Chapter 7: A City of Wonders, A Woman of Mystery
Aurora's heels clicked softly against the marble floor as she led Lei Feng through a quiet side corridor of the bank. The walls were obsidian black, shimmering with faint, glowing lines—runes that pulsed gently with energy. Lei Feng's eyes narrowed as he studied them, the silver etchings looking more arcane than technological.
"These markings... they're not just for decoration, are they?"
Aurora glanced at him with a soft smile. "Good eye. Those are latticework runes—they regulate everything from temperature control to anti-theft enchantments and spiritual warding. Most buildings in Volaris use them. We call it Arcotech Infrastructure."
"Magic... built into the bones of the building," Lei Feng murmured, impressed.
"This way," she said, her voice like a breeze. "We have private counters for new clients and Awakeners."
They passed beneath a hovering plaque etched with the logo of the Celestial Credit Union—a golden phoenix encircling a vault-like sphere, surrounded by twelve rotating rings. The symbol hovered midair, humming softly.
> [Welcome to Celestial Credit Union – Your Power, Your Wealth]
As Lei Feng stepped through the threshold, a chime echoed in his ears and a digital interface lit up in front of him:
> Client Not Detected in System
[New Entity: Registration Required]
Classification: Mortal Awakened – Pending Evaluation
Unique Energy Signature: Unregistered Variant
Advisory: Manual Review Recommended
Lei Feng blinked. "Unregistered Variant? That sounds... bad."
Aurora chuckled. "Not bad. Just... unique. The system flags signatures it can't categorize. It usually happens with Awakeners who have non-standard soulprints or unusual elemental alignments."
"So... not dangerous?"
"Not unless you are," she teased.
They arrived at a circular desk surrounded by softly glowing blue partitions. A transparent orb hovered above the center, slowly spinning. As Aurora gestured, the orb dimmed and a digital interface unfolded in midair.
"Let's begin," she said, tapping the interface. "Name?"
"Lei Feng," he answered. He noticed a slight pause in her smile—like she wanted to ask more about the Ling Chen incident but thought better of it.
"Identification source?" she asked next.
He handed her the sleek black card Ling Mei had given him. It was heavier than it looked, and along its edge the engraved 'Ling' shimmered like starlight.
Aurora raised a brow. "Ah… that Ling." Her tone shifted—now more formal, more curious. She slid the card into a slot beside the desk. Dozens of glowing lines surged outward, scanning the token.
> Card Source: Verified – Upper-Tier Black Credit Token
Owner: Ling Mei of the Ling Family
Temporary Authorization Granted: Lei Feng
Fund Available: 500,000 Credits
Status: Externally Backed Account
Aurora gave a soft whistle. "Looks like you've got serious backing."
"Is Ling Mei well known around here?" Lei Feng asked carefully.
"In Volaris? She's more than known. The Ling Family is one of the Big Five—they handle logistics, artifact trade, and intel networks. If she's giving you access to her Black Token, she clearly sees something in you."
She turned back to the interface, fingers moving fluidly.
"You'll need a CoreLink Account. All registered citizens and Awakeners need one to store, spend, or channel credits. It syncs with your Soul ID and works with modern tech—SmartBands, AR visors, terminals, everything."
"Soul ID?"
She nodded. "Everyone has a unique soul imprint—some call it a spirit signature. The system reads it when you register. From now on, everything you do—shopping, spellcasting, missions, even combat logs—will be tied to your Soul ID."
"And if someone steals it?"
Aurora smirked. "They'd have to steal your soul too. Good luck with that."
From a drawer, she took out a small hexagonal crystal no larger than a fingernail, its surface etched with faint circuitry.
"This is your CoreLink Chip. Entry-tier, but it upgrades as your rank increases."
She gestured toward the orb. "Place your hand on the Core Orb to sync."
Lei Feng pressed his palm to the orb. Warm energy rippled through him as the system scanned not just his body—but his thoughts, his essence. The orb pulsed golden, and data filled the space around them.
> Soul ID Recognized: Unique
Designation: Lei Feng
Race: Human
Energy Type: Unknown (Unregistered Variant)
Awakener Rank: Level One (Magic Initiate)
Recommended Classification: Mortal Tier – Conditional Entry
> CoreLink Account Created
Package: Basic – F Class
Digital Wallet Initialized
Credit Transfer: 500,000 [Pending Confirmation]
Security Tier: Basic
Lei Feng raised an eyebrow. "F-Class? Sounds... obscure."
Aurora smirked. "It's the lowest tier. Don't worry, we all start there. Your clearance improves as you level up, complete quests, or get endorsed by a guild."
She reached below the counter and handed him a sleek silver bracelet. "This is your Basic CoreLink Bracelet. It's old-school, but reliable. Use it for purchases, transfers, and receiving mission offers."
Lei Feng clipped it onto his wrist. It pulsed softly and synced with his body. His name flashed briefly before a loading bar filled and locked into place:
> Balance: 500,000 Credits
Status: Registered
Bank: Celestial Credit Union
He stared at the bracelet, the spiritual tech humming faintly.
Aurora nodded. "You're all set. You can shop, upgrade your gear, register for Awakener trials, or access guild services."
"Trials?" Lei Feng asked.
"They're like evaluations—combat tests, puzzle chambers, Elemental compatibility exams. Most guilds won't take you without proof of ability."
He nodded, taking it all in.
"Just don't lose that bracelet. It's bound to your Soul ID. If it's lost or broken, you'll need a Level 3 Admin and Tribunal clearance to replace it."
Lei Feng looked down at it again, the glow reflecting in his eyes.
This world... it's more advanced than I imagined. And more dangerous. But now, I'm not just a stranger looking in anymore.
He turned to Aurora with a respectful bow. "Thanks. For everything."
Aurora chuckled, her laugh melodic. "You're welcome, Mr. Lei Feng. And remember—not everyone in Volaris is as rude as Kael Riven."
Lei Feng smirked. "I'll keep that in mind."
She waved as he turned to leave. "Try not to get into trouble on your first shopping spree!"
Huh... how did she know that? She's terrifying, Lei Feng thought.
As he stepped out of the private hall, the silver bracelet glinting under the artificial sky dome, the city called to him—its towers, enchanted traffic, and countless mysteries waiting to be uncovered.
He exhaled deeply.
Let's go shopping.