Debauchery of a Soul-Eating Wraith C.110: Squire Adrian Stygian

Zayda smiled and nodded a few times,

"Spitfire," she said, "I like that. What's your name?"

"Ember Lockheart," Ember said. Zayda's tone spurred her to stand at attention.

"Lockheart," Zayda mused, "Noble?"

Ember shook her head,

"Not exactly. My Father is a Merchant," she said.

"I see," Zayda said not appearing at all put off and not particularly caring of what relation endorsed Ember's presence at a Stygian family affair, "You should Enlist for the Temple soon."

Ember nodded,

"I intend to," she said resolutely and when she felt eyes on her, she looked over at Evian to see him eyeing her, "What?"

"Nothing," Evian said with a shake of his head but he didn't take his eyes off her.

Ember blushed but she retained her smile just as it was while turning her eyes back to Zayda whose attention had shifted to the Stygians.

"Dame Zayda," Myrine said with a small yet respectful bow, "Preparations have been made to show you due hospitality. Shall we adjourn to the Feasting hall?"

Zayda raised a hand in acknowledgment of the greeting,

"I appreciate the thought but there will be time for that later. I came here as a Delegate of the Martial Temple with an official task to accomplish," she said.

"We understand," Lord Stygian said in his deep rumbling tone, "But the journey must have been long..."

"I'm not tired," Zayda said quickly before she turned to Myron, "Are you?"

Myron shook his head,

"No, No I'm not."

Zayda nodded,

"Good," she said before turning her head to address Adrian directly for the first time since she stepped down from the Carriage,

"Stygian lad, are you ready?"

Adrian held himself in an even more prestigious pose, his perfectly layered noble robes fluttered slightly as he strengthened his back and raised his chin,

"Yes, ma'am!"

Zayda nodded,

"Very well then, Sir Myron, the rest of your reunion will have to wait... It's time."

...

Zayda was led to various parts of the Stygian Estate, her judgment to be trusted for what would serve as the best venue.

Despite being a former member of the Martial Temple, Myrine had no real knowledge of the matters of Evaluation especially not the sort that happened in the comfort of a nobleman's home. She and her brother had been rescued from the streets by a Knight. He took them both in and trained them in the ways of the Martial Temple which Myrine adhered to up until the moment she left.

Zayda eventually made her decision and after walking about a specific diameter of space, she flicked her finger and retrieved an Evaluation Desk from her Spatial Ring.

It had two chairs attached and placed opposite one another and a circular, symbol-etched platform in the very center so that it was within arm's reach of either seater.

"First," Zayda said as she took a seat and gestured that Adrian take the other, "We must evaluate your mindset. Your aim as a Disciple of the Martial Temple."

Adrian looked at his parents who were standing nearby, he made a point to ignore Evian and the redhead by his side so his eyes finally lay on his Uncle's face.

Myron gave a reassuring smile,

"Relax Nephew, I am here."

Evian could have sworn he saw Zayda's eyes roll but it was so fleeting, so fast, he felt he might have imagined it.

"Really, Uncle?" Adrian asked as he carefully took his seat.

"Of course," Myron said with a sharp nod, "It's why I came."

This time Evian was sure he had not imagined it. He had indeed seen Zayda's eyes roll.

Evaluations such as this, happening away from the Martial Temple headquarters or the grounds of one of its Sects was an honor reserved only for prestigious Noble Families like the Families of Officials of the Royal Family and Territory ruling Families, and as such, it was a stringent process that the higher-ups of the Temple would not entrust to someone like Myron whose motives were likely screwed with partiality and potential nepotism.

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As the true Delegate, with Myron simply tagging along, Zayda was the authority here. Whatever she said was final and should she consider Adrian to have failed the Evaluation, Myron did not have a say otherwise which was why she found it silly that he was offering empty reassurances.

She pushed that aside and retrieved a Recording Crystal from her Spatial ring, placing it on the edge of the desk to ensure it captured every bit of whatever was about to take place.

"Place your hand on the platform," Zayda said gently.

Adrian did so and shuddered as a resulting tingle spread over his body as his mind was infiltrated while he was forced to reveal the energy that powered his might; Spiritual Energy.

"Ngh," he groaned.

Zayda eyed him,

"This will monitor your mind and offer insight into your answers. It will feel unpleasant," she said, "So endure."

She allowed a few seconds to pass to let Adrian settle into the sensations he felt before she retrieved a long scroll about six feet long and covered on both sides with various questions that she began to ask one at a time, requiring quick-fire answers.

Evian frowned at the sight.

He didn't care that Adrian was uncomfortable, but he was all the more convinced his decision to not undergo this process was the right one.

In his case, he would likely be forced to reveal his Eldritch energy, which he was not sure how Zayda would react to. Not to mention, the questions and the entire process were very invasive.

Adrian's Spiritual energy kept seeping out and was floating in a small cloudy haze above the back of his hand, taking various shapes in accordance with the state of his mind as he answered each question.

Zayda took notice of this and she recorded it on the long scroll she was holding.

Everyone watched on in silence while Adrian blocked out leering eyes to keep his mind clear and on the task at hand. The minutes ticked on, an hour passed and then another and then another before finally the end of the scroll was reached.

"Take your hand off the platform," Zayda said and even as Adrian did, her eyes remained on the Platform.

"Is- Is that it?" Adrian asked.

Zayda raised her eyes from to platform only briefly to stare into the Young Stygian's face,

"Not quite," she said stretching forth a finger and striking it sharply against the Platform, activating a feature with her Spiritual energy.

*Whuuummm*

The sound was like a forceful wave as Adrian's Spiritual energy spilled out of the platform, exploding into a constellation. Spiritual energy specks formed and were interconnected with threads of Spiritual pressure.

"Wow," Adrian said in awe at the sight.

"'Potential Testing' is an important stage of a Martial Temple Evaluation and it was done while you answered my questions by storing your released Spiritual energy along with information unique to your body and current Martial foundations," Zayda said in a soft soothing tone as she then delved fully into an explanation,

"Your foundation is solid and your potential appears powerful but explosive- Almost unstable. It means you have a chance at attaining great heights but also a chance at having it all go wrong.

An 'Explosive' potential speaks of your temperament and how susceptible you are to cultivation deviation. You should watch that and be careful as the results in your case will not be a simple dissolve of all you have gained so far but likely a self-destruction that kills you and hurts everyone near you."

Silence...

... only broken by a nervous chuckle,

"Heh, you- you almost sound like a damn fortune teller," Adrian said.

"That's ignorant speech. I didn't tell your future... Unless you do intend to self-destruct?" Zayda asked with a raised brow and while Adrian hastily shook his head, she sent the scroll in her hand into her Sparial ring and retrieved an official letter that she stamped sharply with an official seal,

*Bam!*

"Congratulations, Squire Adrian Stygian on your acceptance into the Martial Temple."

As soon as the letter touched Adrian's hand, he glowed with pride while his Parents and Uncle fawned over his accomplishment.

As a guest hoping to be polite and mostly unaware of how Evian felt about his brother, Ember stepped forward and did a curtsy to offer her own congratulations.

Adrian eyed her with distaste... An extension of how he felt about Evian and faced with it, Ember blanked and then frowned,

"Is it something I did?" she asked and Evian shook his head,

"Nah, he's just an idiot. Come over here," he said and pulled her closer to himself, her body pressed to his, "Ignore him. Ignore them."

They watched as Zayda packed up the Evaluating desk while other Stygians filed into the hall to join in the congratulatory celebrations and then he whispered into her ear,

"Let's get out of here. We've stayed and watched way too long and way too much anyway."

He tugged on Ember's hand gently and she looked up at him,

"Oh, but your Mother's letter," she mumbled semi-urgently, "It mentioned a get-together and we haven't exactly 'gotten together' yet."

"They are busy now so surely it can wait," Evian told her with a smile, "It's your first time here and you've spent enough of it in their company.

Let it just be US now."

Ember smiled at that and then nodded heartily,

"Okay."

Evian led her to a wall and before any eyes could roam and fall on them, he leaned against it and Phased them through it to the other side.