Present time.

Everyone present watches as the bright energy is continuously replicated and drawn into the Auricrystal’s needles, which are piercing into the meat of Maho’s wrist. Seeming to last at least three times longer than it did for Itō, Oleras turns to give Queen Frederica a subtle yet concerned look. The energy entering Maho’s body begins coursing throughout her as wings of yellow light emerge from her back and energy focuses around her eyes.

Oleras can feel the warmth of the energy through her hands, as it tingles and makes his hand feel numb. Tears of sunlight begin rolling down her cheeks as energy turns her ebony locks white, starting from the roots and dispersing at the tips. Barely able to stay conscious at the moment, the pain continues to compound to the state of unbearable agony.

As this continues, another maid brings Katō Yuuji into the banquet hall. He watches alongside the Itō and the nobles as the energy is transferred into her wrist. Itō looks around the room, noticing a different air around the noblemen than when he was in the spotlight. He judges that the different colors of the lights had something to do with it. Perhaps something rarer than they are used to seeing. When he was finished, they mentioned that he was an Elementalist and that it was a common gift to have.

After the last bits of energy travel through the needles and into Maho’s body, the inner mechanisms stop, and the wings of light that had emerged from her back dissipate. Falling limp in her chair, Oleras quickly catches her. “Here, assist me, Master Akito,” he calls out to Itō, who quickly rushes toward him, taking the limp girl from him and over to a vacant bench.

Everyone in the room stares at Oleras for answers. He wanders over to her and Itō and removes the Auricrystal from her wrist, closely examining her marking before silently moving away and back toward Queen Frederica. Unlike the flame rune that had been magically tattooed onto Itō’s wrist, the Auricrystal had drawn a black sun with a weaving pattern in the center of it. Itō is unaware of what it can mean, but it is captivating.

As Oleras walks away, he calls to Itō, “Master Akito, my boy, look after her as we finish with the others, will you?”

Itō nods, tending to the unconscious girl.

Returning to a calm Queen Frederica’s side, Oleras whispers, “Breath easy, Your Majesty, she’s only a Lightweaver; I checked the marking myself. The Church won’t be coming after this one.”

She confidently proclaims, “It appears that God, in their infinite wisdom, has decided to bless us with a Lightweaver!” An air of relief overtakes the nobles as their previous tension calms. Turning her attention toward the bench where Itō and Maho are, mainly focusing on Maho. “The first other-worlder to ever receive a light spirit’s blessing, I believe. Even though you cannot hear me, young lady, I expect great things from you.”

Turning her attention to the banquet hall’s doors, they open to reveal a plump nineteen-year-old Japanese boy. Oleras approaches him, “Perfect timing, my dear boy. It is your turn.”

“My turn? My turn for what, exactly?” He asks, a hint of concern choking his throat.

Queen Frederica points down at him and beckons him toward the front. As he timidly approaches the front and takes a seat in the chair, he looks around the room and fixates on Anaka. He becomes enthralled by her.

Queen Frederica inquires, “What is your name, young man?”

Not fully intending to ignore Her Majesty, he continues to stare at the maid as she cleans a spill from one of the noble’s tankards. Turning, she looks at him, notices him staring at her, and begins blushing. His face turns bright red as Oleras shakes his arm to get his attention. “Master Yuuji, Your Majesty has asked you a question.”

“Huh,” He turns his attention back toward Queen Frederica, face full of embarrassment. Traditionally bowing his head. “I am so very sorry, Your Majesty! I did not mean any disrespect!”

The atmosphere in the hall remains hushed with anticipation, and the noblemen speak quietly amongst themselves. They are either discussing how he is a dead man or what gift he would get if she did let him live.

Queen Frederica stares at his posture. Although he is heavier, he is still able to maintain a straight back. Acknowledging her observations, “Like the other two, you do not disappoint in manners. I believe the men in this nation could learn a thing about etiquette from the lot of you. You also seem well-fed. That is a good omen in my court.” She smiles before asking again, “What is your name, young man?”

Remaining bowed, he responds, “I am Katō Yuuji. From the city of Fukuyama.”

“Please, step forward and present your wrist.” She directs him, watching anxiously.

Stepping forward, he holds out his left wrist as directed. Oleras begins strapping the Auricrystal Enchanter onto his wrist. “Here, you are going to want to bite down on this.” He suggests while placing the leather strip into his mouth.

Taking a deep breath, Katō listens and bites down hard on the leather as he is unaware of what to expect. After finishing to fasten the Auricrystal to him, Oleras presses the button on top. The gears bring the mechanism to life again, whirling as the crystal core emanates its magical aura. A bright, ominous red glow replaces the colorless light in the core as the needles begin their work, detailing the rune into Katō’s wrist. Wincing in pain, after a short minute, like with Itō before him, it is over as the energy is sucked into the core and placed inside of him.

Removing the Auricrystal and examining the rune, Oleras remarks, “It is always good to have a Forcebender, Your Majesty.” On Katō’s wrist is a black symbol of what looks like an upside-down U with another blocky symbol in its center. “Ah, bearing the Kinetic mark, it appears we have a Kineticist, Your Majesty.” He states, looking up toward her as she promptly nods in approval.

“Please take a seat, young man.” Queen Frederica says to him, gesturing toward an empty table reserved for them. “Is the next one ready, Oleras?” As she says this, she looks around the crowd for the next other-worlder. 

As Katō takes a seat, the entrance doors open again, and another Japanese man enters the hall. The twenty-three-year-old office worker Arai Eito strolls casually behind a butler toward the front, occasionally glancing at Queen Frederica while looking around the room.

Something about him just irks the Queen, but she feigns a smile as he approaches the front. Passing one another, Katō and Arai exchange glances as Katō rubs his eyes due to irritation, not realizing that his irises have mystically turned red.

When he is standing in front of her, Queen Frederica inquires, “And you must be the next one. What is your name, young man?”

Without bowing, he says, staring unnervingly into the Queen’s eyes, “Arai.” before looking away again. With a nervous tick in her eye, Queen Frederica continues to fake a smile and is somehow at a loss for words.

Trying to ensure the Queen’s wrath isn’t unleashed against any of his pupils too soon, Oleras defuses the situation by stepping in between them and asking, “Please give me your left arm, Master Eito.”

Arai stares at Oleras before listening and sighing as he gives his left arm to the old wizard. Oleras fastens the Auricrystal to his wrist before pressing the button. Arai tenses up and stares into Oleras as the needles of the Auricrystal dig into him. Like Katō before him, the same ominous red glow shines from the core. 

Oleras looks up toward the Queen and comments, “Another force user, Your Majesty.” The Auricrystal quickly finishes tattooing the mark on Arai’s wrist. Oleras removes the mechanism before examining the mark closely. Arai, staring into a spoon and at his reflection, notices the eyes staring back at him are glowing red, just like the other man’s.

Impatiently, Queen Frederica asks, “Well, old man, what type of Forcebender is he?”

Puzzled, Oleras responds, “I’m not quite certain at this time, Your Majesty.” Continuing to examine the mark. The black rune resembles the one on Katō’s wrist, except the middle of Arai’s marking is more solid with a droplet marking carved into it. “I’ll have to search my texts, Your Majesty, but such things can wait until afterward. We have three more to get through, and speaking of which, I believe that is the next one.”

Being able to tell where others are without seeing them, Oleras turns to look at the door as it opens to reveal a darker boy with dark curly hair. Queen Frederica looks down at him and quietly says, “Show off.”

He smiles in response before turning to Arai and saying, “Young Master Eito, please take a seat next to Master Yuuji.”

The next of the other-worlders that a butler brings in is the young American Cameron. Like those before him, he enters the banquet hall confused and ignorant about why he is there. Scanning the room, he looks at the room filled with noblemen, their eyes staring daggers into him. His gaze stops when he sees Maho lying down unconscious on the bench; recognizing her Japanese features, he knows that she must be the girl he was speaking to last night.

Captivated by her beauty, he is unable to move and forgets everything else surrounding him— the noblemen, Her Majesty, and the strange environment— it all means nothing. Noticing this, Queen Frederica glares down at him with a menacing, queenly look. Following his gaze to where Maho lies, she senses there might be more happening there. Glancing toward Oleras and nodding toward Cameron, he also follows his gaze toward Maho and frowns. 

With a piercing stare fixated on the young man, Oleras clears his throat to get his attention. He sighs, sensing it to be vain because any young man will choose matters of the heart over any authority figure. 

Approaching him, Oleras shakes his shoulder and quips, “Ah, I see the issue Your Majesty, young Master Cameron’s eyes are as vacant as his skull. Perhaps he’s too busy fantasizing to be of any use to the Empire. Drooling over an unconscious lass doesn’t get you far here. Tell me, young Master, do you often mistake hospital wards for your love nest, or is this your first time being caught with your trousers down?”

Itō, Katō, and Arai sit in silence as the nobles present begin to whisper amongst each other. This man, old as he may be, is not someone to trifle with. His voice has no anger, no inflection suggesting that he is trying to be condescending; he just speaks, and his words carry weight and power.

Jolting Cameron back to a present mind, his cheeks turn red as he becomes agitated. “Do you have a problem with me, you shriveled old geezer? Maybe it’s time you took up knitting instead of meddling in affairs beyond your comprehension.”

Unfazed by his attempted retort and with a broad smile, Oleras replies, “It would do you some good to show a more present mind, especially in the presence of the Queen. And in the future, please refrain from lecturing me on subjects I most certainly can comprehend.” Forcing the young man to stand straight, he continues, “Now go and present yourself before Her Majesty, and let us get this ceremony moving. Learn to be respectful, lest you bite the hand that means to feed you.”

Coming fully back to the reality of his situation, Cameron inquires, “Ceremony?”

“Yes, you don’t want to keep seeing those strange things when you go back home tonight? Do you?” Oleras asks.

Cameron’s eyes go wide at the realization that all the horror and hallucinations that he had experienced back on earth may have actually happened. The purple haze surrounding people, the glowing purple eyes in his reflection. Throughout the previous day, he was able to tell what mood people were in and what visions of the future were coming true within moments of his having them. If this man knows about it and he hasn’t said a word about it to anyone. Does that mean it all happened?

Awkwardly approaching the stand, Queen Frederica looks past him and at the old wizard with a regal yet firm demeanor. Fixing a steely gaze on him, “Lord Otwin,” she begins, her voice commanding attention from all present, “while your wisdom and counsel are valued, I would request that you choose your words carefully in the future. It is unbecoming of one in your esteemed position to stoop to juvenility like this.” Turning her attention toward Cameron, she continues, “Boy, what is your name?”

Clumsily bowing, he says, “My name is Cameron Turner, Your Highness.” All present fall silent as Queen Frederica clenches her teeth.

Oleras places his head into his hand as Queen Frederica responds to the young man’s slight, “You will address me as Your Majesty, Ilina here or any of the other nobles’ present wives would be referred to as Your Highness, but in my presence, you shall refer to me as Your Majesty. I will not warn you again.” The tension in the air is palpable. Queen Frederica takes a deep breath, “Just strap it on him and get this over with, I grow tired of this one.”

Frozen, so as not to slight the Queen with anything else, Cameron just waits for Oleras to direct him further. Oleras straps the Auricrystal to the young man’s wrist, giving him a worried look that a father would give their son when his son has upset the wrong people. “Bite on this, young man.” He coldly suggests, placing the leather strip near his mouth.

Reluctantly, Cameron bites down on the leather strip; as soon as he does, Oleras presses the button. Immediately, tears begin pouring down his cheeks as the mechanism methodically pokes and prods into his skin. Gritting his teeth as his face contorts with a mixture of discomfort and pain, as he becomes more vocal than the others had been. The feeling is the intense sensation of piercing agony radiating throughout his upper body from his wrist to his head.

Again, the noblemen are wagering on the results of the Auricyrstal’s channeling. They watch eagerly as the colorless light begins swirling with a light violet hue. Many of them are frustrated to lose a wager, but a few are still eagerly awaiting the final result.