Thanks to medical advancements, both boys were discharged after only a day. Their parents didn't let them out of their sight for three whole days-understandably.
After that, Riven and Jordan resumed their morning jogs. Riven had lost some weight and seemed more focused than ever.
"So..." Jordan asked during a break under a tree. "Mind telling me what's up?"
They sat in the shade. Riven nodded.
"I have a system," he said. "Like an RPG. 1 can see stats, level up-there's even a skill tab."
Jordan blinked. "Wait... you're telling me your Evolution gave you a video game system?
That's... kind of insane. But we've played enough of those-there's gotta be more to it, right?"
Riven smirked. "Yep. I explored more while Mom and Dad were watching us. I found four tabs: Stats, Party, Shop... and Skills."
"A skill tab? So this is your ability?"
"Sort of. Let me read it out."
[Copy: The user can copy another Evolver's ability and make it their own. User starts with 1 ability slot. More slots unlock at higher levels.
(Next slot at Level 5)]
"It even showed me a video of the black-haired guy and pink-haired guy from the attack. I chose the gravity power-which I originally thought was telekinesis."
"Dude, that's actually awesome," Jordan said.
"What about the Party system?"
Riven opened the tab.
[Party Tab: You can invite Evolvers into your party. Regular party members can receive healing via system potions and be tracked.
Bonded Party Members are trusted individuals with special privileges. These members have their own system levels and can be given, removed, or swapped abilities by the user.
Note: Bonded members keep their abilities even if removed from the party.]
Jordan smirked. "Can I be a Bonded Party
Member?!"
Riven grinned. "You know it. But first, I have to do this quest."
[System Questline: Sigil Gate Academy]
Train to unlock your full potential.
100 push-ups
100 sit-ups
20km run
(Twice per day)
Penalty for failure: Loss of abilities
Riven trained hard. His family noticed the change - especially when he eventually showed off his gravity powers. But he just kept the system part to himself.
The night before the Sigil Gate Academy entrance exam, Riven entered the Party tab.
[Invite Jordan Harlow to your party? Yes / No]
Yes.
He looked at Jordan. An orange display hovered above his twin's head.
"Your level's 3? You're above me already," Riven noted with a laugh.
"But you can't learn another ability until you hit Level 5, right?" Jordan asked. "So why not copy mine?"
Riven shook his head. "Because Ink is your ability. I don't want to take something that's part of you."
Jordan wouldn't admit it, but that meant a lot.
"Anyway," he said, changing the subject. "Do we go watch Evolvers fight so you can copy their moves?"
"I already tried. I think I need to be in person-or feel the power firsthand."
The morning arrived. The twins tied their shoes, ready to begin a new chapter. At the bus stop, their parents gave long hugs before sending them off.
On the bus, a blonde-haired boy introduced himself. "Hey, you guys Evolvers too? I'm Joey."
They noticed Joey's clothes were stuffed in a trash bag instead of a suitcase. They didn't ask.
"We live just down that road," Jordan said.
"Never seen you before."
"I live up by the Dawn Gate," Joey replied. Just then, they passed the massive gate-over 20 feet high. It marked the boundary between the wallborn and the outside.
As the bus started moving again, a woman in a maid uniform shouted from a broken-down
house.
"JOEY! GOOD LUCK!"
Joey held back tears. "Yeah... I got this."
The bus rolled forward. Two men in purple and white uniforms stepped aboard.
"ID check," one said in a booming voice.
After confirming everyone, the bus moved on.
They passed cities filled with towering buildings, people outside the walls who seemed wealthier and more powerful.
"How come these people don't live inside the walls?" Joey asked.
Riven explained, "There are theories. Some say they re too poor. Others say they don't want to pay wall taxes. But the most likely reason-they're strong enough not to need walls."
New passengers boarded-well-dressed, clearly from elite families. The last was the red-haired girl from the Ascension.
She smirked at Riven as she passed. "You lost weight," she said, smug.
'Damn, she's cruel; they all thought.
Suddenly, a blue light washed over the tunnel.
Most passengers felt sick. Robots rolled through to clean up the mess.
Outside the windows, the sky turned pure white. In the distance-metal towers, airships.
"Flying aircraft?" someone whispered. "Nine of them?!"
"The Academy gets 10% from all wallborn income," the driver said. "That's how they can afford this."
"There are four major wallborn houses," he continued. "Dawn. Black Halo. Evolaris. And the Broken Veil."
Jordan raised an eyebrow. "Why would the Broken Veil support the academy?"
"They hate Evolvers. But they still need strong non-Evolver recruits," the driver said. "They run their own academy too-for people without powers."
The bus arrived at a massive lot. Students-most 16-disembarked.
A man in a white uniform with a star badge addressed them.
"Welcome students. I'm Dean Damian Write.
Top three scorers in the entrance exam will receive special rewards. So do your best."
[New Quest Received!]
Top 5: Reward
Top 3-2: Exclusive Reward
Top 1: System Reward
"One last thing," Damian said with a smile.
"Welcome... to Sigil Gate Academy."
The floor beneath them lit up-and all the students vanished.