In Aliran your class and rank were revealed by blood. At sixteen all the young people left their prep schools and went to the huge gynasiums to go through the Blood Activation to find out what their class was and what rank they would be in. It was the most important moment in anyone's life, and for Kaito Arturis, that moment was even more decisive.
Kaito didn't want to change. Like anyone pre-class, he had brown hair and brown eyes, and he preferred it that way. But that would change soon. Now he was lined up in the huge gymnasium in the S district and in front of him there were a few other teenagers like him. Someone with his strong family lineage would be calm and peaceful, but for Kaito it was different. He was adopted, and his blood was a total mystery.
Examined: Samara Illis
Blood Rank: C
Class: Warrior
Interested Guilds/Academies: 0... 1...
Ahead a girl was activated and had her hair and eyes changed from brown to red, showing on the screen above her class and rank to everyone. Seeing this made Kaito breathe heavier. He didn't want to fail. He couldn't.
"Our turn is around the corner, Kai. The line is pretty long today and there’s a lot of people watching. I wonder if anyone special came to take the test?" asked his brother just ahead.
Kaito looked at the crowd of scouts from guilds and school principals ready to fight for some revelation. Besides them there were also several young and idle people who went there just to have something to talk about.
"I don't know if there's anyone they want, Ely. I think they're just more desperate for talent than ever. Isn't that what Dad talks about? That guilds need more adventurers to get more money?"
Elynor noded and stepped forward. Two more people and he would be the next to be examined.
"You know, Kai, I need this to work out..." he said turning to his brother who was right behind him "I really want to be high rank.”
The people in the line were laughing at the boy already imagining that he would be from a low rank family, but Kaito understood what his brother meant. Elynor had always suffered in prep school because he was skinny, poor eyesight, and very short. So Kaito felt obligated to care for and protect his brother. He knew that Elynor did not want to be high rank for status. Ely wanted to be able to help those who could not protect themselves. It was a noble desire.
"It will be all right, Elynor! You are the son of the most powerful A ranks in the world. Their blood runs in you too!" Kaito reassured his brother by placing his hand on his shoulder.
Elynor felt his brother's strength and calmed down, showing a smile of relief. But he also knew that this moment was not easy for Kaito. He had seen his brother sink even deeper into his training and studies about blood and classes in a way to not think about Activation. Kaito could smile, but inside he was overcome with fear and worry.
"Thank you Kai...but I have to say that you are family too." Elynor faced Kaito with a steady gaze, wishing his brother felt the truth in his words "There is no way that the hero of our school and the biggest study and training nerd could be anything worse than me. You and Eleanora are the best brothers I could ever have and I know your rank and class will be amazing!"
"Elynor..." Kaito felt reassured by those words full of tenderness. Indeed he had been adopted by the best family "Hearing that makes me very happy, bro. Very much so."
"Elynor Arturis!"
Before they could talk further, the nurse called Elynor forward. The little boy approached in timid steps and felt smaller in front of the huge machine in front of him. Hearing the name Arturis, the scouts became more alert for what might come. The son of the two most powerful A ranks could only be as amazing.
"It will be all right...I am an Arturis.... warrior or mage...warrior or mage...
Repeating the classes of his parents, he took a deep breath taking courage and offered his arm. The nurse injected the agent below his shoulder and made him place his arm inside a circle that illuminated his veins with a strong blue light.
It was at this moment that Elynor felt different. Changed. It was as if his body was stronger and filled with enormous energy. His blood seemed to stir, vibrate, and rush strongly through his body. But before he had any doubt about the outcome, Kaito's shouts made it clear that he didn’t need to worry.
"GLORIOUS BLOOD! THAT'S MY FUCKING BROTHER! I KNEW IT! I ALWAYS KNEW!"
Soon other voices blended throughout the stadium and Elynor couldn't discern what was happening.
"That's...by the blood...I lived to see something like that!"
"Run and put him in the guild! FAST!"
"As expected from an Arturis. Their bloodline is strong!"
"By the bloodline... Rubra is going to be pretty hectic this month..."
Elynor looked at the screen above and what he saw left him speechless.
Examined: Elynor Arturis
Blood Rank: S
Class: Battle Mage
Interested Guilds/Academies: 5... 14... 23... 28...
"Battle Mage?" said Elynor in disbelief and turning to his brother showing off his new dark purple hair and purple eyes as if an energy moved within them "Kaito... is this real?"
Kaito hugged his brother tightly, squeezing him as best he could and feeling the tears taking his eyes.
"S RANK, ELYNOR! YOU ARE S RANK!"
Elynor returned the hug still without much belief. Everyone was crowding around, cheering and wanting to get a closer look at the new S rank that was emerging that year. But soon the local organization separated everyone and lined them up again.
Still looking bewildered, Elynor turned to Kaito and said with a comfortable smile on his lips.
"If I'm S rank, then you're going to be even more amazing, Kaito!You always have been!"
Kaito returned the smile, but somehow a huge weight added up in his mind. He was genuinely happy for his brother, but still something inside him felt small... squeezed. What would become of him? What would this unknown blood in his veins bring him?
"Next, Kaito Arturis!"
Kaito made his way to the machine and soon had the activator injected into his arm. As it was prepared everyone seemed to whisper and pay close attention to him.
"Is that the S rank brother? He must be good too."
"If there's a second rank S today I'll go crazy!"
"The Arturis family has powerful blood. Let's keep an eye on it."
He felt the pressure increase and all eyes weighed on his shoulders. Kaito put his arm in the circle and lowered his head, as if he had no strength to look up. The blue light shone brightly, the result appeared along with the audience's reaction.
"I can't believe it!"
"By the lineage... how many years has it been since we had one of those..."
"Forget what I said about the month... they'll be talking about it for a year"
Kaito looked up and what he saw made his chest tighten at once.
Examined: Kaito Arturis
Blood Rank: F
Recommended Profession: None
Interested Guilds/Academies: 0
He saw himself reflected in the metal of the machine in front of him. Grayish eyes, completely white hair, and slightly darker skin. He was an F rank, the lowest possible rank and so rare that only twenty of them were seen in the world. He had read about this and knew well the future of people like him. F ranks were treated like plague, infectious and died at the hands of other ranks. A high rank always abused a lower rank, and there was no rank lower than F.
Kaito turned to his brother trembling and not believing what he saw. With a tragic smile and a huge sadness in his gaze he sealed his fate with his words.
"Ely...I am a Bloodless."
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