The Shepherds Headquarters was easily the tallest building within this skyscraper city called Jacob. Kenan didn''t know why it was called that. He thought about looking into it briefly, but he didn''t care that much either. He''s been here before and can remember looking at the Shepherds Tower as a kid at Ogun''s Tower. Even on the highest floor in the Ogun Tower, you still couldn''t see the top of the Shepherds, and the Ogun Tower was easily one of the tallest buildings in the city.


    All of the Elder Families had a tower within Jacob City. After all, it was the capital of human civilization. They had other cities that flew their banner, but no human cities compared to Jacob''s.


    Kenan felt starstruck as he walked into Shepherd''s Tower. Growing up, he had always wanted to be a shepherd and was finally here to do it. He walked in with him and his party, which consisted of his sworn brother Cole, Edith the swordbreaker, and Aria, the small girl with the large afro ponytail.


    3rd Generation Robots directed them with a rectangular head and four arms. Robots are by no means normal to see in everyday life. They were too expensive to maintain and the functionalities weren''t worth the upkeep. Only the super-rich would keep them as toys. Other than that, the only ones that had any real use for them were the large organizations and companies.


    After reaching a current terminal within the lobby and walking around people in business suites, they came upon a receptionist desk and two Shepard guards at the end of a long line of young people. From the look of things, this was the right area for them. The line was moving pretty quickly. The only thing that the receptionist was doing was verifying the identity of the candidates, and then they were taken past the double doors behind a desk.


    While waiting in line, there were talks among the other teenagers. One had to remember that to join the Shepherds. One had to be at least 16 years old and no older than 18. If you had an awakening or gotten a Superior Elixir before, only mercenary groups would be looking to recruit you. The shepherds were the rightful protectors of humanity, so they wanted to grow and mold their recruits to their liking. Some people think this is a good thing, while others don’t.


    Lia thought the group of people she came with was weird. They were monsters by all stretches of the imagination, but they hadn''t said a word since they had walked into the building. The rest of everyone in line we''re chatting away after all the people here would be future comrades. Before she could spark up a conversation with Edith, who she started to admire, an argument could be overheard by two young men.


    “Are you from a barbaric human colony that has failed to show you the meaning of respect? I was talking to you, and you flat-out ignored me.” one of the young men said. He had a small afro and square glasses. He also looked used to talking to people that way whenever he didn''t get his way.


    The other young man he was talking to was short and bold, with hazel eyes, and he looked like he didn’t want to be bothered by any stretch of the imagination. Yet here he was, trying to live his life, and a four-eyed fly kept buzzing around his ear, wanting to annoy him to death. “Will you just shut up and leave me alone? Dude, don''t you think I would have done so if I wanted to talk to you and answer your question? Didn''t your nannybot teach you to catch a hint?” This incited laughter from everyone, and even one of the Shepherd Senties let out a chuckle.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    “Why does he assume the bold kid is from a human colony?” Cole leaned over and asked Kenan.


    “Probably Because he smells like berries and oils. Human Colonies use those things to help mask their sint against Fiend Beast. I don’t think it''s a bad smell, but people from wealthier backgrounds tend to look down on things like that.”


    “That sounds pretty stupid,” Cole said


    Kenan nodded in agreement


    After the laughing died down there was nothing but pure rage on the young man''s face that wore glasses. It was important to note that nothing mattered more than respect and honor among powerful beings, whether Superior or Sentient. If you were disrespected and it wasn''t corrected in any form or fashion, you would be seen as nothing more than a coward. In this world, men would rather be castrated than be demeaned as cowards with no honor.


    The next moment later, the young man with glasses eyes started to glow blue, and volts of electricity started to come off his body. He was about to reach for the shoulder of the bold kid, but the bold kid instinctively dodged without even turning around. Kenan, Cole, and Edith both noticed this.


    The kid with Hazel eyes responded with a fist-to-four-eyes face right after he dodged. The punch was so fast that many people thought four eyes were done until he caught the punch inches away from his face.


    Proud of himself, he smirked until he looked past the fist now attached to a humanoid Black Panther.


    “Beast Shifter,” a young man said from behind Kenan and Cole.


    “Rrhh,” the Panther growled. Most of the people recoiled back out of natural fear. Yet Four Eyes only stood there, still holding his fist, smirking at the Panther.


    “And hear I was going to call you nothing but an animal, and you proved me right. It''s time to put you down. He said as more electricity started coming off of his body.


    The Panther with Hazel eyes, just like the young man, had snatched his hand back from the grip of Foureyes, then made his flat, which were now raiser sharp claws, and speared it forward at his attack''s throat.


    At the same time, four eyes raised his palm, ready to release some attack before pressure in his mind stopped him.


    Not only his mind but everyone in the waiting area instantly put a hand on their head; some even fell out due to the pressure on their mind.


    [Warning! A Sentient at the Realm of Psion is using their Psionic Pressure on your mind.]


    With that notification, Kenan expected the pain to follow like everyone else, but it never did. He looked around, and neither Cole nor Edith was affected. They were the only three that looked like they were in no pain.


    Lia got up from the ground and was among the dozens that couldn''t withstand the pressure. She looked at the other teenagers she came with with respect and fear.


    “There will be no fighting within my Evaluation until I say so.” Said a deep voice.


    There was a man of 6’3 and 275 pounds of pure muscle. With seven thick locs on his head and small circle-shaped sunglasses standing over the two young men. Kenan and his friend did not see or feel this man enter the room.


    “Do I make myself clear?”


    You could hear and see both of the young men audibly gulp and nod their heads.


    “Great now, make up and be friends.”


    The two young men shook hands and introduced themselves. “My name is Virgil Orurro, the boy with the Afro said.


    “I’m Cyril Nomad,” the bold kid with Hazel eyes replied


    The man smiled, revealing his white teeth, looked towards Kenan and his friends, gave an even wider unnatural smile, and vanished in a blur.


    “I don''t think that man was normal by any means,” Edith said, breaking the silence.


    “What would any of you know about normal? Lia mumbled.


    “I think he knows we''re Sentient. I remember my recruiter saying something about sensing when someone is.” Kenan commented


    “We also weren''t affected by that headache he just gave everyone. Well, I did feel A slight tingle. Cole said.


    Edith agreed. “Maybe that is another reason Sentient is more powerful than the Slumbered. I doubt that man was a telepath. Yet, he still affected all of our minds.


    “No wonder the rich spend all their money on Oracles. You get within a high enough realm as a Sentient, and you can melt everyone''s brain who isn''t awakened,” Kenan commented.


    The man with seven locs, and small circle sunglasses were back in a Monitoring Room looking at one screen in particular.


    “Three Sentient beings which have seemingly popped up out of nowhere. Tell me,” turning to his assistant. “What are the names of those three children?”


    The Assistant was a thin man with thick glasses. He would always push his glasses up every 10


    minutes for unknown reasons. “They are Cole Justus, Edith Gardner, and Kenan Ogun.