Chapter 34: Half the equation

Cassie looked toward him with a pale smile as he returned to the rest of the group.

"Welcome to mediocrity."

Frost glanced at her.

"Happy to be here."

Jason went up next. Of course, Frost paid considerably more attention than he wanted to admit.

Jason walked onto the platform with an irritating amount of confidence.

The light swept across him; a few seconds passed, and the stars lit up slowly.

Frost’s lips flattened.

Three stars, four, five....

His eye twitched.

Seven.

[Talent Assessment: Seven-Star]

Silence.

Frost stared as a grin slowly spread across Jason’s face.

Harod’s eyebrows rose slightly.

"Seven-Star. Impressive."

Frost closed his eyes.

’Oh, fuck off! Could you be mediocre like the rest of us!?’

Of fucking course Jason had to be talented. Why couldn’t the bastard have gotten Three-Star!?

Hell, Frost would’ve accepted Four.

But Seven?

Jason stepped down from the platform, looking far too pleased with himself. His eyes naturally found Frost.

Frost could already see the words forming.

Jason smirked.

Frost clicked his tongue and looked away.

’Seven fucking stars.’

The universe clearly hated him.

Lois was called next. She looked very nervous as she approached the platform.

Frost expected Five-Star or lower. Lois didn’t exactly give the impression of someone hiding tremendous potential.

The light passed over her, and once again, he was left cursing himself.

[Talent Assessment: Seven-Star]

"What?"

Frost wasn’t sure who said it.

Lois stared up at the seven stars with wide eyes.

Harod examined the readings.

"Another Seven-Star."

Lois pointed toward herself.

"Me?"

"Yes."

"But..." She apparently couldn’t figure out what was supposed to follow that.

Harod almost smiled.

"Your personality has very little to do with your innate potential."

Lois slowly stepped down, still looking dazed.

Frost watched her return to the group.

’Well, that’s unexpected.’

Finally, Jennifer stepped forward. By this point, everyone was considerably more invested in the results.

She stood calmly in the centre of the platform as the scan began.

One star.

Two.

Three.

Four.

Five.

Six.

Frost nodded slightly.

’At least six.’

Seven.

Eight.

The room became strangely silent.

[Talent Assessment: Eight-Star]

Harod froze in shock.

Frost blinked.

Jennifer stared at the eight glowing stars above her.

For the first time since they’d met Harod, the man’s carefully controlled expression completely broke.

He stepped closer to the interface, his fingers moving quickly across it. Then he checked another screen before coming back to the first one.

Frost’s eyebrows slowly climbed.

’Well... that’s reassuring.’

Jennifer looked slightly concerned.

"Is something wrong?"

"No," Harod answered. "No. Quite the opposite."

He stared at the readings for several more seconds.

"Eight-Star..."

There was genuine disbelief in his voice. Jason’s expression had gone completely blank.

’Well, shit.’

"Your talent is... unparalleled among the Earthlings I have personally assessed thus far."

Jennifer’s eyes widened.

"Unparalleled?"

"Do not misunderstand me," Harod quickly added. "Eight-Star talents exist. And as I explained earlier, there are different grades within every Star rank. Your result falls toward the lower end of Eight-Star."

Frost almost laughed.

’Only lower Eight-Star. How tragic.’

A condescending scoff escaped his lips.

"But an Eight-Star talent is still an Eight-Star talent. The threshold itself is what matters. You possess the kind of potential that many organisations would consider highly sought after."

Jennifer seemed unsure what to do with that information.

"So... this means I’ll be powerful?"

"Potentially."

Harod emphasised the word.

"Talent is potential. Nothing more."

His gaze swept across everyone.

"Do not make the mistake of believing a high Star rank guarantees strength. It does not. A Seven-Star talent who wastes their potential can easily remain weaker than a disciplined Five-Star Evolver who spends decades improving themselves."

Frost felt slightly better.

Jason, judging by his expression, slightly less so.

"Your talent determines many things," Harod continued, looking back toward Jennifer. "How efficiently you interact with Runes, how readily you develop along the path of Evolution, your innate energy, and several other factors. But what becomes of that potential depends upon the path you pursue."

The holographic display changed, and several unfamiliar symbols appeared.

"Which brings us to Rune affinities."

Jennifer looked toward them as Harod continued.

"Not every Evolver is equally suited to every Rune. Your affinities will heavily influence what roles and disciplines are naturally available to you."

More symbols appeared.

"Some Evolvers possess affinities suited toward direct combat. Others excel in support, utility, healing, defence, control, reconnaissance, or countless specialised disciplines."

He glanced toward Jason.

"A Berserker-oriented Evolver may possess extraordinary offensive capabilities and physical enhancement."

Then toward the others.

"A Tanker may specialise in durability, defensive Runes, and protecting their party. A Healer may possess affinities toward restoration and biological Runes. Support Evolvers can strengthen allies or weaken enemies. Utility paths encompass an enormous variety of abilities that don’t fit neatly into direct combat classifications."

Frost listened carefully.

’So talent is only half the equation.’

Harod seemed to read the general mood in the room because he turned toward the two visibly dejected Two-Star talents.

"And before any of you begin despairing over your results, remember what I just said." His eyes swept across all eleven of them. "Only two among your group possess below-average general talent. Three of you are Five-Star. Two are Six-Star. Two are Seven-Star. One is Eight-Star."

Harod paused.

"That is an unusually favourable distribution."

Frost’s eyebrows rose.

He hadn’t thought about it that way.

Harod gestured toward the machines.

"And even a low general talent ranking does not make someone useless. Rune affinity, profession compatibility, intelligence, resources, training, opportunities, and individual circumstances can drastically alter an Evolver’s path."

Frost glanced between his peers. The hierarchy between them had already begun forming. Yet, they still didn’t have the complete picture.

’How ironic it would be if the four who didn’t come turn out to be great talents.’

He laughed to himself again.

Harod manipulated the interface again, and the eight stars above Jennifer vanished.

"General talent tells us how great your foundation is." Several new symbols appeared around the platform. "Now we determine what that foundation is actually suited for."

Frost’s interest piqued. This part interested him considerably more.

Harod looked toward Jennifer, who was still standing on the platform.

"Since you’re already there, we’ll begin with you."

Jennifer nodded, and the machinery surrounding her began to hum again. Harod’s eyes narrowed at the rapidly changing readings.

"Let’s see what Runes answer to you."