Charles' head ached, he could see vague shapes flitting around at speeds his newly awakened mind could not track on a good day, and this was not a good day.

  As he tried to stand up a man in white healers robes appeared by his side, and spoke a pace he could understand,

  "Please don't try to stand, you were struck in the head and are still recovering."

  As the man spoke a wave of relief washed over Charles as what he recognized as a healing spell washed away his aches. His mother had used her healing skills on him many times growing up, treating his childhood aches and pains, as Charles had ever been a accident prone kid. that thought jolted him up right as he yelped out,

  "MOM!"

  The memories of the last several minutes came crashing back over him like a wave, walking to the awakening center with his mother, the two guild recruiters shouting at each other over a child with what must have been a lucky talent... the fire ball that had had been launched in their fight... it had missed, and landed by his mother. Charles remembered the sensation of heat, and the force that had launched him away from his mother.

  "Mom! where is my mom!"

  With a panic he tried to scrabble to his feet, but a sudden tiredness over took him along with a soft green glow.

  "sorry kid, you need to rest for now" The healer said.

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  Waking up in a hospital was a surprise, enough so that Charles immanently called out,

  "Anyone here?"

  As if they had always been there a woman with emerald green hair and silted yellow eyes appeared at the side of his bed.

  "You are awake, that's good. Not many unawakened kids would survive a tier 12's fire ball, even as far from the blast as you were. Your mother shielded you from the majority of the blast... I'm sorry..."

  Charles was confused by the apology, why would she be sorry...

  "She did not make it, as a tier 5 there was very little hope, its a wonder you survived. The guild recruiter," Her eyes flicked back and forth for a moment as she checked her AI in a way Charles had seen many times," Thad Gillings, who threw that fire ball, was killed by the local authorities when he attempted to flee."

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  His world spun, His mother, Lilly Ald'mac , his only living family, was dead. 3 years ago his father had died in a rift, his mother had given up delving on the spot, knowing she was her son's last lifeline. Now he had none.

  The woman, who was dressed in a healers robe, spoke again,

  "As today is your 14th birthday you were on your way to be awakened, yes?"

  "Yes ma'am." Charles responded, his words were empty hollow things, the excitement he had felt about getting his talent all but forgotten. If he wanted to survive he would need to be awakened, he needed to become a legal adult. In all fairness he new the state had plenty of programs for orphans, the empire would never leave those most in need to suffer, much less queen Mara, she had a well known soft spot for kids, and here in her queendom such programs saw extra funding. But none of that entered his mind, all he considered was delving, the only acceptable path for him. Charles' parents had been delvers, he would be a delver, his father had even made it to tier 5 on the path of ascension, a huge feat as far as he was concerned. All these thoughts were pushed back as the healer spoke once more,

  "You should be fully healed, but the room is yours for the night if you need it."

  She handed him a pad,

  "Please call me on this if you need anything, my name is Cora."

  "Thank you ma'am." Charles choked out, still reeling from the turn his life had just taken.

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  The next day:

  "Round two!" Charles tried to hype him self has he walked to the awakening center.

  After filling out the form and verifying his identity he was led to a white clinical room with a black chair that was affixed to a large machine sticking out of the wall.

  "Please take a seat and place your arm in the hoop there, the screen you see on the arm of the chair will give you your talent readout once the process is finished, you are encouraged to not tell anyone about your talent, as it is deeply personal and could be used against you." The attendant said before turning and walking out of the room.

  Charles took a seat as instructed and waited as the machine whirred to life, producing a soft hum. A sudden rush swept through Charles, feeling like a cross between riding a fast elevator going up and the free fall of jumping from a great height.

  The screen lit up, small black letters appearing on the white background.

  Tier 1 Talent determined.

  Primary effect: Under stress, proto-skills naturally form in your Core / Inner spirit skill slots, according to your needs.

  Secondary effect: You can not absorb skill shards.

  Talent ranking: Detrimental.

  Have a nice day.