Chương 11: Assessment

Ch 11 - Assessment When morning came, Evan found his mind filled with new memories belonging to his other self. Aside from the vivid dream, he could now access scattered fragments of memories and experiences. Most of them were hazy and of little use, as they came from his other self's early childhood. Even so, they gave him a clearer picture of his family's life with Reid. They had seemed genuinely happy, with loving parents who rarely, if ever, argued, and siblings who cared deeply for one another.

In every sense, they had been the picture of a perfect family. That happiness, however, hadn't lasted. From what he could piece together, their parents had died sometime during Reid's teenage years. His mood was already low that morning. Who would be after being forced to watch the perfect life of an alternate version of themselves? It was nothing more than a cruel reminder of his own miserable past. Life wasn't fair. He had accepted that long ago, but did it really need to rub it in his face?

He headed straight for the shower, hoping the cold water would help wake him up. As the chilly spray washed over him, Evan once again pondered why he was here in the first place. This world already had its own Evan. One who was well-adjusted and already shared a strong bond with Reid. Someone who would undoubtedly become an important figure in the future, perhaps even the savior of the world. So what was the point of him being here? Had the System dragged him into this world for fun? Was it truly that bored?

Muttering under his breath, he said, "Say, System, what exactly is your plan for me? Are you expecting me to save the world or something?" Silence answered him, and Evan assumed the System was ignoring him. Then a blue screen suddenly appeared before his eyes. [New Quest!] [Objective: Reach the end of your journey and find your answer.] Evan squinted at the new mission.

"What's with the ridiculously vague wording?" Reach the end of his journey? Find his answer? What was that even supposed to mean? Was he expected to simply live out his life until old age? Or was there some grand quest he was meant to complete? There was not even a reward listed.

"You're messing with me again, aren't you?" Evan sighed. The System did not respond. After finishing his shower, Evan changed into a red flannel worn over a T-shirt and paired it with a pair of dark pants. When he stepped out of his room, he found Reid busy cooking in the kitchen once again.

"Good morning," Reid said.

"Did you sleep well?"

"Not bad," Evan replied as he sat down at the dining table and watched Reid fry a few slices of bacon. He wondered if Reid had always been the one doing the cooking. Had his other self ever learned to cook? How had they divided the household chores? Surely Reid hadn't been the one handling all the cooking, cleaning, and other responsibilities by himself. Once again, Evan lamented how little the memory transfer had actually given him. None of the answers he wanted were there.

Maybe, once they returned from the Assessment Center, he could at least help by sweeping and mopping the apartment. A few minutes later, Reid set two plates on the table. Each held fluffy scrambled eggs beside two slices of golden-brown toast glistening with melted butter, with a few strips of crispy bacon resting on the side. Their savory aroma quickly filled the apartment. The two ate breakfast while chatting idly.

Most of the conversation consisted of Reid asking whether Evan still felt sore or had any lingering issues from the previous day. Naturally, the answer was no. Reid's Sacred Light had healed even the worst of his injuries, including the cut on his eyelid that Evan had been certain would leave a scar. Instead, it had closed completely without a trace. The concern in Reid's expression made Evan wonder if Reuel had always been this warm and attentive.

Recalling the battles and missions Reuel had gone through in Chronicles of a Demon Hunter, the answer was no. Reuel was one of those cold, aloof protagonists who rarely spoke and treated everything like business, though he had mellowed considerably later in life. Maybe living as a civilian and growing up with two loving parents had softened him even further. Maybe too much, Evan thought as Reid fussed over him once again and checked him for any signs of lingering injuries.

After finally shaking off his overly concerned brother, the two headed out in Reid's company car. They needed to stop by the RCB branch to return the vehicle and retrieve Reid's motorcycle, which was still parked there. The underground parking area was cool and dimly lit, rows of pillars stretching into the distance under harsh fluorescent lights. Sedans and other company vehicles filled most of the marked spaces. As Reid parked near his motorcycle, they unexpectedly found a beautiful woman standing beside it.

Evan glanced at her ID badge and read her name: Lee Hye-jin.

"Hye-jin," Reid greeted as he stepped out of the car.

"Is that all you've got to say?" Hye-jin asked, crossing her arms.

"You left me to deal with that A-rank Rift. Fine, I get it, even if it gave me nothing but trouble and a mountain of headaches. But then I hear you went charging into an Irregular Rift on your own. Are you out of your mind?"

"It was an emergency," Reid said.

"And not only that, you didn't even reply to my messages!"

"Ah, sorry about that. There've been so many people calling and messaging me that I've been keeping my phone off," Reid said. Hye-jin scoffed.

"Of course they did. There's no way the press wouldn't be on your heels after the stunt you pulled." She then turned to Evan.

"I heard you weren't hurt too badly. That's good to hear, or this blockhead would've blown his top." Evan only nodded. As far as he was concerned, that had already happened. Reid had completely destroyed the Rift Boss and reduced it to a pile of ash.

"Why are you here anyway? I'm assuming you didn't just come to scold me?" Reid asked.

"I was tasked with accompanying you to the Assessment Center," Hye-jin said.

"Just an extra set of eyes and someone to help keep things under control. No doubt the media has already tracked down the District you live in. And with you being suspected of awakening, they would definitely swarm the Assessment Center in this District."

"Thanks for your help, then," Reid said. Hye-jin rolled her eyes.

"No need. I'm only here because it's an order. I'm still angry with you, by the way." Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

"I'm really sorry. How about I buy you that lens filter set you've been eyeing?" Hye-jin flushed.

"H-how did you know about that?"

"You're not exactly subtle when you're browsing online camera shops on your phone during work." Hye-jin slapped a hand over Reid's mouth.

"Sshhh! Shut it! Someone might hear and you'll get me in trouble." Reid simply raised his hands in surrender, though his eyes were filled with amusement. Hye-jin pulled her hand away and cleared her throat.

"Alright, I'll forgive you this once. But I expect that gift to arrive by the end of this week."

"Your wish is my command."

"Anyway, let's not waste any more time," Hye-jin said as she slipped into the driver's seat of the car Evan and Reid had just gotten out of.

"What are you two standing there for? There's three of us here. Of course we're taking the car."

"But my motorcycle is here," Reid said, pointing at his vehicle.

"You can pick it up after we leave the Assessment Center. Besides, do you really want to get swarmed by reporters before you've even stepped foot inside the building?"

"But that would be a waste of fuel..."

"And why do you care when it's government money? We're making the best use of taxpayer funds here. Now get in!" Giving up on the argument, Reid climbed into the front passenger seat while Evan settled into the back. The three of them pulled out of the RCB branch and headed straight for District 20's Assessment Center. The modern building loomed ahead, its broad glass façade topped by a large sign bearing the Bureau's emblem above the main entrance.

Several government vehicles were parked outside, while a steady stream of people moved in and out through the main entrance. Among the crowd, Evan noticed a group holding cameras and microphones with station logos. He wondered if they were here specifically for Reid, or if they were simply waiting for the next big story, hoping a rare S-rank candidate would appear and give them a headline. No one seemed to notice their arrival, thanks to the tinted glass.

Once they stepped inside, they found themselves in a vast lobby bustling with activity. A high ceiling stretched overhead, while bright white lights illuminated the spacious interior. Electronic displays mounted on the walls continuously updated appointment schedules and queue numbers. Rows of chairs filled the waiting area, most occupied by people of all ages. Along one side of the lobby, reception counters were busy with employees assisting visitors and directing them to different departments.

Uniformed security officers stood near the entrances and elevator, their watchful eyes scanning the crowd. Hye-jin led the group toward the reception counters.

"Lee Hye-jin, Rift Control Bureau. We're here for Reid Whitfield's scheduled assessment." The receptionist typed something into the computer.

"Mr. Whitfield is already on today's schedule. Assessment Room Three. Please have a seat in the waiting area. We'll call him when it's his turn."

"Understood. Thank you." They sat in the empty seats. Evan looked around, watching as various people entered and left the assessment rooms. Some walked out with their shoulders slumped, as if the world had collapsed on them, while a smaller number left with straight backs and relieved, almost hopeful expressions. Only a small fraction of people ever awakened, and most who came through these doors were from places like the Outskirts, where even a slim chance was worth taking.

What really separated outcomes wasn't awakening itself but rank, with most hoping for at least a D-rank since anything lower rarely changed much in practice. Eventually, Reid's name was called, and they rose from their seats before following the examiner inside. At the center of the spacious chamber stood a raised circular platform. Unlike the combat assessment areas Evan had imagined, there were no targets or training equipment. Instead, a single chair occupied the center.

It resembled a cross between a medical examination chair and a piece of advanced laboratory equipment. Its brushed steel frame supported padded armrests and a high backrest, while thin metallic bands and sensor pads were built into the seat. Across the platform, soft blue lines glowed in intricate concentric rings and symbols that converged beneath the chair before extending toward the surrounding machinery. Nearby monitors streamed lines of data, waiting to record the assessment's results.

It looked nothing like the fantasy stories Evan had read, where someone placed a hand on a crystal orb and instantly received a rank. Nova Terra's system was far less straightforward. Today's assessment would only determine Reid's registered rank, and even that could change after further evaluations if his performance didn't match the initial result. Instead of sitting directly in the assessment chair, Reid was directed to a desk where an Assessment Specialist was already typing away at a computer.

The man wore a long white coat, and black-rimmed glasses framed his drooping eyes. His thinning hair was slicked back, exposing the beginnings of a receding hairline. Evan and Hye-jin took seats along the wall, in the area reserved for family members and companions accompanying the examinee. The Assessment Specialist did not waste time and began asking Reid a series of questions, ranging from basic identity checks to his awakening time and ability description.

"A Healer, huh?" the Assessment Specialist said.

"If you're lucky and receive a high rank, you'll be set for life, Mr. Whitfield. Please take a seat on the chair. We'll begin by assessing your mana capacity and output." Reid nodded and sat in the center chair while the assistant began attaching sensors to his body. The Specialist moved to the control console surrounding the chair and started typing.

"You might feel a slight jolt, but don't worry. It won't hurt," the Assessment Specialist said as he activated the machine. The glow from the device grew brighter until Evan had to look away. He wondered how the machine would interpret Reid's power. The assessment device was designed to measure mana, but Sacred Light operated on an entirely different principle. If that was true, the machine shouldn't be able to read it at all. Yet Reid looked unconcerned. He must have some way to mask Sacred Light as ordinary mana.

Several minutes passed as Reid sat calmly in the chair while the device recorded his measurements. The Assessment Specialist quietly monitored the data before ending the scan. An assistant stepped forward to remove the sensors from Reid, and they led the group to the next stage of the assessment. It was a secondary evaluation chamber used for practical demonstrations. Unlike the main testing space, this one was built for controlled practical testing, with thick walls and a clinical interior.

Evan's attention was drawn to the medical examination table at its center. Strapped to it was a man in his forties wearing prison-issued pants, his bare upper body wrapped in blood-soaked bandages. He lay unconscious, his head lolling to one side and his mouth slightly ajar. Two uniformed guards stood nearby, rifles at the ready and additional weapons strapped to their tactical gear.

"This is…" Reid said, looking at the man strapped down.

"This will be your first patient, Mr. Whitfield," the Assessment Specialist said.

"Please understand that, as a newly awakened Healer with no formal training, there aren't many people willing to place themselves in your care. As such, we've arranged for you to practice on this man. Don't concern yourself with making mistakes. No matter the outcome, you won't face any consequences. He's a death row inmate who was recently injured in a prison altercation. We felt he would be a suitable candidate for your initial evaluation." Reid pursed his lips at that.

"Whenever you're ready," the Assessment Specialist said as he tapped away at his tablet. Reid approached the examination table while Evan and Hye-Jin stood near a wall at a distance. Calmly removing the bandages from the man's body, he revealed wounds ranging from heavy blunt force trauma to deep gashes across his torso. Even from afar, Evan could tell there were likely internal injuries as well, though he wasn't a doctor and couldn't say for certain.

Placing a palm over the man's torso, Reid channeled his Sacred Light. The glow spread outward in a steady pulse as damaged tissue began to knit together, closing deep lacerations from the inside out.

"Ooooh," the Assessment Specialist said, his eyes glinting as he typed faster on his tablet. Soon all the wounds on the man's body were healed, and Reid pulled his hand back.

"That's very impressive, Mr. Whitfield. Now if you would please follow me," the Assessment Specialist said, leading the group back to his desk in the first room. He typed away at his computer for a moment before finally addressing Reid.

"We'll need some time to fully process your data, and it'll be several days before the results come out, but I can already tell you the rank you will most likely receive." Before Reid could respond, the man continued.

"Based on what I saw, you are very likely to be an A-rank Healer, Mr. Reid. Congratulations. As you may know, Healers of your level are quite rare, so you will be a highly sought-after individual." Reid only nodded. The Assessment Specialist's expression tightened ever so slightly, as though he had expected a stronger reaction.

"Your rank registration documents will be delivered within the next few days. Around the same time, you should also receive your admission letter from Central Awakener Academy. Once it arrives, please make arrangements to relocate to District 1 as soon as possible. Fortunately, the new semester has only just begun, so you won't have to worry about joining your Awakener classes halfway through."

"What?" Evan blurted out, hearing that.