford snacks right now."
He bit into the food eagerly, chewing with satisfaction.
Nate glanced over, eyes wide. "Wait a second… is that an ostrich egg?"
Solla blinked, mouth full. "Mmhmm. Why?"
"You don't know?" Nate asked, baffled. "Ostrich eggs are a royal delicacy. Only nobles eat them! They're expensive—like, really expensive."
The group turned to stare.
"So… either you're secretly royalty…" Nate trailed off suspiciously.
"…or you stole it," Suthra added, arching a brow, her tone calm but firm.
Solla's eyes widened as he looked down at the food in his hands.
Before the suspicion could escalate, Van Staden stepped in smoothly.
"An old man gave it to me," Van said. "It was a gift—given to me by an old man after I helped save his daughter from being trampled by a rogue drone."
Solla looked at him, surprised—but nodded in agreement, playing along.
"Oh… yeah. That guy. Real generous," he said, laughing awkwardly.
Suthra narrowed her eyes for a moment, then smiled and said nothing. Ariane noticed but stayed quiet.
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Soon, a voice echoed across the hall through the speakers:
"Applicants, please proceed to the testing chambers. The Mental Health Evaluation will now begin."
The group stood, their banter forgotten.
This wasn't just a test of memory or intelligence. The B Empire's Mental Health Evaluation was said to analyze emotional control, trauma resilience, decision-making, and even suppressed fears—through immersive simulation.
"Here we go," Don muttered.
"One step closer," Ariane whispered.
Solla clenched his fists.
Van Staden lowered his hood.
And Suthra… just smiled.
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TO BE CONTINUED…