Alex stared at the frozen image of his mother on the screen, his chest rising and falling slowly. The silence in the room felt heavier now, pressing in from every direction.
The Orb of Truth?
He already knew what it was. Everyone did. It was a globe-sized device—neither artifact nor tech, but something in between. It pulsed with a soft, cyan glow, and when touched, it scanned the very essence of a person, no tricks, no bias, just cold, objective truth.
He remembered the ceremony clearly.
At the age of twelve, every child was required to participate. It was a global event now, woven into the very foundation of their society. Families gathered. Hope and dread filled the air in equal measure. Everyone waited to see if their children would be chosen—if they were worth investing in.
Unlike the rest of the world, each Higher Clan has a smaller version of the orb created by Mom, as their children perform the ceremony in the comfort of their clan.
