My Vampire System Chapter 5 No Ability

When the names were called, the five students promptly moved toward the sergeant, who waited near the assembled crowd.

Alongside Quinn and Vorden, another boy rounded out their group. Peter appeared noticeably the most anxious; he constantly darted his eyes around, unable to keep his body still. With his slightly short and slender build, he reminded Quinn of himself—a scrawny frame, glasses, and untidy brown hair, lacking any striking physical appeal.

The two girls in the assembly couldn't have been more different. Layla possessed a tall, lithe figure with short brown hair, and she carried a bow across her back. This surprised Quinn, as, aside from a specific group known as Pure, few individuals openly traveled with such weaponry.

Pure consisted of a faction that viewed abilities as a plague upon humanity, preferring conventional weaponry instead. They were an extreme rarity, however, and Quinn had only ever heard tales of them, having never encountered a member firsthand.

Erin, conversely, was the type of girl who drew eyes wherever she went. Her grace was impeccable, and her long, silky hair shimmered with a stunning golden luster. The only flaw was her demeanor. Even as she moved through the crowd, her expression remained locked in a cold, neutral mask, completely unmoved by the wonder radiating from the other teenagers.

As he stepped forward, Quinn realized he recognized none of his companions, nor did they seem familiar with one another. He gathered this was surely an intentional move by the administrators.

Their unit soon halted just behind another group queued for the testing grounds.

Vorden wandered over, greeting each member with a handshake and a confident grin. Being naturally polite, Vorden managed to earn friendly responses from most—everyone except Erin.

When he reached out to her, she barely acknowledged his hand, let alone his gesture, before shifting her gaze away with disdain.

"Ease up, there is no need for that," Vorden said, resting a hand upon her shoulder.

That proved to be a dire mistake. Erin reacted with blinding speed. She caught Vorden’s wrist and wrenched it, while icy shards began to spread rapidly, encasing his arm in frost.

As they began to draw a scene, the onlookers watched with delight.

"Whoa, she has ice abilities?" one boy exclaimed.

"Isn't that incredibly rare?"

"I’d let her freeze me any day."

A chorus of murmurs ran through the students, full of amazement.

"Both of you, halt," Griff barked, interrupting their skirmish. "If you possess enough vigor to brawl, reserve it for the actual assessment!"

Erin released Vorden’s hand at once, and he staggered back, gasping in pain as the ice slowly thawed. He retreated to his spot behind Quinn, his face burning with humiliation.

"Can you believe her attitude?" Vorden grumbled. "I nearly lost a limb."

"You shouldn't just grab onto people without their consent," Quinn replied.

"Yeah, sure, I get it. She’s lucky I didn't beat her into the ground just because she’s a pretty face."

His arrogance was quickly winning him no favors. Many nearby were already admirers of Erin, eager to defend her honor and perhaps earn her favor by ostracizing Vorden. Sensing the hostile shift in his surroundings, Quinn instinctively put distance between himself and Vorden, hoping no one would associate the two as allies.

Finally, their group was summoned forward. They were directed into a white-lined square on the ground, just large enough to hold all five.

Standing just outside this boundary, an enigmatic, hooded figure waited.

"Send them forth!" Griff commanded.

Immediately following the order, the hooded man pressed his palms to the earth, causing the square to erupt in a brilliant, flickering purple luminescence.

"Spatial transport, is it?" Vorden murmured, leaning in close to Quinn’s ear, much to the latter's annoyance. "What an uncommon ability."

Their surroundings blurred away, replaced by a frantic vortex of color. A heartbeat later, they materialized in an outdoor wasteland, entirely barren and devoid of any greenery or signs of life.

Two figures awaited them: a woman in black and a robed man whose face was hidden by a hood. Because their uniform insignias were obscured, Quinn had no way of determining their rank.

The woman stared intently at a tablet, ignoring the newcomers until she finished her business. Only then did she raise her eyes."

"Greetings, I am Jane, and I will be overseeing your test today. Once finished, I will refresh your data, and your results will be update on your wristwatches." Quinn noted her expression held the same glacial indifference as Erin’s.

"Now, who is first? Oh, I see we have a few with pre-existing level rankings?" Jane noted, scanning her screen. The tablet looked strangely delicate in such a desolate landscape, far from the polished city. The records she possessed had been forwarded by their previous institutions.

"Peter Chuck, step forward."

The nervous, slight boy obeyed, looking even more ragged than before. Quinn thought he seemed miserable, though relatively healthy in comparison to some; at least Peter was upright, even if his legs seemed ready to buckle at any moment.

"What is your ability?" Jane inquired.

"Um, I don't possess any ability," Peter replied in a hushed tone.

Quinn and the others suddenly grasped the source of Peter's anxiety. Having no ability wasn't unheard of; the war had left many children orphaned like Quinn, and without wealth, acquiring an ability book was nearly impossible.

"Do not be fearful, Peter," Jane said gently. "Take this."

Beside her, the hooded figure reached out, manifesting a book from thin air and holding it out. Jane took the volume and offered it to Peter.

"F-for me? You are gifting this to me for nothing?" Peter gasped, his voice trembling with disbelief and joy. "Thank you so much!"

"Study it when you have time. Once you have learned the techniques, you may return to retake the exam, but for now, I am marking you with a temporary Level 1 status."

Though a Level 1 ranking was minimal, Peter didn't care. At that moment, he only felt the warmth of hope. His life was about to change because of that single book.

"Quinn Talen, step forward," Jane commanded, turning her gaze toward him.

Quinn moved as instructed.

"What is your ability?"