《The Ascender's Legacy [A CHAOTIC STORM LITRPG]》 Index/Character Glossary . Aodhn Ashoka-Brystion (pronounced Aidan) Role: protagonist, transmigrant, and legacy bearer of Ascendant Az''marthon Ranok. Affinity: Storm. Appearance: 58 feet tall, white hair, unnaturally dark skin covered with glowing lines reminiscent of lightning arcs. Description: He is calm, intelligent, kind, and determined. He is known for his strategic mind and quick thinking. Daruk Christopher Brystion Role: supporting character, brother, and best friend of Aodhn. Affinity: Ice Appearance: lean build, 57 feet tall, snow white hair, and ice blue eyes. Description: Daruk is calm, logical, sometimes sarcastic, and calculative. He is often the voice of reason in most conversations. Aldric Caladrex Brystion Role: Supporting character, firstborn son of Unrid and Synov Brystion. Affinity: Emotion. Appearance: 62 feet tall, jet black hair and eyes, scruffy and unpleasant-looking beard that somehow works well with his overall look. Description: sarcastic, sly, nonchalant, kind (at times), funny, and impulsive. Andrew WillowoodThe story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Role: Supporting character, close friend to Aodhn and Daruk, lastborn son of Baron Willowood. Affinity: Plant. Appearance: 57 feet tall, slightly buff, with vivid green hair and eyes. Typically dressed in noble attire. Description: Andrew is a determined noble with a love for battle. He isn''t too smart, though, and is the designated airhead of the group. Lupin Cavanaugh Role: supporting character, first-year student of the 5th academy, heiress to the Cavanaugh''s barony. Affinity: Cloak Appearance: elegant and composed, with long white, almost translucent hair and striking silver eyes. Frequently dressed in a fashion style more favored by commoners,. Description: Funny, studious, and hardworking. Lupin, once a commoner, is one of the most levelheaded nobles in the 5th Academy. Yurin Lahey Role: Supporting character, first-year student of the 5th academy, almost always a bubble of joy, close friend to Daruk, Andrew, and Aodhn. Affinity: Light. Appearance: 511 feet tall, lean build, shoulder length blond hair, and striking blue eyes. Description: Yurin is jovial, determined, and very hard to discourage after he has set his mind on something. He is admired by all his classmates for his tenacity and perseverance. Eren Thornhill Role: First-year student of the 5th academy, Aodhn''s housemate, and the youngest son of Baron Thornhill. Affinity: Metal. Imani Blackwell Role: First-year student of the 5th academy, Aodhn''s housemate, and the youngest daughter of the Marquis Blackwell. Affinity: Shadow. Meredith Castalon Role: First-year student of the 5th academy, Aodhn''s housemate, eldest daughter of Viscount Castalon. Affinity: Water. Marcellus Edgarin Role: antagonist, first-year student of the 5th academy, and Aodhn''s housemate. Affinity: Illusion Cyrus Valerion Role: antagonist, first-year student of the 5th academy. Affinity: Space. Ayisha Helsarin Role: first-year student of the 5th academy and close friend to Aodhn. Affinity: Time. Lilith Bloodmoon Role: antagonist, first-year student of the 5th academy. Affinity: Blood. Grendar Bladwynn Role: Antagonist, first-year student of the 5th Academy Affinity: Metal. Prologue: Awakening Legacy Falling down a hill was a terribly unpleasant experience. Ow!Aodhn groaned as his body hit the soft earth. Irritated, he ran his fingers through his dark hair to remove the dirt and weeds tangled up in it. His joints creaked at the motion, and he let out another groan as he staggered to his feet. After taking a few seconds to regain his bearing, he snatched the camera hed borrowed from where it lay, dusted it off, and with another tired groan picked a path that looked easiest to navigate. Aodhn was an orphan, with dark brown skin and moderately handsome features. He had celebrated his 17th birthday about a month ago, which meant he only had a year left to spend in the monastery before he became a legal adult. He had been brought to the monastery at the age of six by a group of travelers whose faces he could barely remember. All he remembered was one of them saying. It was very strange. We found him wandering the forest all alone and barely clothed. Brother Gyatso, it was very unnatural." The monks had taken him in without hesitation, just like they took every male orphan who was brought to their doorstep, and they''d given him a name. He owed all he now was to them, and he intended to repay them as soon as he got a well-paying job. Although he''d spent the past ten years within the monastery, Aodhn wasn''t really interested in Buddhism or any religion at all. However, he did agree with Master Gyatso that surely someone up there must be running things. Aodhn cursed again as he stumbled while trying to avoid a large thornweed bush. Hed come to the hills for his final project as hed wanted to do something related to nature, but in this part of Calrin, nature was bland and ordinary. It made studying photography a hassle as there was barely anything noteworthy enough to immortalize with a picture. Sure, the leaves were green, and the flowers were in bloom, but it was lacking that awe factor that he craved. There was none of that wonder the portraits in the central hall usually inspired. For this project, Aodhn wanted something different and extraordinary, a sight that would stand out in the stack of seascapes or landscapes that the other boys were sure to submit. He''d always been competitive, preferring to stand out from the others. Master Gyatso had once called him a rose amidst a sea of ash. He liked that; it made him feel different; it made him feel seen. When he finally reached a relatively steady path, he brought his camera to his eyes to look through the pictures hed taken so far. They weren''t terrible. they just weren''t what he wanted. They inspired nothing, nor was there anything about them that would make one stop and stare. In simple words, they were bland and uninteresting. These will not do. I need better pictures, he muttered to himself, and with a frustrated sigh, he continued his trek.He curved past a stack of old, moss covered rocks, walking slowly to avoid falling down the slipping floor. He was so focused on not falling that it took him a few minutes to realize that his surroundings had changed. Gone were the muddy ferns, dead woods, and thornbushes. All that had been replaced by what seemed to be a wild garden.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. The signs of age as well as the lack of care were obvious. Green vines crawled everywhere, covering both the land and the hill, creating what seemed like an exquisite carpet of vines and leaves. Blood-red roses peeked out from between the vines, their delicate petals almost strangled by the vines. It was wild, unkempt, and overgrown, yet something about it called to him. Raising his camera once more, he took a couple of pictures, shifting gently to get the correct angle and lighting. A smile bloomed on his face as he continuously clicked his camera, the shutter clicking repeatedly. This was what he''d been looking for. The garden exuded a mystical aura, and the pictures he''d taken had managed to capture it perfectly. These are beautiful," he whispered. Pictures captured, he was ready to make his way back to the monastery when an overgrown bush of black and white roses caught his attention. Odd." He muttered as he moved closer. Hed never heard of striped roses before, so this was a unique find. Tiny gray vines curled around the bush, crawling up the wall behind it in a sort of mesh. He raised his camera to take a picture of the oddity, but soon frowned, as instead of striped roses, all he could see through the lens was a massive cave entrance as dark as night. Confused, he slapped the camera gently against his knee before raising it to his eyes once more, yet instead of the flowers, all he could see was the foreboding entrance. What the hell?" he muttered before picking one of the thorned roses. He could feel the texture of the stem, even the thorns, yet it failed to appear on the camera. Steeling himself against the expected pain, he pressed his thumb against a black thorn, and pain immediately assaulted him as it tore into his thumb with surprising ease. With a yelp, he pulled his thumb back, scared of a gruesome injury, but he found no sign of blood, even as the thumb throbbed painfully. Trepidation lanced through him as he wondered if this was some sort of illusion or hallucination. After a few more seconds of confusion, he raised the camera to his eyes once again, and this time when the caves entrance reappeared, he gathered his courage and walked into it, expecting to be rebuked or affected by some weird magical mumbo-jumbo. Instead, the cave brightened, and he found himself in a tunnel completely covered in dense glowing scripts, vaguely resembling runes or ancient texts. Slowly, excitement replaced his fear, and he hurriedly raised his camera to the glowing symbols. He breathed a sigh of relief when the camera registered the runes, and without hesitation, he began taking pictures. The scripts curled inward, and with eager steps, he followed them, his camera clicking continuously. He wondered if this was the remnants of an ancient civilization or an alien invasion. Before he could determine which was more likely, he reached the end of the tunnel where he found a small room covered in the same runic scripts. The runes pulsed with his every step; their golden glow was enchanting, and Aodhn turned to look around the room in amazement. A single black crystal, the size of his fist, floated above a wooden pulpit at the edge of the room. Its surface gleamed, and the energy within it rippled and undulated almost as if it were alive. Entranced, Aodhn took shaky steps towards the crystal. His camera fell to the ground with a hollow thud, but he barely even registered it. With shaky fingers, he clasped the foreboding crystal, and a black light flashed before his eyes. A rumble of thunder echoed within the cave. Aodhn fell to the ground, unconscious. chapter 1: Visions and Tribulations The inherent inclination of humanity leans towards cruelty and malevolence. Attempting to restrain or alter this innate aspect is ultimately fruitless; instead, we would gain much if we gave in to the destruction that our souls crave. Aegon Valerion, High Duke of Blood Sunstone Kingdom, Year 2275.
When Aodhn finally regained consciousness, he found himself in a room crafted with rectangular white tiles. It vaguely reminded him of a hospital ward but lacked the nauseating scent of antiseptics. The entire room was bare, at least the part within his field of vision. Groggily, Aodhn tried to take in his surroundings but found his neck uncooperative, and after several seconds of trying, he concluded that any movement was, at the moment, impossible. Before fear and confusion could overwhelm him, though, the room suddenly collapsed in on itself, as if space were destabilizing, and the next instant, the room disappeared, completely replaced by a vast blue sky and beautiful golden clouds. It only took a moment for Aodhn to realize that he was experiencing a sort of vision; the colors of the sky and clouds were all wrong, bleeding into each other like a bad watercolor painting. He turned to observe his surroundings and immediately let out a shrill sound that was definitely not manly. "I''m floating among the clouds!" He exclaimed in amazed confusion after he realized that he wasn''t in any danger of falling and dying a gruesome death. "Okay, roll with it, Aodhn. It''s just a dream." He took several deep breaths to control his fear, before turning his attention to the grand city of silver and gold sprawled out below him. It was beautiful. Several buildings jutted into the sky; their style and design broke just about every law of physics he knew. The buildings were a mix of medieval and futuristic architecture, their silver structures gleaming with golden light. At the epicenter of the city, a central tower rose up to the sky in defiance, surrounded by what seemed to be a castle built around it. Golden spires from the castle reached up to the sky like needles, their points like arrow heads, aimed at the heavens. On the central tower, the number 7 was written in bold letters, and although he had no idea what it meant, it seemed important. Wide black roads weaved around the city, making it look more like a grid or maze than an actual city. The city was crowded with people who moved about their daily lives, their medieval clothes ruffling in a non-existent breeze. Aodhn could barely hear a thing this high up, but he couldn''t help but appreciate the beauty of the scene before him.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. A look of amazement and awe bloomed on his face as he took in the beautiful sight, but when he turned to take in more of the city, a man suddenly appeared, floating alongside him. The man was clad in a military silver uniform, etched with flowing black runes. His white hair billowed in the non-existent breeze, and an intense pressure emanated from him. The man turned to stare at him, and Aodhn gulped when sparks of lightning flashed out of his golden runic pupils. He was beautiful, perhaps too beautiful, but his eyes were frigid and dead-looking, as if he had no care for human life at all. The man said nothing to him; instead, he turned to the city below, and almost instantly, the sound of an alarm blared loudly from the central tower. The city was immediately plunged into disarray as the citizens panicked, but the man''s impassive disposition barely changed. He raised his right hand slowly, as if he had all the time in the world, and the golden clouds immediately lost their hue, transforming into a storm of dark clouds. Thunder rumbled dangerously above us, and in only a few seconds, the day turned as dark as night. Multiple individuals, dressed in military uniforms of silver and gold, surged out of the panicked crowd, flying towards them with their faces set into a mask of fury and determination. Screams of fear and terror echoed out of the city as the storm built, growing darker even as thunder boomed loudly in his ears. Flashes of lightning streaked across the dark clouds, foretelling a tale of impending ruin. The man ignored the approaching soldiers, and with a single finger movement, multiple tornadoes of dark, cutting winds and lightning, so large that they beggared comprehension, descended on the soldiers as well as the city below them, immediately plunging it into chaos and wrecking havoc. A blue energy shield flickered into being above the entire city, but various beams of colored lightning struck down immediately, destroying it before it was even halfway formed. More beams rushed down as thunder boomed, their arcs splitting as they surged into the now-defenseless city, killing hundreds in an instant and destroying even more. The incessant flashes of lightning blinded him, but the cries of thousands reached his ears even at this height. Wails of terror echoed out as innocents either mourned the deaths of their loved ones or ran for their lives. Aodhn watched in horror, helpless, as an entire city was destroyed in minutes. He tried to shout, cry, or beg, but shock held him motionless as his eyes took in the calamity before him. All that was left of the once-beautiful city was rubble and scrap metal, except for the central tower, which, though battered, remained standing. The man turned to him as the storm died and the sky returned to its previous beauty, as if to mock the horror and destruction below. "Weaklings! The whole lot of them." The man sneered, his voice like the distant rumbling of thunder. Aodhn shook, scared to look at the man, but when he finally did, he found the man staring at him, his countenance calm and collected as if he hadn''t just murdered thousands of innocents in the past minute. Nausea roiled within him, but it was completely overshadowed by terror. The man smiled, revealing extremely white teeth, and Aodhn flinched in horror. "You think me a monster, don''t you, little seed?" The man asked a moment later, frowning at Aodhn''s actions, and when Aodhn failed to respond, the man stretched a palm towards him. After seeing what just befell an entire city, because of a single finger movement, Aodhn railed against his mind, screaming and crying for salvation, but his prayers went unanswered. As the man''s hand closed in, Aodhn gathered all of his will and slapped himself so hard that he felt his skull rattle. Pain lanced through him, piercing through the haze of his mind, and with a final push, the vision shattered. Chapter 2: Visions and Tribulations II "We are soldiers; we do not have the luxury of a conscience. We are killing machines! We are the swords of our fearless king! We shall take what is ours, either by fire or by blood." Marcus Daystar, Supreme commander of the Ragnarok army. 7th sector. Year 2275.
With a yell, Aodhn awoke from the vision. His eyes flew open immediately, hoping to be free from the horrors he''d just witnessed and be back at the foreboding cave with his camera, but what he saw made him almost believe he was still within the calamitous vision. "Oh, heavens! No! No more!" He was in the midst of a storm, or more precisely, he was being pulled into it. "By the Maker! No, please, whatever this is, it needs to stop right now!" He shouted, futilely fighting against the force that continued to reel him in. Electricity rippled and forked around him, causing the hair on his body to stand on end. Thunder rumbled, louder and more frightening than the vision had ever been, but no matter what he did, he was surely and continuously pulled into the storm. He screamed, his voice breaking from fear, as he finally reached the center of the storm. "No! Please, you cant" His cries were cut short as agony ripped through him, tearing into his very soul. Lightning rushed through him, causing his whole body to spasm as if it were lit on fire and doused in ice a million times. The lightning swirled around and into him, tearing away flesh and shattering bones. The agony climbed, intensifying with every arc of electricity that rushed through him. His scream sputtered as he lost the strength to give voice to his pain. When the force that held him captive finally loosened, all that was left of his body was a smoking mess of sizzling flesh and pus. His consciousness slipped away from him, like water flowing through his fingers. He tried to hold on, fighting to remain awake, but his efforts were futile. *** This time, when Aodhn came to, he was too scared to even open his eyes. Tentatively, he tried to wiggle his fingers and was very relieved to find that he felt no pain; instead, he felt even better than before. Afraid of what he might see, he slowly opened his eyes to stare at his body. There were no scars, wounds, or any signs of the tribulation he just went through. His brown skin was smooth, seeming to glow with an inner light.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. It was then that Aodhn finally noticed the clothes he was wearing, and with a dejected sigh, he fingered the medieval clothes he''d seen people in the calamitous vision wear. "It''s another forsaken vision." He muttered to himself, hoping with all his might that this one would pass without pain or trauma. He turned to observe the room he found himself in, and the only words he could think of that even remotely described the room were luxurious and cozy. The bed he was on was king-sized and located at the center of the room. The walls, wardrobe, and bedposts were made of a mystical black wood covered in runes. The wood glowed brightly enough to illuminate the room, and the floor was covered in a soft gray rug that more resembled the fur of an animal than something manufactured, but it was the ceiling that really caught Aodhn''s attention. A world map was carved into the bronze ceiling, highlighting even the tiniest details, and at its bottom, the word ?FLYM was written in stylized scripts. Six large continents covered the entire map, but one stood out as it emitted a faint golden light that called to him. Focusing his attention on the glowing continent, Aodhn discovered that it was further divided into five parts, with the largest dominating the center and the other four at the north, south, east, and west. "Do you perhaps have an interest in cartography?" Aodhn stumbled, knocking over the small stool placed beside the bed, and when he raised his head to identify the intruder, horror gripped him by the neck, and he instantly collapsed to the floor, wheezing. It was the man from the first visionthe soldier with the frigid eyesbut he didn''t look so much like a mass murderer anymore; instead, he looked more like a kindly old man with a penchant for pranks and jokes. A small silver tray floated beside him, and on it lay a jug, two small cups, and a plate of what looked like cookies, but Aodhn didn''t think that was possible because the man was a murderer, and murderers werent supposed to eat cookies or drink tea! The man clicked his tongue in annoyance at Aodhns expression and placed the tray on a table that suddenly appeared before him. Aodhn had no idea what to say or do, but getting out of this vision was a priority. He raised his hand to slap himself, but before he could do so, the man spoke again. "I assure you that trick will not work this time." Then I''m dead! By the Maker, he will kill me. Aodhn thought fearfully. He was utterly powerless against an entity such as this, and he shuddered as the man observed him with a playful smirk, as if he were watching an interesting lab rat. The silence dragged on for an eternity, and with a disappointed sigh, the man poured himself a drink and stirred it with a spoon that appeared to have been made from cloud before taking a slow sip. The drink had a scent like nothing he''d ever known, but the heady aroma instantly filled the small room. "You are yet to answer my question." The man spoke once more, interrupting his thoughts, and after a few more seconds of silence, Aodhn decided to go out on a limb and ask. "Are you going to kill me?" The man shook his head, chuckling softly in amusement, before placing his cup back on the tray. "If I wanted you dead, seedling, you''d already be." He gave a small smile, letting his words sink in before he continued. "Besides, I couldn''t kill you even if I tried." Aodhn nodded slowly, trying to understand the man''s words. "Because we''re in a vision. You can''t kill me in a vision." The man nodded. "Perhaps you aren''t so stupid after all. You can feel sensations, but killing you in this vision is beyond even me, and there are only a few who are stronger than I am." "Oh," the sound escaped from his lips even as relief coursed through him. The man continued sipping his drink slowly, as if he had all the time in the world. It gave Aodhn time to think and adapt to the new situation. Questions raced through his mind, tumbling over each other in a bid to get answered first, but he pushed them all away and asked the question that plagued him the most. "Who are you?" Chapter 3: Conversation with a mind fragment Various studies have shown that the torture of the human mind using either ethereal methods or any other form of mental abilities is almost four times more effective than traditional methods, as the mind and soul are directly breached, completely bypassing the restrictions of the mortal coil. Research work on the effect of ethereal and mental torture in interrogative processes. Dr. Halima Preznik, Royal Constable, Yildirim, 2275.
The man gave a small smile of satisfaction before replying. I am simply a mind fragment of the entity once known as the great catastrophe. My name was Az''marthon Ranok. Was? Aodhn asked in confusion, and the man gave a short nod of acknowledgement. "Was. I no longer reside in ?FLYM. You can refer to me as Az. Aodhn eyed Az curiously, wondering how a man whom hed seen kill thousands just moments ago could look so kind and fatherly. I know your thoughts, seedling." Az sighed. "You think Im a monster, but I''m not. Im only a soldier. But you killed all those people. Thousands! Aodhn protested, his anger getting the best of him now that his life was no longer in danger. "So much destruction; so many innocents dead. How could you commit such wickedness and sit here calmly, sipping...that? He finished, waving accusingly at the heady-scented drink. Azs features hardened, and suddenly Aodhn could see the frigid eyes once more. Fear gripped him, but he pushed it down. He couldnt die here anyway. I was not a good man." Az finally confessed. "But I wasnt a bad man either. I was a soldier. I followed orders and did what I had to do to protect my people. The vision you saw was the result. Aodhn remained unconvinced, and they glared at each other for a long moment before Az sighed. "I only showed you that vision so you could see me at the peak of my power. That was my last mission, before I left this world behind. Aodhn glared at the man for a few more seconds before relenting and asking the next most important question. "What is happening to me? Azs fatherly smile returned, and with a playful wink, he replied. You inherited my legacy, and youre currently undergoing the awakening process. He waved his palms in response to Aodhns next question and continued. A legacy is the seed of the power of an ascendant who has reached the peak of their path. It contains records of my experiences, techniques, skills, and even some of my memories. So... I''m going to become you? Aodhn asked with concern, but Az shook his head. "No, you will not become me. Youve simply inherited my path; you have my template to follow as you forge your own destiny. He took a sip of his drink before he continued. It means you have the ability to control, manipulate, and create storms and lightning. At least, when the awakening process is completed, you will.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. Does having a template to follow make me better than others? Not better per se, but it certainly grants you an edge compared to others. Aodhn found it difficult to control his smile. To be honest, the thought of one day being as powerful as Az''marthon was enticing. It was a chance to be superhuman, and despite his patrons calamitous and murderous nature, Aodhn looked forward to developing powers of his own. That brought him to his next question, though, and he cleared his throat awkwardly before asking. "After the first vision, I found myself within a turbulent storm that nearly killed me. Is that a normal part of the awakening process? Azs cup paused halfway to his mouth, and his eyes shifted suspiciously before he replied. "Oh, the tribulation? Thats just a little gift from me to you, seedling. His reply was dismissive, and once again, Aodhn felt his anger rise. A gift? He sneered. Did you miss the part where it almost killed me? Look child. Az replied with a tired sigh, The tribulation strengthens your affinity with the element of storm, giving a boost to your overall power. Besides, it also helped you evolve. Evolve? Evolve to what? Aodhn asked, but Az dismissed his concerns. "Evolution is of little importance right now. Youll figure it out on your own soon enough. Aodhn glared at the man, but Az ignored him and refilled his cup once again. When Aodhn realized he wouldn''t be getting any more answers on the topic, he moved on to his final question. "Im no longer on earth, am I? Az paused once again and gently laid the jug back on the tray. You cannot grow in your home world, as it is still outside the purview of the collective. Hence, I have transported you to this world, to the continent of Lutia, but precisely, to the kingdom of Ragnarok. He paused, giving an unsure smile before he continued. I have no idea which sector you will find yourself in; that part is up to fate, but whichever sector it is, I''m sure you''ll do just fine." They spent the next few minutes? Hours? Aodhn couldn''t be sure, as sometimes time seemed to move swiftly and other times at a crawl. However, they spent the time discussing the world Aodhn would find himself in when he finally woke up from the vision. They discussed the system and its peculiarities. To be honest, Aodhn barely understood half the words Az''marthon was saying, but he asked as many questions as he could think of, all just so he wasn''t left completely clueless when this nightmare ended. After what felt like several hours of discussion, Aodhn finally ran out of questions and fell silent, ruminating on the words Az''marthon had told him. From what he understood, the world of ?FLYM was filled with magical energy, a sort of mana used to activate magical skills and abilities. It was very game-like in nature, and although Aodhn hadn''t really had the chance to play a lot of games back at the monastery, he felt he already had a good grasp of the world and what he might expect. However, expectations were very different from reality, and as Aodhn meditated on the matter, he felt a sudden urge to close his eyes and pray. He pushed down the urge and simply closed his eyes, allowing himself to bask in this little moment of peace and quiet he had left. Silence reigned within the vision, and Aodhn''s thoughts soon drifted to the orphanage as well as the other children hed grown up with that he would never see again. He thought of the monks and their teachings. He would miss them a lot. Hed planned to become successful so he could improve the facilities of the orphanage as well as the lives of the children who would reside in it, but now those dreams were no more. He had no other familial ties to earth except for the other orphans and the monks, so it wasnt too hard for him to be cut off from it, yet it hurt. Time passed quickly, and a few minutes later, Az''marthon spoke. The awakening process will be completed soon; the next time you open your eyes, youll find yourself in a whole new world. I hope youre ready. Aodhn gave a small nod in response, and the next moment, the dream world blurred, dimming, until a few seconds later, it shattered around him, and darkness took him once more. Chapter 4: A whole new world We are aware of the danger that transmigrants poseindividuals from other worlds who have inherited the legacies that should have belonged to us. We also know of the mark they possess, but except these individuals identify themselves, finding them is akin to finding a needle in a haystack. Duchess Madrassa Darlington, High Member of the Council of Lords, Central Kingdom (Lutia). Year 2273.
Aodhn woke up to the sound of crashing waves in the distance and the feel of water lapping at his feet. Slowly, he opened his eyes, and a clear blue sky revealed itself. The chirping of birds and small insects filled his ears, and the pleasant scent of nature hung heavy in the air. He took in a deep breath, and air rushed into his lungs, revitalizing him and filling him with energy. He chuckled lightly and muttered. A whole new world, indeed. As his strength slowly returned, he forced himself into a sitting position, hoping to get a better view of his surroundings. Hed woken up on the shore of an island, with clear blue waves lapping at his bare feet and a dense forest of tall trees only a few meters behind him. He wiggled his toes, still wary of any scars or wounds, but fortunately couldnt find any. Aodhn took another deep breath, savoring the crisp sea breeze and letting it ruffle his hair. He was still clad in the clothes he wore back on Earth, but they were burned and torn so badly that they looked more like a rags. There was barely anything left of them, so he peeled the tatters off his smooth brown skin and fashioned it into something resembling a loincloth, so that he at least had a part of his body completely covered. The forest behind him was filled with trees so tall that they seemed to pierce the clouds, their green leaves ruffling in the evening breeze. Except for how crisp the air was, Aodhn didn''t see anything special or magical about this new world. In fact, if it weren''t for the golden-colored clouds and the electric feel of energy in the air, he could have mistaken it for a resort island in Bora Bora. After another deep breath, he moved to stand to his feet, but something at the corner of his vision caught his attention, and when he focused, it zoomed in to reveal a few lines of text. AWAKENING PROCESS IS COMPLETE. ANALYZING RESIDUAL MIND FRAGMENT. .. LUTIAN LANGUAGE LEARNED . [STATUS]Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. Name: Aodhn Ashoka Title: N/A Class: Evolved storm awakened: 1% Tier: 0% Skills {Innate}: [Storm creation and manipulation] [Lightning creation and manipulation] Bloodline: Nil ... Aodhn''s eyes widened as he read the texts displayed on the white-gold holographic screen. He couldnt believe hed thought this world seemed ordinary just a few moments ago. Reading the text again, his gaze paused at the third line of text. He focused on it, but no further information was provided. Not that more information was required anyway; it basically meant hed learned the Lutian language. When he tried to speak it, though, strange sounds emerged from his mouth, and although he understood their meaning, they still required some getting used to. As he continued reading, he came to another pause when he got to his class, and Azs words about evolving came to mind. Without the tribulation, would his class simply have been storm-awakened? He asked himself as his gaze landed on the 1% written in front of it. That seemed to suggest that he could continue evolving, but if he required a tribulation for every evolution, then he didnt see himself evolving anytime soon. After one more read, he dismissed the text and pushed himself to his feet before making his way to the forest. Immediately after he crossed the tree line, a sigh of relief escaped his lips, and he smiled as a sense of peace and security engulfed him. The ruffling of leaves grew louder, blending into a symphony with the chirping of birds and the chittering of insects. Without hesitation, Aodhn walked deeper into the forest until he reached a small clearing, where he sat down to rest against a large tree trunk. Hed regained most of his strength during the walk, so he decided to experiment a little with his new-found abilities. Az had mentioned that he would have the ability to control, manipulate, and create both storms and lightning, so he would start there. First, Ill start with storm creation. He muttered, thinking back to the massive storm hed seen in the first vision. Obviously, he wasnt strong enough to create a storm that large yet, so hed have to start small. With a determined gaze, he raised his hands to the sky and shouted. Storm. Descend! Storm. Awaken! Storm. Originate! Five minutes later, after his voice had become raw and hed called out almost every storm-word combination he could think of, he decided to try a different tactic. Perhaps its about visualization. He mused, and after a few seconds to calm his mind, he closed his eyes and tried to imagine a storm. Dark clouds converged in his mind, the rumble of thunder heralding them; multiple arcs of lightning flashed, and the wind raged. Energy surged through him, and he gasped as wind swirled around him, but the energy sputtered out before it could materialize the storm hed envisioned. It was a failure, but Aodhn couldnt stop smiling; hed gotten something right. This meant visualization was the way; he just had to imagine on a much smaller scale. He didnt raise his hands this time, nor did he close his eyes, but instead of an entire storm, he imagined a single storm cloud, half his height and just as wide. Energy surged through him once more, and this time, the cloud materialized before him, its surface roiling like thick smoke while droplets of water fell from it. By the Maker! I did it. He exclaimed in excitement, but as his concentration slipped, the cloud dissipated into black smoke. I just need to practice more; soon enough, Ill be able to create real storms. He muttered, still amazed, and after a few more seconds, he said. Lets try lightning this time. Chapter 5: Lightning Exercises Lightning is not unlike the element of fire in that it contains a will of its own. In its most basic form, lightning wants to destroy, and it will lend its awakened speed and destructive ability to do so. The problem lies in learning to tame and control it. For many young awakeneds, this learning process is akin to dancing the mejai in a sea of thorns. Venerable master Orpheus. Headmaster of the Black Forest. Yildirim. Year 2253.
What am I doing wrong? He asked himself an hour later. So far, hed been unable to create even a single bolt of lightning, and the energy within him had remained dormant and unresponsive. He had tried the visualization technique, trying to imagine the bolt into existence, but that had only been a waste of time. Hed even tried using his words, calling to the lightning, like hed futilely done with the storm, but that method had also yielded no result. I know Im missing something; I just cant figure out what. Frustrated, he closed his eyes and replayed the first vision in his mind once again, focusing on the part where wide beams of lightning had struck down from the sky. As thunder boomed, the arcs of lightning almost seemed sentient as they descended to unleash their wrath on the city below. As if in a loop, his mind continuously replayed the scene while he furiously tried to find a clue as to how the lightning bolts had been createdsomething, anything that could help him. It was after hed replayed the scene for the seventh time that he finally found something he hadnt noticed before; it was subtle, but just a moment before the lightning beams had descended, Azs stance had changed; his cold indifference had been replaced by what he could only describe as intense concentration. As the beams descended, Aodhn realized that the lightning beams hadn''t exactly been created; instead, they had appeared as if they had been called or summoned. The word echoed in his mind, and he could immediately sense that he was on the right path. It was obvious now that he couldn''t imagine the lightning bolts into existence, but he could summon them, either from himself or from the sky. The moment he came to this realization, energy surged through him, and a bolt of lightning the size of a babys fist appeared on his palms, crackling erratically between his fingers. Before he could celebrate his success, though, the bolt exploded, launching him several feet back and causing multiple surface wounds to appear on his hands. If hed had time to think about it, then he would have realized that such an explosion should have obliterated his fingers, yet they remained intact. What have I done wrong now? He groaned as he slowly picked himself up from the tangle of dry weeds and sticks he found himself in. As he rose to his feet, he saw that an area about a foot in diameter had been burned and blackened from the explosion. By the Maker! That could have seriously injured me, he exclaimed quietly. Resolving to be more careful, he walked back to the center of the clearing and, with a determined expression, summoned another bolt. Immediately it appeared, Aodhn threw it towards a tree, but it exploded before even making it halfway, causing another explosion that pushed him back several steps. The third and fourth bolts made it past the halfway point before exploding, but the fifth exploded before it was even completely summoned, causing an explosion even larger than the first. Aodhn was blasted backwards and slammed against the rough bark of a tree trunk, causing him to spit out blood as his bones rattled painfully.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. He took a few minutes to rest before he continued, summoning one bolt after the other. His efforts were finally rewarded an hour later, when instead of exploding, the bolt smashed into a tree with the force of a bullet and left a scorch mark the size of a tennis ball on its bark. At this time, the entire clearing was littered with small craters and blackened patches of soil, but hed done it. After several tries, he had finally achieved a modicum of control over the erratic element. He summoned a bolt once more, and almost immediately, a swirling bolt of golden electricity appeared on his right palm. It was now the size of his palm, and although it crackled dangerously as if its very nature fought the idea of stability, it remained on his palm. Aodhn flicked his palms forward, and the bolt rushed out with a speed too fast for his eyes to follow and struck a tree at the edge of the circular clearing. Multiple arcs of lightning raced up the bark and to the lowest hanging branch, drying up the moisture within it. The next moment, a smoking husk of blackened wood, all that was left of the branch, fell to the ground before scattering, releasing ash and smoke into the air. A wide grin blossomed on his face at the damage, and he let out a loud whoop of excitement. It was then that he finally noticed that the area had darkened and night had come. He had enough wood to make a fire as well as a place to sleep, but the sudden grumble of his stomach reminded him that he hadnt eaten anything in hours. Days? He had no idea how long his awakening had lasted, but he was ravenous enough to know that it had been a long while since his last meal. With a sigh, he made his way deeper into the forest in search of food, most preferably meat, and marked the trees with ash that he took from the burnt branch. Half an hour later, as Aodhn walked through the forest, he suddenly realized that the chirping of birds had ceased. Now that night had come, all he could hear was the occasional call of owls and other night avians peculiar to this world. The chittering of insects had gotten louder, though, and he could hear the distant croaking of what he hoped were frogs or toads. He had no lessons or experience as a hunter, so his movements were loud and clumsy at best, scaring away any animal before he could even lay eyes on them. Slowly, Aodhn managed to reduce the amount of noise he made, yet, two hours later, he still hadn''t found any prey he was willing to eat. So far, he had seen various sorts of creatures, but none he was willing to risk food poisoning for, at least not without great urging and persuasion. Hed almost given up on the hunt when he suddenly heard a squeaking sound similar to that of a squirrel. He halted his movements immediately, so he wouldnt scare the animal away, and slowly looked in the direction the sound had come from. On the branch of the tree not too far from him, he saw one of the cutest creatures hed ever seen. It looked and even acted like a squirrel, but its fur was snow white, and it seemed to shed glittery dust with every movement. It was also double the size of an adult squirrel, and floating above its head was a line of text that read: [Rizzel-Tier 2]. The creature remained oblivious to his presence while he contemplated attacking it. His only attack skill was a bolt of lightning, and although it was fairly powerful, he was still at Tier 0, albeit an evolved one, while the Rizzel was a mundane Tier 2 monster. He only spent a second thinking before his stomach rumbled again, and with little hesitation, he summoned a lightning bolt and threw it at the Rizzel. The Rizzel turned immediately, revealing razor-sharp canines, but it was unable to react fast enough to avoid the attack. The bolt exploded on contact, throwing the Rizzel to the ground and shattering the thin branch it stood on. Aodhn ran towards the fallen creature, afraid hed turned his dinner into bloody paste, but was pleasantly surprised to see that although most of its ribs were shattered and its white fur was stained with blood, it remained intact. The light in its eyes faded a moment later, and with a sigh of relief, Aodhn picked it up. Rather than return to the clearing and waste another two hours, he decided to make camp exactly where he was. He gathered the shattered branch, as well as a bunch of dry leaves, and placed them in the center of the small space. With careful concentration, he summoned another bolt of lightning, just enough to set the branch on fire. He added more dried wood to keep the fire going and then visualized a small stormcloud, but without the rain. The dark cloud materialized above the flames, and immediately the wind picked up, swirling gently around the flames until it roared so high that it almost reached his knees in height. As the fire crackled merrily, Aodhn turned to the dead Rizzel, dug his fingers into the largest wound he could find on its body, and forcefully tried to separate the fur from the bloody meat. It was an extremely messy and wasteful process, but it was the best he could do considering his lack of experience, as well as a knife. As he separated the abdominal fur from the body, a small glowing gem revealed itself. It shone with a dusty white light, and with gentle fingers, he pulled it out of the carcass. Energy swirled within it, and as he clasped the gem in his palms, his cells seemed to come alive, roaring for the energy, and unconsciously, he willed it into himself. The energy rushed into him, moving through his body and flowing through pathways he could not discern. It settled in his abdomen for a second before it burst out again, surging through his entire body and filling him with vigor; it healed his wounds before returning back to his abdomen, where it settled again, leaving him refreshed and more energized than before. He marveled at this strange occurrence, and with a thought, he reviewed his status screen. [STATUS] Name: Aodhn Ashoka Title: N/A Class: Evolved storm awakened: 1% Tier: 1-0% Skills {Innate}: [Storm creation and manipulation] [Lightning creation and manipulation] Bloodline: Nil Chapter 6: Energy Cores Have you ever wondered why many awakeneds are unable to advance beyond a certain tier, no matter the amount of energy cores they absorb? The answer is simple: the body cannot advance above the spirit. If the spirit fails to grow, the body ceases to do the same. Incomplete drive on the importance of spirit cultivation. Professor Kator Aheizer Silverblood (HRH). Sunstone. Year 2247.
It was like time had come to a stop as Aodhn glared at the glittery white dust on his palm. It was all that remained of the Rizzel''s core. He''d gone up a tier from absorbing the core, yet he was annoyed. Why didn''t Az tell him about this? Why leave out such an important detail? He could already imagine Az waving dismissively and saying, "I was confident you''d figure it out soon enough, and of course I was right." Also, he figured that the reason he''d only advanced a single tier after absorbing a Tier 2 core was due to his evolved status; it seemed he would require a lot more energy to ascend each tier compared to mundane awakeneds. Aodhn moved his arms, savoring the refreshed feeling that had come with his advancement. He also suspected he''d gained more strength, but without a status sheet, he couldn''t estimate just how much stronger he''d gotten. Still, he could feel it in the slight bulging of his muscles. He couldn''t crush a rock or lift a car yet, but he knew he''d gotten a bit stronger than before. With a grin and a plan for the next day, Aodhn moved to begin preparations for dinner. He created another stormcloud as he was in need of water, but he was unable to hold the image of the two storm clouds in his mind and have them act differently, so they both dissipated into black smoke and disappeared from view. With a frustrated sigh, he created another storm cloud and used the drizzle of rain to wash the meat after taking out its entrails. When he was done, he tried to control the storm, willing the rain to stop, but the cloud resisted, and he realized that the energy expenditure for such a feat was more than he could supply currently, so he just dispelled the cloud and created another one. He''d learned something from the experience, though; he could now create two types of stormclouds, one with rain and the other without. Perhaps it was more appropriate to say that the cloud without rain was an incomplete or neophyte storm cloud. He could also turn off the rain of an already-made storm and vice versa, but it required a larger amount of energy than he currently possessed. As the wind picked up once more, Aodhn created a wooden structure above the burning logs to roast the meat. He had little experience with this outside of what he''d seen in movies or paintings, but he made up for it with painstaking effort. After several minutes of constantly turning the meat, his dinner was ready. Half of it was burnt, almost to crisp, while the other half was undercooked, but it was the best he could come up with, and he was too tired and hungry to care anyway, so he ate it without care. Surprisingly, the unburnt part of the meat tasted very nice, even with the lack of any spice or seasoning, and he suspected it was due to the magical nature of the meat. After dinner, Aodhn dug out a hole to create a mound of sand close to the fire that he could use as a makeshift pillow, and with a sigh of contentment, he laid down to sleep. Sleep eluded him, though, and after a few minutes, he decided to practice instead, so he summoned a bolt of lightning between his palms, and perhaps he was imagining it, but the energy seemed just a tad more responsive to his urgings than before.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Fortunately, the storm cloud was unaffected by his use of lightning, which was great news, as he''d feared that he couldn''t wield both skills without causing some sort of explosion. He made very little progress before the stress of the day began to catch up with him, but at least he''d managed to keep a bolt of lightning stable for almost half an hour. With another sigh of contentment, Aodhn shot the bolt into the sky, where it exploded in a shower of sparks, and finally let sleep claim him. *** Aodhn awoke the next morning to the melodious chirping of birds as well as the distant calls of other forest creatures. The air was fresh and clean, and as he took in a deep breath, a smile blossomed on his face. The fire had gone out, but surprisingly, the stormcloud had remained, floating above him and protecting him from the rays of sunlight streaming through the dense canopy of leaves above him. The morning was peaceful, but more importantly, he felt refreshed, energized, and at peace. This was his first morning on ?FLYM, and it couldn''t have been more beautiful. His mind drifted to thoughts of the orphanage and how, on a morning as clear and beautiful as this, the monks would have granted them permission to take their breakfast in the central garden. Since it was a boy-only orphanage, every collective affair almost always ended in an argument, fight, or even an all-out brawl, but that had only happened once; he''d even participated in it, although he doubted the monks knew about that, as if they did, they wouldn''t have elected him as the North Wing coordinator the month after. His emotions were bittersweet at the memory, and although he was happy with his current situation, he couldn''t help but miss the place he had lived in for almost 10 years. With a small smile, Aodhn stood to his feet, scattered the ashes of the fire, but kept the wooden construct he''d used to prepare dinner, dismantling it and tying it to his back with a twine of vines. He dispersed the initial storm cloud and created another, which produced enough water to quench his thirst and wash his face; however, his poor control left him soaking wet and shivering in the chilly morning air. Wringing out his tattered clothes, Aodhn scanned the clearing for a possible route. He had two objectives today. The first and most important was to find signs of civilization, be it a village, a town, or even a hutanything to signify that he wasn''t alone on this damned planet. His second objective, however, was the most interesting. He needed to begin his hunt for energy cores, and he needed to begin immediately. With that in mind, he steeled himself and moved forward, deeper into the forest. ...... A few miles away. A small village was situated just outside the Warren Woods, as the locals liked to call it, and a group of men, dressed in cheap green and black gear, stood near the village''s entrance. They were hunters, or at least they named themselves so, despite their lack of experience. There were only four of them, but they seemed confident in their numbers. Out of the four, three of them were sleepers, a demeaning term given to unawakened individuals. They were moderately built and armed with both a spear and a machete, yet one of them still carried a bow on his left shoulder, the other had several daggers strapped to his person, and the third carried a large shield on his back. The only one among them who wasn''t excessively armed, as he only carried with him a small pocket knife, was the fourth hunter. He was a Tier 7 fire awakened as well as the leader of this small group. None of the others batted at eye at his unarmed state. It didn''t matter anyway, because the power of an awakened depended not on mundane weaponry but on the might of their skills and spirit. "This shouldn''t take us long." The awakened said to the group: His name was Unrid Brystion, and he was one of the strongest awakened in the village, save for the guards, of course. "We just need to cull the number of monsters and make sure nothing above Tier 2 is lurking in these woods by the time the harvest festival comes around." One of the sleepers, a young man in his early twenties, groaned. "This is a waste of time, Unrid; we do this dive every month, and we''ve never found anything more interesting than a silver mamacore." He was the tallest hunter in the group, so Unrid had to look up to glare at him. Still, the effect of his disapproval was obvious, as the hunter shied backwards a moment later. Not all awakeneds bullied sleepers with their abilities, but enough of them did so that everyone knew it was a bad idea for sleepers to antagonize or defy an awakened, no matter their physical strength. "For the unnecessary commentary, Lutor, you will be taking point." Unrid replied, and the others chuckled in amusement. Still, Lutor was right; these monthly expeditions had become a nice camping experience for them. Even Lutor smiled; whether he took point or not, he had nothing to fear. Unrid carried a large bag filled with their camping gear and medical kit, so after making sure he hadn''t forgotten anything, they waved goodbye to the soldier stationed at the entrance and made their way out of the village. "You should wish us luck." The hunter carrying the bow, Berion, called to the soldier with a smile, but the soldier just shook his head and said, "I doubt you''ll be needing it." They laughed and made their way towards the forest. It didn''t take them long to reach it, and almost as one, the three Sleepers brandished their weapons. They trudged past the tree line and deeper into the forest. Almost immediately, they came into contact with a Gulu, a small octopus-looking creature with dark green and blue skin, but it was only Tier 0, so Lutor simply cut it down with a swing of his sword. Darnathil, the hunter with the shield, groaned. "If things continue this way, then we are in for a long, boring hunt." Unrid chuckled and responded with a shake of his head. "If things continue this way, then I shall light a candle to Raol when we return and thank him for small mercies. Chapter 7: Hunting for cores The children of the watch have begun to stir once more; like Beskars, they do not stay dead for long. Our contacts in the central and Unoros kingdoms have reported the sudden disappearance of multiple young awakeneds. We suspect their new base of operation to be somewhere in the Balaark desert, just outside of Yildirim''s borders, but we have no proof of this suspicion yet. The children are an extremely dangerous group, and it is imperative that we act immediately, lest we court disaster. Letter to His Royal Majesty, from the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Awakened Affairs (MAA) Sunstone. Year 2275.
It had been three hours since Aodhn left the clearing, and in all that time, he''d successfully managed to kill five creatures and take their cores. Three of them had been at the first tier, while the rest had been at the second. He''d ignored all the creatures at Tier 0, as they were of no use to him. Unfortunately, only two of the creatures he''d killed were edible, as the bolts of lightning had damaged them so much that only scraps of meat were left hanging from their blackened skeletons. He''d suspected the night before that the bolt of lightning had gotten stronger, but now he was certain; the difference was subtle, but he''d noticed that the bolt had gotten bigger, faster, and deadlier. He''d fashioned himself a sort of pouch from leaves and vines that he wrapped around his waist, and as he walked, the cores he''d placed within it clinked together like glass. "I need to find a solution to this." He thought to himself. He didn''t need any of the cores blowing up in my face. An hour ago, he''d begun to feel the stifling heat, so he''d created a small storm cloud above his head. It didn''t aid his hunting, but it was good practice, and the breeze helped tremendously. Aodhn reached a small clearing a few minutes later, and soon he had a fire going. Half an hour later, his breakfast was ready. He''d only been able to salvage a single meal worth of meat from the two creatures, which meant he would have to hunt again for dinner, but he didn''t mind. Hunting was fun. He''d almost finished his meal when the sound of a creaking branch caught his attention, and he immediately turned in its direction. On a tree several feet away from him crouched a monkey-looking creature with silvery black fur and long metal claws. Above its head floated a line of text. [Silver Mamacore, Tier 3] He jumped to his feet immediately, summoning a bolt of lightning, but the Mamacore attacked before the bolt was completely formed. Aodhn didn''t bother stabilizing the lightning bolt and instead threw it at the Mamacore. A silver light flashed on its claws, and to his amazement, the Mamacore sliced the bolt apart. It sustained multiple injuries on its hands and arms, but nothing serious enough to put it out of commission. Aodhn attacked again, shooting out bolt after bolt in rapid succession. The Mamacore defended itself against most of them with its silver claws, but some bypassed its defenses and exploded, leaving behind scorch marks on its silver fur and pushing it back several steps. Aodhn fought to keep the Mamacore on the defensive, never giving it a chance to get close as that would spell doom for him, but he was still only causing minimal damages, and at this rate, he would collapse from exhaustion before he was able to cause any significant damage that would put the Mamacore out of commission. His mind raced furiously, thinking of a way he could possibly defeat the creature, when an idea came to mind. His control over lightning had sharpened greatly, but he had no idea if it would be enough for what he wanted to do.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Maker, please let this work!" He muttered as another bolt of lightning shot out towards the Mamacore, but this time, as it moved to slash at the lightning with its claws, the bolt changed its trajectory, dipping downward immediately and exploding against the Mamacores hairless stomach. The Mamacore let out a shrill scream as a hole the size of a tennis ball opened up in its stomach, and blood poured out of it. Not letting his excitement get in the way of his survival, he shot out another bolt that curled in midair and exploded in the same spot as the previous bolt. The Mamacore fell to its knees, frozen, as lightning coursed through it, and Aodhn hastily took advantage of the opening, shooting out bolts of electricity into the puncture wound. He didnt stop until the body of the Mamacore shriveled and turned to ash, leaving behind a silver core and a blackened skeleton. Aodhn wheezed as exhaustion hit him, but he couldnt help but grin. The difference between mundane and evolved awakenings might be little, but apparently, it was large enough to bridge the gap between Tier 1 and Tier 3. After a moment, though, he frowned. This was the first Tier 3 monster hed seen in the forest, which meant he was probably getting closer to the center, but if a Tier 3 monster was this hard to kill, then he couldnt afford to go any further until he advanced another tier or two. He immediately took the silver core from the ashes, but instead of adding it to his collection, he sat down, took out two of the 2nd-tier cores in his pouch, and let the energy of the three cores flow into him. The rush of power that followed was even greater than the last time hed advanced, which made perfect sense as he was moving to a higher tier. The energy moved through the same pathway it had previously followed and settled in his abdomen, where he now realized his core was located. Just like before, the energy filled his core to the brim before surging out, rushing through him like a tidal wave, and instantly his fatigue was washed away as well as all the minor injuries hed sustained navigating the forest. When the energy settled back down, he could feel the strength coursing through him. He was now a little faster and stronger than he had been a minute ago. Excited, he grabbed a small stone and squeezed. Nothing happened. Aodhn frowned. So, maybe he wasn''t strong enough to crush stone yet, but he was getting there. He could feel it. High on the feeling of power, he poured out all the cores in his pouch and, without delay, began to absorb them. Seconds later, after he absorbed the last core, he waited for the energy to surge out of his core, but nothing happened, and his core remained still. Curious, he called up his status screen to determine what had gone wrong, when a line of text caught his attention. Tier: 2C44.4% Aodhn couldnt believe it; hed absorbed a total of six cores. Granted, half of them were Tier 1 cores, but hed absorbed two Tier 2 cores and a single Tier 3 core along with it; how was that not enough to propel him to the third tier? Frustrated, he dismissed the status screen, doused the fire, dismantled his wooden construct, and tied it to his back before making his way deeper into the forest. He had no idea where this forest would lead him or even if it led to any form of civilization, but he knew he would have to advance to survive it. A few more hours passed, and in that time, Aodhn managed to kill another five creatures. Unfortunately, only two of them were at the elusive Tier 2, while the rest were Tier 1. He''d absorbed the cores immediately, which had moved his tier up to 80%. It was mid-afternoon by now, which was still a little too early to start hunting for dinner, so he focused on finding more cores instead. Also, his abilities had grown once again. He was yet to test {Storm manipulation}, but his control over lightning was much better than when he began; he could now alter its trajectory midair and even control it when it exploded. Also, hed noticed that the bolts of lightning weren''t as pure gold as hed thought; instead, they were white gold. Come to think of it, why wasnt his lightning the regular blue-white color? Was there a reason for the color? Or did it mean his version of lightning was stronger than normal? He had many questions, but he couldnt get his answers inside the forest, so he focused on sharpening his control for now. Instead of summoning lightning into his palms, he tried summoning it from his fingers. Of course, it was incredibly hard and dangerous, but now that he could control the explosion, there was very little damage. As he moved through the forest, a thought brought him to an abrupt halt. He hadnt realized it before, but his class and his tier looked very similar at the moment. His status appeared before him, and his eyes widened as he confirmed his suspicions. Class: Evolved storm awakened: 1% Tier: 2C80% It seemed his class could grow the same way as his tier, but if he could advance his class by absorbing cores, why had he needed the tribulation then? Still, if his suspicions were right, then it would seem that the world wasnt cruel enough to subject a person to tribulations every time they needed to evolve. Hope blossomed within him, and with renewed vigor, he resumed his hunt for cores. Before long, he found himself standing before a river narrow enough to cross without a boat but large enough to harbor dangerous creatures. He needed to find a path across, but just as he turned, a loud hiss caught his attention, and he turned around to see a black snake-like creature as it slithered out of an opening at the mouth of the river, and above its head floated a single line of text. [Aqua Slytherin, Tier 3] Chapter 8: Running towards danger Census and research studies have shown that roughly 50% of the continents population is awakened. 15% are evolved, 3% have reached the second stage of evolution, 0.02% have reached the third stage, and 0.00004% have reached the last stage of evolution. These statistics might seem small to the unlearned, but when you consider that the population of the Lutian continent is measured in billions, then youll realize that these numbers are large enough to shatter your illusions of safety. Duke Arethia Corvius. High member of the council of lords, Central Kingdom (Lutia). Year 2267.
Five minutes after the Slytherins appearance, its watery blue core was clasped in Aodhns palm, and without hesitation, he tried to absorb it into his class, but nothing happened. With a thought, his status screen appeared before him, and he immediately focused on the class, expecting an explanation or new information to come up, but the screen remained unchanged. He sighed in disappointment; he should have known things wouldnt be so easy. Hed gotten excited; hed hoped, but hed forgotten that life was a cruel mistress. He resolved himself to find more information about evolution whenever he left the forest, but for now, advancing through the tiers was his only path to power. He absorbed the energy immediately, and as it flowed into him, Aodhn noticed a difference he hadnt been paying attention to. Instead of rushing through his pathways like the previous cores, the energy flowed smoothly and even managed to slightly reduce his temperature. The energy filled within his core a moment later and blasted out, surging through him like a tidal wave and filling him with a sense of boundless power. As the energy retuned to his core, Aodhn felt even stronger and faster than before; even his reaction speed had increased. Perhaps he wasn''t able to crack stone with his fist or smash mountains yet, but he could feel himself getting stronger and closer to being superhuman. Aodhn couldnt really explain how much strength he got from each advancement, but it was significant enough that he could immediately feel it. He walked towards the river, and a moment later he decided to walk along the river bank rather than turn back. There was no way out of the forest behind him, but there was hope in front. He walked for another half hour, and in that time, he managed to kill another Tier 3 monster identified as a Selky. The number of higher-tiered monsters had definitely increased, and he was sure that it wouldnt be long before he came in contact with a Tier 4 monster. As he turned around a bend, he suddenly saw a dense outcrop of black rocks in the middle of the river. It created an incomplete passage through the river, but it was large enough to cross with a jump or two. Without hesitation, he jumped on it. Finding the mass of rock steady, he made his way to the other side and was about halfway across the river when the rock suddenly rumbled and lurched forward, causing him to lose his footing and stumble into the churning river. Frigid water rushed into his mouth and nose, but Aodhn was an excellent swimmer, and he soon broke the water surface with a gasp. His sight fell on the outcropping of rocks that had somehow rearranged themselves into a humanoid monster, made entirely of boulder-sized rocks. Burning yellow eyes stared out of its rocky sockets, and a brown shimmering haze covered its entire body. Floating above its head was a text that caused Aodhn''s cells to quiver with fear. [Burmehein, Tier 7] Instinctively, Aodhn knew he couldnt fight this creature; aside from the fact that the Burmehein was four whole tiers above him, Aodhns only attack skill was the lightning bolt, and that was almost useless against its body. He couldnt fight, but he could run, and with a flick of his hand, the largest bolt of lightning hed ever summoned shot towards its eyes and exploded.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. The Burmehein barely stumbled, but it let out a shout of outrage as the explosion blinded it and hopefully bought him enough time to escape. Aodhn swam as fast as he could, turning frequently to glance at the Burmehein as it blindly smashed its limbs into the river, causing a large wave that threw him entirely off course. Aodhn took a panicked breath before diving back into the roiling waves, intent on avoiding the Burmeheins gaze. The shimmering brown haze coalesced on one of Burmehein''s fists, and this time when it smashed it into the river, a large wave rose, pushing Aodhn further towards land, but it also managed to reveal his position to the monster. Agitated, the Burmeheins fist smashed towards him with terrible accuracy, but its size more than made up for it, and only Aodhn''s increased speed and reaction time saved him from being pulverized. As he reached closer to land, the Burmeheins yellow eyes glowed with anger, and it began to move towards him, but its speed was lacking. Aodhn cursed his luck as he finally made it to land, and with one final look at the Burmehein, he picked a direction and ran for his life. As he left its line of sight, the Burmehein seemed to lose interest in him and, with a final roar, lowered itself into the water once more. Sighing in relief, Aodhn rested, leaning against a tree trunk to catch his breath, and when he finally felt stable, he turned to take in his surroundings. He hadnt noticed much in his haste, but now he could clearly see that something was wrong with this part of the forest. Multiple trees had their branches bent or broken, and the smaller trees had been trampled as if a horde had passed through the area. Several paw and hoof prints littered the soft earth, and patches of dried blood littered the area. Claw and talon marks appeared on almost every available surface, which cemented his suspicions of a horde of monsters. If a horde had recently made its way into the forest, then it would explain the increasing number of Tier 3 monsters; it also meant he would be seeing more of them in the coming days. Carefully, he followed the trail of destruction, and it didnt take long before he found his first prey. Two and a half hours later, just as the sun set, a bolt of white-gold lightning shot into the frozen mouth of a Tier 3 Gulu, causing its tentacles to wither and die as the light finally vanished from its eyes. With a grin, he picked up the mottled core and added it to his growing collection. Since hes entered this part of the forest, he''s been following the trail of destruction, and the Gulus core made it the fourth one hed gathered in only a few hours. Now, his pouch held a total of seven Tier 3 cores, but it still wasnt enough to get him to the next advancement. Aodhn would have loved to spend an extra hour hunting, but this part of the forest was much more dangerous, and he would rather have a nice dinner than come into contact with a Tier 4 monster after an entire day of hunting. What he needed was a suitable space to spend the night as it was already growing dark, so he gathered all the meat hed managed to save and washed them to prevent their blood from leading monsters back to the small clearing hed found a few minutes away. Hed lost his wooden construct in the river, but with the wreckage around him, he made a fire as well as a new construct in only a few minutes. Half an hour later, his dinner was ready, and he immediately doused the fire, leaving the clearing dark and quiet. The forest was anything but quiet, though, as the distant shriek and roar of monsters filled the air. Aodhn couldnt afford to sleep with the situation, so he absorbed all the cores hed gathered instead. Tier: 3C96.7% As hed suspected, it wasnt quite enough to push him to the 4th tier, but it had taken him even farther than hed expected. As the night darkened, he summoned a small bolt of lightning to float beside him. It emitted just enough light to help him see his surroundings, but nothing else. Sitting with his back against a tree, he resolved to stay awake till sunrise, so he might as well get some practice in. With a thought, he created an incomplete storm cloud just as wide as he was tall and proceeded to try manipulating it. In the second vision, hed seen Az create a spoon from the smoky clouds; perhaps, with enough practice, he could learn to do the same or even fashion a sort of weapon from it. His experiments continued through the night, and surprisingly, he didnt even feel sleepy. Many hours past midnight, hed finally managed to separate a fist-sized ball of storm clouds from the larger body floating above him. It hadnt consumed as much energy as hed feared, but it required a large amount of concentration. A weapon would have to wait for now, as it required a degree of control he hadnt achieved yet. As his concentration eased, though, the sounds of crashing and crackling woods reached his ears, and soon, the smell of smoke filled the air. A shrill cry for help followed, and he jumped to his feet immediately, trying to determine the direction it had come from. His heart thumped loudly as the roar of fire filled his ears. Finally! Hed found another human being. Aodhn took off immediately in the direction of the burning woods, dismissing the storm cloud as well as the lightning bolt, as the flames had already lit up the entire forest. As he rushed forward, the silhouette of a man burst out from a burning bush, a heavy pack on his back and shoulders. He was limping slightly, and when he saw Aodhn, he shouted, Run! Its coming. Aodhn looked behind the man to see a large creature as it leaped through the burning flames. It had a wolf-like appearance, with bristling silver fur stripped with black lines. Long metallic spikes jutted out of its spine, and its open mouth was filled with long silver canines. His eyes flashed to the text floating above its head, and he gulped as terror lanced through him. Chapter 9: Unrid Brystion The phenomenon of perfect Tier advancement requires an awakened to only absorb energy cores perfectly aligned with their element or concept, thereby maintaining, or in some special cases, increasing, the purity of their cores, which grants them greater power and mastery over their awakened paths. From an unidentified grimoire, looted from the Amorack ruins in the kingdom of Unoros. Currently shelved in the Palace Library of the Sunstone Kingdom.
[Juvenile Silver Rithclaw, Tier 6] Aodhn froze as the creature dominantly walked into the clearing. A silver haze swirled around its body like a cloud, but it was focused more around its claws and metallic protrusions. The man limped towards him, shouting words Aodhn could barely understand, but when he reached him, the man grabbed his shoulder with a free hand and shook him hard enough to rattle his bones. Pull yourself together, kid; you had a chance to run, but you lost it. Now, buy me some time, so I can kill this thing. The mans words snapped him out of his fear, and Aodhns eyes slid to the bundle on his shoulder. His eyes widened when he saw that it was an unconscious man, only a few years older than he was. Aodhn gave a shaky nod in response as the man limped past him, and he took a determined step forward. He couldnt defeat this monster, but he could buy the man enough time; he just had to distract the monster until the man provided a solution. With a wave of his hand, a storm cloud appeared above them, and the next moment, it expanded to cover an area of about 10 feet. Thunder rumbled out from within it as lightning flashed, and the wind came alive, scattering dust and dried leaves every which way. Rain poured down, snuffing out the encroaching flames even as the earth shuddered with each deafening boom of thunder. The Rithclaw seemed to raise an eyebrow at his display, thoroughly unimpressed, and a moment later, it dismissed him as insignificant. Its eyes moved to the man who had already managed to injure it once, as evidenced by the smoking bruise on its shoulder. The man was crouched a few meters behind the boy, hastily searching through the contents of his bag. The Rithclaw narrowed its eyes in suspicion. It was young but smart enough to know a dangerous prey when it saw one, and if it was to survive this hunt, then it had to kill the man first. The Rithclaw prowled forward, but Aodhn moved to block him, and two bolts of lightning appeared in his hands. The Rithclaw snarled at the threat and, with an enraged growl, rushed towards him instead. The bolts of lightning shot towards it, and just as it raised a claw to swipe at the energy, it suddenly changed trajectory and exploded on its head, leaving behind a scorch mark the size of a baby''s fist just under its left eye. The Rithclaw roared in anger. It hated tricks, and it hated opponents who employed them even more. The boy was a weakling who used tricks to fight against worthy opponents; therefore, it had to kill him. The Rithclaw rushed at Aodhn with speed, too fast for him to follow, and only his fast reaction saved him. An attack that should have taken his neck instead tore into his chest, causing him to stumble as pain blinded him and blood splattered out of his chest. He was unable to dodge the next swipe, and it tore through his arms like a hot knife through butter, stopping only when it reached bone. Aodhn almost blacked out. He fell to the ground in pain, oblivious to the claw that aimed at his neck this time, but suddenly, a large ball of flame exploded against the Rithclaw, and the man called out, Play times over, silver; Im the opponent you want. Aodhn opened his eyes to see the man holding a ball of flame in one hand and a large, round object the size of a football in the other. As the Rithclaw rushed towards him, he widened his stance, pulled his right hand backwards, and when the Rithclaw reached a satisfactory distance, he threw the object at it, followed by a finger of blue flame. The flame struck the red object just as it neared the Rithclaw, and a massive explosion rocked the entire clearing, throwing the monster into the air and slamming it against a tree several meters away.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. Aodhn, who had just forced himself back to his feet, was thrown to the ground, but it was the man who suffered the most as he was launched backwards by the force of the explosion and slammed into a tree half a dozen meters away. Still, the Rithclaw wasnt dead, and as Aodhn ran to help the man, it roared, its eyes burning with hatred and madness as agony ravaged through it. Its entire body was burned as if it had been doused in gasoline and set on fire; the metal protrusions on its back were bent, and its right hind leg was broken. Still, it rushed at them, its silver canines exposed as it snarled. Aodhn managed to summon a bolt of lightning that he shot towards the Rithclaw, but it completely ignored his attack, and the next instant, a paw slammed into him, throwing him backwards. He rushed to his feet, but the monster slashed at him again, gouging out muscles and tissue from his back. Agony ripped through him in waves, and only the threat of death kept him from blacking out. He turned and saw the roiling storm hed created at the beginning of the battle. As if it could sense the impending threat of death, the storm had intensified, and multiple arcs of lightning flashed within it with barely restrained fury. The storm seemed ready to explode, as if all it awaited was a word from him, and with all the energy he had left, Aodhn called lightning from the storm and directed it against the Rithclaw. What happened next was beyond his wildest dreams; instead of a single large bolt of lightning, lightning of various hues poured out of the cloud in a wave and descended on the attacking Rithclaw. The entire clearing flashed with an extremely bright light, leaving an afterimage that left him blind for several seconds. When he finally regained his sight, the only sign of the Rithclaw that would have taken his life a minute ago was a silvery metal core surrounded by ash and scraps of silvery metal. Aodhn let out an agonized gasp as adrenaline receded and pain ripped through him with full force. Too tired to even move, he lay on the ground, breathing roughly, when something landed gently on his chest, and he cracked an eye open to see the man standing above him. He looked better than he had a minute ago, but he still had several wounds on his chest. Aodhn looked at the silver core the man had placed on his chest, and without hesitation, he absorbed it. Silvery energy flowed through his pathways like molten metal, and when it filled in his core, it surged out, moving through his bones this time around and filling them with energy. His fatigue and wounds disappeared as the energy rushed through him, and he sighed in relief as his pain disappeared like a foggy dream. Aodhn smiled as the energy settled back into his core. He felt denser than before, and though he looked skinnier, the power flowing through him had increased significantly, and he felt like he could finally crush a rock with his bare hands. Tier: 4C38.9% Aodhn also noticed that the energy required to reach Tier 5 was almost double the amount hed needed to reach the 4th tier. After absorbing the Tier 6 core, hed expected to be pushed to the peak of Tier 4 or even breakthrough to the next tier, but it had barely brought him halfway. He opened his eyes to see the man staring at him with a wistful expression, and when he noticed Aodhns gaze, he said, Its at times like this that I wish I hadnt reached my limit, where a single advancement could have rid me of this pain. Aodhn had no idea what the man meant by limit, but he sympathized with him anyway. If hed had any cores left, he would have given them to the man so he could advance and be rid of his pain. The man chuckled quietly at his expression before he went into a coughing fit and spat out blood. It took a minute before he regained himself, and after taking several deep breaths, he said, My apologies. My name is Unrid Brystion, and when I get home, Ill burn an incense stick in Roals name to thank him for sending you to us. Uhm, my name is Aodhn Ashoka, and I want to get out of this forest. Unrid stopped himself from chuckling to prevent another fit and instead smiled before asking, You must be from the Gishan village then, just past the Barren strip. Aodhn didnt bother confirming or denying Unrid''s assumptions; instead, he asked, How did you know? Unrid scoffed, Its the only way into this part of the Warren woods aside from the Warren; besides, you share their complexions. Aodhn smiled in response, as if hed been caught, but Unrid soon frowned and asked. If you were heading to Warren, why didnt you take the normal routes? You also dont seem to own any clothes. Aodhn wanted to lie but decided to tell half the truth instead. I came into the forest to advance, but I got lost, and when the horde made their way into the forest, I had to ditch my belongings in order to survive. Unrids eyes darkened at the mention of the horde, and he sighed wearily. The forest is not supposed to have any creatures above the second tier, and with the harvest festival coming up in a few weeks... He trailed off for a few seconds before muttering. This is a disaster; I would have to inform the mayor and..." His voice trailed off again, and Aodhn glanced at the unconscious man laying a few feet away from them. How is he? he asked after a moment of silence. His question dragged Unrids mind away from the thoughts of monsters and the harvest festival, and with a sigh, he replied. Hell live. Unrid paused before slowly standing to his feet and saying, Come, I can get you something better to wear, then we can set out when the day breaks. Aodhn followed him as he walked towards a large bag filled with camping gear and kits. He looked much better now, and Aodhn suspected that he would be completely healed before the end of the day. Unrid gave him a long black jacket and a baggy green trouser that was too big for him, but he tied it to his waist with a short rope Unrid handed him. There was no footwear in the bag, so Unrid gave him that of the unconscious man since they would be carrying him to the village anyway. After he was completely dressed, they both sat in silence and waited for the night to pass. Chapter 10: The Warren Death comes for us all; even the so called gods die. This is why we ascend to higher planes, shedding our mortal coils in a bid to grasp immortality. And just so our names arent lost to time, we leave behind legacies to inspire the generations of the future. Ascendant Azmarthon Ranok, Stormcaller. Ragnarok. Year 2189.
Unrid stared at the young man as they sat in silence, studying him. He had dark brown skin similar to those in the Gishan village, but not quite. His hair was an unfamiliar cut, but it framed his face nicely. What was most peculiar about him, though, were his eyes; his black pupils were ringed with a band of gold, giving him an enchanting and piercing gaze. When Unrid had first seen him, hed shouted for him to run, unaware that he was awakened, but even if hed known, he would still have said the same thing; after all, what could an awakened his age do against a creature such as the Rithclaw when even with his experience and mastery over fire, hed only been able to injure it slightly? Hed been pleasantly surprised when the kid had created the storm, but hed mostly been preoccupied with finding the explosive hed bought from the villages mechanic before the expedition. What had astonished him though was the final skill Aodhn had used; the amount of lightning hed called was enough to wipe out a quarter of the Warren village. The boys mastery of his element was astonishing; it was why he didnt buy the boys story, even though he sensed a grain of truth within it. To develop such mastery, Aodhn would have needed a trainer, one strong and capable, but the only lightning awakened he was aware of in the Gishan village was a sour old man who had reached his limit too early, rendering him incapable of summoning more than two bolts of electricity at a time. Whatever the boys reason for lying was, he didnt care, not with the horde problem; besides, the Warren could definitely use another awakened hunter. What did you mean when you said youd reached your limit? The boy suddenly asked, confirming Unrids suspicions that he wasnt really from Gishan, as if hed trained under the sour old man, he couldnt have spent a day without receiving a lecture about it. It simply means my core can no longer advance, Unrid replied, clearing his throat quietly before he continued. Everyone hits a limit at one point or another; you just have to hope it doesnt happen too early; that way, you get to retain some power like me. Aodhn frowned, disappointed in Unrids reply. From his conversation with Az, he knew that advancement wasnt limitless, but he hadnt expected to worry about it so soon. At the moment, he was barely strong enough to wield even a 20th of the power Az had displayed in the first vision. Is it rude to ask what tier of advancement youre currently in? Aodhn asked, but Unrid waved off his concerns. Its improper to do so, but Ive never really cared for courtesy, so Ill tell you. Im at the 7th tier of advancement, which puts me among the ten strongest awakened in the village. He replied with a hint of pride, but Aodhn winced inwardly. Was he in danger of hitting a limit soon? If he was, how best could he prevent it? What about you, kid? Aodhn dusted invisible stains from his trousers before responding; he now understood why it was considered an improper question. Im at the 4th tier. Unrid nodded gently. You have incredible mastery and skills for someone so young; if you would like to stay in the Warren, we would welcome you. I would like to. Aodhn replied quickly, and Unrid smiled in response. They lapsed into another few seconds of silence until Aodhn broke it with another question. Are there many awakeneds in the village? Eh, no, I think were about 70, give or take a few. Many of them are children like you, though. Is that good or bad? Aodhn asked with a frown, and Unrid was unable to hold back his laughter. Teenagers are a menace in every village, so Im guessing its more of a bad thing, but Im sure youll love it. Aodhn snorted in amusement before lapsing back into silence, and this time they let the silence reign until the first sign of dawn perked through the canopy.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Unrid looked much better now; even though his limp was gone, Aodhn insisted that the man carry the bag while he carried the unconscious man. They picked their way through the forest, following a path that only Unrid could see. It took them about an hour to make the trek, and just a few minutes past sunrise, they finally came out of the forest and onto a plain of grassy land. Aodhn almost dropped the unconscious man from excitement when he saw the villages gate in the distance, but Unrids expression was grave, and it only grew worse as they neared the entrance. When they reached the gate, a soldier dressed in the standard silver and black uniform of the Ragnarok military walked towards them with a grave expression. His expression darkened as his eyes roamed the empty area behind them, and after an awkward pause, he said to Unrid, Perhaps they really had needed a bit more luck. May their souls be awakened in the next life. Unrid gave a single nod in response before he gestured towards Aodhn and said, Hes the reason Im still alive and is now the newest member of the Warren. The soldier gave him a small smile and said, Stay out of trouble, and we shall have no problems. I will. Aodhn replied, before following Unrid as he walked through the gate and into the village. As he stepped through the gate, Aodhn said to Unrid, I had no idea you lost people in the forest. Im sorry for your loss. You have nothing to be sorry for, kid; if you like, I can take you to my home, get you a nice meal, and Yes! I mean, yes, I would like that very much. Aodhn replied eagerly, and Unrid gave an amused chuckle. Well have to drop Lutor at the healers tent first though, and someone has to inform the wives and children of the others. Gods! This is a mess. They walked into the village, and Aodhn turned to take in his surroundings. The village was larger than hed imagined, and it sat nestled amidst rolling hills and grassy plains. A lone, dusty road sloped upwards through the heart of the village, weaving past small cottages, their thatched roofs adorned with sparkling lights and colorful flowers. The windows were framed by billowing curtains that swayed gently in the breeze, but it was obviously a farming village, as on several lands, dirt pathways curved around orderly rows of corn and the crawling vines of potatoes. Farmers toiled under the morning sun, each tending to their land with care. Villagers dressed in dirty work clothes moved about, holding hoes or machetes, while some pushed their farm produce on rickety wheelbarrows. Each villager greeted them enthusiastically until they saw the unconscious man he was carrying. Aodhn thought it was strange that the man hadnt woken up yet, but Unrid had been confident that he would live, so he dismissed the thought from his mind. Soon, cries of shock echoed out as the villagers gathered around them curiously, and Unrid informed them about the deaths of the other hunters. Before long, Lutor was taken away from him by a group of sympathetic villagers and carried to the healers tent. Unrid gave the villagers a summary of the horde problem but extricated himself before they even had the chance to ask questions, and the next minute they walked past a rusty tavern, the spicy smell of grilled meat wafted from its windows, promising a hearty meal to its customers. Aodhns stomach growled at the scent, but Unrid urged him forward, and as they neared the center of the village, the houses began to change. Gone were the wooden structures, replaced by polished brown stone bungalows with zinc roofs. Merchants in fancy clothes filled the street, selling their wares and offering an array of cheap magical trinkets in exchange for coins. The greatest change, though, was the massive tree that revealed itself, and Aodhns eyes widened as he felt the dense energy emanating from it. The bark was the same light brown color as the stone houses, but its leaves were snow white, and its gnarled branches reached up to the sky like outstretched arms. It was absolutely beautiful, and as he stopped to admire it, Unrid said proudly, It is the jewel of our village, a spirit tree called the Areli. Not far from the tree, though, stood a large building painted in the silver and black colors of the Ragnarok kingdom, and even from this distance, he could see a couple of soldiers moving within it. Is this why the village is so well protected? Aodhn asked, and Unrid scoffed. Of course. The Kingdom doesnt care enough about villagers that they would send half a battalion of soldiers to protect us. They turned into a smaller street, and Unrid continued, It works in our favor though, as their presence here has protected us from bandits and outlaws; besides, many of them are a fun bunch. A few minutes later, they came to a stop in front of a single-story building, made of the same polished brown stone as the others. It was almost completely covered in crawling white vines, and in the small garden that lay beside it, a woman delicately pruned and watered the flowers. She noticed them almost instantly, and the watering can fell to the ground as she rushed forward. Thank the gods! she sobbed as she hugged Unrid tightly. He rubbed her back as she continued, I heard about the others, and I know how strong you are, but I was still so scared. Im fine, Synov; Im safe. She pulled back from his arms a moment later, and Unrid gestured towards Aodhn . Raol sent this young man to me; hes the reason Lutor and I are alive. The woman let out a choked sob as she grabbed his hands in her delicate ones and squeezed. Thank you so much. Aodhn felt emotional as the beautiful woman expressed her gratitude and replied, I only did what anyone would have. If only that were true. The woman muttered with a smile; her blonde hair swaying in the breeze, and he marveled at her beauty. She had a perfectly oval face and bright green eyes, but before he could stare for too long, she said, Come into our home and break your fast with us. I would love to, but I think I require a bath first. As do I. Unrid observed as he sniffed his clothes, I stink like a mudpig at the height of summer. As they moved towards the house, a cry of anger and distress brought them back to a halt. Unrid, you bastard! Aodhn turned to see a young woman, only a little older than him, dressed in sack clothes, as she rushed towards them. Tears ran down her face even as her entire body quivered from despair. Why do you get to come back to your family when my Darnathil cant? she screamed, holding her chest as if to curb her pain. You were supposed to protect him! You promised me that you would. The woman shook with pain and anger, and before any of them could react, she brandished a rusty knife and stabbed it into Unrids neck. Chapter 11: Dinner table discussions Many untrained awakeneds experience a phenomenon known as the LIMIT. This is caused by the accumulation of impurities in their core as a result of the absorption of unaligned cores. So far, the only cure weve found for this special disease is evolution. Experimental studies on the behavioral patterns of elemental and conceptual energy cores. Lord Adiran Manohar. Chief scientist and member of the Alchemist Guild. Sector 2, Yildirim. Year 2265.
The knife penetrated an inch deep before Unrid managed to stumble backwards, his eyes going wide with shock as blood seeped through his neck. Have you finally lost it, Larwynn? Synov shouted as she rushed towards her bleeding husband, while Aodhn summoned a bolt of lightning large enough to obliterate her on the spot. Larwynn stumbled backwards at the sight, her face going pale with each passing second. He took a threatening step forward, but Unrid gasped. Let her go; she acted out of grief and will never set foot in my presence again. Aodhn turned to Unrid; a thick napkin was held against his neck, but his gaze was cold and hard, promising death the next time she appeared before him. Aodhn dismissed the bolt as the woman nodded and scrambled back to her feet before ambling away, still crying. It was then that Aodhn noticed the boy standing beside Unrid; he was about 15 or 16 years old and had the same blond hair as his mother. He was beautiful in a fragile sort of way, but his green eyes shone with anger as he stared at the retreating woman. The boy had a stature slightly more robust than his and a slight upward tilt of his chin that made him seem stuck up and obnoxious. By the ascendants! That woman has finally gone insane. Synov exclaimed, but Unrid just sighed and muttered. Let it go, Syn; its alright. No, Unrid, no! Who attacks a man in broad daylight? And in front of so many witnesses, for that matter. I tell you, that woman needs to be put down like a rabid dog before she murders the entire village in their sleep. At this point, their neighbors had gathered, and many of them had witnessed the scene. Most argued and shouted in agreement with Synov, but some remained quiet. Their expressions were neutral, but Aodhn could sense the anger and envy in their serene expressions. Thats enough, mother; lets avoid another scene. The boy said calmly, but Synov glared at the direction Larwynn had gone for a moment longer before she turned around and said, Help your father inside Daruk; Ill be with you in a minute. As Unrid and Daruk turned towards the house, Aodhn followed behind them while Synov picked up the rusty knife from where it had fallen and took it towards the garden to do God knows what. As they entered the house, Unrid removed the napkin, and Aodhn saw that the wound had already stopped bleeding and even seemed to be healing already. Aodhn , this is my son, Daruk. Unrid introduced both boys, and Daruk gave him a small bow. You have my eternal gratitude for saving the life of my father, Sir Aodhn . Daruks formal tone threw Aodhn for a loop, and he cleared his throat awkwardly before responding with a similar bow. It was my pleasure. Now, how about that bath, eh? Unrid said it with forced enthusiasm, but when he got no response from them, he sighed. Daruk, take Aodhn to one of the prepared guest rooms; he needs a bath as well as some clothes that actually fit. Some of your brothers old clothes should be suitable. Daruks gaze moved silently to the healing wound on his neck before he gestured for Aodhn to follow him up the stairs. It was then that Aodhn had the chance to take in Unrids home, and a suitable word to describe it was cozy. What remained of the sitting room wasnt too big, not with the dining area, fireplace, and stairs occupying much of the space, but there were enough windows that it didnt feel claustrophobic at all. Light gray curtains framed the windows; foam chairs of the same color were arranged around a wooden center table; and a silver vase containing white flowers was placed on it. A gray rug covered the entire floor except for the dining area, which was left bare, revealing brown wooden boards. The stairs curved upwards, and when they reached their end, Aodhn saw a total of four rooms, two on the left and the other two on the right. The first room on the right was almost double the size of the others, so he assumed that was the master bedroom. Daruk moved towards the second room to the left and pushed it open, revealing a room bathed in the morning sunlight. The windows and door were framed with light blue curtains that seriously clashed with the bright green rug that covered the entire floor. As Aodhn walked into the room, Daruk said, Id like to thank you once again for saving my father and, by extension, my family. Please know that youre welcome to stay for as long as youd like. I appreciate it. Daruk pointed at the wardrobe in one corner of the room and said, Also, my brothers old clothes are in there; feel free to pick any that fit. Daruk gave a small nod before shutting the door behind him, and Aodhn let out a sigh. At least the family was nice. A reading table, lamp, and stool stood by one of the windows, and he made his way to it as he took in the room in greater detail. Hed never had an entire room to himself before, and if the price he had to pay for this one was the awful interior decoration, then hed gladly take that deal. Another door stood opposite the entrance, and when he opened it, he found a small space that acted both as the bathroom as well as the toilet. A large container filled with water lay in one corner of a small room, and an empty wooden bucket sat beside it. Opposite the large container was a tiled, circular construct that vaguely resembled a water closet and seemed to serve the same purpose. A wooden board was nailed to the wall on his right, and the soft fragrance of flowers wafted from a plastic bottle placed on it. The bottle was filled with a pink liquid he assumed was soap, and in a small container beside it was a minty herbal mixture that he realized was mouthwash. He stripped and threw the baggy clothes on the floor outside the bathroom. It was when he closed the door that he saw a sight that gave him pause.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. A foggy glass mirror was placed behind the door, and with shaky fingers, he wiped the glass clean to confirm the sight he saw. He was gaunt, and his hair was a mess. His beard grew in patches around his jaw, which was a repulsive sight on its own, but what caught his attention was his eyes. His irises had grown larger, and instead of the dark brown color he was used to, they were now pitch black and ringed with a single band of gold. It changed his appearance completely, adding a touch of mystery and savagery to his features that he grudgingly accepted as beautiful. As he stared at himself, he also noticed that hed gotten taller and now stood at roughly 58 inches. He stared at the mirror for a while, but the conclusion he came to was that the changes were a result of his evolution. Also, if every evolved person developed ringed pupils, then that would make it easier for them to identify him, and vice versa. He spent the next few minutes searching for any other changes hed missed, but he found none, and he soon turned his attention back to his bath. He spent the next fifteen minutes washing away the grime and dirt that had clung to him for the past three days. He brushed his teeth and then shaved with the blade made available. 10 minutes later, when he stepped out of the bathroom, he felt like a new man. With a spring in his step, he walked to the wardrobe, where he selected a white linen shirt and black trousers that fit even with the lack of a belt. After dressing, he climbed down the stairs and into the sitting room, where he saw Daruk setting the table up for breakfast. As he moved to help, he suddenly heard the muffled voices of Unrid and Synov arguing behind the closed kitchen door. I know its not my fault, Synov; I just cant help feeling guilty about it. But you shouldnt. You werent feeling guilty until that woman attacked you. I was Syn; I must have been; I just didnt realize it until she attacked. Look, I dont blame myself for their deaths; its just, Whats the point of this power if I cant even protect a few people? But you said it yourself; there were unforeseen circumstances, the horde" Oh yes, the horde; another thing I need to worry about. If those monsters leave the forest and, Raol forbid, breach the city walls, the damage would be catastrophic. So many There! Dont you see it, Unrid? You care about the lives and safety of the villager so much that youve let yourself believe that you can protect them all, but you cant. You cant save everyone, but you are doing the best you can. There was a beat of silence before Unrid agreed with a heavy sigh. You are right. I am doing the best I can, and that has to be enough. Of course Im right, silly. Synov giggled before her voice suddenly turned husky, and she murmured, Im always right. The entire conversation went downhill from there, and he immediately turned his attention back to Daruk, only to find him calmly sitting on one of the chairs and sipping a clear blue drink. I promise theyll be done in a few minutes. He said it with a smirk as he gestured to the chair opposite him, and Aodhn walked towards it. When he sat down, Daruk poured him a cup of the blue drink and said, So, youre quite the eavesdropper, arent you? Aodhn stammered. "I...I don''t...uhm... I''m sorry?" He hadn''t had any intentions to eavesdrop, but Unrid and his wife weren''t being discreet either. Daruk chuckled. "Don''t mind me. My parents are animals." Aodhn smiled, feeling both relieved and embarrassed, so to change the topic, he said. I didnt know you could smile; I thought you were stiff. Daruk raised an eyebrow. I wasnt being stiff, Aodhn ; I was being formal. Its good practice for life in court. Oh, thats quite the ambition for a villager. Daruk shrugged. Grandma Alderman is teaching me; she says I have the talent for it. Aodhn had no idea who Grandma Alderman was, so he left the matter and sipped his drink in silence. But he wasn''t comfortable, especially with the sounds still coming from the kitchen, so he asked. "So, you should awaken soon, right? Daruk smirked. Hopefully. My birthday is in a month, and father is awakened, so that sort of improves my chances, but its not certain. Oh. Aodhn had no idea what was considered proper or improper conversation topics, especially at the dinner table, so he just asked the first question that came to mind. "What class would you like to awaken then? Daruks eyes shone at the question, and he eagerly replied. It depends on what class alignment I awaken. If its a conceptual class, then I would prefer a spatial or time concept, but if its an elemental one, I dont mind air, water, or any of their sub-elements. Oh, right. Aodhn muttered, realizing just how ignorant he was of the world he was in. He needed to rectify that immediately, so he asked. Is there a library in the village? Daruk shook his head as he drank before he responded. The village doesnt have a library, but Grandma Alderman does, and shes my mentor, so if you need anything, I can take you to her." Aodhn wasnt sure if the Alderman library contained all the information he needed, but it wouldnt hurt to visit it. "Sure, maybe I could take a look after breakfast." The kitchen door opened before Daruk could reply and a perfectly put-together Unrid walked out and even managed to ignore the stink eye Daruk was giving him. Synov came out a moment later with a tray of food, but she wasnt as skilled as her husband in the art of pretense, so her blush gave her away as she placed the tray on the table. Daruk scoffed in irritation. Of all the rooms in this house, it just had to be the kitchen, and on a day we have a guest, no less. Synovs blush deepened until her entire face was red, but Unrid glared at his son and said, Youll become a man soon, and then youll understand and come running to me for advice. I seriously doubt that. Daruk replied as Synov placed a steaming bowl of rice and meat before Aodhn , but Unrid scoffed before waving his hand in his direction. Aodhn is from Gishan; he doesnt care what we do behind closed doors; I bet hes seen worse. Those people fuck like Unrid! Synov scolded. That he cares or not is besides the point, Dad; its gross! Daruk replied, and Synov had finally had enough. I dont want to hear another word on the matter from the both of you. She said it with a glare at both husband and son, and after making sure they understood, she continued. Now, let us pray to Raol and thank him for his provision. They held hands, and Aodhn bent his head in silence, waiting for the prayer to end. He didn''t really believe in God or gods, and this Raol person would be no different. Thankfully, the prayer didn''t last too long, and when Synov was done, Aodhn dug into his food eagerly. Synov smiled and handed him a cup of cold water. When he accepted it, she asked. So, how long have you been awakened, Aodhn? Aodhn shrugged, trying to feign nonchalance. A year, I think. I just recently clocked 17. Shame," Daruk shook his head, "you only have a year before youre forcefully conscripted into the military to aid the war effort. What?! Aodhn looked up and frowned in confusion. Forceful conscription? Unrid noticed his confusion and explained. Its such a futile endeavor, this war, but more importantly, its a massive waste of life as well as resources that could have improved our lives as citizens of this kingdom. "That is correct." Daruk replied like a child playing dress up. With a casual wave of his hand, he continued Grandma Alderman says the only way to avoid conscription is to become a member of an academy. If I awaken, Ive decided to enroll in one of the great schools; Id rather be a scholar than a soldier, where my death could be so ghastly that nothing is left to bury of me except a grisly remnant of flesh and bone for ravenous vultures to pick clean. Alright, enough! Both of you. Synov scolded with a conflicted expression. I dont want to talk about the war; I want to get to know our guests better. Sorry. Daruk muttered, and after a moment of silence, Aodhn decided to ease the tense atmosphere. Theres nothing much to say about myself. I grew up on Gishan, and when I awakened, I spent time honing my skills and mastering my abilities. But a week ago, I went into the forest, hoping to gain some experience fighting monsters and to advance, but I got lost, and when the horde came into the forest, I had to run for my life. I lost my belongings in the process, so I wandered, killing monsters for their cores and meat until I ran into Unrid here, and we fought against the silver Rithclaw together. He was amazing too. Unrid added. His control over lightning is astounding for his age... Unrid continued, telling the story in exquisite detail, and soon, half an hour had passed and breakfast was over. Synov gathered the plates, while Unrid went to prepare for his meeting with the mayor. You have to change. Daruk said to him when only the two of them were left in the sitting room. Why? Daruk moved his lips sideways as if trying to find the right words for what he was about to say. Grandma Alderman is very particular when it pertains to matters of propriety and ceremony. This is a social call; shell expect us to be dressed accordingly. Daruk gestured for Aodhn to follow him up the stairs and into his room. Daruks room was exactly the same as the one hed been given, except that it followed a different color palette. In Daruks case, both the curtains and bedspread were purple, while the rug was a bright yellow. Aodhn wondered if Synov had been the one to decorate as they walked towards Daruks wardrobe. It was filled with a wide array of linen and cotton shirts. Woolen cloaks, colored in different shades of gray, hung behind the shirts, and the trousers were folded and arranged underneath them. Daruk handed him a black cotton shirt and long gray cloak to try out, and as he disrobed, Daruk suddenly whistled appreciatively. Thats a very nice tattoo. What tattoo? Aodhn asked, confused; hed never gotten a tattoo before. Daruk gestured to the space between his shoulder blades. The one youve got here. Its actually very detailed too. Aodhn rushed to the bathroom window, turning awkwardly to view his back, and after almost an entire minute of struggling, he finally saw it. It was a miniature image of the earth, ringed in double black rings. I had no idea there was such a talented artist in Gishan. Daruk said, and Aodhn grimaced. I had no idea either. Chapter 12: Grandma Alderman The alignment of a core is an easy thing to discern for the trained eye. Elemental cores, the more common of the two, have a rhombus-like appearance with a multi-faceted surface, while conceptual cores are spherical and usually larger than their elemental counterparts. Some rare conceptual cores have fewer physical structures, seeming to fade in and out of existence as they connect deeper to the ethereal. General awakening studies, volume II. Energy Cores, Page 17.
Aodhn and Daruk made it to Grandma Aldermans house an hour later; theyd passed by the Areli tree once more, and Daruk had had to pull him back as hed unconsciously begun to move towards it. Its a crime to go near it; to touch it is akin to an abomination. Daruk had whispered urgently to him, and he remembered Unrids words about the soldiers not being here to protect them. Unrid had also mentioned that the soldiers were all awakened and stronger than him. With all that power available to the village, Unrid shouldnt be so worried about the horde, except he knew they couldnt rely on the soldiers to protect them. He now understood the mixed feelings most of the villagers had about the soldiers and the open hostility some even showed them. Fortunately, they experienced no further potential disasters, and Aodhn managed to convince Daruk that hed always known about the tattoo and that hed only been pulling his legs with his earlier display. Now, an hour later, they stood at the entrance to the aldermans house, dressed in woolen coats that caused him to cook in the heat. Daruk knocked, and a moment later, the door opened to reveal a wizened old woman who managed to stand without a hunch. Her gray hair fell to her waist even though it was braided, and she was covered in flowing green robes. Her bright blue eyes seemed to pierce through him, and although Daruk had said she wasnt awakened, Aodhns intuition said otherwise. She emanated a regal air and pressure that was impossible for normal villagers, and what was a woman such as her doing in the Warren anyway? Greetings, Daruk Brystion. I hope you arent too distressed by this terrible weather. Not at all, Grandma Alderman, Daruk replied with a small bow. In fact, I brought a friend whos very interested in seeing your library. Is that so? The old woman turned to Aodhn , her piercing eyes seeming to stare into him. What is your name, young man? Steeling himself against the imaginary pressure, Aodhn replied with a bow. My name is Aodhn Ashoka, a guest of Unrid Brystion. I am very interested in seeing your library. Well, come in, she said, moving away from the entrance to create room for us. Any guest of the Brystions is welcome in my home. Thank you, Mrs. Alderman. Aodhn replied as he stepped into a sitting room many times larger than that of the Brystions. The floor was uncovered, revealing gleaming brown wood that matched the color of the walls. Cream-colored curtains fluttered in the breeze, and multiple couches lay against the walls, creating a large open space in the middle. Stairs lay in a corner of the room, leading towards the upper floor, and Grandma Alderman led them towards it, all while chatting politely with them and asking slightly probing questions that were casual enough to not seem like prying. Aodhn expected to find rooms on the second floor, but instead, what greeted him was an open area filled with sunlight, chairs, and wooden tables. Not an inch of the brown stone walls was visible, as they were completely covered by rows of brown shelves, completely filled with books. A circular object hung from the ceiling, covered in enchantments similar to the ones hed seen in the earthen cave but more refined. Aodhn had been concerned that the library wouldnt hold enough books to be beneficial, but he was impressed. So, is it to your liking? Mrs. Alderman asked, and Aodhn nodded. Yes. Thank you, Mrs. Alderman. Your library is very impressive. Then I shall leave you two to explore. She said as she moved down the stairs. Ill send Helen up with some phlorian cookies in a minute. Thank you so much, Grandma Alderman; we really appreciate it. Daruk called out as Aodhn moved to check out the books. The first shelf housed about 200 books, but they were all cooking books. One caught his attention, though, and he pulled it out to read the title. The basics of awakened cooking by renowned conceptual cook, Avara Isondo.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. Conceptual cook? Aodhn thought it was weird that someone had awakened a cooking ability, but it was a concept, and he needed more information on those, so he took the book before moving to the next shelf. What exactly are you looking for? I could help you find it. Ive been in this library countless times. Yes, that was a good question. What exactly was he looking for? He was so ignorant about a lot of things that he had no idea where to start. Im not sure yet, but I think Ill know when I find it. He replied, and Daruk shrugged before walking to a shelf that seemed to contain books on court life and etiquette. Aodhn continued his perusal, moving from shelf to shelf as he read titles that fascinated him. He even took some whose titles had made him curious enough to at least skim through them. The next shelf contained various books about awakeneds, but they were mostly historical or lore about important awakeneds and ascendants. Aodhn resolved to read them at some point, as it wouldnt hurt to know more about the world he was in. He was about to leave when a thick brown book caught his attention, and he tilted his head to read the title. General awakening studies, volume II, by prominent scholar Eric Tython. He pulled the book from the shelf and flipped it open. As he skimmed through the acknowledgement, Daruk called out from beside me. Thats a 7th grade textbook; what could you possibly need it for? Aodhn shrugged dismissively. I found it very interesting in 7th grade, so I thought I would give it another read. By ascendants! You are weird. Daruk groaned as he picked up a table and dragged another chair towards it. I dont want you hovering over me while I read. Aodhn stated with a glare, but Daruk scoffed and replied. I wont be hovering; Ill be sitting. After a minute of silent contest, Daruk finally relented, and with a groan, he stood to his feet. Fine, Ill move. Perhaps I should read one of those cooking books. Aodhn sat down a moment later and opened the brown book. He had no idea what class 7th grade even represented in this world, but whatever it is, it should be simple enough for him to understand it. The first topic in the book was awakening, and as Aodhn read through it, he realized that it basically described the natural awakening process and how it can be nudged or manipulated. There was no mention of spontaneously absorbing cores in dark caves or transmigrating to another world entirely, so, with a sigh of disappointment, he skipped to the next topic. He was about 15 pages in when the door opened, and a girl his age walked in. She held a tray of cookies in one hand and a jug of water in the other. She placed the tray on a table near the entrance and said, Mrs. Alderman insisted that I tell you to be careful and not to damage any of her books. Well be careful. Daruk replied, and the girl stepped out of the room. Aodhn flipped the page and found the next topic to be energy cores. With renewed interest, he focused on the book, reading it carefully to find any new information that he wasnt aware of. He found it two pages later, as the author described both conceptual and elemental cores in exquisite details. Nothing was said about the limit, but after reading the topic twice, he was almost sure he knew the cause and how to avoid it. He continued his reading until Daruk insisted that it was time to go, and with reluctance, he placed the book back where hed taken it from. They made their way out of Mrs. Aldermans house a few minutes later, promising to come back the next day, and she assured them that she would keep a fruit cake waiting in expectation. The journey back to the Brystions was uneventful, and he spent the rest of the evening sharpening his control over lightning. He tried to change the shape of the bolt, but he had little headway in that direction. Still, he was sure it was possible. When night came, Unrid returned home with a grave expression, barely speaking to any of them during dinner, except to ask Aodhn what his plans were to avoid joining the military when he turned 18. Im not sure yet, but Ill figure it out soon. Aodhn responded. If I awaken by the time I turn 16, we could enroll in a school. Daruk suggested, but Unrid grunted in disagreement. The academies are just as dangerous as the frontlines, youve seem your brothers letters; besides, they do not just accept everyone who applies; there are tryouts, and you know how low their acceptance rates are. I think its worth a shot. Aodhn said. It is. Daruk agreed. Anything is better than the military. The conversation devolved from there, and although Synov glared at the three of us from time to time, she didnt comment on the fact that we were having an inappropriate discussion at the dinner table. The next morning, as we ate breakfast, Synov complained about the lack of rainfall in the past week and how her flowers were withering, so Aodhn volunteered to help. When they finished eating, Synov led them all to the garden, where Aodhn instantly created a storm cloud that covered the entire garden. He decreased the sound of thunder until it was nothing but a slight rumble that sent a tingle down their spines. Instead of a downpour, the rain drizzled, and the wind picked up slightly. 10 minutes later, the earth was soaked, and the flowers glistened with moisture. Synov was ecstatic, and she let out a squeal of excitement as she moved around the garden. Many of their neighbors had noticed the scene, and they immediately came closer to have a better view. Before long, a burly old woman who lived across them asked if he could make a stronger storm so she could fetch water. He almost declined, as he didnt think that was a suitable use of his abilities, but when he turned to his other neighbors and saw them hesitantly holding on to wooden buckets, he agreed to help. With a thought, he dismissed the storm cloud above Synov Garden and created another above the cobbled stone pathway. As soon as it appeared, thunder boomed, lightning flashed dangerously, and rain poured down heavily. People rushed to place their buckets under the storm cloud , getting themselves drenched in the process, but they laughed and shouted in excitement before rushing back to their homes to get more buckets. An hour later, everyone on the street, including the Brystions, had filled all their buckets with water, and Aodhn was finally able to proceed with his plans for the day. He changed into a better-looking outfit and then made his way to Mrs. Aldermans house. Daruk wasnt with him this time as hed gone to visit some of his friends, so Aodhn had to go alone, but it wasnt that big of a deal as Aodhn preferred reading alone anyway. He continued from where he stopped yesterday, and by the time evening came, hed read the book completely. Hed gained a lot from the book, but nothing major or ground-breaking. At the end of the day, the textbook was for 7th grade students, which hed recently found out represented the first class in junior high. He left the library, said goodbye to Mrs. Alderman, and made his way back to the Brystions house, only to come to a halt when he saw a group of farmers stationed outside the house, speaking eagerly to Unrid even as he stared at them in confusion and bewilderment. Chapter 13: Silver coins Now that my guest has arrived, you can now make your requests. Unrid said, glaring at each one of them for a moment before he continued. We shall do this one after the other; we are villagers, not barbarians. Unrid moved to a corner of the small sitting room, leaving a confused Aodhn in the center of the room. A dozen men, dressed in farmer clothes, sat before him, and a moment later, the eldest of them stood up and introduced himself. I am Cairan Dathemir, the richest farmer in this village. Some of the farmers frowned at Cairans declaration, but they didnt contest his words, which led Aodhn to believe that Cairans words were probably true. We have heard of your abilities and have come here to request your services for my farms. Our, Cairan. Our farms! Surely, you arent so old that youve begun to lose your memory. A burly farmer interrupted, and the others murmured in agreement. Apologies; that was a slip of the tongue. What I meant is that we would like to request your services on our farms for the dry season. It would increase the quality and quantity of our produce, thereby increasing the economy of our village. The farmers murmured in agreement, their eyes shining at the thought of a bountiful harvest, but Aodhns next words shattered those thoughts. Im not sure this is a good way to utilize my abilities as an awakened. I will gain nothing from it. Clamor ensued as the farmers whispered and argued with themselves. Their voices grew, getting louder and more agitated, until a farmer seated at the back suddenly stood up and said, Ill buy your services then; name your price. Noise rose again as the farmers shouted in anger and the burly man shouted. Evaris, you dimwit! We could have offered the child something else! Im not a child. Aodhn responded loudly, cutting through the noise, and when the room was finally quiet, he continued. I think your idea is a great one, Mr. Evaris, so Ill sell my services to the highest bidder. Another explosion of noise occurred as the farmers directed their anger at Evaris, shouting and blaming him for the terrible turn of events. The noise subsided when Cairan stood up, and in the silence that followed, his next words were like a flame in a room full of gasoline. I can offer a single silver in payment for a week of service. What! How could he start with silver? What happened to coppers? Cairan is selfish and evil! How could he cut us out like that? 1 silver and 5 coppers. 1 silver and 7 coppers. 2 silvers. Evaris shouted, and more than half the room turned to glare at him in anger. This! 2 silvers and 2 coppers. The burly man shouted. 2 silvers and 5 coppers. Evaris countered. 3 silvers. Silence descended as they all turned to look at Cairan, and the burly man suddenly roared. Are you insane, Cairan? Youre trying to use your wealth to force us out of this war, but I, Jalen, will not accept it. Youve been the richest farmer in this village for long enough. I will be the next! I shall offer 4 silver coins as payment for your services per week. 4 silver coins and 2 coppers. Evaris roared. 4 silver coins and 5 coppers. Jalen countered. 5 silver coins. Cairan shouted, his eyes hard. That is the highest I can offer. I suggest you take it. Aodhn stared at the farmers for a moment before he gave a slow nod and said, I will offer my services to anyone who can pay 4 silver coins per week, except you, Cairan; youll pay me five. At the end of the meeting, only five farmers agreed to pay such a large amount of coin for his services, which resulted in him gaining 21 silver coins per week. The next morning, Aodhn planned his routine. He would visit each farm twice a week to water them. To make things easier, he scheduled a farm in the morning and another in the evening. Cairans farm was the largest of the five, so he fixed it on the third and seventh days of every week. With the new routine, he only had the fourth day free, and he intended to spend it solely on training his abilities. He hung the schedule on the wall of his room, and after breakfast, he made his way to Evariss farm, as it was the first one on his list.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. The walk from the Brystions house to Evaris Farm lasted half an hour, but when he got there, he was sorely unimpressed. The farm was barely the size of an acre and filled with dying corn stalks. Farmers moved about the farm, manually watering the plants in a futile effort to delay their deaths. He walked through the farm, taking note of various stunted crops. Now you know the reason why I was so desperate for your services. Aodhn turned to see Evaris walking towards him. He was dressed in dirty work clothes stained with mud and weed. When he got close, he said, Please tell me you can help. Aodhn swept his gaze across the farm, and after a moment, he replied. I can certainly try. He closed his eyes, cleared his thoughts, and imagined a storm cloud about 30 feet in diameter. It boomed into existence, and Aodhn immediately decreased the sound until it became a slight rumble. With his eyes still closed, he focused on increasing the size. He had gained more control over his abilities since the fight with the Rithclaw, but more importantly, hed advanced a tier, which increased his overall power, although he hadnt really tested the limit of his abilities yet. It was time to put it to the test, though. At the time of his battle with the Rithclaw, hed created a storm cloud about 25 feet in diameter; now he wanted to know just how large he could really make it. Slowly, the cloud expanded, and the rumbling of thunder increased with every foot it gained. When it finally grew to a size of 40 feet, Aodhns head felt like it was about to split open, and the image rattled dangerously in his mind. He took a deep breath to calm himself, stabilizing the image in his mind before it shattered, and with a small effort of will, rain fell. At first, it was only a light drizzle, but with each passing moment, its intensity increased until it finally peaked, just short of a heavy rainfall. The wind swirled around the dying crops, not enough to destroy them, and lightning flashed constantly. He moved the storm cloud slowly, making sure that the earth was properly soaked before moving to other parts of the farm. It took about three hours for the rain to properly soak the earth, but by the time he was done, the earth had consumed enough water to nourish the plants for the next two days. Aodhn was tired, and his head ached painfully, but the smile on Evariss face made it just a little better. He rested in the afternoon, too tired to read anything, and just as the sun set, he went to the second farm on his routine. In this manner, the days passed, and before long, an entire week had gone by. Hed spent most of his time watering the farms, and although it hadnt gotten easier, he was able to manage the pain better. Daruk had insisted that he fill his free day with an hour of weapon training, so he decided to give it a try the next time his free day came around. He had continued to visit Mrs. Aldermans library whenever he could, and although he still hadnt learned anything major, he was much more informed about this world and the things happening in it. Today was special, though. It was the last day of the week, which meant hed finally gotten paid for the week. He clasped the brown pouch around his waist and smiled when it jingled. The average person earned about four or five silvers per week, but hed made 21 silvers, which was about five times the average. The air shimmered with the heat radiating off zinc roofs, and even though the weather was unbearably hot, Aodhn moved with a spring in his step as he made his way back to the Brystions house. He paused when he reached the Areli tree, but this time he made no move towards it; instead, he just basked in the feel of the trees energy. He obviously wasnt the only one there. With the dry season fast approaching and the intensifying heat, many congregated around the Areli tree. He greeted the soldiers as he finally made his way past the tree. The soldiers had built a sort of barricade around the tree trunk to guard against the rising number of villagers that came to rest underneath the shade. He soon made it to the Brystions house, but when he opened the front door, he found a group of people seated in the sitting room along with the Brystions. He only recognized one of them, and as he stepped into the room, the man stood up and made his way towards him. Ive been made aware that I have you to thank for being alive. Lutor said with a bow. How can I repay you? Theres no need to repay me, Lutor; Im just glad youre alive and well. We really cannot thank you enough. A woman responded as she made her way towards them with a small child in her arms. If you ever need our help, please do not hesitate to let us know. This is my wife, Fajah, and my daughter, Eniola. The woman gave a small bow as Lutor introduced them, and Aodhn gave a small bow in return. They turned back to their seats, and Aodhn turned to the only stranger left in the room. There was a beat of silence as they both stared at each other, and Aodhn got the impression that he was completely helpless before the boy. A feeling of danger caused him to shiver unconsciously, and the man let out a wide smirk. Stop it, Aldric; youre scaring the boy to death. Synov scolded, and Aodhn frowned as the feeling of danger suddenly disappeared. Aodhn , let me introduce you to my first son, Aldric. Unrid said, and the boy walked towards him with long strides and a playful smirk. Nice to finally meet you, Aodhn ; Ive heard a lot about you. Aldric said, stretching a palm towards him for a handshake. Befuddled, Aodhn shook his hand, and the boys smile widened further. The boy was only a few years older than him, but he emanated so much pressure that the only possible explanation was that he was awakened, and a high-tiered one at that. His suspicion was confirmed a moment later when Synov asked. So, how have you been coping in the academy? The boy draped an arm around his neck and gently pulled him along as he moved towards the dining area, where Fajah and Synov were busy setting the table for an early dinner. It was fun for the first few weeks, but it soon turned sour, and the last few weeks were just there, you know. Aodhn pulled away from the unsettling boy, as Daruk remarked. No, she doesnt know, Aldric, she didnt Attend an academy. Its a figure of speech, or part of speech, whatever; the point is, it was boring, and I couldnt wait to come home and have fun with you guys. Learning is not supposed to be fun. Unrid stated with a grunt. I disagree, father. Daruk contested, I have a lot of fun in school, and I learn there. I had a lot of fun in school too, but I never really learned anything of worth. Aldric said with a smile, and Lutor coughed loudly as he tried to stop himself from laughing, but he failed. Conversation flowed smoothly, and before long, Aodhn forgot his unease and found himself laughing with the family even as Daruk and Aldric shot thinly veiled insults at each other. They were halfway through their meals when a knock suddenly rang out. Synov walked towards the door and opened it to reveal a messenger dressed in a black cloak with a silver scarf wrapped around his neck. The messenger bowed deeply and said, I have news from the mayor. Before handing over a sealed envelope to Unrid. Chapter 14: The Mayor A horde is simply defined as a herd of a single type of monster, usually numbered between hundreds and thousands. Although similar to a dungeon/rift break, the horde is different in that it is made up of real monsters, not the copies created by dungeon or rift cores. Disputed theory on the cause and nature of monster hordes.
Unrids eyes widened as he read the line of text contained in the message, and a moment later, he turned to Synov, ignoring our curious gazes, and said, The mayor has requested a meeting, and he requires my presence immediately. Do you think its about the horde of monsters in the forest? Fajah, Lutors wife, asked, and Unrid shrugged. Most likely. Its the only matter that should require such urgency. Unrid shoved another spoonful of porridge into his mouth before standing to his feet and gesturing for Aodhn and Aldric to follow him. Aldric groaned as he wearily stood to his feet, while Aodhn was just confused as to why his presence in the meeting was required. Father, we are not actually needed in this meeting. Aldric complained as they walked toward the door. All well do is stand for hours on end watching old people bicker like children. Aldric, the council of awakeneds do not bicker; besides, its tradition to attend these sorts of meetings with the awakeneds affiliated with ones family. This will only give the other council members something to talk about; you know that, right? Unrid didnt respond as they stepped out of the house and began to move towards the villages center. It doesnt take them long to reach the mayors house; it was constructed with the same brown stone as the other houses, but it was much larger than any he has seen so far. The wooden doors at the entrance were covered in glowing enchantments, and a middle-aged man dressed in scholarly robes stood outside them. The man received them with a bow and soon led them through a long corridor adorned with enchanted bulbs. The corridor twisted and bent, seeming to go on forever, but the scholar soon pointed out a door, completely hidden by shadows; it was unnatural, and Aodhn was sure it was the result of another enchantment. Unrid moved to open the door by himself, and only after he let out a groan did Aodhn realize just how heavy the door really was. The meeting room was bare and unadorned, save for a single large table placed at the center of the room and seven stone chairs arranged around it. The chair at the end of the table was larger than the rest, so Aodhn assumed it belonged to the mayor. Unrid was the last member of the council to arrive, save for the mayor, and as they entered, the entire room turned to stare at them. There were 10 other people in the room aside from them; the five council members, two men and three women, sat on the stone chairs while their attendants stood behind them. These attendants were the awakeneds belonging to or associated with their families. The members of the awakened council, except Unrid, were strangers to him, but as their gaze landed on him, a look of recognition flashed in their eyes, and Aodhn realized that he was no stranger to them. When Unrid took his seat, Aodhn and Aldric moved to stand behind him like the other attendants. They stood out like a rose in a sea of ash, and Aldric sighed in preparation for disaster. The first member to speak was a bald man with a scar that covered his entire left cheek. I see that youve finally decided to take your campaign against us seriously, Unrid. Is this your way of threatening us? I have no idea what youre talking about. Unrid replied curtly, but a woman dressed in a swaddling green robe replied. Balor may scare easily, Unrid, but if you intended to threaten me, then you should have come with a bigger weapon. I do not feel threatened, Minerva; I was merely making conversation.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. I still have no idea where all this is going. Unrid said to them, but a man dressed in hunting gear suddenly chuckled and said, The Brystion household has certainly grown more powerful in recent weeks; with the return of your first son and your guest, your house has become one of the strongest in the village. The man paused and gave a sly smile before he continued. If your second son awakens in a few months, the Brystion house will become the strongest in the village. I only brought my attendants here because it is tradition, Carvahl. Of course it is. Balor agreed with a sarcastic expression. It certainly isnt a show of power at all. Youre right, Balor. Minerva replied. Its not like he has the entire village eating from his palms or something. There is no reason for this, Minerva. Another woman, Calithen, reproached them. Hes vying for the position of mayor; just as we are, he has every right to compete as he likes. Not when he constantly insists that he isnt! Carvahl argued. I do not wish for, nor am I vying for the position of mayor. As Ive said countless times, I do not want the position." Unrid moved insisted. Oh, enough with your lies, Unrid. Minerva shouted. We are aware of your every move, of how youre gathering forces and consolidating your familys power, or of your veiled tactics of intimidation and subtle threats. I do not fear you, Unrid! I have done no such thing! Unrid shouted in anger. I have gathered no forces, nor have I ever threatened anyone in this room. I have grown weary of repeating myself! I am not competing for the position; I do not want it. Before anyone could reply, the door opened, and Aodhn breathed a sigh of relief as the mayor walked in. He was dressed in a fancy silver robe, embroidered with black, but he looked tired; bags hung under his eyes, and he looked like he hadnt slept in days. He walked to the seat at the head of the table, with the scholar following behind him, and when he sat down, he went straight to the point. As we predicted, the soldiers have refused to help us; theyve concluded that the horde is a problem they cannot be bothered with. Those military dogs! Balor spat, They are nothing but a parasite to the village. They care not if we all perish, yet they occupy our lands, eat our foods, and bed our women. It is decided then; we are on our own. The last member of the awakened council, a woman with dyed blue hair, remarked, and with a sigh, the mayor continued. I gathered you all here so we can find a solution to this problem. Do we have any idea how large this horde is? Calithen asked, and the scholar behind the mayor replied. After the horde was reported, a troop of scouts were sent to investigate; sadly, only two of them returned, and their reports are lacking at best. So we have no information to work with? Carvahl asked. We know that what we are facing isnt actually a horde, as it contains too many types of creatures to be called one. We also know that there are hundreds of these creatures. The scholar replied. What about the average level of these monsters? Balor asked, but instead of replying, the scholar gave a clueless shrug and turned to Unrid. I was hoping you would provide us an answer to that, Unrid. The mayor stated, and he let out a heavy breath before replying. We only encountered low-level monsters, nothing above Tier 2, until we were attacked by the Rithclaw; my guest Aodhn might have a better idea. Aodhn stiffened as the attention of the entire room fell on him, but after a moment, he spoke. The Rithclaw we fought was at the 6th tier, but it was a juvenile; it is possible that it has siblings, a mother, or even a father with a higher tier of advancement. After a pause, he continued. I also came across a Tier 7 Burmehein, which I barely escaped from, so it is reasonable to assume that the average monster is now at the 4th or 5th tier of advancement. Surely, it cannot be that bad. Minerva muttered, but Aodhn shook his head and replied. You dont understand. A week ago, the average monster was at the third tier, but in the past week, the monsters would have fought and killed each other to occupy territories in the forest. Any monster still alive would have grown stronger. If what the boy says is true, then we should expect the worst and assume the average tier of monsters to be the fifth tier. Balor remarked in the silence that followed Aodhns statement, and the woman with blue hair concurred. This also means that we might come across monsters at the 9th or even 10th tier of advancement. Her eyes shifted to Aldric before she continued. The mayor and, I suspect, Aldric, are the strongest among us, but I doubt that they are powerful enough to take down such a monster alone. Aldric smiled widely as the attention of the room fell on him, trying to gauge and measure his abilities, but to no avail. Even the mayor stiffened slightly before he turned to the scholar and asked. How many combat-oriented awakeneds do we have in the village? The scholar took a moment before he replied and said, 37, which is not nearly enough to face hundreds of monsters. That is, if we take the fight to them. Unrid replied a moment later, as a thought formed in his mind. What if we make the monsters come to us? Thatll risk putting the villagers in danger! Minerva shouted, her expression a carefully constructed mask of disgust and false outrage. I would never think to do that. Unrid countered with a glare. What I meant is that we could set up a base in the forest and make the monsters come to us instead. That way, we can choose a location that greatly hinders the monsters but is also easy to defend. Carvahl finished with a smile that sent a pulse of bloodlust spreading through the room. Then we need to get the fur of silver rizzels; thatll draw all the monsters to us almost instantly. Calithen added. Silver rizzels are expensive; for an expedition this size, the cost of getting them will put a serious dent in our coffers! The mayor stated, disagreeing with Calithen, but Minerva shook her head and said. A dent in our coffers is better than the death of our children. This is the only way to attract every single monster in the forest. With the harvest festival in less than a month, we cannot afford to make mistakes. How much are we talking about, Darwyn? The mayor asked the scholar behind him, and after a moment of intense scribbling, the scholar replied. Considering the size of the forest, well need at least 10 silver rizzels, and each one is priced at a single gold coin, which totals to 10 gold coins. Chapter 15: Expedition preparation I The silver Rizzels are a type of Rizzel awakened to the concept of teleportation. Their bodies shed silverdust, a potent ingredient used in the alchemical production of lures and seductive potions. Even dead, their furs continue to shed this dust until it degrades. Silverdust is even more effective when used against monsters than humans. The Awakened Bestiary. Understanding conceptual creatures, page 403.
"Ten gold! The mayor exclaimed. Absolutely not. We cannot afford to spend that much on the Rizzels; if we do, well be broke for the entire year. Lets buy half then. Minerva suggested, but the mayor was still adamant, and it took several minutes of arguments and persuasion before he finally agreed. Aodhn had no idea how much the village coffers contained, but the mayor looked like hed been stabbed in the chest. So, we are spending 5 gold coins on the Rizzel furs. Is there anything else we need to buy? The scholar asked, and the mayor winced. Aldric was chuckling lightly, as if he found the entire situation funny, but Aodhn just wanted the meeting to be over as his legs were starting to buckle. When the council didnt suggest they buy anything else, the mayor let out a relieved sigh and said, Now that weve settled that, we need to decide on the best location for this exhibition. He brought out a map from his pocket and laid it on the table. All the council members stood up and gathered around the table. Aodhn tried to move forward, but Aldric dragged him back and shook his head. The most defensive location in the Warren Woods are the Warren steeps. If we camp on the hill, well be able to take out the monsters before theyre halfway up the steeps. Balor proposed, but Calithen countered him. That may be true, but that location is terribly disadvantageous, as it cuts us off from the river; that means well have no access to water throughout the battle. Water isnt really a problem. Balor replied. We have Minerva and Unrids guest to provide us with water when necessary. Our source tells us that the monsters are entering the Warren woods through the barren strip of land that separates the Warren from Gishan. The mayor said, tapping his fingers loudly against the map before he continued. The best location will be one close enough to the Barren Strip, so we can gather those already in the forest as well as those still coming in. The conversation continued for a long time, as they proposed both the advantages and disadvantages of each suggested location. They finally decided on the land at the edge of the river; that way, all the lured monsters would only come from a single location. They made a few more arrangements and concluded that the expedition would be held in the next two days. By the time they left the mayors house, it was almost midnight, and when Aodhn got back to the Brystions house, he trudged up the stairs and to Aldrics old room, where he promptly fell asleep. Aodhn woke up the next morning to the scent of bacon, and with aching bones, he made his way to the bathroom to freshen up. Ten minutes later, he trudged back down the stairs, where he found a refreshed-looking Aldric seated with his legs on the center table. Even Unrid looked exhausted, but it was more mental than physical. They cannot imagine that Im not interested in their silly competition for the position of mayor, he complained loud enough for Synov to hear from the kitchen. Ive said it so many times that Ive grown weary of repeating it, yet they do not believe me. Aodhn collapsed on one of the chairs as Aldric responded. Have you ever considered that its exactly because youre not competing, yet winning, that they dislike you so much? You might be right, Aldric, but the next time I see that wench called Minerva, Ill be certain to give her a piece of my mind. Synov called from the kitchen, while Daruk snorted as he set the table for lunch. You look like something ate you and spat you out. Aldric said to Aodhn with a smile, but he merely grunted in reply. Its good that youre awake, as I was just about to send Daruk to wake you; we need to make plans for the exhibition.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Aodhn opened an eye to glare at Unrid. I already have plans for the day; besides, didnt we already make all the plans last night? Thats the villages plan; we need to make a house plan. Unrid replied, Like getting you hunting gear and a weapon. I dont need weapons to protect myself. Aldric pointed out, but Unrid insisted. Its always better to have it and not need it. Also, we need to train; learn how we all fight so we can work together as a group. Aldric added after a moment, while Aodhn just glared at him. He wanted to know what class Aldric had awakened, and this was a perfect opportunity to do so, but his body just didnt feel up to it. Fortunately, Synov soon came out of the kitchen with a tray of bacon, fresh bread, and an egg. They all immediately moved to the dining area, and before long, they all dug into their meals. So, what are your plans for today, Aodhn ? Synov asked him, and he shrugged as he swallowed before answering. Im going to Cairans farm today; I should also inform the other farmers that Ill probably not be around for the rest of the week, depending on how long this expedition will take. It shouldnt take more than a day or two. Unrid replied around a mouthful of bacon, and Synov glared at him. I know I want to be a scholar, but its at times like this that I wish to brave the gruesome death the life of a warrior provides. Daruk commented, but Aldric snorted. Not all soldiers die in gruesome ways; many just die in terrible ways. Do I have to remind you boys that were having breakfast? Synov questioned, and the conversation withered and died a gruesome death. An hour later, after his meal, Aodhn wearily made his way out of the Brystions house with Aldric in tow. Aodhn had, of course, been against the idea from the start; he didnt need the weird awakened trailing behind him while he worked, but Aldric had promised to help him improve his elemental control, so hed grudgingly agreed. Cairans farm was much closer to the house than that of Evaris, so it only took them about twenty minutes to get there. Unlike Evariss, Cairans farm was very impressive; it occupied a space of about two acres and was divided into three. One part contained multiple rows of corn stalks, their green leaves swaying gracefully in the breeze. The other part contained cassava, and the last part contained yam. A massive structure stood in one corner of the farm, and Aodhn immediately made his way to it. When they stepped into the building, they found Cairan dressed in fancy robes that stood out in the sea of dirty clothes his farm hands wore. Ah! If it isnt my favorite person. Cairan called out with a smile when he saw them, and after a round of introductions, Aodhn said it with a smile. The crops are definitely looking healthier. Yes, yes. In fact, theyve never been better. Your storms have nourished the earth to such a degree that the farmhands wonder if the rain itself is magical. Do you think it is? Cairan asked, but Aodhn shrugged. I have no idea, honestly; Ive never actually tested the water for magical or unique properties. Its possible. Aldric said it thoughtfully. Many awakened skills come with such unique flavors. You think its healing water? Cairan asked with huge eyes, but Aldric shook his head. I doubt its healing water, but its very possible that it has some minor healing or nourishing ability; Ive never seen such robust corn stalks before. Cairans mouth was wide open in wonder, but he shut it after a moment and said, Perhaps we should test it. Conduct some experiments. How do we intend to do that? Aodhn asked as Cairan began walking out of the building. We shall drink and bathe with the rain water for a week; then we will be sure if, truly, it is healing water. Its definitely not healing water. Aldric murmured, but Cairan didnt listen to him and soon had the farm hands holding onto wooden buckets. We are ready when you are, Aodhn . Once the storm begins, we shall fetch the healing water and test it. The eyes of the farmhands widened at the thought of healing water. Even Aodhn was curious to know what the test would reveal. If the rain truly had healing properties, then he would have to raise the cost of his services. With a sigh, he moved to the center of the corn farm, and a moment later, a storm cloud , about 42 feet in size, appeared above him. The constant visualization made it easier to create, and he had even managed to increase the size by two feet. The migraine still remained, though, and with the fact that he had slept terribly the night before, he was in for a world of hurt. He went through the usual process of decreasing the sound of thunder and increasing the tempo of the rain from a drizzle to a light downpour. The farmhands ran to place their wooden buckets under the storm cloud before running to pour the water theyd gathered in a large storage container placed in the building and running out to fetch more. The entire process took about five hours, as Aodhn had to take rests in between, and when he finally finished, he was so tired that he only waved goodbye to Cairan before trudging back home. Aldric jogged to catch up with him, and when he did, he said, Youre doing it wrong. What? Your abilities; youre using it like a stick instead of a whip. Aldric continued, and Aodhn sighed. Aldric, I do not have enough mental strength to think in parables. What Im trying to say is that the storm is part of you; youre creating it, brute forcing it into existence, when it should naturally flow out of you. Aodhn came to a stop, and he turned to Aldric in confusion. You mean I dont have to visualize it? Visualization techniques are stressful and less effective than simply willing the storm into existence. The storm is a part of you; it obeys you; you simply need to command it. Aodhn raised his palm and tried to will a storm cloud into existence, but Aldric shook his head once again. Youre still trying to force it; all you need is to believe that a storm cloud is in your palms and it will be. You dont have to imagine or visualize it; you dont even have to think about it; just will it, and it will obey. Aodhn spent a few minutes trying, and although he felt like he was up to something, he never actually got it, so he resolved to try again after a meal and sufficient rest. Chapter 16: Expedition preparation II Willpower is one of the most important attributes for an awakened person to have. The stronger your willpower, the more powerful your techniques and skills become, placing you on even ground with untrained awakeneds a tier or two above you. There are many ways to train willpower, but the most powerful method is meditation, as it gradually imbues the latent will with the will of ones element or concept. Research study on the effectiveness of meditation in the cultivation of willpower. Professor Reidon Elcarus. Sector 1, Ragnarok. Year 2269
Aodhn awoke before dawn the next day; hed fallen asleep almost immediately when he came back from Cairans farm, and now, eight hours later, it was just a little past midnight. Aodhn felt refreshed and alert, and a moment later, he walked into the bathroom to wash off the stress of the previous day. Fifteen minutes later, he was dressed in a black linen shirt and pants. Having nothing else to do, Aodhn walked out of the house and into Synov Garden, where he sat on the grassy ground and closed his eyes. During their walk back home yesterday, Aldric mentioned something about meditation and harnessing latent will, but in his fatigued state, hed barely been able to pay attention. Now, though, as the wind swirled gently around him and the scent of flowers tickled his nose, the words echoed in his mind like the soft jingle of bells, and he felt his mind descend into his spirit. His awareness of his surroundings faded, and all that he knew was the steady thumping of his heart as he focused on his core. Every time hed absorbed cores, hed felt the energy move through pathways he could barely discern as they traveled towards his core, but now he focused on these pathways. Time passed, but slowly, the pathways appeared in his minds eye; like veins, energy moved through them only to return to his core. They covered his entire body and glowed with black light, speckled with flickering arcs of electricity. Before too long, the pathways had become as clear as day to him, but now he could feel his core pulsing steadily with each beat of his heart. He focused deeper on his core, and after a very long time, he finally sensed it. Something akin to a tongue of black flame flickered in his core, and with each pulse, the flame grew larger. By the time his awareness returned and he could once again sense his surroundings, the flame was almost double the size it once was. He opened his eyes a few hours later, and found that he was completely soaked with sweat, and a terrible smell emanated from him. An applause rang out, and he turned to see Aldric walking towards him with a smile. Thats an insane amount of impurities youve expelled, especially for your first time, but it gets easier the more you practice. It was a weird exercise, but it did me a lot of good. Aodhn agreed, and Aldric nodded. Youve harnessed your latent will, so from now on, itll feed your techniques and skills. Youre looking at a definite upgrade. Aodhn stared at his sweaty palms and, after a moment, decided to create a storm the way Aldric had advised. He closed his eyes, but he didnt visualize anything; instead, he said to himself. Theres a storm cloud in my palms. He repeated the words like a mantra, convincing himself that the words were true, and after a few seconds, he cracked an eye open only to see an empty palm. Aldric tapped his head with a finger, aware of what hed tried to do. I told you, Aodhn, you have to believe in your power. It will not truly hear your call if you do not believe in it. Maybe Ill get it if you show me. Unfortunately, I cant do that. Aldric replied, his annoying grin still in place. My class is conceptual, so you wont be able to see what I do; just feel it. Still, I would like to know. Aodhn insisted when suddenly anger roared through him, and he instinctively summoned a bolt of lightning half the length of his arms. The anger disappeared almost immediately, and he sputtered in confusion as Aldrics grin only widened.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. What was that? Aodhn asked, shaken at the complete loss of control hed felt a moment ago. Im an empath, Aodhn. Aldric replied, squatting so he could look him in the eye. I can feel, control, and manipulate emotions as I please. His smile turned upside down as Aodhn paled, and he stood up to leave. I dont know why Im so disappointed; everyone is almost always horrified at first. I just thought maybe youd be different. No, wait! Im sorry. Aodhn replied hurriedly. I was caught off guard; I didnt know how to react, but thats a veryinteresting ability to have. Aldric turned towards him with a smirk that soon stretched into a grin and said, Well, congratulations, Aodhn; youve won the award for fastest recovery. Aodhn sighed and replied, Look, I need your help. The expedition is tomorrow, and I want to be alive for the celebration that comes after. Aodhn, Ive advised you; theres nothing else I can do. But there is. Aodhn insisted. Help me believe; you just need to do it once, I swear, and Ill get it. Aldric frowned in contemplation and muttered. Crazy, but it might actually work. And a moment later, he added. Try again. Aodhn closed his eyes, exhaled, and thought. Theres a storm cloud above me. Belief exploded within him, and he felt something snap into place. Energy moved through his pathways, and along with it, a wisp of the flame burned in his core. He opened his eyes to see a storm cloud, many times larger than anything hed ever created. It covered an area about 65 feet in diameter, but he felt no strain on his mind. The storm rumbled with thunder, and Aodhn let out a wide smile in response. Aldric was staring at the storm cloud above him with a shocked expression. He couldnt believe it had worked; perhaps his abilities weren''t completely evil after all. Daruk stared out of his window at the roiling cloud above him and, with a scoff, shouted. Show off! Aodhn smiled. Now that Aldric had helped him believe, he could summon the storm on his own. He dismissed the cloud above him, and with a thought, another cloud appeared. He continued practicing until Synov called them in for breakfast. Hed noticed that the more he used his abilities, the more the flame in his core reduced, until it was nothing more than a spark. When he checked his core after breakfast, though, the flame had grown to half its original size. So, Aodhn added meditation to his routine; the more willpower he had to work with, the better. After breakfast, Unrid insisted they go to the village blacksmith to get a weapon for themselves, and an hour later, they found themselves in the poorer district of the village. They moved past a series of shops selling different farm produce, but gradually, the wares changed, turning from eatable produce to the shiny array of metallic utensils and trinkets. Soon, they reached the blacksmiths shop, and it echoed with the clanging of hammers on anvils, accompanied by the hiss of steam when the hot metal met water. Rusty bellows wheezed rhythmically, and the occasional sizzle of metal could be heard from within it. Even standing outside the shop, Aodhn could feel the heat emanating from it, but when they finally entered the shop, the heat nearly gave him a stroke. The forge glowed red-hot, casting flickering light over the workshop, and the air was thick with the scent of burning coal and heated metal, intermingled with the earthy aroma of oil and grease. A shirtless man stood by the forge, along with his two apprentices; his calloused hands worked tirelessly, shaping and molding metal with precision. Fire licked his fingers and arms but left no bruise, instantly identifying him as a fire awakened. Unrid was, of course, fine, but Aodhn and Aldric were sweating buckets. Aodhn wondered why the blacksmith couldnt display his wares outside the forge, but perhaps this was his way of punishing non-fire-awakened individuals. One of the apprentices caught sight of them and soon made his way towards them. He looked extremely put-together, and not a bead of sweat could be seen on his forehead. Welcome customers, how can I help you? Convince my father to get me out of this heat; Im dying. Aldric groaned, and if Aodhn had the strength, he would nod in agreement. Fortunately, the blacksmith wasnt too cruel, and he had a display room behind the forge. Aodhn almost collapsed in relief when they finally left the heat of the forge, but Aldric collapsed, dramatically feigning death from heatstroke, and although Unrid said nothing, he almost seemed happy at our discomfort. We apologize for the inconvenience, Mr. Brystion. What would you like to buy? Weapons for these two. Unrid replied, gesturing towards us. They are part of the expedition into the forest. The apprentices eye widened in surprise; at this time, the entire village already knew of the expedition. What sort of weapons do these brave warriors want? Aodhn had never used a weapon before except the cutlass theyd used to clear the monastery, but that wasnt a weapon suitable for fighting monsters. Aldric asked for a spear, while, after several minutes of deliberation, Aodhn finally decided on a simple sword. The weapons were priced at two silver coins each, and Unrid eagerly paid for them. The sword Aodhn had requested was a long sword. He knew nothing about its balance or any of the other things he should have known about before buying a sword, but Unrid said it was a good sword, so he took his words for it. They soon made their way to a merchant selling leather gear, but after thoroughly testing it, Aodhn and Aldric decided that they were better off without the restrictive clothing. Unrid complained that it was better to be restricted than dead, but they were adamant, and Unrid had no choice but to drop the matter. After that, there were no other preparations to make for the expedition, so they made their way back home just in time for lunch. After the short meal, Aodhn went up to his room to meditate, hoping to harness more of his willpower, but when he focused on his core, the sight he found shocked him. The flame was almost double the size it was after his meditation that morning, and even as he watched, it grew an extra inch. Aodhn studied his core for a long time and soon came to the conclusion that he wasnt harnessing a single flame of willpower, but two. Chapter 17: Into the woods The reason why legacy seeds are so valued and coveted is not just because they make it easier for the awakened to understand and master techniques, but because they contain the will of the seeds creator, granting the awakened the chance to harness a well of willpower many times larger than their own and eventually consume it. Research work on the interdicted study of transmigrants and inheritors. Major General Keandra Arlette. Sector 7, Ragnarok.
Aodhn only had a single flame of willpower burning in his core, but it was connected to another, one several times larger than his and burning with a baffling intensity. A good analogy was that his willpower was a bucket of water, but it was connected to a dam. He hadnt realized it before, but the moment hed used up his willpower, more had poured in from the dam and into his dying spark, permanently increasing the size of his will. Eager to test his theory, Aodhn ran outside and instantly willed a storm cloud into existence before dismissing it and willing it back. It took an hour and a half before his will flame was once again reduced to a dying spark, but more rushed out of the dam and into his dying spark, and before long, it was growing and again. Ecstatic, he continued draining his willpower, causing more to rush out of the dam, but as night approached, he realized that the amount of willpower he gained with each refill had significantly reduced, but he continued, unwilling to stop. Consequently, it was now taking longer to drain his willpower, and eventually, he had so much of it that it became impossible to drain, at least not with his current skills. If he wanted more willpower, then he needed to improve his skills so that they consumed more willpower and destroyed the balance that his natural regeneration had created. It was almost midnight when he walked back into the house, and everyone was asleep except Aldric, who was meditating in one corner of the sitting room. Unwilling to disturb him, Aodhn walked softly up the stairs and was almost completely gone from view when Aldric suddenly spoke. For a moment there, I thought youd gone insane. Aodhn paused and glared down at Aldric. Arent you supposed to be dead to your surroundings or something? Im supposed to. Aldric agreed. But my concept doesnt grant me that luxury, not when I can sense the intense satisfaction youre currently feeling from a mile away. You must have made a breakthrough. He cracked an eye open, urging Aodhn to share, but when he refused, Aldric sighed. Fine, keep your secrets. I will. Aodhn replied with a grin before moving back to his room, and before long, sleep claimed him. He awoke the next morning to the sound of Unrids voice. Wake up, sleepyhead; we leave in an hour. He groaned as he dragged himself from the bed and made his way to the bathroom. All that willpower exercise had left him feeling a little groggy. Twenty minutes later, when he was completely dressed, he strapped the sword to his waist and made his way downstairs. When he got to the living room, Synov was already serving breakfast, and the entire family was seated except Daruk. Synov placed a bowl of rice before him as he sat down and a cup of cold water to go along with it. Breakfast was a sober affair, with each and every one of them aware that they might not make it back from the expedition. Daruk came down a few minutes later, and he was even nice to Aldric, going as far as fetching him another cup of cold water when he asked for some. Aldric, of course, started to make a comment about it, but a stern look from Unrid shut him up immediately. After breakfast, Synov hugged each one of them, promising terrible things if they failed to make it back alive. Unrid was garbed in his usual hunting gear, and after a very intimate goodbye with Synov, he clapped his hands loudly and said, Lets go, boys; I dont want to be the last to arrive this time around. Like thatll change anything. Aldric muttered, and Aodhn shook his head in amusement. They arrived at the villages entrance half an hour later, and Unrid breathed a sigh of relief when he found that there were only about two dozen people present. There were only three other members of the Awakened Council present, but unfortunately, Minerva was among them, and she sneered in disgust when she saw him. She didnt say a word to him, though, choosing to ignore him instead, and Unrid muttered a prayer of gratitude. Surprisingly, Aodhn was the youngest person currently present at the entrance, so he drew a lot of attention. Many of the villagers already knew of him, and with the rumors of healing water flying around, he was just grateful they werent trying to touch him instead.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Some of them were discourteous enough to point fingers at him, while the rest just whispered to themselves. Needing to distract himself, Aodhn called up his status with a thought, and he reviewed it. . [STATUS] Name: Aodhn Ashoka Class: Evolved storm awakened: 1% Tier: 4C38.9% Skills {Innate}: Storm creation and manipulation, lightning creation and manipulation. {Other}: Lightning descent. Bloodline: Nil He planned to absorb as many cores as he could on this expedition, and he hoped that by the end of it, he would have reached the 7th or 8th tier. As time passed, more people arrived, along with the last two council members. The woman with the blue hair came in last and surprisingly walked towards them. I thought it best that we coordinate our attacks during the expedition. She said as she came to stand beside Unrid. Good morning to you too, Elora. Unrid replied with a tight smile. I would be glad to work with you. Elora glanced uncomfortably at Aldric, who only gave a grin in response, before she sniffed and muttered. As you should. Her gaze finally landed on Aodhn, and a hint of curiosity flickered in them. She was about to speak when the mayor arrived, with the scholar trailing behind him. At this time, all 37 of them were gathered, and as the sun rose in the distance, they began their trek into the woods. There was no speech or word of encouragement; the villagers didnt need it, and Aodhn didnt think it would do much for him. When they arrived at the edge of the forest, the mayor and the council members instantly formed a loose ring around them, leaving everyone else in the center. Aodhn clutched the hilt of his sword as he crossed the tree line and finally entered the forest. The usual sense of peace he usually got from the forest was absent; instead, it loomed ominously around them as sunlight struggled to penetrate the dense canopy, and the crackling of dry leaves filled the air as people walked forward. The forest felt dead to his ears; the usual chirping of birds or chittering of insects was gone, replaced by a hollow silence that grated on his nerves. They walked through the forest for almost an hour but didnt come across a single creature. Rather than rejoice, many of the villagers despaired, their fear intensifying. They continued forward, moving towards the location theyd decided on, when suddenly, a roar rang out, and a large monster burst out of the bush before them. The creature had a lizard-like appearance but had a massive shell on its back. Black scales covered its entire body, and several rows of gleaming teeth shone in its mouth. The creature was identified as a Shellback Croc, and it was at the 5th tier, but before it could take more than a few steps forward, Balor and Calithen, who were at the front, rushed towards it. Calithen raised a fist, and the monster was suddenly pushed to the ground as gravity increased around it. Balor flicked his hand, and multiple spikes of earth jutted out of the ground and pierced into the shellbacks stomach. Balor rushed towards the incapacitated creature with a sword in his hand, and a moment later, the creatures head fell to the ground. A small shout of victory rang out from the gathered awakeneds as Balor dug through the shellback for its core, and a moment later, they continued their journey. The monsters became more frequent as they walked deeper into the forest, but none of the monsters were above Tier 5, so they were pretty easy to kill. Suddenly a cacophony of growls and snarls resounded, and from the underbrush behind them emerged a pack of Rithclaws, their bristling silver furs stripped with black lines, while long metal spikes jutted out of their spines. There were five of them, with the largest at Tier 6 and the others at Tier 5. Aodhn unconsciously summoned a bolt of lightning, but before he could attack, Aldric and Carvahl appeared before the pack. Multiple spears of silvery steel appeared around Carvahl, and with a whoosh, they shot towards the advancing Rithclaws. Surprisingly, the pack leader considered Aldric more of a threat than Carvahl and, with a roar, rushed towards him, only for it to suddenly turn around and attack its own brethren. The pack leader fought with brutal efficiency, cutting down its pack with frightening calm before piercing its own neck and tearing out its own throat an instant later. Fear returned to its eyes as blood poured from its ravaged neck. It tried to cry out, but a metal spear pierced its skull, killing it immediately. An eerie silence filled the air as Aldric dug for its core, and Aodhn spotted more than one expression of horror. He couldnt blame them, though. Aldric had overridden the creatures natural instinct for survival and made it kill its own pack before killing itself. It was horrifying and incredibly frightening. Considering he was also one of the strongest awakened in the village, they couldnt help but fear him. Aldric dug out the Silvery Core with practiced ease, and although he seemed unaffected by the horrified gazes of the people around them, Aodhn noticed that his usual grin was gone. Lets go, people; were wasting daylight. The mayor shouted, and the journey through the forest continued. People fearfully made way for Aldric as he moved to stand beside Aodhn. His cocky grin reappeared as he raised Aodhns hand and placed three silver cores in it. You dont have to sympathize with me, Aodhn; Im quite used to the horror people feel when they see my abilities for the first time. Rather than deny the truth, Aodhn gestured to the core and asked. Why are you giving these to me? Because I have no need for them. Aldric replied casually, but the words rang false in Aodhn''s mind. He glanced at the pile of conceptual cores Aldric kept for himself and then the elemental cores he had been given. A thought rose to the surface of his mind, but Aodhn discarded it, thinking, "That can''t be it. The solution to the limit disease can''t be so simple." He placed the cores in his pouch, thanked Aldric, and pushed the matter to the back of his mind. Aldric smiled and they continued on their journey. They reached the river an hour before noon, but before they could take the area, they had to deal with the Burmehein in the river first. It is reasonable to assume that the rock monster is now at the 8th tier. Carvahl reasoned. No matter how strong it is, theres no need for all 37 of us to fight against it. Elora replied. Thats just begging for casualties. Eloras right. Balor agreed. The strongest five among us, including Minerva, should be enough for this raid. Aldric Brystion is the strongest awakened here; aside from the mayor, doing this without him is foolish. Calithen pointed out, but the sudden mention of Aldrics name caused many to freeze. The boy is not a part of the council! Minerva hissed through gritted teeth. Hate me all you want, Minerva, but I wont have you speak of my son in that manner. Unrid warned, and sparks seemed to fly as they glared daggers at each other. Calithen is right. The mayor finally responded with a thoughtful expression, and a moment later, he said, We do this with the boy, which means Carvahl, Elora, and Unrid are our backup. A few minutes later, Aodhn and the other awakened were gathered a few meters away from the edge of the river, while Aldric and four members of the council walked towards it. Aodhn watched as a boulder-sized rock erupted from the earth and smashed against the outcrop of rocks in the middle of the river. Almost immediately, the rock rumbled, and Aodhn watched as boulder-sized rocks rose out of the water and arranged themselves into a humanoid figure. Burning yellow eyes gazed out of rocky sockets, and a shimmering brown haze surrounded its entire body. Aodhns eyes flashed to the shimmering text above its head, and his legs buckled as fear raced through him. [Burmehein, Tier 10] Chapter 18: The Horde. Burmeheins are water-based rock monsters awakened with the elemental affinity of earth. Even at lower tiers, Burmeheins have complete control over their bodies, having the ability to change their shape and composition at will, but as they grow stronger, their control and influence spread to the land surrounding them, and they gain the ability to manipulate the earth at will, transforming their area of influence into a death trap for anyone who walks into it. The Awakened Bestiary. Rare elemental creatures, page 53.
An immense pressure emanated from the monster, forcing everyone below Tier 7 to their knees. Some of the lower-tiered villagers outright collapsed, and even among the council, only the mayor, Balor, and Minerva remained standing. Two other people remained relatively unaffected; one of them was Aldric, who was above the 7th tier, and the other was Aodhn, whose body was covered in a shimmering red haze as the large flame of willpower roared in his core, resisting the pressure of the Burmehein and leaving him relatively unaffected. Balor attacked immediately, and another boulder-sized rock smashed against the Burmeheins face, causing a crack to spread across its features, but it disappeared the next moment, and the burning eyes of the Burmehein focused on him. The others attacked immediately; Minerva waved her hands, and multiple whips of water rose up from the river; they wrapped around the Burmeheins arms and waist before transforming into clear blue ice. Aldric tried to take control of the monsters emotions, but the Burmehein was much stronger than him, and it was hard to latch on to its mind. As the Burmehein broke through the whips of water and ice that tried to pull it down, the mayor forced it down with his telekinetic powers, yet it resisted, and they remained at a stalemate. The Burmehein roared, and suddenly its arm twisted and transformed into a massive drill that it aimed at Balor. Balor defended himself with a wall of earth, but it collapsed under Burmeheins might. Fortunately, the wall altered the direction of the attack, but the Burmehein redirected it, and the drill pierced through his stomach. Balor screamed, but before the Burmehein could finish its attack, it was raised into the air and smashed against the trees on the other side of the river. During its disorientation, Aldric managed to take control of its mind, and the Burmeheins left hand transformed into a saw that cut off its right hand like a knife through butter. The Burmehein roared in pain, and Aldric suffered a backlash as he lost control of its mind. He staggered, and in that moment, the Burmeheins left hand transformed into a boulder-sized fist that smashed into him and threw him several feet backwards. Panicked, the mayor telekinetically uprooted a tree and smashed it against the Burmehein, throwing it back in the water. Minerva immediately encased it in ice, but even as the ice formed, it cracked as the monster struggled, fury burning in its eyes as it glared at her. Suddenly, thunder rumbled loudly as a storm cloud appeared above the river, and the day darkened as the sun was blotted out. The Burmeheins head broke out of the ice prison, but a bolt of lightning struck down and exploded on its head. The attack barely dented the monster, so Aodhn summoned another bolt from the storm cloud. This time, as the energy flowed from his core, he forcefully pulled from the flame of willpower to fuel it. The bolt of lightning that struck down this time was almost double the normal size and red instead of the usual white gold. Shatter! Aodhn thought as the bolt struck down, and half of Burmeheins face suddenly disintegrated. The Burmehein roared in pain and anger as it forcefully broke away from the ice prison, causing Minerva to stumble from the backlash. The mayor managed to hold it still long enough for the second and third bolts of empowered lightning to strike its remaining arm and left leg. Half of the arm disintegrated, and the left leg cracked. The Burmehein tried to regenerate its arm and leg but found that those parts of its body had been completely destroyed. This caused the Burmehein to shrink, using the now-available boulders to create two new arms, repair its head, and replace its left leg. The mayor slammed another tree against the Burmehein, and with its reduced mass, cracks spread across its body as it was smashed into the river once more. Minerva had regained her bearings, and she immediately coated the Burmehein in ice. Now that the Burmehein had been severely wounded and weakened, the pressure it exuded had reduced, and those who were unaffected rushed to help. Calithen manipulated gravity around the Burmehein, holding it immobile even as bolts of lightning struck it and disintegrated parts of its body. The Burmehein continued to regrow and repair the lost parts of its body, and before long, it stood only a little above 6 inches. This spelled its end as the mayor telekinetically smashed it against a large tree until it literally crumbled to pieces, leaving behind a shimmering brown core. Those who hadnt fainted rejoiced, but Aodhn felt like his body was about to shrivel to dust. The forceful use of his willpower had drained him, but before he collapsed, Unrid grabbed the pouch by his side and pulled out the silver cores Aldric had given him. Absorb them; they should be enough to take you to the next tier. Unrid watched as Aodhn absorbed the first core before turning around to look for Aldric. He found him limping towards him, supported by Elora of all people, but Unrid chose not to comment and simply thanked her. By the Maker! That was painful. Unrid chuckled when he saw that Aldric was alrightjust a little bruised, but he was already healing. Aodhn shuddered as a massive amount of energy flowed into his core, but settled before it surged out once more like a tidal wave. The energy sank into his body and bones, strengthening and empowering him. Strength returned to his muscles even as his senses improved. His hair grew longer, and his skin smoothed. His muscles grew slightly, and when the energy settled in his core, Aodhn marveled at the power suddenly flowing through him. It felt like the strength hed gotten from tiers 1C4 had been added together and then doubled. Aodhn basked in the feeling for a moment before checking his status. .. [STATUS] Name: Aodhn AshokaStolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Title: Neophyte Class: Evolved storm awakened (1%) Tier: 5C2.27% Skills {Innate}: Storm creation and manipulation, lightning creation and manipulation. {Other}: Lightning descent, Create constructs. Bloodline: Nil Neophyte: A title awarded to an awakened person who has reached the Tier 5 milestone. .. When he opened his eyes, Aldric grinned at him and said, Congratulations on your new skill; please tell me its something useful. It is, I think. Aodhn replied as the skill information flowed into his mind, and at the end, Aodhn was shivering with excitement. By the Maker! Its very useful. Tell usno, better still, show us what it does. Aldric urged. With excitement, Aodhn rose to his feet and summoned a bolt of lightning. He then began to shape the bolt of lightning until a circular plate of crackling electricity stood before him. It literally allows me to create constructs of storms and lightning. Aodhn explained ardently. Theres no restrictions or limitations to the skill, like at all! Wow, you hit the jackpot there; Im not jealous at all. Aldric muttered with an eye roll, but Aodhn barely heard him, his mind already filled with a thousand things he could do with this new skill. It was only after a while that they both noticed that Unrid was no longer with them. Aodhn turned to see the mayor as he grabbed the Burmeheins core and rushed to a corner of the bush. The mayor placed the brown core in Balors bloody hand and urged. Absorb the core, Balor; listen to me. No, I cant! Ive reached my limit. Try, my friend. The mayor insisted. Just try. Balor nodded in acquiescence, but when the core fell limply from his hands a few seconds later, Aodhn felt sorrow twist painfully in his gut. Balor had been at the 7th tier; he should have been a god in this forest, but the horde had taken his life. They havent even begun to fight the horde, but they have already lost one of their strongest fighters. Is there anyone else who would like to absorb the core? The mayor asked softly, and a girl about the same age as Aldric raised her hands. When no one disputed it, the mayor handed the core over. Aodhn turned to her as the mayor passed the core, and he noticed that he could sense a slight pressure from her. It was weaker than his own, and although Aodhn couldnt precisely place it, he suspected that she was between the 2nd and 3rd tiers. It was at that moment that Aodhn realized he could sense the cores of everyone around him and roughly determine their tiers. Aodhn emanated the most pressure, even though he was supposed to be weaker than the mayor, whose core seemed to be as old as he was. A short ceremony was done to honor Balor, and soon, his body was placed on a platform that another earth awakened had created. Unrid had the honor of burning the body, and as the ashes scattered in the winds, the mayor turned to the scholar and said, Take out the Rizzel furs, I want to be rid of this forest as soon as possible. Balors death had sucked the joy out of the expedition but had replaced it with determination. Even the weakest among them burned with a need to avenge his death and eradicate the horde that threatened their lives. The fur of the silver Rizzels had been taken out of their enchanted chests and hanged on tall wooden poles in the center of the clearing. A sweet aroma spread out of them and into the entire forest. The clearing had been widened so as to accommodate the upcoming battle. Carvahl, now acting as the new leader of the expedition, arranged the villagers in batches of 6. The monsters will be here at any moment, but theyll be crazed. He shouted. According to our resident scholar, the lure weakens the minds of monsters, which is good since that means we wont have to fight anything smart. A wave of murmurs passed through the villagers before Carvahl continued. Rather than fight them all at once, we have decided to fight them in batches of 6 per hour; this means that a new batch of 6 will replace the old every hour. What if the monsters overwhelm a batch? A man dressed in farmers clothes asked worriedly. The batches on standby will act as backup or reinforcement in case things go south. The discussion continued for a minute more before they all returned to their assigned posts. Aodhn was among the first batch, alongside the girl who had absorbed the Burmeheins core. Her core glowed to his senses now, and it emitted a pressure only slightly greater than his own. The others in his group were strangers to him except the mayor, but he noticed that aside from the girl, two of the others were earth awakeneds, while the last one was air awakened. Compared to what hed read in the books, the affinity the villagers awakened was simple and uninteresting. Soon, all those present, save for Minerva and a group of water awakeneds, surrounded the poles containing the Rizzel furs. Their weapons gleamed in their hands, and determination shone in their eyes. An aura of bloodlust slowly congregated above them, and it wasnt long before the howls and roars of monsters filled the air. Aodhn and six others including the mayor, widened their stance in preparation as the growls of crazed monsters drew nearer. The mayor stood resolutely, a few meters away from him, focused solely on the line of trees surrounding them and the crackling sound of dry leaves as monsters ran towards them, lured by the scent of the Rizzel furs. Ill hold them down for you. The girl said to him, and he gave a short nod in response. During the short funeral theyd held for Balor, Aodhn had gained a sort of enlightenment, and he realized that he was making a mistake with the new skill. Hed been trying to shape and create the constructs, but with his enormous will, it was a simple matter to will the storm or lightning into a desired shape. He hadnt had the chance to try it yet, but there was no time like the present. Aodhn let out a deep breath to center himself, and a storm cloud rumbled into existence. It expanded to cover the entire clearing, causing the area to darken. Thunder rumbled dangerously as he poured his will into the storm cloud, and lightning rippled through it like snakes. With his recent advancement, Aodhn could now summon four bolts of lightning at once. Without delay, he summoned them, and they descended to revolve around him, crackling erratically as if sensing the coming battle. With a thought, he willed the bolts of lightning to change shape, and at first the bolts resisted, their destructive will fighting against the stability of a construct, but just as the first monster burst out of the forest, the bolts transformed into unstable spears of lightning and shot at it even as the earth swallowed its feet and held it captive. The monster was a Tier 6 raptor that looked very similar to the drawings of dinosaurs hung in the monastery library. The lighting spears stabbed into its side before exploding violently, tearing away hide and tissue from its chest and leaving its heart exposed to an earthen spike. As more monsters poured out from the underbrush, he tried to attack as fast as he could, but the lightning constructs required him to exercise more control over their creation process, which was time-consuming, so he decided to try cloud constructs instead. The cloud was less willful and was happy to take on any shape he desired, so the creation process was almost instantaneous, and as a Tier 5 Gulu appeared, three black spears of solid black cloud descended and pierced the monster before dissipating into black smoke. The monsters kept arriving, bursting into the clearing with a ferocious and even maddened gaze. They attacked without care for their own safety, focusing solely on the shimmering silver furs hanging behind them. Multiple black spears descended from the storm cloud above, even as several earthen spikes jutted out of the ground and skewered the bellies of the crazed monsters. A green monster that vaguely resembled a goblin rushed in his direction. It held a crude wooden spear in its hand and was identified as a Tier 6 swamp radmagog. Four cloud spears descended from the storm cloud and shot towards the creature. Swampy water suddenly coalesced around its hands, transforming into a bubble shield that was supposed to protect it, but Aodhn infused his will into the spears, and they pierced through the bubble and into the Radmagogs heart. The number of monsters that rushed into the clearing increased every second, and half an hour later, theyd become a literal wave. Aodhn attacked without thought, as if running on autopilot, even as multiple spears shot down from the cloud and into the attacking monsters. At some point, his control over the cloud constructs deepened, and they stopped disappearing after each strike. This reduced his need to constantly create more, but even so, the process of creating and controlling so many cloud spears was draining, and an hour later, when he was replaced, he moved to sit on one side of the clearing to regain his energy. He doesnt dismiss the storm cloud, though, leaving it to grow as he slowly fed energy into it. This was another thing he discovered after reaching Tier 5: he could charge his skills by pouring more energy into them, and although there was no increase in size, their power almost doubled depending on how long he took to charge them. A woman handed him a cup of water, and he drank it immediately, feeling the cool drink slide gracefully down his parched throat. He turned his attention back to the battle even as the girl who had absorbed the Burmeheins core came to sit beside him. He needed to find out her name, though, so he could stop referring to her in such vague terms, but now was not the time. The mayor remained on the battle field, though, and he fought with brutal efficiency, as every splinter or shard of wood was turned into a weapon. They pierced through the flesh of the attacking monsters, some penetrating with so much force that they bore through the monsters body and burst out of it. The fight continued, and Aodhn even saw some conceptual monsters, but they were all low-tiered and didnt last very long in the battle. An hour later, the third batch replaced the second, and this time, the mayor was forced to rest, but suddenly a deafening roar reverberated through the trees, and the ground trembled as a monstrous creature emerged from the shadows, its ringed pupils glowed with malevolence, and a line of silver text floated above its head. Chapter 19: Evolved Malefic Shade The interesting thing about death is that it always succeeds in bringing people together, forcing them to unite in honor of their fallen comrades. So, though death is a sad occurrence, it can also be an inspiration for unity and a provenance for strength. Hilda Alderman. Sector 12, The Warren.
[Evolved Malefic Shade, Tier 5] The shade was an ape-like creature, completely covered in black fur, and as it burst into the clearing, the formation of the villagers scattered, and someone shouted. Raol, Its an aberrant. Instead of rushing towards the Rizzel furs as the villagers scattered in fear, the shade turned towards the only other aberrant like itself within the clearing. With insane speed, it rushed forward, but Aodhn was already on his feet. He had been shocked at the emergence of the evolved creature, but immediately the shade turned towards him; he knew that only one of them would remain alive by the end of the day. He had spent the past two hours honing his control over the {Create construct} skill and had managed to improve his control just enough that it was able to create the lightning spears almost as fast as the storm spears. Now, even as the malefic shade rushed at him, the storm above boomed with thunder, and four bolts of lightning descended alongside an equal number of storm spears. The shade disappeared, only to appear behind him. It lashed out with long black claws, aiming at his unprotected back, but Aodhn reacted instantly, and the four bolts of lightning exploded at once, throwing the shade several feet backwards even as the storm spears shot towards it. Shadows coalesced into a large shield that blocked the spears, and the shade roared as shadow spikes jutted out of the ground and struck at him. Borrowing the shade idea, a black shield appeared around him, but it wasnt large enough to fully protect him, and the spikes pierced into his feet. With a shout of pain, Aodhn retaliated, summoning spears of lightning from the agitated storm cloud above him and infusing them with his will. The four spears shot forward with insane speed, and the shade only managed to defend against one of them; the other three stabbed into its chest and nailed it to the ground. Aodhn rushed forward, but before he could finish it off, the shade disappeared, traveling through shadows to emerge behind him. Once again, Aodhn was prepared, and he lashed out with a storm hammer infused with a large amount of willpower. The hammer struck the shades head, and its jaw cracked with an audible sound. It tried to escape again through the shadows, but Aodhn summoned more lightning spears that stabbed into it and exploded on contact. The shade let out an agonized wail as it tore itself free and rushed into the shadows once more. Aodhn turned around, expecting it to emerge behind him once again, and although it did, it wasnt exactly what Aodhn had expected. Instead of a single shade, three shades emerged from the shadows and rushed at him. He stumbled backwards, trying to attack the three shades at once, but he couldnt accurately divide his attention between them, and soon, wounds began to accumulate on his body. He turned to see the council members dealing with a Tier 8 creature that had arrived immediately after the shade. It was a large bull-like creature with four horns and razor-sharp hooves that the system identified as Borager. No one was coming to help him as the other villagers were busy defending against the persistent wave of crazed monsters, so Aodhn focused on his fight, dodging instead of attacking, and that was when he realized that he could only sense the core of the middle shade. Aodhn immediately began to attack the shade while defending against the others. Wounds began to accumulate on their bodies as lightning spears met shadow shields and shadow blades met storm shields. For almost half an hour, the fight remained at a stalemate, but unknown to the shade, he had been channeling energy into the storm cloud above him, hoping to recreate the skill hed used to defeat the Rithclaw. The storm rumbled incessantly as energy was funneled into it, and lightning flowed on its surface like a sea of serpents. The storm cloud grew more ferocious as it absorbed more of his energy, and a few minutes later, Aodhn could tell that the storm had reached its limits, so he waited for an opening in the shades defenses, and when he found it, he slammed a storm hammer into its chest. The middle shade stumbled to its knees in pain as its ribs cracked, and at that moment, Aodhn called down lightning from the storm cloud and further imbued it with his will. Lightning flowed down from the cloud like a tide and descended on the malefic shade. Light flashed, blinding him, but he recovered faster than before, and when the spots cleared from his eyes, all that was left of the shade was a headless corpse in the center of a wide area of blackened earth. Both monsters and humans had paused as the flash of light had blinded them, but Aldric had used the opportunity to seize control of the Boragers mind and eliminate it before it could regain itself. Aodhn thought Aldrics abilities seemed very similar to telepathy, but when hed asked, Aldric had scoffed and said his abilities were nowhere near the level of an actual telepath. Aodhn moved towards the shades corpse and dug his hands into the abdomen to retrieve a glowing black core that pulsed with writhing shadow tendrils. Immediately he touched the core, a line of text suddenly appeared before him, and his eyes widened in astonishment. [REDIRECT ENERGY TO ADVANCE CLASS] YES/NO Aodhn grinned, happy to have solved another mystery during this expedition. Hed been wondering if he needed to undergo another tribulation to advance his class, but now he has the answer: to advance his class, he needed to absorb the cores of other evolved monsters. Aodhn mentally selected the yes prompt, and energy instantly flowed through him, but instead of the normal pathway, it followed a more direct path to reach his core. Nothing happened after the core crumbled to dust in his palms, but when he reviewed his status, Aodhn immediately spotted the difference and realized that he had a very long way to go before reaching the next class of evolution. . [STATUS] Name: Aodhn Ashoka Title: Neophyte Class: Evolved storm awakened: 2% Tier: 5C2.27% Skills: {Innate}: [Storm Creation and Manipulation] [Lightning Creation and Manipulation] {Other}: [Lightning Descent] [Create construct] Bloodline: Nil . Aodhn shook his head sadly. After absorbing the evolved core of a Tier 5 monster, his class had only advanced a single percentage. Maybe this world wasnt so cruel after all, but it definitely wasnt generous either.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Aodhn turned to see the battle dwindling as the number of monsters had been severely reduced. Many villagers just stood around, resting, while the others fought the monsters that were left. He took a seat on one of the stone chairs crafted by one of the earth-attuned villagers, but just as he breathed a sigh of relief, a loud screech echoed out, and a winged lizard-like monster flew through his storm cloud and into the clearing, its sharp claws aimed at one of the hanging furs, and floating above its head was a line of text that identified it as a Tier 8 winged raptor. Elora reacted instantly, and a cyclone of chaotic wind smashed into it, or it would have if space hadnt rippled as the raptor teleported and reappeared on the other side of the clearing. At the sight of the conceptual monster, Aldric instantly focused on it, intent on being the one to kill it and absorb the core. The raptor fell an instant later, after it moved into the path of several metal javelins conjured by Carvahl, and one managed to pierce through its heart. It let out a piercing cry, but the sound was soon cut off as Aldric stabbed his spear into its throat, killing it instantly. Aodhn sat back down, as he hadnt even been needed, and a few hours later, the battle finally came to an end. Many of the villagers were wounded, but all of them were alive, and some were even healing. They let out a cheer of victory, and even the mayor gave a small smile in satisfaction. The battle is over, and the horde has been defeated. The mayor announced. But we are not out of the woods yet. We still need to scour this forest for anything still living that is above the 3rd tier. It is unlikely that well find any, but well feel better if we confirm it. Carvahl added, and the villagers agreed. Soon, they were split into groups of six and sent off in various directions. Aldric and the earth-attuned girl were in his group, along with a trio of girls who seemed like siblings. As they began their journey through the forest, the girl nudged Aldric and asked, So whats the deal between you and Councilor Elora? Aldric sighed as if hed been asked that exact question a thousand times already. Theres nothing between me and the councilor, and I know you think Im lying, but Im not. Yay, I won. You owe me two Tier 3 cores, Tyla; I told you there was nothing. One of the siblings said to the girl, and she groaned in frustration, but Aodhn was just happy to finally know the girls name. She wasnt particularly beautiful, but something about her called to him. He had no plans to pursue her or anything, but, well, maybe or not, whatever happens. When did my life become a source of entertainment? Aldric asked mournfully. You know, back in my day Aldric droned on as they scoured their designated part of the forest but found nothing above Tier 1 and soon returned back to the clearing. Some of the council members had remained behind to count and distribute the cores theyd gathered, and as people returned, they handed them fur pouches literally bulging with cores. Some of the villagers had reached their limits, but it was still extremely valuable, as they could exchange it for food or other necessary needs they might have. Aodhn watched with eager eyes as Carvahl handed him a fur pouch, and he immediately opened it to count just how many cores hed gained from this expedition. After a few moments of counting, he realized that hed only gained 30 cores, but his pouch was already heavier than average, so he closed the pouch and went to stand next to a scowling Aldric. This has to be the least profitable expedition Ive ever been on. He complained as he shook the pouch angrily. There are only 7 conceptual cores in here, and half of them are below Tier 4." "Don''t you have a ton of elemental cores in there?" Tyla asked as she peered into Aldric''s pouch. "You should be grateful; I only got about two dozen cores in total." Aldric grimaced, and Aodhn frowned, wondering why Aldric was so fixated on conceptual cores. What had elemental cores done to him to make him hate them so much? Not thinking too much about it, Aodhn checked his pouch again and found out that he had about a dozen conceptual cores in his pouch, but only one was above the 6th tier. He pulled Aldric to one corner of the clearing and said, Ive got nine conceptual cores, so we can exchange. Aldrics expression brightened, and a minute later, Aldric handed him a total of seventeen elemental cores in exchange for his conceptual cores. He winked at Aodhn and said, "The extra is for luck. Aodhn sputtered and glanced up at Aldric in shock. Aldric had exchanged almost all of his elemental cores for nine conceptual cores, none of which were above the 6th tier. No, something wasn''t right. The thought he''d been having all day returned to the forefront of his mind, and Aodhn wondered if the answer was that simple. Bringing his voice down to a whisper, he asked, "Don''t you need these cores too?" Aldric shrugged. "Not really. Now take the extra and think of it as me sowing good karma." Aodhn had no idea what Aldric meant by good karma, but that wasn''t his concern at the moment. He glanced at the pile of elemental cores Aldric had casually handed to him, and his mind spun. His suspicions reared up, and all the hints he''d gathered slowly came together to form a wholea single conclusion that seemed so right, yet was so scary. Bringing his voice lower, Aodhn reasoned aloud. You do not need them because they arent conceptual cores. "That''s what I just said." Aldric chuckled, but Aodhn wasn''t listening as the words repeated themselves in his mind. He looked at Aldric, and with an expression begging to be proved correct, he whispered. You don''t need elemental cores because the absorption of unaligned cores is the cause of the limit. The words hadn''t completely made sense until he said it, but when he did, Aodhn knew he was absolutely right. Aldric''s expression of shock only proved it. Aldrics eyes widened in surprise, and he hissed. "How do you know that? You''re not supposed to know that." "I... I just figured it out. It makes so much sense!" Aodhn shook his head in amazement, but then he suddenly realized something very odd. He frowned in confusion and asked. "You know? If you know, why haven''t you helped all these people? Aldric''s expression of growing excitement shut down almost immediately, and he quickly glanced around to make sure no one was close enough to hear them. Certified that they were alone, Aldric leaned forward and said. "You have no idea how amazing it is that you found this out on your own. Regardless of how simple it sounds, we''ve been taught that no one can ever figure it out on their own." "You didn''t answer my question." Aodhn glared at Aldric, refusing to be swayed. If the limit could be so easily prevented, and Aldric knew, why hadn''t he told the village? Why hadn''t he spread the information far and wide? Aldric sputtered and shook his head. "I... you can''t understand. There are certain secrets that even I can''t share, but this is not a safe place to talk about it. Let''s discuss it later when there are fewer people around." Aodhn wasn''t willing to let the matter go, though, and with a glance at the awakened council, he asked. "Even if you had told no one, what about your father? Why didn''t you tell him?" "Because I can''t." Aldric hissed. "Do you think that if I could, I wouldn''t?" Aodhn paused, frowning at the implications of Aldric''s statement, and after a moment he asked. "What is stopping you?" Aldric hesitated for a moment, and after another glance to make sure no one was eavesdropping, Aldric replied. "When I joined the 12th academy in the sector capital, they told us that they knew how to prevent the limit disease, but we had to take oaths not to spread the information. I took the oath, and that knowledge has helped me greatly, but I couldn''t share it with anyone else." It would be an understatement to say Aodhn was shocked. He stared at Aldric in surprise, not even sure what to think at this point. The fact that the kingdom itself was the one withholding this information from the public was deeply troubling. But what Aodhn couldn''t understand was why no one else had come to this conclusion before. It seemed so simple. Was it really possible that before him, no one else had ever thought of it? Aodhn contemplated the matter for a while before coming to a simple conclusion. "I have to tell them." Aldric winced in pain and said, "I... there''s a little problem with that." "What problem?" Aldric gritted his teeth in pain and nearly doubled over as small wisps of energy gathered around him. Aodhn tried to help, but Aldric waved away his concern and said, "My oath, it wants me to force the oath on you so you can''t tell anyone." Aodhn glanced from Aldric to his belly, where his core was located, and asked. "What are the repercussions of not following that suggestion?" "Pain." Aldric gritted out. "Severe spiritual pain that will eventually lead to my death the longer I delay." Aodhn just stared at Aldric, not really sure what to do. It seemed that Aldric''s life was literally in his hands right now, and of course, he could run away and keep his core unshackled by an oath, but he couldn''t do that to Aldric. Not after all that the Brystions had done for him. He spent the next few minutes thinking, but when he failed to come up with a decent alternative, he asked. "What do you suggest?" "I want to tell them." Aldric replied immediately. "I want them to know, even though I''ll have to force them to take the oath too, but better they know than not. That way, they can help and guide new awakeneds to avoid the limit for as long as they can. Perhaps even find a loophole." Aldric winced again, and Aodhn grimaced, not really liking the thought of shackling himself with an oath, but at this point, he didn''t seem to have an option. Regardless of whether he told the Awakened council or not, he would still have to take the oath for Aldric''s sake. Was it not better to inform the council and let them deal with it instead? Making up his mind, Aodhn replied. "Then that''s what we''ll do. As soon as we get back to the Warren, I will tell the council, and then we can all take the oath." His words seemed to ease Aldric''s pain, and he nodded. "I can endure for a while longer." With their minds made up, Aodhn and Aldric sat down on one of the earth stools, waiting for the other villagers to arrive. While they waited, Aldric constantly groaned in pain, and his expression grew pale. When Aodhn suggested they walk up to the council right now and tell them, Aldric shook his head and said, "There are too many people around. We can''t afford the risk of someone else hearing because of impatience. Don''t worry about me; I can endure." Aodhn nodded, and despite how hard it was, he leaned back in his chair and waited, wondering how the next few hours of his life would play out. Chapter 20: The Awakened Council In Lutia, adherence to the oath of silence is requisite across various strata of society. Everyone, from academy students to alumni, guild members, templars, and nobles, is bound by the oath. Yet, notably absent from this clandestine pact are the commoners, particularly those inhabiting the lower sectors, who proceed through life ignorant of the truth, naively accepting the limit as a natural constraint... Baroness Alicia Ravenborn. Human rights activist. Central Kingdom (Lutia). Year 2167
The next few minutes were torture for both Aodhn and Aldric as the villagers slowly trickled in. Aldric''s pain had increased, and they''d had to move to the edge of the clearing to prevent anyone from noticing that something was wrong with him. While they waited, Aodhn''s mind roamed and he thought of many things. One of the most recurring questions he asked himself was why. Why did the kingdom keep its citizens in the dark? Why had other people not figured this out? What would happen if someone else somewhere figured this out and spread the information without taking an oath? He voiced some of his questions, and Aldric tried his best to answer them. Aodhn wasn''t content with most of his responses, though, as they mostly ranged from ''I don''t know'' to ''I''m not sure.'' One thing he kept reiterating, though, was that Aodhn shouldn''t have been able to figure it out, a response that Aodhn found completely unacceptable. There were billions of people in the kingdom; surely, he couldn''t be the first to figure this out on his own. It was evening when the last villager arrived, and when the mayor suggested they return to the Warren immediately, they all agreed, thanks to a subtle manipulation on Aldric''s part. The simple feat seemed to drain him even further, but Aldric was stubborn, insisting that he could endure the pain for a while longer. The trek back to the Warren was thankfully silent and uneventful, and just as the sun dipped below the horizon, they arrived at the edge of the forest. Despite resigning himself to his fate, Aodhn''s mind had worked tirelessly to find a way out of this mess. He had definitely come up with a few ideas, but they all came with a cost Aodhn couldn''t afford to pay. For instance, Aodhn could always run away, but doing so would most likely lead to Aldric''s death, and he couldn''t have that on his conscience. Ultimately, Aodhn''s decision to stay and take the oath boiled down to one thing. He had found a group of people who loved him, or at least loved him enough to consider him a part of their family. He didn''t want to give that up, not when all he''d ever known were the droning voices of monks and their sagely advice. When they finally stepped out of the forest, Aodhn turned his gaze to the Warren, which shone like a beacon to his senses, and as they neared its entrance, shouts and cheers echoed out as the villagers celebrated their arrival. Aodhn couldnt help but smile at the joyous welcome, and when they entered the village, people rushed towards their families and loved ones, hugging and crying as they blessed Raol for their arrival. Aodhn stood with Aldric, physically supporting him while the mayor gave a small speech to inform the villagers that they were now free of the horde and that they could sleep without fear. A wave of sorrow passed when he mentioned the death of Councilor Balor, and by the time the speech was over, the celebration was tinged with sorrow as the villagers honored their fallen councilor. While the mayor spoke, Aodhn began building his own speech in his mind. It wouldn''t be easy to convince the council of the truth, as they all believed that the limit was a natural phenomenon, even Unrid. Getting them to believe otherwise wouldn''t be an easy task, but first they had to make the mayor set up a meeting first. For the next thirty minutes, Aodhn and Aldric tried to get the mayor alone, but he was either talking to a group of people, consoling others, or simply moving about erratically. It took them an extra fifteen minutes to find the perfect opportunity, and they quickly rushed forward, only for the mayor to begin a discussion with a group of widows before they arrived. Fortunately, they didnt have to wait long, as only a few minutes later, the mayor''s gaze landed on Aodhn, and he grinned. Aodhn, I must say, I am impressed by your abilities; you really are an asset to the Brystions. Thank you, Sir, but Ive come to speak to you about a very important matter; I wonder if a council meeting could be scheduled immediately after the celebration. The mayor frowned and shook his head wearily. Whatever it is, kid, it can wait till tomorrow; we are all tired, and we need rest. No one will agree to a meeting at this hour. Unfortunately, it cant wait. Aldric spoke through gritted teeth, his face as white as a sheet, and in a grave tone, he added. It is extremely important that Aodhn speaks to the council tonight. The mayor hesitated for a moment, his gaze darting from Aodhn to Aldric worriedly. He eyed Aldric''s pale form for a long moment before he sighed. Fine, Ill call the meeting, but you better make sure that whatever you have to share with us is important, or there will be severe consequences. He left a moment later, grumbling under his breath, and a few minutes later, Unrid walked up to them, grumbling, The mayor has just called for a meeting; whatever it is, I hope its short because I have a wife and child to get back home to. When he noticed Aldric''s pale expression, he frowned and asked. "Are you alright? You don''t look well." Aldric forced a smile and replied. "I''m fine, Dad; I just need to rest, but I''ll do so after the meeting." "Are you sure?" "Yes, don''t worry about me. I''m a big boy." Unrid frowned for a moment before nodding. "Okay, let''s go. The meeting shouldn''t take too long anyway." They made their way to the mayor''s office, weaving through a ton of merry villagers. Aodhn placed himself between Unrid and Aldric, trying to make a wider path for Aldric, whose pain only seemed to be getting worse. It didnt take them long to arrive this time, but when they got into the meeting room, everyone was seated except Balor, whose seat remained empty. The empty chair stood out like a sore thumb, creating a somber atmosphere amongst the already weary councilors. As usual, Aodhn and Aldric moved to stand behind Unrid, and a moment later the meeting began. Of course, it was Minerva who spoke first. Now that we are all present, I would like to know why we have been summoned here. Minerva asked, impatience and weariness clear in her tone, and the mayor turned to glare at Aodhn and Aldric before speaking. I called this emergency meeting because Unrids guest informed me that he had something very important to share with us. The attention of the entire room fell on him, and Aodhn didnt miss the look of surprise on Unrids face. He glanced at Aldric, who gave him a small nod before stepping out from behind Unrid to stand before the council. With a deep breath, he began. "Councilors, I apologize for this unfortunate timing, but I asked the mayor to call this meeting because I have important news to share. He paused, assessing the room for a moment before proceeding. I know how to prevent the limit disease.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. Aldric shuddered violently and somehow managed to grow even paler, but in the silence that descended after his very shocking words, none of the councilors seemed to notice. The silence seemed to stretch on for an eternity as his words hung in the air, and Aodhn thought that perhaps they had taken his words seriously. That delusion was ripped apart an instant later when Minerva suddenly burst into mocking laughter and asked the mayor. This is why you called us here? So this child can play clown? The more important question is: when did this council become a circus that can be ordered around by a mere child? Carvahl sneered. I am serious," Aodhn began, but Calithen cut him off with a shake of her head. You expect us to believe that a child has suddenly found the prevention to a disease that has eluded the greatest minds of the kingdom for generations? The limit is not a disease," Carvahl corrected loudly. "It is only referred to as such. It is not something to be cured or prevented; it is a natural phenomenon. It is not a natural phenomenon. Aodhn insisted. Believe me, I have This is an insult to the dignity of this council and a waste of our valuable time! Minerva cut him off with a scowl, but the mayor called for silence, glaring at Aodhn, and a moment later, he turned to Unrid. He is your guest; what do you have to say on the matter? Unrid was shocked. First of all, when the mayor called this meeting, he''d had no idea it was because of Aodhn, but now the boy was talking about the limit? Unrid had always known Aodhn was strange; his mannerisms and attitude clashed too much with those of the people he supposedly originated from. He observed Aodhn in silence, his expression flitting between confusion and doubt, but after a long moment, Unrid finally responded. I have not known Aodhn for long, but in the little time Ive spent with him, I have had no reason to distrust him, so I suggest that since we are here already, we might as well hear what he has to say. The mayor nodded and gestured for Aodhn to speak. Aodhn thanked Unrid with a nod and continued. Like councilman Carvahl said, the limit is not a disease; instead, its an accumulation of impurities within your core as a result of the absorption of unaligned cores. For instance, as an elemental awakened, absorbing conceptual cores will cause impurities to accumulate in my core, and before long Ill reach a limit. There was a beat of silence as the council pondered his words, but it was broken a moment later by councilor Elora, who hadnt spoken a word since he came into the room. Thats a very good theory, but I doubt youre the first to come to this assumption. Its not an assumption, Councilor Elora; I know it for the truth." Can you provide proof of your words, or are we to follow you blindly as you stumble around in the dark? Minerva asked with a tone richly soaked in disdain. Aodhn didn''t respond; instead, he let them slowly come to see reason, and a few minutes later, Calithen did, saying, Surely, the academies must know of the validity of this theory; they do research all the time. She glanced at Aldric and asked. "What do you have to say about all of this?" As one, the entire room turned to Aldric, who was standing so still that one could have mistaken him for a statue. He remained silent for a long time, his lips pressed tightly against each other, as if to prevent any words from clawing their way out. After another moment of silence, the mayor shouted. "Speak, child; tell us what you know. Aldric paled further, and he shook his head vigorously. "I can''t." "What do you mean you can''t?" Minerva asked pompously. "Do you learn nothing in that academy of yours?" Aodhn glared at the offensive woman, wanting to tear out her tongue, but he managed to keep his cool. He wanted to speak up on Aldric''s behalf but decided to let the whole scene play out for a while longer. Aldric''s silence would only reinforce his statement and force the council to see the truth. Unrid looked at Aldric in concern and asked, Aldric, what is wrong with you? Aldric shook his head again, and after a few seconds of confusion, Aodhn finally spoke again. He cannot tell us what he knows because hes under an oath not to speak of it except to people who are already aware of it. This is my proof that the limit can be prevented and that the kingdom itself is the one keeping the truth hidden. There was another beat of silence as the councilors exchanged shocked glances. Unrids mind spun as he stared at Aldric. The fact that he hadnt refuted Aodhns claims implied that there truly was a way to prevent the limit. Unrid couldn''t understand why the kingdom was keeping it a secret, though. To what end? Without the limit disease, wouldn''t there be a lot more soldiers and warriors? Why would they cripple the advancements of their own people? It was Elora who finally broke the silence and asked the question they were all thinking. Why? They do it for control, or at least, that''s one of the reasons, Aldric suddenly replied, shuddering in relief as he was finally able to speak again. Taking in a deep breath, he continued. Without the limit, there would be millions of extremely powerful Awakened roaming around the kingdom, wrecking havoc and spreading chaos, so we were told that many years ago, the knowledge on how to prevent the limit was wiped from the minds of the masses, leaving their fate to chance. The councilors stared at each other in shock as all they had believed crumbled, and Minerva gasped. Weve been living a lie!. Chaos erupted after that, but the mayor shakily raised a hand, looked at Aldric, and asked. So, if it can be prevented, can it be cured too? Aldric sighed and shook his head. "I dont know. All hope is not lost yet. Calithen murmured. If theres a prevention, surely there must be a cure. We have to inform the awakened villagers as well as anyone who might awaken soon. Minerva stated, but Aodhn cut her off with a shake of his head. We cannot do that. The councilors turned to him again, and Aodhn continued. "This is where things become tricky. I apologize for not telling you all earlier, but you wouldn''t even have listened to me if I had mentioned it earlier." "Mentioned what?" The mayor asked impatiently. "An oath." Aldric responded, his tone cold. He walked to the center of the room, coming to stand beside Aodhn before proceeding. "Aside from the fact that I am oath bound to bring you all under the oath now that you know the truth, spreading this information will be very dangerous for the Warren." Another round of chaos ensued as the councillors rebelled against the idea of being shackled by oaths. "Preposterous!" Minerva exclaimed disdainfully. "How dare you suggest we do something so foolish when we can simply pretend this never happened." "I cannot do that." Aldric glared at all of them, his gaze intense. "I cannot let this knowledge spread out of this room. I have already suffered damage to my advancement just by allowing this meeting, but letting you all out of this room without an oath would be courting death itself. Besides, I do not trust any one of you in this room, especially you, Minerva. I can already sense your selfish and greedy emotions." Minerva winced, shifting uncomfortably as the gazes of the entire council came to rest on her, and Aldric continued. My intent for letting Aodhn do this is so that you can guide the coming generations better and help them avoid the limit for as long as we can. We can become stronger slowly, but without the oath, it''s only a matter of time before agents of the kingdom come here to investigate our sudden rise in advancement." "Think of it this way. Although the academy believed that no one can figure out the truth of the limit except being told, what if there are outliers like Aodhn? What if there are or were people who figured it out on their own? Where are they now? Why have we not heard of them? Why has no one ever heard of them?" Unrid leaned back in his chair, eyes wide, and asked. "What are you insinuating?" "I...I don''t know." Aldric shrugged helplessly. "All I know is that this world is more dangerous than we know, and it will be in our best interest to keep this knowledge amongst ourselves." The mayor sighed and straightened his spine, obviously very weary. "The oath is not an easy thing, child." I know. Aldric responded solemnly. But it truly is harmless unless you break it. The councilors exchanged wary glances, and after the silence stretched for a long moment, Aodhn suggested. "How about we simply swear an oath to keep this to ourselves? We don''t have to include forcing others to take the oath. That way if any other outliers reveal themselves, we don''t have to force them to take the oath. Aldric contemplated Aodhn''s words for a moment before nodding. As long as we take an oath. The mayor observed them for a long moment before nodding. Then that is what we shall do. In a lower tone, he added. The oath will protect the Warren and help us grow in strength, albeit slowly. It will also make sure that this information stays within this room and that the Warren is protected from whatever fate befell those who learned of this before us and were lax in handling it." Is it not possible that we are being overly paranoid? Elora asked. Aldric turned his gaze to Minerva and smiled thinly. "I believe I am just the appropriate amount of paranoid." Silence descended on the council once again as they processed Aldric''s words, and a moment later, the mayor asked. What are the words of the oath? Fifteen minutes later, Aodhn found himself repeating the words of the oath along with the rest of the council, grimacing as ethereal chains slowly bound his core. Chapter 21: Bound Core oaths are the most sacred of oaths, as they really put into perspective the idea that a persons life truly is in their hands. Compared to life or blood oaths, core oaths are relatively safer, as the violation of such an oath would only result in the shattering of ones core, causing them to lose all their power. i.e., they become sleepers. Sister Kethriel Lethabo. High priestess of the sun. Sunstone Kingdom, year 2272.
It was the morning after the council meeting, but when Aodhn woke up, he was sure hed never felt worse than he currently did. A weight lay heavy on his core, and when he opened his eyes, it was almost like the executioners blade hung over his head. He had made an oath to never speak of the limit to anyone who didn''t already know and the consequences of breaking that would be dire. Unrid hadnt spoken a word the entire walk back home, and even when theyd reached the house, hed barely spoken more than a few words to Synov before heading up to his room with the excuse of a headache. Aldric on the other hand seemed to be doing better than was yesterday. His color had returned and he was no longer wincing in pain, but somehow he felt frailer as if a tiny gust of breeze could blow him away. Aodhn didn''t know the price Aldric had paid for enduring so long and frankly he didn''t want to know. He was better off not knowing. Aldric had also left the living room a moment after Unrid, leaving Aodhn to deal with a confused Synov and an extremely curious Daruk. Aodhn had been unable to tell them anything, so instead, hed simply shrugged and done the same thing Unrid and Aldric did, leaving Synov and Daruk completely stupefied. He had tried to push the days events to the back of his mind, but hed been so conscious of the ethereal chain wrapped around his core that hed barely been able to sleep; every time hed shifted, he was sure hed heard the chain rattle. Now, several hours later, he still felt worn out and weary as he made his way to the bathroom to freshen up. He ended up spending more time than was required washing himself, and half an hour later, he was dressed and seated on the wooden chair in his room. He was supposed to visit Jalens farm this morning, and although he wasnt feeling up to it, he couldnt postpone it. Aodhn sat there for a long time, simply letting the rays of the morning sun danced across his face. He wasnt really thinking about anything in particular; instead, he just basked in the quiet and solitude of the cold morning. After a while, he grabbed his fur pouch and poured out all the cores it contained on the table. There were a total of 38 cores, and they glittered like gems in the sunlight. Aodhn took a moment to sort the cores and realized that he had four Tier 6 cores, six Tier 5, seven Tier 4, and twenty-one Tier 3 cores. Thirty-eight cores might seem like a large amount, but Aodhn knew better. As an evolved awakened, the energy he required to ascend each tier was double that of mundane awakeneds, and he doubted that all the energy in the cores before him would push him up more than a couple tiers. He was right too, as when the last core turned to dust in his palms, energy had only surged out to expand his core twice. Still, he was amazed at the strength now flowing through him; at this point, he felt like he had finally crossed the limit of normal humans. With a thought, he reviewed his status. . [STATUS] Name: Aodhn Ashoka Title: Neophyte. Class: Evolved storm awakened: 2% Tier: 7C86.25% Skills {Innate}: Storm creation and manipulation, lightning creation and manipulation. {Other}: Lightning surge, Lightning descent, Create constructs. Bloodline: Nil . Hed managed to ascend two whole tiers, and he was now more than halfway through to the third. He dusted his palms and swept the core dust into a bin before heading downstairs for breakfast. Everyone was present in the living room except Unrid, and when he asked, Synov said he needed some alone time. Breakfast was a sober affair, with Synov and Daruk still lacking any information about what had happened yesterday. Aodhn tried to start a conversation with Aldric, but after the third monosyllabic reply, he simply gave up and focused on his food instead. After breakfast, he went to Jalens farm, and immediately he arrived. Jalen wrapped him in a chocking hug as he congratulated him on their victory against the horde. Raol, I wish I was there. He grumbled as he pulled back to grip Aodhns shoulders. Im so proud of you, son; they say that you fought an aberrant all by yourself. And that you stood up to a Tier 10 Burmehein while only at Tier 4. One of the farm hands added, staring at Aodhn with wide eyes. Yes, incredible. Jalen agreed and soon brought out a jug of ale to toast to his victory. Aodhn only took a sip of the drink before he subtly disposed of it, as it had tasted like piss.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. After another round of congratulations, he thanked Jalen and his farmhands before moving to the center of the farm to begin his work. Immediately after the storm cloud appeared, the farmhands rushed forward with wooden pails to fetch the rainwater. After the rumors about his actions in the forest spread, the villagers began taking the rumors of healing water even more seriously, so he wasnt too surprised by their actions. His abilities had grown tremendously with his recent advancement, and the storm cloud hed willed into existence covered an area of about 80 feet. The cloud wasnt at its limit, though, and Aodhn felt like he could expand it further by filling it with energy and willpower, but there was no need to. Jalens farm was not as large as Cairans, so it only took him about three and a half hours to completely water the farm. After giving his clothes time to dry, he made his way to the Aldermans house, and after a few minutes of polite talk with Mrs. Alderman, he finally went up to the library, where he promptly began to search for books on oaths. After searching through the whole library, he found only two books on the subject; the first was written by this worlds equivalent of a judge and was simply titled: The Essence of Oaths, while the other was written by a high priestess of the church of Blazing Sun, from the Sunstone Kingdom, and was titled Bound: Exploring the Depths of Oath Magic. He deliberately for a while before picking up the second book and moving to a table by the window to read. After almost an hour of reading, he discovered that there were so many types of oaths, and although some had been deemed depraved for civilized society, many still remained, the most insidious of which was the blood oath. The blood oath involved binding the blood of an individual to a contract or another individual, and it came with severe consequences, the least of which was death. The other oaths were pretty much the same, except they all had tiny variations that set them apart from others. An example was the quest and life oaths, which involved pledging ones life to a cause, organization, or quest. Some even bound their lives to the lives of others, but the only difference between the two was that the life oath was, well, lifelong, while the quest oath had a set duration. The core oath was the one hed taken yesterday, and although it was similar to a vow of silence, the vow was simply a vow with no chains binding the cores, nor was there a risk of core corruption or shattering. The marriage oath was the only normal oath he could find, as its only consequence was social excommunication and stigmatization. Compared to death or the shattering of ones core, he found the consequences of this oath to be quite manageable. As he read further, he came across two other types of oaths classified as divine. The first was called a Geas, which really was an unbreakable magical compulsion that enforced the obedience of a person classified as lesser and prohibited specific actions. Although it was classified as divine, it was used mostly by awakeneds who dealt in the slave trade of sleepers. Aodhn was disgusted as he read further; the Geas was basically a slave oath, and to make matters worse, death wasnt even among the consequences of breaking it, but even if it was, it would have been the least terrible. The last oath was the sacred oath, which was mostly employed by religious organizations during the initiation of new members. It was an oath to serve, sworn in the name of the gods. Its only consequence was divine punishment, which caused Aodhn to wonder about the gods of this world. From what hed learned so far, each kingdom had its own gods, like Raol for Ragnarok and Aeloria for the Sunstone Kingdom. What he had learned, though, was that these so-called gods were just the first ascendants the kingdom had produced. It had all begun as a gathering of admirers, but before long, they became cults, which were then revolutionized into churches. Aodhn continued reading until it was time for him to go to the second farm. The farm belonged to a man called Oron, but it was in the poorer parts of the village, so it would take him a while to get to it. His relationship with Oron was strictly business, but Aodhn liked the man as he had been the first to pay him the previous week. As he walked to the farm, people waved and called out his name; some even offered him food, but he graciously denied them. When he got to the farm, Oron simply waved him in with a smile, and he got to work. The farm was even smaller than that of Evaris, so it took him less than two hours to completely water the farm. When Aodhn got back home, he found Unrid and Synov laughing in the living room, and although he still looked a bit weary, he seemed to be doing better. The days passed quickly, and he spent each one either working, reading, meditating, or training his abilities. Aldric had also gotten better, and had even advanced to the 9th tier. He even started joining Aodhn in the garden when he meditated. Aodhn had also taken up sword training on his free day from a soldier who charged a silver a week. The number of villagers interested in the use of swords was very small, so there were only a half dozen people present for each lesson. Surprisingly, Tyla was among them, and although she wasnt a master swordswoman yet, she was far better than him. A week later, after the fog of the dry season had arrived, Cairan had declared that the rainwater wasnt really healing water but that it had nourishing properties that made him feel and look about five years younger. Aodhn was disappointed in the results, but perhaps it was for the best. Even so, the villagers were ecstatic, especially the women, and anytime he created a storm cloud, many would rush to fetch the rainwater rather than go to the Warren streams. At one point, Aodhn asked one of the women why they were so enthused about the rainwater, and she looked at him in surprise. Havent you seen Elise Dathemir? Shes positively glowing, and she looks ten years younger. Elise Dathemir was Cairans wife, whom he hadnt seen before, but if she truly looked 10 years younger, he doubted it was as a result of the rainwater. He kept his doubts to himself, though, and before long, the rain water was termed time reversal water. Which he thought was an extremely pompous name, but no one asked for his opinion on the matter. Before long, three weeks had passed, and there were only two days left before the harvest festival. As they ate breakfast that morning, Synov grumbled. I warned the mayor against electing that idiot woman, Agatha, as the head of the planning committee, but he refused to listen to me. Now she has insisted on using dark brown and black as the festivals colors. How are we supposed to wear such dreary colors in this heat? Whats wrong with dark brown and black? Aldric asked. Its a festival, Aldric, not a burial. Synov replied with a glare. Besides, can''t you feel the heat? Now imagine wearing dark brown and black in this ascendant forsaken weather. That sounds terrible. Aodhn replied with a frown. Is it necessary to wear those colors? It isnt just terrible; it is horrible. Synov replied. Also, its a festival, so we''re all expected to wear the same colors. Raol, I hate the festival already. Daruk muttered. You see, Unrid, the children hate it. Synov complained, gesturing to Daruk. And thats not all. I told that woman that with the council now complete, the men are supposed to sit on the right of the mayor while the women sit on the left, but did she listen to me? When no one replied, she continued. No, she didnt listen. She said she wanted to spice things up and rearrange the councilors, but thats a terrible idea. The seat arrangement finally got Unrids attention, and he chimed in. As long as Im not seated next to Minerva, I have no objections whatsoever to the to the arrangement she proposes. Grandma Alderman said the new councilor is too young and would find it hard to make his opinions heard on the council. Daruk suddenly said, changing the topic, and Unrid frowned. Councilman Warwick is a respectable member of the council, regardless of his age. The other councilors are old enough to be his parents, including you, father. Daruk argued. Councilwoman Elora is also young too, yet her opinions are heard just fine. Who cares about the councilors? Synov groaned. Im talking about the arrangements and colors here, topics far more important than the new councilman. The mayor should have just made you the planning head instead. Aldric quipped, and Synov gasped. Thats what Ive been telling your father all along. I heard you last night, and I can hear you now, Syn, but the mayor has chosen, and its already too late to start making leadership changes. Synov glared at Unrid for a few seconds before she sniffed and muttered. No one appreciates me in this house. Chapter 22: Harvest festival preparations The day of the harvest festival is one of joy for the people of the Warren. It is a day on which we celebrate the end of the rainy season as well as our bountiful harvests, but more importantly, it is the day that we observe the night of wildharvest. Tenzin Dravenor. Mayor of the Warren. Sector 12, Ragnarok.
Heres your payment for the week. Evaris said as he handed four silver coins to Aodhn. Also, you dont have to work for the next few weeks; itll be a while before we start planting again. Aodhn sighed blissfully. Thank you, Evaris; you have no idea how happy I am to hear that. It was the day before the festival, and coincidentally, it was also the last day of the week, which meant it was payday. Evaris had been the last to pay, and as Aodhn made his way back to the house, he mentally counted the amount hed gained in the past month. So far, hed gained a total of 84 silver coins, but after paying for each week of sword lessons, he only had 81 silver coins left, which was still an enormous amount compared to what the average citizen earned. Preparations for the harvest festival were in full swing as the farmers had harvested all their crops, and he could see farmhands transporting produce back to their employers barns or silos. Paper decorations littered the street, and bold signs written in dark brown and black paint covered almost every available wall. Aodhn thought the decorations were hideous, but the villagers loved them. Merchants crowded the streets, showcasing and advertising various goods. Aodhn had passed this area before, but now that he had a little money, he wanted to buy something for himself. He made his way to a stall that displayed various ''magical jewelry on one corner of the street; it was sectioned into different parts, displaying rings, pendants, bracelets, and even necklaces. A burly merchant stood by the stall, and when he noticed Aodhns attention, he grinned, revealing teeth yellowed by the constant chewing of spring beet. Yes, son, youve come to the right place. He hollered in greeting. No one in the Warren sells quality stuff anymore, you know, corruption and all. But I am different; all I sell is of the highest quality. Is that so? Aodhn asked with a curious smile, and the merchant sniffed. Truly, check out this beautiful silver ring; cant you just feel the magical energy coursing through it? Hmm. Aodhn couldnt sense even a speck of energy within the ring, but he obliged the merchant. I guess. Its also quite beautiful, but I would prefer a necklace instead. Oh. The merchant chuckled. You have a very keen eye, son; the necklaces are the highest quality in all of the Warren. Of course. Aodhn focused on the section containing necklaces, and his gaze was immediately drawn to a golden necklace designed with tiny black runes. Aodhn touched it and realized that he could indeed feel a small amount of magical energy emanating from it. Ah, a beautiful one. The merchant pitched. Its origins can be traced to the desert clans in the northern part of the Calodan kingdom. That far? Aodhn asked, shocked at the distance the necklace must have traveled, if the merchant was telling the truth. Perhaps even farther, but that was as far as I could trace it. The merchant replied before he suddenly remembered. Oh, it comes with its own pendant as well. The merchant rummaged through a dirty brown bag, searching, and a moment later, he brought out a golden lightning bolt pendant. Now its complete, and if what Ive heard of your abilities is correct, then it suits you perfectly. Perhaps too perfectly. Aodhn muttered as he attached the pendant to the necklace, and it almost seemed to glow to his senses. How much is it? Well, because youre such an esteemed figure, I shall give you a discounted price and sell this very magical necklace to you for a single gold coin.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. What! Aodhn exclaimed. Are you crazy? Theres no need for such language, truly, but because of who you are and what youve done for the village, then I shall cut down the price by half. 50 silver coins is still a ridiculous price for a trinket. A trinket? The merchant frowned. I assure you that this is not a trinket but an extremely valuable magical item. It is definitely worth 50 silver coins. Then Ill just have to return it. Aodhn replied and handed the necklace over, but the merchant refused it and asked. How much would you like to pay then? After much haggling, Aodhn finally bought the necklace for 5 silver coins, which was still a ridiculous amount to pay for the necklace, but he was fascinated by the energy emanating from it, and besides, he could easily afford it. Nice doing business with you. He said to the merchant, who replied with a pained expression, but as he turned to leave, the neighing of a horse caught his attention, and he turned to see a troop of soldiers marching through the village. Unlike the soldiers already stationed in the Warren, these ones were decked in shining silver armor that covered almost every inch of their bodies. There were a dozen of them, but only one, whom Aodhn assumed was their commander, rode on a horse while the others walked; still, they managed to look down on the villagers as if staring down from high thrones. All of them were awakened, and although Aodhn couldnt get an accurate reading of their cores, he felt that they were all stronger than the soldiers stationed at the barrack. People whispered as they rushed to make way for the arriving soldiers, their expressions that of fear, confusion, and anger. Why have they arrived so early? One woman whispered to her neighbor as they quickly cleared their goods from the road, lest the soldiers kick them away. Surely it hasnt been a year yet. Its only been six months since they arrived last. What do you mean six months? a farmhand hissed. We had just planted the corn on Master Cairans farm when they arrived last. I saw them myself, marching through this very street. Nay, it is longer than that; it should be six months by now. Still, this is unheard of! another woman whispered, interjecting herself into the conversation. Another recruitment in less than six months? I tell you, this war is simply a waste of life and resources. The farmhand replied in a harsh whisper. The situation of the war must be dire if they are resorting to such measures. A man pointed out with a shake of his head, but the farmhand glared at him. Who cares about the damn war? Whether it be the Calodans or the Sundogs that rule us, I tell you, the Warren will still remain unaffected. The only change well see is the uniforms of these blasted soldiers. I just hope the mayor can at least convince them to wait until the harvest festival is over. Aodhn listened to the whispers of the villagers, and as the troop passed by, some began to follow behind them. Aodhn followed too, wanting to know what would happen next. The soldiers ignored the barracks opposite the Areli tree, but their eyes shone as they felt the energy emanating from it. They stopped before the barricade, though, admiring the tree for a moment before their leader suddenly turned towards the mayors office. . The mayors office. Second lieutenant Tyrus Hadjen smiled at the mayor as he walked into the office with the skinny scholar in tow. Tyrus wasnt particularly large himself, but he was muscled and bulging in all the right places. He was only twenty-five, but his core emanated a pressure that was roughly between the 15th and 16th tiers. He ran his fingers through his coppery blond hair as he sat down and said,. I would say long time no see Tenzin, but even I know that it hasnt been long enough. Why are you here then? What is it you want this time? The mayor asked. What I always want, Tenzin, is to recruit your people. Well, then youll be leaving empty-handed, as none of the awakeneds in the village are up to the standard age. The lieutenant sighed before producing an envelope, sealed with red beeswax, and handed it to the mayor. I bring sad news, Tenzin; the official age of recruitment has been reduced to 16; I do not like this either, but my fatherthe commanderinsists that I do not return empty-handed. Has the war council gone insane? Sixteen-year-olds are children! According to the war council, sixteen-year-olds are awakened and can therefore contribute to the war. They are barely trained, Tyrus; they will be like sheep to the slaughter. You think I dont know that? Im only following orders, Tenzin; I do not have a choice. The mayor stared at Tyrus in dismay before he massaged his temple and asked. How much time do we have? Six days, thats all I can give you. Tyrus replied, and after a moment of silence, he added. Im sorry, Tenzin, but orders are orders. We shall camp outside the village so you can enjoy your festival. Immediately after Tyrus left the office, the mayor let out a deep breath and asked. Darwyn, what are our options? There is nothing we can do but inform the villagers of the latest developments, preferably after the festival. The mayor sighed once again and said, Gather the council; theyll be dying to know what this was about anyway. . When Aodhn got back home, Unrid had already been summoned to the council meeting, and the rest of the family was speculating on the situation as they were having lunch. It has to be a serious matter; if not, the mayor wouldnt call for such an urgent meeting. Aldric pointed out, and Synov agreed. True, at least not this close to the harvest festival. Is the festival going to be cancelled? Aodhn asked. Hed heard many of the villagers speculating about the possibility on his way back home. The festive air had soured after the news of the armys arrival had spread, and even when theyd left to camp outside the Warren, the villagers remained unsettled. I doubt things are that serious, but it is possible. Synov replied. The most important part of the festival is the Wildharvest, so thatll hold regardless. Oh, right. How are your preparations going, Daruk? Aodhn asked. Terribly. Daruk replied with a condescending sniff. Like I keep telling my mother, Im not a hunter. Youre not required to hunt anything, honey, just to survive the night; hunting is a plus. Synov replied. Everyone hunts, mom; telling me not to hunt is like telling me to fail. Daruk argued. I doubt theres anything left to hunt anyway, not after the last expedition. Aldric chuckled. Its been three weeks since then; theyll still have to be careful. Aodhn pointed out. Im just so curious as to what the army wants this time. Synov grumbled, and in this manner, the conversation continued. It was evening when Unrid returned from the meeting. His expression was grave as he walked forward, grabbed Daruk, and hugged him. Chapter 23: Wild Harvest The horror of war manifests not only in the cacophony of violence that rends the earth but also in the silent screams of shattered souls that echo across desolate landscapes. It is a realm where innocence is consumed by the flames of conflict, and the very fabric of civilization is torn asunder. Horrors of war Scholar Jos Narosky Calodan kingdom, year 2273.
We only have a week left before the soldiers take them away. Unrid finished in a somber tone, and a tense silence descended on the room. Aodhn let out a deep breath. Hed thought about joining the military, but after a lot of reading, hed realized that the best place to grow was the academy. In fact, there were magical academies in every sector, but the best of them were the ones in the 1st, 2nd, and, surprisingly, 5th sectors. These three magical academies were the best Ragnarok had to offer, and if he could get enrolled in one of them, then he would gain much. Is there anything we can do? Synov asked, and Aldric responded. The only other option is to get enrolled in a school; Daruk will turn sixteen in the next two days, and if he awakens, then he and Aodhn can leave before the soldiers act. The soldiers wont just sit by and let an awakened walk out of the village. Unrid replied. Theres still a possibility that I dont awaken, though; what happens then? Daruk asked. The possibility that you dont awaken is very low. Aodhn replied. Hed read many books on the awakening process, and Daruk had a pretty good chance of awakening. Oh Raol. Heavens help me. Synov lamented as she clasped Daruks hand tightly. Calm down, Synov; we will figure something out. Unrid voiced out tersely, and silence descended on the living room once again until Aldric suggested. What if they dont walk out of the village? What if theyre smuggled out? A calculative expression crossed Unrids features, but Synov didnt welcome the idea at all. Smuggled? She asked. Aldric, are you dealing with smugglers? Her voice was laced with a hint of accusation and disappointment, causing Aldric to quickly defend himself. Im not dealing with smugglers; I just happen to know one. How is that any different? Synov shouted, but Unrid cut her off and asked. What does this person smuggle? I dont know, but I know he has a ship as well as a cloaking concept. He could be in this room, and no one would know. Aldric replied. Do you trust this person? Unrid asked, but Aldric shook his head. I only trust him as far as I can throw him, but I know he delivers and doesnt disappoint. Then its settled. Unrid replied with a hard expression. If Daruk awakens, then your friend will smuggle them out, and if not, hell take Aodhn alone. We are not actually friends. Aldric started, but Synov interjected. This is dangerous, Unrid; even if theyre successfully smuggled out, the council Im aware of the danger, Syn, and Ill deal with the council when the time comes. What matters right now is that our children are safe and excluded from this damn war. Aodhn sighed. He woud have had to take drastic measures if Unrid hadn''t agreed to the smuggling. War wasn''t for him, not yet. He also didnt miss the fact that Unrid had counted him among his children, and a warm feeling bubbled within him. The Brystions were the first family hed ever had, and although he was conscious of the fact that he was still an outsider, he was slowly adapting. They settled to wait after that, and the next day, when the harvest festival came around, the dull brown decorations didnt help matters. The village square, located about half a mile away from the center of the village, was crowded with people. A group of villagers acted as a live band for the occasion, but it was obvious that the minds of people were on a different matter entirely, as all they discussed were the soldiers and their possible intentions for coming to the village. The mayor was yet to make any announcements, but speculation had run rampant, and by the time the festival was coming to a close, the villagers were twitching with nervous energy. At the end of the ceremony, the mayor hesitantly took to the stage to deliver the news. There was a beat of silence as the villagers processed his words, and then all hell broke loose as cries of fear and outrage filled the air. Families with awakened children within the range of fifteen to eighteen mourned, desperately hugging their children as they cursed the kingdom and its soldiers. The mayor tried to calm them down, but they barely listened to him, and after a while, he gave up. When night came, sullen and distraught parents brought their fifteen-year-old children to the villages entrance, where the mayor performed a small traditional ceremony before sending them into the Warren Woods.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. The Wildharvest was a traditional ceremony to celebrate the coming of age of children who would be turning sixteen before the next harvest festival, and this year, there were only seventeen of them. The children rushed into the forest with weapons strapped to their backs. Daruk was among them, and he was carrying the sword Unrid had bought for Aodhn before the expedition. With one more look in his familys direction, he rushed after the others. The families and friends of the children waited throughout the night, but they were not too worried as, after the expedition, the number of creatures in the woods had drastically reduced. As the sun rose the next morning, the children began to come out of the forest, and unsurprisingly, many came out empty-handed, while some came out with the carcass of a single creature or two, so when Daruk came out with the carcass of three different creatures, Aodhn and the Brystions were very surprised. Daruks expression was disgusted as he handed the carcasses to the mayor, who then bestowed a mark on his forehead and congratulated him on successfully completing the Wildharvest. Aodhn thought it was a weird tradition, but well, no one asked him. He spent the next two days meditating and resting, as he had nothing to do outside the house and didnt really feel like reading. The streets were bustling as usual, but the faces of the villagers were hard and annoyed. Unrid attended meeting after meeting as the mayor tried different tactics to at least increase the recruitment age, but their efforts were futile as the lieutenant remained adamant. Synov, on the other hand, was panicking, and it took the combined effort of the entire house to keep her from spiraling out of control. Aldric returned the evening of the second day with news that he had secured their passage on the smugglers vessel. Aodhn had already packed everything he would need for the journey, as whether Daruk awakened or not, he still needed to leave. As they ate dinner that evening, the atmosphere was tense and quiet, save for the occasional scuffing of steel spoons against ceramic plates. After dinner, Aodhn returned to his room to check and confirm that he had packed all that he needed, but a few minutes later, a knock resounded against the door, and he opened it to find Daruk, who was nervously biting his nails. You shouldnt do that. Aodhn said with a small smile as he gestured for him to come in, and Daruk groaned. I cant help myself; Im too nervous. Thats understandable. Aodhn replied as he folded a black linen shirt and placed it into the traveling bag that lay open on his bed. Daruk leaned against the wall, watching in silence while Aodhn worked, but a moment later he stated: Many people awaken at midnight. Aodhn turned with an amused expression and replied. Why, thank you, Daruk, for that piece of information. What Im trying to say is that its possible that Ill awaken tonight, and Im scared. Scared of what? Aodhn asked, turning to focus his attention on Daruk, who sniffed and replied. Scared of all the options; scared that I might awaken and that I might not; scared of leaving the Warren; and scared to stay because I know Ill have to leave eventually. Aodhn sighed. You have every right to be scared; I am too; I just control it better. Daruk stayed silent for a while before asking. How did your awakening go? The first word that came to Aodhns mind was terrible, but he stopped himself from adding to Daruks anxiety and lied. It was pretty normal; it started with a mild headache, then I started burning up; a while after that, I fell unconscious, and a few hours later, I woke up feeling different and, well, awakened. The description hed just given Daruk was the standard awakening process hed read about in books, and although some individuals experienced variations of it, it usually wasnt as traumatizing as his own had been. Well, I hope mine is just as seamless. Daruk replied, and Aodhn responded with a casual shrug. However it goes, youll have me and your whole family rooting for you. I really appreciate that. Daruk replied, and a few moments later, he went downstairs. The entire family was seated in the living room when Aodhn finally descended the stairs. Not a word was spoken as the clock ticked towards midnight, and Aodhn decided to use the opportunity to meditate, but the tense atmosphere kept him from focusing, so he counted down the minutes along with the rest of the family. Unrid kept checking Daruk for any strange symptoms, but when midnight passed and nothing happened, they all began to worry except Synov, who looked slightly relieved. All hope wasnt lost yet, as not everyone awakened by midnight, so they kept waiting. At one point, Aldric began humming a soft tune, and before long, the melody of it caused Aodhn to doze off. It was 2 a.m. when a slight rumble of the earth jolted him, and he woke up to see Daruk furiously sweating even as Unrid tore the clothes off his body, leaving him only in his underpants. A moment later, the earth rumbled again, but this time, it was so light that it barely rattled anything. It was obvious what affinity Daruk would awaken, and Aodhn chuckled as he imagined how disappointed Daruk would be, as hed once mentioned detesting the element of earth. Apart from the continuous trembling of the earth and the heat emanating from him, nothing else seemed to be happening. Unrid looked down at his youngest child with a proud smile before moving to comfort Synov, who was trembling slightly as she clutched Daruks hands in hers. The whole process took a little over two hours, and when Daruk regained consciousness, the chair hed sat on was thoroughly soaked. Congratulations brother. Aldric said, stretching his left hand out for a handshake while using the right to cover his nose and protect himself from the stench of Daruks awakening. Thanks, I guess. Daruk replied sullenly, ignoring Aldrics outstretched hand to look at his own, and a moment later he said. You were right, Aodhn; the system truly is cruel. Aodhn chuckled. I know this wasnt the affinity you wanted, but its still a very good one. Daruk sighed wearily as his father and mother congratulated him, but after a few minutes, Unrid said to him, Go, take a bath, and pack your things; you cannot afford to stay here any longer. Synov burst into tears at the comment, and she wrapped her hands around him, not caring about the grime and filth that coated his skin. After a lot of urging and consoling, she finally let him go and immediately turned to Aodhn. Please Daruk is my brother. Aodhn interrupted. Hes my family, just like the rest of you, and Ill protect him with all I have. Overwhelmed, Synov hugged him, sobbing quietly in his arms. She released him a moment later, and he went to his room to take a shower. Half an hour later, Aodhn and Daruk were seated in the living room, waiting for Aldrics friend, the smuggler whom he had contacted a while ago. Synov held onto Daruks right hand, squeezing it so tightly that it turned slightly blue, but he didnt complain. It took another half hour before a knock rang out, and they all jumped in fear before Aldric rushed to the door and opened it. The man who stepped into the room looked nothing like any smuggler Aodhn had ever seen; in fact, he seemed more like a noble than a degenerate. The man gave an elaborate bow: Greetings, Im Eldridge Raventhorn, and Im at your service. Chapter 24: Raventhorn For those who have borne witness to the horror of war, there can be no solace in its wake, only a solemn vow to strive for a world where conflict yields not to chaos but to compassion, where the echoes of explosions are drowned out by the chorus of reconciliation. In the face of such darkness, the light of humanity flickers defiantly, a beacon of hope amidst the storm, beckoning us towards a future untainted by the horrors of the past. Horrors of war Scholar Jos Narosky. Calodan Kingdom, year 2273.
Synov stared at the man in confusion and asked. Youyoure the smuggler?. Eldridge frowned. Thats not the term I would use; I like to think of myself as a transporter of both goods and people. The man was suave and articulate, but it was his surname that made Aodhn so sure that the man was a noble. He was only a few years older than Aldric, maybe twenty-four or five, and his core emanated a pressure between the 12th and 13th tiers, which meant he wasnt much stronger than Aldric either. Still, Aodhn wondered if he was suffering from the limit or something else to still be at the 12th tier at his age. Eldridge is a part of the Adventurers Guild, so he runs a legal adventuring business. Aldric explained. The smuggling Transporting. Eldridge interrupted firmly, and Aldric sighed. The transporting business is just a side job. Thank you for the introduction, Aldric. Now, to the matter at hand, where do you wish to go? Aodhn paused, realizing that he hadnt thought that far yet. Hed been so focused on leaving that he hadnt thought of where he wanted to go. He shared a look with Daruk before asking. How far are you willing to take us? I could take you to the Calodan kingdom or even to the frozen mountains of Unoros; it all depends on where you want to go. We plan to attend one of the three major academies. Daruk replied before asking. How long would it take to reach the 5th sector? The 5th sector! Synov exclaimed. You dont need to run that far. It''s not running Synov; the 5th sector has the best academy in all the kingdom. Aodhn replied. Allegedly. Aldric snorted. Itll take the ship a little less than a week to get to the 5th sector, about five days. Eldridge replied. It doesnt matter where you go as long as youre safe and you write us letters. Unrid replied before asking Eldridge. How much is the cost of your service?" Eldridge chuckled. Im sorry, Mr. Brystion, but you cannot afford my services; Aldric has decided to owe me a favor as payment, so it is settled. What kind of favor? Synov asked worriedly, but Aldric waved off her concerns. It doesnt matter; payment has been settled; they can go now. Aodhn walked towards Aldric and placed a hand on his shoulder. You have my sincere gratitude for this, and I promise to protect your brother to repay it. Well, its my loss then, because youd have protected him anyway. Aldric replied sullenly, but he smiled a moment later and hugged him. Be safe, Aodhn, and dont worry about us; we will be fine; Ill make sure of it. Aodhn nodded shakily, trying to keep his emotions in check as he hefted his bag, and made his way to the entrance while Daruk said a final goodbye to his family. After a teary hug from Synov and a warm one from Unrid, they finally left the house. After they left, Aldric turned to his father and said, Ill wait until the consequences of this blow over before returning to the academy. Whatever the consequences are, well face it together as a family. Unrid replied as he consoled Synov. Hopefully, it wont be too serious. . Immediately after Aodhn and Daruk stepped into the night with Eldridge, he turned around and held onto their wrists for a few seconds before releasing them. Great, I just placed a cloaking spell on the both of you. He announced. Its not foolproof, but no one should hear or see us as we make our way to the harbor. Aodhn couldnt sense any difference, but as they made their way to the other side of the village, farmers and merchants passed by them without noticing, and they had to move around to avoid running into the villagers. Aodhn had never been to the harbor since hed gotten to the Warren, but hed heard much about it. From what hed read, the island was what sailors called a waypoint island or simply a "stopover island." They usually served as ports of call or layover points for vessels to refuel, resupply, or undergo maintenance before resuming their journey. Aodhn was surprised when they got to the harbor, as he hadnt expected it to be so large and chaotic. Daruk seemed to know his way around, so Aodhn simply followed behind him. As they walked, Aodhn saw a weathered lighthouse as it stood sentinel, its guiding beacons piercing through the darkness of dawn to steer ships safely to port. Ships glided through the wide, open channels as dock workers scurried about, their voices mingling with the clang of metal and the creak of ropes as goods were loaded and unloaded with practiced efficiency. Eldridge led them towards a large ship painted in a midnight black color with the words RAVENTHORN boldly written on it. The ship stretched nearly 80 feet from bow to stern with a towering mast that seemed to pierce the sky. The hull of the ship gleamed with a metallic sheen that exuded an air of strength and malevolence; intricate rune scripts covered the hull of the ship, and they glowed faintly in the dark of dawn.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Aodhn and Daruk, but most especially Aodhn, stared with wide eyes as they climbed onto the ship. People moved around the ship without sparing them a glance. Many of them were passengers who had boarded the ship, and Aodhn was surprised to see that most of them were Gishan, identified by their height and dark complexions. The deck was noisy with the sounds of various passengers carrying the luggage and the shouts of the ships crew as they moved about, seemingly too busy to help anyone at the moment. Now boys, come with me; Ive got a special cabin for the two of you. Eldridge said as he grabbed their wrists once again, and a moment later, their invisibility fell away. A group of Gishan girls turned as they passed by them, but as one, they sniffed in disdain and turned away. Gishan women are always so dramatic. Eldridge said with a shake of his head as he led them below deck and to a room that was so small that even Daruk had to bend to stay within it. I know its a little cramped, but its only for a few days; well take a temporary stop at the 8th sector so you can stretch your legs by then. Thank you. Aodhn replied, and a moment later, they were left alone in the cramped space. He placed his bag on the floor and laid down, using the bag as a makeshift pillow, before he said to Daruk: Youve been awfully quiet. Yeah, Im still reeling from the whole thing and processing it. That is understandable. Aodhn replied and asked. Are you worried about your parents? Daruk sighed as he lay on the floor. A little, but I know theyll be fine. Im more worried about us and this entire journey. Yeah. Aodhn nodded. Were flying blind. Exactly! Daruk exclaimed. We have no idea what to expect when we reach the 5th sector or whether well even be accepted into the academy. Well be accepted; the trial process is only a little strict. I know what youre trying to do, but this is the 5th academy were talking about, the best in the kingdom; the trials are not just strict; they are rigorous. Okay, maybe youre right, but Id rather take that chance than risk my life in the war. Daruk stared at Aodhn for a second before he sighed and grumbled. And this affinity that I awakened, Raol, I hate it so much. Aodhn chuckled in response. Dont be ungrateful; many would kill to have what you do. I know that, and Im trying not to be, but I spent my entire life hoping for something else, you know. I know. Aodhn nodded. But we all have to play the cards weve been dealt by fate, and trust me, there are fates much worse than that if an Earth awakened. I know that too. Daruk responded, and they lapsed into silence. It was an hour before the ship set sail, but by that time, both boys had fallen asleep. . The Warren. Unrid. Hours after Aodhn and Daruk had left the house, Unrid walked towards the mayors house for another meeting with Aldric in tow. Both wore nervous expressions as they walked through the dark corridors, led by the scholar, who threw curious glances at them from time to time. Since the arrival of the army, the council has been having what they termed private meetings, but the mayor had declared todays meeting open, which meant the councilors were required to come with their attendants as usual. Unrid had hoped the private meetings would continue till the day of the conscription; unfortunately, they hadnt, so as they walked towards the door, Unrid mentally prepared himself for the inevitable questions that would arise as a result of Aodhn''s absence. Before long, they reached the enchanted door, and a moment later, Unrid was seated among the other council members, with Aldric standing behind him. Hed gotten so used to Aodhn''s quiet presence in these meetings that his absence now left him feeling horribly exposed. Even as he prayed that no one would ask about it, he knew his prayers would go unanswered. As usual, the first person to pounce on him was Minerva, as she asked. I must confess that Ive gotten quite fond of your guests presence in these meetings; why isnt he here today?" Unrid stiffened and cursed the woman as his nerves intensified, but before they could overwhelm him, a feeling of calm blossomed within him, settling his nerves, and he mentally thanked Aldric for his help before replying. Unfortunately, Aodhn will no longer be attending these meetings as he is no longer a guest of mine. Unrid had thought of lying to the council, but hed later decided not to, as that would only intensify their ire when they eventually found out. What does that mean? I thought you took him as a son. The mayor asked curiously, but before he could respond, Minerva interrupted and said, Please tell me you had a falling out. No, we didnt. Unrid replied. Aodhn and Daruk left the village this morning; they no longer reside in the Warren. What? They escaped? The mayor exclaimed. That is a serious crime, Unrid; we have to find them and punish them before the army finds out about this. No. Unrid replied with a vigorous shake of his head. They didnt escape; Aodhn isnt truly a part of the village, so he retains the right to leave anytime he chooses. Not when recruitments are ongoing. Elora pointed out. What have you done? Carvahl asked, although it was pretty obvious by now what he had done. Are you telling us that you snuck your children out to help them avoid conscription? I did what I had to do to protect my children. Your actions have doomed us! Tristan Boerhtsige shouted. He was the newest and seventh member of the council, and although he didnt look much older than Aldric, he was actually in his thirties and had once been a student at the academy Aldric now attended. Whether he was simply uninterested in advancing or hed reached his limit, no one knew, but the fact that he hadnt advanced above the 14th tier in years pointed towards the latter. Once the army finds out about this, theyll punish the village for it, and Raol alone knows what theyll do. He finished, glaring at Unrid with unbridled hatred, which wasnt too surprising as he was the elder brother of Darnathil, one of the hunters who had gotten killed in the Rithclaw incident. What more can they do? Reduce the conscription age to 14? Elora scowled. This is not a joke! Tristan shouted again, and Minerva shouted in response. You dont have to shout to get your points across; we can hear you perfectly! Before another argument could break out, the mayor shouted. Enough everyone! This is not a matter that we can afford to take lightly. He turned to Unrid before he continued. As a council member, you are supposed to be a model to the villagers, but how can you ask the people to give away their children when you hide yours away? Im not a perfect man, Tenzin, and I never claimed to be. Unrid replied with a shrug. The villagers will rebel when they find out that your children arent among the latest batch of recruits. Calithen stated I wanted to protect my children. Youre not the first to give your children to this war, Unrid. Calithen responded harshly. The mayor and I have given our children too." And none of them have returned, Unrid shot back in anger. You have neither seen nor heard from them in over three years; their time in the military ended a year ago! Still The mayor started, but Unrid interrupted with an agonized cry. We are sending our children to be slaughtered like animals! You all know this! And for what? A war that benefits us in no way whatsoever. That is not for us to decide, Unrid; we have no power here, and your actions have put the village in serious danger; therefore, you cannot go unpunished. The mayor responded coldly. There was a momentary beat of silence as the council members took in the mayors words, and a moment later, Minerva said: I suggest a swift execution in the village square! We are not savages, Minerva; we will not behead a man. Calithen responded with a glare. Then banishment; that is even more appropriate considering the circumstances. Tristan suggested. Silence! The mayor shouted before he turned to Darwyn and commanded, Take Unrid and his son to the waiting room while we discuss a suitable punishment for his crimes. Unrid was led to a room outside the meeting hall, where he and Aldric sat in tense silence and waited for the verdict of the council. It took the council more than an hour to arrive at a decision, and when Unrid came before the council once again, the mayor declared. For the obstruction of military conscription as well as aiding and abetting the escape of soon-to-be conscripts, you are hereby stripped of your position as councilor and shall forfeit every benefit that comes with the position. Youre allowed to keep your house, but your family shall be stripped of its name, and from now henceforth, you shall be known as Unrid of Warren. Chapter 25: Unexpected storms It is extremely rare for turbulent or chaotic storms to suddenly appear out of thin air, but in areas where the barrier between our world and the origin plane of a storm is particularly thin, this occurrence isnt unusual. Such storms are usually fueled by the unfocused and untamed energies of the element of storm, but for those who walk its path, it can be a boon, as if they survive, they can either grasp or glimpse their origin planes. Research study on the concept of origin planes By leading expert Professor Corian Tilinus. Yildirim, year 2269.
Aodhn sighed blissfully as clear, crisp air filled his lungs. It had been three days since the Raventhorn had left Warren Harbor, and in all that time, theyd barely stepped out of the cramped room except when they needed to get their food. Aodhn and Daruk had spent most of their time meditating and learning to harness their willpower. Daruk buried himself in the process, meditating for hours, but Aodhn didnt blame him, as there was nothing else for him to do. Theyd only seen Eldridge once after the first day, when hed introduced them to another guild member called Tarion. The boy was only a little older than Aodhn, and although he wasnt particularly friendly, he politely answered all of their questions. After several rounds of discussion, theyd found out that Eldridge wasnt actually part of the adventurer''s guild but a part of a group called the Ravens, and their dealings were only about 10% legal. Now that it was midnight and all the passengers were already in their cabins, Aodhn had come out to the deck, as it was the only time his presence wouldnt cause any undue attention. It was at that moment that he realized that he hadnt seen the girls from Gishan since the first day either, and since they were within the same age range, he suspected they had been smuggled out too. Aodhn stood by the hull, watching as the ship literally tore through the fabric of the sea as it sped forward. Daruk came out about half an hour later, and he brought a stool to sit next to him. Aodhn stared at his sour expression and asked with a chuckle. What''s wrong this time? Daruk glanced at him and sighed before gesturing to the sea. Im just thinking about the limitations of my abilities; it doesnt even matter that I am awakened; Im completely useless at sea. And water awakeneds feel the same way on land, Daruk; at some point you have to accept what youve been given. Its a work in progress. Daruk replied, and with a sigh, Aodhn turned his gaze to the sky, dotted by a multitude of stars. With nothing to hinder his view, he slowly came to appreciate just how large this world was compared to Earth. The sky spread out like a blanket of stars that made him feel small and insignificant, and the more he stared, the more overwhelmed he felt. Its beautiful, isnt it? Daruk asked with a grin that reminded him of Aldric. You mean scary. Daruk laughed, and Aodhn let out a sigh of relief. That was his first genuine laugh in days, and Aodhn was just happy to see him make an expression other than bitterness. Grandma Alderman said the sky will teach us humility, and I realize just how much of it I need to learn. Realizing a need to learn is the first step. Aodhn replied with a smile. They were about to turn their attention back to the sky when the laughter of a few crew members drew their attention. Aodhn and Daruk moved closer to them, watching as they played a game called Briar. It was a board game that vaguely resembled checkers but required almost as much intelligence as chess. Oh, dang it. My luck is really awful tonight. One of the deckhands said as he lost a round of the game, and another replied. Its not a game of luck, Majid; its a game of intelligence. Well, as they always say, every game is a game of luck as long as you play it hard enough. Tarion replied, and everyone laughed at the mans expense. The night passed slowly, but a few hours before dawn, the swirling of the wind began to intensify, blowing as if a storm were gathering. Aodhn looked up and found the sky completely clear. He stared around in confusion as the intensity of the wind increased, and this time even Daruk and the deckhands noticed, and they all turned their attention to the clear sky. Aside from the now-raging wind, nothing looked amiss. Still, Aodhn remained terribly disturbed, and his suspicions of oddity were confirmed when his pendant began to emit a faint glow. Its reacting to something. Daruk murmured as he stared from the glowing necklace to the still-clear sky. It was now obvious that the necklace was indeed magical, but he had no clue what it was reacting to. The crew members were slowly standing to their feet, and some of the passengers came out of their cabins to stare at the sky in confusion. A sense of imminent danger began to tickle Aodhn''s senses, and as time passed, the feeling grew in his mind, and the necklace glowed brighter against his neck. We need to hide that. Daruk hissed. Its beginning to draw attention. Theres no where to hide it. Aodhn hissed back. Eldridge suddenly burst out of his room, and as the wind began to rock the ship, he rushed to the wheel and took control of it. The ship settled almost immediately, but a moment later, the ship heaved and tilted to the side, throwing people off their feet and almost into the sea. It was at this time that people began to panic, and the crew members ran around to help people back into their cabins, where it was safer.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Aodhn felt the air around them suddenly change, carrying with it a tinge of malevolence, and he slowly turned around, searching for its source, when an overwhelming feeling of belonging and power suddenly tugged at his senses. Aodhn stumbled, but Daruk caught him before he fell. Somethings coming. He gasped as the feeling grew, intensifying until he felt like he was drowning in it. He lost touch with reality as the feeling reached its apex, and need warred against the terror rising within him. The feeling soon took form as a large tear appeared in the sky and enormous storm clouds poured into the night sky like ink on water. Thunder boomed as the sky shattered and bolts of lightning struck the turbulent sea, agitating it further. Lightning continuously flashed within the clouds, heralding a loud crackle of thunder. The tear healed itself a minute later, but chaos had already poured through the opening, and Aodhn had glimpsed something unimaginable. An entity made entirely of vicious storms, so large and powerful that his mind trembled just thinking of it. Lightning struck the sea again, and a massive wave rose, reaching up so high that it felt like it aimed to fight the storm. Aodhn regained his senses at the sight, and Eldridge shouted. Stop staring and activate the enchantments, you fools. A few crew members rushed to a corner of the ship, and a moment later, a shimmering blue shield appeared around the ship. It was just in time, too, as the wave of water collapsed, creating another that slammed against the shield hard enough to leave cracks in it. Return below deck immediately! A man shouted, and the passengers rushed into their cabins, save for a few who had awakened and decided to stay. Aodhn stayed too, but he had managed to convince Daruk to go along with the others. The rumbling of thunder intensified as the storm grew at an alarming rate, and before long, it resembled one of his fully charged storm clouds, except on a much wider scale. Lightning of various hues crackled and flashed, rippling across the storms surface like millions of serpents. How close are we to the next island? Eldridge asked one of the crew members, and the man shouted in reply. Roughly three miles, boss. How can we help? One of the men who had stayed behind asked, and Eldridge shouted. You can help by charging the damned enchantments; if that shield goes down, then were doomed. Aodhn rushed towards Eldridge, but before he could speak, Eldridge shouted. What are you doing up here, boy? You should be below deck. Im a storm awakened; I can help. Eldridges gaze flicked from him to the glowing pendant on his neck before he nodded. Fine, stay, but I wont be held responsible if you die. Yes Aodhn responded, but Eldridge cut him off. And hide that flaming pendant! Thunder boomed again, and a downpour began. Large blobs of rain fell, hitting the shield with such force that it constantly cracked before repairing itself. A group of four gathered around the hull, and were trying to steady the turbulent sea. Their efforts had very little effect, but Eldridge encouraged them. Youre doing amazing, guys; just dont stop, like never ever stop. The ship proceeded about a half mile forward before a particularly large bolt of lightning suddenly descended and struck at the blue shield. A cry of pain echoed out as the shield shattered and lightning arced through the entire hull. With the loss of the shield, the raging winds rushed into the ship, and a moment later, the entire deck was completely soaked with water. Air awakeneds instantly rushed to take control, but the wind proved too strong and chaotic for them. The people despaired as the wind raged, threatening to throw them out of the ship, but Aodhn couldnt let that happen. Thinking quickly, he created a dome construct around the ship, cutting off the wind and heavy downpour. Ever since the expedition, Aodhns control and mastery over his skills had grown by leaps and bounds, and although he hadnt created any new skills yet, he was much stronger than before. Still, the large dome wasnt strong enough to stand against the wind and heavy rain, so it continuously drained his energy to repair the cracks as they formed on it. The loss of energy was serious, but not enough that he couldnt manage it. Still, he didnt see himself lasting for more than a few minutes. This construct gave the crew more time to recharge the enchantments, but as the blue dome began to reappear, the rune scripts sparked, too damaged to function properly, and the shield collapsed once again. Oh, for the love of Raol, what is going on? Eldridge shouted, and Majid, one of the crew members, replied. The scripts are too damaged; we cant recharge the shield. For ascendant sake. Eldridge swore and asked him. How long can you keep this construct up? Not long enough. Aodhn replied through gritted teeth as the draw of energy intensified. Steady, steady. He whispered to himself as the wind smashed against the dome with a furious intensity that reminded him of a rabid dog. After a while, Aodhn noticed that although the storm had become more powerful, its size had reduced, and he realized that the storm was consuming itself to fuel the destruction it rained down. Like a cornered animal, it lashed out, and numerous bolts of lightning gathered into a single point. When Aodhn realized what was happening, it was already too late. A beam of lightning descended with a speed that he could hardly follow, and it immediately split apart, arcing out like the branches of a tree. It struck the next instant, and Aodhns dome cracked like it was made out of paper; lightning surged through the entire deck even as the sea rose in agitation and the wind raged mercilessly. Screams echoed out as lightning surged through people, severely injuring some and outright killing others. Aodhn managed to create a smaller dome around himself before the lightning struck, but it only held out for a moment before it shattered and lightning struck him. Rather than kill him as Aodhn had feared, the bolt was absorbed into his core, and he was suddenly reminded of his tribulation and how hed absorbed the lightning to advance his class. With a hint of greed driving his decision, Aodhn immediately created a platform beneath his feet and, with a flex of will, rose up to the highest point on the ship. The wind raged at him, and thunder rumbled as if signaling the storms wrath. Lightning gathered once more, but Aodhn raised both hands to the storm and prepared himself for the worst. Terror rose within him as lightning built within the storm, and he knew without doubt that this was its last attack. Quickly, he focused his mind on the storm above and tried to connect with it. It was surprisingly easy, but the moment he did, he was suddenly filled with an utter loss of control and direction; chaos and destruction filled his mind, and it was a miracle that he managed to keep his footing. The storm had no sentience or life, but it was driven by an overwhelming will to rain destruction down on the earth, and as he connected to the storm, that will honed in on his position and identified him as the enemy. Immediately, the beam of lightning shot towards him, and thousands of electrical arcs rushed forward like iron filings to a magnet and struck him with a force that slammed into him like a horde of angry mammoths. His entire world disappeared as he was slammed into the ship with so much force that his body broke through the deck and into the ships belly. Agony ripped through him as the energy rushed towards his core, pushing it until it was forced to expand. The energy poured into him for what felt like hours, and his core began to strain as pure, untamed energy forcefully rushed into it. His core ached, and Aodhn desperately pushed the lightning away from him. His core couldnt take anymore energy, and he ran the risk of shattering it if he absorbed any more. Agony ripped through him so intensely that he passed out for a moment, and when he finally opened his eyes, all he saw was chaos. He found himself at the bottom of the ship, surrounded by burning and shattered wood. Water rushed into the broken ship, and cries of terror and pain filled the air. His ears rang and his eyes watered as smoke rose from the burning ship. Slowly, he pulled himself up from the wreckage, covered in welts and injuries too many to count. Slowly, he turned to take in his surroundings, but the sight that greeted him was one of blood and gore. Broken bodies lay around the ship, and the screams of panicked passengers filled the air. He watched as a man and his daughter blindly rushed out of their burning cabin and were immediately decimated by falling wood and metal. Disgust and horror roiled through him, and as he vomited his guts, a voice rose up within him like a whisper. This is your fault! You did this! You killed all these people. Chapter 26: Aftermath The origin planes are planes of existence yet to be explored or understood completely, but we do know that only the planes of elements directly affect or breach our world, and the Amorack ruins still bear the scars of destruction that the origin plane of flames left behind. Understanding origin planes [Revised] Professor Corian Tilinus. Yildirim, Year 2274.
This is your fault! You did this! You killed all these people." The words echoed in Aodhns mind, repeating themselves like a mantra as he helplessly took in the destruction around him. Guilt tore through him like a tidal wave, crushing him in its embrace even as nausea threatened to overwhelm him. He heaved again, spilling the contents of his stomach. His strength left him, and he fell to his knees. The voice screaming in his mind was right; hed foolishly connected his mind to the storm and had indirectly attracted its attention, thereby putting all the passengers in danger. Aodhn! Hed foolishly thought he could absorb all the lightning. He had been wrong. Greed had clouded his mind to the extent that he had failed to think things through. He heaved again, but hed emptied his stomach already, so nothing came out. His actions had been taken with the intent to save the passengers and also absorb a large amount of energy to advance his class, but all hed accomplished was the destruction of the ship as well as the deaths of the same people he''d wanted to save. Aodhn! Wails of pain and terror filled his ears, even as whispers of guilt filled his mind. Chaos and madness surrounded him as most passengers hurriedly jumped out of the sinking ship and into the sea. Others screamed in terror as they desperately searched for their loved ones amidst the wreckage, while others just stood helplessly, frozen in shock, as they stared at the destruction with wide eyes. Aodhn! Oh, thank Raol; Ive been looking everywhere for you. Aodhn turned to Daruk, and in a broken whisper, he cried. I caused all this. Its all my fault. Its not your fault, Daruk began, but Aodhn cut him off. I doomed all these people; theyre dead because of me. "Okay, Aodhn, this is not the time for a mental breakdown; you need to pull yourself together. I cant You can, and you willlook at me. Daruk said firmly, forcing Aodhns gaze away from the death and destruction that surrounded them. Im not doing so well either, so you need to pull yourself together for the both of us. It took a while, but Aodhn gave a shaky nod in response, and Daruk replied. Good, now we need to get off this ship before it sinks. They made their way out of the rubble a moment later, passing distressed mothers or children as they clung desperately to their loved ones. The smell of blood, smoke, and burning flesh filled the air, but it was so much worse when they made it to the deck. Blood covered the entire floor, and Aodhn turned to see a blackened husk of flesh whose skeletal fingers still gripped the wheel. He stumbled as nausea overwhelmed him, and he emptied his belly once more. Daruk was shivering and severely pale, but he seemed to be doing much better than Aodhn, whose guilt choked him, refusing to let him breathe, but he pushed through it, and a moment later, they jumped out of the sinking ship and into the freezing waters. A modicum of clarity retuned to him as his body hit the cold waters, and the roar in his mind subsided. Aodhn followed behind Daruk, swimming towards the forest island in the distance. As they swam forward, Aodhn saw one of the Gishan girls helping a group of old women swim through the freezing waters with her abilities. Immediately she saw him, though, an expression of hatred and anger took over her features, and Aodhn flinched, bumping against the severed body of a man in the process. It was at that moment that he realized that the scent of blood didnt just hang in the air; it filled the water too. Oh God, we need to get out of the water now. Whats wrong. Daruk inquired in confusion, and Aodhn shouted. Blood. Monsters That was all he managed to get out before the screeching sound of fish reached his ears and a shark-like creature tore a man in half. Cries of terror filled his ears as he read the line of text floating above the monsters head. [Juvenile Vorax, Tier 11] Without thought, multiple bolts of lightning condensed and formed into a massive spear that shot towards the vorax with incredible speed. The spear tore through the voraxs snout and embedded itself in its brain. It exploded a moment later, and an entire half of the monster''s body was instantly destroyed. It wasnt over though, and a moment later, the screeching of hundreds of voraxs rang out. Aodhn pushed his guilt to the back of his mind and focused on saving those who had survived the ship. Ten storm boats suddenly appeared on the sea, and Aodhn shouted at the panicked survivors to get in. They rushed in, hurriedly piling themselves into the boat in a bid to get out of the waters before the voraxs arrived. Somehow, the boats managed to contain everyone, and Aodhn immediately sent them towards the island while he rode on a circular storm platform. The voraxs were determined, though, and their screeching got even louder as they pursued the fleeing boats. Multiple lightning spears shot into the water and exploded, causing the voraxs to screech in pain and retreat slightly. Unfortunately, they werent out of the woods yet. A second later, a screech, many times louder than the others, rang out, and Aodhn saw a large vorax, the size of an entire building, with razor-sharp teeth and bulbous eyes.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. Above its head was a line of text that identified it as a Tier 27 vorax matriarch. It let out another piercing screech as it dove forward and, in one smooth motion, swallowed the boat nearest to it, along with over a dozen people. Horrified screams rang out from the survivors at the sight, and Aodhn knew that if he did nothing, the matriarch would take the next boat and then another until it killed them all. Immediately, he willed a storm cloud into existence, and it expanded to a size of about 180 feet. Screams of terror rang out from the survivors as some of them relieved their recent experience, but the sight of the storm had an even greater impact on the voraxs, and with terrified screeches, they dove back into the sea, rushing away in fear. Aiden dispersed the storm cloud an hour later, when they finally reached the island, and injured survivors stumbled onto the island with trembling feet and terror-stricken expressions. Cries of distress and gratitude rose up to the sky as many fell on their knees in prayer, but the whole scene only caused his guilt to resurface. If he hadnt caught the attention of the storm, perhaps the ship would still be intact, and the passengers and crew members would still be alive. But it was very likely that the outcome would have been the same even if he hadnt intervened. It was likely that the ship would have been struck, and a greater number of people would have perished from such a direct attack. His actions had probably saved the passengers considering the fact that hed absorbed more than half of the storms attack, but it was also possible, somehow, that if he hadnt caught the storms attention, the ship could have escaped or survived that last attack. Now, he would never know. It was possible that hed saved these people, but it was also possible that hed doomed them, that hed caused the deaths of dozens, that No. You cant think like that, Aodhn. He thought to himself. You saved them; otherwise, they would have died. If you hadnt done anything, All of them would have died. His thoughts failed to erase the guilt bubbling in his chest, but they helped him summon a wisp of courage, and he moved to help the wounded survivors, but many of them flinched and stumbled away from him while others glared at him with accusation burning in their eyes. One of the Gishan girls rushed towards him with fury burning in her gaze, and in a choked voice, she cried. This is all your fault, youyou did this. No, I didnt, he tried to explain and deny her accusations, but she cut him off with an agonized expression. You did something that drew the attention of the storm! Youre the reason so many are dead. Youre the reason why were now stuck on this ascendant, forsaken island with nowhere to go. Aodhn winced as each statement stabbed into him like a stake through his heart, and worst of all, a part of him agreed with her. Before the girl could continue, Daruk grabbed Aodhn and growled at her. Hes the reason why were all alive right now, including you. We wouldnt have needed saving if he hadnt destroyed the ship. The girl shot back, and many of the passengers began to gather around them with malicious intent. Before things could escalate beyond the current level, Aodhn grabbed Daruk and turned to the only place he could find solace at the moment. With a heavy heart, he made his way into the forest behind them. For hours, he walked without direction or thought, without aim or destination; he just kept moving, seeking the peace and quiet that only a forest could grant him. His mind flashed back to the days hed spent in the forest before hed been found and taken to the monastery. He had no memory of his life before the monastery, save a few broken pieces that only painted a blurry picture filled with fire, smoke, and the tortured wails of one whom he suspected to be his mother. The monks had tried several methods to help him regain his memories, but all to no avail. Hed finally given up and accepted his fate around the time of his sixteenth birthday, but now as he aimlessly traversed the forest, it felt like he could grasp the memories if only he could just push hard enough. He tried pushing, but was only a little disappointed when the memories failed to surface. With a weary sigh, he continued his trek, but after about three hours of walking, he finally rested and leaned against the rough bark of a giant tree. The guilt that raged through him has subsided a little, and hed finally gained a semblance of peace. The turmoil in his mind had calmed, and he was finally able to carefully sort his thoughts. Daruk had followed quietly behind him and hadnt said a word even when theyd almost fallen into a ditch an hour ago. Now, he leaned against the bark of an opposite tree, and after an extra moment of silence, he asked. Are you ready to talk about it? Aodhn shook his head but replied anyway. The Gishan girl is right; I did something. Tell me what happened. Aodhn explained the entire occurrence and how hed inadvertently drawn the ire of the storm. I keep thinking that if I hadnt tried to manipulate the storm, maybe the Raventhorn wouldnt be at the bottom of the sea right now, and maybe all those who died would still be alive. After a long pause, Daruk replied. Maybe youre right, but have you thought of the alternative? What would have happened if you hadnt tried to connect with the storm?" Thats the problem. Aodhn replied with a shake of his head. I cant sayIm notIm not sure. Okay, calm down. Daruk replied with a placating gesture. From what you explained to me, that last attack was extremely powerful, and the lightning would have arced out to cover a large surface area. How likely was it for the Raventhorn to have survived? Aodhn paused, thinking, and after a moment he sighed, It was very unlikely for the Raventhorn to have survived the attack, but perhaps" Perhaps nothing, Aodhn. Daruk cut him off. The Raventhorn couldnt have survived without a miracle, and I would have been dead by now. All those people at the shore would have died. Still Aodhn began, but Daruk cut him off again. We were the only ship on the sea; from the moment that storm appeared, we were its target; it even struck us twice and damaged the enchantments. Whether youd drawn its ire or not, the storm would still have attacked the ship. Your actions caused it to attack you, and if youd managed to absorb all that energy, youd have been hailed and lauded as a savior. Unfortunately, you were unable to do so, but that doesnt make you a murderer, not when you were acting with intentions to save us all. Aodhn scoffed. I was acting out of greed. Two truths can coexist, Aodhn. Yes, your actions caused a disaster, but they easily prevented a catastrophe. Im not sure catastrophes are worse than disasters. Aodhn replied with a small smile, and Daruk chuckled. Im the scholar; trust me, its worse. Aodhn turned to the canopy as the sun rose, and he sighed. Youre probably right. Of course I am. Daruk scoffed. This is that moment when you tell me that I have your eternal gratitude or something. Pfft, never. Aodhn replied with a smile, and Daruk shook his head in mock despair. Why do I even try?" Aodhn chuckled, and after a moment, he said, Thank you. In a softer tone, he added. You had to be the strong one today; I know its not easy for you either. You have my eternal gratitude. Daruk gave a single nod in response, and after a while, they resumed their walk through the forest. With a thought, Aodhn finally reviewed his status. Hed made some big gains, and he knew hed gotten stronger, but it was always better to see it. . [STATUS] Name: Aodhn Ashoka Title: Neophyte, Stormborn. Class: Evolved storm awakened: 99.9% (PENDING) Tier: 13C17.2% Skills {Innate}: Storm creation and manipulation, lightning creation and manipulation. {Other}: Lightning surge, Lightning beam, Absorb Lightning, Lightning descent, Create constructs. Bloodline: Nil Glimpse: Increases elemental control by 1% Stormborn: A title given to one who has undergone a tribulation of the origin plane of storm and survived its wrath. Aodhn came to an immediate halt, shocked by all the changes on his status screen. The first change was the title, Stormborn, and what it meant. His mind flashed back to the moment when storm clouds had bled into the night sky, and he remembered the plane he had glimpsed through it. He shuddered at the memory, and Daruk paused. Whats wrong? Why have we stopped? I just went through my status, and there are so many changes; I now have a title called Stormborn. Because of the storm? Daruk asked, but Aodhn failed to respond as he read through the change in his class. He had evolved his class from 2% to 99%, a feat that required an enormous amount of energy, yet he had failed to advance to the next class, and he wondered what the pending tag meant. Hed also gained a total of six tiers, but compared to the other changes, it wasnt too surprising as he had funneled a great deal of energy into his core. The last change was the glimpse perk, and although the effect it had on both his affinity and control was slight, it wasnt insignificant. He read through the status again, but rather than answers, he only had more questions. What was the origin plane, and why had it suddenly appeared? Also, why was his class still pending? He clasped the necklace thoughtfully; the glow was gone and it had returned to its normal state, which begged another question. What sort of magical item was the necklace? Chapter 27: Dungeon Diving Dungeons, rifts, and ancient ruins, along with the teeming hordes of natural monsters, serve as pivotal resources for advancement. Yet, amidst their significance, none rivals the worth of an inheritors trial.. Although rare, these trials house the legacy seeds of the ascendant who crafted them. -Barith Osbourne Guild master of the adventurers guild. Sector 1, Ragnarok.
Daruk snapped his fingers. Earth to Aodhn. Where did your mind go? Sorry, sorry, I kind of spaced out for a moment there. Aodhn replied. Its just that Im at the 13th tier now, and there were a lot of changes on my status screen that I had to take a moment to process. These changes were caused by a simple storm. Daruk asked with a slight frown, but Aodhn shook his head. Nothing about that storm was simple, Daruk. Before it even appeared, I could feel it. It was unnatural, driven by an overwhelming will that simultaneously sparked a sense of belonging and imminent danger within me, and my status calls it the origin plane. Daruks frown deepened. Ive never read anything about that, but we can easily solve the mystery of your necklace whenif we get to Sector 8. Well get there, eventually. Aodhn replied with a sigh, and Daruk chided. You should be happy; I mean, youve gotten stronger, silver linings and all. Aodhn chuckled. Im happy; Im just a little confused about the changes. They resumed their walk through the forest, but a minute later, they began to feel a chill that instantly put Aodhn on edge. He raised a hand, and Daruk immediately came to a halt. Aodhn strained his ears, listening for any odd or strange sounds, and before long, a screech echoed through the forest. Instantly on guard, Aodhn pushed Daruk behind him as a trio of spider-like monsters burst from the underbrush before them. The creatures were made entirely of clear blue ice and had six razor-sharp blade-like appendages extending out of their bodies. Standing at a mere 2 feet in height, their translucent forms glimmered in the morning light, and a frosty chill emanated from their mouths. Above the head of the largest was a line of text that identified it as a Tier 4 ice arachnid. The creatures were so weak that it only took a second to destroy them with a single storm hammer. He created another and handed it to Daruk, who used it to smash the dead arachnids and harvest their cores. A few minutes later, they came across another group of arachnids, about half a dozen in number, and although this group had a higher average tier compared to the previous one, it still only took a second to destroy them. Daruk helped, though, as thin earth spikes shot out of the ground and pierced the arachnids. It did negligible damage to the arachnids above Tier 3, yet, Daruk shouted in excitement. By Raol! Did you see that? He asked, pointing at the two earthen spikes that jutted out of the earth. Yes, Daruk, Im not blind. Aodhn replied with an amused roll of his eyes. I cant believe it. He muttered, still in awe, as he harvested the cores and placed them in a pouch of vines and leaves that they had made. Maybe this affinity isnt so bad after all. Finally! Aodhn groaned, raising his head to the sky and lifting both hands in jubilation. Daruk chuckled and adjusted the vine pouch hanging from his shoulders. Dont start jubilating yet; I still hate the affinity. Ungrateful wretch. Aodhn muttered as they continued forward, killing every group of arachnids they found and harvesting their cores. Half an hour later, when they finally destroyed another half dozen of the ice creatures, Daruk asked. Where do you think theyre coming from? We are about to find out. Aodhn replied, pointing towards an area before them covered in a thin layer of frost. Ice crunched beneath their feet as they walked forward, and when they finally reached the area covered in frost, a white entrance suddenly appeared as if it had always been there, but theyd been unable to discern it. It was an arched entrance that floated a few inches above ground. Energy swirled within it, seeming almost like a mirage of colored energy. Their eyes widened at the sight of the dungeon, and Daruk almost squealed in excitement. Its a white dungeon! Yes, but theres a reason weve been encountering monsters all morning. Aodhn replied with caution. A dungeon break? Thats the only possible explanation; besides, it makes sense. Theres no one on the island to delve into the dungeon, so it must have overflown with monsters. That also means its final boss will be very strong. Daruk agreed with a frown, but then he caressed the vine pouch hanging from his shoulders and smiled. I guess its time to absorb all those cores weve gathered. . In total, they had gathered twenty-seven cores, but only two of those cores were at the 5th tier, three were at the 4th, and the rest ranged from Tier 0 to Tier 3. Ten minutes later, Daruk had absorbed all twenty-seven cores, but he only advanced four times, which wasnt really surprising considering the fact that most of the cores were Tiers 0 and 1, and the energy they contained was negligible at best. . [STATUS] Name: Daruk Brystion Class: Earth awakened Tier: 4C86.5% Skills {Innate}: Earth manipulation. Bloodline: Nil . Daruk grinned as he went through his status, but soon frowned. I feel so close to the 5th tier yet so far away. Yeah, the fifth tier is a milestone. Aodhn replied. You should get a title and a skill when you eventually cross it. Are you ready? Absolutely. Daruk replied with a maniacal grin, and Aodhn shook his head in amusement, wondering where the boy who had hated hunting was. They stepped through the dungeons entrance an instant later and were immediately hit with a sense of vertigo as they arrived within the dungeons space. It took a while for them to regain their bearings. Aodhn recovered first, suffering for only a moment before he turned to take in his surroundings. Vapor emanated from his lips with each exhale as he took in the icy cavern theyd appeared in. The entire space was made of clear blue ice, and although there were no openings, the cavern was bright enough to see.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Massive ice stalactites jutted down from the roof, and a thick haze of frosty mist obscured the cavern floor. By Raol, its beautiful. Daruk whispered, but his voice echoed in the emptiness of the cavern, and it took a few seconds for it to fade. More like creepy. Aodhn replied. We cant afford to spend too much time in this dungeon, or well freeze to death. Their steps echoed as they walked forward, the sound of each bouncing off the frozen walls and ceiling until it was an entire cacophony that only stopped about fifteen seconds after they did. At this rate, the monsters will hear us coming from a mile away. Aodhn muttered with a frown, and immediately he spoke. The familiar screech of arachnids reached them. Half a dozen arachnids between Tiers 2 and 5 emerged from the mist a moment later, and Daruk sighed, Well, it also makes it impossible for them to ambush us. Also, Im completely useless, once again. Well, you still have the hammer, dont you? Aodhn inquired with a smile as a trio of lightning spears shot towards the arachnids and exploded, shattering their translucent bodies to pieces. Needless to say, they ran through the first few waves of arachnids like knives through butter, and thirty minutes later, theyd crushed so many monsters that their vine pouches were once again bulging with cores. The fights had gotten harder, though, as the cold pervaded their bones and caused their teeth to chatter. Still, they persisted, and a moment later, they crossed a kind of boundary that led into a different ice cavern. This cave was much colder, and the ice had more of a greenish hue than blue. Barely a few steps into the new cave, another group of arachnids attacked them. There were seven of them in this group, and the strongest was at the 10th tier. It still wasnt enough to give Aodhn much trouble, but Daruk was utterly useless, so he stayed a few feet behind Aodhn and let him work his magic. Six storm hammers shot forward immediately the arachnids attacked, and they smashed into the monsters with such force that their bodies shattered like glass. Three of the arachnids survived, though, but they were swiftly destroyed by a trio of lightning spears. After Daruk harvested their cores, they moved deeper into the dungeon. Their journey slowed almost to a crawl as they battled both monsters and cold, and more than a few times they contemplated leaving, but the promise of a good reward at the end of the dungeon kept them going. Perhaps they would get an enchanted weapon or something else that was just as extraordinary. This was probably the first time this dungeon was being delved into since it manifested, so it was sure to reward them greatly. They continued for another half hour, contemplating what their final reward might be, and as they turned a bend, they came across another group of arachnids. There were only three of them this time, with two at the 11th tier and the other at the 12th tier of advancement. A dozen storm spears appeared around Aodhn, as he couldnt afford to take chances with this trio. The arachnids rushed forward, their blade-like limbs clacking furiously against the frozen ground, and a thick haze of icy mist poured out of their mouths. As threatening as they were, they were still mundane creatures attacking an evolved individual a tier or two above them. The spears smashed into them, causing them to stumble. Before they could react, a dozen lightning hammers smashed against their bodies and immediately exploded. The two arachnids at the 11th tier were instantly destroyed, but the largest twitched and staggered back to its feet. It only had two blade-like limbs left, and an entire half of its body had been destroyed, yet like an unfeeling machine, it rushed forward, intent on destroying them. Aodhn raised a hand to the arachnid, and a thick beam of lightning shot out of him. It struck the monster instantly and smashed it against the cavern walls. It was only when the arachnids body disintegrated that Aodhn finally cut off the beam. Overkill, and is that a new skill? Daruk asked as he moved to harvest the cores. Not really. Aodhn replied. The lightning beam skill was one he had created the week before the harvest festival. It was quite powerful, but it usually consumed a large amount of energy, so he rarely used it. As they continued forward, Daruk advanced to the 5th tier and gained both the Neophyte title and a skill called {Resonance}. It was a skill that allowed him to feel vibrations through the earth, but unfortunately, it was useless within the dungeon. Fifteen minutes later, they crossed another boundary and found themselves at the entrance of a smaller cavern filled with thick, icy mist. The chill of the cave was enough to turn Daruk blue and cause Aodhn to shiver uncontrollably. We have to turn back; itll be foolish of us to continue. Aodhn said through gritted teeth, but when he received no reply from Daruk, he turned to see him staring wide-eyed at an icy blue crystal the size of his fist, and that was when Aodhn noticed the silver runes softly glowing through the mist. Its notits not a dungeon. Daruk said through chattering teeth. By ascendants! Its an inheritors trial. Aodhn stared at the core in amazement, but a moment later he sighed. Daruk, I know how much youve always wanted an ice affinity, but we wont survive long if we step into that cavern; you can barely breathe as it is, and the cold is draining me of my strength. Daruk was barely listening, though, and before Aodhn could stop him, he rushed into the cavern and towards the glowing crystal. .. A loud screech rang out immediately as a creature emerged from the fog and rushed towards Daruk. It looked like the usual arachnid, but it stood a little above 5 feet, and its entire body was covered in more than a dozen blade-like limbs. Above its head was a line of text that identified it as a Tier 15 ice arachnid protector. Its bladed limbs whirled, intent on skewering Daruk, and Aodhn had no choice but to rush into the cave. With a thought, a storm cloud appeared above him and extended to cover the entire roof. Thunder crackled loudly, causing the cavern to shudder, and a loud explosion of lightning shifted the protectors attention to him. Already, Aodhn could feel the invasive chill of cold, and he knew that he had to end this fight quickly, as a battle of attrition would not end in his favor. Ice spikes jutted out of the floor, rushing to impale him, but Aodhn created a storm platform and floated into the air. Before the protector could react, a dozen storm hammers materialized around him and shot towards it. It smashed against its carapace with enough force to crack it, crushing multiple bladed limbs in the process. The protector retaliated with a piercing screech, and a cloud of icy mist rushed out of its mouth. The temperature instantly dropped, coating Aodhn in a thin layer of frost. Refusing to succumb to the intense chill, Aodhn shot forward even as he charged the storm above him, pouring almost all of his energy and willpower into it. He smashed a hammer into the protectors face as he entered melee range, but a bladed limb sliced into his chest, leaving behind a wound that was instantly pervaded by a chill so intense that he staggered to the frozen floor, leaving him defenseless as another limb rushed towards him. Aodhn managed to react on time, and a storm shield appeared above him. It cracked an instant later, but it had bought him enough time to attack, and a dozen storm spears descended from the rumbling cloud and shot towards the protector. While Aodhn battled the protector, Daruk clawed his way towards the crystal. He was entirely coated in frost, and his eyes itched and bled from the chill, yet he persisted, crawling closer towards the pulsing crystal. Unlike the earth affinity hed awakened, this affinity was one hed dreamt about, and he couldnt afford to lose this opportunity, not when he was already so close. A roar resounded as Aodhn smashed the protector against the cavern wall, causing it to shudder as more cracks appeared on its carapace. Thunder boomed, andhundreds of lightning bolts rippled across the storm cloud. With another roar of pain, six spears of ice materialized around the protector and shot towards Aodhn, but he created a storm dome around himself. Unsurprisingly, the dome shattered from the force of the protectors attack, and an instant later, a bladed limb stabbed towards Aodhns shoulder. Aodhn barely managed to sidestep the attack, but it had created an opening in the protectors defenses, so he clumsily swung his hammer with frozen fingers, and it smashed against the protectors head. The protector was thrown back several feet, but when it rose to its feet, Aodhn saw that half of its face had been shattered and almost all of its bladed limbs were gone. It rushed towards him with an agonized roar, but before it even made it halfway, Aodhn called the bolts of lightning rippling across the storm cloud, and in one smooth motion, they descended. A river of lightning struck the protector, and the bang of an explosion filled the air. The entire cavern rattled, and several stalactites fell to the frozen ground. Cracks rippled across the walls and floor, threatening to collapse the entire cave, but a pulse emanated from the floating crystal, and the cavern was instantly repaired. All that was left was a massive crater filled with shattered ice and the shimmering blue core of the protector. Aodhn rushed towards Daruk and let out a sigh of relief to find him still breathing. He was completely blue from the cold, and frost covered his entire body. Small particles of ice hung from his eyelashes, and his breath was extremely shallow. Without hesitation, Aodhn dragged him closer to the crystal and raised his frozen hands to it. When Daruk failed to respond, he slapped him gently. Wake up, buddy; this is your chance. Take it. It took a few seconds for Daruk to actually clasp the crystal, but immediately he did. It pulsed once again and released a wave of icy mist that threw Aodhn against the walls of the cavern. Blocks of ice rose around Daruk until he was completely encased in a coffin-like structure. With a sigh of relief, Aodhn walked towards the shimmering core of the protector and absorbed it. When nothing happened, he reviewed his status and realized that he was still a little far from the next tier of advancement. Tier: 13C74.8% With a groan of frustration, he dug into the pouch of cores theyd gathered so far, and after a few seconds of searching, he took out a single Tier12 core and absorbed it. Energy surged out of his core, flowing through his pathways and into his body as he advanced to the 14th tier. The chill subsided a little, and Aodhn turned his attention to the ice coffin; perhaps if he studied it, he could gain some insight into what had happened during his own awakening. Chapter 28: DARUK— Visions of cold and frost Dungeons are a pretty common resource on the Lutian continent and are usually color-coded to indicate their threat levels, ranging from white to black. Rifts, on the other hand, are rare and even more valuable. Unlike dungeons, which are color-coded, rifts are usually ringed to indicate the class of creatures they contain. A single ring indicates an evolved rift, while a runic swirl indicates a calamitic one. -Barith Osbourne Guild master of the adventurers guild. Ragnarok.
Immediately after Daruks hand touched the ice blue crystal, the world fell away, and he found himself in a world of darkness. All his senses were cut off; there was no sound, smell, or feeling, and all he had were his thoughts. But a moment later, a pinprick of light suddenly appeared, and his consciousness eagerly moved towards it. The pinprick got larger as he got closer, and by the time he reached it, it had become an opening very similar to that of a rift. He stepped into the light and suddenly found himself standing at the peak of a very tall mountain covered in a thick layer of snow. The weather was frigid, and snow fell from the sky like rain. A tiny snowflake fell on his nose, but as he moved to flick it off, the world rippled, and a sense of vertigo hit him like a sucker punch. When he eventually regained his bearing, he found himself in a town square. The statue of a hunter stood behind him; the man was dressed in an icy blue coat that revealed a toned stomach, and his hair was as white as the snow that littered the floor. It was extremely lifelike, and as he observed the statue, a feeling of awe and reverence began to grow within him. The sudden neighing of a horse snapped him out of his reverie, and he turned to see people moving about, dressed in a similar outfit as the statue. Many were even less covered despite the cold, which suggested they had some kind of resistance or immunity to it. As interesting as the people were, it was the houses that caught his attention. Rather than wood or stone, the houses were crafted from ice and snow, and they had such a delicate beauty that could only have been achieved by the use of magic. He turned, taking in the view, and it only took him a second to ascertain where he was. Unoros, the kingdom of eternal winter, was just as hed imagined it to be. Hed read so much about Unoros, about their majestic designs and architecture, the eternal cold, and the fact that almost 50% of their awakened population had an affinity related either to frost, ice, or winter, while concepts like death, space, and time were a close second. Amazed, he leaned against the statue, and impressions of cold and winter suddenly filled his mind, each with a different taste or flavor. When the impressions ended, the world rippled again, and Daruk found himself at the shore of a small lake. A cold breeze swirled around him, and he shivered before turning to take in his new surroundings. A small forest of dead trees stood behind him. Piles of snow covered the ground, and long icicles hung from gnarled branches. When he turned his attention back to the lake, his eyes widened in surprise as he found an almost naked woman standing on the lake, like it was glass. Standing a little above 5 feet, she was dressed in clothing similar to that of the hunter, but hers had been expertly cut to reveal more of her unnaturally dark skin that seemed to shimmer with inner light. Her snow white hair was long and unbraided, and it floated as if she were under water. The woman was beautiful, unnaturally so, but her expression was indifferent, cold, and unwelcoming. She stared at him for a moment before walking towards the center of the lake. The water barely rippled as she walked, and when she reached the center, she turned to look at him once more. Seeing that she had his attention, she dipped a toe into the lake, and a ripple spread out from the point of contact. Ice spread out from the point, and in only a few seconds, the entire lake was frozen solid. Daruk gaped in amazement, shocked by how easily a lake the size of an acre had been frozen in less than a minute. The woman stretched an arm outward, and slowly, the entire lake rose, spinning and growing as structures began to materialize from it.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. Spires and towers formed as the ice continued upwards; arches and domes formed; windows appeared; and a few moments later, an entire castle made of clear blue ice stood before him. Too awed to even think properly, Daruk simply stared at the castle as it shimmered in the sunlight. The woman turned and gestured for him to come forward. Hesitantly, Daruk stepped onto the frozen lake, half expecting himself to fall and die a gruesome death by impaling himself on an ice spike, but that didnt happen, and when he finally reached her, he let out a sigh of relief. Youre already awakened; youre not supposed to be here. The ascendant spoke to him in a flat and emotionless tone that still managed to convey a hint of disappointment and disapproval. Esteemed ascendant. Daruk began with a bow, unsure of how to address this entity, and when she gave no sigh of displeasure, he continued. I do not want the affinity I awakened; that is why Im here. Then youre ungrateful. She replied with the same neutral expression. Many arent fortunate enough to awaken at all; talk less of resenting an affinity. I know that, esteemed ascendant; I just prefer this affinity. Daruk stammered, gesturing to the castle shed built. Youre not the first to resent the affinity they awakened. In a softer tone, she added. Many come to accept and even love it eventually. Many were not fortunate enough to find the legacy of an affinity theyd always dreamed about. Daruk replied politely, and the ascendant finally smiled. That is true. She paused for a moment and then gestured for him to follow her as she turned to walk through the castle doors. Daruk hesitated only for a second before he rushed after her. He had never seen a castle before, and although hed read a lot of books that had provided ample descriptions for him to imagine one, all his imaginations were instantly put to shame the moment he stepped into the castle. Delicate sculptures of gigantic creatures adorned the shimmering corridor, and the floor was smooth and translucent, reflecting a soft azure light that emanated from the ice itself. The walls were adorned with intricate frost patterns, and glowing crystals embedded into the walls cast a gentle ethereal glow. They soon emerged from the corridor and into a hall, which caused Daruk to marvel at the amount of detail the ascendant had put into a few minutes of work. As foolish as I think your intention is, youve won my trial, and I cannot turn you away. The ascendant suddenly spoke, dragging his attention away from his surroundings as she continued deeper into the castle. But you must understand that no element is stronger than the other. Im aware of that, ascendant; I just feel that I resonate better with the element of water and its sub-elements than the element of earth. His expression soured even as he mentioned the element. He wasnt quite sure where his distaste for the earth element had come from, but hed hated it for as long as he could remember. You feel that way because you unconsciously believe that the element of water is better than the element you awakened. Is that so wrong? Daruk asked as they turned another bend. Yes, because, as I stated earlier, it is not. What about concepts? Theyre stronger than the elements, right? That is not completely true because there are disadvantages to awakening a concept. She replied. Unlike concepts, the origin planes of the elements are much easier to grasp and enter. Daruk paused at the word, and his mind flashed back to the storm that had destroyed the ship. With shuddering breaths, he asked. What are these origin planes? The ascendant raised an eyebrow but replied anyway. They are hard to explain, but in simple terms, theyre remnants of the originthe primordial chaos; some refer to them as the templates used to build our universe. Rather than the answers hed hoped to receive, Daruk felt even more confused. What was the primordial chaos? And what did she mean by templates? Before he could ask any of these questions, though, the ascendant opened the door to a small room lined with ice shelves. They were all empty except for one, which contained a single fruit the size of a babys fist. It shimmered even in the absence of light, and an intense chill emanated from it. What youre about to do will not be easy. The ascendant warned, her tone grave, and Daruk dragged his attention away from the fruit. For the first time since their encounter, Daruk sensed a hint of emotion in her tone. Youre about to pry a neophyte core from your spirit and replace it with another; the pain will be significant. I still want to do it. Daruk replied adamantly. The ascendant observed him, and she stared at him for a moment before she nodded. Your adamance is not entirely a bad thing, but it is born from ignorance and foolishness. I get it. Daruk replied, slightly annoyed. You dont want me to absorb your legacy. On the contrary, I do. Determination and adamance are qualities essential for advancement, and you have both. Why are you trying to dissuade me then? Im only trying to make sure that youre fully prepared for the pain that is coming. The ascendant replied and gestured towards the fruit once more. Go on. Seize your fate. Daruk turned back to the fruit, and after a moment of hesitation, he took it and bit into it. The fruit crunched like glass in his mouth, but it instantly transformed into an extremely potent, icy mist that rushed down his throat and into his core. An intense chill began to spread through him, starting from the tip of his toes but quickly working its way upward. Without hesitation, he threw the rest of the fruit into his mouth, and a moment later, he was completely frozen except for his eyes and mouth. He lifted his gaze to the ascendant and asked. I forgot to ask for your name. The ascendant opened her mouth to speak, but that was when the agony began. It ripped through him like a thousand knife stabs. His bones cracked and reformed, only to crack again as all the power hed accumulated was drained from him. His pathways were torn out even as new ones were drawn. He screamed, but the ascendant made no move to help him, and just when he thought the pain couldnt get any worse, he suddenly felt a tug on his core, and a moment later it was torn out of his spirit. White-hot pain seared his spirit as a new core took the place of the old and merged with the pathways. Unable to withstand the pain any longer, his consciousness faded, and the last thing he saw was a black ringed tattoo, very similar to that of Aodhn, branded between the ascendants shoulder blades as she stepped out of the room. Chapter 29: Bloodlines Many refer to them as bloodlines, but they are more aptly named soul seeds, as unlike the actual bloodlines found in rare magical creatures, these seeds act more like a permanent boon or buff. These seeds are divided into five categories, ranging from common to blessed, and like actual bloodlines, they can be passed down by blood. Interdicted study on the nature of bloodlines. Hakeem Daily. Calodan, sector 4.
It had been two days since Daruk had absorbed the crystal, and since then, there hadnt been the slightest change in the block of ice he was encased in, nor had it responded to any of his attacks. Seeing that his efforts to destroy the ice coffin were futile, Aodhn had spent the last two days meditating to ward off the chill of the cavern as well as ignore the rumbling of his stomach. He was famished, but he couldnt leave the dungeon. He was afraid Daruk would emerge the instant he did. His thoughts went to the survivors theyd left at the shore of the sea, and he wondered if theyd been rescued or if they still remained on the shore. A pang of guilt stabbed through him at the thought, but he forcefully pushed it aside. The past two days had been torturous, as hed had no other company aside from his thoughts. Hed even dozed off at one point, but his dream had been filled with the wails and shrieks of dying passengers. He hadnt slept since then and had instead spent a lot of time thinking about the ship, Eldridge, and the storm that had appeared from the origin plane. A part of him still felt guilty about the whole occurrence, but after his conversation with Daruk, it wasnt eating him up like it had been when they first arrived on the island. He sighed and turned his attention to another pressing issuethe necklace. He had tried experimenting with it but had gotten no obvious reaction except for the faint pulse of energy hed sensed when he first bought it. Hed learned that the necklace couldnt be destroyed, at least not with the power he currently held. But aside from that, hed learned nothing about its functions or its origin. With a sigh, he tucked the necklace back into his chest; hopefully he would get some answers when they reached Sector 8. He was about to return to another boring session of meditation when the ice coffin suddenly cracked and a cloud of icy mist escaped from it. Aodhn rushed forward, happy that something was finally happening, and a storm hammer appeared in his hands. He struck the coffin, trying to widen the cracks and hurry the process along, but just like he had realized so many times before, the ice was too strong for him to crack, so he had to wait for the process to end naturally. He let out a groan of frustration as he sat before the ice coffin and watched as it slowly came apart. It took almost a half hour before the block of ice finally shattered, revealing the boy encased within. His eyes widened as he took in Daruks features. He had always considered Daruk beautiful, but now he was even more so. His blond hair had transformed into a snow white color that was now so long and full that it almost covered his eyes. In a smooth motion, Aodhn carried him, and without looking back, he ran out of the dungeon. It didnt take too long to reach the entrance, now that there were no monsters to fight. Aodhn had feared that the monsters would respawn, but fortunately, that hadnt happened. He breathed a sigh of relief as they stepped out of the dungeon and into the real world. It was past midnight, and there was still a slight chill in the air, but at his current tier of advancement, it barely affected him. He moved through the forest with Daruk on his shoulders until he found a tree he recognized. It was the Coringan tree, and although its fruit wasnt exactly his favorite, it would sate his hunger, so he laid Daruk at the foot of the tree before climbing up. A few minutes later, after hed eaten enough Coringans to feed the Brystions for a day, Daruk suddenly jerked and sat up. Im alive, oh Raol, Im alive. He shouted, patting down his body as if to confirm if he was truly whole. He then turned towards him, and Aodhn was shocked to see a change he hadnt noticed before. Daruks pupils had changed and were now the silver-white color of frost. Hed even grown taller and was now standing at about 5''7 feet in height. Even as Aodhn marveled at the change, he noticed a thin coating of frost on the ground that Daruk had slept on, but now that he was awake, the chill had intensified, and like an aura, it covered a circular area several feet in diameter. Aodhn shuddered slightly as he took a couple steps backwards and gasped. By the Maker! What happened to you? Daruk narrated the visions hed had as well as his conversation with the ascendant. Im not sure she approved of me, though, but she didnt seem to have a choice.. You mean, you forced an ascendant to do your bidding? Aodhn asked in confusion, shivering slightly as the chill of Daruks aura intensified. No, not really. Daruk shook his head. It was hard to discern her thoughts. Her expressions were blanket except for the time she spoke about the origin planes. What did she say about them? Aodhn asked eagerly, momentarily forgetting about the chill. Daruk shrugged. She referred to them as remnants of the origina primordial chaosthat was used as a template to build our universe. Thats all? A template? Yes, I think these planes are like remnants of a previous universe, like ruins, maybe. Daruk replied, his tone conveying that he was simply speculating. If what you say is true, Aodhn leaned forward. Why then would it be trying to enter our world? I dont know; she did say something about elemental planes being easier to grasp than conceptual ones; perhaps that has something to do with it. Grasp? Like understand or like physically grasp? Aodhn asked, confused. His status said hed glimpsed it; perhaps it was possible to grasp it also. I think she meant to understand it. But I honestly do not know; there wasnt enough time for me to really ask questions. In a lower tone, he muttered, Theres so much we dont know. I dont think theyre remnants of the past; at least, they didnt feel that way. Aodhn replied after a moment of silence. I think they are like the origin of our cores; the sense of familiarity and belonging that I felt from the storm was overwhelming. It felt like I belonged within it, like I could merge with it. He trailed off, and they both fell silent as they contemplated his words. The silence was broken a moment later when Daruk said, I wish I knew her name, though. I asked for it, but the pain began before I could hear her.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Aodhn waved a hand dismissively, his mind still on the topic of origin planes. Im sure there are records of all the ascendants who ascended from Unoros, so you should be able to find her quite easily. Yeah, I guess, Daruk replied, before he suddenly remembered the tattoo and asked. Oh, she had a tattoo just like yours. What? Aodhn asked as his spinning thoughts came to a sudden halt. A tattoo like mine? You mean the one between my shoulder blades? Yes, although its not quite the same. Daruk mused. But it was very similar. Aodhn frowned. He should have realized that he couldnt have been the first to experience this transmigration. Even from earth, there were bound to have been others, not to mention those from other worlds. What does it even mean? Daruk asked casually, not realizing the gravity of what hed just said. Check, do I have it? How could you Aodhn started, but quickly altered his response. No, you do not have it, and as for what it means? I dont know. Daruk narrowed his eyes in suspicion as Aodhn shifted uncomfortably and chuckled. How do you not know what it means? You have it. Yeah, I thought it was an interesting symbol at the time, but thats not Aodhn, youre lying. This mark definitely means something important. Its a mark you share with an ascendant. We arent sharing the mark. Aodhn scrambled to find a believable lie, but when he found none, he sighed. Look, Daruk, its complicated, and I cant tell you right now. Why not? Because... just because, Daruk. I cant tell you why, because its dangerous information. Aodhn replied, praying for Daruk to drop the topic, but his prayers went unanswered as Daruk asked. If you know its dangerous, then you must have an idea of what it means. Aodhn let out a weary sigh before responding. You right, I know what it means, but I cant tell you, as knowing might put you in danger. He wasnt sure exactly if that was true, but he doubted people would simply accept him if they found out he was from another world. Even if they would, he wasnt ready to take that risk, not when he was still so weak. What danger? Daruk pressed, and like a dog with a bone, he refused to let go of the topic. Are you part of a cult? Im not part of any cult, Daruk; just trust me when I say I cant tell you now. Aodhn shouted, but in a gentler tone, he added. Maybe in the future. Daruk glared at him for a long moment before he acquiesced. Fine, but I expect you to tell me soon. Aodhn shook his head in response, and Daruk leaned against the Coringan tree trunk to review his new status. There were a lot of changes, especially in his class and tier, but the major change was in his bloodline, and as he read the information provided in the column, he exclaimed. By Raol, I cant believe I gained a bloodline. What? How? What does it do? Aodhn asked, wide-eyed, as his anger and frustration faded away like smoke. Daruk shared his status window, and it suddenly appeared before him. . [STATUS] Name: Daruk Brystion Class: Ice awakened. Tier: 0% Skill {Innate} : Ice manipulation and creation. Bloodline: Frost-Forged Ancestry (Rare). ?Amplifies ice and cold-related abilities by 2%. ?Grants major resistance to cold. ?Aura of frosted heart. .... The first thing that caught his attention was the unevolved status of Daruks class, which meant he hadnt gone through any tribulations like he had. The second was obviously the bloodline, as well as its perks. The perks seemed more like a buff than what he expected, but a 2% amplification of all his skills and abilities was a major boon, especially since it would only get better as he grew stronger. This is insane, Daruk; a major resistance to cold is awesome. I would have preferred complete resistance, but I guess this is good too." Daruk replied with a smile as he read through the status screen. Its not good, its great, and the aura is what youre passively emitting. Aodhn gestured to the growing circle of frost. I wonder how powerful it would be if you could actively control it. Well, thats one more thing I need to figure out. Daruk replied and grinned, Now, its your turn. Aodhn sighed. There were a few things on his status that were secret, like his evolved class, but he felt no need to keep that from Daruk and would have told him eventually, so after a moment of hesitation, he shared his status screen with Daruk. Daruk stared at the screen for what felt like hours before he asked. Why is your class called evolved?" I heard that somewhere, perhaps from Aldric. Also, what does this pending tag mean? Ah, so it wasnt quite so secret after all. But if that was the case, why hadnt he seen any other evolved individuals in the Warren or on the Raventhorn? I absorbed the core of an evolved creature and redirected the energy into my class instead. Aodhn explained. "As for the pending tag? I have no idea what it means, but it happened after I absorbed the lightning from the storm; it pushed me from 2% to 99%. Maybe its pending because youre not advanced enough for the next class? Daruk mused. Im not sure, but it seems like a valid reason. Ive thought of that, and I think thats probably it. Aodhn agreed, and Daruk grinned. This means I can change my class to an evolved one. His expression soured, and he muttered. "Unfortunately, we have no evolved cores. You can still advance your tier." Aodhn pointed out with a smirk. And miss out on a few tiers of extra power? No, thank you. They spoke until dawn before deciding to make their way back to shore. It took them an extra half hour to decide on the right direction, but in the end, they just turned in the opposite direction of the dungeon and began to walk. It took them another two hours to make it back to the shore, and although Aodhn had expected it to be empty, it was anything but. They arrived to find chaos as terrified people ran out of the mini camp theyd created, chased by oversized deer-like creatures. The monsters stood at an average height of 4 feet and had mottled green skin with metallic horns almost as tall as their bodies. The line of text floating above their heads identified them as Kanimas. Fortunately, many of the survivors were awakened, and they fought back ferociously, amidst flashes of light and the bang of explosive skills. But the number of Kanimas was overwhelming, and the awakened survivors were having a difficult time protecting themselves as well as the sleepers among them. The group of kanimas rushed forward, impaling people on their metallic horns before carelessly discarding their bodies and rushing towards the next prey. Aodhn took in the number of people bleeding to their deaths, and anger rose within him. With a flex of his will, a storm cloud appeared above him. Thunder boomed loudly and lightning flashed, catching the attention of the Kanimas, and as one, they rushed towards him. With anger and willpower fueling his attacks, dozens of storm and lightning spears descended and shot towards them. The monsters had an average advancement tier of 8, so they were very easy to kill as a single spear of lightning was enough to disintegrate more than half of their bodies, and although the storm spears didnt do as much damage, they were still dangerous. The spears shot towards the kanimas and impaled them, nailing some to the ground, while others exploded in a shower of gore and blood. Hope returned to the survivors as Aodhn brutally decimated the horde of kanimas, and they attacked the creatures with renewed vigor, but their hope was destroyed when a roar suddenly rang out and an evolved kanima appeared. Its fur was mottled brown instead of green, and it was equipped with black metallic horns that were shorter and a bit sharper than those of the others. Its ringed pupils shone as it took in the destruction of its brethren, and with another roar, black vines erupted from the ground beneath it and surged forward, curling and twisting around each other as they rushed towards Aodhn. When they got close enough, the vines dove underground, where they began to multiply until they encircled him, and a moment later, they burst out of the ground like the open mouth of a shark with the intent to swallow him whole. Aodhn tried to retreat, creating a platform of storm to float upwards, but a single black vine shot out of the open vine trap and wrapped around his legs. He was pulled into the trap immediately, and the vines surged upward, wrapping around him until they squeezed so tight that his bones creaked. Black thorns grew from the vines, coated in a layer of green liquid. Aodhn looked around, frantically searching for his captor, and he found it standing by the shore a moment later. Above his head was a line of text that caused a small shiver of fear to run through him. [Alpha Kanima, Tier 17] Even as his mind spun from the large amount of toxin that had been injected into him, he forcefully channeled his willpower through his pathways. Such a large amount was bound to do damage, but at the moment, he was past caring. He channeled both energy and willpower into the storm cloud, and an extremely loud boom of thunder resounded, causing the earth to shudder as the entire storm cloud compressed to a size barely more than 60 feet in diameter, but the power contained within it was more than double that of a fully charged storm cloud, and without hesitation, he directed all that power into {Lightning descent}. This time, it was a river of lightning bolts that descended, and they struck immediately. Light flashed, blinding all those within range, and an instant later, the vines wrapped around him withered and died. He fell to the ground, suffering from the effects of poison as well as the forceful use of willpower. The storm cloud kept shrinking as it consumed itself to feed the attack, which lasted for an entire minute before it finally dissipated. The other kanimas ran when they regained their sight, and Aodhn turned to see that not even the alpha''s bones had survived the attack, and all that was left of it was a shimmering green core speckled with spots of brown. Daruk rushed to help him, but he groaned and gasped. Grab the core. Daruk didnt need to be told twice. He raced towards the core and grabbed it before anyone else could, even as he shouted for help. Chapter 30: Advancement It is known that a person acquires minor regeneration when they reach the first milestone, but this regenerative ability is useless against fast-acting poisons or toxins injected directly into the bloodstream, especially when such toxins come from a higher-tiered individual or creature. Sahira Noridan. Member of the assassin guild. 6th sector, Calodan.
Hes not healing. Daruk lamanted. Why is he not healing? I dont know, but Im trying to remove the toxins in his bloodstream. The ships healer, a bald middle-aged man, replied, his expression tight with concentration. How long will that take? Daruk inquired a moment later when he saw no change in Aodhns condition. An hour or two. What?! Daruks eyes widened in shock. He doesnt have an hour; he looks like a corpse already! Aodhn was pale and still bleeding from several cuts. Toxins slowly leaked out of his open wounds, but at this rate, it would take forever before he was completely purged of the kanimas poison. If you would just let me concentrate, then perhaps this will go faster. The healer replied in a clipped tone, but Daruk hurriedly pushed him aside. No, we dont have that kind of time. Hell heal if he advances, right? He should, but with the amount of toxins currently in his bloodstream, I cannot say for sure. We cannot afford to wait any longer; we have to try it. The healer scoffed and stopped channeling his {Cleanse blood} for the first time in almost an hour. In case you havent noticed, hes unconscious and unable to absorb any cores at the moment. Daruk paused and turned to the healer, who was dusting his hands smugly. Cant you wake him up for a moment, just enough for him to absorb the needed cores? Sadly, I dont have enough control for such a skill. He paused for a moment and frowned. I could stop channeling {Anesthesia}; perhaps the pain would be enough to wake him up. Daruk nodded without hesitation, and a few seconds later, Aodhn suddenly screamed, his expression tight with pain. He shook aggressively, but before he could tumble off the makeshift bed, Daruk shoved a tier 12 arachnid core into his mouth and shouted. Aodhn, you need to absorb the core. Hes not responding. The healer stated as he grabbed Aodhns shoulders and held him down firmly. Aodhn, absorb the core. Daruk repeated as he desperately tried to get through to him, but when they got no response after an entire minute, the healer suddenly grabbed Aodhns head, and light flashed as a large amount of energy was drained out of him. Aodhns eyes instantly flew open, and Daruk repeated the words again. It took a few seconds before the words pierced into Aodhns mind, and with the last of his strength, he willed the cores energy into himself. The energy rushed into his throat and burned through his damaged pathways. Only about a quarter of the energy reached his core, though, as the rest leaked out of his damaged pathways and exited his body like a cloud of colored gas. Daruk kept feeding him cores, though, placing a new one into his mouth immediately after the previous one crumbled to dust. During their delve into the dungeon, theyd gathered about 40 cores, which should have been a fortune, but only 6 of those cores were above tier 9, and considering the amount of energy they required to advance each tier, they were severely broke. After two tier 11 cores and one tier 10 core, energy finally surged out of Aodhns core and into his damaged pathways. Pain roared through him as the energy redrew the pathways and burned the toxins out of his body. Aodhn spent the next few seconds coughing up blood and mucus as he slowly regained his energy before turning to take in his surroundings. He was in a small building made from wood and palm leaves, and the smell of the sea hung heavy in the air. Daruk glared down at him, but before berating him, he turned to the man beside him and handed him a trio of arachnid cores. Thank you for your services. The man chuckled and placed the cores in his robe pockets before gathering his tools and exiting the tent. Daruk waited for a few seconds before he turned to Aodhn and scolded him. Just how much energy do you really need to ascend a single tier? You consumed four whole cores; the healer was becoming suspicious. Sorry. Aodhn sighed as he lay back down. I damaged my pathways, and only about a quarter of the energy actually reached my core. Daruk winced as he remembered the pain hed felt when his pathways had been torn out to make way for his new affinity. Deciding that Aodhn had been through enough pain, he gently squeezed his shoulders to console him. Its alright; you can rest now. Aodhn shook his head gently and asked. Did you get the alphas core? Daruk smiled and pulled out a mottled brown core the size of his fist. Sure did. A few of the survivors tried to scam me out of it, but I think they were too scared of you to do more than that. Aodhn chuckled, and they chatted for a few minutes, until Aodhn determined that hed gathered enough of his strength, and with shaky steps, he walked out of the room with Daruk trailing only a few feet behind him. It was almost midday, and the sun shone down with great intensity. Towards the edge of the forest, a group of people stood in a semicircle around a row of hastily dug graves, and a solemn air emanated from them. How many are dead? he asked quietly, and Daruk sighed. Many, about a dozen, but Im not sure of the exact number. Aodhn nodded, shunning the guilty thought that crept into his mind. This wasnt his fault; neither was he responsible for their safety, yet sorrow filled his heart at the sight. The burial ceremony lasted for only a few minutes before everyone dispersed. Aodhn saw a few people he recognized, including the Gishan girl, but immediately their gazes locked, and she turned away in anger. Many walked towards him to appreciate him for saving their lives, but he politely waved them away. Three people were adamant and stayed even after he sent him away. One of them, an unawakened woman with dirty brown hair and a tired expression, asked a moment later. Is there a way off this island? Weve been here for two days now. The man on her right nodded in agreement. Yes, we would be very grateful if you could help us. Aodhn sighed in response. It was funny how the same people who had looked at him with accusation two days ago now looked to him for salvation. He had thought of simply creating a ship large enough to contain them all, but he didnt even have enough control to create something that big and with so much detail.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! I will try. He replied as he thought of an alternative. From what hed gathered from some of the crew members while still on the Raventhorn, this area of the sea was a pretty common route for ships going to the 5th sector, so one should pass by them anytime soon. When the trio finally left, Aodhn channeled energy into {Create construct} and used the storm to write out the word help in extremely large font. The word hung boldly in the air, able to be seen for miles, and was sure to attract the attention of the next passing ship. All they had to do now was wait. With nothing else to do, Aodhn and Daruk made their way towards the edge of the shore, closer to the sea but far from the haphazard collection of bamboo tents the survivors had created. Foam-tipped waves lapped at their feet, and with each ebb and flow, the sea painted intricate patterns in the sand. If one overlooked their current situation, they would find the scene delicate, gentle, and peaceful. Aodhn leaned back slightly, enjoying the gentle swirl of breeze against his face, but a moment later, he cracked an eye open and asked. Is there something in particular thats delaying you? He was obviously referring to Daruks class advancement, and Daruk smiled in response. He took out the evolved core of the alpha Kanima from the vine pouch and observed it for a moment before sighing. Okay, lets do this. Without hesitation, Daruk began to absorb the core, and Aodhn watched the process carefully, hoping to glimpse some sort of insight into how class advancements usually occurred.. The Alpha was a Tier 17 creature, so its core definitely packed a lot of energy. Even as he watched, energy began to swirl and gather around Daruk, not from the core he held but from the world itself. The potency of this energy was much higher than what Aodhn was accustomed to; it was purer and denser than the energy found in cores. It gathered around Daruk in such a large quantity that he was obscured from view, and a moment later, light flashed and an intense chill soon engulfed the area. What happened next was hidden from his view, and even his core sense was unable to pick anything up, but the process only lasted for a few minutes, after which the haze of energy suddenly disappeared to reveal Daruk in all of his evolved glory. Daruks hair had grown longer; the silvery-white locks now reached his shoulder blades and almost completely obstructed his eyes. Hed added a little more mass, and hed grown about an inch or two, but the greatest change was revealed after he pushed his hair backwards. His pupils had changed from the silvery color of frost and were now a piercing blue ringed with a band of silver. The temperature dropped once more as his aura exerted more dominance over its surroundings, and a thin layer of frost began to appear on the shoreline. Daruk looked worn out from the advancement, which was unusual, but his eyes were wide in amazement as he watched small particles of frost gather in his palms, even without his input. If Daruk had been beautiful before, now there were no words to even correctly describe him. This is so amazing. Daruk muttered softly. I feel so amazing. Now that Daruk had shared his status screen with him, he didnt need permission to review it, and with a thought, the screen appeared before him. There were only two visible changes. The first was the class change to evolve, while the second was something he hadnt even expected. Bloodline: FrostForged Ancestry (Rare+). ?Amplifies ice and cold-related abilities by 2.25%. ?Grants major resistance to cold. ?Aura of frosted heart. The rating of the bloodline had changed, which made him believe that the class advancement was a sort of refinement process. This meant that with constant advancement, Daruk could refine his bloodline to its peak, although, from his expression, the occurrence seemed to have drained a tremendous amount of willpower from him. Now, I can advance my tier. Daruk shouted with excitement, and Aodhn shook his head in amusement, slightly jealous of Daruks good fortune but mostly happy for him. How many cores are left? he asked, and Daruk placed the vine pouch on the floor between them. He then began separating the cores by tier, and a minute later, he replied. We have thirty-five cores, but only ten of them are above Tier 7. Aodhn grinned at Daruks pained expression. You cant keep them, Daruk; cores are meant to be absorbed. I know. Daruk scowled and gestured to the cores between them. I just thought we should keep a few in case of emergencies, like today. Thats smart. Aodhn agreed, and after a moment of deliberation, he suggested. How about you absorb the cores below Tier 8 and see how far it takes you? Daruk agreed and returned the ten cores to the pouch before pulling the others closer to himself. By now, theyd drawn the attention of several people, but many of those staring were unawakened individuals who were simply too awed and curious to afford them any modicum of privacy. Not that unawakened individuals couldnt be a threat, but at his current tier of advancement, none of them could physically damage him. That wasnt the case with the awakened ones, though, but the strongest core he could sense was only tier 7, and with its slightly dim state, Aodhn suspected that it wouldnt be long before it reached its limit. Now that his proficiency with the core sense ability had increased, he was now able to differentiate between healthy cores and those nearing their limit. A healthy core blazed to his senses, but a core that was at its limit was dull and usually had a sort of muddy texture and quality. Slowly, Daruk began absorbing the cores while Aodhn kept an eye on his status screen. After absorbing about eight Tier 3 cores, energy surged out of Daruks core for the fifth time, and the Neophyte title was added to his status, but instead of a new skill, a message appeared. [AWARDING SKILL] [] [] The percentage bar kept increasing as Daruk ignored the message in favor of absorbing more cores. About ten minutes later, Daruk finally came to a stop as the last core crumbled to dust in his hands, and Aodhn could almost taste the envy in the air. The other awakened survivors had just watched Daruk ascend ten tiers in one go. If they didnt fear his power, Aodhn was sure they would have tried to bully them and take the cores. Daruk opened his eyes and smiled as he flexed his muscles and stood up. He stumbled, unused to his new strength, speed, or dexterity, but he burst out laughing and shouting. This is the best feeling ever! Yeah, well, check your status and tell me what the skill does. Aodhn chuckled, and Daruk sat down to review his status. . [STATUS] Name: Daruk Brystion Class: Evolved Ice awakened (28.7%) Title: Neophyte Tier: 10C87.9% Skill {Innate}: ice manipulation and creation. Bloodline skill: forge. Bloodline: FrostForged Ancestry (Rare+). ?Amplifies ice and cold-related abilities by 2.25%. ?Grants major resistance to cold. ?Aura of frosted heart Neophyte: A title awarded to an awakened person who has reached the Tier 5 milestone. Daruk spent a few minutes absorbing the information about the skill before he smiled. Its very similar to your construct skill, but mine grants me the ability to further imbue my forged constructs with properties such as durability, sharpness, and stuff. Aodhn groaned in envy. That is such a cheat skill; damn, I hate you. Thank you. He replied with a grin, but suddenly asked. I know our imaginations are our limits and all, but how do I create a skill? Do I just imagine it and then... get it? Well, yes and no. Aodhn replied. Asides the fact that were still very limited by our tiers and the system itself, trying to create a skill is like submitting an application or request to the system. If you have enough control to use the skill or enough willpower to brute force the process, the system grants you the skill. Oh. Daruk nodded in understanding. So, what now? Well, the first skill you should learn is to convert water into ice, Aodhn replied, gesturing towards the wide blue sea before them. .. Why is it so hard? Daruk groaned as water slipped through his fingers, unchanged. I told you, you have to will it into existence. Aodhn replied sagely as he parroted the advice that Aldric had given him. You have to believe the water in your palms is actually ice. You sound like Aldric right now; is that how he taught you? Well, it worked for me. Aodhn replied defensively, completely ignoring the fact that the logic wouldnt have worked for him either if Aldric hadnt helped him believe with his empathic mumbo-jumbo. Maybe he was enjoying Daruks frustration a little. Fine, I believe it. Truly, I do, but water doesnt seem to believe me when I tell it what it is. Aodhn was about to give another cryptic response when a thought suddenly came to his mind, and he frowned. Maybe thats because youre telling it what to do, but water has a different temperament. Have you tried cajoling it? When Daruk just stared blankly without responding, he continued. You know, cajole, urge, sway? Have you tried persuading?" I get it! You don''t have to list all the synonyms of the word. Daruk snapped and turned his attention back to the sea. Before they could implement Aodhns idea, though, the bellow of a horn suddenly echoed in the distance, and they turned to see a ship heading towards them. Shouts of jubilation filled the air as people scrambled to pack whatever luggage theyd managed to save from the Raventhorn before it sank. Fortunately for them, Daruk had saved their coin pouch, so they had enough to pay their way to the 5th sector. As the ship drew closer to the shore, though, Aodhn noticed the design of the ship, and his heart sank. A chorus of excited yells filled the air as the people celebrated, and a man shouted. Its the army; we are saved! Oh boy. Daruk muttered nervously. Were so screwed. Chapter 31: Arnold Frostbourne To Major General Lucas Deaton: It is with a heavy heart that I must report the loss of several key territories and vital supply routes in our ongoing conflict with the Sunstonian forces. As your subordinate and devoted commander, it is my duty to provide you with a candid assessment of the situation on the ground. Over the past fortnight, our troops have faced relentless assaults from the enemy, resulting in the gradual erosion of our defenses and the subsequent loss of the city of Fortaleza, a strategic position along the western front. Despite our best efforts to repel their advances, our forces were outnumbered and outmaneuvered, ultimately leading to the fall of critical strongholds and the severing of vital supply lines. From Vernon Blackthorn: Lieutenant Colonel of the 7th Battalion Year 2275.
Any ideas? Or do we just run? Daruk whispered as the ship grew closer, and Aodhn thought for a moment before responding. I have one, but if it doesnt work, then well have to run. Ever since hed been awarded the{Create constructs} skill, hed improved his control and mastery over it, but there was something he was yet to create, and now as he willed the storm to transform into the shape he desired, he prayed for mercy. The skill resisted for a moment, but he leveraged his immense amount of willpower, and a moment later, the skill gave way, and a long silk scarf made of storm rested in his palms. He let out a sigh of relief even as he wrapped the scarf around his face until only his eyes were exposed. Daruk stared at him incredulously and asked. What about me? What? You dont need it. Daruk frowned and touched his face in confusion. Are you sure? Trust me, no one would recognize you. Aodhn replied, and turned back to the ship as the gangway was opened and lowered to the shore. Second Lieutenant Tyrus immediately disembarked from the vessel along with a few other soldiers, and they immediately made their way towards them. Why are they coming towards us? Daruk asked in a whisper, and Aodhn replied in the same tone. I do not know, but I suspect were about to find out. Daruk swallowed nervously and whispered again. Perhaps they recognize us and have come to drag us to the frontlines. Aodhn was forced to admit that that was indeed a possibility, but he preferred to remain positive. Besides, he was at the 15th tier and was certain he could escape easily with Daruk in case things went sideways. He focused on the cores of the approaching soldiers, many of which were slightly dim to indicate the presence of impurities, but none of them had reached their limit. When the soldiers got close enough, Aodhn gave a small bow and said, Lieutenant, we cannot thank you enough for stopping to help us. Our ship was destroyed by a very violent storm, and we need your help in getting to the 8th sector. The lieutenant ignored him, though, and spoke to Daruk instead. My lord, we saw your signal, but my men and I were wondering how you and these people ended up on this desolate island. Daruks eyes widened slightly in shock at the lieutenants use of a title, but the training hed received from Grandma Alderman immediately kicked in, and he responded imperiously. My name is Arnold Frostbourne, the son of Baron Frostbourne in the 10th sector, and I was on my way to the 5th academy for the admission trials when a terrible storm struck and destroyed our ship along with the rest of my retainers. Ridwan, here is the only one I have left. My condolences, Lord Frostbourne. Lieutenant Tyrus replied, and in a slightly hesitant tone, he asked. My lord, if you would provide us a seal of identification The rest of the sentence died in his throat as Daruk took a threatening step forward, and with a withering glare, he spat. A mere lieutenant dares to question my identity? Can you not feel the aura of my bloodline? Can you not taste the frost flowing in my blood? The soldiers stumbled back as Daruks aura flared, coating their armor in tiny flakes of frost, and lieutenant Tyrus bowed. Apologies, my lord; I only wanted to confirm. There is nothing to confirm, lieutenant; I am Arnold Frostbourne, and my father, the baron, would be very grateful when I informed him that you saved me from this wretched island. Lieutenant Tyrus straightened. You are very kind, Lord Frostbourne, but we cannot afford a detour and can only take you to the nearest port, which is in the 8th sector. Very well, lieutenant, That is acceptable. Daruk walked forward pompously, and after a few steps, he shouted. Come, Ridwan, and stop acting like a fool. Aodhn raced after him, bowing to keep up the ruse, and without hesitation followed him up the gangway and into the ship. Daruk then turned to the lieutenant and said, Have one of your men lead me and my retainer to a suitable room; I need a proper bath after all that mess. And with an obnoxious sniff, he snapped. And see to these peasants before they ask Raol to curse my family''s name.Stolen novel; please report. Yes, immediately, Lord Frostbourne. Lieutenant Tyrus replied, and then sighed in the way one did when they were dealing with petulant children. Fucking nobles. One of the soldiers muttered in annoyance, and the lieutenant apologized immediately. Im very sorry for that, my lord. In facthe nudged the soldier forwardOllie here will see to all your needs. Daruk stared at the nervous soldier with an arrogant sneer before he simply turned to leave but stopped and said, Lest I forget, Lieutenant, you should write your full name on a piece of paper so I can remember it when next I write to my father. Aodhn was unsure where the paper miraculously came from, but only a few seconds later, Tyrus had written his name on it and was handing the note to him. Aodhn stared from the note back to the lieutenant in confusion, but immediately grabbed it when Daruk shouted. Take the note, Dimwit. Raol, why am I stuck with this fool? Daruk stalked off, and Aodhn rushed after him, intent on keeping up the ruse until they reached a place where he could beat the little lord to a pulp. Ollie nervously led them to a small cabin that was slightly larger and better than the others theyd come across. Get us something to eat. Daruk ordered, and Ollie bowed, but before he left, Daruk asked. How long before we reach the 8th sector? A day, my lord. Ill be right back with the food. Ollie shut the door gently, and Aodhn turned furious eyes to his excited lord. Aodhn wasnt too surprised at the treatment theyd received, although he hadnt really thought about it at first. But after the way the lieutenant had addressed Daruk, hed remembered that, except for a few people, only noble families had bloodlines or soul seeds, as a particular book had once called it. By Raol! Did you see that? Daruk whisper-screamed. They think Im a noble. I cant believe they bought the ruse. I cant believe you called me a fool and a dimwit, all in a single sentence, Aodhn hissed. It was two sentences, actually. Daruk replied smugly. But youre welcome; I saved our asses. Aodhn stared at him for a moment, contemplating whether to punch him or simply strangle him to death. He shook his head a moment later and sighed. Lets just take that bath, eat, and rest. We only have a day before we arrive at Sector 8. Daruk went into the bathroom first, while Aodhn waited behind to receive their food from Ollie. The meal wasnt anything specialsimple bread and soupbut they hadnt eaten anything substantial in the last two days, and the meal Ollie delivered was enough to feed half a dozen people. After eating, they both climbed into bed and promptly fell asleep. . It was a little past midnight when Aodhn woke up, and he turned to see Daruk meditating at one edge of the cabin. Honestly, he was a little envious of his progress. Daruk was now an evolved awakened who also had a bloodline, but none of those traits were as amazing as the fact that he was about to tap into a well of willpower that was much more than he could even imagine. Daruks patron was a transmigrant like himself, which meant shed inherited the willpower of her patron and merged it with her own will. Now Daruk was about to tap into the will of not one but two ascendants and harness it. Aodhn groaned quietly. It was too much, truly. He moved to the opposite side of the room and took a meditative stance. Since his encounter with the Alpha Kanima, hed begun to wonder why his willpower caused so much damage when he channeled it through his pathways, so he decided to study his will flame tonight. As his consciousness fell into his core this time, his senses werent quite cut off, but they dimmed. He could still sense his surroundings, but with no real detail or clarity. He focused on the now massive flame burning in his core, and he wondered why he could harness such a large amount of willpower but was unable to use it in battle. He couldnt afford to damage his pathways in such a manner every time he used his willpower; there had to be a way to safely harness and channel it. Aodhn pushed his consciousness deeper into the core until he could feel the flames roaring around him. Tongues of will flames fervently licked against the confines of his consciousness, and although a part of the flames left no damage and was even pleasurable, the other part seared with an intensity that caused him to pull his mind out of the core immediately. Shuddering, he massaged his temple as pain tore through his mind. It subsided after a minute, and Aodhn was finally able to breathe. After a while, he turned his consciousness back to the flame, but this time he watched it from afar, not daring to repeat the experience hed just suffered. As he watched the flames, though, he began to realize that although his will and that of Az had merged into a single ball of flame, they werent fully combined. A part of the flame was gentle and mild, while the other part was untamed and violent. As he watched the flames, Aodhn discovered that he now had a new objective to add to his already long list of tasks. If he ever wanted to employ the full power of his will in a battle, he had to tame the remnant of Az''s will and fully integrate it into his own. Slowly, Aodhn gathered wisps of the untamed will and fully merged it with the mild part of his willpower. The untamed will resisted, but it had no master, so it was fairly easy to dominate and control it. As uncomplicated as the process seemed, it was still extremely stressful, and after about an hour and a half, his will flame had reduced by a tiny amount, which was a good thing because it now burned brighter to his senses. After another hour, Aodhn had only managed to tame about 10% of his current will, but it was progress, and all he needed now was time. Daruk was still meditating when his consciousness returned to reality, so he decided to just rest. He still wasnt at his peak, and after his near-death experience with the Kanima and the redrawing of his pathways, he needed time to heal, so he returned to the bed and let sleep take him. Aodhn woke to the rays of the setting sun as they flitted across his face and the familiar noise of a sea port as sailors, soldiers, deckhands, and passengers either offloaded their luggage or scrambled about their duties. Several voices rose above the din, calling out the destinations of their vessels as well as the price of the journey. Aodhn stood up from the bed and headed for the bathroom. He still wasnt in peak condition, but hed gained about 90% of his strength after that sleep. Five minutes later, hed taken off his tattered clothes and replaced them with a silk black outfit made from storm Daruk was done with meditation but still maintained the pose and was frowning in confusion. Whats wrong? Aodhn asked, and Daruks frown deepened before he replied. I dont get it; my willpower issomething weird is going on with it. Oh, how? He asked innocently, pretending to be clueless and intrigued by the whole willpower issue. My will flame; its growing at an alarming rate. It wasnt like this when we practiced before. That is weird. Aodhn replied with a confused expression. But isnt that a good thing? I guess. Daruk replied. But its almost like theres more than one, like Im harnessing..." A loud knock cut him off, and Aodhn sighed in relief as Ollie announced that they had arrived at the Norvian port. Thank you, soldier; well be out of your lieutenants hair in a few minutes. Daruk replied with a straight expression before rushing into the bathroom. They didnt have much except for their money and cores, as theyd lost their bags on the ship. When Daruk returned from the bathroom, Aodhn slung the pouch of cores across his shoulders, but Daruk insisted that they collect a newer pouch from the lieutenant. They arrived on deck a few minutes later, and Daruk addressed the lieutenant. I assure you that neither I nor my father forget to pay our debts; House Frostbourne will reward you for this. Thank you, my lord. The lieutenant replied with a bow of his head, and after exchanging a few more words, they walked down the gangway and into the bustling port of the 8th sector. Chapter 32: Sector 8 Each kingdom, save for Lutia (the central kingdom), is said to have an equal amount of landmass, each of which is further divided into 13 pieces: a capital and 12 sectors. Each sector is led by a sector head (duke), who is required to remit 20% of all their earnings to the capital. Economic and geographical study of the Lutian continent. By expert cartographer Ethan Yukimura.
Sector 8 was most popularly known as the sector of industrialization. It was an enchanting metropolis where towers of steel and glass, shimmering with the golden glow of runic scripts, reached towards the sky like titans of progress. As Aodhn and Daruk walked through the noisy port, they immediately made their way to a group of wooden buildings that identified as inns. The port teemed with a kaleidoscope of people as crafters, alchemists, artisans, and traders whirred with purpose as they disembarked from their own vessels. Machines and automatons walked behind a group of men whose cores glowed brightly to his senses. His core sense wasnt developed enough to identify a persons affinity, but he didnt need it to identify them as technological or mechanical awakeneds. The sector was the kingdoms industrial heart, and it was filled to the brim with crafters and artisans, but mostly merchants who had come to buy several goods in bulk with the aim of reselling them in their individual sectors. The persistent hum of factories filled his earsa symphony of innovation as plumes of iridescent smoke and gas were exhaled into the atmosphere. The air is horrible; how do people breathe in all this smoke? Daruk frowned as they took in the poor conditions of the port. The industries and factories might be beautiful, but the effect they had on their environment was extremely damaging. Theyre used to it. Aodhn replied, subtly pointing to a group of thugs smoking at the entrance of an alley. Compared to the air in the Warren, this is horrible. Daruk replied through his now-covered nose, and Aodhn shook his head. The 8th sector was responsible for the production of almost everything used in the kingdom, so an abundance of industries was expected. What he hadnt expected was the stench of pollution that pervaded the entire port, but he suspected that things were probably much better towards the capital of the sector. In areas like this, the poor masses were usually the ones who took the brunt of it. It took them about fifteen minutes to exit the port, and they immediately made their way towards the nearest inn, called Sadies. Like hed suspected, the air was much cleaner than it had been within the port, but still, it was nowhere near as fresh as the Warren had been. Sadies was a small building made out of wood and stone, and from the look of it, it barely contained more than half a dozen rooms. The rooms on the top floor had several broken windows, and it was only a few trash bags away from being a dump. Is there a reason why were choosing this rundown establishment over the better-looking ones? Daruk asked with a disgusted look and gestured to a better-looking inn at the end of the street. Because weve been gathering attention since we stepped out of the ship, and the wrong kind of people are watching. Aodhn replied as he pushed the door open and walked up to the counter. An old man with unnaturally dark hair stood by the counter and turned to them as they approached. He took in their looks, clothes, and pouches with a slight glare and muttered. Its five silvers per night. No food, just bed. Aodhn turned to look incredulously at the empty inn, just as Daruk exclaimed. 5 silvers for a night in this rundown establishment? Mother would lose her mind. No bargaining. Things expensive. War and all that. The man replied as Aodhn opened his mouth to bargain, and two minutes later, they were walking towards the next inn. It was absurd to pay an entire weeks wage for a night in such an establishment. Aodhn was aware that things would be more expensive in this sector compared to the Warren, but it couldnt be that bad as the war was yet to proceed past the borders. The next inn they tried was a little better than the last, but the price was just as outrageous, and without hesitation, they stepped out of the inn. As they walked towards the next inn, though, a group of young men rushed out of an alley and surrounded them. There were seven of them, but only three were awakened, and from what he could sense, two had reached their limit at the 7th tier, while their leader was well on his way there but was currently at the 9th tier. I cant believe it. Daruk sighed, slightly on guard. Five minutes into this ridiculous sector, and were already being assaulted by brutes. The men sneered at Daruks comment, but the leader raised a hand to placate them. Now, boys, theres no need to fight; we are only here to help you with your burdens. Those cores must weigh a ton. Thank you, gentlemen, but we can carry our burdens ourselves. Aodhn replied. The men laughed as the leader took a step forward, his stance threatening, and in a tone laced with the promise of violence, he said, I insist, let us help you. Aodhn straightened and narrowed his eyes in warning: Whatever this is, I assure you that it will not end in your favor. The man chuckled. Theres seven of us and two of you; it looks to me like youre outnumbered and overpowered. Fog began to gather around them, rising from the ground until it reached their knees, and Aodhn sighed as the men readied themselves for a fight. Before any of them could move, though, a storm cloud rumbled into existence above them, and a dozen bolts of lightning struck down, transforming into thick chains that wrapped around their necks and sent electricity rushing through their bodies. The unawakened thugs barely lasted a second before passing out, but the others resisted for a second or two before succumbing to the same fate. The storm cloud disappeared a moment later, and Daruk groaned. I really need to learn a skill soon. You already have the forge skill, not to mention your innate ice manipulation and creation. Aodhn replied with a smile as he dismissed the lightning chains. I think you have enough to start honing your control. I cant really use {Forge} because I lack the control and mastery needed to utilize it. Daruk replied bitterly. It was the side effect of ascending so many tiers at once without any training or control. We can practice tonight and tomorrow; that way, youll have enough time to improve your control before we get to the academy. Raol, I hope so. Daruk muttered as he moved towards the unconscious thugs and pulled out their coin pouches. Most of them were empty, and Daruk discarded them with an expression of disgust. No wonder they tried to rob us; these men are terribly broke. Stealing the little that they have is not going to help them, trust me. Aodhn chuckled as Daruk added the coppers and silvers hed taken to their own pouch. Think about it this way; now we have enough silver to pay for the next overpriced inn you lead us to. Aodhn laughed, and fifteen minutes later, they finally found a decent-looking inn, called the Rainbow Cat, that offered a bed and supper for the same price as the others. It was a two-story building made out of wood and stone. The lower floor had a tavern-like ambience and was moderately filled with people, mostly passengers, as many still had their luggage beside them. Well take it. Daruk said to the innkeeper before giving her the five silver coins along with a few copper coins as a tip. The woman smiled widely and asked. Would you like to eat now or see the room first? Well eat now. Aodhn replied eagerly, and they soon found an empty table to sit at. A jovial murmur filled the air as people talked about their travels and the prices of things within the sector. Immediately after they sat down, Daruk asked. Remember when I said something weird happened while I was meditating?This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Aodhn inwardly cringed, even as he put up a curious expression. Yeah, I remember, but Ollie interrupted us before you told me what it was. Daruk nodded and whispered. Its about my willpower; its so much larger than normal, and its almost as if Im cultivating not one but two will flames. Oh, thats definitely weird. Aodhn nodded innocently. Yeah, right. I think it has something to do with He paused as the innkeeper placed two steaming bowls of pork soup before them, as well as a jug of water. When she left, though, he continued. The legacyI''m almost entirely sure it has something to do with this. Now that Daruk had reached the conclusion all by himself, Aodhn decided to expand on it a little. That makes sense. In fact, it is possible that the legacy seed contained the will of your patron, and now youre harnessing it. Daruks eyes widened slightly, and he nodded in agreement. Thats amazing, right? With so much willpower at my disposal, my skills would become much more powerful. Aodhn understood Daruks thoughts; hed had the same ones when hed found out about Azs will too, but hed recently learned that the willpower of the ascendants was wild and untamed, too strong to be channeled through their pathways before a complete merge had occurred, and in Daruks case, the will flames were bound to be more dangerous as he wasnt just harnessing the willpower of a single ascendant but two. Aodhns mistake had thoroughly damaged his pathways, but for Daruk, it could potentially kill him, so without hesitation, Aodhn said to Daruk: You should thoroughly study the will flames; if youre really harnessing the willpower of an ascendant, then it is bound to be untamed and wild, too strong for you to channel through your pathways lest you damage them. I think you need to fully merge it with your willpower; that way, you can tame the flames, and any damage they might eventually cause will be minimal. That makes a lot of sense; actually, I wonder why I didnt think of it. Daruk nodded, and their conversation shifted to other topics. They stayed in the tavern for an hour before moving up to the room theyd rented for the night. The room wasnt too bigabout the size of his room back at the Brystions housebut without any of the repulsive dcor. After a bath, they both took a meditative pose, and Aodhn began to work on merging both his and Azs will flames into one. About two hours later, he was completely exhausted, but hed made good progress and had reduced the size of the flame by almost a quarter. The ball of condensed willpower glowed brighter to his senses, and its color had changed from normal black to a glossy black shade that appeared lustrous and seemed to reflect a non-existent light. Daruk was still meditating, so Aodhn climbed onto the left side of the bed and slept off. .. Aodhn woke up the next morning to the sound of shattering glass, and he sat up to see that the left half of the room was coated in a layer of ice. The part of the bed Daruk had slept in was frozen solid, and the windows had shattered from the intense chill. Aodhn stumbled out of bed immediately and rushed to the other part of the room before creating a bell and ringing it as loudly as he could. The sound wasnt as loud as hed hoped, but Daruk jerked awake, and Aodhn gestured towards the frozen room. What is going on with your aura? What?. Daruk replied as he stared at the room groggily. It only took a second for him to register the layer of ice that covered an entire half of the room, and his eyes widened in shock. How is this possible? Daruk asked as he scrambled out of bed, and although Aodhn wanted to reply with a sarcastic How would I know?, he decided that now was probably not the time and settled for an honest, if obvious, reply instead. You must have unconsciously activated your aura. Yeah. Daruk agreed with a contemplative expression. I remember feeling hot after I went to sleep last night, and I just needed a little chill. I should add that to the list of things I need to worry about. Daruk snarked, unable to help himself. I literally could have been frozen to death if Id slept even a minute longer. Daruk glared, and Aodhn raised his hands in surrender. Im just calling it how Icy it. He wiggled his brows and chuckled. See what I did there? I see = icy. Yes, Aodhn, Im not stupid. Daruk snapped, and he stumbled back dramatically. Oh my, youre so grumpy today? Are you cold? Daruk glared at him with a decidedly unamused expression and replied. I am resistant to cold, idiot; I cant feel cold, and your puns are stupid. Correction, you have a major resistance to cold; that means you can still feel cold. Daruk ignored Aodhn and turned to observe the room. Perhaps it had something to do with harnessing all that willpower. Aodhn nodded seriously. Im not sure how your bloodline and willpower are connected, but it is possible. Daruk massaged his temples and sighed. How do we explain all this ice and damage to the innkeeper? Fifteen minutes later, Daruk pulled out a pile of coins from the pouch and handed it to the irate innkeeper. This is 5 coppers for the windows. When the innkeepers hand remained outstretched, he dipped his hand into the coin pouch once more and gave her another five coppers. The woman hurriedly put the coins in her purse and sniffed derisively before walking out of the damaged room. I cant believe we paid a whole silver for damages. Aodhn muttered a minute later, and Daruk shook his head dejectedly as they stepped out of the inn. They made their way deeper into the sector, weaving through the busy streets of the port town as they searched for an appraiser. Appraisers were awakened individuals with an identify skill or some variation of it. Aodhn had asked the innkeeper, and she had directed them to a place called Valors Keep. It had taken them almost an hour to find the circular building, which was connected to a much larger building that served both as an auction house and as a meeting hall for the town. The auction building easily occupied a landmass about 250 feet in diameter, and as they walked towards the gate of the building, a guard gestured for them to halt. State your business. We are here to see the appraiser; I have an item I would like to know more about. Aodhn replied, and the guard raised a device very similar to a phone to his mouth. For some reason, it was impossible to hear what he was saying, despite how close they were, but a few seconds later, a young woman peeked out of the gate and gestured for them to come in. They walked through the gates and into Valors keep. The single-story building gave off a very professional vibe that reminded him of a modern office. Several rows of wooden chairs took up a corner of the office, and about half a dozen people were already seated, awaiting their turns to see the appraiser. The woman gestured for them to take their seats and said, Lucky for you, today isnt a particularly busy one, so Malacus should attend to you in a few moments. Thank you. Aodhn replied politely as they took their seats behind a suspicious-looking old couple whose gazes kept darting towards the exit at the slightest sound. Time passed, and an hour later, the woman, whom they now knew as secretary Adith, finally called them and led them to a small room upstairs. The room looked more like an office than the antique, cluttered space hed imagined. The walls were made of brown wood similar to the one hed seen in his visions, and a reddish-brown rug covered the center of the floor. A large wooden table stood by the back wall, with two chairs arranged before it and another behind it. Bookshelves filled the entire left wall, and pictures of a loving family filled the opposite wall. A middle-aged man was seated on the chair behind the desk, and immediately he saw them. He stood and extended his right arm for a handshake. He was dressed in a silky black suit, covered in shiny crystals, and when he smiled, his features transformed from average to beautiful. What surprised Aodhn the most was Malacus''s core, as it blazed with a power he could not accurately gauge, but if he had to guess, he would put the man between the 26th and 30th tiers, which made him the highest-tiered individual hed sensed so far. Malacuss core shone with a sort of purity that hed only ever felt from newly awakened individuals before, and Aodhn suspected that the man knew about the true nature of the limit and the way to prevent it, which either made him a noble or an academy alumnus. His money was on the latter, though, and a quick look around the office revealed a graduation certificate from the 9th sector. It was baffling that the man was unevolved; in fact, he hadnt come across any evolved individuals yet. If it truly wasnt a secret, why then were they so scarce? Welcome, gentlemen. How can I help you today? Thank you for meeting us. Aodhn replied as he sat down and added. Before we proceed, though, I would like to know how much you charge for an appraisal. Malacus chuckled and replied. It used to be cheaper, but things with the war have escalated prices greatly. The cost of my service is now 2 silver coins per item. Aodhn nodded; that was a price he could afford, but before he could take out the chain, Daruk asked. How do we know that youre giving us a correct appraisal? Or that you wont try to steal the item? Malacus frowned slightly but didnt seem to have taken offense at the question. Valors Keep is a reputable establishment, not a cover for thieves. Besides, if I did things like that, my license would have been revoked. Daruk nodded, and with a bit of hesitation, Aodhn took off the necklace from his neck and handed it over to the appraiser. Malacus examined it for a while, his eyes moving back and forth as if he were reading something, and after an entire minute, he replied. The necklace is slightly magical, but has no important functions aside from looking pretty; the pendant, on the other hand, is an item imbued with the concept of space, but it has been altered and further imbued by someone with a potent connection to the origin plane of Storm, maybe a grandmaster or overlord, but it is extremely valuable, and I can buy it from you for 50 silver coins. Aodhn stared at the necklace with wide eyes. He now knew why the pendant had glowed during the storm, but he had no idea who a grandmaster or overlord was. Also, Malacus was offering him 50 silver coins for a trinket he had bought for just 3 silvers. How insane was that? You say its a spatial item; how large is the space it holds, and why have I not been able to open it yet? Aodhn asked after a few seconds of thought. From what I can see, the space it holds is quite substantial, about 30 feet in diameter, and the reason why you couldnt open it was because youve yet to bond the item. Most items have no requirements for use, but the necklace can only be used by a storm awakened who has bonded it by blood. What do you mean when you say by blood? Daruk asked, and Aodhn added. Yes, I wanted to ask about that, because the necklace has come in contact with my blood before. When Malacus raised an eyebrow, he explained. Our ship had an accident on the way here, and I was pretty injured. My apologies for your troubles. Malacus consoled and explained., The bonding process has to be intentional, and you can bond it just by placing a drop of blood on it. I urge you to consider selling this to me; lets talk business.* No, thats not necessary. I dont want to sell it. Aodhn replied, but Malacus pressed. What if I increased the offer to, lets say, 80 silver? That was a tempting amount of money, as he was sure he could get another spatial item for far less, but he was more interested in the connection the necklace had with the origin plane and how he could use that to his advantage, so he denied Malacuss offer once again. Its a shame; I was really hoping to convince you, but if you ever change your mind, you know where to find me. Yes, and thank you. Aodhn replied as he paid two silver coins to Malacus for his service, and a few minutes later, they stepped out of Valors keep and into the busy streets of the industrial sector. Chapter 33: The Griffin Magical items are simply items forged and imbued with energy, nothing more, nothing less. Take a sword; for instance, if it is imbued with the element of fire, it becomes a flame sword, and if it is imbued with the concept of space, then it becomes a spatial sword. The process of magical imbuement is a different topic entirely, so I wont dwell much on it, but one thing to note is that a magical item is only as strong as the one who imbued it. Unknown record of a class on magical theory The Awakened Academy, sector 5
Immediately after they stepped out of the appraisers office, they raced back to the inn so Aodhn could bond with the necklace. Unfortunately, the entire bonding process wasnt as captivating as theyd hoped, but the result was still amazing. Aodhn had pricked his finger with a needle construct, and as a bead of blood welled up from the wound, he dipped the lightning pendant into it. Immediately it made contact with the blood, lightning surged into his arm, arcing through pathways he could barely discern and causing him to stiffen from the intrusion. The necklace rippled and changed immediately, its color shifted to a lustrous white-gold hue, designed with shimmering black stripes. The necklace glowed slightly as the bond settled, and Aodhn suddenly felt its presence at the back of his mind. Curiously, he probed it, and a spatial space about 30 feet in diameter opened up to his senses. It was empty, dispelling any hope hed had for ancient treasures or a pile of gold coins. Here, test it. Daruk urged, handing the coin pouch to him, and a second later, the pouch disappeared, only to appear within the spatial space. With growing excitement, he willed the pouch into his hand before sending it back into the pendant. The whole process was seamless, and he quickly got the hang of it. A few minutes later, they stepped back out of the inn, only this time their pouches were nowhere in sight. Aodhn insisted that Daruk also get a spatial ring for himself, as they had enough money to buy one, and it just seemed right that they had their individual spaces. Unfortunately, spatial items werent quite as common as theyd thought, but after searching the whole town for almost an hour, they finally met a man who directed them to Orom, the main city within the sector. They had to board a shuttle, which was just a metallic box with windows and tires. Just like the buses on earth, it had several rows of seats within it but was surprisingly much faster than hed expected. It took them an hour and a half to arrive at Orom, and after paying the driver, they alighted and began asking people for directions. The city wasnt as crowded as hed imagined, and the air was much fresher, even with the overabundance of factories and industries within it, which led him to suspect that the pollution and waste were somehow being funneled to the port city. Five minutes later, they arrived at a supermarket that sold a variety of magical items. The large multistory building was located between two factories, one producing a different brand of the shuttle theyd boarded earlier while the other produced what seemed to be golems. The supermarket was made with reinforced stone and metal and was covered in runic scripts. A dense amount of energy washed over them immediately they stepped into the building, and their eyes widened in amazement. The entire floor was filled with rows and rows of shelves displaying various magical items. Each shelf contained a variety of items imbued with the same element or concept. Most of the items were of common rank, imbued by beginners, yet they emanated a slight pressure on their environment, causing the air to take on a slightly charged quality. As they observed the displayed items, a woman dressed in a fitted red gown walked towards them. Suddenly, a slight tingle of danger raced up Aodhns spine, and he focused his senses on her core only to discover that she was at a tier of advancement that he couldnt really gauge. More so, her blue pupils were ringed with a band of silver, identifying her as an evolved awakened. She was the first evolved person hed seen since hed arrived in this world, but his danger sense warred with the feeling of kinship budding within him. He wanted to ask her questions and have a long conversation about their experiences as evolved awakeneds, but something about her bearing just seemed so cold and unapproachable, so he held himself back and decided to watch her instead. Daruk also noticed the change, and although he subtly nudged him, he made no move to converse with the woman. How can we help you? She asked as soon as she reached them, and Daruk replied. Uh, a spatial ring, but preferably something flavored with the element of ice. Most flavored items are usually more expensive than normal items because of the uniqueness of their production, but we have an entire section dedicated solely to spatial items, and I am convinced that you will find one that suits your taste. The woman replied warmly as she led them deeper into the building, and Aodhn wondered if perhaps she wasnt quite as unapproachable as she seemed. With nothing to lose, he decided to ask her a question that had been bothering him for a while. Excuse me, miss, I was wondering if you could tell us about the evolved community here in the eight sector. The woman frowned slightly, not expecting the question, but she replied anyway. There really isnt a community, but if youre looking for evolved citizens, I suggest you move further into the sector where the nobles reside. Why? Are nobles the only evolved citizens in the sector? Daruk asked. No, there are a few of us commoners, but evolved cores are rare, as you well know, and are usually very expensive. Im sure there are a few evolved commoners scattered around the sector, but you asked for a community. Aodhn nodded, but before he could ask another question, the charge in the air suddenly increased as the auras of multiple items undulated and clashed. The woman looked unfazed by the whole scenario, so he gestured toward a section of shelves to his left, where the energy was particularly chaotic, and asked. Why are they doing that? Because theyre pesky little things that cant control themselves." The woman replied dismissively and continued. Many magical items develop a modicum of sentience, or will, as some refer to it, and this is them fighting for some sort of supremacy. But arent they all imbued with the same element? Daruk inquired. That is true, but each item is tainted by the will of their creator as well as several other circumstances that may have occurred during the forging process, so even though theyre imbued with the same element, theyre still quite different. Do higher-ranked items behave the same way? Aodhn asked, genuinely concerned, but the woman chuckled and dismissed his worries. One would think so, but the stronger an item, the better its energy and aura control. She pointed upward, gesturing to the floor above them. Many of the strongest items barely even emanate an aura. Aodhns hand reached up to clasp his necklace, and he wondered just how strong the pendant was, as it barely even had an aura. A few minutes later, they reached the section dedicated to spatial items. The left section contained several shelves housing a variety of rings, some of which were plain and without any embellishments, while others shimmered with beautiful stones. The shelves on the right contained earrings, armbands, chains, and even weapons imbued with the concept of space. Daruk dismissed the shelf housing the spatial weapons, as once he developed enough control to use his forge skill, he would have no need for metallic weapons. Instead, he focused on the rings, and after several minutes of contemplation, he finally settled for an ice blue ring. The ring had no gems or design, nor did it bear any runes or hieroglyphs, but it was flavored with the chill of winter and was relatively cheap compared to the other flavored items. They bought the ring for 15 silver coins, after which they left the supermarket and made their way to a cloth market theyd found on the way here. Mindful of the amount they had left, they only bought two fancy shirts and pants each. The clothes were surprisingly expensive, costing them a total of 20 silvers, but they paid for it anyway as they had no decent clothes to wear to the 5th academy. After that, they made their way back to the port. They had spent more than 40 silvers, which was a large chunk of their money, but they still had a single gold coin and some silver left, which was enough to pay for their trip to the 5th sector.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Aodhn and Daruk made their way through the port city until they reached the docks and found the area crowded with people and their luggage. Voices echoed out from each ship as they called out their destinations, and it wasnt long before they found one going to the 5th sector. It was a large ship, almost double the size of the Raventhorn, and completely covered in flowing runes. The metal ship was painted in a mix of red and silver, and boldly written on its side were the words The Griffin. They made their way towards the captain of the ship, who stood just beside the gangway, and the man raised a brow as they came to stand before him. The journey will take two days, five silvers for each day. Thats a little Daruk started, but the captain cut him off. "Look, kid, I know youre one of those nobles trying to escape the war by enrolling in an academy with your retainer, which is illegal by the way, but if youre going to sail on my ship, then its five silvers a day. They eventually paid, and as they climbed the gangway, their coin pouch was 20 silvers lighter. When they stepped onto the deck of the Griffin, they found several awakened passengers leaning against the hull. Many of them had reached their limit, but Aodhns gaze was drawn to a group of young boys, half a dozen in number, between the ages of 16 and 20, whose cores emanated a pressure slightly stronger than his own. At first, Aodhn noticed nothing different or special about them, until two of the boys turned and he registered his ringed pupils. He smiled, happy to see other evolved individuals only a few hours after seeing the first. Aodhn had always thought the knowledge of class evolution was a secret like that of the limit, but now he understood that the scarcity of evolved individuals was simply a result of the lack of evolved cores. He and Daruk observed the boys carefully, and they soon realized that all six of them were evolved as their ringed pupils indicated, but only two of them looked to be above the age of 16. Daruk nudged him gently and whispered. You think theyre students of the academy? Maybe those two. Aodhn whispered back. But the rest are too young. Perhaps, just like us, theyre looking to enroll. The group didnt seem to notice them as they made their way to the cabin theyd rented, and as they walked in, Daruk groaned. By ascendants! Theres so much to do. What do I have on my timetable? Youre asking me? Keep your own timetable. Aodhn. Daruk sighed. Its just so much better when you list it out for me, and I really appreciate it when you do. Aodhn glared at him, no longer able to deny the request after such a compliment. Fine, but just this once. You have to start keeping your own timetable. Yeah, sure, whatever. Well, the first thing you need to do is learn how to convert water to ice and vice versa; after that, you need to focus on the creation and manipulation of ice. You also need to gain control over your bloodline, and if we havent reached the 5th sector by the time you figure all these out, then youll need to dedicate the time left to meditating, harnessing your will as well as that of your patron, and fully merging both flames together. Is that all? I think thats all. Raol, save me. Daruk groaned and buried his head in the bed, but he raised his head back up and asked, What about you? Ive got pretty much the same thing in my routine except the bloodline control. I have to meditate and harness my will, but Im also working on changing the shape of a construct mid-attack. The progress is slow as my control and precision are still a little lacking, but I should be able to do it before the end of the week. Daruk groaned once more as he moved to one corner of the room and took up a meditative pose. Aodhn also moved to the opposite end of the room, and after a moment of reflection, he turned his attention fully to his core. Hed noticed that after his last session of will taming, more will flames had rushed into his core from behind the dam, so it seemed like this process was going to be a long one. Fortunately, the untamed flames had become unresponsive when he tried to move them through his pathways, but the tamed ones moved smoothly, like viscous oil. He spent the next few hours fully merging the untamed flames of willpower into his tamed one, and by the time he was done, a lustrous black flame burned heavily in his core. The tamed will was about a quarter of its original size, but it glowed to his senses and was more responsive than before. The sound of a notification echoed in his mind, and with a thought, he reviewed his status. . [STATUS] Name: Aodhn Ashoka Title: Neophyte, Stormborn, Bronze. Class: Evolved storm awakened: 99.9% (PENDING) Tier: 15-7.46% Skills {Innate}: Storm creation and manipulation, lightning creation and manipulation. {Other}: Lightning surge, Lightning descent, Create constructs, Absorb lightning. Bloodline: Nil Glimpse: increases elemental control by 1% Bronze: A title awarded for condensing 100 units of willpower. . Aodhn stared at the new title with a bit of disappointment. Hed been cultivating and harnessing his willpower for more than a month now, but hed only successfully tamed 100 units of it. With a scowl, he dismissed the status screen and returned his focus to the core. The tamed flame of willpower burned in his core, surrounded by a pyre of untamed flames that had rushed in from the dam. He studied his core for a moment longer before returning his mind to his surroundings. Three hours had passed since theyd boarded the ship, and at a point during his meditation, the ship had set sail towards the 5th sector. Aodhn turned towards Daruk and smiled when he found a bowl of frozen water floating before him. The bowl shook gently as Daruk tried to manipulate the ice within it, but he was only mildly successful, and a moment later the bowl jerked sharply to the side and smashed against the cabin walls. Daruk hit his head against the wall in frustration and groaned. Raol, I hate this element. "No, you dont; youre just doing something wrong, Aodhn chuckled. He had thought Daruk would master his abilities faster than he had, considering the fact that he had access to the will of two ascendants, but it only seemed to make things harder for him. After a few words of advice, Aodhn stepped out of the cabin and climbed onto the deck. It was almost evening, so many roamed the deck, making conversations with each other or simply enjoying the view. He moved closer to the foremast, searching for the boys hed seen earlier, but they seemed to have returned to their cabins. He was about to return when his senses suddenly picked up a blazing core standing only a couple feet behind him. The core emanated a pressure just slightly weaker than his own, and without delay, he turned and summoned a bolt of lightning to his hands, which instantly transformed into a spear of crackling electricity aimed at his invisible assailant. A thud resounded as the person stumbled to the floor, and a moment later, the air shimmered to reveal a boy staring up at him with frightened eyes. By Raol, are you trying to kill me? The boy shouted as he staggered to his feet, and Aodhn awkwardly dismissed the spear. The boy looked even younger than Daruk, but his ringed pupils identified him as an evolved awakened. Stop sneaking up on people. Aodhn scolded, but the boy shrugged. I wasnt sneaking; I was hiding. They had attracted the attention of a few people on the deck, but they all returned back to their conversations when nothing happened. You were hiding? Right behind me? Aodhn asked, still slightly wary. Dont you have some sort of invisibility Cloak. The boy interrupted. Invisibility is the lesser version of my concept. Right, whatever. Aodhn replied. Just dont do it again. The boy shrugged and asked. So how did you sense me? None of my friends can do that. Do you have some kind of item that sees through invisibility? No, I just sensed your core. Aodhn replied in confusion, and the boy smiled. Ah, you dont want to tell me; thats fine; keep your secrets. Aodhn frowned. He was aware that his ability to sense the cores of others was unique, but he hadnt realized it was such an absurd concept that people would find it hard to believe. At first, hed thought it was an ability available to everyone, but a week after the expedition, hed realized that wasnt the case. Hed then considered that hed probably gotten it as a result of absorbing the legacy seed, but the fact that Daruk hadnt gained the skill disproved that theory. His mind turned back to the day hed gained the ability; he had just advanced to the 5th tier after the fight with the Burmehein. It was possible that hed gained the skill by flooding his body with willpower or by resisting the pressure of the Burmeheins core at such a low tier. Perhaps hed gained it from both actions or from neither, but Aodhn was just glad to have an edge, even if it was a small one. The boy stuck out his hand a moment later and introduced himself. Im Ahmet Tasar, a friend of Eren Thornhill. Aodhn introduced himself in return, aware that the name Thornhill was the family name of the local baron. They moved towards the hull of the ship, and Aodhn probed. Youre headed for the academy, right? Yes, along with the others. Ahmet replied, and Aodhn asked. Do you think therell be a lot of evolved awakeneds in the academy? Yee, of course. Ahmet replied as if hed asked the most ridiculous question ever. The academy doesnt accept unevolved awakeneds. Its the first requirement for admission. Aodhn frowned. But there are only a few evolved awakeneds; surely, they cant afford to turn any of us away. Ahmet laughed at his question and asked. Youre not from this sector, are you? Youre from one of the lower sectors, 11 or 12? 12. Aodhn replied, his expression twisted in confusion. Why do you ask? Because it would explain your ignorance. Ahmet replied and continued. You see, the number of evolved creatures in every sector is determined by the amount of magical energy flowing through the sector. You may not have noticed it, but the energy flowing through the 8th sector is much greater than that of the 12th sector. Aodhn had noticed but hadnt really paid it much attention. The same applies to the higher sectors. Ahmet continued. In sector 1, the energy is said to be almost visible, not to mention that of the capital. So, what youre saying is that the greater the energy, the higher the number of evolved creatures, and the higher the number of evolved creatures, the higher the number of evolved awakeneds. Exactly. There are a lot more cores to go around, so in the higher sectors, almost everyone is evolved. Ahmet replied. But thats not the only reason for the minimal number of evolved awakeneds. In fact, the main reason for that is because the body can no longer evolve after crossing the first milestone. What! Aodhn exclaimed in shock, as this was news to him, and Ahmet shrugged. My father says the milestones are spirit locks. Once you cross them, they lockdown a part of your spirit, preventing it from changing or evolving. Aodhns mind flashed to the pending status on his class even after hed absorbed the energy required to reach the next evolution, and he realized that the system was probably waiting for him to reach a suitable tier before triggering the next evolution. Aodhn shook his head. I didnt know that, but it explains a lot. Many would have crossed the first milestone before they ever came across an evolved creature, and by then it would have been too late. I think its just another form of the limit disease. Ahmet agreed with a sympathetic expression and shook his head. Theres much to learn, Aodhn muttered a minute later, and Ahmet shrugged again. Yeah, and the 5th academy is the best place to learn them. I wish you luck during the enrollment trials. You too. Aodhn replied with a smile. They spoke for a few more minutes before saying their goodbyes and going their separate ways. Chapter 34: Sector 5 Popularly known as the sector of awakened research and advancement, Sector 5 stands as a beacon of knowledge and a testament to centuries of awakened innovations. The sector sits at the forefront of magical discovery, boasting an unrivaled institution of learning that attracts awakened students even from the far reaches of the continent. But it is not just the wealth of knowledge that has set the 5th sector apart, as it boasts the largest number of evolved and advanced citizens in the entire kingdom due to their recent breakthrough in the study of aperology. Vanguard newspaper. Sector 5, Year 2275.
A day and a half later, Aodhn and Daruk stood at the hull of The Griffin, staring at the sector of magical advancements as it revealed itself in all its glory. They had rushed out of their cabins immediately after one of the crew members announced the sighting of Nematon, the port city of the 5th sector, and had joined the crowd of people gathered at the ships bow, struggling to get a glimpse of the most magically advanced sector in the kingdom. Aodhn stood on his tiptoes, straining to see above the heads of others. Fortunately, a woman staggered, and Aodhn immediately slipped forward, pulling a snickering Daruk along with him. Young man, I was standing there. The woman complained, trying to shove them backwards, but she lacked the strength to do so and eventually muttered. Why are children these days always rushing? Were literally going there. They both ignored the woman and focused their sight on the growing land mass before them, and a moment later, a multitude of towering spires revealed themselves, constructed with black metal and dark blue glass that seemed to absorb the rays of the evening sun rather than reflect them. Runes covered each tower, shimmering with a myriad of colors that bathed the city below them in light. Almost every passenger gasped as the ship crossed an invisible boundary, and the magical energy around them suddenly intensified, becoming so heavy and dense that they could feel it flowing around them like a river tide. Tiny motes of energy rushed into his core with every breath, and although it was too little to have any serious effect on his core, it felt like a cup of strong coffee on a particularly slow morning. God, he missed coffee. Although the monks hadnt really let them have the strong ones, even the weak ones usually packed a punch strong enough to wake them up. The towering spires and skyscrapers loomed even larger as they drew nearer to the port, their surfaces rippling with energy as the runes interacted with the abundant energy in the air. About 200 feet from the port, they were immediately greeted by a row of blue crystalline rocks that rose from the water, their surfaces shimmering with a glow that seemed to dance upon the waves. If Aodhn had been close enough, he would have stretched his hands out to touch them, but alas, fate was too cruel. Immediately after the ship threw down its anchor and docked, Aodhn and Daruk rushed towards the gangway with a dozen other people who were just as eager as they were. They made it into the port a few minutes later and were immediately enveloped in a cacophony of sights and sounds. Aodhn stumbled as cores blazed all around him, each one emanating a pressure that was several tiers higher than his own, but what surprised him the most was the fact that these cores were the cores of dockworkers and sailors. There were a few dull cores around him that identified individuals that had reached the limit, but within the sea of blazing cores, Aodhn barely registered them. Welcome travelers; follow me, and I shall lead you to the inn of arcane awakening. A woman shouted as she rushed towards a group of passengers who had just disembarked from the ship. They turned to see a row of brightly dressed individuals waving flyers and banners that advertised several inns. One of them, a young girl about the age of fifteen, caught them staring and immediately made her way over. Welcome, young lords; follow me; let me lead you to the phoenixs nest; we offer the best accommodations in Nematon. We appreciate that, thank you, but we wanted to tour the city before night falls." Aodhn replied, and Daruk nodded, but the girl simply smiled. Then I shall be your guide. Also, night never really falls here in sector 5, thanks to the nexus of sunsets. The woman led them through the port, weaving through the passengers, sailors, and dockworkers with practiced ease. Sailors shouted around them, moving about as they loaded and unloaded cargo with surprising efficiency. What is this nexus of sunsets? Daruk asked. First, my name is Yue, and the nexus of sunsets is one of our most prized artifacts here in the 5th sector. She replied, pointing to a tower that he could just barely see from this distance, and continued. See that tower? It is called the Tower of Ardelia, and it houses the nexus that glows bright enough to bathe the entire sector in a glow reminiscent of a sunset. The entire sector? Daruk asked with a stupefied expression, and Aodhn couldnt help but shake his head in amazement. The fifth sector was one of the largest in the kingdom, second only to the 3rd and 1st sectors. Yes, amazing, right? It was imbued by a dozen grandmasters with a solar affinity, or so Ive heard. At the pace Yue set, it didnt take them too long to reach the main city. Everything around them screamed magic, and almost every surface was covered in glowing runes. The entire city was clean, unnaturally so, and even when a passenger littered the floor, it disappeared the next moment. Yue pointed out landmarks as they walked, but Aodhn barely paid her any attention, completely overwhelmed by the sheer number of blazing cores around him as well as the number of evolved individuals hed come across in the last few minutes. Only a few minutes into the sector, and hed seen more than two dozen evolved individuals, which was certainly more than hed expected. What surprised him the most was just how common they seemed to be, as even a small kiosk owner selling something similar to burgers had the familiar ringed pupils that identified him as an evolved awakened. Yue led them to the kiosk and urged them to buy the palmes as she had called them, declaring them one of the best things in the sector, and after taking a bite, Aodhn had to admit that it tasted absolutely divine. They continued the tour, and a few minutes later, Yue squealed in excitement. If you like all youve seen so much, then you just have to see the Cornelian Park; its absolutely beautiful. They hastened their steps, eager to see the park, when they turned a corner and Aodhn bumped into a large man. Yue laughed as she apologized, but Aodhn and Daruk stood, frozen with fear, as they took in the mans eyes and the two bands of gold that ringed his gray pupils. The man accepted their apology with a smile and simply continued on his way. It was only after the man had left their line of sight that they turned back to Yue, who seemed to be holding back laughter. Aodhn and Daruk exchanged a look of amazement, and Daruk whispered. Oh, Raol, is that what I think it is? Yes, Daruk, that man is at the second stage of evolution. Aodhn replied, still awed. For over a month, he hadnt seen a single evolved individual, but less than an hour into the 5th sector, hed come across hundreds of evolved individuals, and now, a man with double rings?!This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Theres no need to fear Doctor Ershing. Yue laughed. Hes actually very nice, and hes quite popular in Nematon for being one of the youngest people to evolve to the advanced class. What kind of doctor is he? Aodhn asked as they resumed their tour, and Yue shrugged. Im not quite sure, but he teaches at the academy. In an excited tone, she asked. Will you be attending the tryouts? Yes, we plan to attend the academy. Daruk replied, and she sighed. My birthday is in six months, but even if I awaken by then, Ill have to wait half a year for the next tryouts. Im sure youll do great. Aodhn replied and asked. About the academy, how far is it from here? The academy is at the center of the sector, so its quite far, but you can get there in two hours if you take a hovercar, or even faster if you go with a teleport station. Daruk and Aodhn exchanged a glance, and a moment later, Daruk said: Forget the park and take us to this teleport station. It took them about fifteen minutes to reach the station, which was just a large building occupied by a row of hovering portals managed by an advanced-class portal awakened. They had run out of there when the man said the cost of teleporting a single person to the academy was 10 silvers. At that time, Aodhn remembered to ask Yue for the price of a room in the Phoenixs nest, and her reply had caused his belly to lurch for an entire minute. 10 silvers per night! Yet they had no choice, as shed been incredibly helpful to them. Like Yue had said, even after the sky should have darkened, it remained stuck at dusk, and the clouds were painted in several hues that stole his breath away. They arrived at the phoenixs nest an hour before midnight, and while Daruk paid for the room, Aodhn gave Yue two silver coins as payment for the tour. The phoenix nest was beautiful, unlike the inns theyd seen in Sector 8. It looked more like a hotel than an actual inn and was constructed with the same black metal and deep blue glass that were abundant in the whole city. Daruk had asked about them, and Yue explained that the black steel was just plain Ragnar steel, imbued with the essence of shadow, while the blue glass was called Romanian glass and was imbued with the concept of space, causing buildings to be much larger on the inside than they looked. Aodhn and Daruk experienced this phenomenon as they walked into the room theyd rented, and it opened up into a space five times larger than a normal room. After taking a moment to explore the beautifully designed room, they realized that aside from the bedroom and bathroom, there was another room that occupied more than half of the space. A small sign by the door identified it as a training room, and Daruk opened the door to find a large room covered in reinforcement and soundproofing runes that shone with a mild golden light. A rack of training equipment stood in one corner of the room, but what captured Aodhns attention was the raised, ringed platform in the center of the room. It reminded him of. Boxing ring, but it was a little smaller. Aodhn walked into the ring, inspecting and observing it before creating a spear of lightning that he threw towards the other end of the ring. Instead of exiting the ring, though, the spear struck a blue energy shield that instantly shimmered into existence to contain the attack. Aodhn grinned and said to Daruk, Weve got three days before the tryouts; we might as well put it to good use. . Two days later, Daruk whooped in excitement as multiple spikes of ice shot out of the bowl of frozen water, and with a wave of his hand, they broke, shattering into finger-sized needles that floated in the air around him. With a thought, the needles shot towards the opposite end of the ring, only to shatter against the translucent barrier, and Aodhn clapped vigorously in excitement. Finally! he shouted as he walked towards the edge of the ring. I was scared you werent going to make it before the tryouts tomorrow. Theyd barely stepped out of the phoenixs nest in the past two days. Everything they needed was in the building, and theyd taken their meals in the cafeteria located on the bottom floor of the nest. Instead, theyd spent their time meditating and working on their skills. Aodhn had spent more time on the new skill he was trying to create while also condensing more of his will flames. Daruk, on the other hand, had much more to do, so even when Aodhn was resting or speaking with the other awakeneds in the nest, he had spent his time honing his control over his affinity, and his efforts had finally paid off. With a single thought, he could now convert water to ice and vice versa. One thing hed realized, though, was that his abilities, willpower, and bloodline were somehow connected, and as he gathered and strengthened his control over his abilities, he unconsciously gained control over his bloodline as well. With a thought, the chill of his aura erupted out of him, and it expanded to coat the entire ring in a thin layer of frost. The temperature within the ring plummeted, transforming it into an artic zone that infected anyone with the intense chill of winter. Oh, you want to play? Then lets play. Aodhn shouted as he jumped into the ring and landed on a floating platform of storm. Immediately, a small storm cloud rumbled into existence and expanded to cover the entire ring. Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled, and the power of the storm began to intensify as he poured both energy and willpower into it. To be honest, it was an intimidating sight, but Daruk refused to be cowed; hed advanced to the 14th tier the day before, absorbing all the remaining cores as they would have no need for them in a day if they passed the academy trials; if not, then they were a little screwed, but he couldnt afford to worry about that now. With a grin, he forged a large block of ice, and as it materialized before him, he shattered it, breaking it into smaller pieces that he forged into needles as long as his arm. With a thought, he imbued each needle with durability and minor piercing power, forcing almost all of the willpower hed managed to tame into it. The needles hissed as an icy mist emanated from them and then began to revolve around him. Still, he knew it wasnt enough. Aodhn had faced an origin storm and survived; he had to do more. A moment later, he took direct control of his bloodline, pressing down on it until he reached some kind of limit. A thick layer of frost covered the ground, and flakes of snow formed in the air. The temperature within the ring fell so low that Aodhn began to shiver uncontrollably. You want to play bloodline dirty; fine, I wont take it easy on you. Aodhn glared at Daruk as he dusted snow from his hair and body. Daruk responded with a cold smirk. Good, because I wont either. The needles suddenly shot towards Aodhn, tearing through the air with great speed, but Aodhn just stared at them with an amused smile, as if watching a child throw a tantrum, and Daruk gritted his teeth in frustration. The needles splintered a moment later as they smashed against a thick barrier made of storms. It dissipated almost as soon as it appeared, but before he could react, half a dozen storm spears shot down from the rumbling cloud. Daruk raised his hands, trying to forge a shield, but he was too slow and the spears too fast. They nicked his arms and legs, cutting deep enough to draw blood but shallow enough that his natural regeneration could easily heal him. Daruk hissed in pain, and Aodhn commented. Your control and speed are still lacking, so Ill make this easier for you even though I shouldnt. He finished with a wink, and a moment later, the storm broke and rain poured down. Daruk was loathe to accept the help, but he would be a fool to refuse. With a flick of his palms, he converted the rain to ice, which he merged and transformed into long spikes that began to revolve around him with speed. One by one, they shot towards Aodhn, but he simply dodged or blocked each one. The good thing, though, was that he had a steady supply of water, which meant he didnt have to create the ice himself. More spikes formed, and soon they rushed out in threes. A minute later, half a dozen rushed out every second, and Aodhn soon began to take injuries, yet it was obvious that he wasnt even trying, as he hadnt even tried to attack, which meant he was going easy on him. Anger curled in Daruks gut, and he channeled all his refined will into his next attack. The three spears shot forward, but it was obvious that there was something different and dangerous about them. Aodhn must have sensed it too, and as the spears shot towards him, he created another storm barrier, but Daruk had learned from his previous mistake, and instead of smashing against the barrier, the spears curved, changing trajectory, and completely bypassing the shield. Aodhns eyes widened, but before Daruk could rejoice, the silk scarf Aodhn wore around his neck suddenly rippled and expanded before transforming into a block of storm that completely encapsulated him. The spears struck, and the force of the attack broke the block and caused Aodhn to stumble backwards. Yet, it did little damage to Aodhn himself. Daruk felt frustrated. While hed been learning control, Aodhn had managed to create a new skill. No, it wasnt a new skill; he reassessed it; it was more a genius manipulation of his {Create construct} skill. The ability to change the shape of a construct after creating it was something Aodhn had been working on and had only recently perfected, as it required a greater amount of control than hed previously possessed. Well, that last attack was something. Aodhn muttered, slightly impressed, as he dispersed the storm cloud, and Daruk retracted his bloodline. Daruk glared at him for a moment before sighing. You could have killed me a dozen times and in a dozen different ways during that bout, but you didnt. That is true. Aodhn replied with a smirk and continued. But the reason for that spar wasnt to win, but to test you and see how far youve come. So, what do you think? Daruk asked, and Aodhn smiled widely. What I see is great potential; youve made great progress in the last few days, and youll make even more if given enough time to do so. Daruk smiled and nodded in gratitude. They stepped out of the freezing ring, and Aodhn continued. The control I have now has been honed for a long time, but youve only had your affinity for a week. I think youre doing great so far. Daruk ignored his compliment and asked, So, what I need is more control? Also speed and imagination. Aodhn replied. Remember, your imagination can be your limit; there are a thousand ways you can use your abilities; you just have to imagine them. Daruk observed him for a moment before he nodded. Ill tackle control first; the more control I have, the faster Ill become. . Chapter 35: Academy trials I The citizens of Ragnarok are hard and brutish, and although many of them show great beauty, none can be compared to the fairness and delicate beauty of the Sunstonians, who have hair the texture of silk and skin as pale as milk. Still, it can be agreed that no matter how ugly the people of Ragnarok are considered, they are far better than the desert people of Calodan, whose weathered faces and demeanor are just as unforgiving as the desert they call home. Awakened beauty and physiology. Aura magazine Sunstone, Year 2274.
Aodhn woke up the next morning feeling slightly nervous as it was the day of the academy trials, and he had no idea what to expect, but Daruk was feeling much worse, and it took half an hour to convince him that he would gain nothing from an extra hour of meditation. They finally stepped out of the phoenixs nest an hour later, dressed in their new clothes. Aodhn still had the storm scarf wrapped around his neck; in fact, hed even made it longer, and now it covered his entire shoulders. As they walked to the bus station, or in this case, hoverbus station, Aodhn said to Daruk, Stop worrying so much; youll be fine, and well be fine. Or we wont. Daruk replied sourly. No one knows what trials theyll throw at us as they change them every year, so forgive me if I cant stop my mind from torturing me. Aodhn chuckled. You are right, we cant be sure, but we can believe in ourselves; like a wise man once said, the first step to success is belief, and the second is conviction. Daruk narrowed his eyes in suspicion. You literally just came up with that, didnt you? I consider myself a wise man. Aodhn shrugged, and Daruk laughed. The trek to the station lasted about ten minutes, and unsurprisingly, there was a queue of people waiting to get into the next available hoverbus. Aodhn scanned the area, searching for Ahmet and his friends, but found no sign of them. He then turned to the small ticket stand at the corner of the station and, after stating their destination, bought two tickets for two silvers. He sighed as he returned to the queue and inserted himself into the space Daruk held for him. After paying 15 silver coins per night in the Phoenixs nest for the last three days, they were broke, with only 10 silver and a few copper coins left in their purse. The queue moved quickly, and a few minutes later, they handed their tickets to the bus clerk, who scanned them for a quick moment before letting them into the bus and directing them to a seat towards the back. The design of the bus itself was similar to the shuttles in Sector 8, and the only difference was the antigravity technology installed underneath it, as well as the propulsion system powered by magical energy. As they stepped into the bus, Aodhn saw several nervous-looking young awakeneds scattered around the bus. Most turned to stare at them as they walked in, and a few even nodded or waved in acknowledgement. They took their seats, and Daruk let out a wisp of his aura to prevent himself from sweating, while Aodhn simply closed his eyes and waited for the bus to take off. A few minutes later, the hoverbus let out a quiet hum as it rumbled to life, and they both turned to the window to take in the view as the bus levitated and began to move. Aodhn was more curious than awed, but the same could not be said for Daruk, who had no knowledge of planes or rockets and, despite having read many books, had never seen or imagined technology like the hoverbus before. The entire trip took about an hour and forty minutes as the bus had made several stops on the way for other passengers to disembark, but as they closed in on their destination, Aodhn, Daruk, and the half dozen other academy aspirants on the bus had their eyes glued to the window as the awakened academy of the 5th sector loomed before them. Located at the center of the sector, the academy occupied a landmass about a quarter mile in diameter. Its high walls were made of smooth white stone, designed with silvery rune scripts. Aodhn shook his head, amazed, as the bus drew closer to the academy. It was much larger than hed imagined, and because of the high walls, the only building he could see was a large tower covered in what resembled shimmering hieroglyphs, and written in lustrous black paint atop the building were the words library. Aodhn had read a lot about runes while in the Warren, and although he barely understood it, he was fascinated by it. He knew that it was used for a myriad of purposes, and if he made it into the academy, he intended to learn all he could about them. The massive gates were open, and Aodhn could see a multitude of people standing outside and within the compound. It was when they finally alighted the hoverbus that he realized that the people standing outside the gate were the parents and guardians of the academy aspirants. I wish my mother was here; shed have been so proud. Daruk muttered, and Aodhn nodded in agreement. He tried not to think too much about the Brystions or the punishment they must have suffered or would suffer for the crime they had committed to save them. There were a lot of things he tried not to think about, and the destruction of a particular ship was very high on that list. There was no reason to dwell on things he couldnt change, but he could make sure that Unrids and Synovs sacrifice was worth it, and the best way to do that was to get enrolled in the academy. Aodhn and Daruk nervously observed the massive gates, watching as people moved in and out of them, and Aodhn let out a shaky breath. We can totally do this, Daruk; we just have to believe it. Yeah, y-yeah, sure. I believe it. I do. Do you believe it? Yes, sure, I believe it too. Aodhn replied and muttered to himself. Wheres Aldric when you need him? After a few more seconds of self-motivation, they moved towards the gate and into the academy grounds. Before them stood a massive building covered in flowery vines, made of the same white stone as the walls, and shimmering blue glass. In the same lustrous black paint, the words Admin were written at the top of the building. A distance of about 300 feet, covered in a carpet of bright green grass, lay between the gate and the administration building. Aodhn turned his attention to the mass of people around him. There were about five hundred aspirants in total, maybe more, and in the sea of corespeople, Aodhn could only feel a handful whose cores blazed with an intensity greater than his own.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Still, tier advancement wasnt a concrete measure of power, as someone at a lower tier could have much more control and precision over their affinity than someone at a higher tier. Control was one of the major reasons why tier battles were unpredictable. Aodhn turned, focusing on his core sense ability as he scanned the gathered crowd. As his gaze roamed, he identified a few people with bloodlines, even though they had no physical manifestations. Hed practiced with Daruk and had realized that if he focused his senses hard enough, he could detect the bloodline within his core. Not all bloodlines had physical manifestations like Daruks, but most of them did, and he soon turned to a group of teenagers standing a few meters away from them. The group held themselves apart from the crowd with their chins slightly raised as they looked down their noses at the commoners around them. Nobles. Aodhn didnt need core sense to feel the aura of their bloodlines, as he could already see the telltale shimmer in the air that occupied an area several meters around them. In the continent of Lutia, most bloodline bearers were members of the nobility, but every once in a while, the kingdoms as well as the academies would bestow a few people with bloodlines for outstanding performances. There were also those who stumbled on a soul seed on their own, like Daruk had, but they were a minority. As he observed the nobles, one of them, a burly kid with white-ringed blue pupils and black hair, noticed his attention and snapped. What are you staring at, maggot? Aodhn averted his eyes with a sigh, and Daruk chuckled. Nobles are always such a ray of sunshine. Right. Aodhn rolled his eyes and turned his attention to the gate as a trio walked in, and their distinctive skin color and demeanor instantly identified them as Calodans. There were two boys and a girl, and although Aodhn could hardly describe them as beautiful, they had a bewitching quality about them that made it hard to look away. The trio walked past Aodhn, barely even glancing in his direction as they made their way to the group of nobles. Aodhn soon noticed that there was a sort of hierarchy among them, and although he couldnt figure it out, Daruk was happy to explain. More aspirants walked into the academy; some looked extremely nervous, while others observed the crowd with an expression that suggested that this wasnt their first rodeo. Half an hour after their arrival, though, the door suddenly swung shut, and a womans voice rang out, crystal clear, almost as if she were speaking into his ears. Youve been given sufficient time to arrive. Anyone who has yet to do so has failed the first part of the test and will have to try again next year. Aodhn, as well as over five hundred other aspirants, turned their attention to a group of people who now floated in the air before them. They were all dressed in militaristic uniforms, and although Aodhn couldnt sense their cores, the double rings around their pupils identified six of them as advanced awakeneds. The seventh was a woman who stood before the other six, and her lustrous black hair floated behind her as if she were under water. The woman was tall, standing at about 62 feet, and was dressed in a uniform far more decorated than that of the others, but what drew Aodhns attention the most was the fact that she had no pupils. Her eyes were a myriad swirl of colors that shone with the intensity of the sun and emanated so much power and pressure that he had to tap into his willpower just to remain standing. Many werent as lucky, and more than half of the aspirants either fell to their knees or simply passed out. A flash of light appeared around each one of the fallen aspirants, and a moment later, they were all gone, leaving a little less than 300 aspirants in the clearing. Congratulations to all those still standing; you have passed the second test. The woman paused, letting the gravity of their situation sink in before she continued. I am Principal Zatya Malakov, and I welcome you all to this years trials. Today is not a day for the weak or fainthearted; getting into this academy is the dream of many, and now youve been given a chance to fight for it. As you step into the next trial, remember this: Mediocrity is not an option. So if you want to be a part of this academy, youll have to show us what youre made of. Let your passion burn brighter than your fears and your determination louder than your doubts. I wish you good luck, and may Raol be with you. She gestured towards a chubby man floating behind her, and he gave a single nod of acknowledgement before floating forward. He waved his hand, and a large rectangular portal, wide enough for a dozen men to walk in side by side, appeared before them. The next stage of the trial is an examination, and this portal will take you to the hall where it would be held. The last fifty people to make it into the hall will be immediately eliminated from the trials. Good luck once again. The principal disappeared immediately after she finished speaking, along with the other staff members of the academy except for the man who had created the portal, and he looked down at them with a taunting smirk. There was a moment of silence before chaos ensued as the aspirants rushed forward. Unsurprisingly, those with a spatial affinity made it to the portal first, while those with speed-focused abilities or bloodlines reached the portal a second later. Aodhn created a platform of storm beneath his feet and, without hesitation, funneled about a quarter of his willpower into the construct. The world blurred as the platform zoomed forward, moving with such speed that he crossed more than 300 feet in four seconds. He zipped through the portal and suddenly found himself in a round hall made of the black metal and blue glass hed become so familiar with. The hall wasnt too big, only having the capacity to contain about 300C400 people. A slight feeling of vertigo hit him as his feet touched the glass floor, but it passed quickly, and Aodhn turned to see fifteen other aspirants already seated on the available chairs. The seats were arranged in a semi-circle around a wooden stage that stood against the front wall. The chairs were evenly spaced, an expected arrangement for an examination, and Aodhn moved towards a chair in the middle row. Several other aspirants burst into the hall a second after he took his seat, sometimes arriving in groups and other times alone, but a few minutes later, they all began appearing with wounds, injuries, or burn marks, and at one point, a girl who was almost completely encased in ice stumbled into the hall. Aodhn waited impatiently for Daruk to come through the portal, but as time passed without any sign of him, he began to grow nervous. Currently, there were a hundred aspirants seated in the hall, each with their gazes fixed on the swirling portal. Aodhn clenched his fist to avoid biting his nails as time passed slowly, but just as he began to vibrate with nervous energy, Daruk burst into the room, covered in an icy armor that was stained with blood and shattered in several places. Aodhn let out a sigh of relief and waved to signal his position. Daruk walked to sit next to him and shook his head. I tried to do the platform thing, but Raol, you make it look easy. He let out a deep breath as he collapsed on the chair beside him and added. I fell before I could move more than a couple meters and had to fight my way into the portal. Was it that bad? Terrible, absolutely terrible. Daruk replied. The three Calodans stumbled in a minute later, and a boy with vivid green hair burst in after, pulling a screaming aspirant along with him. Aodhn turned his attention away from the portal; now that Daruk had made it in, he wasnt really concerned about the fate of the others. The portal remained open for another few minutes before it suddenly slammed shut, and the principal, along with her entourage, appeared on the wooden stage. Congratulations to all 207 aspirants who have made it this far into the trials. Youll be given five minutes to settle down, after which the exam shall begin. As she spoke, Aodhn heard the familiar hum of energy, and suddenly, the entire roof opened and sunlight streamed into the hall. A door at one end of the room was pushed open, and a trio of academy students walked into the hall, carrying several stacks of exam papers. Three black stripes decorated their chest pockets, identifying them as third-year students, and they handed the papers to the professors before moving to stand stiffly at several corners of the hall. Tension rose as the aspirants stared nervously at the professors and the stack of papers laid before them. Aodhn tapped his fingers nervously against his seat as he counted down the seconds. Immediately after the five minutes were up, the third-year students began to share pencils to the aspirants, and one of the professors spoke. I am Professor Arim Aleran, and I assure you that I have the ability to sense even the slightest inclination to cheat. I urge you not to test me. The man smiled, and Aodhn shuddered as he took in the mans ringed pupils. It was impossible to know if the man was joking or if he truly had the ability to sense such inclinations, but he really didnt want to find out. Before long, the students began to share the question papers, placing them upside down, and no matter how hard he tried to turn them over, they refused to budge, so he settled in to wait until they were given the go-ahead to begin. The professors whispered among themselves for a few minutes, and a quarter hour later, the principal announced: The duration of this trial is an hour. You may begin! Chapter 36: Academy trials II I write to provide an update on the current status of our operations in the ongoing conflict between our kingdom and Ragnarok. Since our last correspondence, our forces have engaged in numerous skirmishes along the border, successfully repelling several incursions from enemy troops. Our soldiers have demonstrated unwavering courage and resilience in the face of adversity, and I am proud to report that morale remains high among our ranks. However, it is important to note that the enemy shows no signs of relenting in their aggression. They have bolstered their defenses and launched several counteroffensives in an attempt to regain lost ground. In light of these developments, I recommend that we consider reinforcing our positions along the western flank, where enemy activity has been particularly concentrated. I eagerly await your instructions and remain at your service. Yours faithfully, Lieutenant Colonel Farik Hale. (Plato) Sunstone Kingdom, Year 2275.
You may begin. Aodhn flipped the question papers immediately and scanned through the questions. There were a total of 100 questions, all objectives, but contrary to what hed expected, only a quarter of them were dedicated to magic and awakening. The hundred questions were divided into four, and aside from the quarter on magic, the others were dedicated to three mundane subjects: arithmetic, Lutian history, and psychology. Aodhn tackled arithmetic first; hed always preferred it to most other subjects, even back at the monastery. He smiled as thoughts of the orphanage came to mind, but he soon pushed them away to focus on the current trial. The questions were quite simple: basic algebra, quadratics, geometry, and some confusing word problems. He tackled each question meticulously, trying to avoid what many fell prey to: overconfidence. Still, he finished the arithmetic questions in a little less than twenty minutes and moved on to Lutian history. Here he encountered some problems, and although hed read a lot of the lore books in Mrs. Aldermans library, he hadnt read them all. There was a question about the identity of Raols greatest nemesis, and since he had absolutely no idea who it was, he decided to go with the Sunstonians first ascendant, Aeloria, the goddess of the blazing sun. Now that he thought about it, that was probably the basis and reason for the war between both kingdoms, but if that were true, then it was a very foolish reason to fight a war. Aodhn had thought about it during his time in the Warren, and hed concluded that he didnt hate wars, not really. War wasnt always a terrible thing, especially when people were fighting for their freedom or to overcome oppression, but a war of pride, religion, and greed? those he hated, and this war definitely felt like one of those. He shaded the option and quickly moved on to the next question, which brought him to another halt. It was a simple question; he just hadnt expected to see it here, and as he read the question again, a slight tingle ran through his mind. ? What Sunstonian sector did the great catastrophe, Azmarthon Ranok, enact his vengeance on during the last days before his ascension? Aodhns mind flashed back to the first vision hed had during his awakening: the calamity that had befallen thousands of innocents, the destruction of an entire sector, and lastly, the central tower with the number 7 boldly written on it. It didnt take long for Aodhn to make the connection, but a word in the question stood out to him. Az had told him that hed only been following orders, but the question described his actions as an act of vengeance. Who was lying, Az or the kingdom? A small ding sounded from the stage, reminding them that they only had half an hour left, so Aodhn pushed the thought to the back of his mind and focused on the examination. It doesnt matter. He thought to himself. He couldnt do anything about it, so there was no reason to dwell on it either. He rushed through the rest of the questions and moved on to the third quarter of the exam, which was psychology. After reading the first question, he concluded that he probably wouldnt be scoring an A on the paper. Define the concept of classical conditioning and provide an example of how it could be applied to behavior modification in awakened creatures. Also, hed assumed that all of the questions were multiple-choice, but this one and a few others obviously werent. He hadnt studied psychology in the monastery, nor had he read anything on the subject since hed arrived in ?FLYM, so he was probably going to tank this one. He skipped the open-ended questions and answered the multiple-choice questions as best he could before finally moving on to the last quarter of the examination. This part of the examination turned out to be the most simple, as the questions asked were very basic. Besides, almost all that Aodhn had read in the Aldermans library was about magic, so he found himself breezing through the entire segment. By the time he was shading the option for the last question, more than half of the aspirants had already submitted, including Daruk, and had left the hall. Aodhn scanned through his answers for a moment before submitting, and a professor gestured for him to leave the hall through the door the students had previously used. When Aodhn stepped out of the hall, he found himself in a waiting room large enough to contain all 200 aspirants. There were rows and rows of seats, and Aodhn scanned them to find Daruk vigorously waving to catch his attention, and Aodhn moved towards him. As he moved to the last row, someone called out his name, and he turned to see Ahmet waving to him from amidst a group of nobles. The nobles stared at Aodhn with expressions ranging from indifference to disdain, and one of them pushed Ahmets hands down and hissed. Are you trying to embarrass me by inviting a commoner to sit with us? Aodhn stared at the noble and concluded that he must be Eren Thornhill, the son of the local baron in sector 8. With a sigh, he continued onward and slid into the seat Daruk had saved for him.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it That must be Ahmet. Daruk assumed, and Aodhn hummed in response. And Im guessing the noble asswhat curse can I use that is suitable for polite company? Hes a dick. Simple and short. Aodhn replied with a slight grin. And yes, I think hes Eren Thornhill. Interesting; he was one of the first few to finish. I dont care. Oh, okay. How was the exam then? Aodhn shrugged. Not too bad, I think. The segments on psychology and history were very confusing, but I enjoyed the others. How was yours? Daruk smiled innocently, and Aodhn scoffed. Why did I even ask? Because its polite. Daruk replied with a cheeky grin and continued. Also, the questions could have been terribly hard for me. Daruk, we both know that this exam was a walk in the park for you. It was more of a crawl, but I understand what you mean. Aodhn chuckled, and they settled in to wait as people trickled into the hall, some with an excited expression while others looked extremely heartbroken. A particular girl looked like she was only holding herself together by sheer force of will, and Daruk muttered in sympathy. Poor girl, she looks like shes about to burst into tears; the exam must have been pretty hard for her. Aodhn sighed, and ten minutes later, when the last person walked into the hall, the principal and the chubby portal professor appeared before them. Now for the last part of the trial, Professor Danbury will open a portal thatll lead you to the academys rift station, where youll be granted access to an evolved rift. This rift contains rugworts between the 10th and 18th tiers, and youre required to bring back the horns of five of these creatures to pass the trial. She paused, waiting for someone to ask a question, but when no one did, she continued. Youre allowed to go in groups, but there can only be a maximum of 3 people in a group, and youre also allowed to keep the cores. Please note that regardless of how well you performed in the examination, only the first 100 aspirants to make it back with five rugwort horns will be accepted into the academy, while their exam scores will be converted into forge points. What are forge points? Daruk quietly asked, and Aodhn shrugged in reply. Almost as if shed heard his question, the principal turned to him and replied. The forge points will be explained to you if you make it through the trial. Daruk swallowed slowly and whispered. I cant believe she heard me. I cant believe youre still talking. Aodhn replied as Professor Danbury waved his right hand, and a shiny coin-sized device appeared in their hands. That is a rift ejector. He explained. Once youve gathered all five horns, click the ejector, and youll be instantly teleported out of the rift. What if it doesnt work? Will we be stuck in the rifts forever? A blond boy asked, and although he gave off no aura, Aodhn immediately identified him as a noble as his core sense picked up the unique flavor of a bloodline. He couldnt really determine what bloodline the boy had exactly, but he could sense that it was strong, much stronger than Daruk''s, which meant he was probably very high on the noble chain. The ejectors will work. Professor Danbury replied. But if, for some reason, they malfunction, then one of the professors will come to retrieve you. You have no reason to fear. An instant later, another portal appeared before them, and the Aodhn hesitantly walked towards it as if expecting something to go wrong, but nothing did, and a moment later, Aodhn and Daruk stepped out of the swirling portal and appeared at the center of a large room filled with the other aspirants and a group of professors. A circular formation covered the entire floor, intricate and complex in its design, but as interesting as it was, it couldnt compare to the human-sized rift standing before them. The rift was a tear in the fabric of space. It was like an open wound surrounded by spatial and planar energies. A muddy brown ring of energy swirled around it, identifying it as an evolved rift. Some people believed that rifts occurred naturally and could evolve after accumulating enough energy to advance all the creatures within them, while a smaller number of people believed that rifts were actually dungeons which had evolved over time. Aodhn didnt care about how rifts came into existence; he was more concerned with the stability of this particular rift. What if it collapsed with them still inside it? Would that mean death or some sort of displacement to an alternate plane? He carefully observed the artificial rift standing before them; it had been created by the joint experimentation of several spatial, cosmic, and planer awakeneds currently within the school and was still one of their greatest inventions so far. A new branch of magic had opened up after the successful formation of a dozen artificial rifts, and two months ago, the department of aperology had been added to the academy. Unlike natural rifts, which were mostly unstable, this one seemed steady, almost still, and it only rippled when a professor placed a hand into its entrance. It is time. Professor Aleran announced this as the last person stepped out of the portal and into the rift station. The aspirants began shuffling and arranging themselves into groups, unwilling to enter the rift alone, but a few stood still, either too shy or proud to join up with the others. No matter what happens in there, make sure you do not lose the ejector, as you cannot instantly exit the rift without it, and finding the natural exit of a rift this size will take you hours, if not days. Aodhn immediately placed the ejector in his spatial pocket and held hands with Daruk as they approached the rift. The first set of aspirants to enter the rift were the trio of Calodans, surprisingly, followed by Eren Thornhill and his clique. When their turn finally came, Aodhn exchanged a glance with Daruk before taking a deep breath, and a moment later, they stepped into the rift. . In the rift station viewing room. Principal Zatya Malakov, along with some of the academy''s most prominent professors, stood before a large screen that displayed various groups as they made their way through the rift. The principal watched them all, simultaneously observing each student as she caressed the fluffy tail of her familiar, lovingly wrapped around her neck. What do you think, Danbury? She asked a moment later. Have you found any promising students for your department this year? The chubby professor cleared his throat lightly before pointing to a section at the left of the screen that showed a boy with purplish-pink hair and a fierce expression. I have found a few, but this one seems to be the most promising. Ah, Cyrus Valerion. Hows his father doing these days? I think hes sent more than a dozen letters requesting to see you. Professor Aleran muttered, but Zatya ignored him and turned to another professor, one whose shadow moved on its own as if it were alive. What about you, Jorendil? Have you picked up any particularly impressive bloodlines? Yes, in fact, the number of bloodlines above the uncommon quality is quite astounding. The high nobles from Calodan and a few others even seem to bear bloodlines of epic quality. Nothing above epic quality? A gruff-looking professor asked, and Jorendil shook his head in disappointment. Unfortunately, this years aspirants are much weaker than those of last year, and I imagine only a few of them might be able to refine their bloodlines as a result of the immense cost in willpower. Well, do they have anything special? Zatya asked impatiently. You know, something they can be known for? We have nothing yet, aside from the fact that some of them show an astounding amount of control, like this one. Professor Aleran replied, pointing to a screen displaying two boys, one with an ice element and the other with storm. Hmm, quite the rare affinity. Zatya muttered as she stared closely at the dark-skinned boy. There was something about him that called to her, but she couldnt quite figure out what it was. Asides the rarity of his affinity, what else do you notice? Professor Aleran pressed, and Zatya peered closer. She observed the boy for a moment before she smiled. "Ahh, is that core sense? This little one must have endured a tribulation; we must keep an eye on him. Professor Aleran nodded in agreement, but before he could speak, a deep voice rang out. They arent weak; theyre just young, which makes it easier for us to mold them into champions for our kingdom. The words hung heavily in the air, and a moment later, a man appeared within the room. Immediately he did, and the professors and the principal all bowed in greeting. The man was dressed in extravagant regalia made entirely of golden light, and an immense pressure emanated from his core, which blazed as bright as the sun and felt as bottomless as the ocean. His runic pupils shone with a golden hue that held so much beauty and power that they were incomprehensible, and with shaky breaths, Zatya said to him, Welcome ascendant candidate Lightus; how may we be of service? Chapter 37: Academy trials III The tier structure for advancement spans from 0 to 200, with four milestones known as spirit locks within these tiers. These locks restrict part of the spirit, halting its evolution beyond a certain tier. Interestingly, there are no milestones between the 100th and 200th tiers. This implies the potential to evolve to the calamity class at the 101st tier. However, extensive experiments and tests have shown that absorbing a calamity core before reaching the 180th tier inevitably leads to death. Awakened advancement theory By Professor Caldred Kyrendor. Ragnarok, year 2245.
They sank to their knees immediately they appeared within the rift, and Daruk groaned. Great, only a second in, and I already hate this place. They had appeared in a swampy marshland, but specifically in quicksand, and as they struggled, they only sank further. Aodhn flicked his fingers, and the scarf around his neck suddenly transformed into a long, thick chain that shot towards a tree a few meters from them and wrapped itself tightly around a gnarled branch. The chain expanded, elongating as Aodhn poured energy into the construct until it floated very close to their heads. Wow, it would have taken me an extra minute to think of that. Daruk muttered as they grabbed the chain, and Aodhn scoffed in response. For how book smart you are, you can be very unimaginative. The chain rattled as it shrank and slowly pulled them out of the quicksand. Daruk chuckled. I would have thought of it eventually. Their feet exited the sand with a squelch, and Daruk gagged. That was gross; besides, I dont have enough control to make something like the scarf yet. A storm platform about a meter wide appeared beneath their feet, and the chain returned to its original form and once again wrapped itself around Aodhns shoulders. That is true. Aodhn agreed. But we were surrounded by watermuddy water that could have been frozen to prevent us from sinking. Oh. Daruk replied with a subdued expression and said, I really should have thought of that. Its alright, youre still very unfamiliar with your affinity and your current limits; you just need to expand your imagination; you never know what you can do until you try. Daruk sighed in response, and Aodhn turned his attention to their surroundings. The rift was a murky, foreboding marshland, covered in fog that hung heavy with a slight scent of decay. Tall black trees, twisted and gnarled, loomed overhead, their twisted branches casting eerie shadows upon the murky waters, entwined with a mesh of rotten roots. Okay, this place sucks. Aodhn muttered, and Daruk chuckled. We dont have much time, though, and if we intend to be among the first 100, then we need to find the rugworts as soon as possible. Yeah.. Aodhn muttered softly as he focused on his core sense, slowly expanding it until he sensed a core blazing with murky brown light, and he turned in its direction. Did you sense something? Daruk asked, and Aodhn grinned. Not something, but multiple somethings. The platform lurched forward, and five spears of ice materialized around Daruk as he prepared himself to impale the first creature they found, while Aodhn simply stretched a hand out, and Daruk watched, open-mouthed, as he summoned multiple bolts of lightning from his palms and seamlessly condensed them into a ball of crackling electricity. Daruk shook his head in amazement. Next to Aodhn, his control was abysmal, but he was still an awakened of adequate strength, so he funneled a quarter of his tamed will into the spears and imbued them with durability and sharpness. When the platform came to a stop a minute later, Daruk was prepared, but when he found no creatures to battle, he turned to Aodhn in confusion. Before he could ask any questions, though, Aodhn shot the condensed ball of lightning towards the swamp below them. Daruk reacted fast, trying to create a shield to protect them, but his actions were unnecessary as a black dome materialized around them an instant before the ball of electricity sank into the swamp and exploded with a boom of thunder. Muddy water erupted out of the ground along with a tangle of rotten vines and bloody guts, and a cry, like the sound of a dog being choked to death, rang out of the swamp as three heavily wounded creatures broke the surface of the swamp. Rugworts were larger versions of pigs, save for the addition of the horn on their snout, which somehow remained pristine, regardless of how much dirt they soaked their bodies in. Without waiting to identify their tiers, Daruk shot five spears at the creatures, three at the largest and one each for the remaining two. The rugworts were already wounded from the lightning attack, so it wasnt surprising when the smaller ones died immediately after the spears pierced their necks. The largest one refused to go down, even with three spears sticking out of its guts. The rugwort groaned in agony but was quickly put out of its misery when a spear of lightning pierced through its skull and exploded in a shower of blood and brain matter. Trying to be imaginative, Daruk forged a blade-tipped spoon and imbued it with sharpness before using it to dig out the core of the largest rugwort. The spoon brutally tore through its abdominal tissues, and a minute later, it floated before them, with the evolved core sitting amidst a pile of blood and viscera. Aodhn grimaced at the sight. Couldnt you have come up with a less horrific construct? I was trying to be imaginative. Daruk grumbled. You know, scoop the core and all. Well, congratulations. You failed. Aodhn replied with a chuckle as he lowered the platform towards the ground, and a minute later, theyd harvested both the horns and the cores. They zoomed off after that, and Aodhn led them towards the next muddy core he could sense. Their hunt continued in this manner, and in twenty minutes, they had gathered a total of eight cores, which meant they only needed two more. Can you sense any others? Daruk asked as he placed his share of the cores into his ring. None, just people. I cant sense that far yet. If there are people around here, then they must have hunted every rugwort in the vicinity. Then we need to go deeper. Aodhn replied, and the platform lurched forward once more. They passed by several other aspirants, and Daruk kept his ice spears close, just in case they needed to fend off the aspirants too. It took almost ten minutes before Aodhn sensed another rugwort core, but rather than rush in this time, he came to a sudden halt and whispered, Theres a group of them nearby. A pile; they are called a pile of rugworts. Daruk corrected. Whatever, there are about four of them a few meters from here. Aodhn replied with a worried frown, and Daruk asked. How strong are they? Theyre all tier 18, except one whos a little weaker than the rest. We cant afford to look for another pile; we have to take these ones; besides, theyre only a few tiers stronger than us. Im not worried for myself, Daruk; Im worried for you. Aodhn replied, and the words hit him like a jackhammer. He gritted his teeth in annoyance. I can handle myself. Yes, you can, but not against Tier 18 monsters; youve seen what they can do. Daruk had indeed seen what they could do. The rugworts had an affinity closely related to swamps, and unsurprisingly, their attacks were poisonous. They belched out highly toxic fumes that were extremely lethal, even to those of a higher tier, and now that the rugworts were four whole tiers above him, their poisonous fumes were bound to be even more effective. Still, he couldnt ask them to spend more time trying to find an easier pile of rugworts when they could kill these ones. Ill be fine; if were going to do this, then we should do it now. Time is running out. Aodhn observed him for a moment before nodding. Okay, remember, use your strongest skill; we want to kill them before they have any chance to belch out anything. I understand. Daruk muttered as the platform lurched forward, and as anger boiled within him, he stretched out a hand and concentrated on the moisture in the air. He pushed, funneling an insane amount of willpower into the skill he was trying to create. The skill resisted, but it only fed his anger, which in turn fed his will, and with a sound like the shattering of glass, the skill gave, catapulting his control to a higher level just as they burst into the clearing.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. Daruk instantly took control of all the moisture in the clearing, and with a single movement of his hand, they froze, causing hundreds of tiny icicles to materialize around them. He then released his aura, causing the temperature in the clearing to plummet significantly. Bolts of lightning gathered in Aodhns palms, condensing into a ball much larger than the one hed previously made, and this time, when the ball of lightning shot into the swamp, Daruk was ready. He poured his tamed will into every ball of frozen moisture and forged them into needles as thick as his fingers. The rugworts roared as the ball of lightning exploded, and as they broke through the surface of the swamp, Daruks needles shot towards them. With his new level of control, he could feel every icy needle as they pierced the hides of the rugworts. He channeled the power of his bloodline, merged it with the last portion of his will, and commanded. FREEZE! Ice rapidly spread through the bodies of the rugworts, and the next instant they shattered like glass, leaving only their horns and cores behind. Ice wrapped around the horns and cores, and the next instant, they floated before them. See, I told you I could handle myself. Daruk whispered and collapsed. He had completely drained his energy and willpower to use that skill, and it feels like his core was gasping for breath. Aodhn reacted immediately, shoving one of the cores into Daruks palms and ordering him to absorb it immediately. Immediately, Daruk clasped the core. The system asked if he wanted to direct the energy into his class, but he denied the prompt and willed the energy into his core. It rushed through his bruised pathways, roaring with an intensity that sent a rush of euphoria through him. Energy surged out of his core an instant later and rushed through his pathways, restoring them before diffusing into his tissues and muscles. Daruk didnt stop absorbing the cores energy even after his advancement; instead, he pulled faster, willing more of the energy into his core, hoping for another surge of ecstasy, but the core crumbled in his palms before he could break through to the next tier. Still, Daruk gasped, drunk on the power flowing through his veins, until the feeling subsided a moment later, and with a thought, he reviewed his status. . [STATUS] Name: Daruk Brystion Class: Evolved Ice awakened (28.7%) Title: Neophyte. Tier: 15-73.8% Skills {Innate} : [Ice manipulation and creation] [Ice conversion] {Other}: [Freeze] [Forge constructs] Bloodline: FrostForged Ancestry (Rare+). ?Amplifies ice and cold-related abilities by 2.25%. ?Grants major resistance to cold. ?Aura of frosted heart. ... Bloodline skill gained: Freeze: Consumes a significant amount of willpower to completely freeze an area no more than 3 meters in diameter. . Aodhn pulled him back to his feet and grinned. I have no idea how you did that, but it was amazing. I told you I could handle myself. I believe it now, but we also have to go; we are done with the trial. Right. Daruk agreed. I gained a new skill, did you see? Yes, but we can. Aodhn suddenly paused and turned to the side of the clearing. Whoever you are, I can sense you. Show yourself. Squelching sounds rang out as two people walked out from behind a bush of rotten vines, and a moment later, two boys stepped out from behind a tangle of vines and leaves. One was tall and lanky, but it was the second boy Aodhn recognized. He had vivid green hair, and although he was younger than the other boy, he faced them with an expression that seemed eager to fight. Aodhn focused his senses on their cores and realized that they were both at the 10th tier, which was the minimum required tier to enter the academy. Were sorry; we didnt mean to spy on you; we were just observing. The younger boy extended a hand and introduced himself. My name is Andrew Willowood, and my friend here is Pope. Well, nice to meet you, but we have to go now. Daruk replied, and his ejector appeared in his palms, but Andrew shouted. Wait, please; weve not been able to gather enough horns, and we know you have two extra. Andrew hesitated for a moment, hating the words he was about to say, but this was not the time for pride, and with a small bow of his head, he begged. Please help us. Aodhn exchanged a glance with Daruk and asked, How do you know we have two extra cores? Andrew turned to look at his friend, but when Pope refused to speak, he sighed and explained. Pope is a sight awakened with the innate ability to see what many cannot; the stronger he becomes, the more hes able to see, and he can see the number of horns you have in your rings. Can he see our statuses? Daruk asked, alarmed at the thought of such an invasive concept, but Andrew shook his head. Not yet; hes not strong enough. Look, can you help us? Time is running out. I guess. Aodhn muttered as he gave the extra two horns to Andrew, while Daruk forged two long, jagged swords and gave them to them. Like my father would say, its better to have it and not need it. Aodhns heart ached a little at the familiar comment, but like he usually did with painful or sad memories, he pushed them aside until he had no choice but to deal with them. They clicked their ejectors a moment later, and were instantly teleported out of the rift. Aodhn stumbled into the rift station with Daruk barely a second behind him and sighed in relief when his name appeared on a large holographic screen, occupying the 36th slot. Andrew Willowood. Andrew had awakened when he turned sixteen less than a week ago, and his father, Baron Willowood from the 6th sector, had been ecstatic and had bought him all the resources he could to push him to the 10th tier, which was the minimum tier required to attend the prestigious academy of the 5th sector. The examination trial had been quite easy for him, but he had only passed the trials before that by sheer force of will, and having to pull his retainer along had not made things any easier. Pope was more of a friend to him than a retainer, as they had been together ever since they were children, but now when he looked at his friend, anger boiled inside him. Pope had been utterly useless throughout the entire trial, and although his abilities didnt lean much towards combat, things would definitely be easier if the boy would just walk or run on his own. Andrew turned to stare at the area the boys had just vacated with a sigh. Pope had found the rugworts first, but it would have been foolish to fight against four creatures eight tiers above them. They had watched the clearing for almost two minutes before deciding to leave, and that was when the boys rushed into the clearing and destroyed all four monsters in seconds. Haq! Hed been awed and amazed. His elder sister was at the 29th tier, and he doubted she could have dealt with those monsters that quickly. Hed half expected them to laugh in his face when he asked for the extra horns, but surprisingly, theyd given them to him, and now they had three horns, which meant they needed seven more to pass the trial. Weve failed the trials; we should give up. Pope muttered, and Andrew shook his head in disappointment. If Id known you would be such a burden, I would have asked for a new retainer. All day, all youve managed to do is drag me down. Im not a coward just because Im afraid to die. Pope replied in anger. We are not going to die, Pope! We have an ejector, and Im sure the professors are watching. I didnt want this; I never wanted this. Pope complained. The academy was your dream, not mine. Andrew glared at him, and although he wanted to respond, he chose to keep quiet instead. This wasnt the first time they were having this discussion, but Andrew just wanted him to try. The least he could do was fail with dignity. Andrew sighed and gripped the icy sword in his hands tighter. His hands were frozen to the sword, and a thin layer of frost was climbing up his hands, but he refused to let it go. The noise of the previous battle had attracted three other rugworts around the area to their location, and Andrew aimed the ice sword at them as they swam over. Pope shook behind him, murmuring in fear, but Andrew refused to cower in terror. He wanted to be strong, to dominate a battle like those boys had done. He wanted to instill fear in his enemies, not the other way around, and he couldnt do that by cowering in fear. Andrew identified the rugworts as they burst into the clearing, and he realized they ranged between the 10th and 12th tiers. He didnt hesitate, and with a wave of his hand, black vines constricted around their snouts to prevent them from belching out toxic fumes, while rotten roots wrapped around their necks, strangling them and cutting into their hide. He rushed towards the first of the three monsters and drove the ice sword deep into its skull. It let out a strangled cry as Andrew brutally twisted the sword before pulling it out. Blood erupted from its head, and the next moment it fell limp as life left its body. Andrew channeled his bloodline skill {Forest of thorns} as he rushed towards the second rugwort, and thorns burst out of the rotten vines. They tore into the rugworts hide, and as he poured more energy into the skill, the thorns grew longer, puncturing deeper into softer tissues. Andrew plunged the ice sword into the monsters belly, and it screamed, breaking through the constructing vines as it let out a cloud of toxic fumes. Andrew dodged away from the fumes and channeled his awarded skill, {Secrete Poison}. The thorns on the roots and vines enlarged, piercing further into the rugworts hide and pumping the neurotoxin into its bloodstream. The rugwort roared, growing berserk, and a moment later, it tore free of the constructing vines. Andrew stumbled back, but the rugwort lurched forward and pierced his knee with its horns. He let out a scream of pain even as he plunged the ice sword into the monsters belly, and this time, instead of pulling it out, he pulled the sword to the side, tearing through the rugworts belly until it collapsed, releasing its blood and entrails into the muddy swamp. Andrew turned to Pope, who was still battling the last rugwort, and with the last of his strength, he constricted the rugwort with rotten vines and began funneling the last of his energy into {Secrete Poison}. Rotten thorns dug into the rugworts hide, but it wasnt enough, so Andrew channeled a wisp of his willpower into the skill. The thorns exploded, digging into the monster as if in a frenzy as they pumped toxins into it. The rugwort roared in pain as it futilely tried to escape the constructing vines, but Andrew only channeled more of his will into the skill. The pain soon became too much for the rugwort, and it gave up with a choked cry. Pope stumbled to his feet immediately after the rugwort died, and he shouted. I dont want to be here. I almost died! I cant survive here. Because youre not even trying, Pope. Andrew screamed in anger. You had a fucking sword, but theres not a single mark on the rugwort; youre not fighting. I dont want to fight! Pope replied. Im not like you, Andrew; I dont want to conquer the world or dominate my enemies; I just want to be free and live in peace. Peace is only for those who can fight for it! Andrew pressed, quoting his father, but Pope had finally had enough. Ill take my chances. Pope replied and gestured towards the dead rugworts. You can have the cores and the horns; congratulations, but I cant do this. Im only here because you wanted this; you live for the thrill of battle and danger, but I dont; I just want a normal life. Pope clicked the ejector before Andrew could respond, and he disappeared the next moment. Andrew stared at the now vacant area for a few seconds before he moved toward the rugworts, harvested their cores, and cut off their horns. Hed just lost his best friend, and he didnt understand why. It wasnt a crime that the Pope disliked violence, but to be incapable of it was a crime, especially in a kingdom like Ragnarok. How could he protect himself or the ones he loved without it? Andrew had thought this was a dream they shared, attending the 5th Academy, but now that they had a chance to actually do so, Pope has bailed. Andrew placed the horns in his spatial ring, and with a dejected sigh, he clicked the ejector. The next moment, he appeared in the rift station and sighed in relief when he turned towards the holographic screen and saw his name occupying the 57th slot. Chapter 38: War Echoes—Tyrus Hadjen Icons are sometimes considered an ultimate skill, but in actuality, they are core manifestations that come into existence after a person affirms their ideals. Icons are rare, much rarer than seals, and much more powerful as they never actually stop growing until a person reaches their peak. Professor Caldred Kyrendor Awakened advancement theory Sector 5, Ragnarok.
Second lieutenant Tyrus Hadjen walked into Conquestia, the border city of the 7th sector, and without wasting much time, he made his way to the command tent. He had just returned from his mission in the 12th sector and was here to report his arrival. He took a deep breath to steady his nerves and prevent his hands from shaking before pulling the command tent open. The commanderhis fatherwas seated behind a sturdy black desk filled with a heap of military files, while his familiar, a large raven, was perched on his shoulders, its head bent in sleep. Second lieutenant Tyrus Hadjen reporting his arrival, sir. The commander looked up from the file he was reading and observed him for a moment before gesturing for him to take a seat, but Tyrus remained standing. Suit yourself. The commander closed the file he was working on and leaned back. Are you aware that the Sunstonian army is marching towards us as we speak? "No, sir, I Of course you dont. The commander replied with a disappointed sigh, and Tyrus berated himself for not asking for the latest news before rushing to the command tent. They are only a few miles away and are expected to arrive by tomorrow afternoon. I hope you at least know why we cannot afford to lose our hold on this city. "Yes, sir, because Conquestia is both a strategic position as well as a vital supply route to the capital. If the Sunstonians take it, they could starve out the capital, or Astute as always. Strategy is about the only useful talent you possess, but I doubt things would become so dire. Still, Ive sent for reinforcement, and the major general informed me that an extra ten thousand soldiers will be sent from the 8th Sector to bolster our forces. Wont that leave the 8th sector almost defenseless? Tyrus asked, but the commander sniffed and replied. The 8th sector doesnt have dogs breathing down their necks; Conquestia is what we need to worry about. Tyrus acquiesced, not wanting to argue with his father, and asked. Do you have any special orders for me, sir? No, not tonight. The commander replied dismissively, but as Tyrus turned to leave, he suddenly asked. How did your mission in the 12th sector go? Tyrus froze. It was uneventful, sir. Nothing of note? No promising recruits? Commander Hadjen asked curiously, twiddling his pen in a way that managed to instill fear into Tyrus, but he forced the emotion down and replied in a casual tone. Nothing too special, sir, although one of the children, a girl, is uncommonly good with the sword. The commander sneered. Swords wont win us this war, Tyrus; we need an edge quite alright, but not of the physical kind. Im sorry, Sir. The commander observed him for a moment before he continued and asked. These Sunstonianss, youve fought them before. Tell me what youve noticed about them. Tyrus hesitated, picking his words carefully before he replied. They are stronger than us. Do you know why? When Tyrus remained silent, Commander Hadjens voice dropped and took on a threatening edge. I asked you a question, lieutenant. Tyrus shuddered as terrible memories surfaced, but he pushed them down with a force of his will and replied. I dont know You dont know anything! Commander Hadjen shouted. Darkness rippled across the room, and the sleeping familiar jerked awake, its red eyes staring at the room in confusion. Tyrus stumbled backwards, and in a lower tone, the commander spoke. The Sunstonians arent stronger than us; theyre just sending better troops against us, while we send our dredges to be massacred. Its no wonder we are losing the damn war. Tyrus shook from fear, and as much as he tried to control himself, terrible memories resurfaced. The Sunstonians had killed his mother before the war even began, and for some reason, his father had directed his anger and hatred towards the twelve-year-old boy hed become saddled with. The commander observed his son as he shook slightly, and he chuckled bitterly. You lied to me; you said your trip was uneventful, but one of your soldiers reported that you let a particularly skilled awakened escape. Tyrus stiffened, but regained himself quickly and replied. I didnt let him escape; he was smuggled out by his parents, and we searched for A sudden pressure cut him off, and Tyrus swallowed as the pressure of an advanced core pressed down on him. It was a minute later before the commander spoke again. I would strike you down, but youre my only son, so I cant do that, but the next time you lie to me, I wont be so lenient. Tyrus gasped as the pressure suddenly disappeared, and he chocked out an apology. The commander dismissed him with a wave of his hand, and he hurriedly walked out. Tyrus kept his composure until he stepped out of the tent before rushing to lean against a wooden pole. He should have known that his father wouldnt send him on a mission unmonitored, and he should have known that one of his fathers spies was watching. Hed been careless, and if this had happened before his awakening, then he would have been beaten to a pulp for it. He gathered himself a minute later, after his panic had subsided, and he made his way to his tent. On the way there, though, he saw the soldiers who had gone with him to the 12th sector, seated around a fire, and he moved to join them. Tyrus sighed as he sat down. He wasnt here to confront them or find out the mole among them. He just wanted to rest and take in the cool breeze before entering his tent. The tension in the air was palpable, though, as they mostly knew of his relationship with his father, and Boyd, a beautiful dark-skinned soldier, subtly checked him out for bruise marks. After a moment of silence, Finn, a Tier 16 soldier with a scar across his cheek, sighed and said,. I cant believe it has come to this; just last week, we were skirmishing along the border, but now we have a real battle on our hands. Aye. Agreed Tomas, his voice grim. But theres no turning back now. We fight for our kingdom, for our homes, and for our families. Thats all that matters. Boyd nodded, his jaw set in determination. Well give them hell tomorrow, but tonight, lets enjoy the alcohol, the men, and for some of you, the women." Laughter erupted from the gathered soldiers, but their conversation was soon interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps, and they turned to see Captain Reynolds, a stern-faced man, striding toward them. Listen up, he said in a commanding voice when he reached them. Weve got a long day ahead of us tomorrow, and we need to be ready. Get some rest while you can. Well need every ounce of strength weve got. Tyrus sighed as they all moved to his feet, but Tomas asked him. What do you think, Tyrus? Do you think well win tomorrow? His mind flashed to the dead body of his mother, stoking the rage he always kept on a leash, and in a harsh whisper, he replied. Well give it everything weve got. Thats all we can do. . Tyrus awoke before dawn the next morning, but as usual, the camp was already awake, and the hustling and bustling of soldiers filled the air. Tyrus wiggled his shoulders as he stood from his bed and gently nudged Boyd, who was butt naked beside him. Come on, Boyd, wake up. Boyd groaned and muttered. Ugh, no. If Im going to die today, then I deserve a little extra sleep. Tyrus snorted as he grabbed his pants from where Boyd had thrown them the night before. We are not going to die, idiot; I thought you were feeling positive last night. I was drunk, Boyd replied with a groan, but he opened his eyes after a few seconds and asked. Arent you afraid? Only a fool wouldnt be. This isnt some skirmish along the border, Tyr; its a real battle. Boyd replied, and Tyrus sighed. Weve trained for years; were prepared for this. Boyd kept silent for a moment before he muttered. We dont even know what were fighting for; we have no cause. Tyrus fastened his belt and knelt beside the bed. This wasnt the first time theyd had this conversation, and they werent the only ones bothered by it. No one knew the cause of the war except for the officials at the commander rank and above. All they knew was that five years ago, the rulers of both kingdoms had declared themselves at war, and although his father knew the cause of the war, he hadnt deemed it necessary to pass the information along to him.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. Tyrus didnt care much about the cause, though; after all, he hadnt joined the war to fight for his kingdom but to avenge his mother by bathing his blade in the blood of the Sunstonians. A familiar rage began to bubble within him, but he pushed it down and replied. If we dont know what we are fighting for, then well fight for our lives and for the lives of those who cant fight for themselves. Boyd nodded, and Tyrus stepped out of the tent a moment later. There were soldiers everywhere, either polishing their pristine armor or sharpening already-sharpened blades. Unlike unawakened wars, there was no smell of gunpowder nor signs of heavy machinery; instead, runes covered their armors, and a stack of explosive talismans filled their rings. An aura of bloodlust shimmered faintly above the camp, igniting his passion as he breathed it in. It invigorated him like a dose of caffeine, and any lingering effects of sleep were washed away. Tyrus moved to sit with a group of Tier 17 soldiers and took out his armor from his spatial ring. The armor was in pristine condition, but he polished it anyway. The process grounded him and calmed his emotions, and when he began sharpening his blade, the anger morphed, becoming more focused like a dagger instead of a hammer. Tension filled the air as the sun rose, and the Tier 15 soldiers rushed around, brimming with nervous energy, while most of the veterans meditated, some even going as far as sleeping. Most of the battlefields had been declared Sigma 15C25 by the Council of Lords, meaning only those between Tiers 15 and 25 could fight on them; fortunately, the border land of Conquestia was among these battlefields. That sigma law had saved the kingdoms, as it had essentially removed both Mythics and calamities from the equation. There were still a few advanced soldiers among them, those who had managed to breakthrough before crossing the second milestone. Tyrus felt a pang of regret at his own unevolved status, but it wasnt really his fault. His life had been in danger only a few days after his awakening, and he''d had to choose between the healing that came with advancement and his future potential. Hed been at the 4th tier at the time, and despite having the knowledge of spirit locks, hed chosen to advance, a decision that only worsened the situation between him and his father. A memory tried to surface from the mental pit in which hed buried it, but he pushed it down with his will and sighed before returning his sword into his spatial ring. Before he stood up, though, a messenger arrived and informed him that his presence was required in the command tent. Tyrus acknowledged the message with a nod and swallowed nervously before downing his armor. He steeled himself as he walked towards the command tent. If his father required his presence, then it had to be a strategic meeting. Tyrus walked into the tent ten minutes later and found half a dozen captains gathered around the map at the center of the tent. Defending the city walls should be our priority. A woman dressed in blue runic armor suggested as Tyrus walked in, but captain Reynolds countered. Fighting head-on with the Sunstonians isnt a favorable tactic, Legion. What we need is an edge, something theyll never see coming. The commander waved Tyrus over so he could see the whole map and pointed to a section of it. Weve chosen the plains just beyond the wall of the city as our battlefield; it slopes upward, which gives us an advantage, but its not quite enough to make a difference, especially against aerial troops. How many troops are we expecting? Just under fifteen thousand. Captain Demount replied. And we have twelve thousand, not including the extra ten thousand sent from the 8th sector. Captain Legion argued. We have enough soldiers to take fifteen thousand. Youre right, sir, but something doesnt add up. Tyrus spoke up after staring at the map for only a minute. They usually arent this bold; surely they know we have the advantage of numbers. Perhaps they have an artifact or weapon that has emboldened them. The commander suggested. Captain Legion laughed. They must be underestimating us and our strength; this is an opportunity for us to crush their forces. As much as Tyrus wanted to crush the Sunstonians, something felt off with the numbers. The Sunstonians had a lot of soldiers, so why send only a few? Were they truly underestimating them, or was luck finally on their side? Tyrus racked his mind, but before he could come up with a suitable explanation, the bell rang, signaling the imminent arrival of the Sunstonian army, and soldiers began rushing toward the portal. The commander immediately dismissed the meeting, and two minutes later, Tyrus rushed through the portal and into formation. As a lieutenant, Tyrus had a troop of soldiers assigned under him, and he spotted Boyd, Ollie, and Finn among them. They stood on the sloping plains of the border as they waited for the arrival of the Sunstonian army. Tension rose steadily, and a thick aura of bloodlust filled the air. Tyrus breathed in slowly, maintaining the leash on his anger while trying to find balance. The Sunstonian army arrived a few minutes later, dressed in white runic armor designed with gold, and immediately they appeared over the hill. Commander Hadjen shouted. This is a Sigma 15-25 battlefield; according to the laws of the Council of Lords, anyone above the 25th tier is forbidden from participating." We know the laws, heathen. The enemy commander shouted and raised a golden staff. In the name of Aeloria, the goddess of blazing sun, I demand your surrender. Dog! Commander Hadjen replied with a furious bellow. Over my dead body, will you set foot in this city? The enemy commander chuckled, but it was a sinister sound. If it is death you want, Hadjen, I will gladly plunge my sword into your rotten guts a hundred times; in fact, it would give me immense pleasure. Tyrus stood with his platoon, tightly clutching his sword as he tried to keep his rage under control, but it was hard. Now that the Sunstonians were finally within his line of sight, all he wanted to do was give into his rage and tear them apart. He breathed deeply, trying to calm himself as he impatiently waited for the signal to charge, but when it finally did, Tyrus was almost caught off guard by it. Almost. He rushed forward immediately, charging towards the Sunstonian army, even as the furious roar of his comrades drowned out his thoughts. The world was suddenly pained in several hues as skills were activated, and a second later, explosions rocked the earth. The Tier 15 soldiers fell almost immediately, slaughtered like sheep, as they were still unprepared and undertrained for a battle of this scale. Tier 16 fared a little better, but the real battle only began when the Tier 17 soldiers clashed. Tyrus manipulated both energy and willpower into a complex weave before channeling them into his awarded skill {Flame imbuement}, and his sword was instantly coated in white hot flames. Anger burned within him as he dove into the battle like an animal; all thoughts disappeared as he cut down one soldier after the other. He slashed the neck of a Tier 18 soldier, cutting off the head in one smooth move before turning to his next victim. A mace slammed into his back, causing him to stagger and dislocate an ankle. Tyrus ignored the pain and slashed backwards, perfectly aiming at the enemys midsection. The soldier was instantly cut in two, spraying him with blood and guts, but his fury only roared for more. His ankle popped a second later as his regeneration kicked in, and Tyrus dove into the battle with vigor. He fought with no techniques or finesse, even as various skills slammed into him. His armor took the brunt of it, but many got through, and half an hour later, he was covered head to toe in blood, and his once pristine armor was dented and blackened. The earth shook vigorously as a beam of lightning struck, and an area several meters in diameter instantly disintegrated, along with the soldiers who had been struck by the skill. Space twisted violently, and Tyrus found himself deep within enemy ranks. He stumbled, and a poison-coated spear pierced into his gut, but he retaliated quickly and stabbed his sword between a soldiers eyes. His blade tore through her skull like a knife through butter, and Tyrus stumbled back, coughing out blood as poison rushed through his veins. Several soldiers rushed to attack him, but he threw out a dozen explosive talismans that gave him enough time to swallow a red alchemical pill called the White Flame Pill. It was a healing pill, specifically a flame-infused healing pill, and as the pill rushed down his throat, it burned through his veins with a sensation akin to that of lava. Tyrus stumbled as the pill burned out the poison from his veins, but he never stopped moving, and he never stopped attacking. Sunstonian soldiers rushed at him, deeming him defenseless as he dealt with the pain from the pill, but they couldnt have been more wrong. First, he channeled another braid of energy and willpower into {Flame Imbuement}, but this time his blade wasnt his target. Blue flame instantly covered his entire body, roaring with an intensity that made him look like a demon from hell. Explosive strength filled him, and the modicum of control hed had over his anger snapped. He roared as he channeled energy into {Fire manipulation}, and a ring of molten flame materialized around him. Without hesitation, he channeled half of his will into the skill, and the ring exploded outward to cover an area several meters wide. The ring of molten flame began to revolve, and with each revolution, it gained momentum. With another savage roar, Tyrus rushed forward, and the air popped and crackled from the intense heat he was generating. He stayed away from anyone above the 18th tier, as even blinded by rage, he knew not to needlessly throw his life away. How could he bathe his sword in the blood of Sunstonians if he died now? The soldiers ranging from 16 to 18 were easy pickings, and as he ran through the ranks of Sunstonian soldiers, screams of agony filled his ears. His rage grew with each kill, the need for revenge insatiable, and everywhere he passed, all that was left was the charred corpses of his enemies and the pungent smell of burning flesh. The roars of explosions filled his ears as destructive skills slammed down from the sky, tearing apart both friend and foe. Chaos built all around him, feeding his frenzy to the point of insanity, and at one point, he began to laugh, even as bodies burned around him. They were winning; for the first time in a long time, they were finally winning against the Sunstonians. This was the glory of war hed always heard about. This was what it tasted like to be victorious! This was {ICON MANIFESTATION: HUNGERING EARTH.} The icon resounded in the minds of everyone present like the boom of thunder, and it broke through the fog of chaos that had clouded Tyruss mind. Terror gripped him immediately, and his fury disappeared, granting him clarity as the earth opened up like the maw of a beast, half a mile in diameter, that instantly swallowed hundreds of the Sunstonian army. Tyrus ran, not towards his people, but away from them. Icons were like ultimate cards that shouldnt be used until a battle was squarely in your favor, because once a person played them, another was sure to counter. He wasnt the only one running towards the Sunstonians, and with good reason. The Sunstonian army tried to block him, but he easily cut his way through. He found Ollie with a spear in his gut, and against his better judgement, he rushed towards him, pulled the spear out, and cauterized the wound before he could bleed to death. Ollie screamed, but even he knew the danger they were in, and he gasped. We need to run. Now! Tyrus scooped him up, but hed barely taken a dozen steps when his fear was realized, and with the voice of thunder, another icon manifested above them. {ICON MANIFESTATION: FLAMES OF DIVINITY} Otherworldly flames descended from the sky like a river aimed at the Ragnarok army. Ollie managed to react fast enough, and the earth swallowed them just as a wave of blistering heat washed against them. Others werent so lucky, even those not within the range of the manifestation, as the wave of heat was enough to kill soldiers up to the 20th tier. Hundreds of their soldiers were burned to ashes, with almost a thousand suffering from serious injuries. When Ollie and Tyrus returned to the surface, the entire plain was filled with dust, smoke, and the agonized screams of dying soldiers. A cry of anguish tore itself from Tyrus throat as he watched the broken and burning bodies of his comrades. Rage rose within him, filling his entire being with the intent to kill, but when he turned to their enemies, he found out why many just stood in helpless fury. The Sunstonian army was gone. Theyd vanished from the battle, and with a sinking feeling, Tyrus realized what hed missed all along. This battle had been a distraction, a way to pull the attention of the entire kingdom to the city of Conquestia and away from their actual target. With no one to focus their fury on, the soldiers walked aimlessly amongst their fallen, hoping to find one person who was still alive. It took them several hours to gather up all the injured as well as bury their dead, and by the time they made it back to camp, it was already evening. Tyrus walked into the command tent and found his father as well as the captains standing soberly around the map. His father gripped the radio in his hands hard enough to crack it as he listened to a report from the other end. His expression was furious, but his voice was controlled, and when he finally dropped the radio, he turned to the gathered captains. As weve all realized by now, this entire battle was a distraction. Who were the real targets then? Captain Reynolds asked, and the commander pointed to a part of the map not too far from their current location. Ironforge, the capital city of the 8th sector. Chapter 39: Orientation There is one thing that the people of Ragnarok excel at, and that is technological innovationa true and wondrous fusion of magic and technology that, if left unchecked, would topple the balance of the kingdoms, and we cannot sit back and let that happen. Now that we have the upper hand, we need to cripple their industries and steal their innovations; that way, we can nullify them before they become a threat. Guo Jian (Voidmind). Advisor to HRH (Sunstone) Year 2275
Principal Zatya Malakov sat in her office, seriously contemplating High Duke Lightuss words. News of the 8th sector had reached her an hour ago. Things were bad, and the situation with the war was dire. It was a serious blow to the kingdom of Ragnarok for another kingdom to so easily take over the capital city of the 8th sector. Fortunately, it was considered a Sigma 25-50 battlefield, and the kingdom had sent a huge number of soldiers within that range to reclaim the sector. Zatya sighed in disappointment. What good were elites against thousands of soldiers? The kingdom needed champions, soldiers with infinite potential, and they were looking to her to produce them. With a sigh, she opened a wooden box covered in glowing green runes. Within the box were three soul seeds of epic quality. High Duke Lightus had ordered the academy to hold a tournament and award the winners with the seeds, but shed been hesitant. What good would it do to bestow such treasures on commoners? Shed asked herself, but after the slaughter of soldiers on the border plains of Conquestia, she realized that they couldnt just produce the best students anymore; they needed someone whose name would strike fear in the hearts of their enemies, whose very presence would send armies to their knees; they needed someone like the great catastrophe, Azmarthon, or the abyssal wrath, Erina Blackwell, and these epic soul seeds would be the first steps to creating such a monster. She couldnt fight in the war as she was too advanced, but she could create a monster to fight for her; better yet, she could create multiple monsters. She thumbed through the list of aspirants who had made an impression on the professors, observing them carefully, before sending out the tournament announcement. Meanwhile, in the rift station, Aodhn and Daruk sat in silence and anticipation as they watched the slots on the holographic board slowly fill up. Andrew had made his way to sit beside them immediately after he arrived, and they had introduced themselves. Andrew Willowood was obviously a noble, although he didnt seem to care much about their difference in status, at least not as much as Eren Thornhill, who appeared a moment later, soaked in swampy water. Oh, this is a treat; are you enjoying it?" Daruk asked, and Aodhn replied with a chuckle. I might be enjoying it a little more than I should. The image of Eren Thornhill, the pompous noble, trudging through the disgusting swamp filled his heart with joy. Unfortunately, Ahmet wasnt with him, but there was still hope as Eren had only taken the 71st slot. Time passed as people exited the rift, some too injured to continue and some too scared to do so. The trio of Calodans arrived a few minutes later, completely clean, like theyd just stepped out of a bath, and the holographic list was promptly updated to 84. There were only sixteen slots left, and tension grew as the list slowly climbed up to 99. More than an hour had passed since the Calodans exited the rift, and by now, almost all of the aspirants were on their feet, watching and waiting for the last person to make it. Come on, Ahmet. Aodhn muttered softly as he focused his attention on the shimmering rift. During their time on the ship, Ahmet had been a good friend, and although they werent buddies, Aodhn knew how much hed wanted to get into the academy. The minutes dragged on, seeming to stretch for an eternity, but a few minutes later, a girl appeared, covered in blood and mud, but she victoriously held the five horns in her hand and shouted in excitement as her name was updated on the list. A cheer rose up from the gathered aspirants, and Aodhn sighed in disappointment. Professor Aleran walked to stand before them and smiled. It is with great pleasure that I welcome the newest members of the 5th Academy. Congratulations everyone, but we still have a program scheduled for today, and assistant professor Claybourne here will lead you to the orientation hall where you can have a chat with your coordinator. Assistant Professor Claybourne was a short man of advanced class who looked to be in his early forties. He had vivid blue hair and blue-tinged skin, but his most prominent features were his eyes, which were cloudy as if he had cataracts. Aodhn tried to sense the flavor of his bloodline, but his core sense wasnt that advanced yet. They followed the professor, who led them through a long, brightly lit hallway decorated with pictures of several prominent professors as well as all the previous principals of the school. Aodhn stared at the date of each picture and was surprised to see that they went as far back as fifty years. Unfortunately, they were unable to tour the entire hallway as the professor walked into a smaller corridor that opened up into a medium-sized hall with the same translucent roof as the examination hall. Two rows of padded wooden benches filled the hall, and the floor was covered with black tiles. A young man, dressed in a silver and black uniform slightly similar to that of the professors, stood atop a wooden platform at the front of the hall and gestured for them to come in and take their seats. The man had deep purple hair that reached his shoulders and silver pupils ringed by double bands of purple. The man was dark-skinned and looked to be in his early twenties, but he had a bearing that gave off a sense of immense weight and power. Thank you, Professor Claybourne; Ill handle it from here. The assistant professor nodded left as they filed into the hall and took their seats. The man thumbed through a translucent tablet, giving them time to settle down before speaking. Good afternoon, everyone, and congratulations! From now on, youre no longer aspirants but students, and it is a pleasure to welcome you to one of the greatest academies in the entire kingdom. One of the students raised a cheer, and others shouted in excitement, even Aodhn. The man smiled, waiting for a moment before he continued. My name is Rahim Silverspire; some of you may know me or may have heard of my name as I was the best graduating student two years ago. He smiled proudly, and in a slightly annoyed tone, he continued. But today, I have been saddled with the responsibility of being your level coordinator, and as much as I hate it, I intend to take my role seriously. What this means is that I am your go-to person. If you have questions, need help, or Raol, help me with a problem, you come to me. What if you cant solve the problem? A girl from the front row asked, and Rahim chuckled. As your coordinator, there is very little that I cannot do. In the event that I cannot solve your problem, then youll most likely be expelled because of the gravity of such a problem. There was a smattering of chuckles, and Rahim continued. Now, the first thing you need to do is find your way to the bursars office; there, youll be given a device we call the chip, which basically updates academy information, news, or alerts to your status screen. In this way, the academy has created a sort of hive system where each chip is connected to the academy, although for your level, some functions of the chip will be restricted, but it still offers a wide range of options that would be essential for your stay in the academy.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Also, youll be given three sets of uniforms; one is the ceremonial uniform that should only be worn on such days. The other is your regular student uniform, while the last is reserved for gym and other extracurricular activities. Fortunately for you, the uniforms are self-cleaning, which is a blessing, trust me. Aodhn chuckled along with several others, and Rahim winked before proceeding. Youll also be provided with a pair of socks, boots, a belt, and an array of books and training materials. Classes begin next week, but I urge you to get these materials before the other years resume; you do not want that stress, trust me. He thumbed through the tablet for a moment, as if searching for something. Oh yes, we should discuss housing. For 1st year students, the academy has employed a sort of joint or communal habitation meant to promote and foster camaraderie between students. Murnurs of disappointment rose up from the gathered aspirants, with Daruk groaning the loudest. I dont want to live with a bunch of people I barely know. He complained. Rahim raised a hand to placate them. Trust me, no one likes the housing arrangement, but we all come to appreciate it in the end, and believe me when I say this is for your own good. When no other arguments were raised, Rahim continued. There are a total of 20 houses in the 1st year residential quadrant, each with 5 rooms and a living room, completely outfitted with individual essential rooms and training areas. This way, you still get to have your privacy, and the only thing you have to share is the living room. Another roar of complaints began to rise, but Rahim quickly cut them off. I know what youre all worried about, and I shall disappoint you. He raised a plastic bowl filled with folded papers with a smirk, he added. Each house will be chosen randomly, so you cant choose your housemates. That is up to lady luck, but you must know that whatever house you pick cannot be changed and will serve as your residence till the end of the year. This is going to suck. Andrew muttered. I dont know; I dont really have a problem with it. Aodhn replied as Rahim urged them down to pick up their house numbers. Oh Raol, what if I pick a house filled with psychopaths? Nutjobs, you mean. Aodhn added with a smirk, and Daruk scowled. So vulgar. Faster people, we dont have a day. Rahim shouted, and they rushed towards the stage. Many groaned as they opened the slips and realized they wouldnt be sharing a room with someone theyd hoped to. Aodhn picked up a folded piece of paper a moment later, and he opened it to find the words 14-C written on it. Daruk scoffed as he opened his slip. House 3? Is it just me, or does that sound like the name of a mental house? Hmm, Im in house 5. Andrew commented with a slight frown before he turned to Daruk. And house 3 definitely sounds like the name of a psych ward. "No, it doesnt. Aodhn disagreed with a chuckle, thinking to himself that 14-C definitely sounded like a prison cell or something. Okay, thats all. Return to your seats. You can find your housemates later; we still have much to get through. Rahim waited for the students to settle down before proceeding. The next thing on my list is the topic of courses. First-year students are required to take a total of five classes each semester. Some courses are compulsory, like The Theory of Awakened Advancements or Awakened Combat Mastery. You have three empty slots to fill, which gives you the freedom to choose what you want to learn. Please note that 5 classes are the minimum, not the maximum. One of the Calodan boys raised his hand to ask a question, but Rahim waved a hand and said, I do not have the time to go into details, but I assure you that your chips will provide you with more than enough information on the matter. Another thing on my list is graduation conditions. As some of you may know, there is a requirement for first-year students to reach the second milestone by the end of the school year. He paused and sighed. Reaching Tier 25 in a year may not look hard, but youll come to find out that advancement isnt all about energy absorption, and there will come a point where the absorption of cores will do you no good. If you find yourself in this position, find me, and Ill try my best to help you; that is my job. In the silence that followed, he continued. Anyone who fails to reach the second milestone before the end of the year will be expelled. During my time in the academy, a total of 150 students were admitted, but only a quarter of us graduated. Im not saying this to scare you, but to remind you that although the trials are over, the battle has only just begun. Aodhn sighed. Why couldnt advancement just be as simple as absorbing energy? Why did the system insist on making things hard? Lastly, the academy has discovered that about 44% of you have no bloodlines, so weve organized an in-house tournament to give you a chance to gain one. From the information I have on the matter, the tournament will be held in a week, which falls on the day before resumption, and the top three students will be gifted with a bloodline matching their affinities. Aodhns eyes widened as his mind spun. If the academy wanted to give out bloodlines, then he had to get one for himself. Hed seen just how much of a boost Daruks bloodline was for him, amplifying his abilities to an insane degree, and he wanted that. No, he needed it. He wasnt the only eager student, though, as almost all of the commoners were at the edge of their seats. Their eyes viewing the other commoners not as friends or allies but as competition. Many looked sick as tension gripped them, but Aodhns mind was spinning with possibilities. Murmurs and harsh whispers rose up from the gathered students as some of the nobles questioned why the commoners were being given such an opportunity, but Rahim ignored them and simply continued. Once again, congratulations on making it into the academy, and I wish you luck during your stay here. Also, the houses are open, and youre free to move into them any time you like, but it is very important that youre within the academy''s grounds before the first day of resumption. Lastly, the bursars office is down the hall by my right for those who would like to see him immediately, and finally, good luck to everyone. Rahim teleported out of the hall an instant later, and Aodhn, Andrew, and Daruk filed out of the hall along with the other students. Most rushed towards the gate, eager to share the exciting news with their parents or guardians, while the rest stayed back. Some decided to check out the houses first, while others made their way to the bursars office. Andrew had gone to share the news of his admission with his parents, while Aodhn and Daruk walked along with those headed for the bursars office. There was only a small queue when Aodhn and Daruk arrived at the office, so they settled to wait. Aodhns mind was filled with thoughts of the tournament as he observed the people around him. His need to be better and different rose up again, just like it had done when he was in the orphanage. It was the reason hed been out in the hills that day, because he hadnt wanted to settle for something ordinary. Aodhn began to mentally plan his routine for the next week. He had to win this tournament, or at least finish in third placeno, first place. He had willpower to tame and harness; he needed to create a new skill; but most of all, he needed to improve his energy control. The queue moved steadily, and a few minutes later, Aodhn was standing before an open window barricaded with golden bars. The bursar was a pudgy man with an evolved class and a slightly chipped tooth, but what surprised him was the dim feeling of his core, which suggested that he was approaching a limit. The thought of the limit reminded him of Aldrics words and how the 12th Academy had enforced the oath on all their students. Would the 5th academy do the same, and if so, when? His mind was brought back to the present when the bursar asked. Name? Aodhn Ashoka. Aodhn replied immediately, and the bursar typed it into his tablet. He scrolled for a while before he frowned and said,. Your information doesnt pop up on any of the kingdoms records; where are you from? Aodhn was very tempted to say earth, just to see the mans reaction, but he shook his head and replied. The 12th sector. That explains it. The man grumbled and asked. Where exactly in the 12th sector? The Warren. Parents name? Aodhn paused, but after a moment of contemplation, he replied. Unrid and Synov Brystion. Siblings? Yes, Aldric and Daruk Brystion. Well, that checks out. The man murmured as he typed, and a moment later he replied. Great, Ill need your signature, fingerprint, facial, and retinal scan. The entire process took about five minutes, and a second later, the whirring sound of machinery filled the room. Here you go. The man handed him a plastic ID card. Youve been registered on the network, so I should be able to issue you a chip soon, but youll have to wait a few minutes. How long? About ten minutes. Imprinting a chip is not an easy process. In the meantime, this is yours. The bursar replied as he handed him a box filled with his uniforms, books, and socks. House number? Uhm, 14-C. Okay, this is yours. The bursar handed him a pair of keys dangling from a silver key holder designed with runic scripts. Thank you. He replied, shrugging in reply to Daruks questioning gaze, before moving to sit on one of the benches lining the hallway. Daruk went through the same process of registration and didnt even bat an eye when the bursar asked him if they were brothers. By the time Daruk was done, Aodhns chip was imprinted, and the bursar called him to retrieve it. I thought it would look like an actual chip. Daruk muttered as they stared at the black metallic bracelet, barely an inch wide. It shimmered with white and gold scripts that glowed immediately after he put it on. The bracelet shrunk until it perfectly fit his wrists and was in no danger of falling off, after which it flashed with a golden light, and the ping of a notification resounded in his mind. . ANALYZING RUNIC TECHNOLOGY . FUSING SYSTEM INTERFACE. .. INTERFACE FUSION COMPLETE. [STATUS] Name: Aodhn Ashoka Brystion. Title: Neophyte, Stormborn, Bronze. Class: Evolved storm awakened: 99.9% (PENDING) Tier: 15-7.46% Bloodline: Nil Glimpse: Increases elemental control by 1% 5th Academy Chip: [Map] [Contacts] [Leaderboard] [Chats] [Course outlines] [Restricted] Chapter 40: Interior decorations The process of skill creation is very interesting because awakeneds dont actually create skills; perhaps it is apt to say that we imagine these abilities and train our minds to make them a reality. The system does put a check on this, though, and that is why no matter how hard you imagine some skills, they can never become reality, either because your spirit is too weak to handle such a skill or because it is unaligned with the core of your affinity. Remember, water cannot burn, and neither can the void create life. Assistant Professor Claybourne. Skill creation; awakened combat mastery. Ragnarok, 5th sector.
Aodhn stared at his status screen and the changes that had appeared on it. The first was his name, which had somehow changed, most likely from the fusion of the academy chip with his status interface. He was now Aodhn Ashoka Brystion, and he couldnt deny that a part of him loved the fact that he was connected to a family by name, even if his real surname had somehow been converted into his middle name. The monastery had taken him in and named him after the travelers who had found him wandering in the forest. Whether hed had a name before that, Aodhn couldnt remember. All his memories from before he arrived at the monastery were a blur, except for the time hed spent in the forest, which shone in his mind with vivid clarity. With a sigh, he turned away from the sour memories and turned his attention to the other change in his status screen. What isOh, Im coming. Daruk muttered as the bursar called him to retrieve his own chip, and he returned with a similar bracelet, shimmering with ice blue and silver scripts. As Daruk fiddled with the chip, Aodhn returned his attention to his screen. He mentally clicked on the map icon, and the map of the school appeared before him in 3D. Whoa, theres no way were getting lost with these. Aodhn muttered with a smile as he placed all the other items into his spatial storage. Following the map, they made their way to the first-year residential quadrant. It was a walled-off area located in the northeastern part of the academy. It had high walls that were covered in blue Salinger vines. A massive black gate stood before them, with a small security outpost built beside it. As they walked through the gate, though, a man dressed in a silver and black uniform popped his head out of the outposts window. He had a gruff expression, and the ring around his pupils identified him as an evolved awakened. IDs? he asked, and Aodhn and Daruk submitted their newly made cards. The man scrutinized it for a moment before he smiled and returned the cards. Make sure you keep that on you at all times. You wont be allowed in without it. Yes sir. They both replied, and the man gestured for them to proceed. A pathway made of cobble stones, wide enough to fit an entire bus, led down from the gate, and on either side of it, beautiful duplexes stood, each with a garden and a small picket fence. The houses stood on a plot each, and boldly written on their front doors were numbers ranging from 1 to 20. They all looked the same, though, almost as if they were all copies of an original that was impossible to identify. Okay, this is nice. Weird but nice. Daruk muttered as he walked towards the house numbered 3. See you in an hour? Yeah, yeah. Aodhn replied and walked down the street until he got to the 14th house. The moment he identified the house, though, he realized that the front door was open, which meant someone was in the house. God, please let them be reasonable. He muttered as he walked through the open door and had to dodge immediately as a bladed boomerang zoomed through the area where his head had been a millisecond ago before shattering against the wooden door. Oh, I didnt see you there. A girl muttered as she lifted herself from the couch and came to examine the damage shed done to the door. Hey, that could have seriously injured you. No shit. Aodhn replied with a glare, expecting the girl to apologize; instead, she picked up what was left of the boomerang and stretched her right hand out for a handshake. Hi, My name is Imani Blackwell. Nice to meet you. The girl had long black hair that almost reached the base of her spine and black pupils that were ringed with a band even darker than her actual pupils. Wisps of shadow emanated from her body like smoke, and Aodhn realized she wasnt fully in control of her bloodline yet. Aodhn stared at her outstretched hand in confusion and slight anger, but rather than react, he decided to stay calm. Its okay; its fine; maybe shes just an airhead.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. He ignored Imanis outstretched hand, though, but she didnt seem to mind at all as she returned to the couch. The girl was only a little shorter than he was, and although Aodhn hadnt noticed before, she was dressed in a short white material that exposed her arms and belly, along with a small brown short that barely covered half her thighs. For a guy who has lived almost all of his life in a monastery, the visuals were too soon. Aodhn turned his attention away from Imanis exposed thighs and focused on his surroundings. The living room was large, taking up almost the entirety of the ground floor. The walls were crafted with luxurious white stones, and although he couldnt see any runes written on them, he could feel a sort of energy emanating from them. The windows were made of Romanian glass, causing the rays of sunlight to take on a distorted blue hue. An array of leather couches and pillows were scattered around the room, and an enchanted wooden table, containing a pile of textbooks, stood at its center. A and B are downstairs; just through that corridor, C, D, and E are upstairs. Imani offered, her voice cutting through his thoughts. Yeah, thanks. He replied and began to make his way towards the wooden stairs, but stopped when he noticed Imani coming up behind him. What are you doing? He asked with a frown, but she shrugged and simply replied. Im 14-A, but I really just want to see everybodys room. Do you know you can actually customize No. Aodhn cut in sharply. He was about to say something else, but after her expression crumbled, hed decided to take a more polite route. I prefer to go up alone. She shrugged and turned back to the couch, after which he took up a textbook and began reading. Aodhn trudged up the stairs after that, leaving his slightly miffed housemate behind, but he didnt really care; shed almost ripped his head off and was too proud to apologize. It didnt take a genius to figure out her status as nobility, not with the obvious family name, but since theyd left Sector 12, nobles hadnt left the best impression on him. His room was the first on the top floor, marked by the letter C in bold black ink. He retrieved his key from his spatial space and inserted the smaller of the two into the key hole. The door opened without a sound, and Aodhn gasped in amazement as he stepped into the room. Half of the room was made with opaque Romanian glass, which caused the space inside the room to almost triple. The walls were bare; in fact, almost everything was translucent and colorless, but that only made him love it more, as for the first time in forever, he had the chance to decorate his own room. Aside from photography, interior decoration was a profession hed always loved, and like hed told Master Amin, his guidance counselor back at the monastery, if he was unable to make it big with photography, he would definitely branch out into the interior decoration business. Sadly, none of those dreams had come true, not with the transmigration and all, but now he finally got a chance. Two panels were hooked to the wall beside him; the first displayed the number 36 in gold script, while the other contained several settings for room customization. Immediately he stepped in front of the second panel; it flashed and began scanning his features. The scan only took a few seconds before he was granted access, and without hesitation, he began decorating. Hed always been a fan of dark colorsgray and black, specificallyand he inculcated them into the room. The walls rippled as they became dark gray, and the wooden floor boards turned black. The curtains rippled, turning a shade lighter than the walls, and the bedposts turned black. By the time he was done, everything in the room was either a shade of gray or matte black. There were several lamps in the room, and he adjusted them to give off a soft white light that perfectly managed to cast shadows everywhere. Half an hour later, he was satisfied, and the good thing about it was that he could change it anytime he wished. There was a closet, now made from black wood, not too far from his bed, and he opened it to hang his uniforms within it. Surprisingly, there was a pair of black cotton t-shirts and pants already folded within it, so he added the clothes hed bought from the 8th sector to the pile. After that, he moved on to check out the bathroom, where he found a sealed toothbrush and toothpaste that smelled strongly of mint. The most interesting room for him, though, was the last room, which was identified as a training room, and as Aodhn stepped into it, a wave of dense energy embraced him. In the last few days, hed gotten used to the dense amount of energy in the 5th sector, but in this room, it was almost oppressive in its density. The room was double the size of the bedroom, which was already large by normal standards. The lustrous black floor shimmered with silver runes that gave off a sense of durability. Aodhn paused before letting out a wide smile. This was the first time hed sensed the effect of a rune, and as he focused his core sense on the shimmering runes, he slowly began to feel other flavors and textures from the runes. The heavy feeling of the earth element was dominant, followed by the pungent scent of wood, and lastly, the concept of immutability. That wasnt all, though, just what he could sense at the moment, and as interesting as this was, it also made Aodhn realize just how much work and energy went into rune scripting. He tabled the matter for now, adding it to the growing list of things he needed to work on, and made his way towards the rack of weapons in the corner. Compared to the ones hed seen in the Phoenixs nest, these were real and of much higher quality, but they were still useless to him as he could make his own weapons. Just as he turned to leave the room, a ding sounded in his mind, and he viewed his status to see a message waiting for him. Hey, its Daruk. Are you there? Is this thing even working? Aodhn searched the entire screen, looking for a keyboard to type out a reply, but after a few minutes of futile searching, he muttered. Is there no keyboard on this thing? Surprisingly, the words typed themselves out on the screen, and he realized there was some kind of audio keyboard going on, so he deleted the previous message and sent another. Its working. How did you message me anyway? I used the contact menu. It contains a list of people who have received chips, as well as our coordinator. Pretty neat. Hows your house? Im the only one in the house, so there isnt much to say. What about you? Theres a noble, some Imani Blackwell. This girl almost cut my head off and couldnt even apologize. Lets meet at the cafeteria; Im starving. Sure thing. How do you exit this chat window? oh. Okay bye. After successfully exiting the chat window, Aodhn locked his room and went downstairs. Fortunately, Imani was no longer in the living room, so he made his way out of the house and, a few minutes later, joined up with Daruk before walking to the cafeteria. Chapter 41: A week of training I Runes hold unparalleled significance and power on the continent of Lutia, as they have become the foundation of any awakened innovation as well as the base for the fusion of magical energy and technology. Runic theory. Doctor Pever Ershing.
As the Raventhorn sailed through the turbulent seas, a sense of impending doom filled Aodhns mind, and he looked around wildly. Whats wrong, Aodhn? Daruk asked, but Aodhn couldnt focus. The sense of doom overwhelmed him, and he stumbled forward, shouting. You have to run; leave the boat. He screamed and shouted, but no one heard him. He turned to Daruk, clutching his shoulders hard enough to break them. Its coming, the A boom of thunder cut him off, and the sky was suddenly torn apart. An inky darkness spread as roiling storm clouds poured into the world. From the gaping maw of the torn sky emerged a million bolts of lightning that brimmed with malevolence and a need for destruction. No! Aodhn cried, but with a blood-curling shriek, a river of lightning descended on the ship as the storm unleashed its wrath. No. Not again. Jagged bolts of lightning lashed out, arcing through the ship and striking the sailors down in a blaze of searing agony. Unable to move, Aodhn was forced to watch as lightning tore through the deck and into the cabins. A piercing chorus of agony echoed out a second later, and it drilled through his skull like a knife. Stop, please; youre killing them! he yelled, but the howling wind was the only response he got. The storm disappeared almost as fast as it came, and when he was finally allowed to move, he stumbled down the deck, ignoring the mass of broken and burned bodies that filled the deck. Blood entrails covered the walls and floor, like a monster had been the one to butcher these people. The blood flowed and pooled around his feet. He tried to move forward to see more, but the blood held him captive, and slowly, it grew until he began to drown in it. The blood continued to grow, covering up to his neck, but no matter how much he struggled or cried for help, he couldnt move. Aodhn struggled, fighting to be released, but his efforts were futile, and the pool of blood grew until it reached his neck and slowly covered his chin. Help! No, Please. Blood flowed into his mouth and filled his lungs. It choked him, starving him of air as it grew, and when he finally drowned, a voice whispered to him. This is all your fault, Aodhn; this is all your fault. . Aodhn screamed as he sat up in bed, gasping as air rushed into his starved lungs. He was completely soaked with sweat, and he immediately flipped the bedside lamp on, dialing it upward until the entire room was bathed in light. He took in deep breaths as terror slowly loosened its grip on him. It took a few minutes for him to calm down, and when he did, the tears finally came, pouring down from his eyes like someone had opened the floodgates. Hed tried to convince himself that he wasnt at fault and that the ship would have been destroyed with or without his actions, but a part of him refused to accept it. This wasnt the first time hed had a nightmare concerning the events that had happened that night, but this was the first time the details were so gory. A knock resounded on his door, and Aodhn jerked fearfully. It took a moment for him to realize who it was, and after clearing his throat, he called out. Thank you, Imani, but Im fine. Are you sure? You were screaming so loudly. He hadnt realized that. Still, he shook his head and replied. Im fine; I just need to be alone for a moment. Thank you, though. When no response came, he sighed and stood to his feet. There was no way he could go back to sleep, not after that. He walked to the bathroom and took a shower, letting the water slowly wash away the feeling of blood, but no matter how much he scrubbed, his guilt remained. He stepped out of the bathroom a moment later, feeling only a tiny bit better as he put on fresh clothes, and made his way to the training room. He took a meditative pose at the center of the room and focused on taming and harnessing his will. As the wild flames slowly condensed and melded with the glowing ball of molten flames floating in his core, Aodhn tried to focus, but scenes from the dream constantly flashed through his mind, disrupting his concentration and rendering his efforts useless. He persevered for almost an hour, straining to focus his thoughts, but the screams of the dying rang out continuously, and with a weary sigh, he stood to his feet and made his way out of the room. There was a small kitchen carved out in the corner of the living room; perhaps he could find a snack or something. He paused immediately he walked into the living room, surprised to see Imani reading on a couch, surrounded by a bunch of textbooks, all of them opened and marked with colored pens. She looked up and smiled awkwardly. Reading ahead and all. I can see that. Aodhn muttered, and Imani turned back to her book. The fact that she had begun reading wasnt too surprising. What surprised him was how far into each text shed gone in only a few hours. He felt a little bit of shame to see his housemate working so hard while he hadnt even opened a single textbook. He pushed the annoying emotion aside as he made his way to the kitchen. Unfortunately, after searching through the drawers and cabinets, he came up empty. There was nothing, not even a snack; apparently, the academy wouldnt be providing that for them. You need a nightmare snack. Imani suddenly called out, and Aodhn turned to stare at her in confusion. She closed the textbook she was reading and repeated herself. I said you need a nightmare snacksomething to take your mind off the flashing scenes. Aodhn closed the empty cabinets and sighed. Thanks, but Im fine. Ive got some snacks; maybe I can I said Im fine! He snapped and immediately apologized. Im sorry, but I dont need you to take care of me. Okay. She replied before turning back to her text, and although Aodhn felt like a jerk, hed already apologized once and wasnt in the best of moods, so he quickly made his way towards the stairs, but as he walked past the couch, Imani asked. Why do you hate me? Ive been nothing but nice to you all day. Aodhn sighed.. I dont hate you; I justIm not in the best of moods at the moment; besides, you almost cut off my head this afternoon and failed to apologize. That was an accident. Imani pointed out, gesturing towards the now repaired scratch on the door. But Im sorry. Its alright, Ill just Stay. She urged. Please, its kind of lonely here. Aodhn sighed once more, frustrated and definitely not in the mood for polite conversation, but if he went back to his room, what would he do? He couldnt train, nor could he sleep, and the thought of being alone with his thoughts filled him with dread. After a short moment of contemplation, Aodhn decided to stay and sat on one of the larger couches scattered across the room.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. So, nervous about the tournament? Imani asked, and Aodhn shrugged. A little; I cant afford to miss an opportunity like this; I may never get another. Im sure youll be fine; you placed quite high on the forge list. She replied, and her expression darkened a little. Its not just about that, though. Aodhn replied as he tried to find a more comfortable position. Theres control to worry about, skills, and several other boosts that others have over me. Well, youve got a week to train, and I could help you. How? Aodhn asked with a smirk, and she glared at him playfully. I may not be the best at energy control, but many have called me a master swordswoman. Who? Your squires? Guards? Imani quirked an eyebrow and asked. You have a thing against nobles, dont you? Aodhn shrugged. Not particularly; I just find many of them distasteful. Oh. Imani replied, nodding slowly before she shrugged. Well, we could spar in the morning, and you can tell me what you think. Thats not a bad idea. Aodhn replied, and Imani smiled before turning back to her notes. Silence descended on the room, save for the quiet rustle of paper, and before too long, Aodhn fell asleep. ...... Aodhn awoke the next morning to the ding of a notification, and he groggily reviewed his status screen to find Daruk. I am coming over to your place. My apartment is as silent as a graveyard, and I cant stand it. Get breakfast, please; Im starving. Sure. Aodhn turned to find Imani asleep with the textbook still open on her lap. He contemplated waking her, but decided against it. He felt better, though, and although guilt still weighed on him, it wasnt as heavy or terrifying as it had been after the dream. He climbed up the stairs to his room, brushed his teeth, and took another shower. He was putting on one of the black t-shirts when Daruk arrived at the house. Another ding sounded in his mind, but he ignored it as he rushed downstairs to open the door. Daruk stood with one hand poised to knock and the other holding a tray of steaming sandwiches, accompanied by the savory scent of crispy bacon and a jar of frosted milk. Daruk, youre a life saver. Aodhn sighed blissfully as he opened the door wide enough for Daruk to come in. Yeah, good morning to you too, andoh, hi. Hi. Imani replied, hastily dusting and smoothing her clothes to make them presentable, even though her face was still swollen from sleep. You must be Imani. Daruk replied as he cleared away a few books and dropped the tray on the wooden table before extending his hand for a handshake. Nice to meet you. Aodhn immediately stepped in. Imani, meet my brother, Daruk. Nice to meet you, Daruk. You dont actually look like brothers. She replied. We get that a lot; you wouldnt believe. Daruk replied with a playful smirk before gesturing towards the tray. I doubt we could finish all this food; do you mind joining us? I dont mind. She replied. Thanks for saving me a trip to the cafeteria, but Im in dire need of a bath, so youll have to excuse me. Sure, well wait for you. Daruk replied as Imani practically raced out of the living room. Wait? Why are we waiting? Aodhn asked. Because its polite, and shes a noble, its only normal to accord them the respect befitting their stations, especially the ones who arent assholes because of it. Aodhn sighed as he took a seat and asked. So, what are your plans for today? Well, I doubt youll need my help to train, so Ill go to the library instead. I still need to figure out who my patron is, and maybe Ill research that tattoo whose meaning youve refused to tell me. Aodhn sighed once again. This wasnt the first time Daruk had raised the topic of the tattoo. Ever since their first conversation on the matter, hed been fishing for hints and asking subtle questions, his curious mind unable to let the topic go, and Aodhn was honestly tired of it. Ive told you that youre better off not knowing, but if its so important to you, then I cant stop you from researching it. In fact, I would like to know what you find, so keep me posted. Daruk narrowed his eyes in suspicion. Thats it? Youre not going to try and stop me from researching it? Aodhn snorted. Like, I could stop you even if I tried. Just dont ask anyone, people cant know, Daruk, its dangerous for me if people find out. Why cant you just tell me? Daruk whispered, and Aodhn replied with a chuckle. Because Im almost certain that you wont find anything on the topic. What topic? Imani asked as she walked into the living room, dressed in a flowery yellow gown that seemed to shine with innate light. Are you guys already choosing topics for the semester? Yes. Aodhn hastily replied. Join us. As she sat on the couch opposite him, Aodhn created three storm plates for each of them as well as cups for the frozen milk. Imani took the plate and observed it with obvious amazement. Your control is impressive, much better than Im currently capable of. How many weaves are you making? What weaves? Aodhn asked, chuckling at the compliment, while Daruk quietly groaned in frustration. You know, weaves that improve the movement of energy and willpower through theyou dont know? No, Ive never heard of it. Aodhn replied with a frown and asked. Whats it about? Imani stared at him in shock before returning her gaze to the plate constructed in her palms. Are you telling me that you made this construct with raw energy control? Daruk shook his head wearily as he stuffed a sandwich into his mouth. I should have known; youre the freak. Aodhn ignored him and replied. I dont know what you mean by raw energy control, but Im not weaving anything either. Wow, youre amazing. She muttered, staring intently at the plate, until Aodhn asked. What is a weave? You said it could improve control. Y-yes. Imani replied, and a second later she added. A weave is like a braid or twine of energy and willpower that basically increases the power of skills, which makes them materialize faster and consume less energy. How does it increase control, though? Daruk asked, literally drooling with interest. The process of weaving energy and willpower together is hard, but the more you can weave at a time, the better your control becomes. How many weaves can you create? Daruk asked again, but Aodhn was barely listening. His mind spun wildly. Hed been thinking of a way to get an edge over the competition, but if he could somehow double or triple his energy control before next week, then he wouldnt need anything else to win the tournament. His mind returned to the conversation, and he suddenly asked. Can you teach us? His question cut through their conversation, and although Daruk frowned in annoyance, Imani simply shook her head. Im still learning the technique myself, but I can show you a book that explains it. I would really appreciate it. Aodhn replied, and Imani excused herself to get the book. Excitement bubbled within him as he waited for Imani to return, and when she did, he rushed to get out. The book was a slim one about the size of his palms and only seemed to contain about a dozen pages. The first, second, and third pages simply explained the concepts of energy and willpower, but hed already read about them in Aldermans library. The fourth page, though, caught his attention as it was a simple drawing that simply described the process of manipulating and twining both energy and willpower together. As Aodhn observed the picture, though, he realized that the process was very similar to the taming of wild willpower as it involved the intermingling of wild gaseous energy with molten will. Already, Aodhn was sure he could successfully create two of these weaves without issue. As you can see, its a very hard process. I can successfully create about five weaves simultaneously, and thats considered really good for my age group. Imani stated as she flipped to the last page, but Aodhn was smiling so hard that his cheeks ached. He forced himself to finish his breakfast and wish Daruk the best of luck in his research before rushing up the stairs. A bit before he even got halfway, Imani called out to him. What about that spar we agreed on? Aodhn paused and replied in the most apologetic tone he could manage. Im very sorry, Imani; maybe after the tournament. Before she could say anything else, he raced up the stairs and into his room, where he immediately made his way to the training room. He breathed in deeply as the dense amount of energy embraced him, and without hesitation, he took up a meditative pose in the center of the room. He focused on his core, feeling the movement of energy as it flowed through his pathways, and returned to his core. He focused his entire attention on the core, observing the energys free state as it interacted with his pathways and core. An hour later, he shifted his attention to the molten black flame floating within his core. Unlike the last time his consciousness had dived this deep, there was no burning or blistering sensation; instead, it felt like a warm bath. Aodhn submerged his consciousness into the ball of molten will, studying and observing it. He noticed that the tamed will had no interaction with his core, or at least none that he could discern, but with a single thought, the flame moved, eager and earnest in its need to please. After a few more minutes of observation, Aodhn felt ready, and with a quick mental effort, he pulled a strand of molten will out of his core and placed it beside a similar strand of energy. Without his input, the two remained dormant, and even when he willed them to merge, they resisted. Aodhn had not noticed the resistance before because he hadnt been trying to mix them together; hed simply been pouring both energy and willpower into his skills. Now, using the technique hed read in the book, he imagined his consciousness as hands that took hold of both strands and delicately began to braid them together. The energy resisted, but he simply imagined it as untamed willpower, and almost immediately, the resistance disappeared. Energy melded seamlessly with the strand of willpower, but rather than forming the weave hed been going for, it was like hed imbued his willpower with energy. The molten black strand glowed brightly to his senses. And Aodhn decided to test it with a skill. He summoned a bolt of lightning into his hands, and the molten strand rushed into and through his pathways too fast for him to follow. When he opened his eyes, a jagged bolt of lightning twice the size and length of his usual summons floated above his palms. Rather than the erratic movements of electricity, this bolt remained stable, almost as if it were a construct, and in a fit of insanity, he shot the bolt at the opposite wall. The explosion that occurred next threw him several feet backward, even as runes shimmered into existence to contain the barrage of energy. Nothing left the room, not even the sound of the explosion, but Aodhn was shocked at the amount of damage a single bolt of lightning could have caused. But the most amazing thing was that hed only imbued the skill with a strand of energy; how much more damage could he cause if he imbued his willpower with a dozen strands instead? Chapter 42: A week of training II Recent reports have confirmed the destruction of factories and industrial facilities in the eighth sector. According to a reliable source, the incurred damage is estimated to be valued at millions of Lutian credits. Despite the successful expulsion of the Sunstonian army from the sectors capital, significant looting and destruction have occurred, prompting concerns about the potential impact on the kingdoms economy. The Vanguard newspaper. Ragnarok, 2275.
Aodhns consciousness dove back into his core, eagerly observing as he extracted another strand of willpower, but this time he placed it beside a dozen strands of energy. The first and second strands of energy merged into his willpower with ease, and the color of the will strand began to change, turning from a lustrous black hue to a bronze-like sheen. Mesmerized, he imbued the third strand of energy, and the strand of willpower flashed brighter, turning to a more coppery hue. Aodhn also noticed that its viscosity had reduced, and it felt much more eager to do his bidding, as if the barest intent would set it off. Excited, he imbued the fourth strand of energy, and this time he felt resistance from the strand of willpower, as if it were full and couldnt take anymore. Aodhn wanted to stop there, but true power could only be gained by exceeding limits, and this was a limit he wanted to overcome. With a gentler touch, he imbued the fifth strand of energy. The coppery strand of will resisted, but after a few seconds, it flashed, turning a bright gold color that shone with splendor to his senses, and just as he thought of summoning a bolt of lightning, the golden strand disappeared. Pain ripped through him as the strand zipped through his pathways, moving at the speed of light, and a spear of jagged lightning, several times thicker than his arms, shot out of his palm without his input, and a massive explosion occurred. Aodhn was forcefully thrown back, and he smashed against the walls behind him. A din filled his mind as runes appeared all over the room, shining like suns as they tore the skills apart. His right arm was broken and bleeding, but just as his consciousness began to fade, he summoned one of the rugwort cores into his palm and immediately willed the energy into himself. Energy surged through his damaged pathways, stinging like needless. Pain ripped through him, but he held on to it. Pain kept him awake, and he needed to stay awake right now. His consciousness faded in and out as his core filled slowly. He pulled more on the rugwort core, trying to trigger an advancement before his consciousness faded. The core fell limply from his hands a minute later, and energy surged out of his core into his damaged pathways, causing him to scream as the pathways were magically redrawn. After his pathways healed, the energy surged into his arms and tissue, healing his wounds and filling him with strength. Still, even after the energy returned to his core, Aodhn remained on the floor, gasping in shock at how close hed come to dying. Hed been careless and overly arrogant. What would have happened if he hadnt had the rugwort core? He would have died. Plain and simple. Barely a few months into this world of magic, and he would have died, from his own skills no less. He remained on the floor for a few more moments, but sat up immediately. The ding of a notification resounded in his mind, and a blinking system message appeared before him. {ALERT: YOU HAVE MASTERED THE PERFECT WILL IMBUEMENT TECHNIQUE.} Due to the dangerous nature of this technique, the number of strands you can imbue a skill with has been forcefully restricted to 3. Each tier of advancement will unlock a single strand. Aodhn read the alert and sighed. It was probably for the best anyway. He dismissed the message and opened his status screen to find a new addition. . [STATUS] Name: Aodhn Ashoka Brystion Title: Neophyte, Stormborn, Bronze. Class: Evolved storm awakened: 99.9% (PENDING) Tier: 16-18% Bloodline: Nil Glimpse: increases elemental control by 1% Techniques: Perfect will imbue (3). He wondered what the difference between techniques and skills was, and although he was sure he knew it, he couldnt really pinpoint it at the moment. He stood from the wooden floor a moment later and was surprised to see the bloodstains on the floor disappear before his eyes; even his clothes had returned to a pristine condition. This self cleaning boon is truly a blessing. He muttered to himself, but before subjecting himself to another round of meditation, he decided to text Daruk and figure out if hed found anything. Daruk replied almost immediately. Yes, I found my patron, and her name is Nzinga Al Arish, also known as the Frozen Death, and she was the 17th awakened to ascend from Unoros. 17th? How many ascendants have they produced? Im not sure; the books records only date back to 1487, which is about 800 years ago. Okay, how many within that time frame? 32, although Unoros has the lowest number of ascendants. Ragnarok has 43, which is only 5 ascendants higher than that of Calodan. What about Sunstone? Raol, theyre strong. Theyve had 51 ascendants in the last 750 years. Why are we fighting a war with these people? We should just roll over and hope they go away. If only that were possible. What about the other stuff you wanted to research? Nothing, not even hints or clues, and its frustrating. Aodhn sighed in relief at Daruks response. He wouldnt stop Daruk from searching for answers, but he hoped he wouldnt find them, at least not until he was strong enough to at least protect himself. He dismissed the chat window and returned his attention to his core. After hed imbued the first strand of molten will, hed gotten carried away with the power boosts it gave his skills, but that hadnt been the main reason hed learned the skill in the first place.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! He wanted to increase his control, and to do so, he needed to increase the number of weavesor, in his case, energized strandshe could simultaneously create. So, instead of a single strand of will, he started with two and tried to simultaneously imbue each one with a strand of energy. The process was seamless, barely even taking a second, so he dismissed the energized strands and increased the number of will strands to 4. The process was a little slower as he had to focus on all four strands at once, but it still only took a second. He increased the number to six and then to eight before he started having troubles. To be fair, hed started having troubles at six strands as it had taken him about fifteen seconds to get it right, but eight strands was almost impossible for him. Imbuing each will strand with energy at the same time was giving him a headache, but this was the price he had to pay in order to win the tournament, and he couldnt give up. He spent hours trying to get it right, and in this manner, time passed. Minutes became hours, and hours blurred into days. Before long, three days had passed, but his efforts had yielded results, and with a thought, he imbued 12 strands at once. He let out a sigh of relief as he dismissed the strands. His control had increased by leaps and bounds, which only made each subsequent will strand much easier to imbue. His training with the strands had also helped him tame more will flames, and the amount of tamed will currently floating in his core was so dense that it gave off a sense of heaviness. His stomach growled, and he slowly got up to his feet. Hed skipped a lot of meals in the past few days, but Daruk had made sure that there was always something for him to eat anytime he crawled out of the training room. Daruk had also started living in his room, as there was no one in their house yet, but he still spent most of his time in his own training room and had even mastered the perfect imbuement technique. Fortunately for him, he hadnt gone overboard with the technique, and the system hadnt been forced to restrict him. The sun had barely even risen when Aodhn stepped out of the training room. Daruk was sprawled on his bed, and Aodhn sighed when he found small amounts of frost and frozen moisture scattered around his sheets. We have got to get this bloodline under control. Aodhn muttered before stepping into the bathroom to freshen up. He intended to sleep the day away, but he needed to eat something first. After a short shower, he changed into the second pair of black pants but kept his t-shirt on. Immediately, he stepped into the living room. He rushed towards a foil wrapped tray on the kitchen cabinet and opened it to reveal a stack of cold sandwiches, and he dug into it with vigor. He was eating the last sandwich when the front door suddenly cracked open, and a boy dressed in ripped black jeans and a leather jacket walked into the living room. A bulging duffel bag hung from his broad shoulders, and he took in the room with a sneer and an expression of distaste. The boy was beautiful in the way evolved beings usually were, but something about him evoked a predatory feeling. The boy had an unseemly appearance and looked more like a thug than a student. His eyes swept past Aodhn without acknowledgement, and the next moment, he flashed across the room and made his way into 14-B. And then there were three. Aodhn muttered as he finished his breakfast, after which he returned to his room. Daruk was still asleep, so he took the couch and, before long, was snoring peacefully. . It was a few hours past noon when Aodhn awoke, and he groaned as his body ached with every movement. Slowly, he sat up and massaged his stiff neck to enable blood flow. He sat there for a while, drowsily staring at the gray walls, before making his way to the bathroom for a shower. A quarter hour later, he was dressed in gray jean pants and a white t-shirt. He was in no mood to cultivate or meditate; in fact, he was in no mood for any sort of training, but he couldnt just sit idly, so after a few minutes of contemplation, he decided to go to the library. There were many things he was still clueless about, and the academys library was sure to offer a broader range of knowledge. After a few more arrangements, he made his way out of the room and climbed down the stairs. Immediately he arrived in the living room, he found the new boy seated on a couch with muddy boots propped up on the center table. The boy raised an eyebrow in an impudent manner, as if challenging him to make a comment, but Aodhn had learned from his time as a coordinator in the monastery and simply ignored the matter. Imani will deal with it. He thought to himself as he walked towards the front door, but the moment he clasped the handle, the boy spoke. Youre not a noble. It was more like he spat the words, as if they left a sour taste on his lips. No, Im not. Aodhn replied, hoping to quickly end the conversation, but the boy stood to his feet, glaring at him as he walked closer. Yet you think youre somehow better than us commoners. The boy scowled. I saw you at the rift station, you know, with your noble friends, cuddling up to them like a lost puppy. Aodhn didnt bother correcting the boys misguided assumption about Daruk; however, something else needed to be corrected, and he fixed the boy with a threatening glare as anger coursed through him and arcs of lightning crackled around his fingers. I do not cuddle. Aodhn growled, and in a lower tone, he added. It would be wise for you to step out of my personal space. The boy glared at him for a moment before taking a single step back. It wasnt much, but it was something. Aodhn had learned from the monastery that violence was the only language boys like this understood. Back then, he didnt have the abilities he had now, so hed resorted to using his fist once or twice, even though hed hated it. Without another word, he stepped out of the room, and with the map function of the academy chip, he made his way to the library. The library was a tower-like structure located at the center of the academy. It occupied a space roughly 240 feet in diameter and was made of polished white stone covered in glowing black runes. A large wooden door stood at its entrance, as did a man dressed in the same uniform as the guard in the residential quadrant. He presented his ID, which was scanned for a moment before he was allowed in. The moment he stepped into the library, though, the gentle scent of aged paper and pungent ink filled his nostrils, instantly easing his tension and lingering anger. The library had about six floors, but they were restricted except for the bottom floor, which stretched out like a labyrinth filled with rows and columns of shelves, their antique woods holding a countless number of books and scrolls. Light filtered in through stained glass windows, casting colorful patterns across the polished marble floors. Surprisingly, there were a few people moving around, searching and browsing the shelves for one book or another. Most of them didnt look like first-year students, but Aodhn still recognized a few people from the rift station walking around. He turned toward the librarians desk located at the center of the floor. The librarian was a slightly old woman with graying hair and an advanced class. Her eyes were as sharp as an eagle, and even though she was only half his height, she had an aura that made sure no one took her for granted. As he walked towards her, she fixed those piercing eyes on him. How can I help you, young man? She asked as she neatly arranged a stack of files on her desk before placing a huge stamp on them. Im looking for a book on the ascendants; I want to read them for literary purposes. Well, almost everything we have on ascendants is on the 6th row by my right. Thank you. Aodhn replied before turning to leave. It didnt take him long to locate the 6th row of shelves, and he browsed through it to find books on the life histories of all the Ascendants from Ragnarok. There were other less factual books, and Aodhn chuckled at the thought of reading a fantasy novel while living a fantasy. He spent a few minutes browsing before he found what he was looking for: The Biography of the Catastrophe, by Azmarthon Ranok. Aodhn pulled the book out slowly before turning it to stare at the image of a man he was well familiar with. The picture must have been taken in his younger years, because even though his hair was still as white as snow, his expression was friendlier, less indifferent, and less mass-murder. He took the book to a reading table near the window and sat down. For a while now, hed begun craving more information about his patron, but now that he had an entire biography in his hands, he hesitated, scared of what he might find or confirm. Az had claimed to be a simple soldier, and although he hadnt seemed to take joy in the destruction of an entire sector, hed done it too perfectly. In a manner that spoke of experience and efficiency. Hed reaped the lives of thousands like it was routine, and since Aodhn had inherited the mans legacy, he needed to know what he had gotten himself into. Are you going to read that or stare at it all day? Aodhn turned to see a short girl with silvery-white hair standing beside him, and he smiled when he recognized her. She was the last person to make it into the top hundred. Hi, Im Aodhn. Lupin Cavanaugh. The girl replied as she accepted his extended hands and gestured to the person opposite him. Do you mind if I join you? No, not at all. He replied, and the girl moved to sit opposite him. He glanced at the book she was reading and chuckled to see that it was a fantasy novel, which brought back his earlier thoughts about fantasy books in a fantastical world. Dont tell me youre one of those who think novels are stupid. Lupin asked with an amused expression, and Aodhn shook his head. Not at all; I just thought of something funny. Good. She replied, her eyes flicking back and forth between him and the book. Because your choice of reading material isnt any better; I mean, that guy is a psychopath. Who? Azmarthon ? Yeah, duhh. Some people refer to him as The Slaughterer, but I think The Catastrophe is more appropriate. Real mental case that one. She turned back to her novel after that, and Aodhn turned to look at the smiling image of his patron on the book cover. Just how insane had Az been to earn a name like the slaughterer. Chapter 43: Azmarthons Biography War is upon us. The clash of steel, the cries of the fallen, the raw, unbridled chaosit calls to me a siren song that I cannot resist. Theres a savage beauty in the symphony of it, an elegance in the dance of death that stirs something primal deep within me. This is what I was born forthe crucible where true warriors are forged. Azmarthon Ranok. Year 1964.
Aodhn didnt know when he finally summoned the courage to open the book, but hed been reading it for more than three hours now, and hed come to a single conclusion: Az had lied to him. Aodhn shut the book an hour later; hed read enoughin fact, hed read so much that he no longer wanted to know more. Az had been born in a forgotten corner of the 10th sector about 500 years ago. Hed been the only child in his Unawakened parents, both of whom were farmers, and they''d taken good care of him. His life had been perfect and uneventful, but things changed when he awakened on his sixteenth birthday. His parents had been joyous and had traveled all the way to the Black Forest Academy in the central kingdom (Lutia) to enroll him. Az had excelled in the academy, accumulating power beyond his peers and surpassing limits once believed to be natural. Hed been hailed as an unmatched genius and a champion of the kingdom, but that was until his third year at the academy. Bandits from the Sunstonian kingdom had crossed the border and raided his village; they had raped, looted, and killed all the villagers, including his parents. Az had returned home for the summer break only to find the rotten corpses of his family and all the people he once knew. He''d been stricken with grief, triggering a consuming thirst for vengeance within him. Fueled by rage and grief, his power bloomed as his spirit aligned more and more with the destructive aspect of storm. He spent his last year in the academy mastering his skills and creating new ones, honing himself into a weapon of destruction aimed at his enemies. Immediately after he graduated from the academy, he joined the army, and as if by fate, the first war began a year later. It lasted twelve years before both kingdoms called for a temporary ceasefire, but by that time, Az had already earned the name Butcher. Hed cleaved through the Sunstonian army with astonishing ease, cutting down their soldiers with the utmost brutality. Rather than fight with ranged skills like most awakeneds usually did, Az rushed into the chaos of battle and with lightning claws, brutally tearing each soldier apart until only a few grisly remains of their bones and flesh were left. During those twelve years of war, Az had risen through the ranks with unprecedented speed, and by the end of it, he''d already been appointed a colonel. He had disappeared after the war, only to return when it resumed twenty years later. Immediately he returned; King Ragnar the second had promoted him to the rank of general as hed reached the third stage of evolution at the time and was already closing in on the last. That had been the king''s first mistake and the beginning of true horror. With the authority and power of his new post, Az had unleashed his rage on the Sunstonians, taking the battles away from the borders and into their sectors. Sometimes he went alone and sometimes with his army, but every time he fought, he unleashed so much devastation and bloodshed that the Sunstonians named him the Harbinger of ruin. The Sunstonians retaliated, sending their own generals and apostates to destroy Ragnarok, but for every city they burned down, Az destroyed two. The cycle of destruction continued as Az grew more violent and powerful. He lost his mind to the chaos of the origin planes, and stripped himself of any semblance of humanity. He became uncontrollable, and defied the orders of his superiors, even that of the king. But he had grown too strong. Too powerful to cage, and almost impossible to kill. After many years of unbridled destruction, Az finally evolved to the last class of evolution, and was then forced, both by the System and the king himself to ascend. From what Aodhn read, Az had been given a choice, either to ascend or to have his power restricted. He''d chosen the former, but decided to enact his last act of vengeance the destruction of the 7th sector in the Sunstone kingdom before ascending. That was the vision Aodhn had seen. Az hadnt been a soldier, nor had he been following any orders aside from his own. He had caused devastation not only to the Sunstonian kingdom, but the consequences of his actions had ruined Ragnarok, terribly crippling their economy. Aodhn sighed wearily. Hed absorbed the legacy of the butcher, the slaughterer of thousands, if not millions, but Lupin was rightcatastrophe was a much better description for his patron. After all that destruction, isnt it just foolishness to be fighting another war? As they say, history always repeats itself. Aodhn turned to see the old librarian standing behind him. She cracked a smile that failed to reach her eyes before moving on to the next reading table. Aodhn shook off the sudden chill he felt from her words and immediately returned the book. It was already evening, and after so many hours of reading, Aodhn was tired, both mentally and emotionally, and the only cure for such a disease was a hot, spicy dinner. He texted Daruk, who informed him that hed just arrived at the cafeteria, so Aodhn moved to join him. When he arrived at the cafeteria, though, he found Andrew seated with Daruk. I just arrived about an hour ago. Andrew stated after they placed their orders and chose a table, and his expression sobered. I bring bad news though; the Sunstonian army took Sentinel''s Edge, the capital of the 8th sector and destroyed almost all the industries in it. Thats a lot of damage. Daruk replied in shock, and Andrew shrugged. "My father and the other nobles are running around, trying to salvage what they can, but there hasnt been much hope. Im sorry about that. Aodhn consoled. Hope the citizens werent too affected." No, the Sunstonians were very intentional about what they destroyed. Andrew clenched his fists in anger. The war is escalating, and that means Iwe have to grow stronger, or at least strong enough to protect our families and loved ones. Aodhn and Daruk shared a worried glance. If the war was escalating, thenNo! Aodhn shook his head, unwilling to complete the thought. He wasnt Az, and history would not repeat itself in the Warren; surely, it couldnt, not with the Areli and the battalion of soldiers residing within it. The Warren was safe. Daruk seemed to sense the direction of his thoughts, and he nodded in agreement. Andrew is right; we need to get stronger, not for the academy or for any competition, but for ourselves. And those too weak to protect themselves. Andrew added, but the librarians words lingered in Aodhn''s mind. Why had she said those words to him? What did it truly mean that hed absorbed Azs legacy? Was he bound to turn into a mass murderer like his patron? His mind flashed back to the conversation he''d had with Az in his vision. The ascendant hadn''t looked insane or cruel, in fact, he''d looked kind, fatherly even, and only the calamity he''d wrecked in Aodhn''s first vision had kept him from fully trusting the man. Aodhn? His attention snapped back to the present, and he apologized. "Sorry, I kind of zoned out for a moment.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Its fine, Andrew answered. I was wondering if you could train us. Daruk told me about your outstanding level of control, and I was wondering if you could share some pointers. Yeah, sure. Aodhn replied. I dont have much training left to do anyway. Thank Raol. Daruk said with an expression of relief. You were beginning to act like a cultivation maniac. No, I was not. Yes, you definitely were. Their food arrived a moment later, and they enjoyed their time together, chatting, and it wasn''t until the sun began to set that they finally left the cafeteria. Now that Andrew was back, Daruk suggested they both spend the night in his house since both of their houses were still empty, and Andrew agreed. They parted ways after that, and when Aodhn reached his house, he opened the door to see Imani once again reading in the living room. Books were scattered all over the table, and she seemed to be reading more than one textbook at once. She smiled shyly when she saw him and Aodhn sat on the couch nearest to her. imani looked surprised by his actions and asked. No urgent meditation or cultivation sessions to return to today? Nah. Aodhn shrugged. Im too tired to do anything, but thanks to the technique you showed me, Ive made decent progress. Really? How many weaves can you create simultaneously? Eight. Aodhn lied, but Imani bought it, and her expression fell. Her hands tightened on the textbook she held, and she muttered. Just as I suspected, your control is amazing; only three days of training, and youre already weaving more strands than I can. Its not a competition. He replied after a moment of silence, but she shook her head, tensed, and almost seemed to be close to tears. "You don''t understand." She sighed wearily, and Aodhn wondered where the carefree girl who''d almost taken off his head had gone. She shook her head. "I''m ranked 72nd on the forge list. I I didn''t realize just how competitive the academy would be. I thought I was strong enough." Aodhn leaned forward and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Classes haven''t even begun yet, you have an entire school year to grow stronger and figure things out." She shook her head. Aodhn, the 5th academy is one of the best in the kingdom, and in a time of war like this, everyone is watching, observing, and searching for hidden gems. Unlike you, I cant afford to fail or wash out; such a thing would be a stain and a disgrace to my family''s name, and reputation.* "Unlike me?" Aodhn shifted back, offended. She had been so nice to him, that he''d thought, perhaps, she was like Andrew. Apparently, he''d been wrong. Aodhn stood up; perhaps he was underestimating just how competitive things in the academy would be, but he was glad he''d this conversation. Unlike he and Daruk, who had come to the academy to escape military conscription, the nobles had come here for the prestige it offered their families, for pride, and to glorify their family names. Unfortunately for Imani, he had no intention to fail either, and if only a dozen of them would graduate, then he would make sure that he and Daruk made the list. He left the room a moment later and Imani returned to her books. Aodhn awoke the next morning to a message from Daruk asking him to meet them at the training arena by 9 a.m. He groaned before sitting up and making his way to the bathroom to freshen up. He took his time today, enjoying the feel of water as it streaked across his chest and down his muscled body. Just a few minutes before nine, he finally stepped out of the house, created a lightning platform, and zoomed off in the direction of the public training area. The building was a wide, circular structure that was constructed entirely out of concrete, reinforced with Ragnar steel and Romanian glass. Like other structures made of Romanian glass, the building absorbed the rays of sunlight rather than reflect them, which gave it a sort of dark aura even on the brightest of days. It was even wider than the library, and when Aodhn stepped into it, he realized that it was filled with dozens of training rooms of various sizes. Andrew and Daruk were already waiting for him, and they made their way to the training room Daruk had chosen. Its not the biggest room, but it should serve us well." Daruk stated as he raised his ID card to a scanner by the door before pushing it open. The room was double the size of their personal training rooms, and Aodhn noticed that it was even more protected as he sensed the lines of runic scripts flowing through the entire room. The floor, ceiling, and walls were made of smooth concrete, so the training room was simply a large box of concrete covered in dense runic markings. A small screen at the top of the left wall displayed the time, but aside from that, the room was completely bare. Andrew clapped dramatically and pointed a finger at him. I know that you can easily beat us in a one-on-one match, but how about a two-on-one? Aodhn chuckled. I actually dont know, but Ill be happy to find out. The next minute, theyd arranged themselves, with Andrew and Daruk on one side and Aodhn on the other. We go on three, Daruk announced, and Aodhn created a single imbued strand within his core. One. Daruk spread his awareness to the moisture in the air and simultaneously created five imbued strands of willpower in his core. Two. Andrew stretched out a hand as he created seven weaves of energy and willpower within his core, holding it just an inch away from his pathways. Three. Thunder boomed as a roiling storm materialized into existence, and several arcs of lightning struck down immediately. A cascade of jagged ice rushed towards Aodhn with a sound not unlike the cracking of glass, and a second later, half a dozen black thorny vines erupted from Andrews palms, coated in the telltale shimmer of poison. Aodhn smiled as both skills suddenly smashed against a black shield imbued with the strand of willpower. The shield wouldnt last long, not under the onslaught of ice and thorny vines, but Aodhn didnt need it to, as the next moment, small black spears shot down from the storm like rain. The boys dodged, trying and failing to escape the rain of spears, but the next minute, they were both pinned to the ground with small cuts covering their entire bodies. The rain of spears wasn''t meant to hurt them; merely distract them and ruin their focus. What are you even training for? Andrew shouted incredulously as he stood to his feet. You took the both of us down in less than a minute. I told you, Andrew, my brother is a monster. Daruk stated sullenly, but Aodhn just smiled, basking in the feeling of victory. Andrew shook his head in amazement and asked. So, what did we do wrong? Nothing really; youre simply lacking control, and the rain of spears simply destroyed your concentration. What I want to know is how to rectify that. Daruk grumbled. My control has increased, yet I lost any sense of it immediately the rain of spears appeared. Also, isnt that a new skill? Aodhn ignored Daruks question and replied. You dont need my help, Daruk; trust me, youre doing great; all you need is more control and time. Andrew, on the other hand, needs to learn a new technique. What technique? Andrew asked as Aodhn pulled him to a corner of the room and forced him into a meditative pose. Aodhn sat opposite him and smiled. The perfect will imbuement technique; are you ready? It took Andrew about three hours to learn the technique, and when he tested it, his eyes widened in amazement. I cant believe it; the power of my skills almost doubled. Aodhn chuckled. Remember, you cant imbue your will strands with more than three strands of energy. Ive tried it, and trust me, you do not want to try it. They sparred once more, and this time, their attacks were more formidable, but Aodhn still won. After all, his level of control was leagues above their own. They continued the training the next day, and on the third day, they finally caused him to stumble. Daruk took advantage of the opening as if his life depended on it, and Aodhn was suddenly encased in a block of ice. Daruk screamed in excitement. We did it! I cant believe we did it! Take that, Aodhn, you suck! Aodhn sighed and shook his head. If he wanted to get out of the construct, he could, but it was much fun to let Daruk have this moment, but when the cold began to seep into his bones, he called out. Let me out of here before I freeze to death. Dont be a sore loser, Aodhn; I need to relish this moment for another minute. He turned to Andrew, who simply shook his head. Im sorry, man, but Ive been dreaming of this for the last two days; stay a while longer. Daruk finally let him out a minute later, grumbling about the lack of a camera in the chip. "Oh, I would have framed it and hung it on my wall. I assure you that it will not happen again, Aodhn replied in mock anger as they left the training room and returned to the residential quadrant. Most of the other students had returned by now, even those from other years, and the atmosphere in the academy was much more lively. Aodhn had spent the last two days training with the boys, but hed also spent a significant amount of time on his own training. He hadnt really advanced past 12 strands, but coupled with his new skill, {Spear rain}, he was feeling quite confident in himself. The tournament was the next day, and although he was still feeling a little nervous, he knew hed done all he could and could only hope for the best. He walked past a group of students as he made his way to house 14. Some of them acknowledged his greeting, while others simply ignored him, but at this point he couldn''t care less. He walked into the house a minute later, but paused when he found Eren Thornhill and another noble he recognized from the rift station, seated with their traveling bags on the couch, chatting merrily with Imani. They all turned to him, and Aodhn didnt miss the change in all their expressions. Imani suddenly looked guilty, the other girl merely curious, while Eren looked like he was watching a frog gorge on its own entrails. Is that him? The girl asked in a coy manner. Hes quite hot for a commoner. Meredith Castalon! Imani exclaimed before turning to him to apologize, but Eren cut her off and chuckled. Theres no need to apologize; after all, she speaks the truth. Aodhn sighed, already tired. How was he supposed to survive an entire year with these people? Trying to diffuse the sudden tension, Imani chuckled and let out a very plastic smile. Funny! Aodhn, you havent met Eren Thornhill and Meredith Castalon yet. These are our Housemates, yes, Im aware; now, if its all the same to you, Ill be in my room. Aodhn replied as he moved towards the stairs. Eren whispered something that made Meredith burst out with laughter, but whatever it was, Aodhn didnt care. The tournament was the next day, and that was all he cared about. Chapter 44: Tournament I The difference between techniques and skills is quite simple. Techniques cannot function without willpower and can be learned by anyone, regardless of their affinities. Skills, on the other hand, can function without willpower, although they are usually weaker without it and cannot be learned without the required affinity. Awakened Advancements Theory. Techniques and skills, page 2274.
Aodhn awoke before dawn the next morning with his stomach fluttering with nerves. Today was the day hed been training for, and after letting out a yawn, he reviewed the general message hed received yesterday. Tournament Time: 10:00 a.m. Venue: The Arena. Admin. He sighed. He still had about four to five hours left before the start of the tournament, but he had nothing important to do. A few hours of will-taming would be nice, but it would have no immediate impact on his abilities, not truly. Aodhn stood up and turned, searching for somethinganythingto do, but when he found none, he began to arrange his room. There wasnt much to do, courtesy of the self-cleaning runes, and five minutes later, the room was sparkly clean, and Aodhn was idle once again. I guess Ill have to meditate after all. Aodhn made his way into the training room and inhaled deeply, taking in a large amount of dense energy into his lungs. His stomach cramped nervously, and he squeezed it as he walked to the center of the room and took up a meditative pose. He sunk his consciousness into his core, actively blocking away any sense of his surroundings to enhance his focus. The taming of will flames hadnt exactly become easy, but it was now a routine that he could do without much stress. The ball of molten will in his core was now double the size it had been when hed gained the bronze title, and a sense of heaviness emanated from it. Time flew as he focused his mind on the task of taming willpower, and when he finally opened his eyes, it was past eight. His nerves had settled slightly, and his mind was calm. He had received three messages during the session, one from Daruk and another from Andrew, both wishing him the best in the tournament. Surprisingly, the other was from Lupin, the girl hed met in the library, and shed simply said. If theres one thing the catastrophe was good at, it was defeating his enemies. Take a page from his book and kick ass today. Ill be rooting for you. Aodhn chuckled at the message. He hadnt seen her since that day at the library; he wasnt even sure he knew when she left, but it gave him a warm feeling to know that someone would be cheering for him asides Daruk and Andrew. He made his way to the shower, and half an hour later, he was dressed in the uniform issued for extracurricular activities. It was a simple black round-neck t-shirt that hugged his lean body tightly, along with a black and silver-patterned khaki trouser. He smiled as he stared at himself in the mirror. Meredith was right; he did look hot. In only a few months, hed transformed from a mildly good-looking teenager to, well, a much better-looking one. Still, he didnt hold a candle to Daruk, who was unnaturally beautiful. After a short murmur of encouragement to himself, he walked out of the room only to bump into Meredith, who was coming up the stairs. He hadnt really observed her yesterday evening, but in the light of day, he could see how beautiful she was. Her hair was a blue hue so dark it could almost be called black, and unlike most of the other girls her age, she was curvy and blessed in all the right places. Her deep blue eyes shimmered like the surface of a sea at noon, and the runic symbol of water graced the back of her neck. To sum it all up, she looked like the incarnation of the sin of lust, and she knew it. Her smile widened as his eyes dipped to her generous chest, and like a predator, she pounced, sidling closer to him even as her eyes slowly took in his body until it reached his eyes. A breathy sigh escaped her lips. "Oh, Aodhn, you look so good. Leave the poor boy alone, Meredith; you dont need to fuck every commoner you find just to stick it to your father. Aodhn turned to find Eren frowning behind him, his expression a mixture of anger, jealousy, and reproach. Before the situation could escalate beyond what it already was, he quickly made his way out of the house and to the arena. Rather than create a platform, he decided to walk, as he still had enough time before the start of the tournament, and besides, he needed to settle his mind after the upheaval Meredith had caused. It took him about fifteen minutes to reach the arena, and he marveled at the size and beauty of it. Hed seen the building from afar before, but this was the first time he was seeing it up close. Similar to most of the buildings in school, the arena was made of Ragnar steel and Romanian glass, and it was even larger than the training area. It reminded Aodhn of a stadium, but on a smaller scale. Its entrance was open, and Aodhn walked in to find a spacious area filled with rows of seats arranged in a circular fashion that sloped towards the central stage. The arena was decorated in the colors of the kingdom, silver and black, and although it wasnt too extravagant, it was large enough to comfortably contain a thousand people. A few people were already seated, and more trickled in. Most of them were first-year students, but Aodhn could see others from the second and third years, judging by the number of black stripes on their uniforms. He turned to see Rahim speaking to the competitors who had arrived in one corner of the stands, and he quickly moved closer to them but only managed to catch the tail end of his speech. .wont be seating here; the academy has provided a space specially for you up in that glass building; that way, you can get a perfect view of whatever is happening in the arena. Sir, any information on the sort of challenges we would be facing? A nervous-looking boy asked, and Rahim sighed. As Ive said before, I do not have that information, but in the next one hour, Im sure well find out together. He rolled his eyes and asked. Any other questions? No? Great, Ill meet you in that building in a couple minutes.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it .. Thirty minutes later, the arena was filled. Students from the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and even 4th years were present, including their teachers, doctors, professors, and several non-teaching staff. Aodhn and the other competitors were currently on the second floor of the glass building, while the principal and some important guests were on the floor above them. The entire arena was alive with murmurs of curiosity and the excited conversations of the audience as they impatiently watched the seconds tick down. Aodhns nerves had returned after hed sensed the core of his competitors, most of whom were between the 17th and 18th tiers. In fact, he was one of the lowest-tiered individuals in the room, but it felt foolish to absorb energy now and unsettle his core this close to the tournament, so he stayed his hand. A two-tier difference was nothing without control, and he had control. He closed his eyes and whispered to himself. You can do this, Aodhn; you can do it. The entire room was silent, each of the competitors nursing their own nerves, and they eagerly turned to Rahim when he arrived a few minutes later. We have ten more minutes before the start of the tournament, and I just want to say Im rooting for each and every one of you; the reward of this tournament is no joke; it is worth killing for some people, and I want you to take that mentality with you whenever you climb that stage. Bring your absolute best, because this is not an opportunity you want to miss out on. There was a chorus of agreement from the gathered competitors, and Rahim nodded before proceeding. The principal is currently addressing the audience, so Ill give you a breakdown of what Ive been told. The first contest is a one-on-one match to weed out the weakest among you. The participants will be picked randomly by the moderator, so make sure you listen for your names. What about the second contest? The same nervous-looking boy asked, and Rahim sighed. Get through this one first; if you survive it, Ill tell you. Now, look alive, everyone, and focus on the moderator. Once you hear your names, you file out; no dilly-dallying. Aodhn took a deep breath as his nerves spiked, and he turned back to the moderator, who was none other than Professor Aleran, whom theyd met at the rift station. Immediately after the principal declared the tournament open, he boomed. Awakened ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the first event of the school year! He paused as a cheer rang out before proceeding. With Raol as our witness, today we shall watch a group of first-year students as they fight for the chance to win an Epic Grade bloodline! A roar resounded from the gathered audience in anticipation, and Professor Aleran continued. With the power vested in me, I declare the first challenge open! Immediately, a blue holographic screen appeared in the sky, with 22 names listed on each side and a pulsing holographic bar seated at the center. The bar pointed to two different names on each side of the list, and with a ding, the names began to move until, a few seconds later, it settled on the names of two girls, and Prof. Aleran shouted. Maddie Cronox versus Aida Simms!" Aodhn turned to stare at them. One of the girls, a redhead called Aida, looked like she was close to tears, while Maddie just looked confused. Go, go, go. Rahim ordered, and both girls walked out of the room as if in a daze. They appeared on the center stage the next moment, and another holographic screen appeared beside the first one, displaying the center stage and the girls standing on it. Now, I must warn you contestants: this is not a fight to death. If you believe you cannot win the match, then you surrender; if you dont, I will do it for you, and I will make sure that it is painful. Prof. Aleran stated:. Both contestants nodded in understanding, and they moved to stand in the marked circles on opposite sides of the stage as they waited for the signal to start. As soon as the bell rang, both girls paused for a moment, each one staring at the other in fear, before Maddie suddenly disappeared and Aida stumbled back in shock. Boos rang out from the audience, and even Aodhn chuckled lightly at the scene. The boos seemed to help Aida, as the next moment, she stomped her feet and sent a pulse into the concrete floor. Immediately, a circular area several feet wide caved in, only to reform a second later, burying Maddie up to her neck in concrete. The bell rang, signaling the end of the fight, and Aida collapsed as adrenaline rushed out of her. Winner! Aida Simms! Cheers rose from the crowd in encouragement as Aida walked back into the room on rubbery legs while Maddie was disqualified. A few of the contestants congratulated her as she arrived, but Rahim shook his head. Ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous. Where was the fighting spirit I asked you to take to that The spin of the holographic screen caught his attention, and he instructed. Pay attention, everyone. Aodhn turned back to the holographic screen as it settled on another pair of names, and Prof. Aleran shouted. Bakhtin Arede versus Kira Fontaine. The boy and girl walked out of the room and onto the stage. Prof. Aleran repeated the rules as both contestants moved to stand at opposite ends of the stage, and after they expressed their understanding, he boomed. Fight! Both contestants fought for almost two minutes, but Aodhn was disappointed. The boy was a metal awakened while the girl was a fire awakened, but their control was so terrible that they could as well have been sleepers. Rahim groaned behind him as the match stretched to the third minute, but fortunately, Bakhtin slipped on something and managed to plunge his crude metal weapon into Kiras thighs. She gave up immediately, and the entire arena sighed in relief as the mental torture ended. Eager to get the excitement back up, the holographic screen spun, and Prof. Aleran called on the next pair before Kira and Bakhtin could even leave the stage. The fight ended on a slightly better note, but it wasnt that inspiring. The fourth and fifth pairs ended in the same manner, and Aodhn had just begun to think he would be winning this tournament by a land slide when Prof. Aleran called out the sixth pair. Marcellus Edgarin verses Curtis Beaumont. Aodhn was surprised to see his unsavory housemate walk out of the room along with the nervous-looking boy from earlier. They walked onto the stage a moment later, and as the signal bell rang, Marcellus, his housemate, rippled, and instantly, there were a dozen of him on the stage. He prowled forward, circling Curtis, who nervously held a single ball of flame in his hands in warning. The ball shot out, aiming towards the copy of Marcellus closest to him, but it simply passed through, and the copy burst apart in a shower of glitter. Curtis attacked again, throwing out half a dozen fireballs in succession, but the moment he destroyed a copy, two more took its place until he was almost entirely surrounded. One of the copies lunged at him, and he stumbled back to avoid the attack, but before he could create another ball of flame, a wooden dagger pressed against his neck, and the real Marcellus revealed himself. Winner! Marcellus Edgarin! Cheers rose up for the first time in a while as excitement once again coursed through the arena. Yes! Thats how you do it! Rahim praised Marcellus as he walked into the room before asking them to return our attention to the stage. A few more pairs were called out, and although a few battles were long and boring, many of them caught his attention, like the fight between the 9th pair, a force and sound awakened, who both had adequate control over their element and had wrecked the entire stage before the sound awakened finally won. Aodhn replayed the scene in his mind, imagining himself as their opponent, and he realized that even for him, a fight against them might be hard to win. Another was a fight between the sixteenth pair, a light and spatial awakened who both fought with incredible speed, dodging and stabbing at each other with weapons created from their element. The fight lasted for almost five minutes, but a well-timed slash tore through the arm of the spatial awakened, who screamed in pain and immediately teleported himself out of the stage. The bells rang to signal the end of the battle, and Prof. Aleran announced. Winner! Yurin Lahey! The light awakened was ecstatic at his victory, even though he was covered in bleeding cuts and his left leg was broken. The holographic screen spins once more, and a moment later, Prof. Aleran shouts. Aodhn Brystion verses Lyra Davenport. Aodhn made his way out of the room along with a gruff-looking girl with a slight scar on her forehead. They walked through a short corridor that led them to the center stage. Prof. Aleran once again repeated the rules like he had done for every fight, and they both nodded in understanding before moving to stand in the circles marked on opposite sides of the stage. The girl took an aggressive stance immediately, and Aodhn cursed his luck. Why hadnt his opponent been Aida? Or Maddie? Or one of those other contestants with little to no understanding of their skills. The bell rang a moment later, and without hesitation, Aodhn channeled three energized strands of willpower into {Create construct}. instantly, a lightning spear the width of his palms shot forward with a boom of thunder and tore through Lyra''s chest before she could even blink. Chapter 45: The Tournament II The more powerful a concept is, the more difficult it is to understand, master, or control. Concepts such as fate, karma, chaos, reality, or infinity are some of the rarest concepts known to mankind, and sometimes centuries pass before anyone awakens them. But if a person manages to control any of these concepts, they will be revered, not as kings or rulers, but as gods. Understanding concepts. Professor Nicolaus Harding. 5th sector, Ragnarok.
In the upper viewing room. The principal, Zatya Malakov, along with a few other minor nobles, watched the arena games with an expression of boredom or disinterest. They were here only because it was customary as nobles of the 5th sector, but some watched with keen interest, like the Viscount of Argent, Curtis Harding, who shook his head for the dozenth time and said. Im afraid this years crop of students is nothing special. I was hoping for more enthusiastic battles, but except for a few key contestants, the rest have shown themselves to be fools and utter weaklings. Zatya blinked as the Viscounts words reached her ears, and she realized that she had zoned out once again. What pair was this? The 15th or 30th? Principal Malakov? The Viscount called, and she turned towards him with a smile. "Apologies, Viscount; my mind was elsewhere, but Im just as disappointed as you are, and I fear that High Duke Lightus might have been wrong after all; giving Epic-grade bloodlines to students such as these is such a waste. I cant argue with that. His wife, the countess, agreed. Perhaps the bloodlines should be reduced to uncommon or even common grade. Baron Dorneval chuckled. I still dont understand why we bother with these commoners; if we need champions, why cant we raise them from the nobles? Because High Duke Lightus specifically asked that this opportunity be given to the commoners. Countess Harding responded. Well, the tournament is far from over; perhaps we shall soon find something interesting. Viscount Harding muttered as Professor Aleran called out the names of the 17th pair of contestants. Zatya sighed as silence returned to the viewing room. The nobles were a thorn in her side that she just had to endure. She turned her attention back to the match as the bell rang, and her eyes widened slightly in appreciation as a long spear of lightning immediately shot out of the boys palms with the boom of thunder and pierced through the girl''s chest. With her aspectual control over time, she managed to freeze it just enough to pull the girl out of harms way. While time was still frozen, she inspected the spear construct and smiled when she saw the telltale sign of a glimpse with it. Perhaps Lightus wasnt so wrong after all. She muttered before returning to the viewing room with the spear for the gathered nobles to inspect. I cant believe this. The Viscount muttered in amazement. A glimpse? Already? It is definitely odd. Baron Devereux muttered. Such a thing would require an immense affinity with ones element or concept, or perhaps, a tribulation. It could also have been as a result of an origin plane breach. Countess Harding added. But still, to gain a glimpse at this age? His understanding of the element is yet immature. That is true. Principal Zatya agreed. But even during the trials, he possessed excellent control, which seems only to have grown in the past week. As the nobles observed the signs of chaos in the spear, Zatya released her hold over time, and the world resumed. Such a feat had consumed a significant amount of energy and willpower, but for someone at her tier of advancement, it was almost as easy as breathing. She placed the spear in her spatial ring before taking her seat, and this time, her mind remained focused on the tournament. If there were any more gems like the boy, then she couldnt afford to miss them. . As the flow of time resumed, Professor Aleran coughed lightly. Hed seen what had happened, along with every other person above the 25th tier, but for the sake of the first-year students, he called out. Can we have the screens replay the last minute, please? I think our audience would greatly benefit from it. The screen glitched as it reversed, and at a much slower speed, the screen replayed the last minute, starting from the moment the contestants had walked onto the stage. The audience watched as the bell rang and a rippling spear of condensed lightning shot out of Aodhns hands and pierced into Lyras chest. The screen glitched with static before resuming with a view of Lyra as blood pooled from her chest and healers rushed towards her. Everyone was surprised and amazed, but none more than Aodhn himself, who hadnt expected the spear to move with such speed or force, but he had forgotten two things. The first was that the last time he tested his skills with more than a single imbued strand, he had been at the 15th tier. His advancement to the 16th tier had increased his power and speed, which had inevitably done the same for his skills. But tier advancement wasn''t the sole reason for such an increase in power. The second thing hed forgotten was that his control had improved greatly since that first day in the training room. A week ago, when hed first mastered the perfect imbuement technique, he could only imbue two strands of willpower in less than a second, but now he could imbue a dozen in the same amount of time, if not less. His control had increased so much that the power of a skill imbued with three willpower strands at that time was roughly comparable to one he imbued with a single strand now. Aodhn stared at his hands in astonishment, forgetting the fact that hed almost killed someone as the focus of the arena turned to him, and a feeling of power rose within him. Was this how Az felt when he singlehandedly destroyed sectors? Winner! Aodhn Ashoka Brystion! Professor Aleran announced, and as cheers rose from the audience, Aodhn made his way back to the glass room, still in a daze as he reevaluated the power brimming within him. Immediately he walked into the room. Rahim rushed forward and shouted. Thats how you do it! Thats how you decimate your enemies! Take them out with the ferocity of a rabid beast! Aodhn laughed as Rahim wrapped an arm around him and led him to the seat beside him. The other students didnt share Rahims enthusiasm, of course, as theyd just watched him impale a fellow contestant with a lightning spear, and more than a few of them shied away from his gaze, muttering the word psychopath.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. . Daruk stared at the screen in astonishment as the scene replayed itself in slow motion. He had known Aodhn was powerful and had watched him train his abilities and harness his will. He had seen him meditate and fight, but he realized now that he''d had no idea just how powerful Aodhn was. He wasnt the only one who was amazed at the power Aodhn had just displayed. Andrew was shell-shocked beside him, his mouth hanging open in disbelief. A din of confusion and amazement filled the air as students murmured in confusion and disbelief. Aodhn had released an attack that was almost too fast for anyone below tier 23 to follow, and the wound on Lyras chest suggested that shed been pulled out of harms way by a high-tiered individual. I cant believe he was holding back on us during the training! Andrew exclaimed, and a tingle of shame rushed through Daruk as he remembered his excitement yesterday about finally besting him. Aodhn had been toying with them, and still, after three days of training, theyd only won once! As if that wasnt bad enough, they were all the same tier! He turned to stare at Lyra, who was shivering uncontrollably as the healers helped her to her feet. She was fine physically, but the poor girl had just dodged death by a hairs breath. The knowledge that she could have diedwould havewas sure to leave a mental scar or something. How long do we have to train to catch up to him? Andrew asked as a flame of determination erupted within him. Daruks mind flashed to the seven strands of imbued willpower hed created this morning and gave a chilling smile. Not long now, not long at all. After Aodhns match, Prof. Aleran called out the next pairs, and although they fought adequately well, they were still found lacking compared to the overwhelming performance of the last battle. Time passed as more pairs came out to fight, with a few even doing surprisingly well, and Daruk weighed himself against them, wondering how he might fare if he were their opponent. The first part of the tournament ended half an hour later, and the audience roared with excitement as the list on the holographic screen was updated, displaying a total of 22 names. The center stage was soon replaced with a ring that caused the excitement of many to spike, but Daruk frowned in distaste. The crowd cheered loudly as people contemplated how the contestants would fare. Now, ladies and gentlemen, I welcome you all to the second part of the tournament! Prof. Aleran shouted, and the crowd cheered in response. I like to call this particular challenge swords versus claws! As you know, this is a monster ring, and our contestants will be matched with a creature called the Bakhtwrangler! There are no rules in this challenge except survival; no one will be dying in this ring today, but many of them may eventually wish to do so, he laughed at his own joke and continued. With the power vested in me, I declare the second match open! Cheers rang out again as the holographic screen began to spin before settling on a name, and Prof. Aleran shouted. First challenger, Yurin Lahey! The crowd cheered as one of his housemates, Awakened, limped into the challenge ring. His natural regeneration had healed most of his minor injuries, but the major ones still remained. His expression was fixed into a mask of determination as the Tier 15 Bakhtwrangler prowled out of its cage and bared its fangs at the boy. The creature looked more like a snake, but with hard, scaly protrusions all over its body, giving it a sort of draconic appearance. The bell rang to signal the beginning of the match, and Yurin charged at the monster with a sword of light blazing in his hands. The Bakhtwrangler roared in defiance as it struck out with a naturally armored tail that slammed into the boy''s chest like a whip, throwing him back several meters. A construct of light materialized around Yurin, slowly encasing his entire body, but his face remained exposed. The Bakhtwrangler coiled and attacked again, striking out with its fangs, and Yurin barely dodged in time due to his injured leg. Still, he struck out and stabbed his sword into the monsters side, tearing through its scaly hide with ease. The Bakhtwrangler cried out in pain and lashed out with its tail, tearing into Yurins skin as his armor shattered from the force. Yurin staggered back and fell to his knees, but an array of light swords soon materialized around him, each glowing with enough intensity to blind the monster. The Bakhtwrangler reared back but struck out again, its coiled body surging forward with insane speed, shattering multiple constructs, but a sword stabbed into its neck and twisted to increase damage. The Bakhtwrangler roared in pain, and the sound was so full of agony that Daruk almost sympathized with it. In its fury, the Bakhtwrangler lashed out with its tail once more, and Yurin was knocked back, tumbling through the air, only to land on his wounded foot. The sound of cracking bones filled the arena, and Yurin let out a cry so filled with pain and agony that Daruk winced. Contestant, would you like to surrender? Prof. Aleran asked, but Yurin ignored him. Before the professor could ask again, the Bakhtwrangler took advantage of Yurins distraction and struck forward. Cries of fear and alarm echoed out from the gathered audience, but Yurin disappeared the next moment, and the monster slithered to a halt in confusion, its draconic head swinging back and forth as it searched for its opponent. A moment of silence filled the arena as the audience watched with bated breaths. There was a collective sigh of relief when Yurin suddenly appeared behind the monster, a massive spear construct held in his hands, and as the Bakhtwrangler turned, he lunged forward and stabbed the construct into its neck, piercing through bone and tissue with ease. Blood spurted out of the Bakhtwranglers neck as it tried and failed to cry out in pain, but Yurin wasnt done fighting. Several light spears materialized around him, and as one, they pierced into the monster, entering and exiting its body until it was completely riddled with holes. Blood gushed out of the Bakhtwrangler as the light in its eyes died. The spears disappeared a moment later as Yurin crumbled to the blood-soaked ground. Now that the monster was dead, adrenaline drained out of him, leaving his body weary and weak. The entire fight was brutal, bloody, and dirtyall of the things Daruk hated, but he couldnt help the feeling of admiration that welled up within him. Andrew, on the other hand, was ecstatic, and his blood boiled at the grisly scene. The bell rang a moment later, and Professor Aleran shouted. Winner! Yurin Lahey! A roar of applause erupted from the stands as people clapped in excitement. Some cried, while others, like Daruk, simply looked on with an expression of both distaste and grudging admiration. Others, like Andrew, shouted at the top of their voices, their blood boiling in excitement as their heartbeats pounded loudly in their ears. Amazing! Andrew shouted. Raol, I want to fight that guy! Daruk shook his head as the healers rushed to help Yurin, and someone cut out the core of the Bakhtwrangler for him to absorb. A few minutes later, he was whole and healthy, and another roar of excitement rose up as he walked out of the stage. After a few more seconds, Professor Aleran called out the next challenger. Second challenger, Emily Stetson! Emily was a crystal awakened, which made the battle interesting enough, but compared to the previous battle, it wasnt as inspiring or gruesome, which made Andrew snort in distaste. More challengers came; some surrendered before the fight even began, while others surrendered just before the Bakhtwrangler swallowed them whole. There were many interesting battles, though, like the one between a sound awakened called Isis Anvindr, who utterly brutalized the Bakhtwrangler, ripping away its flesh until all that was left of it was tattered flesh and bone. 19th challenger, Aodhn Ashoka Brystion! The audience cheered as Aodhn walked into the cage, and a moment later, a Bakhtwrangler was let out. The Bakhtwrangler roared as the bell rang, and without hesitation, it lunged at Aodhn, but that was its first and last mistake, as a lightning spear shot into the Bakhtwranglers mouth with a speed too fast to follow and exploded. Daruk focused his gaze on the holographic screen as the head of the Bakhtwrangler exploded with a boom of thunder, and an entire half of it simply disintegrated, leaving behind the bottom half of the monster and a blackened skeleton. The crowd cheered loudly as they contemplated the amount of damage a single skill had wrought on the Tier 15 monster. Professor Aleran soon called the 20th challenger, and before long, the second part of the tournament was over, reducing the number of contestants to fourteen. A few minutes later, Professor Aleran announced the third and final challenge of the tournament. Awakened ladies and gentlemen, we have come to the final challenge of this tournament, which is a special simulated trial that we all know as the Tower of Ascension! The second holographic screen disappeared, leaving behind the one displaying a list of 14 names. The Tower of Ascension is a special type of dungeon that contains a monster on each level, starting from tier 1 all the way to tier 100. For the sake of this tournament, all the monsters have been adjusted to the evolved class, which means somewhere at the top of that tower is a Tier 100 evolved monster. How far can our contestants go? Well, were about to find out. The audience watched the screen as the contestants were teleported out of the arena and into the tower. Each name took on a greenish tint that indicated their status as present within the tower, and in front of each name was the number 0, which indicated the progress level of each contestant. The bell rang a moment later, and almost immediately, the numbers changed as the contestants moved to the first level. In less than a minute, many of them had moved to the 3rd or 4th level, yet Aodhns progress remained at level 1, and Daruk wondered what was taking him so long. Chapter 46: Tower of Ascension The topic of familiars is inexplicably linked with that of the origin planes, as familiars are simply creatures born or created within the origin planes. It is possible to bond with a familiar once an opening to your origin plane is established within your core, but the planes are filled with so much chaotic essence that its hard to even think within them, let alone create or bond with any familiar. Due to this, familiars are very rare and are usually only seen with people at the third or fourth class of advancement, as only they have the mental fortitude to temporarily withstand the insanity of the origin planes. Research study on the creation and bonding of familiars. Associate Professor Arnold Ershing. Sector 5, Ragnarok.
In the upper viewing room. Ah! It seems weve uncovered another hidden gem in the light manipulator. Viscount Harding chuckled. Such inspiring tenacity for one so young. Yes, as always, High Duke Lightus was right. Baron Dorneval concurred with a nod. Im particularly fascinated by the sound manipulator; she has a sort of refined brutality that speaks oh so dearly to me. The countess sighed, and the Viscount snorted. Every sort of brutality speaks to you, my dear, but brutality doesnt make champions. Im not sure I agree with you, Viscount. Baron Dorneval responded. Brutality is a core attribute of any champion. Before they could begin a debate on the importance of brutality in the creation of champions, Zatya asked. How far do you think theyll go within the tower? Well, considering their opponents are simulated monsters, I think they would go quite far. The countess replied, but her husband disagreed with a shake of his head. Underestimating monsters is a mistake many make, but in my opinion, they are much more of a threat than humans. Why do you say so? Zatya asked, not because she was curious, but because this was a better topic to argue about. Well, in a battle against humans, victory depends more on control than a difference in tiers, but monsters are intuitive in the use of their abilities. They do not need to learn skills or hone their control; its all so easy for them, so victory always boils down to a difference in advancement." I do not fully agree with such an assessment. Baroness Devereux responded for the first time since the start of the tournament. She was a small woman with sweet features, but Zatya knew not to trust her. It was never a good idea to trust a constable, let alone a royal one. When the room turned to her, the baroness continued. Monsters also need to train their control; its just less obvious. I do agree that victory depends mostly on the difference in tier, but control always plays a major role in any fight, be it against humans or monsters. The nobles nodded in agreement, and Zatya smiled subtly. The Viscount still looked like he had an argument to make, but even he knew it was never a good idea to argue with a constable, even if she was just a lowly baroness, so instead, he said. Perhaps another gem will reveal itself. Zatya smiled as she turned back to the screen before displaying the contestants as they walked into the tower. Aodhn appeared in a circular white room with no exit save for the swirling portal before him that led to the 1st level of the tower. The tower was the hardest challenge in the tournament, as it was a true test of strength and power. None of the contestants currently present within the tower could reach the 100th level, of that he was sure; they were still too weak, and although none of the monsters were above the evolved class, the power boost that came with each milestone was still significant, which meant they probably werent going to reach the 25th tier either, but the other levels were fair game, and once he began, he couldnt afford to stop until he absolutely couldnt continue forward. Aodhn thumbed the ejector that had been given to each of them and placed it in his pocket. He couldnt put it in his spatial storage because it had been sealed to prevent anyone from advancing within the tower. That put him at a disadvantage, as a single-tier advancement was a large boost in power for him, especially now that the number of strands he could imbue increased with each tier he gained. With a sigh, he stepped through the swirling portal and appeared in a small cave carved into the side of a mountain. A rabbit-like creature stood against him with a ferocious expression and bristling brown fur. The monster was only a few inches tall, and above its head was a line of text that identified it as an {Earth Ifrit} With a roar that sounded more like a whine, the Ifrit rushed forward with its claws extended, but a single kick sent it flying, and it exploded against the wall in a shower of blood and guts. Immediately after the Ifrit died, the portal for the next level appeared, and Aodhn walked into it. This time, it was a fire Ifrit that stood against him, and at the third level, it was a water Ifrit. They all died the same way, and as Aodhn walked into the portal for the fourth level, he already knew what to expect. This time, he appeared at the top of a hill with the wind blowing ferociously against him, and just as hed expected, a wind Ifrit stood against him with blades of wind revolving around it. It died just as easily as the last three, and Aodhn moved to the 5th level. This time, he appeared in a wild garden, littered with bright purple flowers, and a familiar creature stood against him. Its silver fur shone with inner light, and Aodhn wished it was possible to pass a level without killing the creature guarding it. The silver Rizzel barred its razor-sharp teeth and teleported. Aodhn immediately focused his core sense, feeling the ripples of energy in the air around him, so when the Rizzel tore space open to tear out his neck, his hand was there to crack its skull and tear out its head. It was a particularly gruesome way to kill, but Aodhn had learned to be quick and decisive when dealing with monsters, even if their furs cost an entire gold coin. He continued his journey through the tower, and a myriad of monsters attacked him, each with an amazing set of abilities, but they were all too easy for him to kill, not even requiring the use of his abilities. This continued until he reached the 10th level and found himself in a cavern of ice similar to that of the arachnid dungeon. An ape-like creature stood before him with bristling white fur and icy talons. The creature stood about 8 feet in height, and the line of text above its head identified it as an {Icy berserker} The berserkers eyes burned with a greenish flame, and as it roared, it released a beam of frost that shot towards him like a spear. Employing his superior speed, Aodhn dodged easily, and a lightning hammer half as large as the berserker shot forward and smashed it against the wall before exploding in a shower of crackling electricity that burned a hole through its belly. The Berserker crumbled to the ground as its life bled away, and Aodhn made his way to the next level. The monsters got harder to kill as their tiers increased, but they still werent hard enough to make him fight seriously until he walked into the next portal and appeared at the 16th level. The level was a forest area that looked slightly similar to the Warren Woods, and it sparked a sense of longing within him. The warm feeling died immediately when he saw his opponent, and he frowned as the silver Mamacore leapt from the branch of a large tree. The Mamacore was only a little larger than the one hed fought in the Warren Woods, but the silver haze that surrounded it was much denser, and its claws were longer. Aodhn attacked first, but the Mamacore easily dodged the lightning spear and shattered it with a swipe of its claws. Oh, you want to play dirty? Lets play dirty. He muttered, and with a thought, two energized strands of willpower rushed through his pathways as a beam of raw lightning surged out of his hands and instantly tore a fist-sized hole through the Mamacore. The Mamacore struggled for a few moments before it perished and the portal to the 17th level opened. The lightning beam wasnt really a new skill, but hed rarely used it because of the intense amount of energy it required. Now, with the imbuement of his energized will, the cost of the skill has significantly dropped, making it much cheaper to use. The next monster died to the same skill, but when he got to the 18th level, hed had to imbue the beam with three strands of willpower. Still, the monster resisted, fighting death, until he stabbed a lightning spear into its neck.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. The swirling portal appeared the next moment, and he walked into it only to find himself in a cave half the size of the arena. A deep chasm ran through its center, and an intense heat rose up from the river of magma that flowed within it. On the other side of the chasm, a large reptile, about 7 feet in height and just as wide, stared at him. The creatures body was covered in shimmering red scales, and when it raised its wings, Aodhn saw that its underbelly was charcoal black. The line of text above its head identified it as a {Fire Drake}, and when he took a step forward, a guttural roar sounded from its throat as if daring him to encroach on its territory. Aodhn hesitated. So far, the creatures had been savage, unintelligent beasts, but the drake obviously possessed a semblance of intelligence, a spark of reasoning, which made it even more dangerous. Underestimating a creature such as this would be foolish, so Aodhn decided that it was time to actually fight. A platform of storm appeared beneath his feet, and he crossed the chasm. The drake raised its wings threateningly and attacked as a storm cloud imbued with three strands of energized will rumbled into existence. It appeared like a fully charged storm, with thunder crackling loud enough to drown out the roar of the drake as it charged. A torrent of blue flames erupted from the drakes mouth, and dread rose within him, but he pushed it aside as a fully empowered storm shield appeared around him. With a flex of willpower, the storm above him broke, and rain poured down. Each drop was as big as his head, and steam soon filled the cave, obstructing both of their visions. Angered, the drake released another torrent of flames and rushed forward, but a dozen spears of lightning shot down from the storm with unmatched speed, tearing through the drakes rubbery wings and pinning it to the rocky ground. The drake roared in pain as more spears descended, but they failed to pierce through its scaly hide, so Aodhn targeted its underbelly instead, and three empowered lightning spears shot towards the drake as it released another torrent of flames. The flames sputtered as the spears tore into its belly, but not as deeply as Aodhn would have liked. Drawing strength from its pain, the drake tore free of the spears pinning it down and ripped off parts of its wings as it let out another bout of flames. The flames rushed out, filling the entire cave as the drake unleashed its fury. Aodhn created another shield instantly, but it shattered from the intense heat. He stumbled backwards, creating shield after shield and imbuing each of them with all three strands of energized willpower he was allowed. Still, the flames were too hot, and his constructs crumbled like paper under the onslaught. Fortunately, the flames died a moment later, revealing an injured and weakened drake. Blood flowed freely from its wings and the numerous spear wounds that littered its body. Aodhn rushed forward, intending to take it out before it had any chance of healing, but the drake was prepared, and when Aodhn drew close enough, it let out another torrent of flames. The attack was smaller and weaker than the prior one, but Aodhn was unable to dodge fast enough, and the flames burned his clothes, exposing his back to the world. He gasped in pain, but before anyone could see, his scarf unfurled and transformed into a replica of his uniform that hid his tattoo from view. Anger sparked within him, and he glared at the drake, who had almost revealed his identity to those watching. Unwilling to continue this dance of flames, he raised a hand to the storm above him and channeled half his energy and willpower into {Lightning Descent}. Lightning descended from the storm cloud like the waves of an ocean and simply erased the drake from existence. There were neither bones nor scales left, only a blackened patch of ground covered in a thin layer of soot. Aodhn panted in exhaustion. The {Lightning Descent} skill might be his most powerful skill, but it was also his most draining. He sighed, staring impassively at the blackened ground for a minute as he slowly regained his energy, and a minute later, he walked into the open portal. This time, he arrived in a forest bathed in shadows as dark as ink, and although the full moon shone with brilliance, its luminescence failed to penetrate the darkness. He turned at the sound of rustling leaves but couldnt see anything. Instantly on guard, he summoned a bolt of lightning and transformed it into a ball half the size of his head. The ball shone with a piercing brilliance that burned away the shadows in a five-meter radius, and a hiss of pain rang out as the light revealed a huge black cat-like creature just before it jumped back into the shadows. The smell of singed fur filled the air as the creature hissed once more, revealing dark fangs coated in a light green liquid that Aodhn assumed was a sort of poison. The line of text floating above its head identified it as a {Shadowcursed Ravager}, and Aodhn shivered as dread rose within him. The ravager glared at him with a look of insanity, and Aodhn immediately attacked. Two fully empowered storm spears shot towards the ravager, but the shadows absorbed them before they could hit it, and the ravager let out an expression very similar to a sneer as it prowled around the boundary of light. Aodhn attacked again, this time with storm spears, and although the ravager paused in caution, it remained unharmed as the shadows easily absorbed the spears before they could reach it. Aodhn didnt understand what was happening. He couldnt create a storm, as that would only create more shadows, and if his attacks were being absorbed by shadows, what else could he do? The ravager snarled, its lips pulling back to reveal even more poison-coated fangs, and that was when Aodhn realized that the boundary of light was decreasing, so he created another ball of lightning, but it had no effect. It was only a matter of time before the shadows engulfed him and rendered him at the mercy of the ravager. His mind spun furiously, discarding one idea after the other as he tried to find a way out of his current situation. At one point, he began attacking with abandon, throwing out all his lightning skills at the ravager, but his efforts were futile, and if they did any damage, it was negligible. The boundary of light continued to shrink, and when it was reduced to about two meters in diameter, Aodhn dropped all pretense of bravery and ran, a fully empowered storm platform materializing beneath his feet as he zoomed off. Surely, there was a place where the light of the moon penetrated, a place not completely dominated by shadows, where the odds werent so stacked against Pain lanced through him as sharp claws tore through his thighs, and he stumbled off the floating platform. He cried out, both in fear and pain, but fortunately managed to create another platform before he hit the ground and zoomed off again. His scarf transformed immediately, and he was suddenly clad in heavy armor. Aodhn focused his core sense as a growl echoed tauntingly from the shadows. If he could just sense the ravagers core, then he could tell Ahhhhh. He screamed again as another claw tore through his armor and raked against his back, easily rending through tissue as it skated against his spine. Electricity surged out of his body, rushing out through his pores, and a loud screech of pain rang out the next moment as his attack struck the ravager. He was unable to rejoice, though, as a wave of dizziness suddenly hit him, and before he could think too long about his actions, he summoned a bolt of electricity and pressed it against the wound. Usually, his abilities didnt hurt him, but hed never actually tried to channel raw electricity into his own bloodstream before. The pain hit him like a hammer to the chest, and he coughed up blood, but his crazy idea worked, and whatever poison coated the ravager''s claws was burned out of his system. He continued forward, searching every which way for even a hint of light, and just as the ravager pounced once more, he found the boundary of darkness and the area beyond it that was bathed in moonlight. Another claw tore through his left arm, but this time he managed to grab onto the ravager and drag it into the light with him. The ravager shrieked as the light of the moon touched it, and putrid smoke began to rise from its body. It struggled, trying to return to the shadows, but Aodhn held on to it with a chain of lightning wrapped tightly around its neck. The ravager only lasted a few seconds before crumbling to ashes, and the portal for the next level appeared. But Aodhn was tired, wounded, and low on energy. He fell to the ground and simply lay there, giving his body time to regenerate while he thought of the next step to take. If a Tier 20 monster had been so hard to beat, then he couldnt risk taking on the next level, not the way he currently was. He couldnt afford to stop, though; some of the other contestants had entered the tower one or two levels above him. Giving up now was asking for failure, and he couldnt fail, not when he was this close. He clasped the ejector as he thought of a solution. Perhaps hed lasted long enough already; maybe he could still win even if he came out now, but how could he be sure? What if he needed to conquer the next level to make it? If he left the tower now and lost the tournament because of a single level, he would hate himself. He had to find a way; he had to at least try. No gain without risk, they say, but he knew that if he faced a Tier 21 monster now, he had a very low chance of survival. Not that he would die, but if he stepped into that portal, he was asking for a great deal of pain and possible failure. He couldnt risk it; he couldnt "Sometimes, little seed, if you cant do something, you have to ask for help. Aodhn froze as the voice appeared in his mind as if from a memory. He turned, his gaze searching around for the person whod spoken, and just as he began to think he was hallucinating, the voice echoed in his mind once more, as clear as crystal and as familiar as his own face. No! It cant be. Aodhn muttered as visions of a certain man appeared in his mind, and the next moment, thunder boomed, so loud that it felt like an explosion within his skull. He screamed even as the world crumbled like a house built of cardboard, and he suddenly found himself in a world of storms. An overwhelming feeling of familiarity and belonging welled up within him as thunder boomed constantly around him and lightning filled, well, everywhere. It rippled, flowed, and arced around him, so abundant that it seemed infinite. An overwhelming sense of danger and possibility filled his mind. Ideas rushed into his mind like a torrent, each one urging him to create, to join them, to meld with them, to leave his body behind and become them, but just as the murmurings of chaos reached a crescendo in his mind, it suddenly became muffled, and Aodhn felt a burning heat on his chest. He looked down and realized that he wasnt actually inside the origin plane. It was more like his spirit or mind had been transported into it. Somehow, though, his necklace had followed him here and now; it glowed with a blinding intensity. There was no doubt in his mind that this was the origin plane of the storm. This was the world hed glimpsed when the sky had shattered and storm clouds had bled in. This was a world filled with possibilities. He could create anything. He could do anything. He could be anything. He could be Pain lanced through him once more, and he groaned as the necklace burned brighter, dispelling his insane thoughts. One thing was true, though: he could create anything, and right now, what he needed the most was something to help him win this tournament. Immediately after he thought of it, images flashed through his mind, showing a myriad of creatures. Every single one of them was made from a storm, and they flashed across his mind at dizzying speeds. Overwhelmed by the abundance of choices, he finally chose one of the creatures that resonated with him the most. At first, nothing happened, but a moment later, he screamed as his spirit was savagely torn open and raw, untamed storm essence rushed in, filling his mind and spirit with chaos. Pain engulfed his senses, and Aodhn lost track of timeif time even moved in this planebut when his pain finally subsided, he found himself gasping for breath on the floor of the 20th level within the Tower of Ascension. A smattering of error messages and alerts filled his vision, but he was too weak to read them and instead turned to the creature of the storm that lay beside him. Its body rippled with lightning as it stared back at him with reptilian eyes, its pupils a mirror of his own. An entire conversation seemed to pass through them as they both stared at each other, and a minute later, Aodhn cracked a weak smile and said, What do you say, Varc? How about we finish this tournament?" Chapter 47: Tower of Ascension II It is with a heavy heart that I must report the destruction of every important production plant or facility here in the capital of the 8th Sector. The damage done is far more extensive than the news reports indicate. Fortunately, the underground facilities are intact, as are the mines. Sadly, those are the only good news I can share, as over the past fortnight, our troops have scoured the entire capital, searching for anything worth saving, but our efforts have been futile. I await your instructions on how best to proceed in these trying times. Letter written to the Supreme General, Marcus Daystar, by Curtis Deucalion. Sector head of the 8th sector. Ragnarok, year 2275.
Rahim walked out of the glass building immediately after the last challenge of the tournament was declared open. He was tired of babysitting anyway, so he walked over to the stand where the other academy staff members sat. A few of the staff complimented him on how well his students were holding up, but Rahim knew they were just being polite. A few of the students had been decent, and only about 4 or 5 were elite material. Compared to the students who had arrived last year, this crop of students was terrible, and it was just his terrible luck that hed been assigned to them. At least some of them were decent; he would focus on those ones and help them. As their coordinator, their success was his, and their failure was, well, his too. He frowned as Gerard, the coordinator for the current second year, roared with laughter again and scoffed. Raols breath! He makes me sick. He sighed, trying to calm his jealousy. Gerard had everything he dreamed of: a good batch of students to train, and, well, Charlotte Silvermoon, the girl he was supposed to marry if only hed spoken up sooner. If hed applied to any other academy, he would have been hailed, welcomed, and treated as a genius, but in the 5th academy, everyone was a genius; everyone was the best at something. It was all so depressing. So, yeah, he hated Gerard, andRaol! Whats so funny anyway? He turned to see Gerard surrounded by people, both teaching and non-teaching staff, listening intently as he spoke in that guttural tone Rahim hated so much. So horrible, and with the war looming this close, I think the academy needs to rethink and increase the difficulty of the admission trials. This is both a waste of time and resources. Rahim tuned him out and muttered. Pompous prick, yeah, my students are trash, so what?? Rahim turned his gaze to the holographic screen as it took on a green glow, and the number 0 appeared before each name. Rahim knew the names; at his tier, memorizing the names of a few hundred people was as easy as breathing. The bell rang to signal the start of the challenge, and Rahim watched as the numbers began going up. His eyes flashed to one of his most promising students, whose slot still remained at 0, and he frowned. Raol, please dont let these children disappoint me. The progress moved to 1 a moment later, and he sighed. It wasnt too surprising to see the students rush through the lower levels; after all, most of them were at the 17th or 18th tier. These fourteen students were the strongest. Theyd all displayed above-average abilities and skills in the previous contests, and he wanted to see just how far they could go in the tower. The numbers steadily rose through the first ten levels, indicating just how easy monsters at those levels were to kill. Their progress began to stall after the tenth level, progressing more slowly, but when they all crossed the 15th level, Rahim sighed in relief. It would have been an embarrassment of epic proportions if they couldnt even defeat creatures more than two tiers below them. Unfortunately, he had celebrated too early, and only a moment later, a boy exited the tower and appeared on the center stage, covered in slight burns and claw marks. Rahim placed his head in his hands, disappointed, as healers rushed to help the boy, but before they even got to him, another contestant exited at the 16th level, and although she was less wounded, she looked to be in tears. Fucking dimwits! Rahim shouted, unable to hold back his anger any longer. May Ragnars eat the both of you! Tier 18, and you couldnt fight off a Tier 16 beast? He settled back down with a huff as the entire arena turned to look at him, but he ignored them. Perhaps hed gone a little too far with the insults, but none of these contestants should have had any problems until level 18, at the very least. The healers led both contestants away from the stage, and a few of them threw him reproachful glances, but hed already turned his attention to the twelve contestants left in the tower. Almost as one, they all ascended to the 17th level, and when no one appeared on the center stage, he sighed. Perhaps there was hope yet for them. Perhaps they would surprise him. They didnt. Only a few minutes passed before two more contestants exited the tower and appeared on the stage. The audience applauded politely, but Rahim only shook his head in helplessness. Regrettably, this is what the great 5th Academy has turned to. In my days... Rahim tuned Gerard out once again. Four names on the holographic screen had been deleted, leaving only 10 contestants behind. He watched, trying not to hope for the best, as hed been disappointed too many times already, but he couldnt help himself; he couldnt help wanting them to succeed, both for themselves and for him. He wasnt too surprised when two contestants exited at the 18th, although hed had to hold himself back from making another scene and cursing out their parents. His expression said it all, though, and the contestants flinched when their gazes met his. There were only eight contestants left in the tower, and although hed given up hope, he perked up when none of them ejected at the nineteenth level. That was decent. It meant these eight could easily defeat an opponent a tier or two above them. It didnt make them elites, but they werent trash either, and by the time they graduated from the academy, if they did, then many of them would be sought after and employed in the private security of important nobles. Rahim watched as each contestant slowly progressed into the 20th tier except one, and when he appeared on the stage, a cheer of encouragement and excitement rang out from the audience. He had done well; fighting up two tiers was no easy feat. The healers rushed towards him, but Marcellus waved them away and simply made his way to the stands. Rahim watched as some of the other contestants walked up to him to console him before turning his attention away, as public displays of emotion usually made him uncomfortable. Instead, he focused his attention on the seven remaining contestants. The arena was abuzz with excitement now that the contestants were so close to the finish line, and even Gerard had finally shut the hell up. Tension built as the audience watched the screen, and a loud roar of excitement rang out when, ten minutes later, Yurin ascended to the 21st level. Yes! Rahim exclaimed in relief. Yurin was one of his favorites; in fact, hed gained the admiration of almost everyone present after his battle with the Bakhtwrangler, and if he had to choose a winner for the tournament, he wouldnt hesitate to choose him. Only a few minutes later, two more contestants exited, both at the 20th level, and another roar rang out as the crowd cheered. There were only five contestants left in the 20th level, and Rahim tightly gripped the edge of his seat in nervous anticipation. You can do it. You can do it. He muttered quietly as his nerves threatened to overwhelm him. Minutes passed, and before long, almost a quarter hour had passed without any change on the scoreboard. Just as people began to wonder what was going on, Arya Laurent, a gravity awakened, ejected out of the twentieth level, covered in bleeding wounds. She turned to the holographic screen and suddenly burst out in tears, yet the crowd cheered. She had done well, surpassing even his expectations of her. She was at the 17th and had managed to fight a Tier 20 monster and survive. That made her an elite, and if she grew even stronger, then she would be coveted throughout the kingdom.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. There were only four contestants left: three in the 21st level and the other still in the 20th. Rahim frowned when he realized just how long that particular contestant had spent at that level. He stood up, moving to get more information on the issue, when the contestants suddenly moved to the 21st level, and he jumped in excitement. Take that He stopped himself from completing the statement, but a glare in Gerards direction made sure his thoughts were fully understood. A roar of excitement and unbelief rang out as this particular contestant was still at the 16th tier, which meant he was now facing a monster 5 tiers above him. Rahim watched the screen, still on his feet, as he waited for the next contestant to exit the tower. The audience began chanting the names of their favorite contestants, causing the arena to be filled with noise, but a collective gasp of surprise rang out as Aodhn ascended to the 22nd level in only a few minutes. Six tiers! Six freaking tiers! Rahim couldnt believe it. This was a champion; this was a student he could work with and mold. Oh, the possibilities. Another roar rang out a second later as Yurin also ascended to the 22nd level, although he exited the tower immediately and appeared on the center stage. Rahim cheered with pride, but his voice was drowned out by another loud roar as a third contestant, Isis Anvindr, ascended to the 22nd level. Rahim was proud. So maybe most of the students were trash, but he had what many coordinators dreamed of. He had not one but three champion material students, and he couldnt wait to get his hands on them. Yurin was led off stage, but he remained very close to it, staring at the screen with a look of trepidation. He wasnt out of the woods yet, as there was still one more A roar drowned out his thoughts as the fourth contestant, Alan Kasirel, exited the tower at the 21st level, and with a loud roar, Professor Aleran announced. Ladies and gentlemen, I hereby announce the winners of this tournament! Aodhn Brystion! Yurin Lahey! Isis Anvindr! The crowd screamed, and Rahim sat down in relief, struggling to keep his joy from overwhelming him. Little did he know the surprises werent finished yet. Isis exited the tower a minute later, wounded and limping, but her face shone with joy and accomplishment as she saw her name on the holographic screen. The audience stood to their feet as they cheered, waiting for the final contestant to appear on stage, but to the shock of every single individual in the arena, the contestant ascended to the 23rd level. Many of the first years staggered in shock, and some of the second years frowned in confusion as they wondered if the screen was broken or glitching. Rahim seemed to have lost his mind to glee as he tried to imagine what such a student would mean for his career and for his reputation. Ah, the prospects were endless. It should have been impossible for a tier 16 awakened to battle against a tier 22 monster and survive, but this contestant not only survived, but he even retained enough strength to make it into the 23rd level. It shouldnt be possible; it couldnt The contestant finally exited the tower, and there was a collective intake of breath as the entire arena gasped in shock. Rather than appear on the stage like the others, the boy appeared in the sky, seated on a large winged creature that rippled with lightning. The creature roared as it dove to the ground, and the sound echoed like the rumbling of thunder, causing many to flinch back in fear. The creature stood about 15 feet in length and was just shy of 6 feet in height, which meant it was still a child, but it exuded a potent aura of power and magnificence that could not be disregarded. Rahim had seen familiars before, and although they were referred to as a rare commodity, every major noble house worth their salt had one or two familiars among their ranks. Aside from their overwhelming power, they added a significant amount of prestige that couldnt be overlooked. Still, it was generally known that familiars were creatures born from the chaos of the origin planes; even advanced class holders had problems maintaining their sanity within the planes. To create or bond with a familiar was a task usually left for the mythic and calamity tiers; although some gained familiars at the late advanced stage, to gain familiar at the evolved stage was unheard of. It was impossible. It should have been impossible, but as the boy slid down from the creature, Rahim couldnt deny what was right before his eyes. The boy''s ascension through the tower was shocking to say the least, but seeing that he possessed a familiar, and a powerful one at that, Rahim wouldnt have been surprised if the boy climbed all the way into the 30th tier. Silence descended on the arena as those who understood what the creature represented tried to figure out how such a thing was possible, while those who didnt simply looked on in confusion. Chaos broke out the next moment as the staff members erupted with questions. How is this possible? Hes only a child! An evolved class shouldnt have the mental fortitude to bond such a creature to himself; this goes against all that we know and understand! What do you know about this, Rahim? Have you heard of such an occurrence before? Rahim didnt reply them; he had no answers to give anyway, but he could understand their confusion and curiosity. To bond with a familiar was a thing of prestige, and many staff members had tried and failed. To see a child succeed where they failed had to sting their pride. Even he felt a twinge of envy, but he couldnt worry about that now, not when the life of his best student was in danger. The familiar disappeared into the boys spirit the next moment, and he fell to the ground, covered in so many bleeding gashes that it was difficult to see a smooth stretch of skin through his tattered uniform. Rahim rushed forward, forcibly pushing past the curious staff members as he made his way towards the boy. Sounds of confusion filled the arena as students queried each other for answers that could best explain the situation. The healers got to the boy a second before Rahim did, but when they tried to rip the uniform from the boy''s body, it refused to budge. I cant get this off him; help me. One of them said, but the boy resisted. No! Leave me. He whispered, but with his superior strength, Rahim easily turned him around and tore the construct from his body. He gasped in amazement as a shimmering tattoo revealed itself, snaking up from the boys thighsthe image of his familiar. It covered his entire back, its wings snaking around the boys arms, and directly between his shoulder blades were two pools of golden electricity that shone with a startling intensity. The healer gasped in amazement as she stared wide-eyed at the image of the familiar, but Rahim rushed her along. Heal now; stare later. The poor child is bleeding to death! The healer frowned but nodded, and a moment later, the boys injuries disappeared like a bad memory. With a sigh, he turned to Professor Aleran, who was standing only a few meters away from him, and asked. What is the principal saying about all this? Surely they must know whats going on? Nothing, Im afraid; she hasnt replied to any of my texts, so I guess that means we must continue with the ceremony. With all due respect, sir, no one cares about the ceremony any longer, and in case you havent noticed, the boys unconscious. Professor Aleran sighed. The audience wants answers that I do not have; I am baffled myself, but we cant just stand here and Professor Aleran was cut off as silence suddenly descended on the arena, and Rahim turned to see the principal standing beside him with an expression of mild concern marring her perfect features. As soon as she had the attention of the audience, she spoke. What weve just witnessed defies the supposed limits of possibility. It serves as a stark reminder of our limited understanding of the world as well as the system that rules us. Just because something hasnt occurred before doesnt render it impossible. Therefore, I implore you all to emulate the excellence demonstrated by these three students. Dedicate yourselves to training your abilities, and before you know it, youll be every bit as powerful as they are, if not more. She turned to Rahim, who now held the unconscious boy in his arms, before proceeding. This marks the end of the tournament, and I thank you all for attending, but due to the circumstances, the award ceremony will be held in private instead. I urge you all to return to your residences; whatever information we can provide will be passed on to you tomorrow. She turned away from the audience and whispered to Rahim. Tend to the child and come to my office immediately after; we have much to discuss. Rahim nodded in understanding before retrieving a portal chip from his spatial ring. He set his location to the 14th house in the first residential quadrant, and a moment later, a shimmering portal appeared before him. Before he could walk into the portal, though, two boys ran up to him, and with a sigh, he motioned for them to follow him. Im Daruk. Hes my brother. One of the boys said, and Rahim nodded in acknowledgement, even though he already knew who they were. They arrived at the 14th house an instant later, and Rahim simply opened the door. As the years coordinator, he had access to their residences in case of emergencies like this. As they walked into the house, Rahim instructed both boys. Hes not to be woken up for any reason. His housemates will be here soon, and I need the both of you to keep them from making a ruckus that will disrupt his rest. When they got to the room, Rahim produced a black metallic pass that he used to open the door, and a few minutes later, Aodhn was softly snoring on his bed. Rahim turned to the boys and repeated his earlier instruction. Remember, do not let anyone inside this room; am I clear? Yes sir. Andrew answered, while Daruk simply nodded. Rahim stepped out of the room a moment later, and both boys moved to sit on the couch as they contemplated the days events. After almost an hour of silence, Andrew murmured. I dont think we can catch up to him anymore; I dont think I can. Daruk sighed. The power Aodhn had demonstrated today was beyond his wildest imaginations, but even if he couldnt be as strong as Aodhn, he would make sure he didnt lag too far behind. . Rahim walked into the principals office a few minutes later, where he found her hastily writing a letter. To whom, he wasnt sure, but it looked important, so he simply sat down and waited. The principal stamped the letter a moment later and turned to observe him. Rahim swallowed nervously as he feared the worst, but she waved her hands and sighed. Ive thought about it a lot, and Ive decided to retain you as the coordinator for the first years, but Im not sure of my decision. Every cell in his body screamed for him to reassure her that she couldnt have made a better decision, but Rahim kept his mouth shut and simply nodded. She gave a stressed smile before shaking her head again. Rahim, I hope I dont need to tell you how important this student is to the academy. "No, sir, I fully understand whats at stake. Do you? She asked. My advisors think youre too eager and too willing to prove yourself. And theyre right. I want to prove myself, and perhaps Im a little too eager to do so, but I have the best interests of these students at heart. I want to see them succeed and thrive, especially Aodhn. With a talent like his in my year, I cant afford to screw up. "No, you cant. That boy, theres something special about him; I cant place my fingers on it, but as of today, he has become my priority, and I need you to make sure that hes yours too. Rahim nodded, and she continued. Its only a matter of time before the 1st Academy catches wind of this, and you know what theyll do when they find out. Theyll try to lure him away. Exactly. Zatya replied with a smile. And we cant let that happen now, can we? No, but how do you intend to stop it? Her smile transformed into a catlike grin, and she replied. By offering the boy the only thing the 1st and 2nd academy offers, a blessed bloodline, Chapter 48: #Error messages On several occasions, inheritors and transmigrants have confessed to hearing the voices of their patrons. Contrary to popular belief, this is not a symptom of nascent insanity or any kind of hallucination, as, after a series of experiments, we have confirmed their words to be true. We know that every legacy contains the will of its creator, but recent discoveries have led us to believe that it may also contain a fragment of their consciousness. Interdicted research on the study of transmigrants and inheritors. Doctor Jemila Helsarin. Sector 6, Ragnarok.
Aodhn woke up to a slew of system messages all blinking erratically in a corner of his vision, and with a thought, he began to review them. SYSTEM ALERT: EXTERNAL CONSCIOUSNESS DETECTED! . ANALYZING#@$& ANALYZING..0%..... EXTERNAL CONSCIOUSNESS IS NO LONGER FOUND. UNABLE TO ANALYZE EXTERNAL CONSCIOUSNESS. SECURING IMMEDIATE MENTAL FORTIFICATION PROCEDURES0% .. . MENTAL FORTIFICATION UNAVAILABLE! CAUTION ADVISED! Congratulations! You have created an opening in your spirit. Glimpse---->Grasp---->Opening. Opening: increases elemental control by 2.5% Congratulations! Title upgraded. Stormborn----> Storm spirit. Congratulations! You have successfully bonded with a familiar. Origin-marked title gained! . [STATUS] Name: Aodhn Ashoka-Brystion. Title: Neophyte, Storm Spirit, Bronze, Origin Marked. Class: Evolved storm awakened: 99.9% (PENDING) Tier: 18-26% Skills {Innate}: [Storm creation and manipulation] [Lightning creation and manipulation] {Other}: [Lightning surge] [Lightning beam] [Lightning descent] [Create constructs] [Absorb lightning] [Spear rainLightning] [Spear rainStorm] Bloodline: Nil Glimpse---> Grasp-----> Opening: Increases elemental affinity and abilities by 2.5% Techniques: perfect will imbuement (5). Familiar: DragonkinStorm Fury. Perks: psychic bond. More perks may be gained as familiar grows and progresses. . Storm spirit: a title awarded to an awakened who has absorbed the essence of storm into their spirit. It is now much easier to enter the origin plane of storm. Origin marked: A title awarded to an awakened who has successfully bonded a familiar. You have gained minor resistance to the chaos of the origin plane and will now be able to last longer within it. . Wow. Aodhn muttered as he read through the list of messages. There were so many changes and gains that it took him a while to get through them all. The most alarming issue was the external consciousness that had breached his mind, or, as he suspected, the mind fragment dwelling within his core. Hed always known it was there; even the system had analyzed it to grant him the Lutian language, but it had never spoken to him before, and Aodhn had never expected it to. The fact that the consciousness of Az, the psychopathic slaughterer and catastrophe, was embedded in his core hadnt really been a source of concern for him before, but if it began speaking to him, then he was in big trouble. He wanted to stay as far away from Azmarthons legacy as possible. The path of the crazed slaughterer did not much appeal to him, and he would rather die than walk down the same path Azmarthon had trod. Aodhn dismissed the messages on securing mental fortifications but was a little worried when the system said he had none. Was his mind simply open for anything to walk in? If that was the case, then he was like a system simply waiting for a viral attack. He concluded to read more about mental fortifications; surely there was a magical device or artifact that could veil or protect his mind. He scrolled through the other messages. Most of them were self-explanatory, and he was happy to see that his control had increased from 1% to 2.5%. Considering his already astounding amount of control, that was a huge boon for him. He was a little surprised that hed gained two whole tiers, but when he remembered how his spirit had been torn open and how theno, the memory was too painful, so he discarded it and moved on to the next line of text. He still felt injured, as if his spirit were bleeding, which wouldnt surprise him. The origin plane was a place full of pain and madness, and he wouldnt have survived trying to bond with a familiar without his necklace. Curious, Aodhn clasped the necklace to stare at it, and he gasped to see it glowing softly. The necklace hadnt changed physically, and even the space within it was unchanged, but the amount of storm essence swirling inside it was so thick and dense that Aodhn wondered what effect it would have on the cores within it. Aodhn now knew the full function of the necklace, and he realized hed been a fool to show it to the appraiser in sector 8. It was a miracle that the man hadnt tried to steal it from them, but Aodhn suspected that the man hadnt known the true value of the necklace either. The origins of the necklace were still a mystery, but if there was someone out there with the ability to create such an item, then he needed to find them. He returned his attention to the status screen and grinned when he realized that the perfect imbuement technique had increased to 5. With his increased control, he was just a disaster waiting to happen. He read through the titles, but they were all about him entering the origin plane, so he dismissed them and focused his gaze on the last line, his familiar. Aodhn smiled as a feeling of curiosity flowed into his mind, and Aodhn projected a feeling of happiness and contentment back. Varc was the best thing he''d gained from his journey into the origin plane. They shared a mental link, and even now, pulses of emotion flowed between them like a secret language. Even when hed fallen unconscious, Varc had protected him and his greatest secret by covering up the world tattoo on his back. Aodhn sighed. Hed been careless in his need to claim victory, and if he hadnt had Varc, he would have fallen unconscious with the tattoo exposed for the world to see. He dismissed the messages and stood up from the bed. A feeling of wooziness suddenly came over him, but just as he stumbled, hands reached out to steady him and lay him back down.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. Hes awake! Andrew exclaimed, and Aodhn scowled at him. Of course I am. How long have I been asleep? About ten hours, give or take. Daruk replied as he raised his head and placed another pillow beneath it. Thank you for staying with me. Aodhn replied with a sigh as he closed his eyes and waited for the feeling to pass. Technically, we were ordered to stay with you. Andrew grinned. Dude, you flipped the entire arena! Aodhn chuckled slightly as he imagined the arenas reaction to Varc. He hadnt read much on familiars, but he knew they were extremely rare, so much so that they were considered impossible to gain below the mythic class. His necklace had defied the order of things and had granted him, an evolved class, the ability to bond with a familiar. He really needed to find the origins of the necklace. How are you feeling? Daruk quietly asked, and Aodhn opened his eyes to smile at him. Im fine, just a little weak and disoriented. Good. Daruk responded as he tried to keep his curiosity in check, but Andrew didnt share his hesitance. What happened to you in the tower? One minute everything was normal, and the next, boom! You appeared in the sky seated on a flying dragon! A feeling of amusement flowed into his mind, and he chuckled. Hes not a dragon; hes a fury, and his name is Varc. In a lower tone, he added. As for what happened, Im not so sure myself, and I cant really explain it. Daruk nodded as he accepted his words. For some reason, I can no longer view your status screen; youll have to share it again. Yeah, I want to share too; lets all share. Andrew suggested eagerly, but Aodhn shook his head and sat up. No offense, Andrew, but Im only sharing my screen with my brother. Andrews expression scrunched up in disappointment, but he signed. I understand; its not advisable anyway; I just want you to be strong like you, and I would really appreciate it if you taught me. Well learn together. Aodhn replied as he slowly got to his feet, this time maintaining balance, and smiled at them. Ill teach the both of you all that I know; now, though, I need a shower. He walked into the bathroom and turned to view the large tattoo that covered his back and arms. It was truly beautiful, and the fact that it covered the other tattoo was a bonus he really appreciated. After a few more minutes of staring, he turned on the shower, and a few minutes later he stepped out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist, but came to a halt immediately when he found Rahim and Principal Malakov standing in his bedroom. Immediately, a storm construct materialized around him in the form of his uniform, and the principal smiled widely. It seems your control has only increased after your ordeal. The principal said to him as she glanced at the tattoo still peeking out from beneath his sleeve. After a moment, though, she continued. Unfortunately, I was unable to congratulate you after your victory yesterday, but I want you to know that I am proud to have you as a student of this academy. Thank you, sir. Aodhn replied politely, and the woman sighed, staring at him for a moment before she sat down on one end of his couch and gestured for him to take a seat on the other end. My plan was to butter you up with gifts, but I think youll much prefer to know the truth of the matter. She said with a sigh and continued before he could ask any questions. News of your achievement yesterday have spread around the kingdom, and it is only a matter of time before the 1st and 2nd academy pay you a visit. To lure me away. Aodhn stated. He hadnt really had the chance to think about it, but it seemed like a logical conclusion. Why else would they pay him a visit? Principal Zatya was surprised to see him put the pieces together, but she nodded. Youre right. The question now is what it will take to keep you with us. He didnt need to think too hard about it, as there was only one thing he really wanted, aside from the bloodline, which he had yet to receive after winning the tournament. I want to relocate my parents to the 5th sector, here in the capital. Do this for me, and Ill stay. Principal Zatya observed him in silence for almost a minute before she suddenly smiled. You will make a fine champion, Aodhn. Aodhn nodded soberly. From the principal, that was high praise, but champions were warriors, the strongest of soldiers, and Aodhn wasnt sure that was a path he wanted to follow, although it didnt look like he would have much choice. Principal Zatya stood up, and a small wooden box covered in glowing runes appeared in her palms. With a smile, she handed the box to him. This is the reward for your victory in the tournament. Congratulations, Mr. Brystion. Thank you, sir. Aodhn replied as he clasped the wooden box, which emitted a faint stream of energy. Ill leave you to discuss with your coordinator. Principal Zatya said with a look in Rahims direction. There are a few things I must see. She disappeared an instant later, and Aodhn turned to Rahim, who was leaning against the wall. I sent your brother and friend to their respective houses; they needed to rest. Thank you. Aodhn replied and asked. Any advice on how to deal with my newfound fame? Rahim chuckled. Immediately you walk out that door, the nobles will come flocking, wanting to be around you. Theyll invite you into their circles, theyll compliment you, and some may even go as far as giving you gifts. Do not reject them, but dont let down your guard either. Aodhn cocked his head and asked. I wasnt expecting you to say that; after all, youre a noble too. Some of us arent as self-absorbed as the others, but this is your life now. Anyone who befriends you either wants something from you or wants to use you. What about you, then? What do you want? Rahim shook his head slowly and smiled. I might have been the best graduating student in my year, but I only rose to that position by the power of my mind. He chuckled. You see, Im not much of a warrior; I have much grander aspirations, and mentoring a talent like yours will add greatly to my prestige and reputation. Is that all? Prestige and reputation? Thats all you want? Aodhn asked in confusion, and Rahim laughed. "Oh, I would love to know how you bonded with a familiar at the evolved stage, but I doubt even you know how. Rahim sighed and walked to stand before him. There is much for you to learn about Aodhn, but one thing you must know is that in this world, a reputation of power is almost as effective as power itself. He smiled and continued. When you step out of that door today, everyone will be watching, both students and teachers, measuring and gauging your abilities, searching for weaknesses to prey upon, but you cant let them find any, because the moment they do, theyll descend upon you like a pack of starving Rithclaws. Aodhn swallowed nervously and muttered. Okay, so my first day of school is going to be brutal. Very, and its only going to get worse when you absorb that. Rahim gestured towards the box, and Aodhn twirled the box gently in his palms. He couldnt sense anything from the glowing runes like hed recently been able to, but he could tell that there was something different about them. He observed the box for a few more seconds before opening it to reveal a translucent sphere double the size of his thumb nails. It shone and crackled with a reddish green haze that pulsed and undulated as if it had a life of it''s own. I cant believe Im about to absorb an Epic-grade bloodline. Aodhn whispered as he stared at the small orb in awe, but Rahim snorted. That isnt an epic-grade bloodline; its a unique one. What? Aodhn asked in confusion. I thought we were supposed to receive Epic-grade bloodlines. True, but you surpassed our expectations, and although the principal planned to award you a blessed bloodline, she couldnt find any that suited you, so I recommended this one. Aodhn had stopped listening when he''d heard the blessed bloodline. He couldnt believe hed almost been awarded the bloodline of royals, all in a bid to butter him up and keep him in the school. Aodhn reevaluated his relevance to the school; apparently, he was much more important than hed thought. Rahim didnt notice his lack of attention and simply continued. This soul seed is called an origin bloodline because its essentially a blank slate. Itll take on the affinity of your spirit, and for someone like you who has created an opening into their spirit, thisI dont even know what to expect really, but Im sure itll be great. Aodhn shook his head. This iswhy is it so important that I remain in the academy? He was shocked at the lengths to which the principal was willing to go just to keep him in the academy, but Rahim chuckled. Like I said earlier, in this world, all that matters is power and reputation. You dont seem to understand how rare it is to find a talent like yoursa person able to fight up not one, but five tiers above them. With your familiar, six or seven isnt impossible, and youve only begun to tap into your potential. The principal will do almost anything to keep your name attached to the 5th Academy. I myself cannot pass up the opportunity because of the glory, prestige, and honor that will come from being your teacher. Do you realize now how important you are? Aodhn stuttered and shook his head. Thats a lot of pressure; what if I dont live up to your expectations? Then youll become a very powerful elite, and Ill still gain much from training you. Rahim replied simply, observing him in silence as he gave him time to collect his thoughts. Aodhns mind spun as he processed Rahims words. There was a long beat of silence as he simply stared at the soul seed in the box. Absorbing it would grant him power. He wanted that; that was the main reason hed fought so furiously during the tournament. Did it matter that he now has people stumbling over their feet to please him? Aodhn wasnt a proud person; his beginnings were too humble for that, but as he stared at the soul seed in his hands, he felt proud of himself. He dispelled the emotion of unworthiness before it could take root and asked. How do I absorb it? Rahim smiled slightly, pleased that the boy was taking things so calmly. Just like energy cores, you just have to will the soul flame into your body; itll do the rest. Aodhn nodded, focusing on the core instead of the river of thoughts and emotions swirling within him. He would sort them out eventually. He clasped the seed in his palms, and his cells awoke. Like a school of ravenous fish, they screeched for the energy, urging him to absorb the seed into his soul and be remade. Aodhn hesitated for a moment. Will it hurt? Not as much as it should, as your spirit is still too weak from your ordeal to put up much resistance. Aodhn nodded once again. He was doing that a lot these days, but the action seemed to suffice for most interactions. He observed the seed for a moment longer, hesitating, as a part of him still didnt believe that he deserved such a gift. Go on, you deserve it. Rahim urged, closing his fingers around the seed. Aodhn let out a deep breath and, without further hesitation, willed the soul flame into himself. The energy eagerly rushed into him. It moved, not through his pathways nor his veins, but through an ethereal route that led to his spirit, and a strong feeling of disorientation hit him the next moment. Rahim was there to hold him steady, but Aodhn barely noticed as an intense heat bubbled from within him. Varc roared in his mind, and Aodhn braced himself for pain as the flame neared his spirit. Fortunately, Rahim was right, and the flame simply passed through his spirit without resistance. It grew, filling his spirit as it absorbed the origin storm that now filled his spirit. The soul flame turned dark as it changed, and a moment later, pain lanced through his mind like a knife, and Aodhn instantly fell unconscious. . Chapter 49: Bloodline There are five main categories of bloodlines: common, uncommon, rare, epic, and blessed. But there is a sixth category called unique bloodlines, also known as blank slates. These bloodlines are only as powerful as the spirit they are absorbed into, and they grow alongside it. Research study on the power of bloodlines. Hakeem Daily. Calodan, sector 4.
Aodhn regained consciousness a few hours later and opened his eyes to find himself on his bed, with Varcs head only a few inches away from his. Varc was curled around his bed in a protective manner, but he opened his eyes when he felt Aodhns attention. Twin pools of liquid electricity stared at him as he caressed Varcs rough muzzle, and a feeling of concern flowed into his mind. Im fine, in fact Aodhn paused as his voice rumbled out like the boom of thunder. Varc cocked his head in curiosity and amusement, but Aodhn felt horrified. The more he tried to run away from Azs legacy, the closer fate seemed to be pulling him. He rushed into the bathroom to view himself in the mirror and check out what other changes the bloodline had made. The first thing that caught his attention was his hair, which had changed from black to a white so bright that it was almost blinding, streaked with jagged lines of gold. Aodhn ran his hands through it, and electricity crackled around his fingers. It was too weak to do any harm, not even to sleepers, but it was beautiful. His gaze turned to his pupils, but asides a slightly more intense glow of the golden band, they remained unchanged, so he turned his gaze to the last visible change on his body. His skin had taken on a darker tone that reminded him of storm clouds, and golden lines streaked across his skin like jagged arcs of lightning. The lines glowed faintly against the darkness of his skin and covered his neck down to the right side of his abdomen. The bloodline manifestations gave him an otherworldly appearance that significantly enhanced his looks, though Aodhn was far from pleased. Pretty great, right? Aodhn turned to see Rahim leaning against the wall of the bathroom with a smirk, and he scowled. I cant speak. Thunder boomed once again, and Rahim winced. Whoa, okay, we have to get that under control. Before he could ask how, Rahim raised a hand to ward off his question. You can speak; we just have to reduce the volume significantly, which means you have to focus on whispering. Half an hour later, they had managed to bring his voice down to an acceptable degree, and Aodhn shook his head. Why was it always different for him? So what are your bloodline perks? Rahim asked, and Aodhn sighed. I havent checked it. You should. Rahim replied as they walked out of the bathroom. Familiarize yourself with it as much as you can, it" A growl cut him off as they walked into his bedroom and found Varc crouched on his bed with his tail raised several feet in the air and his wings slightly unfolded as if ready to attack at a moment''s notice. "Easy, Varc, Aodhn said in an assuring tone as he walked towards Varc and caressed his scaly hide. Rahim is a friend. Varc calmed down immediately, although his tail remained raised, and his gaze never left Rahim, who stared back at the familiar with wide eyes and seemed hesitant to make any sudden moves. Beautiful. Rahim breathed as he observed the fury, but shook his head a moment later and sighed. Anyway, you have about three hours before the general assembly. I suggest you use it to choose your courses for the semester and familiarize yourself with the changes in your status. I will. Aodhn nodded sincerely. Thank you for everything. Rahim smiled in response and teleported out of the room, leaving Aodhn to himself for the first time in hours. Aodhn crawled into bed a moment later, and Varc snuggled up to him, coiling his body around the bed before placing his head on Aodhns lap. Aodhn chuckled as he adjusted himself to fit better in Varcs embrace before reviewing his status. There were no changes in his status except for his bloodline. Bloodline: Origin Storm supremacy. {Unique} ? Amplifies storm abilities by 3% ? Grants major resistance to lightning ? Aura of Origin supremacy. Aodhn read through his bloodline perks, and although they were great, they felt underwhelming compared to all the other things that had happened in the last few hours. The second perk was interesting, though; major resistance to lightning was a great boon, especially if he was fighting against another storm, awakened, or found himself in another tribulation. What interested him the most was his aura, and with a modicum of will, he activated it. Pressure billowed out of him like a tidal wave, and Varc perked up, staring around in curiosity before snuggling closer to him with a growl of contentment. Contrary to what hed expected, storm clouds didnt suddenly manifest around him, nor did lightning strike out from nowhere; instead, a field of intense pressure several meters in diameter pressed down on his surroundings, and with growing excitement, he imbued the aura with an energized strand of willpower. The pressure spiked instantly, causing his furniture to creak in protest while his lamp shattered and everything not hooked to the wall tumbled to the floor. It was an understatement to say he was amazed. Hed severely underestimated the perk, as his aura alone was enough to kill or even brutally injure a low-tiered individual, and with his imbuement technique increasing with each level, he couldnt even imagine how powerful he would become when he reached the advanced class. Aodhn grinned widely before dismissing the aura and turning his attention to the course outline icon available in his academy chip. Immediately after he clicked on it, a list of courses, about three dozen, appeared before him. He scrolled down curiously, reading the information provided for each course. After a few minutes of reading, he realized that light, blood, and darkness magic were classified separately instead of falling under elemental or conceptual magic. A few topics caught his attention, like Awakened Arithmetics and Numerology, but it was listed as a second-year course and was unavailable to him. He dismissed Awakened History and Lore, not because it wasnt important, but because hed always hated history and wouldnt sign himself up for such torture, even if it was magical. Half an hour later, hed selected about a dozen courses he was interested in, and although he could take them all, it would be extremely time-consuming and stressful. Besides, he was only required to take 5 courses. He scrolled through the dozen courses he was interested in, and after half an hour of contemplation, he grudgingly decided on four courses, not including the compulsory ones, which made a total of six courses. Immediately he submitted the list, a schedule was sent to him and he instantly reviewed it. His entire week was filled up, with two classes on the 2nd day, and one each on the 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th. He had gym every morning and meditation every evening, which left very little time for rift delving or any other extracurricular activities. He sighed and reviewed the list of courses hed selected once again. Course outline. ? Awakened Advancement Theory (c) ? Awakened combat (c)Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ? Herbology and awakened plants ? Understanding elemental affinities ? Beginner Runic Theory ? Forge mastery and magical imbuement. When he finally dismissed his status screen, it was almost dawn, and he had only a little more than an hour left before the general assembly commenced. Quickly, he lifted Varcs head off his lap and rushed towards the bathroom to freshen up. Fifteen minutes later, he stood before the mirror, dressed in his uniform. A single white line was drawn on his uniform pocket, identifying him as a first-year student. The uniform fit him like a glove, but even with the high collar, the golden lines on his neck peeked out, giving him an otherworldly appearance. With a wave of his hands, he recreated his storm scarf and draped it around his neck. Varc growled, and he chuckled. Youre beautiful too, Varc; you just have a different kind of beauty. Varc flared his muzzle in anger, and Aodhn sighed. Okay then, I apologize for calling you beautiful. What word would you like?" Varc cocked his head and growled again. Well, that would be magnificent. Aodhn replied as he parsed through the images and emotions Varc sent to him. You do lookoh, majestic? Well Varc You look absolutely regal coiled around my bed like that. Varc sniffed in contentment, and a moment later, he returned to Aodhns spirit, and with a determined sigh, Aodhn stepped out of his room and made his way downstairs, where he found his four housemates waiting for him. Immediately they saw him, and their eyes widened in surprise. Imani looked like shed eaten a bowl of sour grapes, while Eren stood unusually still, his face a mask of neutrality that made it impossible to read his thoughts. Marcellus, on the other hand, glared at him with an expression filled with contempt. None of their expressions or actions surprised him; that was until Meredith fell. She immediately untangled herself from the floor with the grace of a cat and smiled at him in that coy and seductive manner that made him hot under his collar. Raols breath, you look absolutely ravishing. She complimented him as she placed her tiny palms on his chest. Aodhns breath hitched, but he hid it well and smiled. Thank you, Meredith. Oh, there are other ways to thank me, Aodhn. She leaned closer, and in a whisper, she added. There are many pleasurable ways to thank me. Aodhn swallowed nervously, as he was unused to such shameless seduction or any form of seduction at all. The monks hadnt prepared him for this at all. Perfect! Marcellus sneered. The slut finally found her prince charming; now can we go?" You dont get to take out your frustrations on me, Marcellus; I am not responsible for your failure! Meredith shot back in anger, and Aodhn tried to untangle himself from her, but no matter what he did, she still managed to keep a body part firmly pressed against him. Eren congratulated him next, but from his expression, Aodhn doubted it was voluntary as the words seemed to have clawed their way out of his throat, but immediately he finished speaking, Imani hurriedly followed suit, her words tumbling over each other in an anxious manner. Aodhn accepted both apologies with a simple nod. He wasnt entirely sure why Imani was so anxious or why she wouldnt even look him in the eye, but he suspected she was terrified and envious of him. Unlike Marcellus, whose envy stemmed from contempt, or perhaps it was the other way around; he couldnt really tell with the illusionist, Imanis envy stemmed from a feeling of insecurity; she was terrified of his abilities and the strength the other contestants had displayed during the tournament, and maybe she had come to realize just how tough the competition truly was. Eren was much harder to read, but Meredith was the worst. He had no idea what Meredith wanted from him aside from sex; surely that couldnt be all. Granted, she had chased him even when she had no idea how powerful he was, but he had no idea if this was simply fun for her or if she had ulterior motives. We should go; otherwise, well be late for the assembly. Eren muttered, and Imani immediately rushed towards the door, with Marcellus only a second behind her. Meredith smiled and turned to say something to him, but he forcefully untangled himself from her and rushed out of the house before she could sink her claws into him. .. Daruk lay on the bus bed, wide awake, as he processed the events of the previous day. After Rahim had teleported him and Andrew to their respective houses, Daruk immediately rushed to his room and sealed himself within. Now, five hours later, he was still awake, unable to sleep, as a single thought repeated itself in his mind. Hell leave you behind. Daruk wasnt sure when getting stronger had become so important to him; all hed wanted was to escape the war currently raging at the border. Hed wanted to become a renown scholar, to amass so much wealth that he could one day buy himself a barony or a whole county and become a noble, but somewhere along the line, his goals had shifted. Now he wanted to be strong; he craved the admiration that Yurin had; he wanted the awe that Aodhn inspired; but mostly, he was scared of being left behind. It wont be intentional, of course, he mumbled quietly in the darkness of his room. There was already a great difference in power between them, and at the rate Aodhn was accumulating strength, it was only a matter of time before he couldnt keep up any longer. He sighed, releasing a cloud of vapor into the frozen room as he focused his mind on his core and simultaneously imbued eight strands of willpower with energy. His control had grown by leaps and bounds. Compared to many of the other students, he was strong, especially now that he could imbue his skills with the energized strands of will, but it wasnt enough. Aodhns innate control over his element was already astounding, but now that he had gained both a bloodline and a familiar, the gap between them was bound to increase. The infernal thought repeated itself in his mind, and Daruk sighed once more as he turned his gaze to the clock in one corner of the room and realized it was almost dawn. He groaned as he rolled off his frozen sheets and made his way to the bathroom. He filled his bathtub with water and instantly lowered the temperature of the water until it was almost completely frozen. He let out a blissful sigh as he sank into the bathtub, and all his worries were instantly pushed to a far corner of his mind. He took his time, enjoying the cold bite of ice on his skin for almost half an hour before finally stepping out. His chip pinged with a message from Andrew as he pulled out his uniform, asking if he was ready, and Daruk replied. "Almost done; give me ten minutes. It only took him about five minutes to get ready, and without checking himself in the mirror, he rushed out of his room and collided face-first into his neighbor. His very male and very handsome neighbor, who looked even more beautiful now with the manifestation of his bloodline, Bright golden hair spilled down his head like a sea of light, and his smile lit up the entire hallway. Raols breath. Im sorry, I was in a rush. He apologized, but Yurin waved away his concerns with a kind smile. It''s fine; also, youve got icicles hanging in your hair. This day isnt going as well as I imagined. He thought as he ran his hand through his hair, and with a modicum of effort, manipulated the icicles from his hair and gathered them in his palms. Nice. Yurin muttered. Do you mind if I walk with you? Not at all, Daruk replied, ignoring the flutter of nerves in his belly as they walked into the living room. So, are you nervous? Daruk asked, and Yurin shrugged. A part of me is, while the other part is just shocked; I cant believe I made it this far. Daruk chuckled, understanding the feeling. I get it; I feel like that too. What?" Yurin scoffed. You feel like that? The brother of the Almighty Aodhn AshokaBrystion cant believe he made it this farr." Daruk shook his head in amusement. Believe it or not, Im nowhere as powerful as my brother, yet. In a lower tone, he added. I just need a little more time. Time for what? Are you conspiring against us? Yurin asked in mock outrage, and Daruk laughed. Very much so; in fact, I intend to destroy the entire leaderboard and forge it anew with my name on top. Oh, ambitious, I like that. Yurin replied as he opened the door. You do realize that youll have to go through me, though? Naturally. Daruk replied as he stepped out of the house and found Aodhn walking towards them. in a whisper, he added. And my brother too. Most bloodlines had no physical manifestations, and the ones that did usually just changed the color of ones hair or pupils. Aodhns manifestation, though, was the severe kind. His skin had darkened significantly, which only highlighted the color of his hair and eyes. tiny arcs of electricity crackled from his hair as he moved, and faint golden lines peeked above his storm scarf. He looked impressive in the uniform, and although Daruk couldnt feel an aura from him, he could feel Varcs roiling within him like a poorly restrained dam on the edge of collapse, giving him a predatory demeanor that contrasted greatly with the wide smile that bloomed on his face immediately after he saw them. By ascendants! Yurin gasped beside him, and Daruk nodded in agreement. Aodhns bloodline manifestation made him so unnaturally beautiful that it was mind-boggling. Aodhn struck a pose and asked. So how do I look? A slight rumbling of thunder accompanied his voice, and Daruk shook his head in amazement. You look absolutely amazing. I cant believe it. Aodhn shrugged. I dont know; I think its a little too much. Well, its a pretty severe manifestation, but you look great. Yurin replied, and Aodhn gave a mock bow. Thank you. This is Yurin Lahey. Daruk gestured towards Aodhn and continued. Yurin, this is my brother. The introduction was unnecessary, but it was customary, and it was only polite to adhere to it. Nice to meet you, Aodhn. Yurin extended a hand out for a handshake, and when Aodhn clasped it, he continued. You dont know how much of an inspiration you were to me during the tournament. I knew you would succeed. Thank you, Yurin, and you inspired me too; I had to give it my all because I was scared of you. Aodhn replied with a smile. Before the conversation could go any further, Daruk spoke. Okay, we can walk and talk at the same time; besides, weve gathered an audience. They turned to see a group of first-year students, roughly a dozen in number, who were openly staring at them. The group averted their gazes immediately, some squealing in embarrassment while others simply continued on their way to the assembly hall. Im not sure which is worse, the glares of envy and contempt or the phony smiles and compliments in a bid to get closer to me. Aodhn murmured with a frown. They met up with Andrew a moment later, and after another round of introductions and compliments, they finally made their way to the hall. Daruk and Andrew pulled back slightly, walking behind the other two boys, and Andrew whispered to him. I increased my number of imbued threads to 6 this morning; how many do you think Aodhn can make? I dont know, fifty? Daruk whispered back sullenly, and Andrew frowned at him. Youre not giving up, are you? Daruk sighed. No, Im not giving up; I just feel weak walking next to them. Andrew scoffed. How do you think I feel? Im the weakest one here, and Im the noble. He chuckled and added. But it doesnt matter because we wont stay weak for long. Daruk chuckled as Andrews words motivated him. Youre right, we can do it. Damn right, all we need to do is guilt them into helping us. Good job recruiting the lamphead. Andrew replied with an evil smile, and Daruk raised an eyebrow. You mean Yurin? Lamp head, Yurin. Same difference. Daruk laughed. He hadnt planned to recruit Yurin or anything, but it wouldnt hurt to learn from him, and as ideas began to form in his mind, he grinned. Have I ever told you I love the way you think? Chapter 50: Understanding Elemental affinities The first time I saw the Aodhn Ashoka was in the 5th academy, many years ago, when he exited the tower of Ascension. Hed appeared in the sky, seated on Varc, the great fury of Ragnarok, and I knew that the light of Ragnarok had comea champion, sent from Raol himself to deliver us from the hands of the Sunstonians. Viscount Curtis Harding. 5th sector, Ragnarok. Year 2304.
They arrived at the assembly hall ten minutes later and instantly joined the throng of students rushing into the building. The hall was a much smaller version of the arena; it was built with the same materials and had the same structure, but could only accommodate about half the population the arena could. As a result, there were a limited number of seats, and many students were forced to stand at the back of the hall. Unsurprisingly, all of those standing were first-year students, with only a few second-year students scattered among them. The temperature and humidity of the room began to rise as more people trickled in, but Daruk released his aura, and they all let out sighs of relief. Is this some sort of torture? Andrew asked. Im guessing its more of a punishment for late arrivals, seeing as they could have used a bigger hall. Aodhn replied in a low tone as associate professor Ershing passed by them. Unsurprisingly, none of the students seated seemed to be in any discomfort, which cemented his assumption. A din filled the hall from the combined chatter of almost 400 students, and they soon had to shout to hear themselves. Andrew nudged Aodhn and pointed at a group of first-year students seated on the second-to-last row. The one with the pink hair is Cyrus Valerion, the second son of Solaris Valerion, and hes number one on the forge list. We all know that the list isnt accurate, though. Yurin pointed it out, but Andrew shook his head. Not in this case; Cyrus is a genius, and although you and Aodhn are extremely strong, Im still not sure who would win if you were to battle. Aodhns raised an eyebrow in surprise. After all that had happened during the tournament and the way principal Zatya had treated him, a part of him had assumed he was the strongest student in his year, but the fact that there was another student equal in power or even more powerful than him sparked a flame of competition within him. How many students do you think are stronger than me currently? he asked, and Andrew shrugged. I cant be sure, but lets say about a dozen? Look over there. He pointed to another boy seated a few rows away from Cyrus. Thats Alesh Vilaris, and the last time I heard, hed gained two seals. What? Daruk exclaimed, finally joining the conversation, Isnt that too early? Not as early as gaining a familiar in the evolved class. Yurin pointed out. "Besides, hes not the only one; Ive heard of a few others who have done the same. Bunch of freaks this year. Andrew grunted, and Aodhn frowned. He loved the competition, but the fact that almost a dozen students were so far above him was troubling. After a moment, though, he shrugged. Its alright; a little competition cant hurt us. I can''t hurt you. Daruk thought with a slight shudder as their plans to demolish the forge list began to fray in his mind. Hed assumed that Yurin and Aodhn were his only opponents, but apparently not. There were others who had gained origin sealsnot one, but two! This changes nothing. Daruk thought as he pushed his pesky emotions aside and formed his resolve that, whether he had to go through two or twenty, he could do it. He would do it; all he needed was time. Before the conversation could go any further, an unnatural silence descended on the hall as principal Zatya appeared on the stage alongside a few professors. As one, the students of the previous years stood to their feet, while the first years watched in confusion. Some had the good sense to quickly imitate their seniors, while others foolishly remained seated. Minus 5 points to all the late arrivals. Minus 5 points to all those who lack the good sense to imitate their seniors, and +5 points to all the first years who had the good sense to do so. Principal Zatya declared as her gaze cut across the assembled students with an expression of severity. Almost immediately, hundreds of chips flashed as a new icon appeared on their status screens. Forge points: 67-5 = 62 points. Aodhn glared at the new icon but was pleasantly surprised to see that hed managed to score a total of 67 in the trial exam, despite how hard it had been. He turned to Daruk, whose expression was mirrored in his own, and asked. Whatd you get? Daruk frowned in annoyance. 93, which is great, but I cant believe weve just lost 5 points for coming late. I mean, its the first day of resumption. Ah! I should have left you guys behind. Andrew muttered, but they paid him no attention as the principals voice rang out again, as clear as crystal in the silence of the room. You should all take immense pride in the fact that youre standing here today, as it is a testament to your strength. None of you are weak; youve proven yourself and your abilities; you have gone above and beyond to stand out from your peers and gain the recognition that you deserve. I urge you not to relent, lest you be cut off while others move on to the next level. Like Ive always said, power dwells within each and every one of you, a wellspring of infinite potential; all you have to do is reach for it. Everything that you need to do has been provided, so if you fail, know that it is the fault of no one but yourself. Her speech continued for a few more minutes as she congratulated, praised, and rebuked them, detailing certain behaviors she didnt want to see in this new year. She laid much emphasis on bullying and unauthorized or unsupervised fighting, explaining that the violation of academy rules would at best earn them a suspension and, at worst, an expulsion. That being saidshe smiledI welcome you all to the dawn of another academic year, and I wish you all a year filled with growth, discovery, and boundless possibilities. Thank you, and welcome. A cheer rang out as she climbed down the stage, and Professor Aleran moved to address them next. Like the principal has done, I also welcome you all to this new academic year, and I am filled with immense pride and joy to address you today. First and foremost, I extend a warm welcome to our returning students and those who have made it this far. Your dedication, resilience, and thirst for knowledge continue to inspire us all, and I have no doubt that this year will be no exception. To the first years, I extend a heartfelt welcome to the 5th academy, more popularly known as the Forge among the students and staff. I urge you to embrace the opportunities that await you here. With open hearts and open minds, for the journey ahead is as tumultuous as it is rewarding. That being said, all other students aside from the first years are now free to return to their own activities. Whatever information we have for you will be passed across to your coordinators, wholl pass it along to you. Noise returned as the other students stood to their feet and either walked or teleported out of the hall. A few minutes later, after the other years had left, Aodhn and his friends made their way to a row of seats towards the back of the hall. Rahim took to the stage a moment later. Okay, there are a few things we need to go throughhe began without preamblefirst being the forge points some of you just recently lost. These points, as have been stated before, are the scores you got during the trial exams; they are very important and will be one of the determining factors that ensures your continual presence in this academy. By the end of the year, youre each expected to have gained nothing less than five hundred forge points. This is the least amount of forge points required for you all to graduate to the 2nd year; anything less than that will warrant you being cut off and dismissed from the school.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Rahim chuckled as his gaze roamed the faces of the terrified students and explained. I assure you that these points are not too hard to accumulate. Aside from the ones you already have and the semester exams, of which each course is worth 100 points, Forge points can be randomly assigned for a myriad of things, be it correctly answering questions in class or simply having the good sense to imitate your seniors like we saw a few minutes earlier. Grumbles of discontent rose from the gathered students, and Rahim chuckled. Let it be a warning to y''all, though; it is just as easy to lose forge points as it is to gain them, so Ill advise you to stay out of trouble. As if thats possible with these two by my side. Andrew muttered, and Daruk glared at him. Ill have you know that Im pretty good at staying out of trouble. Aodhn would have loved to say the same, but his track record shut him up. Trouble always found him, regardless of how well he ran from it. They turned their attention back to the stage as Rahim continued. Another issue of interest is the forge list, which you can access on the leaderboards option on your chips. He paused, waiting for them to find the icon before proceeding. In simple words, this leaderboard is not fixed, and challenge matches will be held every weekend. There are a few rules, but the most important one is that you cannot challenge a person more than five levels above you, and you can only issue a single challenge per week. Andrew groaned. At that rate, itll take me months to even reach the first quarter. Considering your current rank, it might take you the entire year. Yurin mocked. Aodhn chuckled as he scrolled through the leaderboards. It wasnt really surprising to see that most of the nobles occupied the first quarter, but he was a little surprised to see Yurins name at the 31st level. Ah, I was hoping to challenge you, Yurin, but youre out of reach... for now. Aodhn threatened playfully, and Yurin chuckled. And I shall remain out of reach for as long as I can. I am so not ready to fight you. How does it work, though? Do we simply take the level of our opponents? A boy seated in front asked, and Rahim nodded. Yes, in simple terms, when you best an opponent, your levels are switched. The winner goes up, and the loser comes down. Now, the next thing to discuss is... The meeting stretched for almost an hour before Rahim finally dismissed them. Gym has been cancelled for today, but I have been informed that your classes will hold, and I trust that you all have your schedules by now. If not, I suggest you see to that immediately. I wish you all the best. They exited the assembly hall a moment later, and when Aodhn checked the time, he realized that it was half an hour past eight, which meant they had approximately thirty minutes before their first class of the semester. The first course on his schedule was Understanding Elemental Affinities, so Yurin waved them goodbye and they went to their separate classes. The class was only a little longer than a typical classroom and was barely large enough to accommodate a hundred people, but considering their small population, the size would do. A few students were already seated when they arrived, so they moved to an unoccupied row of wooden seats towards the middle of the classroom. Aodhn ignored the whispers that arose as he walked into the room, choosing to focus his attention on Daruk as he explained the allocation of forge points to Andrew. Other students trickled in as time passed, and before long, a total of fifty-two students were seated in the classroom. Fortunately, the allure of his presence seemed to have faded, and as the students turned their attention away from him, he breathed a sigh of relief. Although he hadnt shown it, the scrutiny had grated on his nerves. Five minutes before the start of class, Meredith and Imani waltzed, or Meredith waltzed while Imani followed reluctantly behind. They searched for a suitable place to sit, but when Merediths gaze landed on him, she gasped and began to walk towards him, effortlessly pulling Imani along. Aodhn scowled as his heartbeat spiked. He needed to deal with this infernal emotion as soon as possible. Fortunately, the seat beside him was already taken, but that didnt seem to deter Meredith, who glared daggers at the girl seated next to him. The girl struggled only for a moment before she stood up and made her way to another seat. Perhaps if she were a commoner, Aodhn would have intervened, but the girl was a noble, and Aodhn didnt want to get involved in their business. Meredith purred as she slid into the now empty seat and directed Imani to the one behind him. Aodhn glared at Meredith and whispered. Why is it so important that you sit next to me? In fact, why do you keep trying to seduce me? Because I obviously have an effect on you, and its fun, is it not? Meredith replied with a coy smile as she leaned even closer to him. Aodhn jerked back and hissed. You do not have an effect on me, and you cant go around bullying people. Dont you dare call me a bully. Meredith replied with a scowl, as if the word itself tasted sour on her lips. I only exercised my right as a noble of higher station; Celine gets it. Aodhn shook his head and chuckled. He was glad, really. Hed needed to see the pompous and entitled person that she really was, not the overly beautiful and sexual being his hormones had been painting. He leaned closer to her and hissed. I dont care for this game youre playing, or maybe its some kind of plot. I dont even care if you actually like me; I just want you to leave me alone. I want no part of your drama, and I would really appreciate it if you directed your attention elsewhere. Trouble in paradise?. Daruk chuckled, but Aodhn ignored him and turned his attention back to the large screen in front of the classroom. Meredith stuttered in shock and annoyance, but before she could respond, A girl only a few years older than him walked into the classroom; her chestnut brown hair was sleeker back into a high ponytail that highlighted a perfectly symmetrical facial structure. Aodhn raised an eyebrow in surprise as he felt the power of her core. It shone brightly on his senses, and he had a difficult time even correctly gauging her tier. A trio of seals on her shoulder shone with black light, and his eyes widened. Seals usually start right above the heart, so for them to already be on her shoulders, it meant she must have amassed at least a dozen of them, putting her on a level of power many tiers above her actual tier. The girl walked towards the screen and addressed them with a gentle smile. Good morning. Im Valerie Potts, a 4th year student, and Im currently acting as an assistant to Professor Aleran. Ill be taking this class for the rest of the semester and will endeavor to explain it the best way I can. The screen came on a moment later, displaying the course title in stylish text, and Aodhn took out a note from his spatial space. The note appeared along with a cloud of storm essence, and he was surprised to feel a faint charge of electricity around its edges. He wasnt quite sure what was going on with the necklace, but if it began affecting the items stored within it, then he would need to get another spatial item. Without further ado, lets get into our first topic of the semester. Valerie began. We are all aware of the four major elements in our world: earth, fire, water, and air. But these elements are only the base of hundreds of sub-elements such as metal and lava, which are sub-elements of the earth; wind and storm, which are sub-elements of air; smoke and ash, which are sub-elements of fire; and so on. Today, well be diving into the meaning and properties of each element, and since this is just the basics, I expect you all to have an easier time following. The screen changed once again, and this time a list of elemental symbols appeared on it. As Valerie began the lecture, Aodhn took note of certain things that were new or seemed important to him. Air-awakened individuals are also known as aerokinetics, or, in much simpler terms, air manipulators, awakened with the innate ability to control and manipulate the very air that we breathe. It is not uncommon for such individuals to be faster and more nimble compared to others of the same tier.. Aodhn took that down as it explained Yurins amazing speed, and although he knew it was possible to create skills that allowed one to fuse with their element, it was usually impossible to create those skills without a seal. Aodhn circled the word usually as things had become weird lately and the limits of possibility had been broken time and time again. Valerie continued, explaining the innate abilities of several elemental awakeneds and their sub-elements. He was jotting down the properties and innate abilities of fire awakeneds when Valerie suddenly asked. Mr. Brystion, can you tell the class what element grants its awakened the greatest amount of strength with each tier up? Both Daruk and Aodhn looked up, but Valerie pointed at Aodhn to specify which Brystion brother she was referring to. Um I think earth awakeneds gain the most strength from each advancement. Their build forfeits speed and favors toughness and defense. That is correct, although many earth awakeneds have found ways to circumvent this particular limitation. Can anyone tell us how? Multiple hands went up, and Valerie pointed to a diminutive boy seated in the front row. He had gleaming silver hair streaked with lines of purple that hinted at a bloodline, even though he had no obvious bloodline manifestation. By creating skills that help them move faster on land or even teleport them through earth. Thank you, Derek; 5 points each to you and Aodhn for correctly answering my question. The class groaned, and Aodhn chuckled as his forge points were immediately reset to 67. I raised my hands, dammit. Whys my luck so shitty? Andrew muttered, and Daruk shook his head in a mixture of annoyance and amusement. Okay, how about one more question before we move on? Valerie chuckled and asked. What element is considered to possess the most destructive potential? The entire class raised their hands, many even struggling to raise their hands higher than the others. Valerie laughed as she carefully observed them before choosing Imani, who was so surprised that shed been picked that she stuttered for a second before responding. The answer was obviously fire, as it had the ability to consume, destroy, and transform all on its own. A spark of it was enough to set an entire city ablaze if left unhindered or uncontrolled. After issuing 5 points to Imani, Valerie explained. It is true that fire is considered the most destructive element, but that doesnt make the other elements any less of a threat. When controlled or manipulated, water becomes extremely destructive as it can be used to create floods or tsunamis, which have the potential to cause catastrophic damage to life and property. The lecture continued for another hour, as Valerie went into detail on the destructive potential of a dozen sub-elements as well as their weaknesses. Knowing the strengths and weaknesses of your element is very important, so Im issuing an assignment to be submitted on Friday. I want you to give a list of your elements strengths and weaknesses, as well as how you intend to circumvent its limitations. Please note that any assignment sent to me after Friday will not be acknowledged. Thank you and have a good day. She left the hall after that, and Aodhn pondered the limitations of his element. Whenever he thought of the storm, all hed sensed and seen was loud, destructive power. He couldnt think of any weaknesses or limitations currently; fortunately, he had five days to figure it out. Meredith hissed as she walked past him, but Aodhn ignored her. He had no other classes till 4 in the evening, so after parting ways with Andrew and Daruk, who had another class in an hour, he made his way to the library. Chapter 51: Leaderboard The Sunstonians know that we wont sit idly and do nothing after the amount of destruction they caused in Sector 8. Theyre expecting us to retaliate, but we cant, not the way we usually do. If we are to beat the Sunstonians in this gruesome game, we need to outthink them. We need to attack in a way they would never see coming. This is not just a war of manpower; it is a chessboard, and were many steps behind. General Commander Cerindale Donnovan. Sector 1, Ragnarok.
When Aodhn arrived at the library, he made his way to the eagle-eyed librarian and asked. Good morning. Im looking for books on familiars and how to best control them. What row can I find them in? The woman paused to observe him before she sighed. Unfortunately for you, those books are in the advanced section of the library. What we have down here are literatures and comics that I doubt would be of any use to you. Is there no way I can check out the books in the advanced section then? he asked, and the librarian raised an eyebrow in mild annoyance. Its called the advanced section for a reason; that means it is only accessible to people in the advanced class. She shifted, hesitating for a moment before adding. Unless youve been issued a temporary pass, I cannot help you. Aodhn nodded and immediately texted Rahim. Five minutes later, the librarian issued him the temporary pass and led him to the second floor. She then pressed the temporary pass against a small screen embedded in the metallic door, and it opened with a faint creak. Aodhn walked into the advanced floor, eyes wide in amazement, as he took in the rows and stacks of shelves that filled the hall. Light streamed in from large oval windows, and the musky smell of old books filled the air. His gaze darted to the cluster of reading tables and chairs situated at the center of the hall, and he suddenly came to a halt as the eyes of several advanced individuals turned his way, the stripes on their uniforms identifying them as 2nd and 3rd year students. A look of confusion passed through their faces before recognition set in, and the eyes of many widened. Almost immediately, several individuals rushed forward, but they all staggered to a halt when a trio of girls suddenly appeared before him with plastic grins plastered on their faces. They looked more like a trio of hungry sharks at the scent of blood than the teenagers they really were, and Aodhn instinctively took a step back. Unfortunately, the door was shut firmly behind him, leaving him no choice but to face them, so he took a deep breath, pushed his nerves aside, and smiled back at the girls. His gaze darted to the number of stripes on their uniform, and he swallowed when he identified them as third-year students. That explained why the other students had backed off, as they were mostly 2nd-year students. Oh my, must be our luck, girls. I can''t believe we''re standing in the presence of the all-powerful Aodhn Brystion. The girl in the center chuckled. Needless to say, she was beautiful. Everyone in the academy was beautiful due to their bloodlines or advancement, but beauty wasnt uniform, and like Daruk, the girl stood far above average. Her hair was a river of ink that fell all the way to her waist, and although it had a glossy and wet look, it didnt stick to her body. Her black pupils were ringed with two bands, one silver and the other blue. Runic tattoos, not seals, trailed down from the base of her neck until they disappeared beneath her uniform, giving her delicate beauty a slightly rugged look. The other two girls behind her were not as beautiful, but they still stood way above average. The one on the left was a red head, whose hair glowed and crackled like the embers of a dying flame, while the other had her blonde hair styled in some sort of pixie cut that framed her jaw, and although she had no visible bloodline manifestation, Aodhn recognized her as the strongest of the three. How can I help you guys? Aodhn asked, proud that his voice hadnt betrayed his anxiety. The smile of the middle girl stretched even wider as she extended a hand in greeting. I am Bethany Lockwood. By my right is Maven Shadescroft, and by my left is Sylphie Silverspire. We have heard so much about you, and would like to have a nice conversation with you. Aodhn nodded slowly and furiously, thinking of a way to extricate himself from the situation. I take it this nice conversation revolves around the topic of my familiar. Correct. Bethany gasped as if she were surprised he made such a deduction, but why else would three third-year students be interested in a lowly first-year student? Come with us, Aodhn; we have much to discuss. She turned and began making her way to a corner of the library, but her posse remained behind, their presence a silent threat that destroyed every thought of escape. Seeing as he had no choice, he followed behind Bethany while Sylphie and Maven walked behind him.There were only two chairs around the table Bethany led them to, but with a wave of her hand, she constructed more and gestured for him to sit down. The girls arranged themselves on one side of the table, making him feel like he was seated before a panel. Their smiles remained fixed in place even as their shark eyes scrutinized his every motion. You dont know how happy we are that you agreed to join us. Bethany said a moment later, and Aodhn raised an eyebrow. Im not sure that I had a choice in the matter. Everyone has a choice. Life itself is a choice. Sylphie muttered in a sober tone, and the other two girls immediately closed their eyes as they made a sort of religious sign across their foreheads in response to the statement. Aodhn stared awkwardly at the weird display, waiting for them to say or do something, but after several seconds of silence, he decided to take charge of the conversation.Okay, what do you want to know? Their eyes snapped open at his words, and Maven replied in a harsh whisper. The familiar; how did you bind it? Or create it? You will tell us. Sylphie added, her smile all but gone as she fixed him with burning eyes. Aodhn swallowed nervously and repeated the same words hed told Andrew. I cant tell you how because I dont know how it happened. It justhappened. Bethany chuckled. Aodhn, do you take us for fools? No, never. Im telling the truth. He replied hurriedly, and the three girls exchanged weird looks. A moment of silent conversation passed between them before Bethany suddenly leaned forward and hissed.Youre lying, Aodhn; Maven can tell. in a gentler tone, she added. How much do you want for this information? We are willing to pay.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! I assure you We are also willing to torture the information out of you if that is what youd prefer. Maven cut him off with a glare that caused his heart to stutter before resuming its maddened tempo. Aodhn doubted they could actually torture him, but he didnt put it past them to make life extremely difficult for him. The cold feel of the ink he sat on was a constant reminder that even with Varc, he stood no chance against a second-year student, much less a third-year student. When he failed to respond, Bethanys expression hardened, and she said to Maven. Take it. Aodhn had no idea what she meant by that, but as a maniacal grin appeared on Mavens face, he knew it couldnt be good. He immediately tried to get up, but clasps of ink formed around his arms and legs, too fast for him to react. Maven stretched a finger towards his forehead, and he realized what they wanted to take. His memory. Aodhn couldnt allow that, not when Azs voice had catalyzed the whole thing. A roar rang out in his mind as Varc tried to rush out of his core, but for some reason, he was unable to. Aodhn turned to see Sylphie smiling sweetly at him, and he knew she was responsible for that. He struggled, shaking his head vigorously, but just as Mavens hand touched his head, a voice rang out. Assaulting a junior is a crime worthy of expulsion. Maven retracted her hand immediately, and they all turned to see his savior. The boy couldnt have been more than eighteen years old, but he looked much older, even gaunt. His bronze skin was stretched tight across his bones, but beneath the frailty his build suggested, a core that rivaled that of Valerie Potts blazed within him. Aodhns eyes widened as he took in the boys pink hair and facial features. There was something familiar about him, but it wasnt until Bethany spoke that he figured it out. Eldrith Valerion. She spat out the name like a curse. Ever intruding on things you have no business with. Eldrith didnt even flinch at her tone and continued in the same casual tone hed spoken in earlier. You will release the boy, and I''ll forget this ever happened. You sniveling necrotic bastard! Maven spat. Dont you realize the importance of what we are about to do? Rather than respond, Eldrith simply walked towards him and pulled the construct apart as if it were paper. Aodhn stumbleb, but Eldrith grabbed him by his uniforms collar, which held him steady. That boy has information that we need, Eldrith, information that even you could benefit from. Bethany spoke through clenched teeth, but Eldrith ignored her and turned to Sylphie. Release your hold on the boys spirit, or I will break it myself. Sylphie fumed, her nose flaring in annoyance, but a minute later, Aodhn felt his connection to Varc click into place once again, and he sighed in relief. Bethany turned to him, and her plastic smile returned. I apologize on Mavens behalf; perhaps you would like to visit the third quadrant this evening, so we can continue this conversation in a much friendlier setting. No, Id rather not. Aodhn replied with a vigorous shake of his head, and Bethanys smile withered. The three girls glared, their gazes darting back and forth between him and Eldrith. Bethany clenched her fists, as if gearing up for a fight, but Maven placed a hand on her shoulder and shook her head. It''s not worth it. Bethany relaxed, her plastic smile sliding back into place. We will meet again, Aodhn Brystion, I''m sure that by then, you''ll be more inclined to talk. They walked away the next moment at him, and Aodhn let out a deep sigh, too shaken to do anything else. Thank you. He said to Eldrith, who frowned at him and asked. How did you get here? You shouldnt have access to this floor. Aodhn explained what had happened with the librarian and what hed come up here to find in the first place. Perks of being the academys newest champion. Eldrith chuckled. "Still, you need to be careful; youre lucky I walked in at the right time. Yes, thank you again. Aodhn replied sincerely before asking. Youre Cyruss brother, right? Half brother. Eldrith corrected with a twisted smile as he led him towards a row of shelves at the back of the floor. When they reached the section on familiars, Aodhn browsed the array of books before settling on a thick brown book designed with shimmering gold ink. Written in stylized text was the title, The Codex: Harnessing the Powers of Familiars, and he flipped through the pages as he made his way to a table Eldrith had chosen for them. He skipped past the dedication, acknowledgement, and content until he reached the first chapter before he began reading. One cannot discuss the subject of familiars without touching upon the origin planes. It is believed that the origin planes are fragments of the primordial chaos, and although this theory is still very disputed, it is the most reasonable theory that has been proposed so far. What we do know is that these planes are filled with as much chaos essence as the essence of the plane itself. This intermingling of essence has tainted and twisted the origin planes, transforming them into planes of unlimited possibilities and insanity. Familiars are creatures born as a result of this; simply put, they are creatures born of chaos. They are stronger than normal creatures, flawless, and perfect in almost every way except for their minds. It is not unusual for familiars to go insane after a long period without advancement or experience an occasional bout of insanity. Fortunately, familiars cannot exist for long without their bonds, and after a short time, they simply fade out of existence like smoke in the wind. Aodhn had hoped for some insight into the whole bonding process but was a little disappointed to find nothing on the topic. He continued reading, though, as the book still offered valuable information. The fact that Varc could one day go insane worried him greatly, but there was no information on how to prevent such an occurrence or even manage it. He resolved to read more books on the matter; perhaps he would find something useful. After almost two hours of reading, he finally put the book down. Hed only read it halfway, but he''d already learned quite a few things, like the fact that familiars werent always animate, even though they all retained a certain amount of sentience. Hed also learned a better way to communicate with Varc other than through the use of emotions, which he intended to try out, but time was running out and he was supposed to meet Daruk and Andrew at the training center in the next half hour. He thanked Eldrith once again and returned the book before hurriedly making his way out of the second floor. He breathed a sigh of relief as he climbed down the stairs. Who knew what would have happened to him if Eldrith hadnt shown up when he did? He needed to avoid the 2nd and 3rd years like a plague. His chip pinged immediately he arrived at the first floor, and he checked his status screen to find a blinking notification on the leaderboard icon
Leaderboards. Tower of Ascension (1st year) ? Cyrus Valerion, Level 231st [02: 12] ? Lilith Bloodmoon, Level 232nd [01: 42] ? Alesh Vilaris, Level 233rd [01: 13] ? Grendar Bladewynn, Level 234th [01: 09] ? Aodhn Brystion, Level 235th [00: 59] ? Yurin Lahey, Level 226th [00: 37] ? Isis Anvindr, Level 227th [00: 22] ? Eren Thornhill, Level 218th [02: 43] ? Tobias Menzies, Level 219th [01: 17] ? Harnoth Darkwater, Level 2010th [03: 27]
Aodhn scoffed as he read through the notification. It had only been a few hours since the first lecture, but people had already challenged the tower. Perhaps they couldnt bear to see his name at the top for long. He was a little surprised at the number of people who managed to last longer than him within the tower. Andrew had told him that there were students who were stronger than him, but seeing it with his own eyes had a lot more impact on him. Excitement sizzled faintly within him; he loved challenges as they were simply motivation for him to grow stronger. With a smile, he stepped out of the library and made his way to the training center. He arrived at the center only a few minutes later and wasnt surprised to see Andrew and Daruk already present. He understood their need and drive to grow stronger, and although he was worried about Andrew, a part of him was scared of his brother. Daruk didn''t realize the amount of potential still laying dormant within him, and Aodhn knew that by the time he tapped into all that potential, powerful wouldnt correctly describe him. He observed Daruk as he meditated in one corner of the training room. A circle of frost lay beneath him, and occasionally, his aura billowed out, spreading to cover a diameter of about 8 feet before retracting, only to repeat the process several minutes later. Hed thought about telling him about the deal hed made with the principal, but decided to keep it secret for now until the principal notified him of their arrival. Good, youre finally here." Andrew clapped, rubbing his hands together. What are we doing today? A spar? A new technique? I dont know; maybe we can focus on the exercise Valerie spoke about today. Aodhn replied, but Andrew shook his head. Assignment later; training now. He shrugged and added. Besides, I cant think of a single limitation to my abilities; theyre pretty awesome. I can think of one, actually. Aodhn replied as he gestured to the concrete walls around them. In a room like this, youre pretty limited, as you have to create your vines yourself. Its not exactly a limit if you consider the fact that the same applies to water and fire awakeneds. Andrew argued. Still. Aodhn insisted and grinned. What if I told you I knew a way for you to circumvent that? Andrew paused, and his eyes narrowed in curiosity. What are your thinking?" Chapter 52: Origin Seal I Though our comprehension of the origin planes remains constrained, one truth prevails: the planes are sentient and are each driven by an all-encompassing will that imprints the spirit of any awakened individual whose ideals and nature have begun to align with those of their elements or concepts. This imprint is called a seal, and it signifies the acknowledgement of an individual by their origin planes. Origin of the Origin planes. By leading expert Professor Corian Tilinus. Lutia, year 2269.
Andrew groaned as the skill slipped from his grasp once again. An entire hour had passed since Aodhn had given him the idea of how to circumvent his limitations, especially in a place where he had no access to plants save the ones he created himself. After Aodhn shared his thoughts, Andrew felt stupid. He berated himself for not coming up with the idea himself, but he wasnt exactly the sharpest tool in the shed. Aodhns idea was a simple {Create Seed} skill, and if he could just create the skill, then it would take him to a whole new level of power. The skill had inspired the creation of another skill, {Accelerate Growth}, which had been fairly easy to create, but what use was the second skill without the first? It happens; sometimes it takes days to get a skill, even when youre doing everything right. Aodhn consoled with a smile, but Andrew was in no mood to listen as he wanted to gain the skill immediately. Aodhn shook his head and returned to his own meditation. Hed spent the last hour honing his control and taming his willpower. He turned his gaze to Daruk, who hadnt moved an inch since hed walked into the room. Every few minutes, a wave of intense chill billowed out of him in a manner very similar to his aura, but Aodhn could sense that it was different. This time the chill spread out to cover half of the training room, covering the ground with a thin layer of ice that caused Aodhn to hurriedly shift backwards. Aodhn didnt understand what Daruk was trying to do, but he suspected that he was trying to perfect a skill by infusing large amounts of willpower into it. The chill disappeared almost immediately, but the layer of ice remained. After observing Daruk for a few more minutes, Aodhn decided that he was alright and once again returned his attention to his core, where 15 strands of energized willpower floated. He smiled at the progress hed made in only an hour. It wasnt too surprising, though, considering the boost in control the opening had provided him. He was still focusing on his core when Andrew groaned again. I was so close, dammit. I swear, I almost had it this time. Aodhn sighed and repeated the same thing hed said only a few minutes ago, but Andrew shook his head. No offense, Aodhn, but youre not getting it. Something is wrong; its not about control, nor do I need more time. The problem is with the skill itself; it feels incomplete. Aodhn scrunched his brows in confusion, as hed never experienced anything like that before, so he moved to sit opposite Andrew and said, Okay, lets try and retrace our steps, and maybe try a different method. Andrew agreed, and he continued. So, to create a skill, you must imagine what youre trying to do with as much detail as you can. Try and feel every part of the skill you want to create; if theres something lacking within it, you should find it. Andrew closed his eyes again, and Aodhn watched him closely. It was very easy to create a skill, especially when one had the necessary control to handle and use it. Although he and Daruk had an edge in this department, considering the enormous amount of willpower available to them, a simple skill like the one Andrew was trying to create shouldnt be giving him this much trouble. Andrews eyebrows wiggled as he tried to hold the image in his mind, and Aodhn frowned as he finally figured out what he was doing wrong. The image is unstable; it means its not quite detailed enough, or perhaps its too strong for you. What seed are you imagining? Zephyrs lily. Its an awakened plant within my familys estate. Aodhn smiled. How about you start with an unawakened seed instead, something mundane? Thats probably the reason why youre having so much difficulty holding the image together. Andrew frowned as he contemplated his words, but before they could put the theory to the test, a loud gasp rang out, and they both turned to find Daruk on his feet, eyes completely frozen over as energy and willpower erupted out of him.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. Light flashed an instant later, and the entire training room was suddenly engulfed in a thick layer of ice and snow. . Daruk had started his day with the whispers of fear and insecurity ringing in his head, but by noon, the whispers had transformed into feelings of weakness and unworthiness. His fears had only grown when hed realized just how far behind his peers he actually was. Most of the other students had an edge over him, and although he had an edge over them as well, he was never one to compare himself to those less than himself. How could a person develop if they never aimed higher? How could they grow without challenging stronger opponents? Hed tried to motivate himself and kick himself out of the depressive funk hed fallen into, but no matter what he did, the feeling kept coming back, clawing its way out of the box hed shoved it in like the pesky whispers of infernal fairies. Hed battled his own mind for the entirety of the second class and had barely even heard a word the man was saying. It wasnt until hed sat down to meditate about an hour ago that he finally gained a semblance of calm. As he relished the reprieve from his torturous thoughts, he realized something he hadnt truly understood before. He was different from the others; he was an inheritor, with the will of an ascendant burning within him. How many people could say that about themselves? How many people had access to the wellspring of willpower that he so casually cultivated? If anyone should fear, it shouldnt be him. If anyone was unworthy, it couldnt be him. He bore the legacy of an ascendant; why then was he so weak? With all his advantages, why was he weaker than people like Yurin and Aodhn? He shook his head as anger sparked within him. He would fix it! His weakness was not only a shame to himself but to his patron as well. He had to fix it. He had to do something. With renewed vigor and motivation, his mind delved into his core once more, and his breath hitched as he took in the vast amount of willpower burning within his core. He had harnessed and tamed more willpower than anyone his age should ever have. The tamed will floating in his core glowed brightly to his senses, and an immense feeling of heaviness emanated from it. His mind sank deeper until he lost every sense of his surroundings, and just as the world fell away, a statement Valerie Potts had made that morning flashed through his mind. Cold is the absence of heat. In a sense, she was right, but the statement wasnt completely true. Cold was naturally the opposite of heat, but the true absence of heat was absolute cold, the theoretical lowest temperature possible. He frowned as his mind flashed to his freeze skill, and with a thought, he imbued the skill with three strands of energized willpower. The drop in temperature was instant, causing the moisture in the air to freeze even as a thin layer of frost coated the ground. It could be said that the skill did its job, but even with the infusion of willpower, it felt lacking. The skill was a facsimile, a hollow imitation of the original, and it was his fault. He sighed as his mind flashed back to the moment hed created the skill. He hadnt had enough control to wield the skill at the time, but hed used an enormous amount of willpower to forcefully gain the skill and had almost killed himself in the process. It was no surprise that the skill was lacking, as what hed gained was a compressed and washed-down version of what hed actually wanted. Hed been rushing ever since hed awoken as an ice awakened. Hed been in a hurry to gain skills and become as strong as Aodhn, but he realized now that hed been hobbling himself. Hed been trying to run without learning to crawl, but he would fix it all, starting with the freeze skill. He spent the next few hours focusing on {Freeze}, constantly refining and honing his understanding of the skill. He tested the skill regularly, pushing its limits as he worked towards perfecting it. Every time he tested the skill, the drop in temperature increased, and at one point, he simply dismissed the strands of energized will swirling in his core. He had no need for them; the power of the skill alone should have been enough to completely freeze the entire training room. His next skill test was many times weaker than the last one, considering the absence of willpower in the skill, but he didnt let that bother him. Instead, he pushed harder on the skill, refining it until the chill it created was more than double that of the imbued skill, yet Daruk wasnt satisfied. He could feel himself getting closer to somethingsome form of enlightenmentand, unwilling to lose it, he channeled energy into his eyes. It was extremely foolish and dangerous, but Daruk consoled himself with the fact that his eyes would heal, but enlightenment might never come again. He hissed as his energy flowed into his eyes, but with his major resistance to cold, the pain was only a little more than a sting. His sight changed almost instantly, and his surroundings withered, turning white and black as if drained of color. Slowly, he stood to his feet and turned, identifying several pockets of heat that the skill had failed to eliminate. These were the flaws in the skill, and until he was able to completely eliminate every heat signature around him, he wouldnt be satisfied. With calculative precision, he began correcting the flaws in the skill, constantly refining it with willpower as he drained every iota of heat within the boundary of the skill. After an hour of refining the skill, a ping resounded in his mind, but he ignored the notification and tested the skill one last time. The chill that descended on the training room this time was so absolute and pure that even with his resistance to cold, he shivered uncontrollably and his skin turned blue. The chill spread through his veins, and although every part of him resisted, he held on. Enlightenment was closer now; he could feel it. He struggled to hold on as cold engulfed him, and just as he reached his limit, the world fell away, and he found himself in a picturesque snowscape filled with nothing save for ice, snow, and frost. Every surface glistened with a pristine layer of snow, untouched and untainted by mortal footprints, and mountains made entirely of ice jutted towards a sky obscured by swirling blizzards. Insane whispers filled his mind, and Daruk instantly knew where he was. He tried to think, but his thoughts escaped his grasp like water through his fingers. He took in a deep breath, filling his lungs with the sharp scent of frost, but rather than clearing his mind, it only worsened the situation. Daruk froze when suddenly, an all-encompassing consciousness probed his mind, and an overwhelming feeling of danger and belonging surged within him. Chaos dove into his mind, and he staggered as vertigo hit him hard. The chaotic consciousness ravaged through his mind, searching through his memories, and a sense of approval flowed into Daruks mind. The consciousness withdrew from his puny mind, and a moment later, chaotic essence flowed into his spirit. Chapter 53: Origin Seal II The temporary side effects that accompany the imprinting of seals are a topic that is greatly underemphasized. The imprinting of a seal temporarily twists the mentality and emotions of a person into a semblance of what the origin planes are: cold, chaotic, and insane. This twisted effect lasts for hours, and in some extreme cases, days, transforming innocent individuals into cold-hearted killer machines. The Twisted Effect. A research paper on the side effects of accumulating seals. By prominent scholar Eric Tython
Aodhn gasped, taking urgent mouthfuls of air as the deathly grip of cold on his lungs was suddenly released. He fell to his knees, wheezing as he forced air into his starving lungs. Andrew lay shivering beside him, covered entirely in a thick layer of frost that had turned his skin blue. Needless to say, they hadnt made it out of the training room before Daruks skill had struck, and if it wasnt for the watcher who was in charge of security within the training center, they probably would have frozen to death. Rahim had appeared only a second after the watcher and had immediately dispelled the deathly chill that had filled the training room. Aodhn wheezed again as his body spasmed, and his heartbeat slowly returned to its normal rhythm. Aodhn collapsed. He felt weak and was unable to hold himself up any longer. It took him five minutes to summon up enough strength to roll over and glare at Daruk. He understood that it was an accident, but he and Andrew had almost died because of Daruks carelessness. The least they deserved was an apology, but rather than the expression of guilt and regret that he expected to see, Daruk stared back at him coldly, his stance rigid and unfeeling. I do apologize for your near-death experience; Im aware it can be a tad unpleasant. The words were flat and monotonous. There were no inflections or emotions behind them, but having just narrowly escaped death, Aodhn didnt notice all that, and anger rose within him. My neat death experience? Daruk, you almost killed us! And I have apologized. Daruk replied in the same unfeeling tone that sent Aodhn into a maddened rage. Apologized? Apologized? Can you hear yourself, Daruk? Are you mad? He stalked forward, and unbridled rage roared through him. He wanted to smash Daruk against the wall and rip his throat out until he crumpled to the floor as a lifeless Enough! Rahim shouted and rushed to stand between the two boys. He glared at Aodhn and said, Retract your claws and assert control. Youre not a beast! Confused, Aodhn looked down and realized that his hands were gone, replaced by a black, scaly limb adorned with sharp claws. Horrified, he realized hed only been moments away from ripping his own brother to shreds. The claws disappeared immediately, and Aodhn staggered, but Rahim grabbed his shoulders and steadied him. Calm down; its not unusual for something like this to happen; you just need to learn how to control your familiar better. Aodhn closed his eyes, horrified by the thought of what would have happened if Rahim hadnt been here to stop him. Memories of a ruined ship flashed across his mind, and he shook his head vigorously. He pushed the memories aside and focused on inhaling deeply. When he opened his eyes a few seconds later, he was much more in control of himself and his emotions. He was still angry, though, but he had enough presence of mind to realize that the anger he was feeling wasnt truly his, but Varcs. What is wrong with him? Now that he had calmed down, it was obvious that something was wrong with Daruk. He almost killed us, yet he shows no remorse or regret, not even a half-decent apology. Andrew gritted out in anger as he slowly rose to his feet, and Rahim responded. Hes not exactly himself at the moment, as hes still suffering from the aftereffects of gaining a seal. He should be relatively back to normal in a day or two. Aodhn turned his gaze to Daruk, who stared back at him coldly. Im sorry for... He trailed off, unable to complete the sentence. What would he say exactly? Im sorry for almost ripping you to shreds. Daruk blinked and smiled coldly. You tried to kill me, but you would have failed, and I would have killed you instead. Okay, thats enough. Rahim turned to him. Hes not in his right mind, Aodhn; disregard his words. So, Im not even getting an apology? Andrew asked angrily, and Rahim shot him a glare. What part of he''s not in his right mind, do you not understand? I am perfectly fine, Rahim. Daruk responded, his unfeeling gaze locked on Andrew. I already apologized once; you dont deserve another. Okay, Daruk, come; we need to talk. Rahim led Daruk to one corner of the hall and began speaking to him. The fact that Daruk had gained a seal was a good thing, and it would have been cause for celebration if they hadnt almost been frozen to death in the process. He shrugged when Andrew asked if he was doing okay and moved to sit against the wall on the other side of the training room. This wasnt the first time Varcs emotions had bled into his own, but it had never been so overwhelming that it had overridden his reasoning. For a moment there, it was almost as if Varc had taken over. He suspected it was as a result of being frozen almost to death. His mind must have dimmed or weakened long enough for Varc to take control. Even now, rage simmered within him as Varc glared at Daruk with malice. He needed to find a way to prevent this from ever happening again. Not with Daruk, not with anyone. He sighed wearily. Never in his life had he been so close to death. It was scary and sad, but it made him realize that he wanted to live, and not just that, but to thrive and prosper. He wanted to get married and have a family of his own; he wanted to see this new world that hed been transported to, but mostly he just wanted to live and be happy. Nothing more, nothing less. To take his mind off thoughts of death, Aodhn decided to review Daruks status. He half expected to be denied access, so he was surprised when the icy blue screen appeared before him. . Congratulations! You have successfully harnessed 100 units of willpower, Bronze title gained.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. Congratulations! You have been acknowledged and marked by the origin plane of cold. Sealbearer title gained. Congratulations! You have perfected a skill and earned the title of Architect. Caution! Energy enhancement technique is incomplete. . [STATUS] Name: Daruk Brystion Class: Evolved Ice awakened (53.9%) Title: Inheritor, Neophyte, Bronze, Sealbearer, Architect. Tier: 17-37.4% Glimpse ---> Grasp: Increases elemental control by 1.5% Techniques: energy enhancement (crude), perfect imbuement technique Skills {Innate}: [Ice manipulation and creation] [Ice conversion] {Other}: [Freeze] [Cold Vision] [Drain Heat] [Forge constructs] Bloodline: FrostForged Ancestry (Rare+). ?Amplifies ice and cold-related abilities by 2.25% ?Grants major resistance to cold ?Aura of frost heart. Aodhn marveled at all the changes a single action had wrought in Daruks status and smiled. It seemed his brother had finally tapped into his potential, and Aodhn was excited to see just how powerful he would become. . Considering the circumstances, Daruk was given permission to skip control training, which was scheduled to take place in a few minutes, but Rahim had declared Aodhn and Andrew healthy enough to attend the class, neverminding the fact that theyd almost died only a few minutes ago. I cant believe it. Andrew complained as they made their way to the class, his expression a mixture of annoyance and disbelief. Its true whether you believe it or not, Andrew. Aodhn replied with a small smile, and Daruk shook his head. Just this morning, we were planning on ways to guilt you and Yurin into training us. Aodhn scowled, but Andrew didnt seem to notice as he rambled on. Now that he has a seal, you have a familiar. What do I have? Your life? Aodhn chided, but Andrew glared. That is not funny, Aodhn; in fact, it would be better if we refrained from speaking of life and death for the rest of the semester. I couldnt agree more. Aodhn mumbled, and Andrew sighed. Like I was saying, I still cant believe... Aodhn nodded, barely listening as Andrew droned on, complaining about how he was so unlucky to have been born in a generation filled with freaks. It didnt take them long to reach the hall chosen for the class, and Aodhn noticed that, compared to their other classes, this one was significantly larger, able to easily accommodate about 300 students. The entire hall was made of polished Jorgumien wood that emitted a faint light. It was unadorned and bare, save for the dozens of prayer mats arranged on the floor. A woman stood by the door, and as they walked in, she directed them to pick a mat each and settle into a meditative position. Aodhn moved to the middle of the hall, and Andrew simply followed along. Unsurprisingly, some students were already meditating on their respective mats, while others chatted amongst themselves. Lupin waved at him from one corner of the hall, and he waved back with a smile, glad to see another familiar face before sitting down to meditate. His session was cut short a few minutes later when the woman walked to the front of the hall and introduced herself. Welcome to Control Training. My name is Krell Lamarr, and I, along with several others, will be teaching these sessions for the rest of the year. I believe that you all know the importance of having sufficient control over your individual affinities, but for those who are ignorant, I will say this. Power is bred from control; without control, youre just as susceptible to your own attacks as those of others. Honing your control grants you an edge over your peers; it makes you faster and stronger, and it grants your skills a sense of impact that they would otherwise lack without control. So, for the rest of the semester, Ill be teaching you the best techniques to hone and sharpen your control. Today, well start with the most basic technique called a weave. Already, some have mastered this technique, but for those who havent, pay close attention. She waved her hand, and a single blue-gold weave appeared before her. She began explaining the process involved in the creation of weaves, and after ten minutes, Aodhn zoned out. His current technique was so much better than the weaves that trying to learn them would only hamper him. He focused instead on harnessing and taming more of his willpower. Fortunately, with the number of inexperienced students in the class, Master Lamarr barely had the time to notice his lack of participation, although he did catch the attention of a few students. His mind returned to the class when a chorus of exclamations rang out, and he saw Cyrus standing before the class with 19 weaves floating before him. Aodhn was surprised and a little jealous. The boy was only a few weeks past 16 at most. For him to display so much more control was astounding. A few others showed exceptional control over their affinities, but none surpassed Cyrus. The class ended about two hours later, and although he hadnt gained anything from the class, he had made good use of his time, and the dense ball of willpower within his core was a testament to that fact. Immediately after the teacher dismissed them, Aodhn rushed to his feet and timed his exit so it coincided with Lupins. She laughed and called him out on his scheme, but it was obvious that she appreciated it. Perhaps it was as a result of his near-death experience or just plain idiocy, but the next moment, he blurted out. Would you like to have dinner with me this weekend? The question seemed to have taken her off guard, and as she stuttered, Aodhn pushed forward. Or perhaps lunch. We can go this afternoon if you like. Im sorry. She politely declined. Im swarmed currently, but the weekend is fine. Oh Okay, the weekend it is. Aodhn replied, shocked that shed actually accepted. She waved goodbye, and Aodhn turned around to find Andrew shaking his head in disappointment. You were going to leave me after all weve been through? We almost died together! You said no death jokes. Aodhn reminded him, and Andrew glared. Do I look like Im joking? Aodhn sighed wearily as Andrew began a lecture on the importance of friendship. "Friends, dont try to kill each other or freeze each other to death! I dont know, Andrew; if I had the ability to freeze you to death, I probably would have done so by now. Aodhn responded as they walked into the cafeteria, but Andrew ignored him. You were about to ditch me for the girl. I told you, I forgotno, thats a lie, I didnt. Honestly, I did not forget; I just didnt remember at the time. Aodhn argued. I am disappointed in you, Aodhn; we are near death buddies. We are no such thing. We are simply buddies, death excluded. Their bickering continued for almost an hour and only came to an end when they finally parted ways in front of House 1. Aside from his near death, his first day had gone well. Maybe not as good as hed hoped, but it was much better than hed dreaded. A smile flitted across his face as he made his way to house 14, but as soon as he arrived at the compound, a sound like shattering glace rang out from within the house, and he immediately pushed the door open to see Eren slash at Marcellus with a serrated metal blade. The illusion of Marcellus shattered like glass, and he appeared on the other side of the room, his trademark sneer fixed in place. Imani looked horrified as metallic constructs swirled around Eren like a vortex and shattered every one of Marcelluss illusions before they could even completely form. Meredith stood to the side, half dressed, and Aodhn turned his gaze to a corner of the room where Marcellus actually stood, hurriedly putting on his clothes. It was obvious what Eren had walked into, but Aodhn didnt understand why he was so furious. It was a little surprising to see that Meredith had directed her attention to Marcellus, but it was even more surprising to see that Marcellus had entertained and even reciprocated her affections. Didnt they hate each other? A large metallic hammer smashed against the window and shattered it. None of them seemed to notice, but when Eren smashed the second window, Aodhn decided enough was enough, and before they damaged more of the house with their attacks, Aodhn released his aura and imbued four strands of willpower into it. His four housemates crumbled to the ground immediately, their knees hitting the wooden floor hard enough to crack it. The constructs and illusions disappeared, and Imani groaned in pain. Eren burned his willpower and pushed himself back to his feet, but he was unable to do anything else. Aodhn restrained his aura a moment later and pointed to the shattered windows and scars that now marred the walls. The destruction of school property is a crime; besides, Marcellus is over there. He pointed to a chair at the opposite end of the room, and Marcellus rippled into existence with a sneer. He ran towards Aodhn, who was a metal blade, but Aodhn wasnt fooled, and a moment before the illusion struck, Aodhn shot a bolt of lightning to his left. Marcellus yelled in surprise and pain as lightning rushed through him and left him panting on the floor. Abilities such as cloaks, invisibility, and illusions were useless against Aodhn, who could easily sense the cores of his opponents. Eren stomped out of the living room a moment later, and while the others gathered themselves from their fallen positions, Aodhn loved drama, but that was only true as long as he wasnt involved in it. He made his way to his room, and after spending half an hour on the assignment Valerie Potts had given them that morning, he sent a concerned text to Daruk. When he received no reply after ten minutes, he sighed and closed his eyes, replaying the events that happened all through the day, but he was tired, and before long, he drifted off to sleep. Chapter 54: WAR Echoes — General Lucas Deaton The Sigma laws were enacted by the Council of Lords a few years after the first war, aiming to limit the destruction of future conflicts. Battle zones within each kingdom were then classified into sigmas, ranging from 15 to 99, with participation restricted to those below the third milestone. Notably, the distinction between a Sigma 15 and a Sigma 99 battlefield lies in the density of energy within the area and its strategic importance to the host kingdom. Duke Arethia Corvius. High member of the council of lords, Central Kingdom (Lutia). Year 2267.
Command center, Ragnarok capital. The command room was a chamber adorned with several runic maps and charts of the Lutian continent.A golden corona hung at the center of its concrete ceiling, its luminescence casting long shadows on the faces of the gathered generals. The thirteen generalstwelve of whom were in the Mythic classsat around a large wooden table made from enchanted Jorgumien wood, their expressions grim and determined as they deliberated on a retaliating move against the Sunstonians, who had dared to attack the 8th sector and destroy their industries. The actions of the Sunstonians had come very close to breaking the rules of war laid down by the Council of Lords. If they had taken even a single civilian life, the other kingdoms would have descended upon them like a pack of desert wolves. Alas, they had not. Unfortunate. General Lucas Deaton thought, shaking his head as the Supreme General, Marcus Daystar, laid out their plans for retaliation. The calamity could have been mistaken for a mere child at first glance due to his diminutive appearance, but a second glance was sure to knock that idea off their heads. Marcus Daystar was a calamity-class war veteran with a stellar affinity who was rumored to have fought in the previous war about 400 years ago. His piercing gaze swept over the gathered generals as he rounded up. This is the plan, but we must be cunning in our approach," he continued. "Our enemy is formidable, and a direct assault would be foolhardy. Instead, we shall employ scorched earth tactics to cripple them and weaken their resolve." Several generals exchanged uneasy glances, and unsurprisingly, Cerindale Donnovan was the first to speak up in opposition. No disrespect, Supreme, but I suggest we attack them head-on regardless of the losses we may suffer. It makes us look weak to simply fold our hands and do nothing. Hold your breaches, Cerindale; no one is proposing we fold our hands and do nothing. General Beltharum objected with a snort of disdain. Perhaps, but entrusting a plan of this magnitude to a group of mercenaries and degenerates isnt any better than rolling over to die. General Arlette argued. Youre right, but its a much wiser choice than simply attacking head-on. Beltharum responded. That is true. We have fought the Sunstonians countless times and have lost every round. General Moonlake said in a calm tone. The entire continent is watching, and we will become a laughing stock if we lose againwhich we willif we attack them head-on. But sneaking around is not the Ragnarok way. Cerindale persisted. Our fathers were warriors. A thick aura of bloodlust erupted out of the supreme, and he turned to Cerindale with a chilling glare. You dare presume to lecture me on who our fathers were? I knew our fathers; I fought alongside them before you were even born. His gaze swept across the gathered generals again, and Lucas had to fight the urge to flinch as it passed over him. Our fathers were not warriors; they were mechanics with a fervent love for innovation and creation. This plan is one they would have agreed to, not the foolish loss of life that you want us to engage in. I did not start this war! The king did. Cerindale shouted back, surprisingly unaffected by the Supremes gaze. If any one is responsible for a foolish loss of life, it is him who has been driven completely mad by his hatred for the Sunstonian people. Several chairs scraped back in anger, and Lucas shook his head in pity. Cerindale had lost three children to the war already, but to speak of the king in such a manner was terribly out of line, even if he was right. The king was obsessed with destroying the Sunstonians, and theyd been fighting this war on and off for centuries now. At first, Lucas had been ecstatic about the war, relishing the opportunity to punish the Sunstonians for their treachery against the continent, but after almost a century of losing, he was tired. The citizens were tired. The soldiers were tired, and after several years of bitter fighting, even Unoros and Calodan had given up, choosing instead to focus their resources on developing their respective kingdoms and fighting the curse of their oppressors. Rather than do the same, the king had decided he would rather die than forgive the Sunstonians, and now, many years later, they stood alone, fighting an enemy many times stronger than they were. Still, Cerindale was his friend, and he understood his grief and anger; after all, he had also lost a daughter to the war, but it would be incredibly foolish to come to his aid after such a statement. How dare you! The supreme spat as the intensity of bloodlust quadrupled. To speak against your king in such a way is the height of treason! And I assure you that the king will hear of this. Cerindale gulped, only now realizing the gravity of what hed said, but he made no move to apologize, and after directing a glare at the gathered generals, he stalked out of the room. Lucas shook his head sadly. Cerindale Donnovan was no longer a man, but a walking corpse that would be put to rest before nightfall. Lucas pushed away the sense of grief and pain that rose within him at the thought before turning his attention back to the meeting. The meeting proceeded with the sounds of agreement echoing fervently as the Supreme laid out the plan once more. Even Lucas joined in, nodding vigorously every time the Supremes gaze landed on him, and before long, the meeting reached a close.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. Good. Since we are all in agreement, how far along are the plague wraiths? The Supreme asked, and General Moonlake hesitantly responded. The underground facilities have reported that the preliminary tests are done, and the wraiths are estimated to become fully functional in a week. Good, then we shall attack in a week. The supreme replied, and his gaze landed on Lucas. General Deaton, put together a list of degenerates, and send it to me for approval; we do not have time to waste. Its high time the Sunstonians taste the wrath of our vengeance. .. After the meeting with the supreme general ended, General Lucas Deaton returned to his office and began making preparations for their retaliatory attack. The production of the wraiths was underway, and all that was left was the squad they were sending along with the infernal construct. As thoroughly as their scientists had worked on the weapon, theyd only managed to reduce its activation time to ten minutes. After the meeting, general Lucas had met briefly with the supreme, urging him to give the scientists more time to work on the construct, but the supreme had been adamant and unyielding, and now he found himself saddled with the task of providing half a dozen individuals who would accompany the wraith and defend it for ten minutes until it activated and wrecked unfathomable destruction on Sunstonian lands. Their actions were sure to escalate the war, but the supreme was keen on making a statement with this attack, and after Cerindales outburst in the meeting, Lucas had decided to keep his head down and follow orders. The plan was to strike at the agricultural sector of Sunstone in a week, once the wraiths were ready, and since the sector was classified as a Sigma 75-99 war zone, he had to find six champions in the advanced class with affinities geared towards defense and protection. He spent the next five hours scouring through a list of champions provided by his secretary, reading through their individual abilities and known skills, and by the time he was done, he reviewed the names of those he had chosen and nodded in satisfaction. The first was Geneva Ryntharion, popularly known as the Witch of Selia, a mercenary of great renown with the elusive affinity of Quintessence, which granted her the ability to manipulate, control, and transform energy. Geneva was a genius runic warrior who favored the use of large-scale rituals and runic formations. She was currently at the 89th tier, and her most notable feat was the solo protection of Seneschar, a small city at the outskirt of the fourth sector, from a horde of advanced-class beasts. Her entire skill set was geared towards area/large-scale protection and defense, which made her highly suitable for the mission. The second person on the list was Ali Hassani, who had a void affinity and preferred to mostly keep to himself. Although Alis skill set was geared mainly towards offense and destruction, his affinity afforded him the ability to bypass most runic locks and restrictions, which they would need if this mission was to be a success. He was currently at the 78th tier, which made him the lowest-tiered individual in the group, but he had shown tremendous control and capabilities in his line of work, and Lucas was hoping he would be strong enough to bypass the runic shields the Sunstonians had put in place to protect their farms. Such a breach was sure to alert the sectors army, but they only needed to hold for ten minutes, after which the deed would be done and there would be no going back. Just in case Ali was unable to bypass the breach, hed added the third person, simply known as Zero, a fallen noble who had awakened the null affinity, which, while similar to Void, was vastly different. The null affinity was purely anti-magic, and the only known skill Zero had was his null aura, which simply erased any magical attack of his choosing within a certain expandable radius. After his family had fallen from nobility, hed estranged himself from them to become a mercenarymore of an assassinwho targeted high-profile individuals for an exorbitant amount of money. He was currently at the 81st tier, which qualified him for the mission, but Lucas had been hesitant to add him to the list. The man had almost no renown in the kingdom, and information about his skills or abilities was nonexistent, save for his aura. The Ministry of Awakened Affairs (MAA) had also flagged him as extremely dangerous and cunning, and as General Lucas reviewed the list, he once again contemplated removing the man and adding another, but Zero was too good at his job, and results were all that mattered in the end. Lucas sighed as he moved to the fourth name on the list. Artemis Valerion, one of Duke Valerions many illegitimate children, who had left the family after graduating from the second academy a few years ago. Just like his youngest brother, Cyrus, hed also awakened the element of space, but if Cyrus was considered a genius, then Artemis was a monster. He had gained his first seal only hours after awakening and was so in tune with his element that he was capable of traversing the entire continent in minutes. His most notable feat had taken place two years ago when hed locked down space within the capital of the 5th sector and challenged his father to a duel, which he had of course lost, but the fact that hed even lasted a minute against a mythic was astounding. But what surprised Lucas the most was that the boy had already begun touching upon his aspects before reaching the mythic class, which should have been impossible, but everything about Artemis Valerion was impossible, and Lucas doubted this mission could succeed without him. He was currently at the 92nd tier, which made him the highest-tiered individual in the group as well as its leader and transporter. Lucas was counting on him teleporting the group out of the Sunstone Kingdom the instant things went sideways. The fifth person in the group was Matharantha Veneirs, or, as she was popularly called, The Mirror. Currently at the 85th tier, Matharantha had awakened the concept of reflection, after which shed suddenly been afflicted by a mental illness of unknown origins. The illness had lasted for years, but she was now reported to be doing better. Her doctors had even gone as far as declaring her in full possession of her faculties, but Lucas was still slightly wary. Her mental issues had put an interesting spin on the progression of her skills, with the most interesting being {Temporal reflection}, which not only reflected an attack but also the time of the attack itself, causing her attackers to experience their actions in reverse, potentially undoing their skills or causing temporal confusion. The skill was a real brain twister, and Lucas imagined only one such as her could have come up with it. The skill was her most popular skill as she had used it with brutal efficiency during her time in the coliseum. Just to be sure, he read through her medical reports again to ascertain that she truly was mentally stable before moving on to the last name on the list. Uduak Goradon. She was the only elemental awakened in the group, not because he was biased, but because elemental affinities rarely lend themselves to defense, except for the element of earth. Currently standing at the 90th tier, Uduak was the current champion of the coliseum in the advanced class. Hed chosen her because he believed she would be able to pull all the other members together and remain calm even under the pressure of the mission. Uduak was the only person hed met from the group, and from the conversation theyd had, he knew she was better qualified to lead the group, but he also knew that to avoid problems, the strongest was best appointed as the leader. Satisfied with his choices, he sent the names to the command center for the supreme to approve, after which he began making preparations to house, feed, and train the group until the wraiths were ready. After the preparations were made, Lucas began going through the list of probable opponents they might facea list hed gotten from his secretary, and although he knew the information wasnt entirely accurate, it was better than having no information at all. He spent the next few hours scouring the list and even marked out a few who seemed like direct counters to the group. His mind whirred as he tried to come up with ways to circumvent that problem, and it wasnt until dawn the next morning that he dismissed the list and began writing a letter. Halfway through the letter, he stopped, unable to continue, and stood up to watch the waking city below him. Just as he opened the blinds, though, his chip pinged with a message approving his selection, and Lucas sighed as he forwarded the list to his secretary and asked her to contact the champions immediately. He turned his gaze to the condolence letter hed been writing to the soon-widowed Aliya Donnovan and sighed. And so it begins. Chapter 55: Awakened Combat Spirit cultivation is simply the accumulation of origin energy within ones spirit. This naturally occurs when one gains an icon, seal, familiar or several other perks that fuse themselves with the spirit. Without these perks, it is nigh impossible to reach the peak of advancement without encountering a limit forced upon individuals by the system itself. Awakened advancement theory. Introduction, page 3.
Fortunately, no nightmares plagued his sleep, and Aodhn awoke feeling refreshed and strengthened. It was only a few minutes past five a.m., so he decided to check his notifications but was disappointed to see that Daruk hadnt replied to his message yet. He disentangled himself from Varcs sinuous body and made his way to the bathroom. Twenty minutes later, he was dressed in his uniform and signature storm scarf. After a moment of contemplation, he shoved his official uniform into his spatial storage and was finally ready to go, but his clock indicated that he still had about thirty minutes before gym, so he climbed back into bed and began reading the text on Awakened Advancement Theory. Hed only read about a page or two before coming to the conclusion that AAT would be one of his toughest classes this semester. The topics werent exactly hard, as they mostly pertained to advancement, but they were broad and filled with complex theories and hypotheses that date back several centuries. Before he could delve into the intricacies of spirit cultivation, his alarm rang, indicating that he only had about 15 minutes left, so he stepped out of his room and made his way down the stairs. When he got to the living room, he wasnt too surprised to see that the house had repaired itself. It only proved that hed made the right choice in choosing runic theory as a course for the semester, as he hadnt even sensed the runic scripts on the wall. Surprisingly, the living room was empty; either his housemates had already left or they were in their individual rooms. A text came in from Andrew as Aodhn stepped out of the house, and he replied with a sigh. No, he hasnt replied to my text either, but Ill check up on him when I get to his house. Andrew replied, Im closer; Ill check up on him. After a few minutes, Andrew texted again. Nope, hes gone. Hes either too shy to face us directly or hes a cold fucking prick. Unfortunately, Aodhn had no idea what Daruk was currently feeling, but he soon pushed his worry aside. Since Daruk wasnt home, he would be at the gym, and they were headed there anyway. He met up with Andrew a few minutes later, and after exchanging pleasantries, they made their way to the gym. The gymnasium was a circular building similar to the arena in size. It was made entirely of Romanian glass, and by its grand entrance, a heavily built man stood with a notepad in hand, his corded muscles bulging through his uniform, and as they approached, he gave a toothy smile that contrasted deeply with his looks and said. Welcome boys. Youre two minutes late, so that means an extra lap for you both. Aodhn and Andrew grumbled, but eventually agreed. An extra lap around the gymnasium was nothing, especially at their tier of advancement. The coachs smile widened at their response, and although that should have clued them in to the fact that things werent quite as they seemed, it wasnt until they stepped into the hall that they realized just how wrong theyd been. Holy fuck, Raol, forgive me. Andrew exclaimed, while Aodhn simply gaped in astonishment. The hall stretched out for miles, farther than his eyes could see, farther than was naturally possible even with the amount of Romanian glass used in its construction, which suggested that further alterations had been made to it. Encircling the hall were race tracks, each meticulously marked with white lines. Each track was wide enough to accommodate half a dozen people walking side by side, and its surface was a blend of synthetic turf and shock-absorbing material. A ceiling of foggy black glass reigned above them, obscuring their view of what lay beyond, and Aodhn wondered if it was another hall, perhaps for the 2nd and 3rd years. That would make sense. Come this way. A muscled woman called out to them from one corner of the hall, and as they hesitantly approached, two black cuirasses appeared in her palms. She handed them over and instructed. These are made of null steel, which means that they get heavier the longer you have them on, so I suggest you finish these laps as soon as possible. Everyone is expected to run two laps, but the coach gave you one extra, so that makes it three. She fiddled with a tablet for a moment before handing over two black wristbands with the number 3 written on them. Just great. Now we cant even cheat! Andrew muttered angrily as the woman slapped the band to his wrist and helped Aodhn with the null armor. When they were both fully fitted, the woman gestured towards the tracks. You may begin. The track stretched on for miles, but with their improved strength and speed, they completed the first lap in a little under twenty-five minutes. As they began the second lap, Aodhn pressed forward, leaving Andrew behind when he realized just how much weight the null metal was gaining with every passing minute, and by the time he finished the second lap about forty minutes later, he had his tongue out and was panting like a dog. Hed even run across Daruk, and although they hadnt spoken, it was a relief to see a spark of regret in his distant blue eyes. Daruk looked much better than he did the day before, and the indifference that had filled his eyes was now mostly gone. When Aodhn finally completed the third lap, his entire body was so heavy that he had to fight the urge to simply lay down and die. Not everyone had been able to resist the urge, and Aodhn passed several passed-out students on his way to the finish line. He didnt blame them, as he would have done the same if it werent for his enormous pool of willpower. Fortunately, the coach wasnt too cruel, and he somehow deactivated the armor the moment a student passed out or stumbled. The moment he reached the finish line, the armor deactivated itself, and Aodhn collapsed to the ground, his weakened legs unable to hold him up for a second longer. Congratulations. The coach addressed them a few minutes later. I have been instructed to take it easy on you guys for the next few weeks. For this reason, well stick to using the null armor for now until youre able to run a total of two laps in less than twenty minutes.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. I assure you that as torturous as this exercise seems, it is for your own good. The coach admonished with a smile. Now get up, everyone; Ill lead you in a series of stretches thatll help prevent your muscles from cramping. Aodhn groaned alongside the other students as they struggled to their feet and began contorting their bodies in ways that caused their muscles to spasm and twitch in protest. After about ten to fifteen minutes of stretching exercises, the coach finally dismissed them. Youre free to use the private stalls in the bath area to freshen up and prepare for your classes. I and assistant coach Greene will see you all tomorrow. Have a nice day. Aodhn groaned as he pushed himself to his feet once more, but rather than make his way to the stalls, he decided to wait for Daruk. He didnt have to wait long, as only a moment later, Daruk walked up to him and hugged him. Aodhn squeezed tightly in response as Daruk let his emotions out. Im sorry, truly; I didnt mean to put you guys in danger. Its fine, Daruk. "No, its not. I feel so guilty for what happened and how I reacted after. I am truly sorry. Aodhn pulled back and smiled. Its fine; you just need to be more careful. I know, I will. Daruk replied somberly, but a moment later, he chuckled. You should have seen your faces, though. Real. Epic. Moment. Aodhn scowled, and Daruk raised his hands in surrender. I get it; its too early to make a joke out of it yet. I gained a lot from it, though. I saw. Aodhn laughed softly. Your parents would be proud. Daruk shook his head and hugged him again. Our parents will be proud. "Okay, thats enough. Andrew cut in angrily and shoved himself between them. I deserve an apology too. Aodhn isnt the only one who almost died. Aodhn scowled. Cant you see we were having a moment there? Its fine. Daruk chuckled and turned to Andrew. Im sorry that I almost froze you death, but its a real shame that you survived. Andrew scowled. I hate you, both of you, but I also managed to create the skill I wanted, so thank you, but fuck you. You plan on testing it? Aodhn laughed, and Andrew placed his arms on both their shoulders before whispering. I plan to challenge the tower today, so Ill test it then. What about you, Daruk? Im sure youve got a ton of new skills you want to test out." Daruk nodded. I do. Ill also be challenging the tower; Im curious to know how strong Ive become. Well, Ill be rooting for you both. Aodhn replied, and after a thorough bath to wash away their grime and sweat, they went to the cafeteria for breakfast. After a quick meal, they made their way to the classroom for the next class. The semi-circular structure was better described as a hall and was basically a smaller version of the arena. Surprisingly, there were only a few students in the hall when they arrived, and this time Andrew dragged them to the front row, mumbling something about forge points and being in the lecturer''s direct line of sight. The seat they chose put them beside a burly girl with blue-black hair and reddish skin. Immediately, she saw Daruk, She growled threateningly and placed a bunch of books on the seat hed been about to occupy. I dont want you sitting next to me. The girl said with a glare, and Daruk hissed. You cannot tell me what to do, and I can sit anywhere I like. I choose here! Maybe we should just find somewhere else. Aodhn started, but Daruk cut him off with a resounding no. I will sit down here. He continued. I will not let this flame monster tell me where to sit." The girl scowled. Always so stubborn, like the cold that inflicts you. Okay, what is going on? Andrew asked, his gaze darting from Daruk to the girl in confusion. I think theyre both still suffering from the aftereffects of a seal. Aodhn whispered as he watched the entertaining display. Both students glared at each other for a long moment before they suddenly released their auras. Aodhn and Andrew stumbled back immediately, their close call with death still fresh in their minds. Both auras clashed, causing frost to form and melt at a rapid pace. The other students turned to stare in confusion and amusement, but before the aura battle could go too far, a voice suddenly rang out. Would someone separate these two idiots? The steam is grating on my nerves. They all turned to see a man dressed all in black, leaning nonchalantly against an invisible wall on the stage. Daruk and the girl immediately ceased their squabble, and the students rushed to take their seats. Daruk ended up sitting to his left rather than right, while Andrew sat beside the unpleasant girl whose aura still leaked out in anger. Now that the aura posturing is over, let us begin. The man turned, staring intently at each student before introducing himself. I am associate professor Dalle Alaric, and I have been saddled with the responsibility of training this class for the rest of the year. Fortunately, this will be the only class on awakened combat thatll be taking place in the classroom, and soon well be using alternate stimulated reality (ASR), a fine invention from the 8th sector. Real nifty thing." Professor Alaric chuckled slightly before he continued. As soldiers, it is essential to understand the principles of combat and how to wield your abilities effectively on a battle field. He waved his hand, and a chair construct made of a concept Aodhn couldnt recognize manifested before him. Professor Alaric sat and continued. In this class, we shall discuss the importance of focus and concentration during combat. Your mind is your most potent weapon, and it will be honed to a razor-sharp edge by the time I am done with all of you. We shall also discuss the significance of control, precision, and clear intent in any battle, be it against monsters or other humans. The first thing you should know is that no matter what element or concept an individual possesses, it can be used in a battle and cannot be underestimated, even if its a simple concept like sketch. There was a smattering of chuckles and snickers in response, but Professor Alaric glared at them. Have I made a joke? Or do I look like a comedian to you all? The chuckles died immediately as Professor Alaric pointed at Andrew and asked. Since you find it so funny, you will tell the class how the sketch concept can be used in combat. Andrew froze for a moment before replying. Im sorry, Ive never actually heard of such a concept before. Ignorant. The professor spat, and Andrew grumbled. Why is my luck so shitty? Why couldnt he have asked a simple question? Aodhn chuckled softly as Professor Alaric pointed to a girl seated at the back of the hall. You tell us. The girl stood up, wringing her hands nervously. I''ve heard of them, but I dont really know how their abilities can be used in combat. Professor Alaric shook his head and yelled. Is this class filled with fools, or is there someone who can provide an answer to my question?" Aodhn winced, as he had no idea either; in fact, just like Andrew, this was the first time he was hearing about such a concept. Surprisingly, there were about a dozen people who knew the answer, including Daruk, and after a moment, Professor Alaric pointed to Alesh Vilaris, who responded in a voice that felt like sandpaper. Although the sketch concept is not a combat-oriented concept, sketch awakeneds have the ability to animate, control, and empower their sketches, which are only limited by their imaginations. 10 points Alesh, for that very detailed response. For this reason, sketch talents are considered quite dangerous, as they almost always have a sketch for whatever you might throw at them, the prepared ones at least. As the lecture continued, Professor Alaric gave countless examples of seemingly useless concepts and how several individuals have managed to use them dangerously. Aodhn was honestly impressed, as some individuals had managed to create skills that stretched the limit of their concepts, some even going as far as twisting their skills in such a way that they barely functioned as their concepts or elements anymore. In this class, I will help you broaden your understanding so you can push the limits of your skills and abilities. It is not impossible for ice to burn or for fire to heal; it is only difficult. Understanding your element or concept will help you use it to its fullest potential; understanding will grant you seals from your origin planes, which will in turn improve your understanding of that element or concept. Finally, it is important to note that in this class, if youre not winning battles against opponents two tiers above you, then youre cannon fodder, and youll be killed in the first battle you step foot into without even realizing it. Aodhn sighed as the lecture took a dark turn. It was obvious now that the academies were simply preparing them for the war. They hadnt escaped it; theyd only bought themselves more time. Your mindset towards combat plays a vital role in any battle. Professor Alaric continued. It determines your failure or victory. The class continued for a few more minutes, and although professor Alaric wasnt really teaching, Aodhn still jotted down a few things. When the class finally came to an end, it was on a somber note, as all their excitement and fervor had been leeched out of them by talks of war and death, leaving each student with a sense of fear and grim determination. Wish us luck. Andrew muttered as they stepped out of the hall, and Aodhn smiled. Good luck, although I doubt youll both be needing it. Daruk nodded, his expression determined. "Well, tower of ascension, here we come. Chapter 56: Beginners Runic theory AkarshRamat, the first ascendant of the Unoros kingdom, was a man who detested runes and all those who marked themselves with their ancient sorcery. For this reason, we have discarded the use of runes, although we are not blind to their many functions and uses. We simply do this in honor of our great one. High priest Orishkelon. Order of winter. Sector 2, Unoros Kingdom
While Daruk and Andrew made their way to the Tower of Ascension, Aodhn made his way to his next class, Beginners Runic Theory. He turned a corridor and almost collided with Yurin, who gave him a toothy smile. He glared at the smiling boy. Is there a reason why youre just standing here? Taking in the beautiful scenery. Yurin replied with a wave of his hands, and Aodhn turned to the bare walls and glass that surrounded them. I see, anyway, Im going to the Runic laboratory; Ive got a class in a few minutes. What a coincidence, me too. Aodhn shook his head as they began walking. I thought you were taking in the scenery. Oh, you know me; I bore so easily. Anyway, the professor is supposedly very strict, so Im getting ready to quit the course immediately; it becomes too much for me. Aodhn chuckled. Where is all that tenacity and perseverance youre known for? Yurin winked. I prefer to save them for the battlefields. It took them about twenty minutes to reach the runic lab. For some reason, the lab was located on the other side of the academy grounds. A few students were already seated when they arrived, and Aodhn saw Ankaz Urdania, the older of the Calodan brothers, seated a few seats apart from the other students. Aodhn greeted a few people whose acquaintances hed made recently as he occupied a workbench in the second row. The lab was long, about 60 or 70 feet in length, and was entirely covered by white ceramic tiles. Runic posters and charts littered the walls, and although Aodhn couldnt see any runes, he could sense them all around him. On the walls, floor, and even on the workbenches scattered around the lab. A large screen hung on the front wall, displaying the words Runic Theory in stylish text. A small door at the corner of the front wall opened a shirt while after, and a kind-looking woman walked out, her face framed by blazing auburn hair and her skin slightly glowing with reddish light. Yurin whistled appreciatively, and Aodhn shook his head, chuckling. The woman was dressed in a white coat, similar to that of earthly scientists, and in a firm voice, she instructed. There are more than fifty workbenches in this lab, so I need you all to spread out. A student to a bench, please. Oh crap. Yurin muttered before moving to an empty bench in the third row. The benches were about three feet in length and were made of wood except for the top, which was covered with white tiles. Also, there are lab suits within the drawers. It is essential that you put them on whenever you come into the lab. She watched them impatiently as they carried out her instructions, and after a glance at the back of the class, she rushed back to her office. Ill return in a few minutes; for your own good, please do not touch anything. Aodhn opened the first drawer on his workbench and took out a pure white lab suit. He couldnt identify the material of the suit, but it felt extremely comfortable when he put it on. Aodhn searched the suit with core sense and found several runes of protection, mostly shields scattered around the coat, especially the areas covering his vitals. He looked up when a group of students walked in, and he saw Lupin among them. He waved, and she waved back enthusiastically. Alesh and two other students walked into the lab a minute later, but no one else did until it was time for the class to begin, and the woman emerged once more with her auburn hair now packed in a loose bun. There were only twenty-nine students in the lab, and the woman chuckled as her gaze swept across them. I am not disappointed by the number of students taking this course; in fact, I fully expect at least a dozen of you to leave before the midterms. She took out a runic chart and continued. That being said, I must confess that I am proud of you all for taking the risk with this course. As you all know, runic theory is one of the hardest courses offered in this academy, but if you manage to see it through, trust me, youll be forever grateful. She smiled once more, revealing unnaturally white teeth as she introduced herself. My name is Vyris Caldwell, lead professor of runic magic here at the academy. Ill be teaching the basics of this runic theory, but I wont be the only one teaching this class, as Ill sometimes be assisted by my associates. Without further ado, let us begin. Aodhn immediately took out an empty notebook from his spatial storage, ignoring the abundance of chaotic essence that appeared with it. Professor Caldwell noticed, though, but she made no comment on the matter and simply began her lecture. Today, we shall embark on a journey through the intricate mesh of symbols that comprises the Runic alphabet. Professor Caldwell raised the chart to reveal 24 extremely complex symbols, each made of several whorls, curves, and lines that were almost impossible to decipher. Runes are an ancient language, belonging to a civilization that existed long before ours. Each Runic symbol carries a deep magical meaning and reflects the worldview and values of the people who used them. To be a runic engineer is to know and understand this language of reality, to write on the tapestry, and to have reality respond to your commands. In many ways, runes are similar to skills, but they are much broader, encompassing both elements and concepts in their applicability. Runes cover different aspects, going from divination to protection, communication, and even innovation. Runes are extremely complex, though, and even to date, new runes are still being created, either from the combination of two or more bizarre runes or from inversion-link experiments. Basic or initiate runes are too weak to actually alter the fabric of reality, but they could affect and transform whatever they were anchored to. Like a sword or spear. For instance, a strengthening rune would make the weapon so much stronger, and a flame rune, when activated, could imbue such a weapon with abilities related to fire. Aodhn nodded as Professor Caldwell continued. In many ways, the runes reminded him of Daruks forge ability, although Daruk wasnt actually using runes when forging his constructs, only willpower. Aodhn looked up from his note when Professor Caldwell suddenly asked. Mr. Lahey, care to tell us the most important use of runes in Ragnarok? Yurin jerked awake, and Aodhn shook his head. Why come to the class in the first place if he had no intention of listening? I believe they are used in enchanting and stuff, but you would know better than I concerning such a matter. Yurin replied awkwardly, and Professor Caldwell shook her head. The adoration of your classmates will only take you so far, Mr. Lahey. If youre not interested in the class, then I suggest you leave now that you still can. She dismissed Yurin and turned her attention back to the class. Can anyone correctly answer the question? Aodhn raised his hands along with a few others, and after a moment, she motioned for him to speak. Innovation and creation... almost everything produced in Ragnarok nowadays is covered in runic scripts. 5 points to you, Mr. Brystion. She smiled, and Aodhn felt a thrill run through him when his chip flashed, and his forge points increased. Hed been accumulating points over the past few days, and now he had over eighty forge points to his name. What about the Sunstone kingdom? Professor Caldwell asked, and this time it was the Ankaz who responded. Divination and worship. That is correct, Mr. Urdania, 5 points. Professor Caldwell raised another chart, this one displaying a series of complex runes tattooed on a mans body. The Calodans use runes mostly for the augmentation of their bodies and weapons, while the people of Unoros do not use runes at all for religious reasons, favoring the Theban scripts often used in modern Wiccan and witchcraft traditions.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Today, we shall begin by familiarizing ourselves with the first runic alphabet, known as Fehu, the rune of strength and vitality. It is the easiest rune to learn, and before the next class, I expect at least half of you to have done so. Aodhn observed the exceedingly complex symbol, but after numerous tries, he was unable to draw a diagram that even vaguely resembled it. He called Professor Caldwells attention more than a dozen times, and each time she gave helpful advice and even pointed out what he was doing wrong, which was mostly the way he held his pen. The class soon became disorganized as everyone had problems drawing the rune, and all required Professor Caldwells attention and advice. By the end of the class, Aodhns drawings only vaguely resembled the rune, and Professor Caldwell called them a very distant cousin to the original, but Aodhn considered that a win. A distant cousin was way better than the rubbish Yurin and half the class had drawn. Lupin and Ankaz did so much better, though, and although they didnt exactly get the rune right, their diagrams were close enough that Professor Caldwell applauded them. Aodhn shook his head and wondered just how he was supposed to add runic practice to his already congested routine. The symbols may be hard to draw now, but itll get better with practice. Professor Caldwell said at the end of the class. Well focus on drawing the runic alphabets for the rest of the year until you perfect them. Learning to imbue and activate runes is a topic for those wholl still be taking this course next year. Thank you for coming, and enjoy the rest of your day. Aodhn, Lupin, and Yurin left the hall after that, and Yurin groaned. The practical part of the course is a little challenging, but the theory is boring. Im not surprised that you think so; in fact, I was very surprised to see you in the class. Lupin replied with a slight look of disdain, but Aodhn was barely listening to them; his mind was on the runic alphabets and the ways he could utilize them. His mind only returned to their conversation when Lupin asked. What about your brother and friend? They must be done with the tower by now. Yeah, I guess. Aodhn replied as he scrolled through the leaderboards, but when he found no changes, he decided to text Daruk. If they were still in the tower, the chip wouldnt function, and any message he sent would be left pending. Surprisingly, Daruk replied only a moment later. We had to wait while the 2nd and 3rd years made use of the tower first. They are out now, and we should be taken into the tower in a few minutes. Aodhn conveyed the message to his companions, and Yurin cheered. Perfect; we wont be missing anything after all. He immediately created a platform of light wide enough to fit them all, and they zoomed towards the arena. They arrived at the arena about three minutes later, and perhaps due to the fact that several classes were still ongoing, the arena was only occupied by a few people, mostly 1st years, alongside a smattering of 2nd and 3rd years. The trio immediately moved to a part of the arena with the best view of the screen. A group of first-year students sitting several rows below them waved, and Aodhn responded in kind. He only recognized a few of them; one was the girl whod sat beside him in Valeries class until Meredith sent her packing, while the other was a diminutive boy hed met in control training class yesterday. The holographic screen appeared a minute later, which meant the participants had finally entered the tower. There were fifteen of them, each with their current tier and the number 0 boldly written beside their names. Daruks name was located towards the bottom of the list alongside Andrew''s, which wasnt surprising considering their tier of advancement. Unlike most of the students in the 1st year, Andrew and Daruk were still at the 17th tier of advancement. It wasnt really a problem, as they could just absorb the rugwort cores they had left, but for some unspoken reason, everyone else had stopped at the 18th tier. Personally, Aodhn was just waiting to accumulate enough energy to push himself into the 24th tier at once, but he knew that the other students had different reasons for remaining at their tier. Most had decided to remain in the 18th tier in order to hone and sharpen their energy control, as it was much easier to manage now than in the latter tiers. Besides, like Daruk, many of them had rushed through the early tiers of advancement, and their control was now playing catch-up. The bell rang a minute later, and all the participants immediately ascended to the first level. It was a little strange to be the one watching this time, as he could easily imagine what Daruk and Andrew were going through within the tower. Unsurprisingly, the participants breezed through the first few levels and only began slowing when they got to the 10th tier. Still, their progress was swift, but just as he had predicted, the first sign of a lag or delay came a few minutes later when a boy, Luthir Evane, spent an extra five minutes in the 14th tier while the others ascended to the 15th. What a shame. Would you like to bet on how soon hell be exiting the tower? Yurin asked, and Aodhn snorted. Id rather not bet, but I believe hes due any minute now. Luthir exited the tower a few minutes later, still at the 14th tier, and although there were no boos, the disappointment of the audience was palpable. Yurin shook his head. "Unimpressive, really; hes at the 18th tier, but he cant even defeat a creature four tiers below him. The boy shamefully made his way out of the arena with his head down and shoulders slumped in embarrassment. Aodhn returned his attention to the screen without commenting on the matter. Things had slowed down considerably, with the participants now ranging from levels 15 to 17. Aodhn focused his attention on Daruk and Andrew. Both of them were currently at the 16th level, and although they werent lagging behind the others yet, it was obvious that theyd begun experiencing some difficulties. A chorus of disappointment rang out about ten minutes later when two students simultaneously exited the tower at the 15th level. Aodhn shook his head as Yurin booed loudly and the audience lamented. Aodhn sighed in disappointment. Even at tier 16, hed easily defeated creatures of the same tier, let alone those three tiers below him. Its not a matter of control any longer; these students are weak, Lupin responded. In a whisper, she added. We are weak. Only a single student exited the tower at the 16th level: a girl, Celeste Reginald, who was supposedly the daughter of a high noble. She was at the 17th tier, and although she had failed to defeat a creature a level below her, she was still treated to a chorus of light applause. Shamelessly, the girl bowed and giggled as she left the stage. Rubbish. Yurin muttered, and Lupin glared in response. I understand your disappointment, but that is the daughter of the Marquis of Covlentia; you would do well to mind your speech. Aodhn smirked, while Yurin chuckled. Im sorry, love, but Ive never been one to respect people just for the sake of their titles, let alone their fathers title. You are so annoying, Yurin. Lupin responded and turned her attention back to the screen. Aodhn wisely refrained from speaking, as that would only complicate the matter and make things worse for him. After all, he was trying to get on her good side. There were eleven participants left in the tower, and Aodhn breathed a sigh of relief when Daruk and Andrew ascended to the 18th level without hitch. Thirty minutes later, a total of six participants had exited the tower between levels 17 and 19, and only five participants were left, all between levels 20 and 21. A few minutes later, Urzaz Urdania, the younger Calodan brother, exited the tower to great applause. He was in the 18th tier and had managed to defeat an opponent two tiers above him. It didnt make him an elite, but it was respectablemuch better than the average student. Only four students were left in the tower, and although he prayed for some sort of miracle, he knew that Andrews time was coming to a close. Unsurprisingly, he exited the 20th level a few minutes later, to much cheer and applause. Aodhn was surprised; hed expected Andrew to fight up two tiers at most, but three was much better. It still didnt make him elite material, but it made him far better than the average foot soldier. Andrew groaned in frustration when he appeared on stage, stopping angrily even as a few healers rushed to heal his numerous injuries. Aodhn waved when Andrews eyes began roaming the stands, and with a frustrated huff, he began climbing towards them. They cheered as Andrew approached them, but he groaned. No cheers, please; youre depressing me. What do you mean? Fighting up three tiers is no joke. Yurin responded, and Aodhn agreed. True; besides, weve only begun training. Youll definitely become stronger in a few more weeks. His words seemed to penetrate Andrew''s haze of anger and frustration, and after a while, he nodded. Youre right; thank you for that. Youre welcome. Aodhn smiled and returned his attention to the screen. Only three participants were left: Daruk, a girl named Azul Fetherson, and another named Yvonne Wyvernwood, all of whom were currently at the 21st level. It wasnt much of a surprise to see Daruk fight up four levels, but Aodhn predicted this was his limit. Fighting four tiers was definitely elite material, and Aodhn was sure people were already taking notice of the fact. Yurin shifted in his seat and muttered. Your brother told me he wasnt strong, yet here he is, fighting up four tiers. Aodhn smiled. And you believed him? He was very convincing; I know now not to trust any word he speaks ever again. Aodhn chuckled as he returned his gaze to the screen and was surprised to see Daruks name ascend to the 22nd level. He exited the tower almost immediately, coated in a thick layer of ice designed as armor. Cheers rang out as he appeared on the stage, and Aodhn shouted in excitement, although his voice was overshadowed by the hoarse shouting of his companions. Daruk smiled widely as the healers tended to his injuries, and when they were done, Aodhn and Andrew waved from their seats to signal their position. Daruk rushed towards them, his entire body buzzing with excitement. I did it! I dont curse, but I really want to right now. Ill do it for you. Andrew grabbed Daruks shoulders and cheered. Congratu-fucking-lations, Im so fucking proud of you. Aodhn shook his head in amusement and congratulated his brother, while Yurin glared at him suspiciously. You truly do plan to destroy the forge list, dont you? I need to start taking you seriously. Us. Andrew corrected while Lupin gave Daruk a hug. The next time I challenge this tower, Im coming out first. As they celebrated, another cheer rang out as Yvonne exited the tower at the 22nd level, leaving Azul Fetherson, who ascended to the 23rd level a few minutes later. She exited the tower about fifteen minutes later, completely clean and uninjured. Her clothes were unruffled and smooth, and she looked like she just stepped out of the shower instead of fighting a creature four tiers above her. The girl was beautiful, with azure hair streaked with every color of the rainbow, and her eyes were a mesmerizing swirl of colors similar to that of principal Zatya. Aodhn had seen her a couple times since resumption, but never had her physical aesthetic been so pronounced, which meant she must have made a sort of breakthrough within the tower. While the crowd cheered, Aodhn turned his attention to the newly updated leaderboards. Leaderboards. -Tower of Ascension (1st year) ? Cyrus Valerion, Level 23 1st. [02: 12] ? Lilith Bloodmoon, Level 23 2nd [01: 42] ? Alesh Vilaris, Level 23 3rd. [01: 13] ? Grendar Bladewynn, Level 23 4th [01: 09] ? Azul Fetherson, Level 23 5th. [01: 02] ? Aodhn Brystion, Level 23 6th [00: 59] ? Yurin Lahey, Level 22 7th [00: 37] ? Daruk Brystion, Level 22 8th. [00: 31] ? Isis Anvindr, Level 22 9th. [00: 22] ? Eren Thornhill, Level 21 10th [02: 43] Chapter 57: Lady of Moonlight The limit, ostensibly intended to curtail the proliferation of high-tiered awakened individuals across the continent, has instead proven to be an ineffective measure, akin to a futile experiment that has surpassed its utility and purpose. While ostensibly aiming to mitigate the emergence of powerful awakeneds, it has predominantly disadvantaged those residing in the lower sectors, where access to evolved cores remains limited, impeding their evolution and perpetuating core imbalances. Although outliers in the first sector also experience constraints, they constitute a negligible minority within the broader context. The pertinent inquiry now pertains to alternative strategies for managing the awakened populace within our continent. Paul Magby Somerset, Minister of Population and Census. Ragnarok, 2147.
Gym was just as hellish as it was the previous day, and although theyd arrived on time, Aodhn still felt like dying by the time the second lap was over. He collapsed to the ground, panting as the null cuirass was taken off him. His lungs burned, and his heart beat frantically. After the two-hour mark, the coach, whom he now knew as Harvey, led them through a series of stretches that caused his thighs to burn and his arms to wobble. When it was finally over, Aodhn and Daruk shuffled to the bathroom, leaving Andrew, who was still panting on the gym floor,. Meredith glared at him as they walked past, but Aodhn was too tired to care. The atmosphere in the house was tense, to say the least. Marcellus was using Meredith for one sinister motive or the other, most likely to stick it to the nobles of the first year, but Meredith was also using him for reasons Aodhn would rather not speculate. Eren, on the other hand, was obviously nurturing feelings for Meredith, perhaps for a long time now, and although hed overlooked her excesses before, Marcellus seemed to have been the last straw that broke the camels back. Imani was the only one without issues. It hadnt exactly brought them together, but it had broken the silly tension between them. She wasnt as flighty in his presence anymore, which Aodhn considered a good thing. He liked Imani, and even if they couldnt become friends, they could at least be civil to each other. Fifteen minutes later, Aodhn and Daruk made their way to the cafeteria for a short breakfast. Control training had been a disaster yesterday, as the students had suddenly been possessed by an urge to one-up each other, with more than five students already pushing past the twentieth weave. Their teacher, Master Lamarr, was ecstatic, but Aodhn cursed their enthusiasm. At this rate, it was only a matter of time before the teacher realized that he, Andrew, and Daruk werent participating in the weaving exercise, but he was reluctant to reveal his technique to anyone. It wouldnt be an edge if everyone had access to it. Andrew joined them in the cafeteria a few minutes later, and after a short but filling breakfast, they made their way to the same hall where theyd had the class on awakened combat yesterday. A lot of students were already seated when they arrived, which wasnt surprising as the class was compulsory for everyone. Awakened advancement theory could be considered one of the most important courses for first-year students as well as the most complex. Aodhn had read a few more pages in the textbook this morning, delving deeply into the intricacies and complexity of spirit cultivation. It had been extremely enlightening, he had to admit, but it was just too much. This time, they made their way to the middle row, as Andrew no longer had any intention of drawing the teachers attention. When do you intend to challenge the tower? Andrew asked him as they sat down, and he shrugged. This weekend, I want to see how much change will be made to the leaderboards by then. Daruk chuckled lightly. Show-off. I also intend to create and perfect another skill too, but in preparation for the challenge matches thatll be starting this weekend. Oh yes, I almost forgot about that. Andrew responded. Im working on something also, but its in line with the assignment on limitations. Daruk hummed. I thought about that, but with my new skills, I think Ive managed to circumvent most of my limitations. *That reminds me. Aodhn turned to face him curiously. I havent seen the {Drain Heat} skill in action yet. Its better to show you than tell you. Daruk chuckled. Maybe when next we train, but for now, Ill keep its surprise. Pfft. Andrew shook his head in envy and asked. What about you, Aodhn? Have you figured out your limitations yet? Yes, I think. Aodhn replied with a slight frown. His greatest limitation for now was how easily his skills were countered against earth and sound, and he was yet to find a way to overcome that. He was explaining this to Andrew when Cyrus and his friends walked past them. Cyruss gaze swept across the seated students, his expression dismissive until it landed on Aodhn. His purple pupils flared for a moment before he sniffed and turned his attention back to his people. Aodhn had nothing against the boy, not after his half brother had saved him from Bethany and her posse. But Cyrus was the first student on the Forge list, and more importantly, he was his competition. Asides the fact that Cyrus was a genius, with control even better than his own, he was also the son of a duke, which made him more important than anyone else in the first year. It was a little exciting to know that he was considered a threat by someone as strong as Cyrus. The noise in the hall grew as more students arrived and chatted with their friends, but it suddenly came to a stop a few minutes later, and absolute silence descended on the hall. Aodhn turned to the stage, where he found a woman dressed in a gown as pale as moonlight. Her waist-length hair was as white as snow, and her skin emanated an ethereal luminescence that swirled around her like a halo. The woman was beautiful, exceedingly so, and the lack of pupils in her milky white eyes identified her as a mythic class Awakened. She smiled as she gained their attention, and a collective sigh echoed out as a feeling of peace and serenity washed over the entire hall. Good morning, students. She said in a voice like the gentle chime of bells. My name is Faelar Dubois, and Im the lead professor in the department of awakened studies. She turned towards the screen, which displayed the name of the course, before proceeding. Unfortunately, this is the first and last time you''ll see me this semester.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. A chorus of disappointment rang out, and she chuckled. But I promise to make more of an appearance next semester. Now, let us begin. Aodhn took out his note and nudged Andrew, who was staring at the professor with open-mouthed shock. He leaned closer to Aodhn and whispered. By Raol, thats the lady of moonlight. Shes considered an ascendant candidate; do you even realize what that means? Aodhn did. Ascendant candidates were mythic individuals who were closing in on the 200th tier. It was a title usually given once they crossed the 150th tier. Az had been called an ascendant candidate in his day, even though he was reported to have hated the title. Our skills, she began, grant us the ability to shape the reality of our elements or concepts, transforming them with our own understanding and imposing our will upon them. The skills are manifestations of our desires in the physical world, guided by the energy that flows around us. Awakened advancement theory is a very broad course, as most of you might have noticed, and for the rest of the year, well be exploring the principles and practices involved in the advancement of ones core, spirit, and abilities. Today, we will begin by studying the underlying principles of elements and concepts, as well as the subtle laws guiding and governing our activities. First, we have the four major elements and their numerous sub-elements. These elements shape our reality. They''re the building blocks that make up our world, and whenever we manipulate them, we''re affecting the very fabric of reality that surrounds us. The concepts are even more complex, as unlike the elements, which are physical, they are abstract and make up the unseen parts of our world. It is important to note that although concepts and elements are separate affinities, one can barely exist without the other. As the lecture progressed, Professor Dubois spoke on almost every topic he could think of, ranging from advancement to milestones to even the limit. The moment she mentioned it, though, Aodhns heart shook, and he was reminded of the ethereal chains wrapped around his core. He grimaced. The academy was supposed to tell them the true nature of the limit and then force them to take the oath of silence, but they were yet to do so, and somehow hed forgotten about the entire thing. Several students shifted awkwardly in their chairs; no doubt, the nobles were just as uncomfortable as he was concerning the topic, and Aodhn grimaced as Professor Dubois began speaking. When theyd arrived at the 8th Sector, Aodhn had sensed a large number of dull cores that meant those individuals had reached their limit, but due to the large number of evolved and advanced citizens in the 5th Sector, hed only sensed a few people who had reached their limit. The number of these limited individuals was so small that theyd practically been non-existent to his core sense, and he had allowed himself to be carried away by the beauty and marvel of the sector. He had to visit Rahim immediately after this class was over to tell him that he knew and that hed already taken the oath. He sighed again, but as his thoughts spun, he found Cyrus and one of his friends staring at him with shock. When they noticed his attention, they turned away and began whispering to each other. He was already uncomfortable as a result of the current topic, and the fact that Cyrus and his friend were obviously speaking about him only made things worse. Cyrus turned once again, and this time, when their gazes collided, he didnt look away. Instead, his eyes narrowed in confusion, and Aodhn sighed. He already had an idea of what was going on, but he forced his attention back to the topic at hand and pretended to listen. The class continued for another thirty minutes, with several students asking questions regarding the limit and ways to avoid or prevent it. Unsurprisingly, all of them were commoners, and Professor Dubois expertly circled around the entire topic, answering questions without really answering them at all. Immediately after she dismissed the class, Aodhn rushed out of the hall without saying anything to either Daruk or Andrew, but hed barely taken more than a few steps away from the hall when Cyrus slammed into him and pressed him against the wall. He reacted instantly with a surge of lightning, but space rippled, and his attack failed to reach its target. Cyrus pressed harder against him and growled. You know. You are a commoner; how do you know? Rather than respond, Aodhn released his aura and imbued it with all five strands of energized willpower that his technique allowed. Glass cracked, runes flared, and Cyrus gasped as he was forcefully pushed to the ground, but a purple haze of willpower burst out of him, and he disappeared the next moment, only to appear behind him. Aodhn dodged as a purple-coated fist rushed towards him, and before Cyrus could reorient himself, a storm hammer smashed into him. Once again, his attack failed to reach Cyrus as space stretched to ludicrous degrees. Cyrus grinned and released his aura. Space rippled dangerously, but before he could attack, a furious voice suddenly rang out. Im disappointed to see my best students fighting in the hallway like savages. Aodhn turned to see Rahim standing only a few feet away, and the next instant, a sense of vertigo hit him as Rahim grabbed them and disappeared. They arrived in the principals office the next instant, and both boys stumbled to the floor from the force of the teleportation. Aodhn recovered a second after Cyrus, and he turned to see principal Zatya standing by the window alongside Rahim and glaring at them. Aodhn had wondered what affinity Rahim possessed, and now he knew, but couldnt he have been a little more gentle? Explain yourselves, starting with you, Cyrus. Principal Zatya commanded, and after a glare in his direction, Cyrus straightened and replied. He knows. This commoner knows about the true nature of the limit. Kellan sensed his emotions during Professor Duboiss class, and hes sure of it. Principal Zatyas gaze darted towards Aodhn immediately, and she asked. Is this true? Aodhn swallowed nervously as he took in her alarmed expression and nodded. Yes. How? Who told you? Rahim asked calmly, but Aodhn could sense the worry and alarm brimming beneath his calm visage, and he stuttered. No one, II figured it out myself. Principal Zatya and Rahim exchanged a glance, and a moment later, Rahim turned to Cyrus. Next time, if there ever is one, it would be better to call my attention rather than take matters into your own hands. Attacking a fellow student within the schools premises is an offense, and I will not condone such an action, regardless of your station. Cyruss chip flashed as Rahim continued. For this reason, you have lost fifteen points. Note that I am only deducting such a small amount because of the sensitivity of this situation. I assure you that things wont be so easy next time. You may go. Cyrus glared at Rahim for a moment before leaving, his face red with anger and embarrassment, but he surprisingly managed not to slam the door on his way out. After Cyrus left, though, the tension in the room thickened as principal Zatya and Rahim focused their attention on him. Aodhn took an involuntary step back as the principal walked towards him. She stopped a few feet away from him, but his heart beat frantically as he wondered what would happen next. As for you, Aodhn, I want you to tell me the truth and nothing but the truth. She waved a hand, and a rune-scripted device appeared on it. This is a truthseeker talisman; it can sense any falsehoods you speak, so I suggest you avoid them and tell us the truth. Aodhn sighed and told them the truth, recounting the events that led to his finding out and how Aldric had made him take the oath of silence. He omitted the part where hed foolishly told the council, as he had no idea what consequences that might incur. Ever since I took the oath, I haven''t spoken to anyone about the limit, not even my younger brother. In fact, I haven''t even thought about it since I came to the fifth sector. Aodhn finished, and when the truthseeker gave no indication of falsehoods, the principal exchanged a surprised glance with Rahim. There was a moment of silence before Rahim spoke. By Raol, hes telling the truth. Principal Zatya gazed at him with an expression of fascination and disbelief, and the next moment she said to Rahim. Give us a moment. Rahim hesitated for a moment, his gaze darting between the two, before he finally teleported out. Principal Zatya observed him for an extra moment before she suddenly moved back to the window and shook her head. You know, it has been said that there are some people who come to the realization on their own, special people, but I never thought Id meet one of them or that hed be my student. Aodhn frowned. I dont understand. "Oh, come on. Principal Zatya laughed and turned to face him once more. Its impossible for anyone in Lutia to understand the nature of the limit on their own; we have to be told. The curse does not permit us. Aodhn stilled as his heart picked up a more frantic pace. He took a step back and then another until his back was flush against the wall. What curse? Principal Zatya smiled. I mean you no harm, Aodhn; Im merely curious. She took several steps forward until she was standing only a few feet away. Tell me? Is Daruk really your brother? Are the Brystions really your parents? But more importantly, what world are you from? Chapter 58: The Attilan continent In the past hundred years alone, there have been dozens of ascendant candidates, but only three have managed to actually shed their mortal coils and reach immortality. To ascend beyond this world requires one to reach the 200th tier of advancement, but as easy as it sounds, many have reached a spiritual limit even at the 199th tier, automatically failing the requirements of ascendancy. Venerable master Orpheus. Headmaster of the Black Forest Academy Lutia. Year 2274.
Aodhn shook as his heart threatened to rip itself out of his chest. He had known this day would come, but he''d never imagined it would be this soon. His mind raced as he tried to figure out what had given away his identity, as it was obvious that the principal now knew about his status as a transmigrant. Fear roiled within him as his imagination ran wild. He had no idea what would happen to him if the principal exposed him to the world, but he doubted it would be anything good, positive, or humane. Principal Zatya frowned and took a step back. You need not fear, Aodhn; I have no intention to do you harm. Aodhn observed her for a long moment, searching her features for any hint of deception, and although he found nothing, he still kept his guard up. Principal Zatya took another step out of his personal space, and he let out a deep sigh. Silence reigned as both parties studied each other. One with childlike curiosity and the other with intense scrutiny. Aodhn broke the silence a minute later. What would happen to me if you did expose me to the world? Principal Zatya cocked her head slightly and responded. I do not know precisely, but I doubt it''ll be anything good. Unlike inheritors, transmigrants are rare, and I haven''t had the privilege to speak with one before now. Aodhn sighed. It wasnt nice to know that hed been right to keep his identity a secret. He had hoped to be wrong, or just overly paranoid, but he knew that if there was one thing he could be sure of, it was that the world was evil and was sure to disappoint him. He turned back to the principal, whose pupilless eyes stared at him with childlike curiosity. She observed his actions with an expression very similar to one used to observe exotic animals or circus freaks. The silence stretched on for what felt like hours but was only a couple seconds. Still, it made Aodhn extremely uncomfortable, and when he couldnt take it anymore, he asked. What do you want from me? If she didnt want to expose him to the world, then surely she wanted to keep him for herself; perhaps she intended to perform experiments on him or cut him into several pieces just to analyze his soul. If she had any sinister motives, Aodhn wanted to know now. The principal had never given him the impression of such insane pursuits, all in the name of knowledge or magical breakthroughs, but you could never really trust people. Principal Zatya shook her head and smiled. As absurd as it sounds, I truly have no negative intentions towards you. I am merely curious to know your experiences, what your home world was like, whose legacy you bear, or what it even feels like to be a transmigrant. These are the things I want to know, and like I said earlier, I have no intentions to do you harm. Aodhn observed her for a long moment, still wary. The principal seemed sincere, but the best liars usually were, and letting his guard down would be a grave mistake. Principal Zatya sighed. I see you dont trust me. She walked back to her desk and motioned for him to sit on the chair opposite her. He hesitated, but after a moment of contemplation, he moved away from the wall and carefully slid into the leather chair. Okay, lets start by building trust. She smiled, and another rune-scripted device appeared in her hand, similar to the truthseeker talisman, but the colors of the runes were different. She gave the talisman to him and said, That is a much stronger version of the truthseeker talisman; ask me anything you want to, and youll know if Im lying. Aodhn clutched the talisman in his right hand, and it flashed with green light as his energy was forcefully drawn into it. The device activated immediately and began to vibrate gently, so to test it, Aodhn asked the principal to tell a lie. She shook her head slightly and muttered. Im a calamity class awakened." Immediately, the talisman shrieked; in fact, it was so loud that he almost dropped it in shock. At least now he knew the talisman was functioning. He turned back to the principal and asked. What gave away my identity? What you said about coming to the realization of the limit on your ownits impossible; the curse wouldnt allow it. Aodhn frowned at her response. What is this curse that you keep talking about? And what does it have to do with my identity? Principal Zatya sighed, and her expression turned serious. She observed him carefully, her eyes narrowed in contemplation, and just when Aodhn thought she wouldn''t answer the question, she spoke. Nearly a millennia ago, Lutia was conquered by a neighboring continent called Attilan. Their people were much stronger than our fathers, and despite their smaller numbers, they quickly overwhelmed us. The war lasted for many years, but we lost in the end, and their rulerthe red witch cursed our fathers and their descendants with a spell of forgetfulness that she anchored to the earth to prevent the curse from ever fading. The spell had only one function: to remove the knowledge of the limit and how to prevent it from our minds. The Attilan continent sought to weaken us and prevent any native of Lutia from ever reaching the second milestone. The curse was brutally effective, and for nearly two centuries, our people were neutered by the limit. Those who managed to evolve before the first milestone only prolonged the inevitable. The Attilan continent ruled over us and mocked us for centuries until they finally grew bored and deemed us insignificant. They left us to our sorry fate years later, but Raol heard our prayers and sent a man to us, a transmigrant like yourself, whose name was Von Amyl Argent. Have you heard of him? Aodhn nodded. Von Amyl Argent was the 27th ascendant from Ragnarok, but he had been one of the most powerful on the entire continent. He had awakened the same concept as Raol: reality manipulation, but Aodhn now realized that if Von Amyl Argent was truly like him, then he must have absorbed Raols legacy. Principal Zatya continued. Just like you, Von Amyl realized the true nature and cause of the limit. I have no idea how the nobles and the other kingdoms came to possess this knowledge, but theyve kept it quiet ever since, forcing everyone who knew to take the oath of silence, lest we draw the attention of Attilan once again. How many years ago was this war? Aodhn asked skeptically, and principal Zatya waved dismissively. Nearly a thousand years ago. Aodhn frowned. If that is the case, how is this curse still in effect? It is believed that they have an extremely powerful artifact that anchors the spell even after the ascendance of the one who cast it. Principal Zatya replied calmly, but things still remained unclear to Aodhn, and more questions kept popping into his mind. So, what youre saying now is that transmigrants are unaffected by the curse because we werent born on the continent? He asked, trying to understand the whole thing, and Principal Zatya nodded.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Essentially yes. We dont think they planned for this particular loophole. Okay, why hasn''t the Attilan continent come back then? Surely they have spies within the continent. They must know that we have found a way to circumvent their curse; why have they not done anything about it? Also, why are we still hiding from them after so many centuries have passed? Why havent we found this artifact and destroyed it yet? This entire story of yours isnt adding up. But its the truth. Her gaze turned to the truthseeker, who was vibrating gently in his hands. I cannot give you all the answers you seek, as even I am limited in what I know and what I can pass on, but it is the truth. Aodhn stared intently at the principal as his mind spun and his thoughts jumbled together. One question remained, and after a few seconds of contemplation, he asked. Why did you tell me all this? Why did you give me all this information if its supposed to be a secret? Because you asked. Principal Zatya replied, and although she was still smiling, her face had hardened a little. Aodhn shook his head and dropped the truthseeker on the table. You could have chosen not to answer my questions, but you did because you wanted something. What do you want from me? Dont lie. Principal Zatya observed him quietly for a moment before she grinned. Youre right, I do want something from you. She stood up and slowly walkedprowledtowards him. I want to create another Von Amyl Argent or another eldritch terror like the abyssal wraith, Erina Blackwell. She leaned towards him, her eyes burning with an intensity that pinned him to his seat. She continued in a voice barely above a whisper, but it sounded like thunder in his ears. I want to mold you into a weapon, like the great catastrophe, Azmarthon Ranok, so when our war with Attilan finally begins, the 5th academy would have created a monster strong enough to bring our oppressors to their heels. How would you like to be my new pet, Aodhn? When Aodhn finally stepped out of the office several minutes later, his feet were wobbly, and he felt so disoriented that he had to lean against the walls of the hallway for a minute before he could regain his bearings. Fuck. He murmured into the emptiness of the hallway. I didnt sign up for this. He had declined the principals proposal at first. He was no weapon of catastrophe; neither was he Von Amyl Argent; he was Aodhn Ashoka, and he just wanted to live his life in peace and explore his superpowers. The principal had tried to cajole and persuade him with deals and enticing offers, but when he remained adamant, she revealed her true colors and threatened to expose his identity if he failed to cooperate. I do not like to resort to such foul measures of persuasion, but you have pushed me, Aodhn. Why cant you just see that this is for your own good as well as the good of the entire continent? She had said it to him, and before he knew it, she had pressed a shimmering rune to his forehead. That is a tracker. She had said, Its a gift to protect you. This way, I would know where you are at all times. When he had failed to squeal in excitement at her gift, she shook her head wearily as if he were being obstinate. In time, you will thank me for this; for now, I shall assume that you do not know what youre doing. Aodhn shook his head wearily and slowly banged his head against the wall. Was the principals proposal such a bad idea? Not really. He wanted to grow stronger, and the end goal of her plan was to make him so. What he hated was the fact that she wanted to control him, to mold him into an image that she wanted, and to forge him into a weapon that she could aim at her enemies. He had to find a way out of this situation, but the most pressing problem was the rune she had placed inside him. He couldnt feel or sense it, but he knew it was there, and he hated that. He controlled his own fate. He held the will of an ascendant within him; he wasnt weak. He would overcome this. He would find a way out of this situation. He remained in the hallway for almost an hour, and by the time he was leaving, he had come to one conclusion. If principal Zatya wanted to mold him into a weapon, then he would become a weapon, but he would wield himself. He would never become the mindless killing machine that she wanted; he would fight on his own terms, and if it all came crashing down, he would die on his own terms. .. Warren village, sector 12. Things had been quiet in Warren ever since the soldiers left the village a few weeks ago. There had been no disputes or conflicts, but it was obvious that the villagers were unhappy, angry, and disappointed, not just with the kingdom but also with the awakened council. For obvious reasons, the villagers had directed their anger and hate toward the Brystions, either at the behest of some members of the awakened council or of their own volition. Ever since the day the news of Aodhns and Daruks disappearance had come to light, the villagers had raged and protested, threatening to hide away their own children until the mayor had announced the punishment meted out to the Brystions for their actions. The announcement had placated the villagers a little, but ever since then, Unrid and Synov have been ostracized and shunned by their neighbors, except for a few who sympathize with them. Aldric had returned to the 12th academy a week later, when things had calmed a little and Unrid and Synov had taken up their hoes and ploughs. With the little money they had left, they dug a well in their backyard and converted a small patch of land behind them into a farm. Synov has cried herself to sleep ever since, as she suffered both from missing her children and the depressive situation they were currently in. Unrid tried his best to comfort her, but there was little he could do, and Synov sometimes directed her anger at him for sending the children away. Now, more than two weeks had passed since then, and theyd finally settled into a sort of rhythm. They made their way to the farm every morning, wetting and weeding their mounds, but there was little hope of anything growing, not with the continuous lack of rain. Yet they plowed on, refusing to give up. They both felt the absence of their children deeply: Aodhns seriousness and honesty, Daruks etiquette and propriety, and Aldrics feigned nonchalance and sarcasm. Unrid sighed as he carried the watering can to another mound and began watering it. Due to the lack of rain, the land had hardened, making it much harder for the plants to grow, but they couldnt afford to wait for the rainy season as they would have run out of food by then. A few hours later, Synov dropped her watering can and sighed. We are through; all we need to do is come back in the evening for another round. Unrid nodded and grabbed the two cans, but as they made their way back to the house, a man dressed in a black and silver military uniform suddenly appeared before them. His dark hair fell to his shoulders, and two black bands ringed his gray pupils. The man had dark bronze skin that shone slightly, and he carried himself with a confident and self-assured bearing. He stood about 6 feet tall and looked only a little older than Aldric, yet Unrid immediately dropped the watering cans and subtly moved to hide Synov from view. He would have to be blind and stupid not to sense the presence and power that the young man exuded. It was obvious he wasnt from around here, maybe not even from the sector, as soldiers were usually stationed at the seventh sector. If the man truly was from the 7th sector, then what business did he have with the village? More importantly, what was he doing on their farm? Synov tensed behind him, and he felt her hands clench in anger at the sight of the uniform she had grown to hate. Before she could say a word, though, Unrid gave a polite bow and asked, What brings you to our humble farm, sir?" Surprisingly, the man responded with a similar bow. My apologies; my name is Kaelith Dalquor, an emissary of the 5th academy. He displayed his ID card before proceeding. I was sent here by the principal of the 5th academy to inform you, firstly, that both of your children were successfully admitted into the school. Oh Unrid. Synov gasped in excitement as she came out from behind him and hugged him. It was not in vain; they did it. Unrid let out a heavy breath, one he didnt realize hed been holding, and he almost staggered in relief. Their greatest worry had just been eliminated. Unrid believed in his children, but he had feared and doubted. The news was so pleasant that he and Synov soon found themselves laughing and crying happily. They forgot their sorrows for the moment, and it wasnt until the emissary coughed that they realized he was still there. Thank you so much, sir; youve given us such wonderful news. Unrid said to the emissary, who smiled and began explaining the events that happened during the tournament. When he finished, Unrid and Synov were beside themselves with pride and excitement. Oh, I knew he could do it. Synov cried with joy, her face flush with excitement so pure that the wrinkles on her face disappeared. Unrid was simply overwhelmed, and having no words to express his pride and relief, he simply waved for the emissary to continue. Considering Aodhns amazing feats, the 5th academy wants to keep him from transferring to either the 1st or 2nd academy, so we made a deal with him, and he has requested that you both be relocated to the 5th sector. What?! Unrid exclaimed and exchanged a wide-eyed glance with Synov, who seemed to have been frozen in shock. Rest assured, accommodations have been provided, although the hunt for jobs is still ongoing." Wait! Calm down Unrid interrupted as he tried to process the emissarys words. You mean the 5th Academy has provided jobs and accommodations for us? Yes. Kaelith replied with a tired smile. He loved his job as an emissary of good news, but sometimes, delivering bad news was just so much easier. Unrid and Synov stared at the emissary in shock, but Synov burst out laughing a moment later and asked. Do we have to go immediately? Theres still a lot we have to attend to; besides, we need to inform our eldest son. No, you dont have to be relocated immediately, in fact. Kaelith took out a small pouch and gave it to Unrid. I was ordered to give this to you. It should be enough to transport you and your family to the 5th sector whenever youre ready. Unrid opened the pouch, and his eyes bulged when he saw the shimmering gold coins clinking within it. This is he struggled to find the right words, but eventually settled for a simple thank you. The emissary nodded and handed over a small device covered in shimmering blue runes. This is a locator talisman. All you have to do is imbue it with energy anywhere in the 5th sector, and Ill be able to find you. Unrid accepted the talisman carefully, still in a daze, while Synov offered their gratitude once more. The emissary disappeared a moment later, leaving them to stare at the talisman and the pouch of gold coins in amazement. After several moments of silence, Unrid turned to Synov and smiled. Send a letter to Aldric; we need to discuss our new future as soon as possible. Chapter 59: Weaving Willpower Unlike skills that are created, techniques can be passed down and taught to others. Theyre usually sold for credits by the Adventurers Guild or wandering mercenaries. The sale of a good technique has the ability to raise a poor farmer into a wealthy noble in an instant. But make no mistake, the truly powerful techniques are usually kept secret. Aegon Matred, High Duke of Blood. Sunstone Kingdom, Year 2256.
After his meeting with principal Zatya, Aodhn made his way to the library, not because he had anything of importance that he wanted to read but because he needed to think, and the library was the only place he could get a modicum of privacy aside from his own room. A ping sounded in his mind, and he found half a dozen concerned messages, all from Andrew and Daruk, already waiting for him. He sighed and replied to their texts, telling them not to worry and that he was fine. Andrew was more curious as to what had caused his scuffle with Cyrus, but he obviously couldnt tell them that, so he ignored the message instead and focused on the problem at hand. He had no idea what Principal Zatyas plans were or how she intended to turn him into an eldritch terror like the abyssal wraith. Whatever her plans were, though, they couldnt be easy or good. Aodhn couldnt deny that a small part of him was looking forward to whatever the principal had in store for him, but a much larger part rebelled against the idea. The life of a soldier had never really interested him, and after the catastrophic vision hed had of Az, it interested him even less. He walked into the library a few minutes later and began perusing the shelves. He wasn''t really looking for anything in particular, but the action calmed him, and after several minutes, he stopped before a shelf filled with novels. Unlike on earth, where novels were usually fictional, the books in this section were more realistic, although he wouldnt be surprised if the exploits of most characters had been exaggerated. He picked out a book on the exploits of ascendant candidate Lightus Mirevael, a high duke currently residing in the capital sector. He took the slim book and made his way to his usual desk. The book mainly spoke about his adventures during his younger years, and Aodhn was mildly surprised to learn that that man was almost 200 years old. It was no secret that the stronger one became, the longer they lived, but death came to everyone eventually, and the only way to avoid it was by ascending and becoming immortal. Before long, Aodhn forgot about his current problems as he delved into the life of the high duke. Like his name suggests, ascendant candidate Lightus had a light affinity and was reputed to be one of the strongest individuals on the continent. Aodhn shook his head as he read further. If there were so many powerful people on the continent, why havent they solved the problem of the curse by now? Something about the principals story wasnt adding up. Also, was it truly possible that Attilan had forgotten about Lutia? Surely they must have spies and agents monitoring the situation of things, and if they did, then they must know that Lutia was no longer under the effect of the limit as they had been five hundred years ago, and if they knew that, why were they not attacking? Why were they simply content to watch as their enemies grew in power? He shook his head when he realized hed been staring into space for a long time. He checked the time and cursed when he realized he only had a few minutes left before control training began. He quickly returned the book to the shelf and made his way out of the library. He arrived at the hall a few minutes later and found that almost all the meditation mats had been taken. His eyes scanned the gathered students, and he caught the eyes of Cyrus and his friends. Hostile barely described the looks they sent him, and he shook his head. It would have been nice to have friendly competitors, but Aodhn found that he didnt much mind the alternative. If Cyrus wanted to be enemies, then so be it. He found Daruk and Andrew quietly conversing at one corner of the hall, and he made his way towards them. They looked up when he approached, and Daruk asked in concern. Where have you been? Weve been trying to reach you for the last two hours." Aodhn checked his messages and realized that Daruk had texted him half a dozen times in the last two hours. He must have been so distracted that he failed to even register the pings in his own mind. Im sorry, I was at the library. He replied and pointed to an empty mat behind them. Is that taken? No, we reserved it for you. Andrew replied, and Aodhn thanked them. When he sat down, Daruk whispered. Are you alright? Everyones been gossiping about you and Cyrus all day. What happened? Yeah. Andrew added. You rushed out of the hall, and the next minute, you and Cyrus were trading blows in the hallway. I didnt even know you guys had beef." We didnt have beef. Aodhn turned to catch Cyrus, still staring at him. But apparently, we now do. Is this about the girl? Lupin? Daruk asked, but before Aodhn could respond, Andrew spoke. If its because of Lupin, I would advise that you simply let her go. As much as I ignore propriety and status, I know it is a terrible idea for you or anyone here to go up against Cyrus; hes the son of a duke. Rather than argue with them and tell them they were wrong, Aodhn nodded. Youre right. Thank you for the advice." That seemed to settle things for Andrew, but Daruk glared at him suspiciously. Before the discussion could proceed any further, though, Master Lamarr walked into the hall and proceeded to her usual spot in front of the class. Good evening, students, I must confess that I am amazed at how far youve all progressed with the weaves. Today, Ill be electing ten who have shown excellent control to help those who are still struggling. Aodhn groaned when she began calling names; if she called his name, this would be an epic disaster. Fortunately, the world wasnt so cruel, but the new arrangement was still disadvantageous to him. He usually spent this time harnessing and taming his willpower, but now he couldnt just pretend to be listening to the lecture; he had to actively participate. Master Lamarr called on Cyrus, Yurin, Isis, Alesh, Eren, and five other students before dividing the class into groups of nine and assigning a student to each group. More than a few students turned to stare at him curiously, questioning his absence from the list of students Master Lamarr had called. It was no secret that his control was excellent, but since hed barely participated in the class since it began, many had begun speculating that this amazing control was a fluke. Aodhn ignored them, aware that it was only a matter of time before the truth eventually came out. Until then, though, he would guard it jealously.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Fortunately or unfortunately, Yurin was the student assigned to their group. Aside from Andrew and Daruk, Aodhn only recognized two other people in his group. One was Derek Sylithen, the diminutive boy with silver and purple hair who had answered a question in Valeries class, while the other was Tobais Menzies, who had once been among the top ten students on the tower leaderboards but now occupied the 49th position. Yurin grinned as he began explaining the process of creating weaves and the ways to train the mind on how to focus on multiple weaves at once. I can currently create eighteen weaves at once. Yurin said after a few minutes of explanation. Its not easy, but it gets easier with practice. How about I give a demonstration, and then you all try? Aodhn groaned internally. If he refused to partake in the exercise, he would draw the teachers attention, and if he did partake and failed to create the weaves, then he would still draw the teachers attention. He exchanged glances with Daruk and Andrew, both of whom found the situation thoroughly amusing. Daruk whispered. At worst, well fail to create a single weave and get mocked by the entire class. No. Andrew disagreed. Failing would only call attention to us because no one in their right mind would believe that two of the strongest people in the entire class cant create a single weave. Were three, Andrew. Aodhn corrected, but Andrew shook his head. Im not as strong as you guys; I dont think people would find it hard to believe that I cant create a single weave. Look around, Andrew; the weakest person here can at least create five. Daruk muttered. Aodhn shook his head as Daruk and Andrew began arguing. The perfect imbuement technique wasnt a life-threatening secret; in fact, it probably wasnt even a secret at all, as Aodhn didnt believe he was truly the first person to create such a technique. But the technique gave him an edge over his peers, and he wasnt ready to give that up yet. What use was an edge if the entire world had it? Besides, it was too powerful to share with his classmates. The argument finally came to an end when Yurin called the first person in the group for their demonstration. The girl created seven weaves at once and was applauded by the rest of the group, including Aodhn, who was still thinking of a way to get himself out of this situation. The second person created six weaves, while the third created nine. Derek created thirteen weaves, but Tobias only created eight. They were both applauded, but just as Yurin called the sixth person for her demonstration, Master Lamarr suddenly arrived to inspect their group. I trust things are going well, Yurin? She asked, and Yurin nodded. "Yes, master Lamarr; in fact, Emily was just about to give us a demonstration. Aodhn sighed, frustrated, as Master Lamarr motioned for Emily to proceed. How could he lie himself out of this situation with Master Lamarr watching like a hawk? He didnt want to seem proud, but he was pretty sure shed timed her arrival to watch him and Daruk. She obviously wasnt stupid, and she must have noticed their lack of participation in the previous classes. Emily only managed to create five weaves, which was the lowest hed seen so far aside from himself, Andrew, and Daruk. As one, the focus on the entire group landed on him, as he was the 7th member of the group, and he finally realized just how curious his classmates were of him. Even the other groups had halted their exercise to watch him, and Aodhn could practically see the questions burning in their eyes. Is he stronger than me? Is he stronger than Cyrus? Was his victory in the tournament a fluke? Aodhn took a deep breath and prepared to disappoint them. The weaving technique was much simpler, truly, but the reason he was finding it so hard was because hed already perfected the imbuement technique, which was more powerful than the weaves. It was like trying to write with his toes after perfecting writing with his hands. It wasnt just hard; it was almost impossible. He closed his eyes and focused on his energy and willpower, and an instant later, he channeled them through his pathways and out of his hands. That was the easy part, yet he had only managed to create a single strand, and he could already hear the confused whispering of his classmates. He shook his head, dreading the reactions his next action would spark, and focused on the strands of energy and willpower floating before him. He futilely tried to weave the strands together, but like water, they constantly slipped through his mental fingers and were almost impossible to grasp. After an entire minute of failure, he opened his eyes and dismissed the strands. Sorry to disappoint you, Master Lamarr, but I cannot do it. The confused whispers rose, and a roar of laughter erupted from a corner of the hall, but Aodhn didnt bother looking; instead, he focused his attention on Master Lamarr. Rather than the disappointment hed expected, her expression was completely neutral, and when the laughter finally died down, she said, You cannot do it because youve learned a better technique, am I right? Aodhn hesitated for a moment before giving a single nod in response. The whispers died as the students focused on their conversation. Master Lamarr turned to Daruk and Andrew. I take it; this is the same technique that both of you have learned. Yes. Daruk replied, while Andrew simply nodded in agreement. Master Lamarr frowned slightly, thinking for a moment, before she suddenly turned back to Aodhn and asked. Am I correct to assume that you created this technique yourself? Aodhn hesitated once again. It would be so much easier to say no, but he saw no need to lie about it. Besides, a part of him wanted to brag for once, to rub the faces of his rivals in mud, and so he replied. Yes. Another wave of confused whispers and gasps rose until Master Lamarr raised a hand and silence descended on the hall. She observed him carefully for a few seconds before she suddenly smiled and asked. Would you like to give us a demonstration of this technique, Mr. Brystion? Aodhn didnt mind at all. He turned to the wall opposite him and released a simple, un-empowered beam of lightning the size of his fist. It struck the wall an instant later but did no damage, and Aodhn said to master Lamarr, who was now standing beside him. Thats an un-empowered skill. Noted. She nodded. Now empower it. Aodhn didnt need to be told twice. He raised his hand to the wall again, and instantly, five strands of energized will zipped through his pathways as a beam of condensed lightning the size of his head shot out of his hand and struck the wall with a deafening roar. The impact shook the wall with unparalleled ferocity, causing minor shockwaves to ripple through the air and sending sparks flying in all directions. The once-invisible runes lit up, their golden glow intense as they tore the skill apart and absorbed its energy before it could do any further damage. The runes disappeared a moment later, leaving brilliant tendrils of electricity to dance and writhe across the surface of the wall, tracing intricate patterns of destruction in their wake. When things finally died down, Aodhn was surprised to see that the wall remained undamaged, save for a blackened patch the size of his palms that faded away the next second. The smell of ozone tainted the air, and Aodhn turned to see the horrified and amazed expressions of his classmates. He would be lying if he said he wasnt enjoying the look on their faces. The fear, awe, envy, disgust, and lust that he found on their faces almost made him giddy with happiness. His problems melted away, and a part of him wondered, Would it be so bad to let himself be molded into a weapon? Would it be so terrible to instill fear and horror into the hearts of his enemies? To let the principal make him a monster? Yes. That last part was terrible, but the other two werent bad at all. Master Lamarr stared at the wall for a moment before she asked. Would you like to share this technique with the class? Id rather not. Aodhn replied, and he could almost taste the disappointment of the other students. Master Lamarr, on the other hand, simply shrugged. Its alright; every awakened worth their seals must eventually create their own techniques anyway. She turned to the rest of the class. Theres nothing more to say on the matter. If you havent realized the importance of control yet, then theres nothing I can do to help you. We all saw the skill in its raw form and the exponential increase that Aodhns control technique produced. Like I always say, control is important. It bridges the gap between tiers, which you can all see in your leaderboards. She observed the silent students for a moment. That is all for today. Five points each to the ten students who helped me today, and thirty to you, Aodhn. Five for that beautiful display, and twenty-five for creating your own technique. Have a good day, everyone. Immediately after Master Lamarr dismissed the class, Aodhn, Andrew, and Daruk walked out of the hall with the envious and amazed stares of their classmates boring into them. They were only a few feet away from the entrance when a voice rang out. Wait! Aodhn! Aodhn turned around to see Imani rushing towards him, her textbooks clutched tightly in her arms, and when she reached him, she gasped. Teach me your technique, please. Chapter 60: Soaring the skies The connection between a bond and their familiar is a two-way street that is extremely hard to manage as their emotions bleed into each other, and sometimes it becomes difficult for the bond to differentiate between their own emotions and those of their familiar. This bleed only gets worse or better with time, depending on how you look at it, and is usually the main cause of the insanity of familiars. Research study on the creation and bonding of familiars within the origin planes. Associate Professor Arnold Ershing. Sector 5, Ragnarok.
Aodhn turned to see Imani rushing towards him, her textbooks clutched tightly in her arms. When she reached him, she gasped. Teach me your technique, please." Before he could respond, Daruk did. Were very sorry, Imani, but we cannot help you. Imani was taken aback, not expecting such a direct and cold refusal from them, and she stammered. I taught you mine; before the tournament, I showed you my technique. Daruk glanced at Aodhn and sighed. We understand, and as much as we appreciate you, our decision remains the same. No, you dont understand. Imani shook her head frantically. I am one of the weakest students in our year, and if I dont step up, I will wash out, and I cannot afford to fail. Its the first week of resumption, Imani; you might want to dial the desperation back a little. Someone shouted from behind her, and Aodhn glared at the person. It wasnt someone he recognized; still, the boy flinched back and dove to hide behind a group of students exiting the hall. Lets talk in a more private space. Aodhn led them to an empty area at the far end of the hallway, and immediately they stopped, Imani asked. What do you want me to do? Ill do anything; Ill take an oath of silence." Okay, calm down. Aodhn interrupted with wide eyes. He knew Imani was scared of failure, but he hadnt quite realized just how desperate she was to pass. That idiots right, this is just the first week; hell, its only the third day. You have an entire year to climb up the forge list. No, I need to climb now. Imani shook her head in frustration. I can''t afford to wait till the midterms; I need to take action. My family" Are the Blackwells? Andrew finally spoke up and turned towards Aodhn. Imani is a distant descendant of Erina Blackwell, the abyssal terror. Aodhns eyes widened as his thoughts came to a halt. No wonder she was so desperate for strength, going so far as to suggest an oath! Aodhn sighed as he tried to imagine the amount of pressure she was under. The descendant of an ascendant failing the academy would create such a scandal in the noble circles that her familys reputation was sure to take a serious hit. Aodhn exchanged a look with Daruk and sighed. It was hard for him to refuse her, especially because she was the reason hed been able to create the imbuement technique in the first place. It was also because of her help that hed won the tournament and gained a unique bloodline. How could he turn her away now that she needed his help? But Daruk was right; the imbuement technique might be powerful now, but it had the potential to become astounding. By the time he reached the 50th tier, he would be able to imbue each skill with over 30 strands of energized will. How devastating would his skills be then? He couldnt afford to simply give out the technique to anyone; in fact, now that he thought of it, he realized just how powerful and dangerous the technique was. As much as he wanted to help Imani, he couldnt afford to take such a risk. What if the technique ended up in the hands of someone who sought to use it for evil? It would be foolish of him to take such a risk; besides, as Master Gyatso once said, one is a secret, and three is not. Now that three people already knew, which was already a risk, he couldnt afford to increase that number to four, so as much as it pained him, he shook his head. Im sorry, Imani, but I cannot help you. He turned away from her immediately, and Daruk squeezed his shoulders lightly. You did the right thing. Aodhn nodded, and they silently made their way to the cafeteria. Before they reached the round building, though, Andrew paused and turned to Aodhn. Ive just realized how risky it was for you to trust me with your technique, and for that, I swear an oath on my core never to share it with anyone. The oath took effect before any of them could stop or reject it, and there was a moment of awkward silence as it settled into place. Aodhn and Daruk stared wide-eyed at Andrew. To take a core oath was not a simple thing, but Aodhn felt a weight lift his shoulders. A part of him had been scared of the consequences of sharing his technique with Daruk, but now he could rest easy, certain that the technique would never get out. Thank you, Andrew; that couldnt have been easy. It wasnt, Andrew replied sourly. But it was necessary. They continued their walk to the cafeteria in a lighter mood, and after filling their bellies, they began discussing their classes and whatever problems they were currently having. It was only the third day of classes, but so much had already happened. Aodhn pushed all thoughts of the Attilan continent and the principal out of his mind, choosing to focus on much lighter topics like how he was still keeping his identity secret from Daruk. Now that the principal knew, he saw little reason to keep it from him anymore. If anyone should know, it should be Daruk. Besides, it would be nice to have someone to share his recent predicament with rather than go through whatever hell the principal had planned for him alone. There was also the matter of the limit, and although he wished he could discuss it with Daruk, he was unfortunately unable to. Perhaps he could dissuade him from taking the oath when the ceremony finally came up, but Daruk was tooThe tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. curious to keep himself from knowing. Not knowing the truth while everyone else did and couldnt tell him would probably drive him insane. On the other hand, not knowing was detrimental to his potential. Aodhn couldn''t be by his side all the time, and without him, it was only a matter of time before Daruk absorbed a conceptual core and eventually hit a limit. Aodhn sighed and shifted his mind to a less depressing issue that involved Varc. He hadnt had the time to converse with the Fury, as he only actually let him out at night, but that wasnt healthy and could build resentment between them. He needed to find a way to spend more time with Varc, but he barely had enough for himself as it was. After class each day, he spent his time either reading, meditating, or practicing runes (which was a recent addition to his already choked schedule). He also had to spend time honing his control and trying to create new skills, not to mention the fact that he had no idea what the principal had in store for him or how much of his soul her wicked plans would require. He sighed as his shoulders suddenly grew heavy. There was so much to do, but so little time to accomplish it. They finally left the cafeteria an hour later, and after parting ways with Daruk and Andrew, Aodhn wearily made his way to his house. Today had been hectic and mentally draining, and right now he just wanted to crawl into bed and sleep. He walked into the living room a moment later and found Meredith and Marcellus curled up on a couch, both almost entirely naked as they sucked on each others faces. They looked up immediately after he walked in, and Meredith purred. Oh, if it isn''t, Mr. I created a new technique. Marcellus scoffed while Merediths gaze roved his body lustfully, but Aodhn was too weary for their shenanigans, so he turned his gaze to an empty couch at one corner of the room and sighed. I dont know what you both gain from this mindless game, but like I said earlier, do not involve me in it. The illusion shattered to reveal Marcellus and Meredith seated on the empty cushion, both completely decent and seated several feet apart. He had no idea what game Meredith was playing or what Marcelluss motives were, and with all the problems he currently had, he couldnt care less. Marcellus looked completely confused, and Aodhn could practically hear the cogs in his mind turning as he tried to figure out how hed seen through the illusion. Meredith sneered and stood up from the couch. Youre just a commoner, yet, you seem to think youre so much better than the rest of us; its no wonder Cyrus detests you. Aodhn ignored them, but just as he climbed the stairs, the door was pushed open, and Eren walked in, followed closely by Imani, who seemed to have been crying. After an awkward glance in his direction, she ran to her room, leaving Eren, whose expression was, as usual, a mask of neutrality and composure. He nodded to Aodhn, though, and said. You were impressive in class today. Thank you? Aodhn replied, more than a little surprised at the compliment. Perhaps he and Eren didnt have to be enemies. He doubted they could be friends, though, but he wasnt averse to being civil. Without sparing the duo a glance, Eren walked towards Imanis room, and because he was feeling a little petty, Aodhn said to Marcellus. Now, look whos cuddling up to nobles. Marcelluss expression soured, but before he could come up with a suitable response, Aodhn had already made his way up the stairs. Immediately he stepped into his room, though Varc rushed out of his spirit and growled in annoyance. I know, I know, Im sorry, Aodhn replied with a sigh. I promise to do better. Unappeased, Varc growled even more, and small arcs of electricity crackled around his fangs. Okay, calm down, Aodhn replied with a placating gesture, but Varc wasnt having it, and he let out another growl that sounded almost like a whine. I know furies are meant to soar through the skiesVarc growled again, so he quickly corrected himselfstormclouds, I mean. You know what? Ill ask Rahim for permission tomorrow." Varc reared his sinuous neck back and growled with an expression that screamed, Are you fucking kidding me?! Aodhn raised his hands in frustration and grumbled. Fine, Ill do it now.He moved towards the couch and sent a polite text to Rahim, asking for his permission to let Varc soar into the skies tonight. When he didnt receive a reply after a few minutes, he turned to Varc and glared. There I tried; no reply yet. Varc growled sadly, and he sighed. Ill ask him tomorrow, I promise, and then you can finally let loose. Varc growled in acceptance and stretched until he occupied the whole bed, still his tail and wings dangled off the edge, scraping noisily against the wooden floor. In his bid to find a comfortable position, his tail knocked off the bedside lamp, along with a pile of textbooks, and Aodhn shook his head. This day just keeps getting better and better. He muttered as he scooped up the textbooks and moved them to the couch, after which he made his way to the bathroom. The water from the shower was warm and pleasant, so he ended up spending almost thirty minutes in the bathroom. A ping resounded in his mind the moment he stepped out of the bathroom, and he opened his notifications to find a message of approval from Rahim. Well, Rahim said yes. Varc roared and sprang up from the bed in excitement, unintentionally shredding the bedsheets with his claws, but Aodhn wasnt too bothered. Self-repair and all. Varc returned to his spirit a moment later, as there were no openings large enough for him to fly out of. Varcs anticipation and urgency bled into his emotions, and Aodhn soon found himself filled with energy and giddy excitement. He grabbed the first pair of trousers he saw and didnt even bother with a shirt before jumping out of the window. Varc rushed out of his spirit as soon as the evening breeze touched his face, and Aodhn immediately grabbed onto him. It only took a few seconds for Aodhn to create a sort of rein and saddle that kept him firmly affixed to Varc, and an instant later he smiled. "Okay, buddy, Im ready. Varc shot towards the clouds like a bullet, his large wings spread out and crackling with arcs of electricity. A roar of excitement ripped out of Varc, and in his excitement, Aodhn lost control of his voice, so when he shouted alongside Varc, the sound that emerged was like a clap of thunder that only fueled Varcs excitement. Oops. Aodhn chuckled as he brought his voice back under control, but any embarrassment he may have felt vanished the moment Varc broke through the false clouds of dusk, and Aodhn experienced an overwhelming feeling of freedom as he turned to stare at the city spread out below him. Euphoria washed through him as he took in the jumble of black, blue and silver that shone to his senses even from this height. The tower of Ardelia was the largest structure in the whole sector, and it blazed to his senses, bathing the entire sector in golden light. Their emotions bled into each other, mixing and building until he felt drunk on elation. Varc roared once more as he tore through the clouds, spinning and twisting in excitement. Aodhn finally realized what hed been missing, keeping Varc cooped up within his spirit for the past few days, and decided to do better. They soared for hours, and it was only when he remembered that he had to wake up early the next day that he forced himself and Varc to descend. Varc growled in contentment as he landed on the rooftop, and Aodhn chuckled. Well do this again tomorrow. He slid from Varcs back, just as contented, and turned around to find Eren and Imani staring at him, partially hidden by shadows. They were seated close to each other on a benchtoo close in his opinion, and Aodhn could almost imagine what hed interrupted. Varc growled threateningly, but Aodhn shushed him gently, and a moment later, he returned to his spirit. Imani looked flush with embarrassment, and even Erens usual mask of composure had crumpled. Their eyes took in the glowing cracks on his exposed skin, but now that Varcs tattoo obscured his transmigrant one, he had nothing to worry about. Trying to make things a little less awkward for the two, he gestured to the sky, Beautiful sky tonight, right? Eren seized the opportunity. Yes, Imani needed to clear her head, so I decided to accompany her. Aodhn nodded as a small pang of regret hit him, but he dismissed the emotion and nodded. Ill leave you guys to it then. It wasnt too surprising to know that his housemates were making out with each other; really, even the academy must have expected it, but it made him envious that he was now the only member of House 14 left unattached. Not that he wanted to be attached at the moment, what with all the problems he was currently dealing with, but perhaps he could squeeze out time for that date with Lupin after all. When he got to his room, he simply walked towards his bed and collapsed, too relaxed and happy to do anything else, and before long, sleep claimed him. Chapter 61: Forge mastery The pursuit of mastery in the art of forging stands as a major cornerstone of magical craftsmanship, and its importance cannot be overestimated, particularly in a kingdom as illustrious as ragnarok, whose major resource lies in the export of ragnar steel. Learning to create magical items is a significant and noble profession, Regrettably, amidst the corridors of nobility, such esteemed craftsmanship is often relegated to the realm of the plebeian, a shortcoming in their discernment that warrants contemplation. Alfrit Demodred. Forge master of the 5th academy. Sector 5, Ragnarok.
Aodhn jerked awake about an hour before dawn, his heart racing as the nightmare-induced terror slowly loosened its grip on him. He shut his eyes tightly as he tried to purge the flashes of blood and gore from his mind, but his efforts were futile. He didnt need a therapist to tell him that the nightmares were manifestations of his guilt and that they were a way his mind was attempting to process the emotional turmoil and cognitive dissonance associated with the event of the Raventhorn. He knew all that, and although he wasnt plagued by the dreams daily, hed had four different versions of the same nightmare in the last two weeks alone. Perhaps I should be thankful they dont occur daily. Aodhn thought to himself as he settled down and sighed. He stared at the ceiling for a long time and whispered. Its not your fault, Aodhn. Weve been over this; it would have happened anyway. A few seconds later, he repeated the words again, and continued doing so until his guilt receded and he could finally focus on other things. He turned to check the time and sighed when he realized that he only had about forty-five minutes left before he had to be at the gymnasium, so although his body protested, he climbed out of bed and made his way to the bathroom. Fifteen minutes later, he was dressed in his extracurricular uniform. He took his time lacing up his boots, but after properly adjusting his storm scarf, he realized he still had about twenty minutes left, which was more than enough time to make it to the gym. Rather than fly towards the gym on a construct like many others were doing, he decided to trek instead, and with a thought, he reviewed his status. . [STATUS] Name: Aodhn Ashoka-Brystion. Title: Neophyte, Storm Spirit, Bronze, Origin Marked. Class: Evolved storm awakened: 99.9% (PENDING) Tier: 18-26. 63% Glimpse--->Grasp----> Opening: Increases elemental affinity and abilities by 2.5% Techniques: perfect will imbuement (5). Skills {Innate}: [Storm creation and manipulation] [Lightning creation and manipulation] {Other}: [Lightning surge] [Lightning beam] [Lightning descent] [Create constructs] [Absorb lightning] [Spear rainLightning] [Spear rainStorm]. Bloodline: Origin Storm supremacy. {Unique} ? amplifies storm abilities by 3% ? Grants major resistance to lightning ? Aura of Origin supremacy. Familiar: Dragonkin {Storm Fury} Perks: psychic bond. There were no new changes or upgrades, but it was good to see how far hed come. He was now so much stronger than hed been just a month ago, and that was something to be proud of. He didnt bother calling on Andrew or Daruk, wanting to enjoy this trek without their squabbles and constant bickering which, though, was usually enjoyable, he wasnt in the mood today. He felt somber, maybe a little depressed after the nightmare, and he really just wanted some peace and quiet. He arrived at the gym with about four minutes to spare, and after a nod to coach Harvey, he walked towards the assistant coach, Miss Greene, and collected his null armor. He began his laps a moment later, and although he tried to focus on his current activity, his mind was a jumbled mess of thoughts and emotions that made it hard for him to even think. He finished the laps about an hour later, cutting an entire half hour from his initial run, but the victory brought him no joy, sadness, or anything; he just felt empty. Somehow, Daruk and Andrew realized he was having a crappy day, so they let him be, although Daruk still knocked on his bath stall to ask if he was alright. Im fine. Aodhn replied. I''m just having a bad day, but Ill get over it. There was a beat of silence as Daruk hesitated for a moment before replying. Okay, if its what I think it is, try not to blame yourself too much. Aodhn didnt respond, but he let out a quiet chuckle. Daruk knew him too much, too well, and sometimes it was uncomfortable, but right now, it made him feel seen and warm. It was as if knowing what was wrong had lifted half the burden from his shoulders, and he suddenly felt much lighter. He wondered how Daruk dealt with his own trauma, as the event had definitely scarred him too, even if it wasnt as deep as his own. Now that he wasnt so engrossed in his own problems, though, Aodhn suddenly realized that he hadnt even asked Daruk how he was faring, both mentally and emotionally, and he felt a pang of guilt.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. He needed to change that and do better. Hed been so focused on his own problems that hed forgotten to check in on Daruk, his own brother! Life is hard. He muttered to himself as he stepped out of the shower, cleaned himself, and put on his uniform before making his way to the cafeteria, where he had a quick but filling breakfast. After that, he made his way to the forge hall, where the class on forge mastery would be held. The forge hall was a forge that was barely large enough to comfortably accommodate more than fifty people at a time. As expected, the forge was hot and stifling, causing him to immediately break out in sweat. He was at a much higher tier of advancement, so the heat wasnt quite as uncomfortable as it had been when hed walked into the forge back at the Warren. Still, it was a terrible environment, only suitable for those who had at least a minor resistance to heat or those who could reduce the temperature of the area around them, like Daruk, who was also in the forge. The number of students currently within the forge was even smaller than those whod attended the class on runic theory, and when the forge master finally arrived, Aodhn counted a total of thirteen students, including himself. The forge master moved to stand before the massive runic forge in front of the hall, and after scrutinizing the gathered students, he spoke. I wont sugarcoat things; if you do not possess at least medium resistance to heat, this course is not for you. The man glared at them, his black-ringed orange pupils piercing and stern. He was tall, with skin the color of lava and hair as black as coal. In fact. He raised a finger and continued. If you have an affinity other than fire, heat, solar, light, and lava, you do not belong here because I have no interest in the torture of innocents. Leave now, while you still can. Aodhn sighed, grabbed his books, and was preparing to walk out of the class when Daruk asked. I have an ice talent and a forge skill, sir. Can I stay? The forge master observed him for a moment before he responded. You can stay, but I doubt youll gain any practical experience from this class. Well be working on metals and shaping them with heat, which is the opposite of your affinity, but like I said, youre free to stay. Daruk chose to stay, and Aodhn stepped out of the forge a minute later. He sighed of relief as a cool breeze touched him before making his way to the library. He hadnt really been interested in the forging part of the class, but in the process that usually came after, which was energy imbuement, It wasnt much of a loss, though, as the topic would also be discussed in runic theory. As he made his way to the library, he created a mental list of things he wanted to read about. First, he needed more information on how to better control Varc to prevent the loss of control that usually comes as a result of the intermingling of their emotions. That was the first and most important thing he wanted to figure out, but the Attilan continent and the curse were a close second. When he reached the library, he moved to the shelf housing various maps first, and began searching for a world map. One would think such information should have been widely spread, but it took him almost half an hour of searching to find it. He moved to his usual table beside the window and spread the map open. Ten minutes later, he realized that there were a total of 12 continents on ?FLYM, and Lutia was the smallest. The others were large, gigantic even, considering Lutias landmass. He searched for a while and soon found the Attilan continent, which was almost double the size of Lutia and was considered the 7th largest continent on the planet. A vast body of water separated it from Lutia, but a Tier 75 spatial elite should be able to make the jump easily. Why then had Attilan left them alone without any sort of supervision? How was it possible that they remained ignorant of the fact that Lutia had broken free of the curse? More importantly, were they ignorant of it, or was something else at play? He returned the map after several minutes of studying it and began searching through the history books for any mention of the Attilan empire, the curse, or the war that had taken place hundreds of years ago. He found nothing, save for a few scraps of unimportant information regarding their culture, cuisine, and legendary beauty. It was like the war never happened, like a part of history had been ripped out and replaced. After riffling through more than a dozen books, Aodhn began to doubt the accuracy of the principals words, but he felt that she had told him the truth. Perhaps, just like with the limit, the truth has been kept from the masses. He could think of a few reasons why such an action was taken, but one question kept troubling him, and he asked himself. Why were the kingdoms fighting amongst themselves when they had a common enemy? What did they stand to gain from this war? Was it a plot or a scheme meant to fool Attilan, or was it just foolishness? He gave up several hours later, and since he was still hesitant to go up to the 2nd floor alone, he decided to tackle the third issue on his list, which was the scripting of runes. He moved to the shelf dedicated to runes and began browsing through the available books. Fifteen minutes later, he placed three small books on the table and began to read. The first was a slim brown book, the width of his thumb simply titled Rune scripting tips, while the other two were focused on tricks and shortcuts to runic mastery. He spent an hour and a half reading through the three books, and in the end, he came to the conclusion that there was no shortcut or trick to runic mastery save for long and torturous practice. The books held a lot of helpful tips, though, ranging from proper pen handling to various visualization techniques. One even mentioned the use of a certain tool called the Baruch, forged from a transparent crystal commonly found in the Calodan desert. The tool was used to teach beginners, but it was insanely expensive, with each set costing about a hundred gold or more. Aodhn took down a few tips he wanted to try out and took comfort in the knowledge that the scripting of runes would become much easier the moment he mastered the first rune. He stood up and returned the books an hour before control training, but just as he stepped out of the library, the ping of a notification echoed in his mind, and he opened it to find a message from the principal asking him to come to her office immediately. He paused as fear curled in his guts, but it was soon replaced by anger, and in a bout of rebellion, he took his sweet time, walking slowly as he made his way to her office. When he finally arrived, principal Zatya smiled and gestured to the seat opposite her. Aodhn hesitantly walked forward, reminded once again that this woman was a Mythic, capable of grinding him to dust with a wave of her hands. Her pupilless eyes followed his movements carefully, as if studying every unconscious action he made. When he sat down, principal Zatya asked. So, have you accepted my offer? Aodhn frowned in confusion. You didnt give me much of a choice. Youyou threatened me. Principal Zatya chuckled and waved her hand dismissively. That is true, but what good is our deal if you do not accept it? Are you giving me a choice? No, but even when bad things happen, we have to accept them; besides, youll gain nothing from our training if you do not accept it. Im not against the training. Aodhns hands tightened in anger as he glared at the principal. Im against the fact that you want to create a monster of me against my own will. Principal Zatya frowned, and a tiny wisp of her aura leaked out, causing Aodhn to freeze. His body refused to move even an inch lest it offend the entity seated before it. Principal Zatya glared at him, and in a low tone, she said, I want to mold you into the best version of yourself, to train you so that the mention of your name instills fear in your enemies. I want to remake you into a weapon for this continent; you should be honored. She dismissed her aura, and the fear that held him captive subsided enough for him to speak. I dont want to join the war; I just want to live and grow in peace. Principal Zatya chuckled and leaned back into her chair. Child, you do not have a choice about the war; whether I force you or not, you will join it eventually. Youve caught the attention of too many to be simply left alone. Ive had to fend off calls and questions concerning you since the beginning of the term, and the moment you step out of the academy grounds, I wont be surprised if youre immediately approached by agents of the 1st and 2nd academies, not to mention several media personalities who are extremely curious to figure out how an evolved class awakened managed to bond a familiar of such caliber to himself. Her gaze darted to the chain around his neck before she continued. We are at war, Aodhn, and the sooner you accept the reality of things, the better for all of us. You have too much potential to remain on the sidelines; if you do join this war, it will come to you wherever you run. Aodhn sighed, knowing deep down that she was right, and after a moment of silence, he asked. What are your plans for me? Principal Zatya grinned. Oh, nothing sinister; in fact, from now on, we shall train on Sundays. I expect you to report to my office by 7 a.m. every Sunday morning. Will you be training me yourself? No darling. Principal Zatya smiled. Ill be supervising. Chapter 62: Oath ceremony In Lutia, adherence to the oath of silence is requisite across various strata of society. Everyone, from academy students to alumni, guild members, templars, and nobles, is bound by the oath. Yet, notably absent from this clandestine pact are the masses, particularly those inhabiting the lower sectors, who proceed through life ignorant of the truth, naively accepting the limit as a natural constraint. Despite the abundance of individuals privy to the truth regarding the limit, the deliberate concealment of such knowledge from the populace persists, with only the highest echelons of society, namely the royals and high dukes, possessing full awareness. Lutia thus emerges as a continent characterized by a labyrinth of secrecy and manipulation, leaving much to be desired in terms of transparency. Baroness Alicia Ravenborn. Human rights activist. Central Kingdom (Lutia). Year 2167.
After breakfast in the cafeteria the next day, Aodhn and Andrew made their way to the class on herbology and spirit plants. Unsurprisingly, the number of students present in the hall was only a little more than those whod attended the class on runic theory, as very few people wanted to study plants regardless of their usefulness. Surprisingly, Imani and Eren were also present, and even now he wasnt surprised to see her buried in the textbook, furiously jotting down important points like she had a test tomorrow. He shook his head and reminded himself that he had done the right thing. The {perfect imbuement} technique wasnt something he could be careless with; it was a legacy he could leave behind for his children if he ever had one. After watching her for a moment, he returned his attention to the discussion Andrew was having with Azul Fetherson, the girl who occupied the slot above his on the tower leaderboard. She was beautiful, even now, with her tongue sticking out of her lips and her hair packed in a messy bun. Aodhn shook his head, dispelling the thoughts before they could take root. It should be easy for you to create skills then, considering your concept. Andrew asked, and she chuckled. One would think so, but its much more complicated. The concept of imagination is rare, and there are only about four known individuals with the concept currently in the Kingdom. Unlike more popular concepts, I have little guidance on how to properly utilize mine, and to be honest, Im just stumbling around in the dark. Im sorry about that, but I want to understand how it works. Andrew pressed. Do you just imagine things and manifest them into reality? Yes. She replied smugly. As powerful as my concept is, though, it''s heavily dependent on willpower, and my skills take a large chunk of it every time I use them. She raised her pen and continued. For instance, if I want to create a pen, all I have to do is imagine it. An exact replica of the pen she held appeared in her other hand the next instant, and Aodhn had to admit that he was impressed. The ability to manifest ones imaginations and make them a reality was godlike, and it was no surprise that it had such a serious drawback. Curious, he leaned forward. Sorry to butt into your conversation, but Im curious, how much willpower did that cost you? The girl hesitated for a moment before she decided that the question didnt delve too deep into her secrets and responded. The pen was easy to create, since its a relatively small and mundane item, but anything magical or large takes a noticeable chunk of willpower. So, in essence, youre only limited by your willpower? Andrew asked. For now. The girl replied with a shrug. I intend to fix that soon. Aodhn nodded; he understood better now. The girl might not have noticed, but when shed created the pen, hed sensed her core strain slightly. If, at the 18th tier, she was still straining to create a pen, then the drawback of her concept was really steep. He tried to imagine how much more powerful she would be if she had access to the well of willpower that he and Daruk had, and it was scary; in fact, it would have made her a champion as she was already fighting four tiers up with her limited willpower. The conversation brought his mind back to the assignment Valerie Potts had issued, and before he forgot, he quickly submitted it. Their conversation continued for the next ten minutes, but came to a sudden stop when the teacher walked into the room. It was immediately obvious that she wasnt a staff member of the academy, judging by the four stripes on her uniform, and just like Aodhn, she had a severe bloodline manifestation. Vivid green vines had replaced her hair, and her skin had a rough-looking texture similar to bark. Her green pupils were ringed with yellow and orange bands, and a slight haze of verdant energy emanated from her. The scent of blooming flowers soon filled the hall, and the air became fresher and cleaner, causing most of the students to breathe in deeply and sigh in satisfaction. Good morning, students. Welcome to our first lecture on awakened plants and herbology. My name is Gwendolyn Blackwood, and in todays class, we''ll be exploring the existence and usefulness of awakened plants. She paused, giving the class enough time to take out their notes before she began. Awakened plants are divided into four categories, ranging from common, uncommon, epic, and spirit. Unlike the random awakening of humans, plants awaken as a result of their interactions with dense amounts of energy and essences around them, which then transform and imbue the plant with either elemental or conceptual qualities. Or, in some cases, awakened plants emerge as a result of the type of essence prevalent in a certain area. For example, it is not unusual to find a fire orchid growing around a volcano. It is much more common to find awakened plants in areas with dense amounts of energy and essence, like the upper sectors, but they can also be found in energy-starved regions such as the lower sectors. She turned towards the screen, which came on to reveal pictures of several mutated plants and trees. Awakened Plants found in the lower sectors are usually old, having taken centuries to mature and evolve. The most popular examples of such plants are the Areli, which grows at the edge of the 12th sector, and Jorgumien, which grows in the 9th sector. The Areli was discovered about two centuries ago, when it was still an epic plant, and has been heavily guarded ever since because of the amazing properties of its fruits, which it bears every 75 years. The Areli fruits are considered extremely potent alchemical resources, steeped in the concept of vitality. The alchemical potions created from these fruits are considered high-grade healing potions, capable of healing even the most dire of injuries in minutes. Aodhn took notes as she began to discuss the categories of awakened plants. The pictures on the screen shifted to display a set of blue plants covered in a slight haze of green energy.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. This is an example of a common awakened plant, and they can be found even in energy-starved sectors. They are almost no different from mundane plants and are usually used in the preparation of herbal teas and spices by individuals above the 25th tier. She waved again, and the picture changed, displaying a lager plant about 2 feet tall. The plant barely had a dozen leaves on its entire stem, but they all pulsed with black light, and a shimmering haze of black essence surrounded it. This is a shadow lily, an example of an uncommon awakened plant usually found in areas dense with shadow or darkness essence. The difference between uncommon and common awakened plants is simply the density of their auras, which can be observed in the displayed picture. The class continued for almost an hour as Gwendolyn detailed the uses of several awakened plants and the differences between their categories. The major difference, though, she mentioned, was in their auras. Epic-grade plants had a much more compact aura that was usually hard to detect, and spirit plants shielded their aura so completely that they could easily be mistaken for mundane plants. The only exception were the trees, who blasted their auras like the Areli, bathing their surroundings in their overwhelming vitality. What surprised Aodhn the most were the benefits of ingesting these plants, which ranged from pathway cleaning to enlightenment, which was only provided by spirit plants. As the class continued, Aodhn''s mind drifted, and he wondered if perhaps there was a plant out there that could cleanse the core itself. That would be a true game changer, a real cure for the limit, but he knew that if such a plant existed, then it would have been discovered by now. He returned his attention to the class when Andrew asked. What is the best way to ingest awakened plants? Awakened plants can be ingested raw, but studies have shown that they provide more benefits as potions. Gwendolyn replied. That brings us to the end of today''s class. Youre to read the texts from pages 14 to 25, where youll find a detailed explanation of the delicate process of harvesting awakened plants as well as how best to identify and find them. She dismissed the class half an hour later, and Aodhn exited the hall, chatting with Drew, but theyd barely taken more than a few steps away from the hall when their chips flashed with a general message, asking all first-year students to congregate in the orientation hall for a meeting. Aodhn stilled immediately after he read the message, as he already had an inkling of what the meeting was about. Andrew cleared his throat awkwardly and muttered. I suggest we find Daruk first. Aodhn nodded and sent a quick message to Daruk, but he shouldn''t have bothered, as Daruk appeared at the end of the hall a second later, a textbook on courtly affairs tightly clutched in his hands. Whys everyone acting weird? I mean, its just a meeting, he asked as soon as he got close enough to speak without shouting, and Andrew stiffened. Im just as confused as you are. Aodhn replied with a clueless smile. But whatever it is, well find out when we get to the meeting. Aodhn hated lying, but it wasnt like he could tell Daruk the truth, and he couldnt afford to tell Andrew either, not because he didnt trust him, but because explaining that hed figured out the limit by himself could indirectly lead to the exposure of his identity. They arrived at the orientation hall and moved to sit on an empty bench in the middle row. A few professors stood around the stage, and Aodhn saw Rahim conversing with Professor Aleran in hushed tones. The hall wasnt exactly silent, but it was so quiet that everyone knew something was up. Do you think somebody died? Daruk whispered as he observed the halls with furrowed brows. I dont know, Daruk; Im just as clueless as you are. Aodhn replied, and Andrew murmured. Well find out soon enough. Daruk stared at both of them, and Aodhn internally cursed when he suddenly frowned in suspicion. Nah, you guys know something. He smiled conspiratorially and whispered. Okay, you guys can tell me; Im good with secrets. Fortunately, Professor Dubois arrived in the hall at that moment, saving them from having to answer that question. The other professors stood up in respect as the mythic walked to stand among them like she was an ordinary, advanced-class professor. Aodhn understood that the presence of the professors was needed to lend the entire ceremony a sort of gravity and weight to help them take it seriously, but Professor Duboiss presence only seemed to make the students more anxious, and they began whispering to themselves. Just when he thought things couldnt get any more serious, principal Zatya appeared in the hall, and a complete silence descended with her presence. Aodhn nervously swallowed as her aura expanded to encapsulate them, and although it did them no harm, it kept him on edge. The principal observed the students silently, and when her gaze locked with his, she smiled subtly and spoke. We have gathered you all here because we have something extremely important to share with you concerning the true nature of the limit, but because of its sensitive nature, we cannot pass it along without receiving an oath of silence in return. Aodhn held his breath as the principal finished, and as expected, a wave of dissent rose up from the students. A core oath wasnt something to take lightly, as it involved willingly putting your life, core, and power at risk just to keep a secret. To make things even more complicated, Daruk was thoroughly against the idea, and he exclaimed. We are just children; you cannot force us into something as life-threatening as a core oath. We have no intention of forcing anyone. Principal Zatya spoke up, and although she didnt shout, her voice suppressed all the others. When silence reigned in the hall once more, she continued. If you want to leave, youre free to leave, but know that if you step out of this hall, youll be missing out on something of great importance to your advancement. Everyone you see on this stage right now couldnt have gotten to where they are now without this information, so like I said, we wont force you, but its in your best interest to stay. No, were not staying. Daruk stood up immediately, urging them to go with him, and Aodhn sighed. Lets just think about it for a moment. Are you crazy? Daruk asked incredulously. Do you both not realize the danger of a core oath? Surely youre not willing to put your life at risk for information you can get anywhere. You can''t, though. Andrew responded, his expression hard. I suggest you stay; like the principal said, you''ll benefit greatly from it. Daruk stared at the both of them in confusion, his gaze darting from one to the other as he tried to understand their lack of hesitation in taking this risk. Apparently, they knew something he didn''t, but before he could ask them what it was once again, the principal spoke. We know this is not an easy thing to ask any of you, and as much as I would love to give you all a day or two to process this, we do not have the time for that. Let anyone whos interested in taking the oath make their way to the stage immediately. Almost as one, as if theyd been coached on what to do, all the nobles stood up and walked towards the stage. Stay and take the oath; you won''t regret it. Andrew said to them as he stood up and walked towards the stage. Some of the commoners exchanged uncertain glances, and a few seconds later, they stood up and joined the nobles, leaving only about a dozen people still sitting. Something is wrong with you. Daruk glared at him. Im smart enough to know a scheme when I see it, and I know you realize the danger of taking this oath. What I want to know is why youre still seated here. Aodhns gaze locked with that of the principal, and he sighed. Youre right, I do know something, but I cant tell you unless you take the oath, but if you do, then I wouldnt need to tell you anymore. Daruks eyes widened in shock. Youre under oath? How? When did this happen? The how and when doesn''t matter, but I assure you that you need this information. Aodhn replied. Ive kept so many things from you, but if you take the oath, I''ll finally be able to share them with you. I want to share them with you. Daruk stared at him for a long moment before he slowly stood up, and together they walked towards the stage. At the end, only two people adamantly refused to take the oath, and they were politely escorted out of the hall. Principal Zatya waved a hand, and a large blue crystal the size of his head appeared in her hands. She raised the object into the air and said, This is an oath crystal; you will each touch it and say the words of the oath that I shall give you. Once that is done, we will share the truth with you. The students arranged themselves into a queue, starting with Cyrus, and after saying the words of the oath, he walked back to his seat. The queue moved quickly, and fifteen minutes later, it was Daruks turn. He hesitated for several seconds before placing his hands on the oath crystal and repeating after the principal. "I, Daruk Brystion, swear to keep the truth that I learn of this hour a secret, and I shall tell no one who doesnt already know. The crystal flashed, and Daruk grimaced as the oath wrapped itself around his core like metallic chains. He turned, and without a glance in Aodhns direction, he walked back to his seat. Aodhn walked up to the crystal, placed his hands on it, and repeated the words, and although the crystal flashed, no new chains appeared on his core. He walked back to his seat, and Andrew nodded to him. He nodded back and turned to Daruk, whose gaze remained firmly fixed on the stage. Deciding to let him be, Aodhn turned his attention back to the ceremony, which lasted for another five minutes before principal Zatya returned the crystal to her spatial space. A sense of anticipation filled the air now that everyone had taken the oath, and a moment later, she began. The limit is not a natural phenomenon like you believe and can in fact be prevented...
Chapter 63: Revealing secrets Secrets are like shadows lurking in the corners of our souls. They have weight, and they weigh down our souls, burden our minds, and shackle our spirits. Only when set free can one truly soar. Hilda Alderman. The Warren, Sector 12.
The oath ceremony lasted for almost an hour after the principal began speaking, but when she finally finished, the hall was silent as the students stared in confusion and disbelief. Aodhn didnt blame them; the topic of the limit was a lot to take in, especially when one realized they couldnt pass such vital information on to anyone, not even their family. What surprised and confused him was the fact that the principal had failed to mention the curse or even the Attilan continent, and the look shed sent him mid-speech was enough to shut him up for a lifetime. Why then did she tell me? He asked himself, but he already knew the answer. She had told him about those things because of the plans she had in store for him. Daruk was silent beside him, and Aodhn could almost hear the gears in his mind whirring as he put two and two together. Yet he remained silent, even after the principal dismissed them, but the moment they stepped into the hallway, Aodhn dragged him aside, unable to stand the silence anymore. Andrew shot them a sympathetic smile before joining a group of sober-looking nobles and making his way down the hall. Aodhn turned back to Daruk. What are you thinking? Theres nothing to think. Daruk replied, his tone cold and laced with an unfeeling edge that grated on Aodhns nerves. He shook his head and sighed. Daruk, I know that a part of you might hate me for not telling you, but I hope you remember that I was under an oath. How? Daruk asked, his voice laced with anger. I know that this entire ceremony was a sham to lure us commoners into taking the oath. I mean, the nobles tried to pretend, but they already knew the truth, even Andrew, which meant theyd already taken the oath, and that was why they were so fearless and eager to come out. But I also know you cant take an oath twice, which exposes this whole thing for the trickery that it is. If you say you were under oath before this, I want to know how. Aodhn closed his eyes and sighed. There are a lot of things about me that you dont know, but now that youve taken the oath, I can finally tell you these things, and trust me, I want to. He turned his gaze to the now-empty hallway and spoke. Let''s go to my room. I promise to tell you everything. Daruk observed him for a moment before the cold mask fell away, and he gestured for Aodhn to lead the way. When they reached his room, Aodhn began narrating everything that the oath had prevented him from telling Daruk, starting from how hed figured it out and told the awakened council of the curse of the Attilan empire. As heavy as all the secrets weighed on him, he spilled them all in less than five minutes, and by the time he was done, Daruk was staring at him with eyes wide with incredulity and confusion. Let me get this straight; Dad knows? Daruk asked, and Aodhn nodded. Yes, although he only found out after I told the council. Daruk frowned. The day you all returned from the expedition. Aodhn nodded once again, and Daruk fell silent. Aodhn let him be, trying to give him time to process the information, but only a second later, Daruk asked And this deal with the Attilan continent... he sputtered, unable to complete his question, and instead asked. Explain the whole deal with the principal and the Attilan empire to me again; I don''t understand any of it. Aodhn repeated himself, and when he finished, Daruk shook his head, still surprised. There are mentions of the Attilan continent in various books, but its not as mentioned as Gorgon or even Atlas. His frown deepened, and he shook his head again. I cant believe this; how is it possible that I know more about Gorgon and Atlascontinents much farther awaythan Attilan, the closest continent to Lutia? Like I said, theyre keeping the information hidden for reasons principal Zatya wont tell me. I believe only a select few, even among the nobles, might know of this. Daruk nodded in agreement, but his eyes suddenly narrowed, and he asked. How do you know all these, though? If its such a well-kept secret, why would the principal tell you, and why wont she stop you from telling me? Aodhn sighed. He had refrained from speaking about his identity as a transmigrant, not because he didnt trust Daruk, but because it was such delicate information that he couldnt afford to just say it. He wanted to wait for the right time and the right way to reveal his identity so that it wouldnt cause a rift between them, but how could he possibly answer this question without revealing the truth? Daruk seemed to sense his internal struggles, and he raised a finger in warning. You promised to tell me everything. Aodhn combed his finger through his hair as he tried to figure out the best way to even begin, but eventually decided to just tell the truth. It still took him a minute to find the right words, though. The principal told me because I realized the true nature of the limit on my own. Yes. Daruk waved a hand dismissively. Youve mentioned that, but Im curious as to why that warrants you getting more information than the rest of us. Whats so special about figuring it out on your own? Aodhn swallowed nervously, hesitant to take the next step, but if there was anyone who should know his true identity, it was Daruk, the one person whom hed spent the most time with in this world and the one he trusted the most. Still, it was just so hard to say it. He stood up from the couch and started pacing, restless as he warred with his own instincts. Not telling Daruk now was potentially dangerous, especially now that the principal knew. He needed someone in his corner. In case things went south and Daruk was still the only person he could trust,. After a few seconds of pacing and restless contemplation, Daruk sighed, shook his head, and leaned back into the couch with folded arms. Aodhn took in Daruks testy expression and forced himself to sit down. Okay. He sighed and turned to Daruk, who seemed to be forcibly holding himself back from tearing the words out of his mouth. The thing is, I He cleared his throat as he searched for a different opening, nervously twisting his fingers. Daruk, though, had finally had enough, and he growled. I swear to Raol, if you do not tell me the truth, I will kill you myself. I will, I will, I want to tell you, I justhe sighed and continuedjust give me a few minutes to put my thoughts together. Daruk shook his head and took up a meditative pose. Call my attention whenever you put your thoughts together.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. It took Aodhn another two minutes before he finally felt ready enough to spill his deepest secret, and after letting out a heavy sigh, he said, Im not actually from Gishan village. Daruk cracked an eye open. Father suspected as much; he told me your control and personality were too refined for someone from a backwater village like Gishan. Ahright. Aodhn muttered, wondering why Unrid hadnt confronted him about it. So, where are you from? Daruk asked curiously, and Aodhn chuckled, but he wasnt amused in the least. He took a deep breath and replied. Im not from the continent of Lutia; Im from Another continent! Daruk exclaimed with wide eyes and immediately asked. Attilan? Are you a fugitive? Is that what the mark means? No, Daruk, no, Im not from Attilan, nor am I a fugitive. Im from a place much farther; were talking light years. He trailed off, but if Daruk''s eyes were wide before, they bulged out of their sockets now, and a long, uncomfortable silence descended between them. Aodhn observed Daruks expression, watching as it shifted from confusion to disbelief before finally settling on bewilderment. I can''t believe it, Daruk finally replied, staring at him with new eyes, as if trying to spot something he hadnt seen before. When he found no physical differences, he frowned. But you look just like us. Aodhn chuckled in relief and replied. Im human just like you, and Im from a world called Earth, although it is a world vastly different from this one. Daruk wrinkled his nose in distaste. Your world bears the name of that dastardly element? Aodhn chuckled, still slightly nervous. I didnt name it. Daruk nodded slowly, fascinated, but under all that curiosity and fascination, Aodhn saw a flash of caution and weariness, but it disappeared the next moment as Daruk shook his head. I still cant believe it. How did this happen? Aodhn paused once more as he prepared to reveal another secret hed kept. I lied when I told you I had a normal awakening. Before he even finished the statement, Daruks eyes widened once again, his mouth opening and closing as he tried to find the words to express the betrayal he was currently feeling, and after a moment, he shook his head. So many lies, so many secretshow do you find it so easy? I do not. Aodhn replied immediately, his expression urging and almost pleading for understanding. I didnt want to lie to you or anyone else, but I had no choice. Anyone would have done the same in my shoes. Daruk glared at him; his anger and feeling of betrayal seemed to have subsided a little but hadnt disappeared as hed hoped. Aodhn couldnt blame Daruk for feeling this way; in fact, he would probably feel the same way if their positions were reversed, but it still sucked to be on the receiving end. So all this time, while I compared myself to you, thinking you were just a normal genius, you were like me, with the will of an ascendant burning in your core. Daruk shook his head and chuckled bitterly. It''s all so obvious nowthe technique and the advice not to channel my untamed willpoweryou werent just guessing or making accurate assumptions; you were speaking from experience. As light as Daruks voice sounded, his expression was pained and betrayed, and Aodhn sighed. I understand how you feel, and Im sorry; I truly am, but Im telling you now because I trust you. I arrived in this world two months ago, with nothing save for the shirt on my back and abilities I had no control over. I knew no one and nothing about this world; I had to protect myself, keep my identity secret, and lie until I finally had people I could trust. Daruk closed his eyes and massaged his temples. I know that; its justits not so easy to accept all this; Im still processing the fact that youre from another world, but while were on the topic, how about you tell me the meaning of your tattoo? Aodhn nodded. This was the last secret between them. My tattoo is a picture of the Earth, and it identifies me as a transmigrant. Its like a memento that serves as a reminder and a connection to my home world. Daruk gasped. That means my patron was... A transmigrant like myself. Aodhn finished and leaned forward. Do you realize what this means? You have the willpower of not one but two ascendants burning within your core. Youll be great, Daruk; one day, youll be so powerful that youll rock this world to its foundations. Daruk simply stared, wide-eyed and mouth-agape, as he took in the new information and added it to the million other things he was still processing. The curse, the Attilan empire, the limit, Aodhns true identity, or the fact that he was an aliennone of those things shook him more than the knowledge that he had the willpower of two ascendants burning within him. I needI think I need a moment to process all this information. Daruk said, still in shock as he stumbled to his feet, but when Aodhn tried to help him, he denied his help and muttered. Ill be fine; I just need a few hours or days to come to terms with all this. It''s alright; Ill text you at night then. Aodhn replied, but Daruk didnt respond as he slowly walked out of the room and began making his way to his own house. Aodhn sighed. He felt relieved now that hed told Daruk the truth, but he was worried about the effect it would have on their friendship. Things didnt look too bad, though, and he hoped that after a day or two, Daruk would come to terms with things and return to his usual self. Control training had been cancelled for the day to give the students enough time to process the information theyd just received on the limit, but Aodhn had nothing to process, so he decided to spend the time in his training room. It had been a while since he sat down to hone his control, and there was no better time than now to do so. He spent the next few hours training his control, and although, at the end of the long session, he only managed to increase his number of imbued strands by 1, bringing him to a total of nineteen strands, he still counted it as progress. It was only an hour past noon when he stepped out of the training room, so he decided to use the free time to catch up on his numerous tasks. Before that, though, he released Varc from his spirit and let out a hint of his aura, causing the familiar to growl in contentment and curl up on his bed to resume his nap. He began with runic practice, trying to implement all the tricks and tips hed learned from the library yesterday, and after an hour, he felt like he was making decent progress. He was about to draw Fehuthe first runic alphabetthe 76th time when a ding came in, and he checked his notifications to see that the leaderboards had been updated yet again and hed been pushed down to the 7th position, which had pushed Eren out of the top ten list. The familiar burn of competition returned, but as much as he wanted to challenge the tower and bring his name back to the top of the list, he had other problems to deal with. Still, he was going to do it, as he didnt intend to drop below the top ten. After scrutinizing the list for a moment, he returned to his scripting. It was Friday, so the weekend began today, but the forge matches would begin tomorrow. He had to challenge someone to ascend the forge list, so before he forgot, he opened up his status screen and began scrolling through the forge list until he found his name occupying the 36th slot. Rahim had said they couldnt challenge anyone more than 5 levels above them, so he settled for Halima Sahiri, an air awakened at the 31st level. Immediately after he selected her name, both their names turned red, indicating that they could no longer be challenged until next week. Now that hed gotten that out of the way, Aodhn once again returned to his scripting practice, drawing each line with as much precision as he could manage, and by the time the sun set, his scripts could no longer be mistaken for the scribbles of a two-year-old. He dropped his pen after the 207th scripting of Fehu and wiggled his fingers to enable blood flow. He had made astounding progress, and at this rate, he should be able to correctly draw the rune before the start of next week, which was only, well, a day away. He gathered his notes and was just about to place them in his storage space when a notification ping came in, and he opened it to find a message from Rahim. Your family has arrived in the 5th sector and is now settled in Norbuik, a city only a few miles from the academy. Ive sent an attachment containing their address so you can exchange letters. Aodhn sighed in relief, only now realizing just how worried hed been about their safety. He quickly thanked Rahim and forwarded the message to Daruk, wanting to share the good news with him. Sadly, he received no response from Daruk, which slightly dampened his excitement, and with no one else to share the news with, Aodhn plopped down on his bed and rested his head on Varecs sleeping form until the clock struck 8. Immediately the alarm sounded, Varc jerked awake, and every sign of sleepiness or drowsiness disappeared from his expression. He growled, mentally urging Aodhn to get up and soar. Aodhn resisted at first, not really in the mood, but as Varecs emotions bled into his own, he soon found himself grinning and shouting. Okay, okay, give me five minutes. This time, when Varc rushed back into his spirit, he had enough presence of mind to put on a shirt, and after adjusting the storm scarf around his neck, he jumped out of the window. Varc emerged from his spirit barely a second later, and they shot towards the sky once more. Aodhn laughed as every iota of sadness within him melted away and was replaced by an overwhelming feeling of exhilaration. Rather than soar among the golden clouds of dusk this time, Aodhn urged Varc forward, and they tore through the clouds until they reached the shimmering veil of the Nexus of sunsets. If Aodhn had been in his right senses, he would have hesitated, but he wasn''t, and he didn''t hesitate. Varc shot through the veil the next moment, and the night sky presented itself, boundless and beautiful. Stars littered the sky like grains of sand, and at their current height, it was even more beautiful. Dark, brooding clouds surrounded them, and Varc roared in excitement as he dove through them, leaving only a vague outline of their shape behind. Unwilling to let go of this feeling, both bond and familiar soared through the real sky until the telltale shimmer of dawn appeared. ... Chapter 64: Fragmented memories The citizens suffer, and hate festers in their hearts as the war rages on, unforgiving in its brutality. In the twilight of battle, shattered dreams lie amidst the echoes of destruction, whispering tales of loss and despair. The stench of death hangs heavy, a grin symphony of broken bodies and shattered spirits, where every step forward is a tragic testament to the merciless grip of wars cruelty. Horror of war. Scholar Jos Narosky Calodan kingdom, year 2273.
Aodhn awoke the next morning to the ding of a notification, and he opened it to find an enthusiastic reply from Daruk, asking them to go to the post office immediately after gym. He grinned after he read the message and turned to the clock on his bedside table. His eyes widened when he realized he only had a minute or two left before he had to be at the gymnasium. He cursed as he stumbled out of bed and rushed towards the bathroom. Hed allowed the feeling of freedom he''d felt as he soared through the skies to get the best of him, and now, as he washed his body, he cursed himself and Varc for being so careless. He barely spent a minute in the bathroom before rushing out, and without drying himself, he put on his uniform and created a new storm scarf for himself before rushing out of his room. A lightning platform appeared beneath his feet the moment he stepped out of the house, and he immediately imbued it with all five strands of energized willpower he was allowed to use. The construct zipped forward with tremendous speed, but he still failed to make it on time, and coach Harvey chuckled. Youre four minutes late; that translates to an extra two laps around the gymnasium. Aodhn groaned as coach Harvey waved him in, but he couldnt help but laugh when he saw Lupin, only just wearing her null armor. She must have run all the way from her house to the gym, as she was still panting heavily and her uniform was soaked with sweat. Even with how messy she looked, Lupin was beautiful. Her silvery-white hair clung to her forehead, which glistened with tiny beads of sweat. She turned as he approached Miss Greene for his own armor and groaned. Its not funny, Raol; I can barely complete the normal two laps as it is, not to mention four. The comment only made him laugh harder, and even Miss Greene chuckled, although she eyed him as she produced his own armor and band. What happened? Aodhn asked when he finally got his amusement under control. He hadnt known Lupin long; in fact, he barely knew her at all, but in the past week, shed never attended any class late. This was the first time shed arrived too late, so Aodhn believed she had to have a genuine reason, although he doubted Coach Harvey cared about their reasons. I was reading the textbook on advancement theory, and time just flew. Before I realized it, it was already too late. Lupin grumbled as Miss Greene placed the band on his wrist, and they both turned to the tracks at the edge of the gym. Aodhn wasnt too surprised when he realized shed only been reading. She had the same serious vibe Imani had, although she wasnt as obsessive. She sighed and asked. What about you? Aodhn was aware of how ridiculous and unbelievable his reason would sound, but he wanted to show off, so he shrugged. I spent the entire night soaring the skies with Varc, and Im only running on about two hours of sleep at the moment. Lupin stumbled but managed to catch herself on time, and she cleared her throat awkwardly. Yeah, thats not unusual at all. Aodhn chuckled, fully aware of the effect a mention of his familiar had on people. Its just a thing we like to do. He said as they began their laps, and Lupin shook her head. Okay, now youre just messing with me. Maybe a little. She rolled her eyes in amusement, and he asked. So, were still on for today? I promised you my evening, didnt I? Aodhn smiled again and tipped a non-existent hat. Then I shall see you in the evening. He picked up his pace after that and soon left Lupin behind. Since there were no classes today, the coach held them back until they finished their laps, along with half a dozen others who had also come late. Three hours later, Aodhn was completely soaked with sweat as he crawled the last hundred feet to the finish line, and as coach Harvey pulled off the armor from Aodhns body, he said to him, Impressive. Very impressive. Aodhn didnt even have enough strength to appreciate the comment, as he collapsed to the floor immediately, utterly drained of strength. He lay on the ground for a long moment before pushing himself to his feet, and after a worried glance in Lupins direction, he made his way to the bathroom. Lupin would be fine, and there really wasnt anything he could do to help her. When he got to the bathroom, he did a few stretching exercises to help his regeneration along, and by the time he was done, he felt a lot better. When he finally exited the gym, he found Andrew, Yurin, and Daruk seated on the steps, laughing at whatever story Yurin was telling, and when he reached them, Yurin grinned. You look like a mega-shuttle ran you over. Aodhn had never seen a mega-shuttle before, but he could imagine a bigger version of the shuttle they boarded back in Sector 8, and he couldnt help but agree. I feel like that. Andrew laughed and changed the topic. Daruk told us the good news about your parents moving to the 5th sector. Amazing man. Thank you, Andrew. He glanced at Daruk and found that he couldnt exactly determine what he was feeling or thinking. His face was blank and neutral, in the way that Eren Thornhills usually was. Aodhn sighed. The expression was a new development. A new default Daruk had begun reverting to ever since he gained his seal. He turned back to Yurin, who jumped to his feet and asked. So, any plans for today? Were heading to the post office to write a letter. Aodhn replied after another glance in Daruks direction. Well, Ill leave you guys to it; Ive got a thing. He raced down the gym steps after that, and Andrew stood up. Text me when youre done; I need to get a few hours of training before the forge challenges today. After Andrew left, Aodhn returned his gaze to Daruk, who hadnt said a word to him since he arrived. How are you doing? Daruk raised his head and pursed his lips in thought before responding. "Well, it''s hard to say. My adopted brother is an alien with the legacy of a mass slaughterer, and Ive got the willpower of two ascendants within me, so like, no pressure or anything. Aodhn chuckled, not too surprised that Daruk had put it together. In fact, he would be surprised if the principal hadnt figured it out. The storm element was a rare one, and there was only one individual who had ascended with the element in the last 750 years. Daruk shook his head, his lips tugging up slightly in amusement, and a moment later, he sighed. Look, I dont hate you, and although Im still amazed at the whole transmigrating business, its not the weirdest thing that has happened to me lately. He shook his head once more and continued. I understand your reasons, but I cant help the part of me that feels betrayed. I trusted you completely, but you kept so much from me, and now its going to take a while for me to trust you again. Aodhn nodded. I hear you, and Im fine with it. The Brystions were his first family, as hed never really had one, and he was ready to do anything for themto keep them, to make sure that he never lost them. Their conversation flowed after that, and although it was still a little awkward at first, it had smoothed out by the time they arrived at the post office. The post office was a small building not too far from the administration block, and when they walked into it, they found several stacks of sealed letters, divided into two sections, one representing the incoming and the other outgoing letters. Students and several staff members moved about, either to receive or submit letters. Several clerks stood behind a long white counter, and two large plaques hung above it, indicating the clerks assigned to sending and receiving letters. There was even a customer care stand, filled with stacks of paper and pens for sale. Aodhn and Daruk bought a sheet of paper they believed was large enough to contain all they had to write and made their way to an empty corner of the room, where they began writing. There was so much to tell, and they began their narration from the moment they left the Warren, although they left out several important parts like Daruks affinity change and the destruction of the Raventhorn.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it Still, the paper was filled up by the time they finished detailing their admission into the academy, so they had to buy an extra sheet of paper. They spoke about how much they missed them and urged them to write back quickly. They hadnt said all that they wanted to, but by the time they were done, the lingering tension between them had disappeared. Rehashing their history together had pulled them closer. They submitted the letter to a kind-looking clerk and paid two silvers for the delivery fee. When they stepped out of the post office a few minutes later, Daruk asked. So, any other plans for today? Aodhn grinned. Aside from the forge matches and perhaps the tower, Ive got a date with Lupin tonight. Daruk winked in amusement, but a moment later he frowned. Wasnt that the girl you and Cyrus fought over? Aodhn cleared his throat awkwardly and confessed. The fight wasnt about her; one of Cyruss friends figured out that I was already aware of the limit in Professor Duboiss class, and instead of simply talking to me like any sane person should, he decided to attack me. Oh. Daruk replied with raised eyebrows and nodded. That makes more sense, actually. You know, I suspected you were lying that time. I didnt lie. Andrew assumed that was the reason, and I simply didn''t correct him. Aodhn replied with a chuckle, and Daruk shook his head. What about the tower? Are you not challenging it today? Im not sure if I should anymore; Ive got so much going on that I doubt Ill even have the time. Aodhn sighed. Besides, I doubt I can take the 24th level, even with Varcs assistance, which still leaves me at level 23, so theres no point. Whatever suits you. Daruk replied and smiled. So, what are your plans for this date? Aodhn paused and turned to him in confusion. I dont have any plans; I just thought wed enjoy dinner in the cafeteria and have a nice conversation. Daruk came to a sudden halt and stared at him incredulously. Wait, let me get this straight. You mean to tell me that you intend to take a noble lady to the cafeteria on a date? Aodhn scratched his jaw awkwardly. When you put it that way... Its a terrible idea; youll be shooting yourself in the leg. Daruk laughed. Havent you been on a date before? "Actually, no, I havent. I lived in a monastery. Aodhn replied with a roll of his eyes, and Daruk frowned. What is a monastery? Its like an orphanage, except its more of a religious organization. Aodhn replied, his smile dimming as his memories resurfaced. I was doing a photography project when I stumbled upon a cave and found the legacy seed. Silence descended, and their pace slowed as Aodhn contemplated sharing this part of himself. After a moment, though, he decided there was no harm in Daruk knowing more about him, so he continued. Its been two months since that fateful day. Sometimes I wonder if theyre still searching for me or if theyve given up. Does time move the same way? Or have centuries passed on my home planet? Daruks expression softened, and he placed a hand on Aodhns shoulders. You dont have to talk about it if you dont want to, but Id like to learn about your world some time, to know the real you. This is the real me. Aodhn chuckled, and Daruk rolled his eyes. Fine, then Id like to know who you were before awakening. Aodhn nodded, and after a moment, he sighed. I was the North-wing coordinator. He chuckled as fond memories rose in his mind. I was always calm and even-tempered, and the monks felt that I could lead my brothers. Of course, I was assigned to the most notorious wing, and when I became the coordinator, things got worse, and it almost drove me crazy, having to manage about thirty boys within the range of 5 and 16. Daruk chuckled, and Aodhn shook his head in amusement. It was hell, and I hated every moment of it, but now I miss it. How did you get to the orphanage or monastery, as you said? Daruk asked. I was brought to the monastery at the age of six by a group of travelers who found me in the forest. I have no idea how I got there, but I vividly remember the smell of smoke and the wails of a woman as she screamed for me to run. Aodhn swallowed, lost in his fragmented memories. I think my home was attacked and my parents killed, but somehow I managed to escape into the forest. He created a bench at the side of the road and sat down. For the first few years, I hated myself for running away like a coward, as if I could have done anything to save them. He scoffed. It took me years to accept that I couldnt. I hoped that once I became an independent citizen, I would investigate their deaths and find out who they were, but I cant do that anymore. Im sorry for your loss. Daruk whispered, and Aodhn sighed. Thanks. It doesnt hurt as much as it used to, though; now its just a dull ache that I feel once in a while. It doesnt matter how painful it is; loss is loss. Daruk replied, and Aodhn nodded as his mind flashed back to his early days in the monastery, when the pain of loss had filled his entire existence. Fortunately, hed had others to share his pain with, others who understood his pain as they had all lost a parent one way or another. Trying to draw Aodhns mind out of the dark hole it had sunk into, Daruk asked. What were your hobbies? Aodhn blinked at the unexpected question and stammered. I loved photography and nature hikes. I loved taking pictures of forests in my spare time; perhaps its because it was my refuge after my parents murder or death. I dont know, but Ive always felt most at peace within them; something about their silent existence just comforts me. I understand. Daruk nodded and stood up. Perhaps thats enough memory delving for one day; besides, Andrew is expecting us. Yeah, yeah, thats enough. Aodhn chuckled, and they continued their walk to the training center, where they found Andrew moving through a series of combat steps that vaguely resembled karate. He wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead and turned to them. Im working on something right now, and I think I need a spar to figure it out. Aodhn constructed a chair for himself and asked. Dont you have a match in about two hours? An hour and a half, actually. Andrew responded and waved to Daruk. Come on, fight me. What? Why not Aodhn!? Because Aodhn would crush me. Andrew replied impatiently. I dont want to be crushed; I want a fight. I feel both insulted and underestimated. Daruk replied as he walked towards the center of the room and took up a furious stance. Andrew smiled. I might be underestimating you a little bit, but I know you cant crush me yet, so Ill take my chances with you. Well, Ill just sit here and watch then. Aodhn muttered as he took out a tray of small snacks hed snatched from the cafeteria earlier. Andrew shifted back until there was about ten feet between him and Daruk, and when Aodhn felt they were ready, he shouted around a mouthful of sausages. Fight! They exploded forward immediately. Daruk waved a hand, and a cascade of jagged blue ice spikes materialized on the floor in a swift and fluid motion. They surged forward in a crescent path that threatened to impale Andrew. Andrew side-stepped hurriedly and threw out half a dozen white seeds into the jagged ice trap. Curious, Aodhn stood up so he could watch the spar from a better angle as both Andrew and Daruk released their auras at the same time. This was the first time Aodhn was seeing Andrews aura, and it was simply a thick haze of verdant energy that had almost no effect on the barren floor. Before Aodhn could study the aura better, it was instantly crushed by the unforgiving chill of Daruks aura, which coated the entire floor in a thick layer of frost. Aodhn shivered slightly, but a simple pulse of willpower chased the cold away before it could penetrate deeper into him. Still, being so close to the aura was uncomfortable, and it was a reminder that, as strong as he was, Daruk had a seal, which empowered his skills and bloodline to an insane degree. Daruk flicked his fingers, and the layer of ice beneath his feet shattered and rose up, transforming into jagged shards of ice that carried the telltale shimmer of increased sharpness. As the shards of ice shot forward, Andrew moved, and half a dozen wooden vines suddenly shot out from beneath him. The vines were covered in long thorns, which Aodhn recognized as Andrews {Forest of Thorns} skill. The vines twisted and weaved themselves together until they formed a wall that blocked Daruks attack. The vines untangled a moment later and immediately shot towards Daruk, who scoffed in amusement and simply raised a hand to the approaching vines. Aodhn raised an eyebrow in surprise when the vines simply froze and shattered like glass. Aodhn had seen the effect of {Freeze} before, but this perfected version was much more dangerous, even to him, and Aodhn began searching for ways to counter it, just in case they ever had to fight in the future. Surprisingly, Andrew wasnt as handicapped as hed expected, which indicated that he must have found a way to circumvent his limitations. Aodhn smiled when he saw the effect of {Create seed} and {Accelerate growth} working in tandem. Dozens of vines shot out of the frozen floor, and when one shattered, two replaced them. At one point, there were over three dozen vines, but Aodhn noted that not all the vines were under Andrews control; some seemingly moved on their own, aimless, as they futilely attacked the walls. Frustrated with the ever-increasing number of vines, Daruk shattered all the ice around him and forged them into needles as long as his arms. The needless shot forward with great speed, and Andrews eyes widened in alarm. Quickly, he gathered the vines closest to him and wrapped them around himself until they formed an impenetrable cocoon of writhing vines. Daruk was not deterred, and for the first time, Aodhn saw {Drain Heat} in action. Daruk raised a hand to the cocoon of vines and clenched. Immediately, the vines blackened and began to wither as every single mote of heat was drained from them. Andrew stumbled back as the needles slammed into his withering vines with the force of a trailer, but he released his aura again, and as the thick haze of verdant energy burst out of him, the vines began to regain their vitality. When one vine withered, another took its place. As interesting as the spar was, Aodhn was more interested in figuring out how Andrew kept attacking without creating the vines himself, and he smiled when his gaze found several blocks of ice protected by the seemingly aimless vines hed dismissed a while ago. Daruk scoffed in annoyance as the number of vines suddenly doubled and shot towards him like arrows, but before they struck, a massive shield of blue ice formed around Daruk. The shield shattered from the force of Andrew''s attack, but it had bought him enough time to dodge the approaching vines. Daruk surged forward, his eyes glowing with bluish-white light, the telltale sign of his crude body enhancement technique, and before Andrew could react, he lashed out with a jagged ice blade that cut through every vine that tried to block his attack. The blade stopped a hairsbreadth from Andrews neck, and Daruk sagged slightly as he released the technique and muttered. I need to improve this technique. Its so draining and wasteful. "Congratulations, Daruk; I was rooting for you. Aodhn responded teasingly, and Andrew groaned. Damn, I was so close to hitting you with that last surge of vines. But you didnt, and I won. Daruk grinned, and his gaze turned to the mass of limp vines that littered the floor. How did you do this, though? I thought you were limited in a place like this. Andrew grinned, proud of his genius, and pointed to the blocks of ice hidden by the tangle of vines. I read! For the first time in my life, I went to the library and read a text on awakened plants. Thats where I found this mundane plant called the frozen render that only grows in ice, so in a feat of spectacular genius, I used your abilities to power my own. Well, it sure is interesting. Daruk muttered in annoyance. Genius though? I doubt that. Aodhn laughed and said, Disregard Daruk; it was impressive to watch, and Im glad youve finally found a way to circumvent this particular limitation. Daruk snorted as he created an ice chair for himself and draped himself over it. I should have destroyed all the ice the moment I realized something was fishy. Well, unfortunately for you, you didnt. Andrew responded, and the bickering began. Aodhn sighed and moved back to his construct. He draped himself on it in a fashion similar to Daruks, and not wanting to be left out, Andrew did the same. Their bickering continued until their chips pinged with a general message that the forge challenge was about to begin. Chapter 65: Forge Matches I do not fear the coming bloodshed; I embrace it. War is our proving ground, the arena where we will carve our names into the annals of history. Let the cowards and the weak shy away from this call. For those of us who glory in the fight and revel in the chaos, there is no greater honor than to stand at the precipice of war, to meet our fate head-on, and to emerge as victors drenched in the blood of our foes. Marcus Daystar. Supreme General of the Ragnarok Army. Year 2275.
They arrived at the arena fifteen minutes later and found the building packed full of students, mostly from the first year, although there were a few second-year students scattered around. You think theyre here to like watch us or something? Andrew asked, and Daruk snorted. Why else would they be here? Its definitely odd. Aodhn responded. What could they possibly gain from watching our matches? Theres always something to learn. Daruk replied after a moment of thought. A new skill they hadnt thought about, or a different application of a skill they already have. They have nothing to lose by watching us and everything to gain. Ah. Andrew shook his head sadly. If only I could just watch one of their matches, Raol, the thrill. Aodhn chuckled, and Daruk muttered. Itll be a miracle if we can even follow, considering the speeds at which they would be moving. Their conversation continued as they made their way to a part of the stands allocated to the first years. Several teaching and non-teaching staff filled the opposite stand, arguing loudly as a group of students set the stage for the matches to begin. They chose a row of seats that granted the best view of the holographic screen, and Aodhn waved to Maddie Cronox and Aida Simms, who were seated in the row behind them. When they sat down, Aodhn searched the stands until he found Lupin seated amidst a trio of girls, two of whom he recognized. The first was Lyra Davenport, whom he still hadnt apologized to, while the other was Scarlett Urdania, the Calodan sister. He didnt recognize the third person, but her wavy blue hair, streaked with a small amount of silver, was familiar to him, which suggested they shared a class. Now that hed determined where Lupin was, he turned back to the argument Daruk and Andrew were currently having. You know, I thought ladies loved flowers, but I don''t think the same applies to this bunch. Andrew muttered as he scanned the stands, and Daruk mockingly consoled. Im sure theyll grow frond of you if given a little more time to get used to your unbe-leaf-able nature. Aodhn laughed, unable to contain his amusement, and Andrew glared. Yeah, laugh all you want; its not even funny. Never one to give up an opportunity to make a bad pun, he placed an arm on Andrews shoulders and whispered. Dont worry, Im rooting for you. Andrew shrugged him off, but his mouth tugged up in amusement. You guys arent doing any better anyway. Thats because Im currently unavailable. Daruk responded. "Besides, Im not searching. Both boys turned to Aodhn, who smirked. Oh, the girls love me; I believe its my striking appearance and electrifying personality. Andrew laughed, but Daruk shook his head in disappointment. You never come up with anything original. Before Aodhn could give a suitable response, the mic blared, and a man whom he vaguely recognized took to the stage. "Awakened, ladies and gentlemen! I hope youre all having a fine afternoon. Cheers and applause rang across the arena, and the man continued. It''s an honor to stand before you all, the greatest students in the kingdom. Another cheer rose, and Aodhn laughed even as he cheered along. The man chuckled and waved his hands, urging the students to calm down before proceeding. Thank you, thank you; youre indeed the best. I am Doctor Ferdinand, your anchor for this glorious event. Today, we are here to watch the first years as they challenge each other to rise in rank and status. Dr. Ferdinand waved, and the holographic screen appeared, displaying the forge list from rank one to hundred. Aodhn whistled when he saw the number of red lines on the screen. Thats a lot of challenges. Andrew muttered, and Daruk hummed in agreement. Yes. Dr. Ferdinand boomed. As you can see, today is packed full, and we have a total of 32 matches, so please, lets make these matches as quick as we can so we can all return to other activities. Dr. Ferdinand turned back to the screen. Starting from the bottom, we have Lupin Cavanaugh, rank 100, against Tallulah Zeigler, rank 96! Cheers and whistles of excitement rang out as the challenger and the challenged both rose to their feet and began making their way to the stage. Aodhn sent a quick text to Lupin, and smiled when she turned around, searching for him. He waved, drawing her attention, and repeated the text hed sent. Im rooting for you! She chuckled, and Daruk muttered. Thats the cutest, most disgusting thing Ive ever seen you do in public. Aodhn chuckled, slightly embarrassed. Im just trying to be romantic, you know, in preparation for our date tonight. What?! Andrew exclaimed. Youre going on a date? And isnt that the girl you and Cyrus were fighting over? Daruk raised an eyebrow in amusement, and Aodhn sighed. Ill explain later. The fuck is wrong with you? Andrew asked and turned to Daruk, who glared at him. Dont look at me, I''m not the one going on a date. Aodhn ignored them and focused his gaze on the stage as the anchor called out the rules of the match. A match is won when an opponent surrenders or is thrown out of the stage. Make your attacks quick and clean. Torture will not be tolerated, as will any intentional use of fatal skills. Aodhn felt like the gaze of half the arena came to rest on him after that last part, and Andrew didnt help matters by muttering. Hes definitely referring to how you almost murdered Lyra Davenport on that very stage. It was an accident. Aodhn gritted out, not for the first time, and he reminded himself once more to apologize to the girl. Dr. Ferdinand listed out a few more rules, and after both students nodded in understanding, he boomed. Fight! Both girls reacted immediately, and Lupin disappeared a second before Tallulah released a dozen fireballs in her direction. Although Lupin wasnt visible anymore, Aodhn could still sense her clearly, and he smiled when she easily dodged the balls and began running towards Tallulah.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Tallulah didn''t let up, though, increasing the number of fireballs she created until the entire stage is filled with them. This caused Lupin to slow, but every time she dodged a fireball, she took a step forward. Lupins affinity didnt lend itself to direct combat and was more an assassins path, so he understood her slow progress, but he was disappointed in Tallulah. The fireballs were a good strategy, but Aodhn could already think of a dozen ways in which he could have ended the fight if he were in her position. An expanding ring of molten flame would have done the trick, but either Tallulah didnt have the necessary controll for such a skill or she was just unimaginative. Hows she doing? Daruk asked, and Aodhn responded. Shes doing fine; she should win this match any second he cheered, even before Lupin reappeared with a dagger pressed against Tallulahs neck. His loud voice heralded the cheers of the audience, and the anchor boomed. Winner! Lupin Cavanaugh! Lupin laughed and raised her hands in excitement as her name rose from the bottom and replaced Tallulahs at the 96th rank. Moving on to the next match. Derek Sylithen, rank 99, versus Maddie Cronox, rank 94! In this manner, the forge matches continued, and the results werent too surprising. Although there were a few wins he hadnt predicted correctly, he was almost always right. Eren Thornhill encased his opponent completely in metal, and Aodhn realized just how strong his housemate actually was. A part of him had begun underestimating Eren after hed easily subdued him with his aura, but when it came to precision and detail, it was obvious that Eren was much better than him. He wasnt too concerned, though, as his affinity wasnt much concerned with precisionmaybe lightning, but the storm was more about overwhelming power. It was roughly an hour when they finally got to the twentieth match, and the anchor boomed. Moving on. Tobias Menzies, rank 65, versus Meredith Castalon, rank 60. As Tobias and Meredith moved to the stage, Andrew muttered. Damn, shes fine! Shes also a" Aodhn grimaced, unwilling to shame her with such a word, so he simply said. Shes also very troubled. When you say troubled, do you mean mentally or emotionally? Daruk asked. Both, if Im honest, I have no idea what her problem is. Ah. Andrew smirked. You dont need to be a gentleman." Aodhn, Meredith Castalon, is a bitch whos quite famous for her preference for commoners. Not that theres anything wrong with commonersHe hastily addedbut you know what I mean. I dont. Daruk frowned. Shes sixteen; what do you mean by famous? Andrew shifted awkwardly and whispered. Word got around about her... activities with the stable hands in the Castalons estate. Of course, the Viscount, her grandfather, tried to cover it up, but the girl is dead set on ruining her own reputation. Aodhn smiled when he noticed the slight shift in Andrews tone. For a moment, Andrew had actually sounded like the noble he was. Sometimes, Aodhn had to remind himself that Andrew was the son of a baron because of how casually he behaved. Well. Daruk smiled, obviously interested in this bit of courtly gossip. It seems we have much to discuss. Aodhn shook his head with a smile and turned back to the stage just as the anchor shouted. Fight! Meredith exploded forward with a dozen water blades revolving around her, and although Tobias tried to shield himself with his mud affinity, he was obviously outmatched and limited in the stage. The fight barely lasted a minute, with Meredith keeping her rank, although she didnt look too excited about it. Dr. Ferdinand called two more matches, and as the last one ended, Andrew stood up and muttered. My turn. Id wish you good luck, but I doubt youll need it. Daruk said to him, and Aodhn chuckled. Hopefully, you wont. Temiya Haldren, rank 62, vs. Andrew Willowood, rank 57. The anchor boomed a moment later, and Andrew walked down to the stage. Like many others, Andrew had been challenged before he could challenge others, so even if he won this match, he would only keep his position. Immediately after the match began, Aodhn leaned forward, wondering what Temiya would do. What tactics would she utilize? Aodhn had high hopes for the earth awakened; not that he believed she would win, nor did he want her to, but he was curious to find out how she would take advantage of Andrews greatest limitation. The concrete floor. Hence, he was greatly disappointed when she stomped her foot and cracked the concrete, releasing a ton of soil to the surface. Andrew took brutal advantage of her foolishness, and the next moment, a writhing mass of vines surged out of the earth. Temiya stumbled back in shock, only now realizing her mistake. She tried to reseal the earth, but bulging vines refused her. Abandoning that strategy, she flicked her fingers, and jagged spikes jutted out of the earth. Andrew moved, sidestepping her attacks almost as if he could sense where they were coming from, and with the number of impaled vines littering the ground, perhaps he could. Temiya soon accepted defeat and instead settled for prolonging the battle by manipulating the earth around her to block Andrews vines, but her every action only created more soil for Andrew, and before long, the vines surged forward and wrapped around her, their thorns punching through her skin as Andrew clenched his fist. Temiya surrendered immediately, and the anchor boomed loudly. Winner! Andrew Willowood! Several matches passed, and although the battle was impressive, more and more people were keeping their positions. When Daruks turn came, the anchor announced. Daruk Brystion, rank 37, vs. Gwendolyn Tideborn, rank 32. Aodhn and Andrew wished him good luck as he walked towards the stage before turning their gaze to his opponent. Is it normal for me to pity her? Andrew asked, and Aodhn chuckled. Shes definitely disadvantaged in this situation, but its better not to underestimate people. I guess. Andrew replied, but he wasnt quite convinced that the girl could win the match. Gwendolyn Tideborn was a water awakened, which put her at a severe disadvantage against Daruk, and even though he was trying not to underestimate anyone, Aodhn was almost entirely sure she would lose. When Daruk and Gwendolyn reached the stage, the anchor announced. Fight! Immediately, a torrent of water exploded from Gwendolyns hands and split into three rings that spun sharply around her. Rather than attack with his usual cascade of jagged ice, Daruk released his aura, and his mouth moved slowly. Aodhn couldn''t make out Daruk''s words, but he didn''t need to. The impact of Daruk''s {Freeze} was unmistakable. The stage turned white as the stage was instantly covered in snow, and jagged icicles rapidly formed around them. Gwendolyn shivered but remained standing, forcing both energy and willpower into the spinning rings to keep them from freezing. The girl couldnt afford to attack, as all her concentration was centered on keeping herself and the skill from freezing to death. Aodhn considered the match over when Daruk raised his hands to the spinning rings and used {Freeze} again. Gwendolyn resisted, and a slight reddish haze appeared around her as she discarded her weaves and simply poured willpower into the skill. Her efforts were futile, though, as Aodhn was yet to find anyone within their class range who could contest with Daruk in terms of willpower. Slowly and surely, her will caved, and in less than a minute, the spinning rings of water froze, transforming into a much more rigid version of his scarf that constricted around her. Spent from the amount of willpower shed just wasted, Gwendolyn immediately surrendered, and Aodhn cheered as Dr. Ferdinand announced Daruks win, and his name jumped to the 32nd rank. Aodhn grinned. He was next on the list, and he bounced to his feet immediately when his name was called. Aodhn Ashoka-Brystion, rank 36, vs. Minnie Stewart, rank 31. Aodhn descended to the stage and moved to stand opposite his opponent, who was staring at him nervously. Minnie was a wind awakened of adequate strength, and from what shed displayed in control training, impressive control as well, but Aodhn had a reputation of unmatched strength as no one had ever really seen him go all out before. Are you ready? Dr. Ferdinand asked the both of them, but his gaze was directed at Minnie. Aodhn nodded anyway, and a moment later, the man shouted, Fight! Aodhn reacted immediately, channeling three strands of energized willpower into {Lightning Beam}, and a torrent of lighting surged out of his hand. Surprisingly, Minnie still managed to react in time, creating a wall of hardened air, but Aodhns attack was stronger, and the wall shattered as lighting punched through it. Minnie was thrown several feet backwards, and although she sustained a worrisome amount of injuries, she rushed back to her feet, and the next instant, a dozen wind blades shot towards him. Aodhn countered with an equal number of storm blades. Not wanting to prolong the fight, he raised both hands and channeled three strands of energized will into {Lightning Beam}, firing it twice. Two beams of lightning surged out of both hands, and Minnies eyes widened as she created another wall of hardened air. The wall shattered an instant after it was formed, and lightning struck her. Five strands of energized will would have killed her; four would have probably sent her into a coma; but three would only cause her severe agony. She managed to choke out a surrender before things got worse, and after a glare in his direction, Dr. Ferdinand announced. Winner! Aodhn Ashoka-Brystion! The matches proceeded after that, but there were barely any changes to the Forge list as the challengers mostly lost while the challenged kept their ranks. There were still a few changes, though, with Yurin, Isis, and Azul Fetherson each climbing up five ranks. The top ten remained the same, except for Lilith Bloodmoon, who lost her match against Grendar Bladewynn and dropped from fifth to tenth. When the forge matches finally ended, Aodhn, Andrew, and Daruk made their way to the cafeteria to celebrate, and Aodhn began making plans for his date tonight. Chapter 66: Date "Oh, to be young and in love in a kingdom ravaged by war. How wonderfully tragic. -Ascendant Azmarthon Ranok. -1847.
By the time evening came around, Aodhn had managed to come up with a better date plan than his previous idea, and after parting ways with Andrew and Daruk, he made his way to his room to begin preparations and take a shower. He was a little nervous about the whole thing, as this was his first ever date with anyone, and his stomach was cramped, fluttering with nerves at irregular intervals. As he walked to the bathroom, he replayed the plan in his mind, making sure he hadnt forgotten anything. Lupin Cavanaugh was smart, beautiful, and funny, but most importantly, she was a noble, and he couldnt afford to bring anything less than his best to this date. During their celebration in the cafeteria, Aodhn had settled on a much better location for their date, one hed found by accident the last time he and Varc had taken to the skies. It was a small, wild garden located behind the residential area that emanated a sense of serenity and stagnant time. Hed been hesitant to check it out at first, but now it was the only place he could think of. He scrubbed his body until it was raw, and fifteen minutes later, he stepped out of the bathroom. After drying himself, he spent the next few minutes styling his hair until it fell in that slightly unkempt way girls usually love. He picked out the second outfit hed bought in the 8th sector, a black t-shirt and jeans, flicked his fingers, and a new storm scarf materialized before him. It was much thicker than the one hed first created, and after wrapping it around his shoulders, he turned to stare at himself in the mirror. Pleased, he checked the time and smiled when he saw that it was exactly six thirty. He was right on time. After another glance at the mirror, he stepped out of his room and made his way to house 7, where Lupin lived. A few people stared at him curiously as he passed by them, but their awe and curiosity seemed to have died down, and many soon dismissed him. Aodhn was grateful for the reprieve, and he snatched a rose stalk from a bush not too far from house 7. He trimmed away the thorns with a storm knife as he climbed up the stairs to the front door, but the door opened before he could knock, and Lupin was pushed out by a duo of giggling girls, Scarlett and the other girl whose name he still couldnt remember. Lupin had always been beautiful with her silvery-white hair and piercing silver-ringed eyes, but now she was even more so. Transformed by a delicate application of beauty magic that he suspected was Scarletts handwork, Lupin glowed. She wore a beautiful black gown that accentuated her curves and contrasted perfectly with her hair, but it was her eyes that blew him away; they shone with an intrinsic glow, almost cat-like in the light of dusk, and when she smiled at him, his heart skipped multiple beats. You look amazing. He smiled and handed her the rose, which she accepted with a giggle. You clean up nice as well. Just nice? he teased, and she chuckled. Okay, Ill confess. You look amazing in black. Why, thank you. He bent an arm, and she clasped it. Blacks my favorite color, by the way. I know. She replied with an embarrassed smile. I asked Daruk. Did you now? Aodhn''s smile widened, and she glared at him. Its not a big deal; dont fuss. Aodhn laughed and raised his hand in surrender. As you wish; after all, Im a perfect gentleman. She shook her head and clasped his arms once again. So, where are we going? A storm platform appeared before them, and he stepped into it, pulling Lupin along. Youll find out soon enough. She laughed as she clung tightly to him to maintain her balance. Oh, mysterious; I like it. They zoomed off in the direction of the garden, and when they arrived, even Aodhn was wide-eyed. Being within the garden was vastly different from seeing it from the sky. Red roses and blue Salinger vines filled the garden, but it was the dense amount of serenity essence in the air that surprised him. There was no doubt that this had been a sort of cultivation area in the past, but from the look of things, it hadnt been visited in a long time. Raols breath. Lupin whispered, wide-eyed, as the platform lowered to the ground. She removed her hands from his and slowly moved to the center of the garden. By ascendants, this is beautiful. How did you even find it? Aodhn blinked and smiled. I have my ways. She shook her head in amazement, and while she ogled the garden, Aodhn created a storm blanket that he placed on the ground and took out the food hed gotten from the cafeteria. Lupin turned at the sound, and he gestured for her to sit. Aodhn had gathered a small tray of fruits, a stack of steaming toast breads, and juice. It hadnt been free, of course, as it was outside his daily allocation, and after paying for it, Aodhn was flat broke, but the look on her face when she took a bite of the toast bread made it all worth it. You like it? he asked, and she groaned. Are you kidding me? This is divine. She took another bite and shook her head. Its been a while since I ate toast; in fact, I haven''t eaten it since my father bought his noble title. What title? Aodhn asked, and when she frowned, he apologized. Im sorry if that was rude, but Im unfamiliar with the dealings of the nobility." No, you dont need to apologize. Lupin responded. It is a slightly rude question, because I expected you to have made your findings before asking me out, but I appreciate that it was a spontaneous decision on your part, and you arent trying to woo me for my title. Aodhn opened his mouth and shut it without saying anything. What could he say? She was right; he should have known or at least found out what title her father held, but with everything that was going on, hed forgotten, but that wasnt a good excuse.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Lupin laughed at his expression. Dont beat yourself up too much about it. She took a sip of juice and continued. Anyway, my father is a baron; no land, just title. Aodhn sighed, forgiving himself of his blunder, and asked. Okay, how does that affect toast? It doesn''t, actually. She replied, slightly embarrassed. But my father said its a common dish, one not quite befitting of nobility, so he ordered our cook to stop preparing it. And here, I thought nobles had all the best things in life. He quipped, and Lupin scoffed. Youd be surprised. Her expression grew wistful, and she muttered. It has its advantages, but sometimes I wish for my old life back. The freedom of simplicity and the joy that comes with the simple things in life. She chuckled sadly. You wont understand. True, I dont. Aodhn agreed. But I can imagine some of your struggles. The pressure to meet expectations, to maintain reputations... It cannot be easy. She nodded. Maybe you do understand. Their conversation flowed to lighter topics, and Aodhn asked. So, what are your hobbies? Oh, I love dancing, and Ive been called a talented singer before. By who? Aodhn teased. Dont tell me its your father. Lupin threw an apple at him and glared. Ill have you know that my father is a talented singer himself. Okay fine. Aodhn chuckled and bit into the apple she had thrown. So, No, you havent told me yours. She interrupted, and Aodhn shrugged. Im a terrible dancer, and my new voice has ruined any chance I once had at a music career. Lupin laughed, and he continued. I love to decorate, though, but mostly, I love to take pictures and capture memories on film so people never have to lose them. His expression sobered, and Lupin hesitantly asked. Did you lose your memory? Oh no, Aodhn lied. Im speaking in a conceptual sense. Ah. She hummed. You should get a snapper though; its this slightly new technology from the 8th sector my father once brought home. Its supposedly made from light, time, and some other essence I cant currently remember, but Im not really into all that geeky stuff. Aodhn laughed. Perhaps I will, when next I get to the 8th sector. Lupin laughed, and their conversation flowed once more. They discussed their classes and the issues they were having in each class. It turned out she was having problems with runic theory and was contemplating dropping the course. But you did so well in class. Aodhn frowned, and she shrugged. Ill attend the next one to see how things go. If I make no progress, though, Ill drop the course and take on something simpler. Aodhn thought for a moment and replied. Perhaps we could learn it together. I havent gotten it yet, so I cant exactly teach you, but Im making decent progress; maybe that can help you. I would like that very much. They moved on to other topics, and before they knew it, two hours had passed. They both stood up, and Aodhn returned everything to his spatial storage. The weather was cool and serene, and although he didnt want the date to end, it was already late. As he created another storm platform to take them back, an idea suddenly came to mind, and he asked. Say, have you ever seen the night sky? Lupin paused and smiled. A few times. Once when my family traveled to the 6th sector to see my grandparents, and the other when I went to the capital. And you prefer thishe gestured towards the golden clouds of duskto the original sky? Lupin stuttered. I dont know, actually, but the nexus of sunsets is beautiful. I think so too, but sometimes I wish for the darkness of nightto see the stars in all their glory, to see the moon, to feel its luminescence. Dont you? Lupin turned her gaze to the sky, her eyes slightly wide as the image Aodhn painted with his words manifested in her mind. I can show it to you. Aodhn added after a moment of silence. She shook her head, dispelling the thoughts, and said. You cant penetrate the veil of the nexus with a simple construct. Its too high, and were too weak. Who said anything about a construct? Aodhn grinned, and her eyes widened when she realized his intentions. Surely, you don''tyou mean your familiar? Yes. Aodhn answered, his voice a whisper. Ive soared among the clouds before; I want to share the experience with you. Yes. Lupin agreed immediately, and the next moment, Varc emerged from his spirit, already brimming with anticipation. Lupin staggered back, eyes wide, as this was the first time shed been this close to the fury. Varc growled, urging them to go, and Aodhn chuckled. He placed a hand on Varc and said, Lupin, this is Varc. Varc, Lupin. Varc growled again, but this time it was in greeting. Lupin sensed the change, and after a glance in Aodhns direction to know if he was okay with it, she stretched her hand and placed it on Verac''s sinuous neck. Lightning rippled around the spot she touched, too weak to hurt her but enough to jolt her. She withdrew her hands instantly, and Varc growled in amusement. She sighed in amazement and glanced at him once more, as if she couldnt quite believe he was letting her touch Varc, but after another nod, gesturing for her to go ahead, she placed a hand on Varcs head and gently traced his horns. Varc shuddered from the sensation, and Aodhn chuckled. He created a saddle large enough for two, and when he was done securing it in place, he muttered. Ready when you both are. Varc jerked, embarrassed to be caught simpering, and growled again, prompting another crackle of lightning to run across his scales. This time, when it jolted Lupin, she giggled and turned to him. Im ready. Gone were her composure and seriousness; instead, her face was flushed with childlike excitement, and before he knew it, she hopped onto the saddle and held tightly to the edge hed created. Aodhn grinned, and after a moment to make sure the saddle was firmly in place, he joined her on the saddle. Things got a little awkward for him when he realized just how close they were. Her body was flush against his, and when he stretched his hands to grip the edge, it melded with his, like two pieces of a puzzle. He ignored the feeling and patted Varc softly. Ready when you Varc shot towards the sky like a bullet, and Lupin squealed in excitement, but the sound died a second later, stolen by the wind, and it wasnt until Varc slowed down that Aodhn was able to hear anything again. By the ascendants, damn! Lupin laughed, her entire body shuddering with exhilaration, but she froze as Varc tore through the golden veil of dusk and into the darkness of night. The real sky revealed itself in all its glory, and they both gasped in awe and amazement. For Aodhn, the sight never got old. Stars littered the night sky like grains of sand, and a crescent moon shone brightly. Varc slowed, soaring effortlessly among the dark clouds, and a feeling of contentment washed over him. Lupin was too stunned to speak or even utter a word, her gaze fixed on the billions of stars above them. She stretched out a hand, and it trailed across the surface of a small cloud. Aodhn copied her motion, humbled by the vastness of the sky above them. He sagged as the now familiar feeling of freedom filled him. His worries fell away, and his fears disappeared. Do you know why they created the veil? Lupin whispered after several moments of awed silence. No. He whispered back, and she shook her head. The sector head and several other ministers are solar awakeneds. Did you know they lose a considerable amount of power whenever the sun goes down? Aodhn blinked. He''d once read up on the topic but hadn''t quite realized that was the reason for the nexus veil. It must suck for the lady of moonlight, though, he replied, and Lupin laughed, her smile even more radiant under the moonlight. Yeah, it must suck. They soared for almost an hour before Varc descended to the top of Lupins house, only giving them time to alight before rushing towards the sky once again. Lupin giggled as she watched him disappear, her face flushed and her eyes alight with excitement. Her hair was a mess, scattered by the wind, but her smile was absolutely radiant, and he said the first words that came to his mind. You are beautiful. She blushed, her smile widened, and the next moment, she pressed her lips to his. A shiver raced down his spine. Lightning crackled across his skin, and he let himself drown in the sensation of utter pleasure she provided. When she pulled back, Aodhn had to stop himself from taking her lips once more and kissing them until they were swollen. What would the monks think of him if he did that, after all their lectures on the subject of lust? Instead, he smiled. Ill see you tomorrow then. Youll see me tomorrow, then. Lupin replied with a wide smile as she pushed the door open, turned, and smiled at him once again before shutting the door. Aodhn grinned like a fool as he began making his way to his house, glad that the date had gone perfectly. He mentally reached out to Varc, wanting to call him back, but he was safe, and there was no harm in giving him a certain degree of freedom and independence, so Aodhn decided to let him be. When he got into his room, he collapsed on the bed, his grin still fixed in place as he replayed the date and the kiss that had followed. Before long, sleep took him, and this time, no nightmares hunted his sleep. Chapter 67: Torturous training The endurance of pain is not merely a test of the body but a forging of the spirit. In training pain resistance, we push beyond our physical limits, fortifying our resolve and cultivating an unyielding strength that transcends mere endurance. Principal Zatya Malakov 5th Academy grounds, Sector 5, Ragnarok.
Aodhn awoke to the sound of claws raking against his window, and when he opened it, he found Varc floating before him with a blue conceptual core delicately held between his fangs and the half-disintegrated body of a Roc, whose wingspan almost rivaled Varc''s, held between his hind claws. Aodhn created a storm platform and jumped out of the window before leading Varc to the rooftop. What is this? He asked as they descended, and Varc placed the core before him, although he kept the carcass for himself. Varc growled, narrating his adventure through a series of emotions and mental images. When he finished, Aodhn had gotten the gist of the entire matter. Varc had returned above veil, and as hed soared through the skies, hed gotten into a fight with the Tier 21 Roc, and although hed sustained injuries in the process, hed obviously won. Aodhn picked up the core and sent it into his spatial storage without analyzing it. He was aware of the impurities already within the core and had no intention of adding to them by absorbing a conceptual core, no matter how tempting it was. Perhaps he could exchange it with someone else or sell it whenever he got out of the academy. He raised a questioning brow, his gaze darting from Varc to the half-disintegrated carcass tightly clutched between his claws. Varc followed his gaze and looked back at him innocently. Do you want to explain to me why you still have that? Varc growled, clutching the carcass tighter, and Aodhn frowned. Youre familiar; you do not need to eat. Varc growled in disagreement, and Aodhn motioned for him to go ahead with a mocking smile. Varc turned his gaze to the carcass and sniffed it, but recoiled in disgust and belched out what Aodhn could only describe as a ball of condensed lightning that disintegrated what was left of the roc. Varc sniffed in contentment, and Aodhn frowned, wondering why Varc had picked up the carcass in the first place. Familiars didnt eat, and they didnt need to absorb cores as they grew alongside their bond. Perhaps it was the thrill of the hunt that Varc craved? Aodhn wondered if he should let him out more often; if nothing, he would at least gain a core or two from these hunts. Varc returned to his spirit, and Aodhn floated back to his room. It was only a few hours past midnight, but Aodhn doubted he could go back to sleep, so he went to his training room, took up a meditative pose, and began honing his control. For almost a week now, hed been stuck on nineteen strands, but he intended to push it up before morning. As he refined his control, his mind wandered to the principal and what she had in store for him today. He hated to admit it, but now that hed accepted the situation, a part of him was looking forward to it, anticipating... He stood up a few minutes past dawn, feeling slightly sleepy, but a cold bath solved that problem, and after dressing, he made his way to the principals office. Shed asked him to report to her office by 7, and although he still had half an hour to spare, he couldnt wait any longer. On any other day, the streets would have been filled with students rushing to the various classes or to the gymnasium, but today was a free day, and many used it as an excuse to sleep in, but he wasnt afforded such luxury. He arrived at the principals office with about fifteen minutes to spare and found the door slightly ajar. He slowed, trying to listen in on the conversation going on inside, but the principal called out. Come in, Aodhn. Aodhn sighed. How foolish of him to think he could hide from the senses of a Mythic. Not bothering to hide anymore, he pushed the door open and walked inside. There were three other people in the room aside from the principal, two of whom he recognized. One was Rahim, who stood at the right of the principal with a slightly worried expression, and the other was Eldrith, who stood beside the third man, another Mythic, who was dressed in a pristine silver robe that Aodhn soon found out was actually enchanted steel. Unlike the principal, who always radiated an aura of power and mysticism, the man could have been mistaken for a sleeper if it weren''t for his pupilless eyes, which were the color of steel. Rahim waved him over and placed a hand on his shoulder as he came to stand beside him. The man hummed as he scrutinized Aodhn. So, this is your new pet project, Zatya. He is indeed a curiousity. Principal Zatya agreed. That he is, Berion, and that is why I need the help of your student to train him. Hes a little rough around the edges, but I believe we can sharpen him up. Berion nodded and turned his metallic gaze to Eldrith. That is, of course, if Eldrith agrees; as you know, I do not force my students to do anything against their will. The principals expression tightened slightly, but she nodded and looked at Eldrith, who was staring at Aodhn with a completely blank expression, not betraying the fact that they knew each other. Eldrith remained silent for a moment before nodding. Ill be honored to be of service. Great, then we shall begin immediately. Principal Zatya grinned and waved a hand. Aodhn frowned in confusion when a portal shimmered into existence. This was the second affinity hed seen her use so far; the first was time, and now space? He chalked it all up to a sort of mythic voodoo as she turned back to Eldrith and said, You know what to do. Eldrith nodded and gestured for Aodhn to follow him. As he moved, though, Rahims fingers tightened subtly on his shoulders as if he were hesitant to let him go, but the next moment, he pushed him forward and smiled. Have fun. I''ll try. Aodhn replied and followed Eldrith into the portal. They appeared in a training room many times the size of the halls within the training center, densely packed with energy, so much so that tiny crystals of energy condensed around the edges of the room. In a sense, they were cores, but the energies they contained were so chaotic and wild that directly absorbing them was sure to damage a persons pathways. The portal closed behind him, and he turned to fully take in the room.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Unlike the concrete walls of his personal training room, this room had wooden walls, but even at first glance, he could tell that the wood wasnt ordinary. The brown wood glowed faintly with golden energy, and although he couldnt sense any runes within it, he knew they were there. He took in a deep breath, and energy rushed through his pathways and into his core, jolting his body and spirit until he was as alert as an owl at midnight. It is nice to see you again, Aodhn Brystion, although I didnt realize it would be so soon. Aodhn turned to see Eldrith standing casually at the center of the hall and replied. Im sorry its not under better circumstances. Eldrith dismissed his apology with a wave of his hand. One cant help it if the great Zatya Malakov decides to take them as her pet project. Aodhn scowled. Im not her pet project. Oh, but you are. Eldrith replied, and his gaze softened. Trust me, youre not her first, nor will you be the last, but if Raol wills it, shell forget all about you when someone more interesting comes along. Aodhn frowned, not sure something so merciful would be happening in his case; he was a transmigrant after all. What was more interesting than that? Still, something about Eldriths words tugged at him, and he asked. Were you once her pet project? Eldrith shrugged. Three years ago, just like you, she took a shine to my affinity, dumped Viscelis Crowborn, and assigned one of the 4th years at the time to train me. Want to guess who it was? It only took a moment for Aodhn to connect the dots, and he sighed. Rahim. Bingo. Eldrith replied as he walked closer. Shes ever searching for the perfect weapon or killing machine to mold, and when you fail to meet up to her impossible expectations like I did, shell dump you, like she did me, and very recently, Erdania Lockwood in the second year. What expectations? Aodhn asked, and Eldrith shrugged. Its different for everyone. Why are you telling me this? Eldrith shook his head, staring at him with a hint of pity in his expression. When he finally replied, his voice was a whisper, almost too low to hear. Because I see you, the real you. From the first day I saw you in the library, I knew that this day would come, even though I didnt realize it would be this soon. He frowned in thought, scrunching up his face as he tried to find the right words. You have that spark that she loves, that steel of determination, the poorly hidden need to stand out, to be better, to be seen, noticed, and loved. Aodhns expression hardened as Eldrith continued. I do not need an empath to know that youre broken and traumatized by a past that still haunts you. I can feel your pain, and if theres one thing Zatya Malakov loved more than molding her pets, its fixing the broken; unfortunately for you, youre a perfect blend of trauma and power. Aodhn pushed down his pain as long-buried memories resurfaced. Pain and anger roiled within him, and he growled. Why are you saying this? I thought we were friends! Eldrith shook his head sadly and raised a finger. Because were in a training room, and this is training. The finger moved suddenly, too fast for Aodhn to follow, and the next instant, pain exploded in his chest as he was flung backwards. He crashed against the wooden wall and fell to the floor, clutching his chest as the pain intensified. For todays training. Eldrith began, his voice flat and unfeeling. Ill limit my strength and speed to Tier 24, but this torture will only end when you either strike back or the principal herself intervenes. Aodhn gasped as he struggled to get back up, but Eldrith flicked his fingers again, and pain like hed never known ripped through him until he fell to the floor, unconscious. . As astounding as I remember. Zatya Malakov smiled at Eldrith as she took out a jug of water from her spatial space and dumped it on Aodhns unconscious form. Your affinity for pain truly is extraordinary. Eldrith didnt respond; instead, his gaze remained on Aodhn, who was yet to stop twitching even after hed stopped channeling {Amplify Pain}. Eldrith had been just like Aodhn three years ago, na?ve and innocent, save for the fact that hed loved and enjoyed the principals attention. Hed wanted to be her weaponthe terror shed always wanted to forgeand her personal killing machine, just so he could keep her attention. As one of the numerous illegitimate sons of Duke Solaris Valerion, hed been scorned and ostracized, kept with the other unwanted and unloved children. The only reason he hadnt been thrown to the streets was because the duke insisted on keeping all his illegitimate children. The duke had even spent a week with him after his arrival, but after that, Eldrith had been promptly forgotten. His life had been hell after that, and when he finally got the chance to escape his home and attend the academy, hed seized the opportunity. The principals attention had been a dream come true. Shed loved him and esteemed him to the point that shed taken time out to train him personally, but like those before him, hed fallen short of her expectations, and shed directed her attention to someone else. Now, she only bothered to check on him once in a while; he was still her project, after all, just a failed one. When shed asked him to train the pain resistance of her newest pet, a part of him wanted to refuse, but a part of him also craved this: her attention, their conversations, and the way she complimentedan affinity that almost everyone else hated. He doesnt seem to be waking up. She mused as she gently poked Aodhn''s unconscious form. I might have gone a little overboard. Eldrith admitted, and when she frowned, he scoffed. Oh, hell be fine in a minute or two. You were supposed to take things gradually and ease him into it. I want to mold him, Eldrith, not break him further. Rather than respond, Eldrith touched Aodhns head and channeled {Absorb Pain}. He didnt even hiss, as all the pain Aodhn was feeling rushed into him. When he stopped twitching, Eldrith sighed. Out of jealousy, hed gone slightly overboard, more because he actually liked the boy, but it was better if Aodhn failed to meet Zatyas expectations now, so she could turn her attention elsewhere before she became too invested. Aodhn jerked awake the next moment, and Eldrith dodged as a condensed beam of lightning shot through the space where his head had been barely a second ago. Aodhn roared as he rose to his feet, his voice rumbling out like thunder, and Eldrith turned to see that the principal had vanished, most probably watching with glee as a great amount of willpower erupted out of Aodhn and covered him in a thick reddish haze. Eldrith raised an eyebrow, shocked by the immense willpower Aodhn was expending. He expected Aodhn to collapse from exhaustion at any moment, but to his dismay, Aodhn surged forward, sending a dozen lightning spears hurtling toward him. Eldrith dodged easily. Even when utilizing Tier 24 speeds, he was still much faster than Aodhn, who was still at Tier 18. A storm cloud rumbled into existence above them, and it expanded to cover the entire roof in less than a minute. Eldrith channeled {Inflict Pain} again, but grimaced when the haze of willpower pouring off the boy interfered with the skill. He dodged as a literal rain of lightning spears descended, all aiming for him. He smirked. Aodhns control was good, great even, and although he tried to reduce his control, Eldrith was still an advanced class awakened, which meant his control was leagues above Aodhns own. The spears struck the floor with so much force that he was sure they would have at least nicked his skin had they hit, and although they fell in hundreds, Eldrith weaved between them easily. He channeled {Inflict Pain} once more and frowned when the skill refused to take hold. He needed to get rid of the willpower haze if his skills were to have any effect, and although he disliked using this ability, Aodhn had given him no choice. This time he channeled energy into {Inflict Pain} and then {Transmute painEmotion}. Instantly, Aodhn cried out and stumbled, clutching his head as painful memories resurfaced with vengeance. The haze of willpower around him disappeared as his concentration wavered, and the storm cloud broke apart as his energy grew turbid. Eldrith grimaced at the sheer emotional agony Aodhn endured and promptly activated {Transmute PainPhysical}. He focused on Aodhns ankles, causing him to scream as the skill cut through his depleted willpower. Before Aodhn could pass out from the pain, Eldrith immediately channeled his innate skill, {Manipulate Pain}, and reduced the pain to manageable levels. Aodhn collapsed to the floor, shuddering as his muscles spasmed, while Eldrith sighed. Already, he could feel Zatyas displeasure from wherever she might be. Hed let himself get carried away again. He was supposed to train the boys resistance, not beat him to death because he was jealous. Eldrith walked towards Aodhn and knelt beside his shuddering form. I know this hurts, and Im sorry, but this is the only way I can think of to train your pain resistance. It wasnt a lie, technically. This training would do wonders for Aodhns pain resistance; it was just more painful than the alternative. He wasnt evil, not truly. This method would provide Aodhn with more benefits than the alternative, so in a way, this was for his own good. When Aodhn didnt respond, he sighed. This training isnt meant to kill you, but to help you, and if you cooperate with me, we can do this in a very reasonable manner. Aodhn turned to face him, his entire body shuddering and soaked with sweat. When he took in Eldriths calm gaze, he wondered how hed missed the insanity lurking within him, and in a hoarse whisper, he rasped. I will kill you. Maybe. Eldrith grinned and raised a hand to help him up. But first, you must kill pain. Chapter 68: Drawing runes The significance of runes in our world cannot be overemphasized; they are the foundation of our power, skills, and abilities; even the system uses them. To casually dismiss them is foolishness, yet many do, disregarding the keys to ancient wisdom and the symbols that shape the reality that we manipulate. I daresay, there shall come a time when this blatant disregard for runes will come to bite us in the behind. Professor Vyris Caldwell. Sector 5, Ragnarok.
Aodhn lay on the wooden floor after the torturous session ended, gasping for breath as his body twitched and spasmed. The training had lasted for almost five hours, and in all that time, Aodhn had failed to even scratch Eldriths robes. Eldrith had fought without mercy, amplifying his pain every time he pushed through the former level, and the moment he couldnt take it anymore, the pain magically disappeared, drained from his system, leaving him fresh and energized yet twitching as his muscles fought through their most recent memory. Whenever Aodhn mustered enough willpower to withstand Eldriths assaults, Eldrith would shift to inflicting emotional pain, which was worse as it dredged up every painful memory and amplified it. When the training finally ended, Eldrith smiled at him, his expression slightly sympathetic. He made no comment, though, and simply walked into a portal that appeared behind him, obviously the work of the principal. Aodhn turned, searching for her, but he found no sign of her anywhere. Still, he felt her attention on him, urging him to stand, but he lacked the strength to do so. It took him several minutes to regenerate enough willpower to stagger to his feet and another five to stumble into the portal. Fortunately for him, the portal led directly into his room, and without hesitation, he crawled into his bed and was asleep in seconds. It was evening when he awoke next, but he still lacked the strength to even stand up. He wasnt injured; in fact, there wasnt a single mark on him. Whatever injuries hed sustained during the battle had been taken care of by his regeneration, but his weariness was bone-deep, and his muscles still spasmed in remembrance of the torture theyd endured. He turned his attention to his core and grimaced when he saw what was left of his willpower. Dying embers. Hed burned a massive amount of willpower in his battle against Eldrith, and for the first time in almost two months, his willpower had almost bottomed out. It would take days for it to regenerate. The side effect had hit him harder than hed anticipated, and if the session had continued for even a minute longer, he would have been completely drained, which, well, wasnt good at all. Unlike the times hed bottomed out his willpower in a bid to increase it using meditation in the Warren, hed been at the 4th tier, and the side effects of his actions had been negligible at best. Now, though, it was a struggle to even open his eyes. He tried to force them open, but when his efforts proved futile, he gave up and drifted off to sleep once more. When he awoke next, it was an hour past midnight, and hed finally regenerated enough willpower to carry out mundane activities like sitting up and replying to his messages. There were almost a dozen of them, all from Daruk, who kept asking if he was still alive or if he needed to start a protest against academy brutality. Aodhn chuckled, imagining a group of protesters all screaming at the academy gate with Daruk in front wearing a #SayNoToAcademyBrutality t-shirt. He quickly responded, assuring Daruk that he was fine and just needed some rest. Daruks reply was immediate, stating that he was on his way, and Aodhn realized that beneath the funny and slightly sarcastic texts, Daruk was genuinely worried. Aodhn tried to dissuade him from coming, but Daruk was adamant, and he eventually gave up. When Daruk arrived a few minutes later, his eyes scanned Aodhns body, searching for injuries, and when he found none, he exclaimed. I thought youd be half dead by now. Trust me, I feel half dead. Aodhn drawled as he slowly pushed himself to his feet. Daruk watched him comically as he took slow steps until he reached the foot of the bed and collapsed once more. Daruk grabbed him before his face smashed against the rune-scripted floor, chuckling softly. The training must have been serious if you cant even walk on your own after several hours. It wasnt training. Aodhn wheezed as Daruk laid him back on the bed. I swear, theyre trying to kill me. I seriously doubt that. Daruk smirked, enjoying his misery for some reason. I spoke to Rahim yesterday, and he mentioned something about you being the principal''s pet project and how you are currently the most important first-year student to her. Aodhn scowled. I didnt ask for this; Eldrith Valerion is a mad man! Daruk laughed as he sat on the bed and folded his legs in a position that didnt seem to be comfortable. Tell me what happened. Aodhn did, narrating the entire ordeal in detail, and when he finished, he sighed. I tried so hard, but I couldnt even ruffle the edge of his robes. I was utterly and completely beaten even after hed restricted his strength and speed to the 24th tier. Daruk nodded. That is to be expected. Eldrith is a third-year student, which means he should be around the 50th tier, if not more, so its only natural that, even restricted, his control is leagues above yours. It wasnt just his control, though; his movements were so fluid, so controlled, as if they were following a rhythm only he could hear; it was insidious. Daruk laughed. "Alright, I suppose I can finally forgive you." "I thought you already did," Aodhn said, frowning. Daruk, still amused, nodded. "I was plotting brutal revenge, but how can I possibly go through with it when you''re already enduring so much? So, Ill content myself with watching your weekly torment instead. Thank you, your heartless majesty, for being so gracious. Aodhn muttered bitterly, and they both laughed. Daruk stayed until dawn, and by then, Aodhn had recovered enough willpower to moderately function, although he doubted he could complete the required laps for the gym. Fortunately, when they got there, Coach Harvey glared at him and said, Youve been excluded from today and tomorrows gym activities, but be rest assured that this is the only time youll be granted an exception. Whatever extracurricular activities you have going on with the principal is your business, but I will not have it affect my class. Yes sir. Aodhn sighed in relief. Running laps on a normal day was extremely exhausting, but if hed had to do it, running this low on willpower, hed be dead before he could take more than a few steps.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. He took up a meditative pose at one corner of the gym and watched the other students as they raced by. After a while, he began a few stretching and light exercises, but in his current predicament, even breathing was hard work, and he collapsed to the ground five minutes later, gasping for breath. Shadows landed on him, and he turned to see a trio of giggling girls standing over him. He managed to conjure a smile and gasped. Hi Lupin, hi Scarlett, hi Gwendolyn. Hed finally learned the name of the third girl during their date. The girls waved, staring at him in a mixture of concern and amusement. Are you alright? Lupin asked, and Scarlett smirked. You look like a Gytshi dunked in water. Aodhn had no idea what a Gytshi meant, but it took it to mean he looked terrible. I almost bottomed out on my willpower. The explanation seemed to suffice, and the girl giggled. That must have been some intense training you had going on. Gwendolyn shook her head in pity. People really need to start learning their limits. Before he could respondnot that he had a suitable response anywayCoach Harvey shouted. Less talking misses, more running. The girls groaned and continued their laps, leaving him still gasping on the floor. When the laps finally ended, Yurin walked towards him and patted him on the back. How are you doing, buddy? Aodhn stumbled and gritted his teeth to prevent himself from crying out in pain. It was just a gentle pat, but it had hit him like a hammer to the guts. He hadnt quite appreciated the amount of strength he''d gained with each advancement, but if a single pat from Yurin had caused him to stumble, then what would a punch do? Whoa! Yurin exclaimed and steadied him. What just happened? Willpower burnout. Daruk replied, suddenly appearing beside them along with Andrew. Oh nasty. Yurin scrunched his face in disgust. Ive experienced it once before, and its not something I want to repeat ever. You should feel better after a few days of rest. Andrew added. Until then, youre basically a sleeper in an awakened body, or is it the reverse? I think it''s the reverse, Andrew. Daruk chuckled. Aodhn sighed as the conversation flowed and they made their way to the cafeteria, after which they moved to the class on elemental affinities, where Valerie Potts discussed their assignments, touching upon the limitations each student had provided and offering possible counters. In the process, she mentioned something Aodhn had noticed but hadnt quite paid much attention to, and that was the effect of energy on the world. Back in the Warren, where the energy was thin, the reaction of energy with the world around him had been negligible, but in a place like the fifth sector, the dense amount of energy affected everythingthe trees, the buildings, even the groundpassively strengthening them to match up to a particular tier. He hadnt realized it before, but it made perfect sense now that she mentioned it. He was much stronger than he had been back in the Warren, yet the effect he had on his surroundings was barely any different. This explained the Sigma battle zones and the reasons why Calamity class individuals were restricted to the kingdom capital, where the energy was densest. Control training was the same as last week, and Aodhn soon settled into a rhythm, moving from the gym to class, then to the library or his training room, before moving to the hall for control training. Things werent exactly boring, but nothing new was happening, and he only perked up when the class on Runic theory came around. As he walked to the lab alongside Yurin and Lupin, there was a spring in his step. He had recovered all of his willpower, but more excitingly, his willpower had grown tremendously as more untamed flames poured in from the dam into his dying embers. He had spent the last two days taming willpower and suspected that he was getting close to the silver rank, whatever unit of willpower that was. They arrived at the lab a few minutes later, and when they got to their respective work benches, Aodhn took out the lab suit and put it on. It was as he was fastening the suit button that he realized that although theyd decreased in number, theyd also gained a few new students. They were all familiar, and although he didnt know all their names, he waved to them in greeting, and they responded in kind. A slight din filled the lab as the students murmured among themselves, and Yurin leaned over his workbench and whispered to Aodhn. My stomach is cramping. Whys my stomach cramping? How am I supposed to know why your stomach is cramping? Aodhn whispered back, and Yurin frowned. I dont know, do you? Of course not, he glared at Yurin, but before he could say anything else, Professor Caldwell walked in, dressed in her lab suit and her hair held in place with a rune-scripted ribbon. Unfortunately, despite the many hours hed allocated to runic practice in the last two days, he was yet to perfect the rune. Hed drawn it thousands of times, and although a few had given him a sense of rightness, they were still far from perfect. However, he hoped to perfect it before the day ended, as hed already spent too much time on it. Professor Caldwell began her lecture with a recap of the last class, listing out the mistakes many of them had made and how to correct them. Most of the mistakes she mentioned were points hed read about in the library, but she touched on a few important ones he hadnt thought of, after which she asked them to begin practicing the rune. She moved around the class, inspecting each persons work, commenting positively on some, encouraging others, and, in Yurins case, commenting negatively. The door is still open, Mr. Lahey. I suggest you use it rather than spend your time doodling and desecrating a language youre obviously not capable of understanding. Aodhn winced in sympathy for his friend. Hed invited Lupin and Yurin to practice in his house yesterday, and he had seen the nonsense Yurin was drawing. He had asked Yurin if he was doing it on purpose, sure that it was impossible to be so utterly terrible at it, but apparently, Yurin was just that terrible, and after several hours of practice, hed given up hope of the boy ever passing the class. Still, Yurn had insisted on coming to class today again rather than drop the course, and Aodhn had gotten another glimpse at that inspiring tenacity Yurin was known and admired for. Ill do better. Yurin replied, but Professor Caldwell just sniffed and moved on. When she got to his bench, she hummed. Impressive progress, Mr. Brystion, but still lacking. She frowned and turned to the entire class. When you create a perfect rune for the first time, it glows with a sense of perfection that everyone can feel. She moved to the front of the lab and said, Runescripting is hard; I wont sugarcoat it, and from your expressions, I can tell you that some of you are already contemplating dropping the course. If youre someone like Mr. Lahey, I would advise you to do so, but if not, I urge you to stay. The runic alphabet gets easier the moment you perfect the first rune, and when you perfect the first eight, it gets even easier. Petfecting the first rune is what matters most, and although I was hoping you would all get it on your own, there is a trick I could teach you to help you along. The entire class perked up, and Aodhn leaned forward, his eyes and ears focused on Professor Caldwell as she took out a blank sheet of paper and a silver pen. She placed the paper on the wall so everyone could see what she was doing. Runes are a magical language. She began. They arent just shapes, curves, or doodles; they are words of power that have the ability to affect the fabric of reality itself. So when you draw a rune, youre making a command, portraying your intent to the world. Her hands moved, and in one smooth motion, she drew the first runic alphabet. When youre drawing runes, think not of their individual lines and curves; instead, think of them as a whole, as a word of power, and focus your will on the function of that rune. When she finished, Aodhn turned his attention back to his note and asked himself. How does one will a rune into existence? He focused his mind on his willpower and thought of Fehu, the first runic alphabet that represented strength and vitality. He focused on those two words as he placed his pen on his note. Strength and vitality. He moved his hands according to the image of the rune in his mind, repeating the words like a mantra, and when he opened his eyes, he smiled lightly. The rune was good, better than any hed drawn so far, but it still wasnt perfect, so he tried again and again and again, and it was only when he drew the 9th time that he felt something click in his mind. All his efforts and practice merged into one, and in a fluid motion, his hands moved, drawing out a rune that emanated a sense and aura of perfection that drew the attention of the whole class. Professor Caldwell walked towards his workbench and smiled. Congratulations, Mr. Brystion. Ten points for being the first to draw a perfect rune.. Before she even finished speaking, a gasp of excitement rang out from the edge of the lab, and Aodhn turned to see Ankaz Urdania, the older of the Calodan brothers, holding up his note, which displayed a perfect rune. And five points to Mr. Urdania for being the second. Professor Caldwell finished. She returned to the front of the lab after that and said, Let this be an encouragement to you all; you can do it, yes, even you, Mr. Lahey, although I doubt itll be anytime soon. She turned her gaze to Aodhn. You spent ten minutes drawing that rune; how about you cut that time in half? Aodhn smiled broadly as he placed his pen on paper once more. How about he cut the time to a single second? Chapter 69: War Echoes — Artemis Valerion The above report outlines the developmental stages of the plague wraiths, designed to target and thoroughly destroy agricultural landscapes. It utilizes a combination of advanced bioengineering and verdant energy thoroughly corrupted with a dense amount of death essence, gotten from ascendant candidate Mordok Cane, also known as the Black Death, to disseminate a potent crop affecting plague over large areas. Despite still being in its preliminary stages, the potential ramifications of the wraiths after initial testing are extremely devastating, to say the least, with plants exhibiting rapid decay and disintegration, which in turn propagates the spread of this engineered plague. Developmental report on the production of plague wraiths. General Quenesia Moonlake.
Artemis Valerion grimaced as he teleported into Sector 7, the sector of military and defense. Compared to the second sector in which he had made his home, this sector was bland and unremarkable, filled mostly with orderly gray tents and smooth, polished square buildings. The only remarkable architecture was a cluster of skeletal claw-like spires that rose into the sky at the center of the capital. Artemis spread out his spatial sense and activated {Spatial Scan}. A pulse of purplish-pink energy erupted out of him, and a rush of information soon filled his mind, giving him a rough map of the entire sector. The war camp, his destination, was strategically located at the edge of a vast plateau, overlooking a critical mouth pass that served as the gateway into the capital. The entire sector was meticulously planned and fortified, designed to serve as the last line of defense against any incursions. High, imposing walls constructed from reinforced stone ringed the capital, shimmering with glowing rune scripts. The sectors layout was a grid pattern, facilitating quick movements and the passage of large military units and supply caravans. Artemis snorted derisively, finally admitting that even with the lack of color or grandiose architecture, there was beauty in the orderliness the sector cultivated. But Artemis was a man of color, of glitz and shine, of grandiose architecture and opulence, and he couldnt imagine living in a sector like this. While his gaze did drift to the war camp several miles away from him, what caught his attention the most was the cluster of spires at the center of the capital. To get a much clearer view, he activated {Spatial Sight}, which basically eradicated the miles of space between him and his chosen destination. There were five of them; each was a black skeletal claw that shimmered with golden inscriptions. The tips of the five spires touched, and at their center stood a large, round structure reminiscent of a core. The whole thing was still under construction, but it was hands-down the most impressive sight in the entire sector. Perhaps he could pop in to explore the building once this meeting was over. With a simple flex of will and energy, he compressed the space before him and instantly appeared, floating above one of the tallest buildings within the war camp. It was the office of General Lucas Deaton, the man who had summoned him here, and although the reasons for his summoning had been vague, Artemis could already hazard a guess as to why hed been summoned. He was a mercenary after all, and the army hated mercenaries, viewing them as nothing but degenerates who were a scourge on the kingdom. Artemis sniffed, arched his shoulders, and reviewed the message theyd sent to him. He was a proud man, and rightly so. It was his pride that had pushed him to achieve all that he had, and he had achieved a lot in the last eight years since he graduated from the 2nd Academy. He let out another {Spatial Scan}, searching for the exact location of Fort Dominion, which was supposed to be their meeting point. He found the building barely a second later, and with another flex of will, he appeared before the large black mansion, which was covered in shimmering silver runes that screamed defense and immutability. The moment his feet touched ground, he channeled energy into {Invasive Spatial Scan}, an improved and perfected version of his Tier 25-awarded skill, and another rush of information flowed into his mind. Unlike the rough sketch he got from {Spatial Scan}, the upgraded skill provided much more detailed information, like the exact number of military weapons hidden within the building and the fact that each block used in the construction of Fort Dominion had been individually inscribed with reinforcement and immutability runes. From the rush of information, he deduced that the building was so strong that his skills would have little to no effect on damaging it. A moment after he stopped channeling {Invasive Spatial Scan}, his chip received a packet of information detailing the fort as a Sigma 75-99 battle zone, as well as the rules of war created by the Council of Lords that he needed to know. It was standard procedure for high-tiered individuals, and Artemis had to accept each rule before he could dismiss the message. After that, he turned his gaze to the building itself and grinned for the first time since hed appeared within the sector. Fort Dominion was a beautiful building, perhaps the only speck of color in this land of gray and order. Contrary to his expectations, the mansion was very well appointed and was surrounded by manicured gardens and grandiose statues. Someone with a good eye for design had planned the place out, and Artemis immediately fell at ease. He would have suspected the sudden ease to be a result of mood-altering formations, but {Invasive Spatial Scan} had found no such thing. Still, he was in unfamiliar territory, and as vain as some might consider him to be, Artemis was nothing if not cautious, so he kept his guard up and his senses alert as he walked towards the building. There were a total of fifteen rooms within the mansion, each one designed to host high nobility. His grin widened as he reviewed the information {Invasive Spatial Scan} had provided. His grin dimmed slightly when he realized he would be surrounded by other champions, many of whom hed met at one point or another in his glorious career. His expression turned completely sour when he realized theyd been allocated specific rooms, and his was the one next to Genevas. He wondered if the arrangement was intentional, as it was no secret that he and the witch had been an item for about six months or so, but their breakup hadnt been a secret either; in fact, it had made the front page of every major newspaper within Ragnarok as they had not only broken each others hearts, theyd taken a small section of the 2nd sector down with them. Theyd both had to pay hundreds of credits for damages, and Geneva had gone as far as filing a restraining order against him. The point was that the breakup had been a messy affair, and whoever had planned this arrangement was either insane, stupid, or both. Out of all those chosen for this mission, Geneva was the one he was most wary of, and the fact that they were all on the same side this time did nothing for his worries. He couldnt trust them, not because he believed they would do anything to jeopardize the mission, but because hed stepped on the toes of more people than he could count in the last eight years, and he knew many who wouldnt hesitate to drive a dagger through his heart. When he reached the entrance, the door opened by itself, and Artemis stepped into a golden hall filled with numerous life-sized portraits, obviously painted by a color awakened with immense skill. The images, while still, seemed to follow his every movement as he walked towards the largest, the portrait of a Ragnar, with its silver fur bristling in anger and its reptilian eyes slanted in pride. Was there a creature more noble? More proud or even more beautiful? Artemis reached up to touch the painting that almost seemed alive, but just as his hands neared the bristling fur, his head jerked towards the entrance, and his already sour mood hit rock bottom. A moment later, a man dressed in an impeccable black suit walked in. The man was as gray as the walls of Sector 7, and the only splash of color he had aside from the black suit was a head of inky black hair and eyebrows. His pupils were slate gray, ringed with two different shades of gray, and as if that bloodline manifestation wasnt enough, the number zero was inked on his forehead. The man walked forward, his motions careless yet smooth, chaotic yet measured, his friendly smile sly, a calculated deception that hid the manipulator within. Artemis had fallen for the mans deception before, but not anymore. Now he could see through the mans perfectly constructed lies. It would have been a real shame if he couldn''t, as hed been swindled by this man no less than three times. Always on time, Artemis. For one so vain, you sure hold dearly to your principles. The man said when he got close enough, and Artemis scowled. They say principles are the backbone of character; I wonder what a lack of principles does to character. Zeros smile widened. Ive got so much grit that my character has no need for a backbone. And I have the urge to dump you in a mythic rift somewhere in the Calodan kingdom. Artemis glared. I might just do it if you do not get away from me. Zero took a few steps back immediately, yet his smile remained fixed in place. As always, it is good to see you, Artemis; perhaps we can discuss business after this dastardly mission is over. Artemis narrowed his eyes and spat. Over my dead body will I conduct another business with you, you cunning snake of a man.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Zeros expression sobbed as if he were offended, but Artemis knew better. Its a shame. Zero shook his head. I know weve had hiccups in the past, but this particular business deal is right up your alley. Jewels, diamonds, blingsI''ll even let you take the lead." Artemis pushed down the surge of curiosity and intrigue that welled up within him and took a step backward. Shiny things had always been the bane of his existence. His weakness, and if there was anything Zero was good at, it was exploiting weaknesses. Rather than reply and dig himself deeper into the conversation, he retreated and moved to another portrait. He was a proud man, but even he knew when he faced an enemy whose skill surpassed his own. He couldnt beat Zero in a battle of words, and the longer he spent discussing the topic of oh-so-shiny jewels, the more his curiosity would be piqued, and before he knew it, he would be signing away half his assets for a business he knew nothing about. He had fallen for the trick three times now; to fall once more would be the height of foolishness. As it comes to this? Zero called after him, obviously amused. The great Artemis Valerion scurrying away in fear from little old me. I daresay He paused, all signs of mirth draining away from him as his gaze turned towards the entrance, just a second before it opened and a woman walked in. Artemis grimaced. The fact that even with {Invasive Spatial Scan}, he still couldnt sense the null anchors Zero must have placed around the mansion was worrisome. The null anchors were condensed points of nothingness that acted sort of like an alarm or trip wire when someone crossed them. Artemis had learned of this hidden skill the last time hed worked with the man and had been grudgingly impressed. The skill wasnt as good as his spatial sense, given that hed sensed the woman coming from a mile away, but when it came to pinpoint accuracy, it was far better. The woman who walked in was dressed in flowing black robes that covered her entire body, even her face, leaving only a few strands of bone-white hair exposed. The woman looked like a reaper, except she had no scythe. Her hooded gaze darted around the room in jerky motions, and it was only after a minute that her gaze landed on him. Artemis stiffened slightly, not from fear but from caution. In his line of work, hed learned never to underestimate anyone who had the tenacity and drive to make it past Tier 75, and this woman was no exception, regardless of her obvious mental issues. In fact, those issues only made her more dangerous and unpredictable in his eyes. This was his first time coming into contact with Matharantha Veneirs, popularly known as the Mirror, but when she turned to Zero, he knew the same couldnt be said for the sly fool. There was no sly smile or casual nonchalance in his features anymore; instead, Zero stared back at her with a look of utmost alertness. The womans cloak suddenly rippled, like a mirage, and Artemis realized it was a layered image that was similar but quite different from illusions, as it was three-dimensional and much more real. With the cloak gone, Artemis took in Matharanthas features. Apart from being deathly pale with pupils as clear as glass, the woman had no other visible manifestation. Her bone-white hair was packed in a ponytail, and with the reapers cloak gone, the woman almost looked like a child, yet Artemis knew she was a few years older than him. Matharantha didnt speak to them; instead, she tuned her gaze to the portrait of a dragon on the other side of the room, dismissing them from her mind as if she had nothing to fear from them at all. Zero tsked, slouching back into his nonchalant stance, and muttered. Beware of that one; she has a skill that fucks with time and messes with the mind. Nasty head case that one. As much as I appreciate your advice, I do not need it. Artemis moved to another portrait, one much farther from Zero, and continued. I have my own intelligence; now, leave me be. Zero chuckled. Im sure youll come around soon enough; after all, we''ll be spending the entire week together. Artemis cursed inwardly and muttered to himself. Stay strong, Artemis; hes lying. You know hes lying. He leaned against the wall, and to take his mind off things, he closed his eyes and began to meditate on his glimpse of the origin plane of time. Knowledge of the origin planes was scarce, to say the least, but one of the things theyd discovered was that the planes didnt stand alone. There was usually an overlap of elements or even concepts. Take the origin plane of space, for instance; it overlapped with several other concepts like time, matter, celestial, ethereal, and even infinity. It was possible for a person to gain a certain degree of mastery over those overlapped concepts, and when that happened, they were called aspects. Glimpsing one aspect usually came after crossing into the mythic tier, but after one too many tribulations and jaunts into his origin plane, Artemis had done the impossible. Hed gained a slight control over the aspect of time, and although it was incredibly draining to use, Artemis never stopped practicing. His control of the aspect was crude at best, but he considered it a hidden card to be used against someone like The Mirror in case things went south. Hed only meditated for about fifteen minutes when his spatial sense alerted him to the arrival of another person, and he cursed under his breath when she murmured. Fucking spatial senses. The witch of Selia was a barbarian and a genius runic engineer who was teetering on the edge of insanity, in his own opinion. She walked into the house a minute later, dressed in fur coats and leather. Geneva Ryntharion was beautiful; even after their messy breakup, he couldnt help but admit it. Her lustrous golden locks fell down her shoulders perfectly, with nary a wrinkle or crease in sight. She was a gem among gems, a jewel of astounding beauty and quality, and hed never been able to help himself when it came to those. Their sexual activities had been the best, of course, but when she complained of him being too hands-on, he had exploded. Her exact words had been, Im not some lifeless jewel that you can hoard and keep as an accessory; Im a person. Artemis shook his head as he remembered those heartbreaking words. Him? Hoard? Was it so bad that hed always wanted her to be beside him or that hed sometimes liked to caress her body and pretend she was the biggest gem in the world? Was it so bad that hed stopped calling her by her name and began calling her Jewel, or that hed begun replacing her face in their pictures with beautiful gems? No. But she hadnt understood, and she had shattered his heart with those cruel words. Of course hed gotten angry, and the situation had plummeted from there. Now as she stepped into the mansion, her gaze honed in on him, her rainbow-colored pupils almost blinding in intensity, and Artemis had to force himself not to move or give any visible reaction. Artemis, you sick fuck! She spat, and with amazing speed, she threw a punch at his face. He dodged easily, but a battle against the witch of Selia was never so simple, and as he tried to dodge the second punch, space resisted. It barely lasted a second, and he turned to see a silver rune blazing behind him. Fuck! He cursed once more as the punch landed and his nose rattled. With a flex of will, he teleported himself to the opposite end of the hall, and Geneva shouted. Thats for sliding into the baronesses bed barely a week after we broke up, you sick fuck. Artemis didnt bother asking which baroness she was referring to, as hed slept with half a dozen in that week alone. Who could blame him? Hed been heartbroken and depressed, and theyd volunteered to cheer him up. How else was I supposed to move on, you heartless witch? Remember, you were the one who broke up with me. "Ahh, I love drama. Oh, to be young again. Zero chuckled from across the hall, and Artemis and Geneva shouted in unison. Shut the fuck up, old man. Their gazes locked, remembering the time they''d usually completed each others sentences, and although those were fond memories for Artemis, they were the opposite for Geneva, who looked like she was about to puke. Artemis dismissed the memories when he noticed her expression and sniffed derisively. He turned to a new portrait, and it was only then that he realized that in the ruckus Geneva had caused, hed lost touch with his surroundings and had missed the entrance of their fifth member. Ali Hassani. The man was a legend he hadnt had the pleasure of meeting before, more because Ali preferred to keep to himself, and even now, if he noticed Artemiss gaze at all, he made no move to acknowledge it. The man leaned against the wall beside the entrance, head down and arms loose. A sense of nonchalance and slight impatience radiating off him, but Artemis could feel the rigidity in his slouched posture and the readiness curled beneath those loose muscles. Apart from the witch, Ali was the only one he considered a peer, despite the fact that he was almost fifteen tiers above the man. Ali had also graduated from the second academy, but rather than join the Coliseum to show off his prowess like Artemis had done, Ali had disappeared, and if it wasnt for the unique application of his skills scattered across the continent, the world would have truly forgotten him. Fighting him would be a pain; perhaps it would be much easier than battling Zero, but Artemis expected him to put up a hard fight. His other team members had finally noticed Alis presence, and although Zero still feigned nonchalance, the subtle spasm in his hand, which Artemis had only felt due to his mastery over space and {Invasive Spatial Scan}, betrayed his wariness. Geneva was less subtle and was casually twirling a flowing script of Grand Runes between her fingers with her gaze narrowed in threat. Her expression clearly stated that if anyone made any sudden moves, she was going to release the runes and blast them all to smithereens. The only person who had no reaction whatsoever was Matharantha, who had been staring at the same portrait for the past twenty minutes. Artemis wasnt sure just how in possession of her mental faculties she really was, but since shed been added to the team, he chose to believe the general had done his work and had vetted her thoroughly. He moved to dismiss her from his mind when something nagged at him, and he focused on his spatial sense. He felt it almost immediately and jerked his head to the far left of the room, where he found a humanoid ripple whose antimemetic effect tried to escape his senses, but he uttered a rule under his breath: {MY DOMAIN. MY RULES: SPACE REVEALS All} Immediately, the image shattered, and Matharantha paused, hands halfway to the portrait of a life-sized cat, and then she turned to him, her glassy eyes so cold that they sent a shiver down his spine. She frowned, dissatisfied that someone had found her, yet when she spoke, her voice came from the image of her still staring at the dragon portrait. Not quite as vain and stupid as youre rumored to be, are you? For some reason, the words traveled to him and him alone, leaving the others clueless as to what was going on, and Artemis instantly raised his assessment of her danger level by several degrees. If she could hide herself so perfectly that neither Ali, Zero, nor Geneva could sense her, then she was truly dangerous. Not letting his trepidation show, he replied. I prefer to be underestimated by my enemies. The ripple disappeared, and he jerked his head to his side as the ripple pushed through a window like it was water and began to take on color. Her pale skin rippled and became tan; her bone-white hair turned gold; and her glassy eyes transformed into a familiar swirl of rainbows. In an instant, an image of Geneva stood before him, just as perfect and flawless as he remembered. He cocked his head in slight amusement and split the mental image he had of Geneva in two. Instantly, the image before him was ripped in two, and Matharantha glared at him as she returned to her usual form. Nifty trick, reflecting the image my mind holds. She shrugged. Im only a mirror, sir Artemis; I reflect what you think. It seemed like she had more to say, but whatever it was, she was cut off by the arrival of their last member. He grimaced as Uduak Goradon, the only elemental awakened among them, walked in. The current champion of the Coliseums Advanced class was a powerful woman whom he had met a couple times before. She was kind, strong, and dependable. In fact, she had almost every good characteristic he could think of, but if there was one thing he hated more than the Sunstonians, it was a stickler for rules, and Uduak was chief among them. She was so rigid and strict, insistently advocating for the observance of rules, that it was a pain even to converse with her. Artemis had never met someone with a moral code so tightly wound before, which was why hed been surprised to see her among the team considering how badly this mission skirted around the rules of the Council of Lords. Uduak smiled warmly, too good to really have beef with anyone, and Zero snorted, apparently sharing his distaste for the woman. Geneva, on the other hand, rushed towards her with a wide smile and hugged her, and they began discussing in hushed tones. Ali showed no reaction that even acknowledged her presence, and Matharantha washe turned to another corner of the room where he found her slowly munching on an apple, seemingly oblivious to the world around her. She turned when she noticed his attention; how she kept doing that he was unable to understand, but if she planned to say anything, she was once more cut off by the arrival of their summoner, General Lucas Deaton, who frowned at them, his pupilless eyes darting from one person to the next. Good, youre all here. We have much to discuss. Chapter 70: Plague wraith I Sector 7 is regarded as the home of Ragnarok''s military. It houses almost all of their infrastructure, offices, personnel and camps; which are classified into their individual sigmas. [15-25], [26-50], [51-75], and [76-99]. It is important however to note that the 7th is also home to thousands of civilians, most usually the wives and children of our brave soldiers, be they dead or alive. Lt. Colonel Amiri Hadjen. Conquestia, Sector 7. Year, 2257.
General Lucas Deaton was a tall man, and although one would expect him, as a general, to have a commanding and overbearing presence, his bearing was more subtle, almost cowardly. His pale skin seemed almost devoid of blood, sickly, but his eyes were the purest of blue, and like all Mythics, he had no pupils, but even without moving his head, Artemis could still tell when the mans gaze landed on him. General Lucas was the youngest general on the blandly named General Council, but was by far the most accomplished. Awakened with the rare concept of sketch, which explained the numerous portraits around them, the general preferred to sit and draw rather than shed blood. For this reason, many considered the general weak, but Artemis knew better. General Lucas was a friend to his father, and if there was anything hed learned from the man, it was knowing when and how to pick a battle as well as knowing when to retreat. The general was an expert at seeming harmless, but Artemis considered him one of the most dangerous Mythics currently within the kingdom. General Lucas led them up a series of steps, and despite the fact that he could have simply teleported them to his destination using his aspects, the general loved to show off his art. As they climbed the stairs, Artemis and the others gawked at the portraits that lined the wall. As beautiful as the pictures in the main hall had been, they were mundane compared to the snowscapes, landscapes, and forests that now surrounded them. When they stepped onto the second floor, Artemis paused, his hands reaching up to touch the last portrait, a life-sized sketch of the generals daughter, Tarisai Deaton. The sketch was unpainted and unfinished, yet it stirred his emotions so violently that he had to look away before he was overcome by the desire to rip it to shreds. Tarisai had been his childhood friend, a light in the darkness of his early years. Hed loved her as a sister, and theyd been inseparable until death had separated them. Artemis took a minute to compose himself, pushing down his grief, before following after the others. When they walked into the briefing room, Artemis frowned in distaste. The room was undecorated, and lacking any artistic touch save for an embroidered logo of the Ragnarok army hanging on the left wall. A large holographic screen stood on the opposite wall, and a long wooden table edged with a dozen chairs stood at the center. Artemis immediately moved to the chair at the head of the table, his eyes hard, daring anyone to challenge his right to leadership. Zero shot a sly smirk in his direction but made no comment while Geneva and Uduak glared at him. Ali and Matharantha ignored him, while the general simply sighed as he moved to stand before the screen and address them. First, Id like to thank you all for heeding my summons on such short notice. The army I had to drop a well-paying job to be here. Ali Hassani spoke for the first time, his head still bent. Unlike my usual services to the kingdom, I wont be undertaking this mission for free. General Lucas stared at Ali for a moment before turning to the other members, gesturing for them to name their prices. Geneva spoke first, gathering herself as if preparing for a fight. Im requesting for aid to be sent to Riverun, the port city of sector 6, who have suffered most from this war. I will only grant my services if I have your word that my request will be granted in a fortnight. The general gave a single nod. You have my word. He then turned his gaze to Matharantha, who simply shrugged. I want nothing. Artemis frowned as the generals gaze landed on him. There were a thousand things he wanted; chief among them was {Ethereal Ambrosia}, an extremely rare spirit plant that would push his spatial control even further if ingested, but he refrained from stating it and said Instead. Ill name my price after the mission. The generals gaze lingered on him for a moment before moving on to Zero, who said the same thing. He sighed when Uduak spoke. Before I name my price, I would like to know just how many rules were breaking with this mission. Artemis rolled his eyes as the general slowly replied. I will not deny that this mission skirts very close to the boundaries that the law allows, but as far as I know, we will not be breaking any rules. Uduak nodded. Ill name my price after the briefing, then. General Lucas shook his head. Be rest assured that the kingdom intends to pay handsomely for this mission, whether its a success or not. He raised a finger and glared. Still, the army will not appreciate failure as this mission is of utmost importance to us. Artemis nodded as the generals gaze landed on him once more. He was the leader of this team, and their success or failure was his responsibility. The general nodded and continued. Im sure you all know each other by now, and Im sure youll be best friends by the time our training period ends, but before we start, we need to learn about our enemies. The general began with a brief explanation of the nature of the Sunstonian agricultural sector, and its importance to its kingdom. The third sector of the Sunstone kingdom is popularly known as its breadbasket, as it produces about 70% of the kingdoms total food consumption each year and contributes 20% of the kingdom''s gross domestic product (GDP), which underscores its economic importance. Artemis frowned as the general continued. It seemed this mission wasnt quite as simple as hed thought. The consequences of destroying such a place would cause severe food scarcity in the Sunstone Kingdom, causing them to become heavily dependent on costly imports from the central kingdom. Their success in this mission would damage, if not cripple, the Sunstonian economy, causing social unrest as the price of food skyrockets. The others seemed to have come to the same understanding, but aside from Uduak, who was frowning in distaste, the others seemed fine with it. Why wouldnt they? The Sunstonians deserved all they got and more for their treachery against the continent all those years ago. General Lucas turned to the screen and it came on to reveal the images of several Sunstonian champions. Obviously," the general began, "youve all heard bits and pieces about these individuals; perhaps you''ve even come across them in the central kingdom, so if you have any information that we lack, feel free to state them. He gestured towards the images of five individuals displayed on the screen. These are the champions currently stationed in the 3rd sector, according to our sources, and theyre reported to have an unusually fast reaction time, which means theyll be our major problem. Once we breach the barrier protecting the sector, well only have a minute or two to get in formation before they arrive. General Lucas swiped his hand across the screen, and the image of a stern-faced man zoomed in to occupy the entire screen. The mans face was devoid of any bloodline manifestation, so much so that he could have been considered ordinary, but a keen eye would notice the weird nature of his pupils, which seemed subtly to contract and expand at irregular intervals. Artemis had never seen the man before, nor had he heard of him, but from Zeros expression, it obviously wasnt a shared sentiment. This is Wu Ming, code named Legion. General Lucas began. Hes popularly known for his cloning skills and is currently at the 85th tier of advancement. The current known number of clones he can create at once is just shy of five hundred, although we presume his actual limits to be far above that. Legion is a one-man army, dangerous both in large and small-scale battles, whose favorite tactic involves overwhelming his enemies with numbers. His clones have no special abilities and only rely on their physical strength so they''re relatively easy to take out. The image changed to a clip showing Legion as he released a seemingly unending number of clones at the center of a battlefield. As terrifying as his future potential is, Legion isnt quite capable of creating an unending number of clones without his partner, Ji-ho, who, as reports have mentioned, is usually never far away from Legion. The screen changed to display an image of Ji-ho, and Artemiss eyes bulged at the amount of gems and jewelry the man was wearing. A polychromatic diamond the size of his fist hung from the mans neck, and Artemis twitched uncomfortably as he fought the urge to teleport to the Sunstone kingdom and grab it. Ji-ho, codenamed Multiple, is an extremely wealthy champion with the elusive affinity of replication. His skills rarely lend themselves to combat, but they are devastating when combined with Legions. This duo is a force to be reckoned with in any context, overwhelming their opponents with quantity rather than quality, and they are nearly impossible to contain, but Im hoping youhe gestured to Artemis and Uduakcan easily deal with them. Artemis nodded, although he believed Zero was a much better counter against the duo. In fact, Zero was a perfect counter to anyone, so perhaps it was wiser to place him against their most dangerous opponent.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. As General Lucas went into details about Legion and Multiples known abilities, not that there was much to tell, Artemis began plotting and planning, searching through his status screen for skills that perfectly countered the duo. The fact that the clones had no abilities or skills of their own made things much easier. The screen shifted once more to display the image of a woman dressed in priestly robes. The mark of a sunburst occupied her forehead, identifying her as a high priestess of Aeloria. This is Mei Ling, codenamed Warp, a reality manipulator who is considered the most dangerous on the list. Currently at the 90th tier of advancement, her control and manipulation of reality are reported to be nigh perfect, displaying overwhelming power leveraged with surgical precision. She is considered the leader of this group, and you cannot afford to underestimate her. General Lucas fixed them all with a pointed glare before proceeding. We have limited knowledge about her skill set, and even the little we know cannot be trusted. Reality manipulators are ridiculously good at hiding the effects and nature of their skills. It is impossible to trap her, but that is not our mission. Keeping her occupied till the plague wraith activates is our main objective. The screen shifted again, and a jovial-looking man with platinum-gold hair appeared on screen. His white pupils were ringed with two bands of gold that gave him an eerie appearance, and a halo of light shone around him. This is Li Wei, codenamed Luminous. General Lucas glanced in Zeros direction and continued. At the 87th tier, he may not be the most advanced person in this group, but his threat level is placed side by side with that of Warp. We have a good understanding of his abilities, but knowing what he can do and being able to counter him are two different things. His utilization of light is more conceptual in nature, as his skills are geared more towards ethereal, heat, and reverse-healing attacks. "Luminus is also known for an unprecedented level of control and is capable of light speed attacks. That puts the success of this mission at stake, and we cannot allow that. Keeping him out of the battle is the best tactic, which is why Zero must put him out of commission for the duration of those ten minutes." General Lucas gestured towards the screen, and a video of Luminus perfectly defending against a battalion of Tier 75 advanced class, soldiers appeared on the screen, and Artemis frowned as he watched the man dodge, block, and redirect attacks without a frown or wrinkle of concentration. The clip changed to display an old man with patchwork scars covering his entire body and the mark of a sunburst occupying his forehead. The man had a wide smile that stretched all the way to his ears, revealing all his teeth and giving him an insane visage. This one Artemis knew, and he frowned in disgust. Patchwork was a champion hed once met during a mission in the central kingdom. The man was insane, to put things mildly and feverishly devoutly to the worship of Aeloria. Patchwork. General Lucas began, unable to keep the disgust from his face. This champion has a flesh affinity and has obviously embraced the more sinister and offensive part of the affinity. Hes reported to be extremely brutal in his manipulation and control of flesh. The image on the screen changed, and a soundless video displayed patchwork as he stripped the flesh off a young man, exposing a ragged mess of bones and torn tissue before reforming the flesh again. Patchwork let out a soundless scream when he failed to reform the flesh perfectly, and then stripped off the imperfect skin once more before reforming it once again. The lack of sound only served to make the video more disturbing, and Artemis averted his eyes after patchwork stripped off the mans skin for the third time. And they call themselves believers. Geneva spat in disgust, a sentiment the entire team shared except Matharantha, who watched the screen with morbid fascination. As dangerous as he is, patchwork is easily countered by the use of a special runic armor that will be given to you on the day of the mission. General Lucas turned the screen off and turned to face them fully. These five champions are the ones who will most likely stand against us. Others may arrive, but were making plans to prevent that. Artemis understood that to mean a diversion, something to distract the Sunstonians while they wrecked havoc on the third sector. Now that weve gotten the first part out of the way, we need to plan our approach for the mission. General Lucas said, locking eyes with Artemis who turned to his team, pausing briefly before looking back at the general. "When do we start?" . Three days later. Artemis stood high in the sky above fort Dominion, dressed in light elastic armor covered in anti-flesh altering and minor defense runes. He turned to the rest of his team members, who floated behind him. It had been three days since their first briefing with General Lucas, and during that time, theyd trained relentlessly under his tutelage. The general had focused mostly on their teamwork, and although he hadnt cursed their fathers, hed had no qualms cursing them to oblivion whenever they had made mistakes. The whole thing made Artemis feel like a student again, but compared to the Tier 147 general, he was practically a child stumbling in the dark. Living together with the team had been a disaster at first, but breaking a few bones and punching the hell out of each other during the training had done wonders for their dynamic. Artemis had made it a point to smash Zero into the concrete floor every time they came close to each other. Zero had tried to avoid him, but with Artemiss mastery over space, he was practically inescapable. Hed taken just as much damage as hed dealt, though, as Geneva never failed to attack him at every opportunity. It was almost like she wanted him back. By the end of the first day, Artemis had a broken arm and was covered in bruises; Geneva had two broken legs and a dislocated shoulder; and Zero was blackened and bruised from head to toe. The next day had gone slightly better, and after the training ended, General Lucas dismissed the team and ordered Artemis into a portal that led to one of the many underground facilities within the 8th sector. This is Alpha-117, the facility responsible for the production of the wraiths. General Lucas had announced the moment they arrived within the facility, and Artemis was struck by the sheer scale and intensity of activity going on. The main assembly stretched endlessly, filled with rows of massive robotic arms that moved with precise coordination. Mechanics, dressed in heavy-duty gear and welding masks, moved swiftly between workstations, checking blueprints and adjusting machinery. A gargantuan ship hung from the ceiling, held by several metallic wires and covered in a thick haze of red energy. Sparks flew as plasma cutters sliced through it, and the sharp scent of molten metal filled the air. A man descended from the ship immediately after he sighted them, but unlike the other workers, he was dressed in a white lab suit, and the double rings around his gray pupils identified him as an advanced-class individual. Artemis peered at the words written on the mans ID as he approached them, but he neednt have bothered as General Lucas introduced him. This is Supervisor Kalu Actus. Supervisor Kalu gave a deep bow to the general before speaking. Welcome to Alpha-117 champion; I take it youre here for the wraith? Indeed. General Lucas responded. And the armor I commissioned. Come with me. The man led them past the assembly hall, and Artemis let out a pulse of {Spatial Scan}, needing only a rough outline of the facility. Supervisor Kalu turned, moving through so many hallways that it was impossible not to get lost without a guide. They came to a halt in front of a thick metallic door several minutes later, and supervisor Kalu had to provide several means of identification before the door opened, revealing an empty hall save for the metallic contraption standing at the center. Immediately they walked in, they had all paused, even the general, as theyd been suddenly gripped by fear and a feeling of imminent death. It had taken a moment for them to realize that the intense wave of killing intent hadn''t been directed at them, and it was only then theyd deigned to move closer to the wraith. The spider-like construct stood tall, about fifteen meters in height, and a thick aura of death emanated from it. The wraith was a twisted amalgamation of metal and corrupted energies. Its spider-like frame was lined with intricate runes that pulsed with dark light, and its round head was equipped with a ghastly mask that gave it the semblance of a face. We are unable to contain the aura yet. Supervisor Kalu began as he placed a hand on the sinister-looking construct. Time has constrained us. That is understandable. General Lucas replied as he also walked towards the wraith, leaving Artemis standing several meters back in caution and fear. The general frowned as he caressed a metallic limb. This aurahow? Its a side effect of ascendant candidate Mordoks death essence, as hed insisted on imbuing the wraith himself. Supervisor Kalu replied, understanding General Lucass poorly formed question. Artemis relaxed slightly; the imminent sense of death made perfect sense now. This will change everything. General Lucas muttered, obviously referring to the war, but the supervisor misunderstood him and chuckled. It already has, general. The wraith is an ingenious fusion of technology and corrupted energies, and already, scientists have begun experimenting. Were focused on the corruption of energy for now, but we intend to explore their uses very soon, maybe even begin experimenting on the underlying concepts involved with the Sorry to cut in. Artemis interjected and took a step forward. But I''m curious, how do you corrupt the essence of an element? Its a very complicated process of course, but the basics of it involves mixing two opposite essences until you strike a balance. Supervisor Kalu chuckled. Almost all of our previous experiments ended in explosions, and this wraith is our first success. Artemis wanted to ask more questions, but General Lucas cut in. Supervisor Kalu, please educate us on how to activate this monstrosity. Ah, yes. The supervisor placed his hand on the third metallic leg and gestured for them to come closer. There are two switches here, one to activate the wraith and the other to miniaturize them. He clicked on the second switch, and the wraith immediately collapsed, folding in on itself in a very unpleasant way until it was reduced to about half its original size. Sadly, we were unable to reduce its size further, but Im aware you have a runic engineer in the team; a delicate application of size configuring runes should reduce the width to about a meter or so. Supervisor Kalu chuckled and clicked on the switch again. The wraith unfurled and the deconstruction process reversed, filling the hall with the grating sounds of metal as the wraith put itself back together. Thats not disturbing at all. Artemis muttered to himself as the supervisor asked him to try. They had studied the wraith for a few minutes, and supervisor Kalu had even provided a piece of paper tape to mark the right switch for miniaturization. After miniaturizing the wraith for the third time, Supervisor Kalu provided a special spatial ring to house the wraith, and in a grave tone, he had said, Under no circumstances should the activation button be touched before it is needed; we were only able to condense enough essence for a single activation. After that, he had provided the anti-flesh-altering armor, and they had then returned to Fort Dominion. Now, a day later, the wraith floated above Genevas palms, encircled by half a dozen rings of size-altering runes, and as his gaze swept across his team, he asked. Are you all ready? They all nodded, and Zero replied. Ready whenever you are. Artemis nodded and channeled energy into {Spatial Transfer}, but kept the skill just a hairbreadth from activation before turning back to Zero. Im ready. Zero released his aura, and immediately, an invisible haze of null energies spread to engulf them all. Artemis grimaced in discomfort as he was suddenly cut off from his core. Several murmurs of discontent rang out from the others, but they had practiced this very move several times already, and although they all hated it, it was a necessary evil for their plans to succeed. Artemis forced his mind away from his core to avoid tearing through the restrictions the null aura had placed on it. As potent as it was, the fact that its effect was spread out among six people made it easy to shrug off. The aura tried to nullify the skill hed kept from activating, but Artemis pushed through the effect with a flex of will, and when he was sure none of their aura or presence was detectable, he released the skill, and a vacuum of compressed space swallowed them whole. Even without access to his energy, he was still able to slightly manipulate their trajectory, and the next instant, they appeared in the sky above the agricultural sector of Sunstone. As expected, a runic dome protected the entire sector from spatial intrusions, and just as theyd practiced, Ali broke through the restrictions of Zeros null aura and dove forward, his fingers coated with black void tendrils. Ali smashed his fist against the barrier, and as the runes began unraveling, an alarm blared out, alerting the Sunstonian army to their intrusion. Shit, Geneva cursed as she silenced the alarm with runes, but the damage was donetheir actions could no longer be concealed. Quick, the barrier is trying to repair itself! Ali shouted, channeling more void tendrils into it. The opening he had created was only about four feet in diameter, forcing Uduak, Zero, and Matharantha to squeeze through. I cant hold it any longer, Ali strained as the gap began to shrink. Geneva moved her hands in a bizarre pattern, and a dozen runes shimmered into existence. They blazed like suns and, with a clap, melded into a single grand rune that stopped the barrier from closing. They dove through the gap immediately, and without the void infusion to sustain it, the barrier snapped shut, cutting off a large chunk of Artemiss hair in the process. Chapter 71: Plague wraith II Domain rules are declarations that effectively make someone a god within their domain. It is usually awarded by the system in the Mythic class as it requires an immense amount of control to achieve and an even greater amount of concentration, willpower, and intent to function. A few exceptional individuals have managed to achieve the award of a rule before reaching the mythic class, despite the extreme difficulty involved. Needless to say, they were all champions. General Lucas Deaton. 12th General Commander. Ragnarok, year 2267.
If there was one thing Jia Ling, the supreme general of the Sunstonian army, was known for, it was planning ahead, and in the weeks after their attack on Ironhold, the capital city of the Ragnarian industrial sector, she had known that they would retaliate. She had made preparations, assigning elites and champions to guard various sectors and borders, keeping them on standby for the time when their enemies came. She had, of course, placed more champions within the sovereign capital, along with the 1st, 2nd, and 6th sectorwhich housed the holy temple of Aeloria. She had prepared and planned; knowing the nature of the Ragnarians, she had made arrangements for unforseen eventualities, but she had made one mistake. planning according to their nature. The Ragnarians had exploited that flaw. How could she have known they would attack their agricultural sector? Almost no one lived within it except a few workers who were too advanced to join the war anyway. Now, in retrospect, she realized that it had been foolish to neglect the sector, but this wasnt the Ragnarok way. The Ragnarians were brutish people, favoring brute strength over mental capabilities, and shed exploited that weakness for over a century. Why have they changed tactics now? As the alarm blared, her generals appeared within the war room, arguing among themselves at mythic speeds as they waited for her decision. Her most trusted general, Li Fang, moved to stand next to her and asked. What are we to do, Supreme? She turned in the sector''s direction, her gaze piercing through space until it landed on the six individuals who had invaded their kingdom, and she ordered. Notify the champions within the sector and gather the elites; well have to hope theyll be enough. What about the army at the border of the holy city, and the ones approaching Sector 2? Jia Ling gritted her teeth in annoyance. The Ragnarians really had planned well this time. Send for reinforcement immediately, but do not withdraw the champions from their assigned sectors; pull out the elites; they should be enough to send this bunch scurrying in no time. The generals began calling their subordinates, ordering the immediate transportation of the elites within their individual sectors to sector 3, the agricultural sector. After giving their orders, some of them returned to their sectors while others stayed beside her, itching to do something, but they could not. Sector 3 was a Sigma 75C99 battle field after all, so they couldnt do more than stare, even as the group produced a sinister-looking construct that let out a deathly aura so dense that it caused the plants around it to wither. Jia Ling took out her prayer beads and began praying. Unlike the other generals, she had far more experience watching from the sidelines. Shed been fighting this war for centuries, shedding the blood of her people to pay for the treachery of their ancestors. What were a few hundred more? .. Patchwork was cultivating in his room, stripping the flesh off a dead clone, when his chip flashed red and an alarm began to blare. He immediately rushed to his feet, gathering all the strips of flesh hed woven and melding them into his skin before walking out of his room. Immediately he stepped into the hall, he found Warp, dressed in her usual temple clothes with her prayer beads dangling from her palms. May the light of Aeloria shine upon us. He bowed in greeting as her clothes rippled and changed into more combat-suitable attire. The light of Aeloria is forever with us. She replied with a similar bow and spoke into her chip. We have a code red; Luminous, Legion, we need to go now. Shed barely finished speaking when Legion and his sidekick walked out of their room. As a devout follower of Aeloria, Legion also wore his temple clothes, but Multiple was dressed in so much jewelry that it was a wonder he could move without making a ruckus. The feminine man was only a believer in name, and even though he also wore the temple clothes, hed transformed them into a fashion item rather than a holy symbol. Patchwork turned his gaze to the last room in the hallway and sneered. For someone with a light affinity, Luminus had a nasty habit of always arriving late, and they had to wait for another minute before the man stumbled out of his room, half asleep and half dressed. Patchwork would have preferred leaving without the heathen, but Luminus was the strongest champion among them, asudes Warp. Without waiting for an apology, Warp immediately uttered a rule. {MY DOMAIN, MY REALITY: SPACE HOLDS NO AUTHORITY OVER ME}. Immediately, space rippled, and they moved. A single step took them to the edge of Warps domain, which was several miles away. Warp repeated the rules over and over, warping towards the location, blinking in the corner of their visions. They warped past large acres of farmland filled with wheat, corn, barley, potatoes, and a dense network of fruit trees. It took them roughly two minutes to reach the breach, where they found a group of advanced individuals standing around a sinister-looking machine, and Warp immediately uttered another rule. {YOURE NOT HERE. YOURE IN THE DEPTH OF THE OCEAN} Reality warped as her voice thundered out, but a young man with pink hair and purple-ringed pupils countered with a rule of his own. {MY DOMAIN, MY RULES: WE WILL NOT MOVE} The two rules collided in the air, each fiercely vying for dominance, but when it became clear that neither would prevail, Warp sneered and lunged at the man, teleporting them into the colorful haze of their still-clashing rules. Patchwork grinned and raised his hands, trying to rip off the flesh of the others, but their armor restricted him, and he grimaced. Ragnarians and their filthy creationseverything about them was heresy. They probably thought theyd countered him with their armor, but he was a champion for a reason, and with a sneer of disdain, he activated his innate skill, {Flesh Manipulation}. Hundreds of fleshy strands, including the ones hed just woven from the dead clone, erupted out of his back, and he activated {Harden Flesh}, {Fleshy Plague}, and {Eldritch Form} in succession. Instantly, his body grew three times larger, and muscles bulged as fleshy strips layered themselves over him until he became a hulking mass of corded tissue that stood about 15 feet tall. Two of the Ragnarians turned in his direction, and he grinned, exposing bloody teeth as he opened his spirit fully to the origin plane of Flesh, and chaos spilled into his mind. Maggot-sized strips of wriggling flesh burst out of his mouth, rushing towards the enemy, and for good measure, he imbued the skill with willpower. One of the Ragnarians shot forward and raised a hand to his {Fleshy Plague}, her smile just as insane as his own. Patchwork frowned, shocked, as instead of the skill overwhelming her, the mass of wriggling flesh hit an invisible barrier that reflected the plague back at him. Patchwork redirected the skill, and this time he added his intent, but his efforts were futile. Every attack he made was reflected back at him. Furious, he drew on the power of his seals and grinned when, finally, his attack caused the woman to stumble. Patchwork laughed as he channeled energy into {Fleshy Plague} once again, but this time, he employed the power of all his seals. The effect was tremendous; an overwhelming mass of diseased flesh erupted out of his body, and when they came in contact with the invisible barrier this time, they shattered the skill and latched onto the woman like parasitic worms. . Towards the left of the battlefield, hundreds of clones rushed forward. They multiplied every second, and only a minute later they numbered in thousands. Like a highly contagious disease, the clones spread out, each one aiming for the insidious contraption the Ragnarians were defending. All of Legion''s actual clones were capable of individual thinking, but the replicated ones had to be manually directed by Multiple.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Legion sneered as the void awakened and an Earth manipulator moved to oppose his clones, creating an earth barrier that effectively boxed them into a section of the large clearing, cutting off one of the major advantages of his abilities. Still, he wasn''t too bothered, sure that his clones would overwhelm the duo in only a few minutes, but his arrogance died a brutal death when a large mass of void tendrils erupted out of the mans mouth and simply disintegrated half of his clones. The ones that managed to avoid the void attack cried out an instant later as the earth suddenly split open like the maw of a hungry beast, swallowing hundreds of clones, and before either he or Multiple could react, the earth snapped shut with a bang, destroying the trees and plants within a half-mile radius. Legion winced from the backlash as hundreds of his clones perished in an instant, and multiple staggered to the floor, coughing out blood as his skill was forcefully broken. Enraged, Legion created more clones, and with a furious glance in his partners direction, he attacked again. Towards the right of the battle, Luminus glared at a Zero in anger as he tried to push through the restriction of his null aura. Unlike when Zero had spread out his aura to restrict the cores of his team members, this time he was only focused on one person, and even as he dodged a punch aimed at his forehead, his grip on the Luminuss core remained unyielding. He dodged easily, sometimes defending even before Luminus attacked. Hed spread his null anchors all over the area, and not even an ant would move without him knowing. With Luminus''s core completely restricted, there was nothing he could do. Still, he attacked, trying to break the Zeros concentration, but even that seemed to be an effort in futility. .. Six minutes until activation. Artemis dodged as a reality blade tore through the area where his head had been a microseconds ago, warping the space around it and leaving ghostly afterimages in its wake. He flashed forward, his spirit completely opening to the origin plane of space as he desperately tried to keep his rule from collapsing. A rule was a command that altered the reality of a particular element or concept within ones domain. Unlike his own rules, which were limited to the control of space, Warp was a goddess within her domain, manipulating the laws of reality as easily as if she were breathing. The blade phased through a dozen trees and simply erased them from reality. Time bent and warped, returning to the moment just before hed dodged the blade the first time. If it wasnt for the modicum of control he had over the aspect of time, he would have been disoriented by the distortion, but as the blade swung towards him once again, he pulled painfully on the plane of space and activated {Spatial Fortification}. Space solidified immediately, and the blade halted just an inch away from his neck. {SPACE DOES NOT INHIBIT ME} Warp uttered fiercely, but just as his skill began to unravel, Artemis countered. {I AM SHIELDED BY SPACE} Warp growled when reality stabilized once more, and with a wave of her hand, Artemis felt his mind twist as she tried to alter his perception and thoughts. He immediately channeled a quarter of his energy into {Mental Fortification}, an ability he''d gotten after crossing the tier 25 milestone. Seeing that her skill had been thwarted once more, Warp punched him, smashing him into the ground, and Artemis felt more than a few bones crack, yet he stubbornly held to his concentration. He pulled himself out of the small crater hed formed and dodged as a dozen reality spears shot towards him. Still, he couldnt escape them all. Three spears stabbed into his back, but he flared his willpower and pulled them out before they could erase him from reality. Keeping so many rules active was burning through his willpower at an alarming rate, but hed be damned if he let himself be beaten by a Sunstonian dog. Warp rushed towards the wraith, but Artemis teleported and smashed his knees into her stomach. She slammed into a tree, and he let out a bloody grin. Im your fucking opponent. Filthy heathen! Warp cursed as she rushed forward, transforming the air around him into a cage of broken realities that threatened his sanity. Artemis slid between the insane images and opened a portal directly in her path. She dodged the portal, and the next instant, gravity inverted so suddenly and violently that it was a miracle he managed to keep his rules from collapsing. Geneva immediately released a series of elder runes, and gravity righted itself, saving him from a bladed boot aimed at his eyes. Artemis staggered back and, without hesitation, pulled on the power of all thirteen seals hed accumulated. Power roared through him, and he channeled it all into his next utterance. {MY DOMAIN, MY RULES: YOU ARE NOT WELCOME HERE} Warp tried to resist the rule, matching her willpower against his, but space wasnt just his skill; it was his affinity, and even with her reality-altering abilities, she couldnt match up to his control over space. She was thrown out of his domain the next instant, and her rules collapsed, giving Artemis a few seconds to breathe. She would be back any second now, but in the meantime, he stretched a hand towards the clones that had begun overwhelming Uduak and activated {Spatial Cut}. Instantly, space shattered and transformed into a razor-edged blade, about 200 meters in length, and with a flex of his will, the blade cut through hundreds of clones, dissecting them into two equal halves. Leaving Uduak to deal with the rest, he turned his attention to Multiple, who was retching behind a cluster of Legion clones, and activated {Spatial Transfer}. Multiple squealed as he was roughly teleported out of the battle, and Artemis quickly placed the polychromatic diamond into his spatial storage before anyone could see. He turned, but before he could help the others, Warp reappeared and shouted. {TIME WITHIN THIS DOMAIN IS REVERSED BY TWO SECONDS} Artemis grimaced; he couldnt let that happen, as that would mean losing the diamond, so he pulled on his aspect and countered. {THE RIVER OF TIME FLOWS ON} He staggered and coughed out blood as his nascent aspect groaned from premature use. Fortunately, it held. Warp growled in annoyance and shouted again. {YOU DO NOT BELONG HERE} Reality twisted violently as it tried to remove him from the space, but Artemis countered once more. {I REFUSE TO MOVE} Warp growled in frustration and abandoned her rules as she rushed towards him once more. Two minutes until activation. Geneva ran around the wraith, weaving runes that protected it from the hundreds of elites that sought to destroy it. Theyd begun arriving about two minutes ago, and at this point, there were so many of them that she doubted she could hold on for long. The entire area had been transformed into a battlefield, pockmarked with craters and broken trees. Another crater formed as patchwork was forcefully smashed to the ground by Matharantha, who was surrounded by a dozen revolving mirrors. Fire, ice, water, space, blood, shadows, and just about any element one could think of exploded around her, and Geneva''s runes burned themselves out to keep the wraith safe. She created more, relentlessly forcing her will on the fabric of reality. Hundreds of runes shimmered around her, and the moment one burned itself out, two more took their place. The frantic activation of so many runes was not only physically draining but also mentally draining. Yet Geneva continued, rushing around the wraith to patch up the defense formation shed made. After taking so much damage, the Runic formation was now a mess of cracks and holes that she had to continuously patch it to prevent it from crumbling. To her left, Patchwork screamed in frustration as his attacks were either reflected or redirected, and now that Multiple had been taken out of the battle, Legions clones were no longer able to overwhelm Uduak. Yet, Legion kept creating more clones, refusing to give up, even though his clones only succeeded in keeping Uduak occupied. Ali Hassani, on the other hand, teleported across the battlefield, wielding void daggers as he alternated between the clones and elites. His attacks were fatal, regardless of where they hit, and the ground was filled with dozens of fallen elites. Still, the elites kept pouring in, hell bent on destroying the wraith, but Geneva wasnt called the witch of Selia for nothing, and as more elites teleported into the battle field, she opened her spirit fully to the origin plane of Quintessence and immediately activated {Quintessence Overdrive}, {Quintessence Focus}, and {Ethereal Infusion}. Her body shone as she pulled on an infinite amount of energy and began drawing runes at light speed. They blazed into existence around her, and with a thought, she linked them, forming a dozen chains of elder runes that speedily revolved around her. Reality shook from the immense amount of energy she was channeling, and the previously damaged formation reconstructed itself. With {Ethereal Infusion], she imbued each chain of rune with different affinities: the first fire, the second wind, and the thirddeath. The elites barely stood a chance, and only the start of their dying screams were heard before they were reduced to ash. Warp inverted gravity once more, distorting reality, and Geneva turned her gaze skyward, where she and Artemis were locked in combat. Artemis was almost entirely covered in injuries, barely holding on by sheer willpower, and although the sight of his blackened and swollen face gave her immense satisfaction, she knew she had to intervene for the success of the mission. With a wave of her hand, she created a chain of Elder gravity runes and inverted them to counter Warps skill. The runes shook violently as Warp fought against Geneva''s intrusion. They burned out an instant later, but theyd bought Artemis enough time to reassert dominance with his control over space. Geneva turned back to the wraith as the countdown reached thirty seconds and it rumbled to life with a hum of activity. Warp noticed it too and immediately rushed towards the wraith, but Artemis grabbed her by the hair, twisted space, and threw her into an open portal. As the countdown dropped to ten seconds, the amount of deathly essence emanating from the wraith suddenly increased, and Geneva had to move away from it before it overwhelmed her. The wraith shone with black light, its intensity increasing as its activation drew closer. Immediately after the countdown reached zero, the wraith let out a grating sound, and a condensed beam of corrupted verdant energy shot from beneath its head into the earth. The effect was instantaneous and horrifying. Decay spread out in a malignant cloud, rolling over the crops like a tidal wave. Vibrant stalks of wheat and corn withered and crumbled to dust within moments of contact. Fruit trees shed their leaves in a sudden, violent cascade, their fruits rotting and falling to the ground in a putrid mess. Vines withered. Flowers shriveled, and vitality bled out of the land in an ever-expanding wave. Everyone paused, their gazes wide with horror, as the once lush clearing became barren in mere seconds. Chaos erupted the next instant as a chorus of icon manifestations resounded. Artemis acted immediately. With all the energy he had left, he activated {Spatial Transfer}, grabbed his team, and immediately teleported out. They reappeared above Fort Dominion the next instant, and Artemis collapsed from the energy drain, but Geneva grabbed him and channeled energy into his core. General Lucas appeared before them immediately, his expression grim. You have done well; the wraith is destroyed, but its effects will continue for a while. This mission is over. Artemis stared at the general, still in shock. Theyd know that the wraith was dangerous and that its effect was devastating, but he hadnt realized just how devastating it really was. In mere moments, they had caused so much destruction that it was hard to imagine. You should all rest. General Lucas spoke impassively. Our message will be clear. Sunstone will either surrender or starve. The war had taken a decisive turn, one that Sunstone would not easily recover from, but it was far from over, and although they had won today, Artemis worried for the future and the changes the consequences of this battle would bring. With a final lingering glance at the general direction of Sunstone, Artemis and his team returned to Fort Dominion for a much-needed rest. Chapter 72: ASRC I After thorough deliberation and consultation with the Kingdom''s codices of war, the Council hereby acknowledges and accepts the use of plague wraiths during this war. Their utilization, while catastrophic, has led to no loss of human life, which is in accordance with the established statutes of warfare regarding machines and magical contraptions, thus permitting their sanctioned use in strategic operations. Duchess Madrassa Darlington, High Member of the Council of Lords, Central Kingdom (Lutia), year 2275.
Aodhn finally settled into a rhythm, going from gym to class and then to control training every evening. The weekdays were almost monotonous, but the weekends brought enough excitement and pain to last him a lifetime. In this manner, three weeks passed. Three weeks since their devastating attack on the Sunstone. The news had circulated fast, reaching them even within the academy. Ragnaroks actions had escalated the war, and now they were preparing for Sunstone''s inevitable retaliation. Reports of increased military activities filled the news, and in their letters, Unrid and Synov complained that the streets were scanty and the prices of goods had increased drastically. Speaking of letters, Aodhn and Daruk had maintained regular communication with Synov and Unrid over the last three weeks, informing them about their lives and everything concerning their studies. Synov requested every detail, even the unimportant ones, and her replies were just as detailed, usually taking up so much space that Unrid usually just managed a small portion of it to wish them the best and remind them to be careful. It wasnt a problem, though, as Synov spoke enough for two. She told them about their new neighbors, the new house, and how, even with all the luxury around her, she still missed Warren. Aldric wasnt with them yet, as hed chosen to graduate from the 12th Academy first before leaving. Not like a certificate from such a poor-rated school mattered much to anyone here in the 5th sector, but it was always better to be a graduate than not. Still, he would be visiting for the midterm break, and Aodhn was looking forward to meeting his snarky and sarcastic older brother again. It had been too long. Unrid and Synov had been provided jobs as workers in a large food processing factory not too far from their new home, and although it wasnt a special job, the pay was good. Besides, we''re rich now," Synov had written in one of her letters, attaching a pouch of ten gold coins that Aodhn and Daruk had shared equally. Aodhn didnt really have much he was spending money on, except for the meals he bought for his dates with Lupin, which were going extremely well, by the way. He hadnt asked her to be his girlfriend yet. He would soon, but he felt it was still too early, and with all that was going on with the war, it didnt seem like the right time to do so. The escalation of the war had made life in the academy more difficult and hectic. Tension filled the halls and classrooms as everyone went about their activities, impatiently waiting for the Sunstonians to attack, to retaliate, to do something. It had been three whole weeks since theyd destroyed about a quarter of their farmlands, and everyone was just holding their breaths, waiting for the other shoe to drop. Principal Zatya had shown him a video of the devastation a few of their champions had wrought on the Sunstonian agricultural sector, and it had been nothing short of horrific. Hundreds of miles of farmland had been destroyed as the decay effect persisted for nearly a full day, even after the wraith had been eliminated. The video had also shown several earth and plant awakeneds attempting to curb the destruction, but their efforts proved futile. Ragnarok had demanded Sunstone''s immediate surrender after that, threatening to attack with a battalion of plague wraiths in two monthss time if they didnt receive a suitable reply. Yet, three weeks had passed, and the Sunstonians hadnt said a word. They had held no press conference, nor had they printed anything in their newspapers. Their silence grated on Aodhns nerves as well as that of the other students. Aodhn shuddered. Was this the war he was meant to join? The war the principal was preparing him for? He wasn''t ready, not in the least. The scale of power he''d witnessed in the video the principal had shown him was nothing short of astounding, with reality twisting and bending to the will of several champions. Yet, despite his fear, excitement flickered within him as he replayed the video in his mind and imagined himself wielding power on such a scale. His excitement faded when he remembered the devastation their champions had wrecked on the Sunstonian agricultural sector, and his shoulders tensed. He wasn''t the only affected student, though, as everywhere he turned, tensed and angry students milled about. They moved around with vigor, shoulders tensed, and fingers clenched. In the last week alone, over a dozen fights had broken out within the hallways, double that within the houses, and it was a true miracle that Aodhn hadnt been dragged into it. The forge matches had changed from challenges to battle grounds, with students feverishly challenging their foes and beating them up until they either surrendered or a professor intervened. Even Daruk had been dragged into the ring by Alan Kasirel, one of the students who had participated in the tournament. Alan was a solar awakened, and immediately their fight had been declared. The boy had blazed with heat and light so bright that he looked like a mini-sun, but Daruk had beaten him to a pulp by channeling both {Freeze} and {Drain Heat} at the same time before topping it all off with a blast of his aura. Alan had been reduced to a shimmering blue block of ice almost immediately, and the professors had had to intervene before he froze to death. Even Aodhn hadnt been spared, as hed been challenged twice in the last three weeks, forcing him to defend his position rather than climb up the ranks like he wanted to, and now he stood at rank 26, while Daruk was at rank 22. Things within the house werent any better. Marcellus and Meredith had fought last week, almost bringing the entire building down in their fury. Aodhn had rushed into the living room to see Eren pointedly ignoring their violent argument as he slowly munched on a bowl of popcorn, while Imani was obviously trying and failing to settle the fight. Aodhn couldnt believe there was finally trouble in paradise, and from the look of things, Eren was thoroughly enjoying it as well. Aodhn had grown bored after Marcellus called Meredith the sl*t word for the dozenth time, and with a shake of his head, he had returned to his room and locked his door. He didnt care if they killed themselves, but any hope hed had that such a thing might happen was dashed when the house had stopped shaking and he''d heard the familiar voice of their coordinator scolding them from the living room. Also, he, Daruk, and Andrew had begun rift diving, although they''d only been allowed access into the rugwort rift while the students with conceptual affinities had been granted access into a sky rift that contained a bizzare amount of avian creatures. The three of them had delved into the rugwort rift weekly for the past three weeks and now stood at the 20th tier. [STATUS]Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Name: Aodhn Ashoka-Brystion. Title: Neophyte, Storm Spirit, Bronze, Origin Marked. Class: Evolved storm awakened: 99.9% (PENDING) Tier: 2047% Skills {Innate}: [Storm creation and manipulation] [Lightning creation and manipulation] {Other}: [Lightning surge] [Lightning beam] [Lightning descent] [Create constructs] [Absorb lightning] [Spear rainLightning] [Spear rainStorm] [Vortex of lightning] [Vortex of Storm] Bloodline: Origin Storm supremacy. {Unique} Amplifies storm abilities by 3%. Grants major resistance to lightning. Aura of Origin supremacy. Glimpse- Grasp--- Opening: Increases elemental affinity and abilities by 2.5% Techniques: Perfect will imbue (7). FamiliarDragonkin (Storm Fury) Perks: psychic bond. . Even after his recent advancement, his storage space was still filled with cores. Aside from the one hed accumulated from their rift delves, Varc had taken to hunting daily and usually returned with at least one core. Most of the cores were conceptual, meaning he couldnt absorb them, but he could still sell them, which was exactly what he intended to do once the midterm break came around. The nightly hunts also seemed to have calmed Varc, who now stretched about 18 feet in length, suppressing his excess energy so that their jaunts into the sky were now a much calmer affair. Gym exercises, on the other hand, had turned into a nightmare by the third week when Coach Harvey added a pair of null gauntlets to the null armor they usually wore. According to him, they weren''t taking the laps seriously any longer. It was true that the laps had become much easier, with more than half the student body finishing their laps in less than forty-five minutes, but the gauntlets, as small as they were, increased the total weight each person had to bear, which increased the amount of time they spent running the laps, which in turn increased the weight of the armor and... Arghh. It was an endless cycle of torture, and Aodhn avoided coming late at all costs. The classes were another challenge he was facing. Understanding Elemental Affinities was obviously the least stressful, and Aodhn was always happy to attend the class every Monday morning after a grueling gym exercise and a torturous session the previous day. Theyd moved on from discussing the limitations of certain elemental affinities, and were now discussing their strengths as well as the best way or places to cultivate them. Awakened advancement theory, on the other hand, was just as stressful as hed predicted. Professor Jorendil, the professor who had taken over after Professor Dubois, had instructed them to read several pages of the textbook and had even organized a mock test in the last class concerning the intricate nature of spirit cultivation as well as the relationship between conceptual and elemental affinities. Saying the test was hard was an understatement. It had been brutal, and Aodhn had only escaped failure by a hairbreadth, causing him to allocate more time out of his busy schedule to reading. Runic theory, on the other hand, was his favorite, and although hed planned to cut down the scripting of Fehu to a second, hed only managed to bring it down to approximately two minutes, which was still a win in his book. Theyd also moved on to studying the next rune, Urda, the rune of durability and hardness. Aodhn had perfected the rune in less than a week and was now working on the third rune, Thurisaz, the rune of protection and defense. On their own, the runes had little power, but that was where runic links came in. In their last class, professor Caldwell mentioned the stages of runes: from the initiate/Novice ---> Advanced ---> Grand----> Elder. Shed described the twenty-four runic alphabets as initiate runes, explaining that linking two or three initiate runes created a single advanced rune. The introduction of links made the runes much more complex, and although Professor Caldwell said it wasnt yet something they needed to worry about, Aodhn couldnt wait to learn more. In the last three weeks, more than half of the class had managed to perfect at least two runes, including Lupin, whose efforts had finally coalesced into perfection during one of their private practices in his room last week. Yurin had been with them at the time, so when shed pressed her body against his in excitement, nothing interesting had happened. Aodhn was happy for her, though, as shed been working tirelessly ever since the second class. Yurin was still yet to draw something that didnt look like a pile of poop, but he remained adamant and tackled the practice sessions without complaints. Aodhn was sure Yurin would perfect the rune eventually, but he doubted it would happen any time soon. The class on awakened plants was also going well, but they were yet to begin practicals and were still discussing the importance of proper harvesting methods. In one of the classes, Aodhn realized that even common-ranked plants were considered extremely valuable to low-tiered individuals and could still be used to make common-ranked energy and healing potions. This had caused him to ask Gwendolyn Blackwood for the current price of common-ranked plants, and her reply had caused a buzz of excitement to sweep through the class. Five silvers! Just for a single plant. Aodhn was amazed, and his mind spun as he began contemplating a career as an herbalist. Gwendolyn had mentioned that five silvers were considered the average price, but a common-ranked plant could still be sold for a higher price depending on the rarity of its affinity or how well it had been harvested. Aodhn definitely saw himself in this line of business and made up his mind to begin looking out for awakened plants whenever he found himself in a forest. Unsurprisingly, the class on awakened combat was the most stimulating, and after the second lecture, which had still been held in the class, Professor Alaric had begun holding the class within a large training hall littered with dueling rings. In the last two weeks, hed pitched them against each other randomly, asking them to fight without the use of their skills. This caused a bit of an issue, as most students werent used to fighting without abilities at all, and it showed. Professor Alaric had moved from one dueling ring to the other, shouting out comments like, Fighting is music; follow it''s rhythm! Do not project; deflect! Faster reactions! Block! and Move your ascendant-damned feet! When he''d reached the ring where Daruk and Tobais were dueling, he shook his head in disappointment. Tobais, as a devout feminist, I refuse to say that you hit like a girl, but by ascendants! Are you trying to hug him or smash his face into the concrete? Even Aodhn wasn''t spared, and by the end of the class, he had lost count of the number of times Professor Alaric had called him pathetic, even though he was doing far better than 80% of the class. Students didnt exactly leave the class in tears, but they might as well have, considering the gloomy and depressed looks they bore after each dueling session.. At the end of the third dueling session, though, Professor Alaric announced. As much as Id like to continue these pathetic sessions we call duels, I have decided to take things up a notch. His gaze roamed their weary and tired faces before he continued. The next class will be held within the newly commissioned Alternate Simulated Reality Chambers (ASRC). Make sure you do not eat anything before coming. The whole class cheered, unable to contain their excitement. The ASR chamber was a newly commissioned building close to the library, and the students had watched with anticipation while it was being built. It had only recently been opened for use, so the fact that they were going to see it in their next class was exciting. Aodhn began looking forward to the next class, and for the remainder of that week, he forgot about the war. When the weekend came around, his torturous sessions with Eldrith mercilessly continued, and even after a two-tier advancement, he still wasnt anywhere close to stabbing a lightning spear through Eldriths insane skull. The boy taunted him, inflicting him with varying levels of pain, but ever since hed stopped using his willpower as a crutch to fight the pain, Eldrith had stopped using his {Transmute PainEmotion} on him. Aodhn was getting stronger, though; although the change was subtle and noticeable only to the very observant, his movements had become more fluid, as if he now understood his body better. He was learning from Eldrith, and with each torturous session, he got better, faster, and stronger. His reaction time increased, and after so many hours of pain endurance, he was finally moving his body along to the rhythm and pattern of battle. Eldrith had, of course, noticed this and had inflicted much more pain on him for being predictable, which meant he had to continuously change his rhythm at irregular intervals. Daruk was of course enjoying his predicament, but if Andrew noticed how tired he usually was on Mondays, he neglected to mention it. The days passed, and as the fifth week rolled in, Aodhn, along with the rest of the first years, moved through their classes with barely suppressed anticipation, waiting impatiently for the next class on awakened combat to come around, and when it finally did, Aodhn, Daruk, and Andrew rushed to the ASR chamber. The chamber was a circular structure, constructed neither with Ragnar steel nor with Romanian glass but with an azure-colored tile popular in the 2nd sector. The building was just as large as the arena on the outside, but it wasnt until they stepped into it that they realized just how gigantic it really was. Unlike the other buildings in the academy, this one screamed of futuristic technology. Crafted entirely of these azure tiles and shiny metals, the chamber gave off an ultramodern vibe. The sleek structure spanned multiple floors, each with a fa?ade of reflective glass panels and dynamic LED displays that shifted colors and patterns. Inside, the lobby featured a minimalist design with smooth white surfaces, holographic screens, and ambient lighting that adjusted to the time of day. Beyond the lobby were individual soundproofed chambers containing the ASR pods, which were equipped with a full-body haptic suit, a timer, and an option for suspended animation. The floor above contained group chambers where each pod was connected to dozens of others, allowing the students to all share one simulated reality. As they gazed around in awe, they found Professor Alaric waiting alongside a group of early birds, and they quickly made their way towards them. Students trickled in quickly, and when Lupin walked in, Aodhn beckoned her and Scarlett over. Ten minutes later, all 100 students stood in the lobby, and Professor Alaric moved to address them. Welcome to the ASR. He began. A technological innovation made from the fusion of science and various magical affinities, chief among them being time, space, illusion, reality, and mind." He grinned as he produced a single black key that he pointed towards the upper floor. Are you ready? Chapter 73: ASRC II An alternate simulated reality chamber (ASRC) is a fusion of magic and technology that transcends physical boundaries, immersing our minds in an endless simulation of past, present, and future scenarios. The significance of the ASRC is immense, offering applications such as awakened combat training, advancement theory exploration, historical reenactments, therapy, war games, strategic planning, and threat simulation, amongst many others. Darius Faelar. Renowned scientists and technology awakened. Sector 8, Ragnarok
Professor Alaric led them up to the second floor and into a large chamber filled with ASR pods. The circular chamber was lined with dark, matte panels that absorbed light, giving the room a mysterious, almost otherworldly atmosphere. The air was unnaturally cool and carried the faint hum of machinery. ASR pods filled both sides of the hall, leaving the center empty, save for a monolithic structure adorned with a lattice of runic cables that snaked outwards, connecting to the various pods arranged in a circular formation around it. The monoliths surface was covered with holographic screens, continuously updating with streams of data and animated schematics that showed the real-time status of an ongoing simulation. The ASR pods themselves were oval-shaped capsules crafted from a smooth, seamless alloy that gleamed subtly under the chambers lighting. Each pod was large enough to comfortably accommodate a person lying down and was outfitted with a transparent canopy that allowed a glimpse inside. Aodhn turned around, taking in the room with an expression of awe and barely contained excitement. Professor Alaric moved to stand beside the monolith and smiled. This is a group simulation chamber, which means each pod is connected to a single simulation that is controlled by the nexus. He pointed towards the monolith and continued. For todays exercise, Ive decided to start with something fun, a simple game of claim the fort. Youll be divided into two groups, which will last for the entire year. Prof. Alaric said, resolutely ignoring their murmurs of disappointment as he continued. Please note that points will be allocated to the winning team, so itll be in your best interest to cooperate with the group that you find yourself in. Each group must select a leader and a flag bearer, who must be protected at all costs. To win this exercise, all you have to do is eliminate the flag bearer of the opposing group while simultaneously protecting your own. Professor Alaric glared at both groups and sighed wearily. I cant believe I have to say this, but you cannot die within the simulation, although pain will be perfectly simulated. Youll also be logged out of the simulation the moment you die or suffer a fatal strike that essentially puts you out of commission. He took out his tablet and continued. That being said, the following names are assigned to the first group and should gather by my left. He cleared his throat and began. Cyrus Valerion, Grendar Bladewynn, Marcellus Edgarin... While Professor Alaric called out the names of those assigned to the first group, Andrew muttered. Lady luck, please let your grace shine on me. I doubt Lady Luck is concerned with the outcome of this exercise. Aodhn replied with a smile, and Daruk chuckled. I saw an illustration of her once; she doesnt seem much like the gracious type. Andrew glared at them. My luck has been terrible for the past few weeks; Im long overdue for mercy. I could definitely use the luck. Lupin agreed. My forge points are painfully below average. Daruk shrugged. All that matters is that it exceeds the cutoff amount required for graduation. As long as it does, then you''re in the clear. Their conversation was cut short when Professor Alaric called out the last few names on his list. ... Maddie Cronox, Lilith Bloodmoon, and last but not least, Daruk Brystion. Aodhn turned to stare at the first group as Daruk walked towards them and grimaced. Almost every member of the team was a noble, with only about a dozen commoners scattered among them. So much for random selection. Lupin muttered beside him, and he chuckled. Still, it was to his favor; the fewer nobles he had to deal with in this exercise, the better. Professor Alaric gestured towards them. The rest of you will be in group two. Take a few minutes to choose your leaders and flag bearers; this exercise will commence in fifteen minutes. The members of group two shuffled forward, gathering slightly towards the left of the monolith, and Scarlett asked. Does anyone have any experience with this simulation stuff? Alesh Vilaris responded. We have a simulation chamber in my home, although its nowhere near as sophisticated as this one. So, how do we go about this whole leadership election thing? Azul asked, and a murmur rose from the group. Alesh raised his hands to say something, but before he could, a boy with bright blue hair and yellow-ringed pupils suddenly spoke up. For those who dont know, I am Harnoth Darkwater, and my father is Major General Darkwater. He paused as if expecting applause or gasps of amazement, but when he received neither, he scowled. My point is that I may not have experience with this simulation thing, but Ive heard my father talk strategy before, and I believe Im the most qualified person to lead this group to victory. Aodhn chuckled as the boy struck a pompous pose, and Lupin muttered. Ahh, the ever-present arrogance of nobility. Classic. Anyone else wants to give a sales pitch? Scarlett scoffed, and the Aodhn burst out laughing along with a few others, causing Harnoth to go red from anger and embarrassment. Before the discussion could devolve into a shouting match, though, Alesh voiced his opinion. There are several high rankers amongst us, both on the forge list and the tower leaderboard; it only makes sense to select our leader from among them. Its not just about power, though. Eren, whom Aodhn hadnt noticed until now, countered. Like Harnoth said, this is a strategic game, so we need someone with strategic and tactical capabilities to lead us. Aodhn nodded, but as much as he agreed with Eren, there was something they were overlooking, and after clearing his throat to keep his voice firmly in control, he spoke. Eren and Alesh are right, but I think what we need is balance. A leader who can fight, think, and adapt to changing situations to best utilize our abilities. The problem is that we do not know the strategic capacity of anyone here, nor do I trust the little talks Harnoth has heard from his father. There was a smattering of chuckles at his slight jab, and Harnoth growled in anger, but Aodhn ignored him and continued. The ideal choice would be someone whose affinity offers the greatest tactical advantage while still being capable of self-defense. I take it this so-called person is you? Harnoth laughed. What do you know about war? Nothing, to be honest; I dont even like it. Aodhn responded calmly. But I would like to recommend someone else: Ayisha Helsarin.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. The attention of the entire group turned immediately to a girl standing at the edge of the group, and she glared in his direction before slumping her shoulders in defeat. Aodhn had met Ayisha two weeks ago in the library, and although hed seen her in a few classes before, he hadnt spoken to her, which was unusual since he knew almost everyone by name at that point. Hed been browsing through a few books on the disadvantages of seals, and after picking out two to read, hed found her seated at his usual desk. Not that he was the owner of the desk, of course, but every time he came to the library, the desk had always been empty, so it had been a surprise to find it occupied. Hed sparked up a conversation with her, and although shed been hesitant at first, their conversation soon began to flow, and before long, theyd found themselves discussing the war and basking in their mutual hatred of it. It was then that hed found out that she was ranked 16th on the forge list and in possession of two seals already. Ayisha was exceedingly powerful, but what surprised him the most was her astounding control over the concept of time. He hadnt been able to understand how someone as powerful as she was could fly under the radar for so long, but he soon realized it was intentional, as she hadnt even challenged the tower at all. They had met a few times after that first encounter, and Aodhn even introduced her to Daruk and Andrew. In the little time he''d known her, he''d come to realize just how smart and strategic she was. Yet, Ayisha was a ghost, and it was usually hard to notice her except when one was actively searching. The reason hed recommended her was because of a skill shed unknowingly shared with him during one of their many conversations in the library, and that was {Foresight}. With the use of this skill, she could see up to a minute into the future, more if she pushed, so when Eren mentioned the importance of strategy, she''d been the first person he''d thought about. As the attention of the group fell on her, Aodhn could almost hear her cursing his name as she glared daggers at him. Why her? Eren asked, but before Aodhn could respond, Harnoth sneered. You would pick a girl to lead us in a strategic exercise? Girls are stupid. Aodhn had never seen a person so thoroughly dig their own grave, as all at once, the eyes of more than two dozen females turned to glare at Harnoth. He sputtered, trying to retract his statement, but before he could come up with a coherent apology, Ayisha walked to the middle of the group and glared. Im Ayisha Helsarin, a time awakened with the ability of foresight, and I would be honored to lead this group to victory. Needless to say, when they cast their votes, Ayisha won by a landslide. She kept glaring at him for putting her in the spotlight though, but Aodhn ignored her. He would apologize later. With the leader now decided, the focus shifted to the next critical choice: the flag bearer. This role was even more crucial, as the flagbearers capture would mean their defeat. I think the flag bearer should be someone strong; that way, theyll not be so easily captured even if we fail to protect them. Aida Simms argued. Well need the strongest people to fight our opponents. Lupin countered. The flag bearer should be a person geared towards defense or perception manipulation, like me. Aodhn frowned, not really having much to say in the matter. Both ideas were good. If the flag bearer was strong, then even if they were discovered, they wouldnt be easily captured, but Lupin''s idea would ensure that the flag bearer wasnt even found, although if, by some sort of miracle, they were discovered, it would be quite easy to capture them. The argument continued for another few minutes before Ayisha spoke. Lets go for both. Someone whos able to hide and escape discovery but has enough power to protect themselves. After a few more minutes of deliberation, they finally agreed and settled on Derek Sylithen, who referred to himself as a changeling. Professor Alaric arrived a moment later, and after taking notes of their leader and flag bearer, he directed them to a room at one end of the hall that housed a collection of black haptic suits, embedded with hundreds of runic sensors that monitored their vital signs and movements. After they were done, Professor Alaric led them to the array of ASR pods at the left of the chamber. The pods opened with a soft hiss and a slight, chilly mist. Aodhn excitedly stepped into the oval pod, and the transparent canopy sealed itself shut, isolating him from the outside world and immersing him fully in the simulation. The first thing he heard was a soft hum as the pod activated and the feel of electrodes as they adhered to key points on his head. The interior lights dimmed further, and gradually, the hum intensified. Aodhn felt a tingling sensation as the pods synchronized with his brain waves, and the next moment, reality dissolved, and he suddenly found himself in a world vastly different from any hed ever imagined. It had a sky that was darker than night and riddled with stars as red as blood. An unusually large red moon shone brightly, and a smattering of red clouds floated lazily above them. Red mountains jutted out of the earth, their narrow tips piercing into the red clouds in a slightly disturbing manner. A forest of extremely tall trees surrounded them, each one riddled with red leaves, and the air was thick with the scent of smoke and bloodlust. Aodhn immediately created a construct to shield his face, Andrew''s, and Lupin''s from all the smoke and dust. Fortunately, someone manipulated the air around them, clearing away the haze of smoke and dust to provide some breathing room, and that was when Aodhn looked down. He regretted it immediately. Nausea roiled through him violently, but he wasnt the only one, and retching sounds soon filled the air as the students threw up. Bodies littered the ground, barely a day old, and it was obvious that a battle had just taken place recently. Trigger warning! Andrew heaved. Professor Alaric should have at least warned us. Fuck! someone cursed, and Ayishas voice rang out shakily. Okay, so its a terrible sight; lets just try to remember that its not real. Its a nasty test that we can pass if we can just push through thefuck! Is that a liver? Aodhn heaved again, but managed to keep his guts in check this time. How was this a fun exercise? Was this even allowed? They were teenagers, for heaven sake. Aodhn wiped his mouth and turned to take in his surroundings to distract himself from the mutilated bodies scattered around him. The city theyd appeared in was in ruins, completely destroyed, and the only thing still standing was the fort, a monster of a building covered in black runes. It aligned with the theme of the world and was made from red stone and sheer glass, giving it a bloody and menacing aura. Red flags stood on its wall, decorated with black stallions, and damaged artillery lay scattered on the floor, sputtering and releasing smoke into the air. We need to move; were losing time. Aodhn rasped as he created a platform large enough to carry them all, and as one, the group rushed forward, suddenly impatient to stay one more minute in the area. As the platform floated closer to the fort, they passed by a river stained red with blood, and Aodhn jerked his face away, unwilling to see where the blood was coming from. Ayisha constantly reminded them that it wasnt real, but she didnt seem like she believed it either. Everything felt so realthe metallic scent of blood, the mournful sound of the wind, and the feel of Lupins palms as she held tightly to his arms. Realizing that she hadnt said anything since theyd arrived in the simulation, he asked. How are you dealing with all this? Constantly reminding myself that none of it is real. She replied with a shaky grin. The river isn''t red, the sky isnt black, and there arent any dead bodies beneath us. Aodhn nodded, still affected by the gruesome scene. Perhaps he needed to do the same, but the point of the exercise was to get them used to the realities of war, and if he had no choice but to join it in the future, he needed to start building his apathy to death now, so that by then, he would be sufficiently desensitized to it. When they arrived at the fort, they found a company of simulated soldiers moving aimlessly around the fort. A floating text above their heads identified them as Tier 18 soldiers, and immediately they saw them, they rushed to their feet and saluted. A man rushed out from among them, dressed in a more decorated uniform, and identified as a Tier 20 commander. The commander saluted. Welcome champions; thank Raol, you''re finally here. Weve been expecting you for weeks. Ayisha glanced back at them in confusion before awkwardly returning the man''s salute. What happened here, commander? The commander shuddered and shook his head sadly. A grievous battle, my lady. The order of black attacked out of the blue; we fought back fiercely and even managed to push them back, but we lost so many soldiers and weapons in the process. If Aodhn wasnt so mentally weary from their journey through the haze of smoke and death, he would have been impressed by the amount of detail in the simulation, but at this point, he just wanted a nice long bath. Its alright, commander; were here now; well protect you. Ayisha gestured to the soldiers and said, In the meantime, prepare your soldiers; we have an order to destroy. The commander saluted eagerly and began shouting at the soldiers. Ayisha chuckled and turned back to face them with an expression of amusement and disbelief, the horrific sight beyond the fort walls temporarily forgotten. Did you see that? Wed be blind not to. Eren muttered grimly, and Scarlett added. Deaf too. Ayisha glared at them. I meant that it was an interesting turn of events, one I wasnt expecting. Agreed. Andrew murmured. Its not everyday one gets called a freaking champion. Or gets salutedtwiceby a commander. Alesh added, and a smattering of weary chuckles rang out from the group. When the chuckles died down, Aodhn groaned. "Well, as interesting as that was, Im in dire need of a bath. Raol, me too. Andrew replied as he alighted from the platform. I feel like a plague. Murmurs of agreement echoed out from the group as they walked into the fort, and Aodhn breathed a sigh of relief to find it clean and spotless. The dark walls were decorated with red runes and curtains that prevented the luminescence of the moon from coming in. Okay, I think there are enough rooms for all of us, so we can all take our bath at the same time. Ayisha instructed. In five minutes, though, we need to convene in this hall to talk strategy. They trudged up the elaborate stairs, and Aodhn picked the first available room he found, after which he stepped into the bathroom and spent the next five minutes scrubbing off the feel of death from his skin. Chapter 74: Making strategic plans Dear Principal Zatya. I hope you''re doing well. Just a quick note to request the use of our shiny new ASR chambers for a combat exercise I have in mind. It''s going to be pretty intensetrauma-inducing, even. Some students might find it a bit rough on their mental health, But hey, better they get a taste of the horrors of war now than be caught off guard later, right? Just think of it as a tough love approach to their education. Thanks for considering it. Best regards, Professor Alaric
Aodhn arrived at the main hall exactly five minutes later, his hair still wet and crackling with tiny arcs of electricity. His appearance had a profound effect on the females and even a few of the males present. As pleasing as he appeared, though, his looks had no effect on Ayisha, who glared at him furiously. Aodhn grimaced as he moved to stand beside her and whispered. If looks could kill, my entrails would have been scattered across the hall by now. You threatened to do this last week, but I cant believe you actually went through with it. She whispered back harshly. Look, Im sorry. I know you hate calling attention to yourself like this, but I meant what I said earlier: I think youre the best person to lead us. She glared at him for a moment longer and harrumphed. Theres no need to apologize; I shall have my revenge. Aodhn grinned. Ahh, I see youre not the forgiving type. Im not. She glared and took a threatening step forward. In fact, Im barely holding myself back from sticking you in a time loop and leaving you to rot for a century. Aodhn took a step back and grinned. If only you were powerful enough to do that; alas, youll just have to suffer my electrifying presence for a while longer. Ayisha scowled. I hate you; you know that, right? Trust me, you do not bear that sentiment alone. He muttered and glanced towards the other end of the room, where Harnoth and two of his friends stood, glaring daggers at him. Ayisha chuckled. You know, there are two probable futures in which he attacks you in the next fifteen seconds. He ends up thoroughly beaten, though, but the sound you make after the first punch is so satisfying.. Aodhn glared at her and turned to keep an eye on Harnoth, whose glare only intensified. After fifteen seconds passed and nothing happened, he glanced back at Ayisha to find her grinning. Ah, this is going to be so much fun; how will you ever know if Im lying about the future? You were lying? Aodhn sputtered, and Ayisha shrugged. Like I said, Im not the forgiving type, and I shall take my revenge. Aodhn sighed and turned around to see Lupin and Andrew descending into the hall. He waved them over, and Andrew lamented. Damn, I still feel like shit. Why do you swear so much? Eren, who was standing beside Alesh, inquired with a frown. Because its satisfying. Why the fuck are you so stuck up? Andrew shot back, and Ayisha quickly intervened. "Okay, boys, thats not important; we have a battle to plan. Her gaze swept across the group, and she continued. I think it''s safe to assume that the other group went through the same test that we did and is now planning on the best way to capture our flag bearer. We need to foil those plans. If were attacking, we need a battle strategy, and if were defending, we need a fortification strategy. What are we going for? I propose we defend. Alesh spoke. Attacking them is unwise, as they have more high rankers than we do. Aodhn frowned. Alesh was right. Group 1 had a lot more high-rankers than they did, but now that he thought about it, he also realized that their affinities leaned more towards offense than defense. His gaze roamed the hall, taking in his group members as they deliberated on the best course of action to take, and that was when he noticed that aside from himself and a few others, most of the group had affinities geared towards defense or support. Aodhn pointed this out to the group, and when they realized it was true, Ayisha spoke up. Perhaps its part of the test, and were supposed to lean into our strengths to win this exercise. That makes sense. Alesh reasoned. But if thats the case, then attacking is out of the question. No, theres over a dozen of us with offensive abilities; we should still be able to hold our own. Kira Fontaine disputed, her black-ringed yellow pupils glowing faintly, but even Harnoth saw the flaw in that idea. Cyrus is very powerful, and with Lillith, Grendar, Daruk, and Marcellus by his side, well be overwhelmed in minutes. I think were being narrow-minded about this. Azul spoke up for the first time since the meeting began. A battle is much more than defense and offense; theres infiltration, siege, and several other war strategies we should consider before making a move. There was a beat of silence as they took in her words. She was right, Aodhn admitted. He knew too little about war, and considering what his future held in store, he needed to rectify that. It was Scarlett who broke the silence. What if we utilize all three strategies: infiltration, defense, and offense? Well be spreading ourselves too thin, and itll only make it easier for them to pick us off. Eren countered. Ayisha frowned and straightened. How about we catalog our affinities first, classifying them into offense, defense, and support? That way, well know exactly what were working with and where our strengths lie.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! They all agreed, and she produced three sheets of paper, labeling the first as offense, the second as defense, and the last as support. She began first, penning her name on the offensive list, before passing them to him. Aodhn hesitated for a moment before writing his name on the offensive list. His affinity could be used for defense, but aside from {Create construct}, his other skills were geared towards offense, with only a little utility. Aodhn frowned, realizing that he also needed to work on that, and as he passed the list to Lupin, he wondered, in what other ways can storm clouds or lightning be used in defense? The list moved quickly, and when it came back to Ayisha a few minutes later, Aodhn found that there were several overlaps, with many of the students placing their names and affinities on all three lists. Unlike Lupin, who was firmly in support, Andrew had placed his name on all three lists. What surprised Aodhn, though, was a list of bizarre affinities, such as intangibility, aura manipulation, knowledge, connection, and even explosion, none of which hed seen in the forge matches yet. Ayisha smiled when she read through the list. Azul is right; a significant portion of our group is geared towards infiltration, support, and defense. How about we lean into that? And neglect our offense? Thatll be a terrible mistake. Alesh disagreed, and Aodhn frowned as an idea began to form in his mind. The best way to fight a battle is to use all the resources at our disposal. He murmured, quoting a sentence from Professor Alaric''s class. What if theres a way to attack, defend, and infiltrate the order of black without spreading ourselves thin? The attention of the group fell on him, but before he could tell them his plans, Ayishas eyes glowed, and she grinned. Ahh, brilliant. Group one wont know what hit them. Fifteen minutes later, he was seated on a storm chair beside Ayisha and Alesh, reviewing the list of offensive, defensive, and support affinities they had. There were a bizarre array of support affinities, like Scarletts {Enhancement} and Derek''s {Shape shifting}. Those were very clearly useful, but Aodhn didnt dismiss the seemingly useless ones like Ultrix Loracroft''s {Connection}. The affinity was obviously strong enough to get him into the top fifty of the forge list; besides, like professor Alaric had said in his first class, every affinity could be used offensively, and underestimating an affinity was the worst mistake one could ever make. His plan had been enthusiastically accepted, and after a few more tweaks and changes, it was even better than what hed initially come up with. A moment later, as they assigned roles for the defense of the fort, Alesh suddenly asked. Not to pry, but how far into the future can you actually see? Ayisha shrugged hesitantly. About a minute, a minute and half I channel my willpower and seals. She scrunched her face in distaste and said, Maybe two if I go all out, but it''s not exactly a pleasant experience. Aodhn grinned. So what happens a minute from now? Ayisha sighed. It doesnt exactly work like that; as you know, the future isnt fixed. What I see seconds into the future is almost always accurate. A minute is complex; anything more than that is a mess of possibilities and probable futures that its almost impossible to sort through. Im hoping things will get better after my third seal. Aodhn sighed, still a little disappointed that he hadnt gotten a seal yet, despite his fervent accumulation of information on the subject. The books hed read said the same thing: A person was branded with a seal whenever their ideals and nature began to align with their affinities. Hed spent hours meditating on the ideals and nature of the storm, trying to align himself with it, but it wasnt something that could be forced, and hed eventually given up. The seals would come at their own time. But as much as he craved them, he dreaded the Twisted effect and how it might affect him, especially with his control over Varc still being so new. He couldnt afford to lose control of Varc, especially in the state the twisted effect would put him in. Unlike Daruk, whose affinity was cold, detached, and unfeeling, the storm was violent, a rumbling force of nature intent on raining destruction on the earth below. With his track record, he feared that the Twisted effect might turn him into a monster intent on displaying his supremacy over others and raining destruction down on them. A gasp from Ayisha pulled him out of his spiraling thoughts, and he shook his head. The seals were a problem for the future, and he would deal with it whenever it came. Now, though, they had an exercise to win. I just got a message that weve been granted access to the vault. She stood up immediately, shouting to the group members as she moved in the vault''s direction. Please make your way to the vault immediately; we need to equip ourselves and our soldiers with as many weapons as we can find. Aodhn and Alesh rushed after her, along with over a dozen others, and when they reached the vault, the heavy metal doors slid open soundlessly to reveal a large oval chamber fully stocked with weapons. Hundreds of swords, spears, hammers, and daggers filled an entire half of the room, but what surprised Aodhn was the fact that every single one of them was covered in glowing red runes. The students gasped in amazement as they took in the array of weapons. The left part of the chamber was filled with a trio of war machines, standing almost 7 feet tall, and on the floor beside them were dozens of runic-covered balls of explosives. The vault was completely swarmed the next moment as the students rushed to pick their preferred weapons, Ayisha said. Okay, pick whatever you need. Ayisha voiced out a moment later. We also have an entire company of soldiers to outfit; can someone get the commander and a few soldiers in here to carry the weapons and machines? Ill do it. Scarlett smirked as she grabbed a long black spear almost twice her height and used her concept on it. Aodhns eyes widened as the spear suddenly hummed, and the runes flared, casting the vault in a reddish glow. An aura of bloodlust burst out of the weapon, and Scarlett smiled. Thats more like it. She stepped out of the vault a moment later, and Ayisha muttered. In what world is such sorcery classified as a support affinity? Lupin chuckled. She uses it mostly to enhance her physical looks and give herself that bewitching aura shes well known for. Ahh, that would explain it then. Ayisha mumbled and picked out a sword covered in runic markings. Aodhn picked out a spear, but when he tried to study the runes, his mind ached and twisted, unwilling or unable to understand them. He concluded that the runes were obviously far above what his mind could currently handle and moved on to a shelf at the corner. There he found a large metallic box filled with rune-scripted earpods and trackers. Aodhn grinned. Communication had been the only flaw left in their plans, but their worries had been solved with these. He showed the box to Ayisha, who began distributing the earpods and trackers to each person. The earpods were fortunately easy to utilize, containing an off/on switch and a mute switch. After some initial testing, he equipped his earpod and tracker, strapped the spear to his back, and began gathering weapons for the soldiers. Ten minutes later, Aodhn, Ayisha, and Alesh stood on the balcony, overlooking a now-alert and heavily armed company of soldiers. Do you think our plan will work? Alesh asked, and Aodhn shrugged. It either works or it doesnt. Its only an exercise; we can learn from it. As nonchalant as his reply seemed, Aodhn wanted to win. Seeing the look on Cyruss face when they eventually did was simply a bonus. There was a slight tension in the air as the group moved around, each person carrying out their own duties with excitement. It is time. Ayisha muttered a moment later, and Aodhn turned to Lupin and Cameronthe intangibility awakened who looked like he wanted to be anywhere but here at the moment. The first task will be up to the both of you; do not hesitate. They nodded, and the next moment, Dylan Ezarith, an earth awakened with a {Geoteleportation} skill, grabbed them and geoteleported? Geoported? Aodhn shook his head and turned his gaze to the gate to see Lupin and Cameron emerge shakily from the ground before disappearing once again. When they finally disappeared from his line of sight, Aodhn turned to Ayisha and smiled. They won''t know what hit them. . Chapter 75: RED ORDER, BLACK ORDER Embrace the agony, for in the crucible of relentless pain, we shatter our mortal limits and forge unbreakable wills. Only through suffering can we transcend the ordinary and achieve the extraordinary, turning every scar into a testament to our indomitable strength. Zatya Malakov. Principal of the 5th academy. Sector 5, Ragnarok.
Cameron Lorde grunted, clutching his {enhanced} runic daggers tightly as they finally came to a halt half a mile away from the boundary of the Red Order. He dusted his clothes and turned to his two companions, Lupin, the cloak awakened, and Dylan, the earth awakened, who had transported them thus far. Since they had no spatial awakened in their group, theyd settled for the only alternative, {Geoteleportation}, a rather crude version of actual teleportation. Dylans poor control also hadn''t helped matters, and theyd had to take several unpleasant jumps to reach their current location. I can get you to the boundary with a few more jumps. Dylan volunteered, but Lupin hastily denied him. Well trek, you know, for reconnaissance. Right, Cameron? she asked, and Cameron nodded vigorously in agreement. Trekking was a much better alternative to what theyd just endured. Dylan grimaced and hung his head in shame. I apologize for the discomfort; Ill do better. Its fine. Cameron responded, rubbing his jaw awkwardly. Just wait here; well trek the rest of the way. Cool, notify me when you get close or if youve got company. We will. Lupin replied, and Cameron turned his attention to his surroundings, self-conscious of the fact that he was standing beside two nobles. It wasnt that he feared or hated nobles; he just thought it was best to avoid them. These two had been perfectly pleasant so far, but nobles were always nobles in the end, and it was just easier to stay out of their way. They were in the midst of a dense network of tall trees, riddled with large red leaves. The red moons luminescence barely penetrated through the dense canopy, but the little that did was enough for them to see. A slight reddish mist filled the air, carrying with it the metallic scent of blood. Ugh, this simulation is terrible. Lupin complained, and Cameron chuckled. He wasnt too disturbed by it, as his past had thoroughly desensitized him to it. His mother was a blood awakened, and hed been surrounded by blood for as long as he could remember. If anything, the pungent metallic scent reminded him of home. He turned to Lupin, but before he could say anything, their earpods crackled to life. This is Ayisha. Lupin, Cameron, can you hear me? Loud and clear. Perfectly. They both replied, and Ayisha continued. Good, your trackers place you about a mile and a half from the fort of the Black Order. Im keeping {Foresight} active, so keep your earpods on in case I need to communicate something urgently. Sure. He responded, and the next instant, thunder rumbled in his ears as Aodhn spoke. Remember, stick to the plan; move in and out before they realize whats going on. If youre caught, inform us immediately, so we can adjust our plans and come up with a suitable response. Noted. They both replied, and Ayisha spoke again, chuckling. Alesh will give you directions. Go forth, warriors, and may Raol be with you. Lupin chuckled, and Cameron shook his head in amusement. Are you ready? Lupin asked, and he nodded. Lets do this. They took off the next instant, easily navigating through the forest as they followed the directions Alesh was giving. They arrived at the boundary a few minutes later, and they both paused to take in the order of Black. It was the direct inverse of the Red order. The sky was blood red, the only spot of color in a sea of black. The moon and stars were as black as night. The earth was black, the river was black, and black mountains pierced into black clouds. Unlike the red order, which was bloody and bright, the black order was gloomy and depressing. In the distance, a black fort stood resolutely. Black flags stood on its walls, waving hauntingly in the absent wind, and the sound of clanging steel filled the air as the soldiers prepared for battle. Unlike the area leading towards the Red Fort, this area was clear of bodies, but the air reeked of decay. The ground bubbled disgustingly; its surface was choked with thick, green algae that glistened under the black sun. Tadpoles squirmed through the murky water, mingling with the stench of rot, and rotten vines hung low, dripping with putrid slime and adding to the overwhelming sense of foulness. Its the damned marsh all over again. Lupin lamented, covering her nose to block out the putrid stench. What is it with this academy and marshes? Cameron sighed. Hed scaled through the tournament and the past five weeks without revealing much of his abilities. Every time hed been challenged to a forge match, hed relied only on invisibility, and hed hoped to do the same in this exercise, not because he was shy but because he was trying to avoid the attention and scrutiny his affinity usually garnered. Now that the group already knew of his affinity, though, there was no point in hiding it anymore, so he stretched a hand out to Lupin, and when she placed her delicate fingers in his rough palms, he shivered from the sensation, but he soon controlled his thoughts as the image of a certain dark and powerful storm awakened appeared in his mind. He tightened his grip slightly and activated {Physical IntangibilitySelective} and then {Transference}. With the first, he turned his legs intangible, and with the second, he transferred the effect of the first skill to Lupin. Without hesitation, he jumped into the marsh, pulling her along, before channeling half a dozen weaves of willpower and energy into his innate skill, {Phase}. They lurched forward, moving through the marsh without restrictions, until they were only a few yards away from the wall of the black fort. Lupin activated {cloak} the moment they came to a stop, and Cameron deactivated his skills. Her {Cloak} spread out to engulf them, hiding them from the view of half a dozen students who watched the area from above the wall. We are only a few meters away from the fort of the Black Order." He reported immediately, and Ayisha replied after a second of static. Proceed as planned; you have nothing to fear. With the fear of danger now dispelled, he grabbed Lupin once more and activated {Physical IntangibilityFull}, then {Transference}, before phasing directly through the four-foot-thick wall. Lupin squealed as they phased through the wall, and when they emerged unscathed on the other side, she shook her head vigorously. Im not getting used to that anytime soon. Cameron chuckled and turned to observe the soldiers, who stood a few feet away from them. They were all equipped with black runic armor and weapons, but for some reason, they didnt seem as alert as they should have been. Not that they would have noticed them regardless. They were completely intangible and still hidden by Lupins cloak, which made them extremely hard to perceive, even to early-advanced individuals.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. Aside from the hustle and bustle of a few soldiers and the students watching from the top of the wall, the fort was calm and quiet. They moved around the fort, searching for hidden traps, but after taking a few steps, their earpods crackled to life once more, and Ayisha said. Don''t bother searching the compound. Theyre all inside their individual rooms, with only about a dozen gathered within the main hall. Cameron paused, still confused by how their leaders skill worked. From what she had explained, she was capable of seeing about a minute into the future, so perhaps she had just given him a report hed made in the future? He didnt have time to dwell on it, as Lupin responded. Okay, what about the soldiers? Theyve been divided into units. Ayisha responded. Take out as many of their leaders as you can. Ill update you as you move. On it. Lupin replied and looked at Cameron. Are you ready? I am. Cameron replied and cut off {Transference} while Lupin deactivated the cloak shed placed on him. He moved immediately, rushing towards the heavy metal doors that led into the black building and activated {Phase} once more. He phased through the doors a second later and found himself in a large black hall filled with black flags and heavy curtains. A large round table stood at the center, and a dozen students, including Cyrus, Lilith, Grendar, and Daruk, stood around it. Fortunately, none of them sensed him, and he immediately made his way up the stairs and into the first room. When he phased into the room, he found two girls standing by the window and whispering to each other. They had their backs turned to him, but it didnt matter what direction they faced; they couldnt sense him either way. He took out his {enhanced} daggers with a fluorish and without hesitation, he stabbed the two girls in the neck. They disappeared instantly, logged out of the simulation, and with a feral grin, Cameron phased into the next room. There, he found Lyra Davenport, riffling through the wardrobe in one corner of the room. Lyra was a force awakened, and as he took a step towards her, she somehow sensed him. With a speed he couldnt match, Lyra turned, unsheathed the sword at her waist, and slashed at him. If he were tangible, Cameron would have laughed at the stupidity of using a physical weapon against an immaterial opponent. The sword simply passed through him harmlessly, leaving him unaffected save for a slight itch that he suspected was as a result of the runes. She stumbled back in fear, her eyes darting back and forth in confusion, but Cameron lurched forward and stabbed her throat before she could scream and alert the others to his presence. She only managed a squeak before she was logged out, and Cameron phased into the next room, cutting down Emily Stewart with a clean stab to the neck before moving on to the next room. Cameron phased from one room to the other, stabbing their occupants and logging them out of the simulation. He was clean, fast, and extremely effective. Only a few people sensed him, but they all failed to react on time, and even those who did failed to harm him. Five minutes later, just as Cameron was about to phase into the next room, the earpods crackled to life, and Ayisha shouted. Cyrus. That was all she said, but that millisecond of warning was all he needed, and he quickly retraced his steps. He was almost sure that Cyrus could do him no damage, but it would be foolishness to underestimate the strongest awakened in the school, one who had amassed nothing less than two seals in the three months since he awoke. His earpods crackled to life once again, but all he could hear was static. He tapped the equipment with a finger, phasing it in and out of reality, but nothing changed. Slightly worried, he phased out of the room and into the hallway, only to come face-to-face with Lysirel Cosmind, whose cloudy eyes identified her as an ethereal awakened. Ayisha''s voice came through then, but he didnt need her fervent cursing to tell him he was in deep trouble. Rather than retreat, though, he charged at Lysirel, hoping to log her out before she could react, but it was too late. A wave of milky-white essence erupted out of her and slammed into him. Ive been found out! Cameron shouted as the ethereal essence invaded his body and began affecting his skills, causing him to glitch in and out of existence. Focus on escaping; this battle will not end in your favor. Ayisha replied, but he barely heard her as he forcefully activated {Tactical Phasing} to dodge a swirl of ethereal, bladed chains, intent on skewering him. Show yourself, Infiltrator! Lysirel shouted, drawing the attention of a few other students. Panicked, Cameron phased through the concrete floor, but the chains followed, and one stabbed into his thighs. He let out a soundless scream as white, hot pain tore through him. Still, he reacted quickly, slashing at the chain with his daggers. The {Enhanced} daggers cut through the chain like a knife through butter, but just as he freed himself, two more struck, one in his right arm and the other in his back. The pain that followed was so intense that Cameron lost control of his skill and became tangible once more. He fell to the floor of the main hall the next moment, shuddering as waves of intense pain ravaged through him. Cyrus and over a dozen students suddenly gathered around him, weapons drawn and skills prepped to attack. It was then they noticed they were missing quite a number of members, and Lysirel growled. How many have you killed? Cameron smiled even through the pain. You would have been number seventeen, love. What?! Several gasps of shock echoed out, and Cyrus sneered. How many of you assassins are here? Cameron groaned as he forced himself off the floor and grinned. Will you believe me if I say just me? At that moment, a gong sounded, and Cameron grinned. Oops, someone must have found a dead commander. Cyrus growled in fury, and a spatial sword appeared in his hand. It doesnt matter if there are tens or hundreds; Ill kill them all. Cameron reactivated {Physical IntangibilityFull} just a moment before Cyruss sword struck, hoping to buy Lupin a few more seconds, and the sword harmlessly passed through him. He grinned, but his expression died when an ethereal spear stabbed into his gut and logged him out of the simulation. Pain tore through him immediately, and he gasped as the simulation faded and he found himself shuddering within the ASR pod. The canopy opened an instant later to reveal Professor Alaric grinning at him. Very impressive, Cameron, fifty points, although I lost a bet on how long you could keep that affinity if yours a secret. "Thanks, I guess. Cameron replied, still shuddering even though the pain was gone, and when he stepped out of the pod, he found the sixteen students hed logged out, glaring daggers at him from the other side of the hall. Oh, fuck. Im so screwed. Lupin Cavanaugh After Cameron left, Lupin turned her gaze towards the soldiers camp, which was a series of yellow tents arranged in a semicircle at the side of the fort. Soldiers moved around hurriedly in preparation for battle, and Lupin had to remind herself once more that they werent real. She clutched her daggers tightly, and after a breath to steady herself, she rushed forward, silent and unseen, as she weaved through several clusters of Tier 18 soldiers and made her way towards the largest tent. After all, what was an army without its commander? When she reached the largest tent, helpfully labeled The command tent, she snuck in and found three men, the commander himself and two captains, standing around a wooden table as they deliberated on their attack strategy. She hesitated for a moment before murmuring to herself. They are not real; nothing is real. The words centered her, and without further hesitation, she rushed forward and stabbed both daggers into the commander''s neck. Nausea rose within her as the man popped out of existence like a bubble, but she pushed down the emotion and twirled, slashing the throat of the first man and stabbing the other in the chest, all while muttering. Its not real. Theyre not real. Nothing is real. She rushed into the next tent, where she found a group of officers, and without hesitation, she stabbed them too. One of them managed to react on time and sent a wave of blue flames in her direction, but she dodged and threw a dagger. It flew true and stabbed into the head of the soldier, who collapsed immediately. Mentally thanking her father for the knife-throwing lessons, she retrieved the dagger and, without delay, rushed into the next tent, where she repeated the same thing. She rushed from tent to tent, taking out the captains, lieutenants, and all that was left of the companys command structure. This continued for about five minutes, and as she moved from tent to tent, a sense of power bloomed within her, visceral in its nature as she silently cut down one soldier after the other until only the foot soldiers and some officers remained. She turned her attention to the foot soldiers next. It was only a matter of time before either she or Cameron were found out, but before then, she needed to reduce this army to the point of uselessness. Just as she had the thought, though, Camerons voice crackled through the earpods. Ive been found out. Shit. She slid behind a tent, listening and hoping for Cameron to escape, but it was soon obvious that theyd lost him, and Ayisha switched back to her. He wont make it, and you cant exit the fort without him, so you only have two options. Lay low until the simulation is over, or continue with your mission. Youll be caught eventually, but you should be able to take out a few dozen soldiers in that time. A gong sounded the next moment, which meant the soldiers had finally realized they were under attack. Chaos erupted within the camp, and Lupin slashed at the nearest soldier before responding. Ill go with option two. She twirled her daggers, and without hesitation, she dove into the mass of scrambling soldiers, unseen as she cut down one soldier after the other. She took injuries and wounds as some of the soldiers retaliated, but Ayishas voice was a constant companion, instructing her on what moves to take and which ones to avoid. She attacked empty spaces, yet her daggers almost always pierced flesh. It was exciting and exhilarating, but that was only until Lysirel and Daruk arrived. Her reign of terror was over, but she couldnt just surrender herself to die, so despite Ayisha''s warning, she rushed forward in defiance, even as a cascade of ethereal blades rushed towards her and ice needles shot forward. Pain engulfed her senses the next moment, and she screamed even as the simulation faded and the transparent canopy of her pod revealed itself. The pod opened with a gentle hiss, and she sat up immediately to find Professor Alaric and Cameron smiling at her. Very impressive, Miss Cavanaugh. I assure you, though, that everything here is real. .. Within the Red Fort. Ayisha smiled as Lupin was logged out and her tracker deactivated. The first part of our plan was a success, but its not over yet. Now that weve got them scrambling, its time to enact the second phase of our brilliant plan. Excitement filled the Red Fort as the members of Group 2 scurried about, preparing an ambush for their enemies. In the chaos of activity that followed, Aodhn called out. I need four earth awakeneds working on the tunnel ASAP. He gestured toward the {explosion} awakened, a boy with flaming red hair and eyes. Dihlon, we have explosives to make. Scarlett, help him. I want everyone else prepped and ready to leave in ten minutes. What about Derek? Curtis asked. Arent we supposed to protect him? Ayisha grinned. Oh, certainly, but who says the flagbearer has to remain in the fort? Chapter 76: The Black Order Contrary to popular belief, the manifestation of a bloodline is not determined solely by its grade but also by the resonance of ones spirit. Nevertheless, the severity of a bloodline can often be used to estimate its grade. A common grade soulseed produce minor aesthetical changes, while blessed soulseeds can be so utterly overwhelming that they change a person''s entire appearance. Interdicted study on the nature of bloodlines. Hakeem Daily. Calodan, sector 4.
In the hall of the Black Order, where the color black reigned supreme, 34 students stood around a large table, arguing about the latest occurrence. Most of the students kept quiet, choosing to watch the others bicker like children as they shifted the blame from one person to the other. One of those who chose to watch in silence was Daruk, who had crafted a chair of ice for himself and was seated, cross-legged, as chaos bloomed around him. Whose idea again was it to sit and wait rather than attack? Lilith sneered. Oh, I remember. It was yours, Grendar! Lupin and Cameron shouldn''t have been able to reach the fort without being spotted. The fault obviously lies with the buffons you chose as watchers. Grendar shot back with an accusing finger at Marcellus, whose face was flushed in anger. I was on the lookout! All of us were, but you were the one who insisted on using that dumb plan, Grendar! Marcellus snapped, his voice cracking with the strain of defending himself. Grendar crossed her arms and scowled. Oh, so now it''s my fault? At least I came up with a plan, unlike you, Marcellus! What were you doing while the entire army was decimated? frolicking around with Meredith? Meredith, who had been silently stewing in the corner, exploded. How dare you, Grendar? You will respect my station! Oh, spare us your self-righteous indignation, Meredith. Lilith sneered, her voice dripping heavily with scorn. Maybe if you had focused more on our mission and less on your ''station,'' we wouldn''t be in this bloody mess. Enough. Cyrus shouted, his voice cutting through the din like a knife. Cameron is an intangibility awakened. The watchers couldn''t have sensed them. What about Lupin, then? Lilith asked, her tone still heavily laced with sarcasm. Is she also an intangibility awakened? Cyrus scowled at her, a vein throbbing on his forehead in anger. It doesn''t matter, Lilith. This isnt getting us anywhere, and arguing about who''s at fault won''t solve this problem. For a moment, silence reigned, and Daruk shook his head, a mix of amusement and weariness in his eyes. He had known this would happen. Too many powerful people in one group was a recipe for disaster, and this situation was no different. It had taken them nearly half an hour to agree on a battle plan, only for it to fall apart before they could even execute it. Daruk had expected something unique from the other group, considering their unique composition of affinities, but he hadn''t seen this coming. Yurin cursed quietly beside him as the conversation took a more serious turn, and Daruk chuckled. Perhaps they should have been more concerned about the fate of the team, but after so much argument during the first meeting, Daruk decided to sit this one out. His wandering thoughts were cut short when Grendar sneered. So what do you suggest, oh wise one? Cyrus took a deep breath, steadying himself. "We need to figure out what went wrong. Together. Blaming each other is exactly what they want. We should start by figuring out how they got into the fort in the first place, and then plan our next move." We don''t need to figure out how they got in. Lysirel spoke up. They must have phased through the marsh and then the walls. When I saw Cameron, he''d just phased out of Aida''s room. Damn, that''s overpowered. Kellan Dravenor, one of Cyrus''s buddies, shook his head. How is someone that powerful not a high ranker? He''s basically immune to all our affinities. Marcellus snorted. Did you miss the part where he was hanging from the roof and screaming after being injected with ethereal essence? Grendar chuckled mockingly. I''m surprised you didn''t miss that part, considering you were supposed to be on the wall, watching! How many times do I have to say we couldn''t have seen him anyway; he was intangible? Marcellus snapped, and just like that, the argument began again. Lilith, Meredith, and even Isis soon joined in, eyes darting and hands gesturing wildly as they let out their grievances. If this wasn''t his group, it would have been hilarious watching them scramble and bicker while the other group put plans in motion. It might have been amusing at first, but now it was just annoying. Yurin, on the other hand, seemed to be enjoying the chaos, going so far as to add his own inputs every time the argument seemed to be dying down. The situation escalated quickly, and at one point, even those who had formerly chosen to maintain silence joined in on the argument. Insults flew, auras were released, and a slight haze of bloodlust soon filled the air. If it weren''t for the fact that he, Yurin, and a few others remained calm, he would have thought they were being affected by a mind-altering rune or skill. Another ten minutes of argument passed before Cyrus got frustrated enough to release his aura. He must have imbued it with an astounding number of willpower weaves, because as the purple haze of spatial energy burst out of him, space twisted violently, and the auras of the others shattered beneath it. People flinched and winced as they suffered a backlash, and even Daruk had to draw on his willpower to maintain his nonchalant pose. Are you all crazy? Can''t you see that this is exactly what they want?! Cyrus shouted, his face red with anger. Weve lost our entire army and sixteen of our members. Yet, rather than come up with a suitable plan, youre bickering and arguing like children. His piercing gaze swept past the entire group. I swear on Raol''s name; the next person that offends me is going to regret it. The students shifted awkwardly, throwing glares at each other, but for now they kept their mouths shut, not only because they feared Cyrus as a more powerful student but also because it would be the height of foolishness to offend the son of a duke. After a moment of silence passed, Cyrus sighed. We only have 34 members left, and only a few of them are high-rankers. How are we supposed to go against the other group and win this exercise? There was a beat of silence before Lilith spoke. I suggest we go on offense this time. Our numbers might be lesser, but we are still stronger than them. No. Daruk blurted out. As much as hed wanted to stay silent, he wanted to win too, and he couldn''t stomach another loss like the one they''d just been dealt. It is foolish to underestimate Ayisha and my brother. Knowing them, they''ve planned for this and several other eventualities. They know we''re stronger, so they must have made preparations to counter that, first by logging out almost a quarter of our members. Attacking them outright is not a wise decision. What do you suggest, then? Cyrus asked, and that was exactly where the problem was. Daruk had no idea. He had no knowledge of strategy or tactics. He''d never planned to be a warrior but a noble and a scholar until his whirlwind of a brother twisted his destiny. He sputtered, "I don''t know; I mean, I was only pointing out that we would be walking into a trap by attacking them outright. At that moment, Daruk regretted even speaking up at all. He should have just maintained his silence and pretended to be more knowledgeable than he was letting on. Thank you for that very interesting input. Lilith said, and Daruk winced at the slight mockery that tinged her tone. She swept her gaze across the group. So, are we attacking or not? Cyrus closed his eyes and sighed, obviously just as inexperienced as Daruk was. Daruk is right; still, I doubt we have a choice. A direct, overwhelming attack is all I can think of. What about Ankaz? Grendar asked. Is it wise to take our flagbearer with us? They''ll never expect us to leave him behind. Luthir spoke up for the first time. Besides, in the chaos of battle, they''ll barely have the time to figure out who it is. It''s settled then. Ankaz and three others will stay behind, while thirty of us attack the Red Order." Lilith swept her gaze across the gathered students and smiled. Let''s put those sniveling maggots in their place! The gathering dispersed a minute later, and Yurin chuckled as they stood up. Man, that was premium drama. Daruk snorted, still ashamed. This was a terrible plan. Perhaps, perhaps not. Yurin laughed. It''s fun, though.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. They walked out of the fort a minute later and turned to observe the scattered remains of their army. Only a few dozen of them were left, aimlessly roaming around as they mourned the death of their commander. It was a sad sight. A company of two hundred soldiers was reduced to these scattered remains of distraught soldiers, only a few dozens in number. The fact that Lupin, Aodhn''s girlfriend, had been the one to wreck such havoc was the most surprising. Unconsciously, he had underestimated hera simple cloak affinityhow dangerous could she be? Now, after seeing just how dangerous she could be, he wondered if he could get an invisibility skill from his affinity. It should be possible, shouldn''t it? Or perhaps a sort of mirage that distorted his appearance? His thoughts were dragged away from his musings when Cyrus announced. We''re leaving in five minutes. Adrian and I will teleport everyone to an area near the border where we''ll gather before attacking. As Cyrus divided them into groups, Daruk turned his gaze to the second spatial awakened in the group. He was a commoner, one who had participated in the tournament and lost against Yurin. Now, Adrian stood just a step behind Cyrus, acting more like a guard than a friend of any sort. Still, when their gazes met, the boy scowled in annoyance, and with a sigh, Daruk turned his gaze away. Usually, people failed to acknowledge the fact that he and Aodhn were brothers, mostly because of how different they looked, and for that reason, they didn''t treat him with the same envy-turned-hate they had for Aodhn. It should have made life within the academy easier, but what sort of brother would he be if he were friends with the same people who harbored negative sentiments against his own brother? What about the soldiers? Ankaz, their flagbearer, asked, and once more, Daruk turned his gaze to the scattered groups. Cyrus cursed in frustration, apparently having no solution to that particular problem, but it was a valid question. They couldn''t leave the soldiers here. They were supposed to treat this as reality, and who goes to war without an army? Well just have to leave them here. Lilith replied, but was almost immediately countered by Kellan. Have you forgotten that we''re supposed to treat this as reality? Before another argument could break out, Yurin spoke. Why don''t we try to elect a new commander from among them? I mean, if this is supposed to be reality, then the rules have to apply. At first, Cyrus was skeptical, but after he appointed one of the soldiers as a captain and the uniform changed to display his new rank, he had recreated the entire army structure. With new leaders in place, the scattered army was whipped into a semblance of coordination, and the next moment, space rippled as Adrian transported them knees deep into the disgusting marsh. It took their group three spatial jumps to cross the one-mile marsh, and by the time they appeared at the border, they were covered in green-tinted water, tadpoles, rotten vines, and mud. As he dusted himself free of the vines and tadpoles, Daruk turned to observe the red fort. Up ahead, only a few miles away from their depressive black sun, was a blazing red sun that almost seemed to be made out of blood. Yurin heaved as the metallic scent of blood tingled their nostrils. I''m not sure which is worse. Gloomy darkness or sanguine light? Daruk wrinkled his nose in agreement. The order of black was depressing and surrounded by a disgusting marsh, but even at the border of the red order, the scent of blood and viscera hung densely in the air. Tall trees riddled with red leaves filled the area around them, and a blood-red stream flowed only a few meters away. Are we ready? Cyrus asked, his nose wrinkled in disgust as he teleported the army to the border, and after a chorus of affirmation, they teleported once more, and this time, they arrived a few hundred meters away from the Red Fort, which stood imposingly like a castle crafted out of solidified blood and glass. They moved forward immediately, wary of traps and ambushes, but they found nothing, and as they walked through the gate without resistance, Daruk began to feel uncomfortable. The sight of the Red Army gathered a few meters away eased his mind a little, but it did nothing to assuage his growing suspicions that they were walking into a trap. Only Yurin shared his suspicions, though, as the next moment, Cyrus laughed. Good, they must have been so drunk on their inconsequential victory that they''re now underestimating us. We need to split up immediately: fifteen of us to attack the fort, and the rest to take on the stragglers. *What about the army? Marcellus asked. A few of us can take them out, easy peasy. Conserve your energy. Cyrus rolled his eyes. The army doesn''t matter; what we need to focus on is the flag bearer. Daruk wanted to advise caution, as his suspicions kept growing, but after a moment of contemplation, he decided to keep silent. Perhaps he was being overly paranoid, and the order of Red order was truly underestimating them. They split into two groups, with himself, Cyrus, Lilith, Marcellus, Tobias, Curtis, and Imani in the first group, leaving Yurin, Isis, Meredith, Grendar, and a few others to take out the stragglers. Cyrus signaled for them to get ready, and the next instant, they teleported into the hall of the Red Fort. Red curtains covered the windows, and hairline cracks covered the floor and walls. There was no one else within the hall except a boy with bright red hair and red-ringed black pupils who stood flush against the opposite wall. Hundreds of red energy wisps flowed out of his back, and when Daruk''s gaze followed the wisps, he found them connected to several explosives embedded into the walls. The boy spread out his arms and grinned. For the love of carnage. If Daruks suspicions had been a slight din in his head before, now they thundered in his mind, and without hesitation, he channeled five strands of energized willpower into {Forge} and created a dome around himself, which he further imbued with durability and thickness. Still, the first explosion rocked the building to its core, causing a sudden, violent expansion of the cracks that covered it. Shockwaves rippled through the structure, shattering windows and cracking concrete. Then, in a terrifying cascade, subsequent explosions ripped through the building. Walls buckled inward, floors collapsed, and his dome cracked, shuddering violently as debris was thrown in all directions like a storm of destruction. It took several minutes before the shockwaves subsided, and Daruk exited the dome to find the once towering fort reduced to a chaotic heap of concrete and metal. The building was completely destroyed, and Daruk half expected to see the broken bodies of his group members twisted beneath large slabs of cracked concrete. The boy who had triggered the explosion was gone, probably logged out by his own attack. Brutal. Still in shock, Daruk turned to take in the devastation, and that was when he saw a shimmering purple dome of spatial energy standing amidst the wreckage. Cyrus, Kellan, and Lilith emerged from the shimmering dome a moment later, eyes wide with shock and disbelief that quickly morphed into anger within Cyrus, who turned to glare at Daruk and shouted. Where is that brother of yours? I swear, I''ll kill him. Before any of them could react, though, the sound of marching soldiers reached them, and they rushed out of the rubble to find the army of the Black Order marching towards the border. It didn''t make sense. Nothing was going according to plan, but the most important question remained: where were the remaining members of the black order? Daruk grimaced. Granted, he had very little knowledge concerning war and strategy, but they''d been played throughout this battle, led around by the nose like sheep, and Daruk hated that. If there was one thing he prided himself on, it was his intelligence, but this whole simulation exercise made him feel like an idiot. Yurin and the other half of the group rushed towards them, eyes wide, as they took in the destruction of the fort. Kellan narrated their ordeal, and silence descended on the group. They had just lost another twenty-seven members in this attack, but the sad fact was that if this were reality, those twenty-seven people would be dead for real. Those who had been taking the exercises lightly before finally became somber, their expressions turning grim. What do we do now? Ursaz Urdania broke the silence. There are only twenty-three of us left, including about two dozen soldiers. We''ve lost. Cyrus snapped. All through this exercise, they''ve maneuvered and manipulated us like children. They''re obviously better than us. Perhaps they''re better. Adrian responded calmly. But they haven''t won, though; we still have our flag bearer, and we can still fight. The battle is only over when we give up. Daruk sighed. The boy was right. But what could they really do to turn this battle around? All they had were a few soldiers, who, to be honest, were simply walking bags of flesh, ripe for killing, and twenty-three members, half of whom could barely create ten weaves of willpower. Still, there was hope. They were stronger than the other group, and all they had to do was get them out on the battlefield. Direct confrontation was the only way they could win; anything aside from that would result in catastrophic failure. An agonized wail echoed from beneath a pile of rubble, and as one, the entire group rushed forward, thinking it was a trapped member of their group who had managed to escape being logged out. Using their ability, they pulled apart the slabs of concrete, and it wasn''t until Daruk saw a familiar strand of the fiery red hair that he realized they''d been played once again. He stumbled backwards immediately, but it was already too late, and before he could call out a warning, another explosion rocked the earth. Pain ripped through him, and the sense of melting skin overwhelmed his mind. The simulation world disappeared, and he gasped as his ASR pod opened with a hiss. He stumbled out of the pod immediately, his legs shaky from the ordeal, and he clutched tightly to the edge to steady himself. Groans filled his ears as other members of his group stumbled out of their pods, faces as white as sheets. When the pain finally died down, Daruk turned to find Professor Alaric grinning at him. They say death by explosion is a very unpleasant way to die. Care to narrate your experience? .. Ankaz Urdania sat with his arms folded between three other members of the red order. A sense of defeat and disappointment weighed heavily on them. They had been outplayed, manipulated, and herded around like helpless sheep throughout this exercise, and now only four of them were left. It was hard to believe they had lost, even with the number of high-rankers they''d had in the group. When he''d been assigned to the group, he''d been ecstatic, sure of their victory. He couldnt have imagined that they would be beaten so thoroughly. If this was a real war, all those who had been logged out would have been dead. Never to live again until the next reincarnation cycle. He shuddered once again, thankful that Calodan had pulled out of the war. His remaining companions, Bakhtin, Celeste, and Yvonne, exchanged glances, each of them grappling with the realization that they were all that remained of their once-mighty group. The weight of responsibility fell on him, and he tightened his grip on his sword. Yet he knew the odds weren''t just stacked against them; it was literally impossible for them to win. Bakhtin broke the silence a moment later, suggesting that they run or hide to prolong their inevitable capture, but Ankaz shook his head. There was no point in prolonging the inevitable. Still, they clutched their weapons tightly, prepared to fight to the last. Perhaps, even though theyd failed the exercise, they would get some bonus points for valor. They didn''t have to wait long, as only a few minutes later, the door was thrown open, and a group of over forty students walked into the fort. His courage wilted when confronted with their numbers. What use was fighting when Aodhn or Ayisha alone could take them all? Ayisha strode forward, her eyes brimming with triumph, and Ankaz'' grimaced. Ayisha Helsarin was a recluse if there ever was one, and he was surprised to see his ghost of a housemate leading the group. She offered a mocking bow when she came close enough and smiled. Hi Ankaz, I''m sorry to announce that your group members are now dead. Chuckles rang out from her group, and Ankaz shifted awkwardly on his seat, acutely aware of the hopelessness of their positions. With a disarming smile, Ayisha announced their defeat and demanded their surrender, a notion that was met with reluctant complaince from his remaining companions. Ankaz pushed himself to his feet. Fine, you win. We surrender to the red order. Immediately he spoke the words, thunder rumbled, the simulation faded, and Ankaz found himself in his pod once more. He stepped out of his pod a moment later and found himself surrounded by the rest of his group, each wearing grim looks while shouts of jubilation and victory echoed from the other side of the hall. Congratulations to the red Order." Professor Alaric smiled. This was an exciting exercise, and I''m sure you''ve all gained one thing or another. To today''s losers, I urge you all to do better next time. Learn from your mistakes and avoid repeating them. He clapped his hands. Class dismissed. Shouts of jubilation rose again, and Ankaz grimaced as his younger sister, Scarlett, raced towards him, her grin almost unnaturally wide. Oh, you should see your faces. She laughed. Tell me, brother, what does failure taste like? He grabbed her by her silky hair and pressed his knuckles into her head while she laughed and struggled to free herself. It tastes like dog shit, you little punk! End of Book 1/Chapter 77: First Mission Aodhn awoke the next morning to the ping of a notification announcing the next week as the midterm break. He grinned in excitement. Finally! He couldn''t wait to see Unrid, Aldric, and Synov again after almost two months apart. He checked his time, and seeing that he only had a few minutes to spare before gym, he untangled himself from Varc''s snoring form and raced to the bathroom. Twenty minutes later, when he was done dressing, he readjusted his storm scarf, urged Varc back into his spirit, and jetted out the window on a storm platform. Aodhn found Daruk and Andrew already waiting for him at the front of House 1, inpatient scowls etched on their lips, and he quickly apologized before they could scold him. Coming late was slowly becoming a habit of his, especially on mornings such as this, but he honestly had good reasons; chief among them was Varc, who always arrived from his nightly hunts several hours past midnight with a shimmering core or two held between his fangs. Aodhn had started having difficulties sleeping as a result of that, so he''d begun staying awake until Varc arrived before sleeping. Take last night, for instance. He''d stayed awake until half past two before Varc returned, and although he''d wanted to scold the Fury for coming back so late, he''d been presented with two evolved Tier 21 water cores that shimmered with various shades of blue. His anger had withered instantly. He''d practically had to hold himself back from absorbing the cores immediately and had instead shoved them into his spatial space, where they joined the others he''d accumulated so far. He explained the reason for his lateness to them, but it only seemed to worsen the case. Andrew scoffed while Daruk glared at him, unappeased and still hurt by their failure in the simulation yesterday. The simulation had managed to reduce the growing tension among the first years, although it had created a sort of rivalry between the two groups. Now, those from Aodhn''s group waved enthusiastically when they passed by him and Andrew, while those from Daruk''s group glared daggers at them, only acknowledging Daruk with their greetings. Aodhn ignored the group of glaring students and sighed. I''m sorry. Aodhn said for the umpteenth time that week. I swear, I''ll do better. Andrew shook his head, while Daruk sniffed derisively, grudgingly accepting his apology. With that out of the way, they joined Aodhn on his platform and made their way to the gym for another round of torture. After running, sweating, and wheezing for an hour and a half, Aodhn headed to the bathroom to wash off the grime and put on his official uniform, after which he joined the others, including Yurin, in heading to the cafeteria. After a fulfilling breakfast, Yurin and Aodhn proceeded to the runic lab. When they walked in, they found Professor Caldwell already present, conversing with Ankaz, Lupin, and a group of students about runic links. Runic links can be likened to conjunctions and are used to join two or more runes together to form a runic script. Still, that is a topic still far above you, and it will only become useful after you''ve mastered the runic alphabets. Aodhn groaned along with several others. He couldn''t wait to finally link runes, as that was where real runic power came from. Numbers. He was making decent progress, though. He''d reduced the time needed to draw FEHU to one minute, URZA to two, and THIRUSAZ to roughly three minutes. Hopefully, by the end of the break, he would have mastered all the initiate runes. Doubtful, but not impossible. All in good time, students. Professor Caldwell smirked as they all returned to their work benches. The class wasnt supposed to begin yet, but since everyone was present, Professor Caldwell decided to start. This time, rather than with a pen and paper, she drew the fourth runic alphabet, ANSUZ, on the air. This is Ansuz. She began. The rune of fire and heat. But it also signifies passion and can be used in many different ways for many different purposes. Aodhn scrutinized the floating rune as she continued. He already knew that runes could be drawn on air, but to see them floating before him was a different matter entirely. The rune looked like a floating energy construct, and the more he stared at it, the more convinced he became. But just to be sure, he asked. What''s the difference between a floating rune and a construct? Professor Caldwell chuckled. I asked that same question back in my day; now I''ll tell you what my teacher told me. A floating rune is a command written directly on the fabric of reality. She gestured towards the rune and continued. If this rune is activated, it will alter the reality within this room. Constructs, on the other hand, are manifestations of your will. They do not affect reality in the same manner as runes. Take a spear construct; for instance, regardless of its affinity, it won''t change the reality within this room, but a darkness rune will banish light completely, thereby altering our reality. Aodhn nodded in understanding, and Professor Caldwell continued. Drawing runes on air is much more difficult than drawing them on paper, metal, or any other surface, as it requires a more precise control over energy than any of you currently possess." She smiled when many of them groaned in disappointment. You''ll get there eventually; there''s no need to run before you can crawl. Professor Caldwell spent the next few minutes explaining the importance and meaning of Ansuz, and half an hour later, she instructed them to start practicing it. Aodhn focused on the rune, trying to channel his will and intent into drawing it like Professor Caldwell had explained. He didn''t perfect it on his first trial, of course, but he didn''t exactly fail either. The rune was almost perfect, and with a smile, he tried again. As he drew the rune over and over, his mind wandered, and he wondered if there was a way to merge two or more runes together to get a different rune entirely. The idea had been inspired by the rune links Professor Caldwell had mentioned earlier. If one could link two runes together, could they merge them instead to create a different rune entirely? Perhaps a mixture of Fehu, the rune of strength and vitality, and Ansuz would produce a healing-flame rune? He chuckled. It was stupid, but he was sure there was a possibility there somewhere. As the class progressed, though, Lupin and Yurin soon left their seats and came to join him so they could practice together. Professor Caldwell was usually against such sitting arrangements, but today she ignored them, choosing to focus her attention on helping those who were yet to perfect even a single rune. Time passed on in this manner, and when the class finally ended, Aodhn, Yurin, and Lupin walked out of the hall excitedly. I can''t believe I almost dropped this course. Lupin exclaimed. The possibilities involved in runic machinations are endless. Not quite. Yurin snorted. You''ll find that out when we get into runic activations. Aodhn groaned. Of course, he''d read about runic activations, and although rune scripting was filled with endless possibilities, it was during their activation that the limitations came in.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. Runes could only be activated by the infusion of the right essence. A darkness rune could only be activated by the infusion of shadow or darkness essence, and a light rune could only be activated by the infusion of light essence. Of course, some runes like FEHU could be activated by anyone regardless of their affinities, but a rune like ANSUZ required a fire or solar affinity to activate. From what he''d read, there were also some runes that could be charged with ambient energy. A simple light rune, for instance, could be linked and scripted in such a way that it passively absorbed energy from the air to fuel itself, but such a process only worked for initiate runes. Advanced runes could also be charged with ambient energy, but the charging process was much slower, making it ineffective in a battle. Grand and elder runes couldn''t even be activated with ambient energies, as they required an infusion of a suitable energy first to jumpstart them. Activation truly was the limiting point, but the runes still provided some wiggle room, which was the main reason why Aodhn had chosen the course in the first place. All runes, even elder runes, could be activated using energy cores, and that was the reason why he''d registered for the forgemastery course, but now he wondered if he could imbue his constructs with runes. It should be possible, as Daruk''s {Forge} did something similar, imbuing his constructs with minor enchantments such as durability, sharpness, and piercing power. As Yurin and Lupin argued, Aodhn''s mind drifted to a video the principal had shown him. It was the battle of champions that took place in the agricultural sector of Sunstone three weeks ago. As impressive and awe-inspiring as all the other champions had been, Aodhn''s gaze had lingered on two: Artemis Valerion, only because he was the half brother of his current torturer, and Geneva Ryntharion, whose quintessence affinity basically made her the best runic warrior ever. She had no limitations when it came to runic activations, as she could simply manipulate and change the nature of energy to match the rune she wanted to activate. It had been glorious watching her draw dozens of elder runes in microseconds, affecting the reality of light, gravity, balance, heat, and even fire within her domain. Aodhn frowned as another idea came to him, and he wondered if it was possible to create or tweak runes until they aligned with a particular affinity. Was it possible to merge a storm rune with a light rune to produce something different? What effect would such a rune even have? Or perhaps a power rune that increased the strength of his abilities? Aodhn sighed. All he had were ideas upon ideas, none of which he could experiment on yet. He didn''t discard them, though; instead, he pushed them to the back of his mind and left them to simmer. He returned his attention to the conversation just as Lupin wrapped her arms around him and smiled. I''m so glad we get to leave the academy this weekend; I miss my family so much. She sighed wistfully and asked them. What are your plans for the break? Yurin answered first. I am going to sector 6 to see my grandparents before they die of old age. They''re both sleepers, so... He trailed off, and Aodhn responded. I''ve got no plans, really. I just want to spend time with my family and, maybe, explore the sector. Lupin grinned, almost bouncing in excitement. Great. That means you''re free, and I don''t have to feel guilty for pulling you away to meet my family. Aodhn sputtered. I''m sorry. What?! Lupin rolled her eyes and chuckled. I didn''t mean it that way, but even if I did, is that such a bad idea? And that''s my cue to leave. Yurin quipped and rushed forward, leaving them to converse alone. No, it''s not a bad idea. Aodhn replied. It''s just It caught me off guard. Lupin narrowed her eyes and moved closer. You''re a fool, Aodhn Brystion; do you know that? Aodhn blinked and smiled nervously. I''m not quite sure what you mean. It was a lie. He knew what she meant. They''d been going out for almost four weeks now, and he was yet to pop the girlfriend question. It wasn''t that he didn''t want to; he was just waiting for the right moment to do so. Lupin shook her head and sighed. My family''s holding an awakening party for a cousin of mine, who is turning sixteen next week, and I would really love for you to attend. Sure. Aodhn shrugged, glad that she''d dropped the previous topic, and although he thought it was a little absurd to throw an awakening party for someone who was yet to awaken, he understood that it was a noble custom. Besides, it was a great opportunity to spend time with Lupin and perhaps finally ask her to be his girlfriend. Still, just for clarification, he asked. What happens if your cousin fails to awaken after the party? Lupin shrugged. Nothing; my family would be sad and disappointed, but they''ll get over it and move on. Besides, the party is more of an excuse to socialize than the awakening itself. Aodhn nodded. Well, send me the date, dress code, and location, Daruk, and I will be there. Thank you. Lupin smiled and leaned in to kiss his cheek before rushing to join Scarlett and Lyra, who were waiting impatiently for them at the end of the hallway. After she left, Aodhn shook his head and made his way to the library to research more on the possibilities and limitations of runes. *** The rest of the week passed slowly, painfully crawling forward as if hesitant to reach the weekend. Anticipation filled the air as the students prepared to go home, and for some reason, Aodhn realized that almost every noble house was throwing a party during the break. Aodhn got invited to over a dozen, most of them issued by members of his simulation group, the red order, as they now called themselves, but he politely declined them as he''d already made plans with Lupin and intended to spend the break practicing runes and spending time with his family. Still, he couldn''t reject all of them and had been forced to accept Alesh Vilaris invitation to his great-grandfather''s burial and Andrew''s invitation to his sister''s promotional banquet. He''d coordinated with Daruk so they could attend the same events, but with these three engagements now scheduled, he doubted he would even have enough time to spend with his family. Still, the week wasn''t over yet, and just as he stepped out of Gwendolyn Blackwood''s class on the energy signatures of awakened plants with Andrew, Imani rushed forward with an artfully decorated black envelope, and a minute later, Aodhn found himself muttering. Of course, I''ll try my possible best to make it to your father''s birthday party. He could have said no, but he''d rejected the girl once and didn''t have the heart to do so again. He made his way back to his room and began packing everything he would need during the break into his spatial storage. It wasn''t much, as he only needed his clothes, textbooks, and a few essentials. After he was done packing, he texted Daruk and Andrew that he was ready, but just as he stepped out of his room, he received a message from principal Zatya asking him to come to her office immediately. Aodhn sighed. He wanted to ignore the message, but he could already feel Zatya''s attention on him, which meant she was watching and she wanted him to know that she was. He scowled and began marching to her office in the admin building. When he reached the office several minutes later, he found Principal Zatya seated comfortably in her chair, a half-drunk glass of sparkling blue wine set on her table. She smiled and gestured for him to sit. You were about to leave without a goodbye; I thought we''d bonded over the weeks. They had indeed bonded, as over the last four weeks, Aodhn had gotten to know her well, as she regularly summoned him to her office to talk about his training, the war, and his experiences as a transmigrant. He had told her all he could but had kept the most important details to himself. The woman was insane and painfully eccentric, but she had made no other move to threaten him. Nevertheless, he hadn''t let his guard down around her, as he didn''t fully trust her and didn''t see a reason to pretend otherwise. My brother is waiting for me. He replied as he sat down, and principal Zatya chuckled. Always so guarded; it''s one of the things I like about you. She took a sip of her drink, and her voice took on a serious tone. As you step out of the academy, remember that the students may have gotten used to the uniqueness of your situation; I doubt many of them even understand the gravity of what you did at the tournament, but their parents and the public will. By now, you must have received invitations from various noble houses as a result of this. I advise you to go, but remain vigilant and composed; it''ll be the first week all over again. I will. Thank you for the advice. Aodhn knew this was coming. In fact, he was prepared, and that was one of the reasons he''d rejected most of the invitations he''d received. Principal Zatya continued. There are also the emissaries of the 1st and 2nd academies to worry about; I hope you haven''t forgotten our deal. Aodhn snorted. How can I ever forget? She chuckled. Well, that is good. Also, your parents have been living in relative peace for the past month, going home will lead not only the press to their doorsteps but also the vigilance of several noble houses. I hope you''ve prepared them for their newfound fame. Aodhn grimaced. He had written to Unrid and Synov about it in one of their letters, but he couldn''t go as far as to say he had prepared them. The issue had plagued him for weeks now, but he had yet to figure out a solution to it. One last thing. Principal Zatya smiled and leaned forward. Ive been informed that you received an invitation from Imani Blackwell. Aodhn didn''t even bother asking how she''d gotten that information, and although her statement was phrased innocently, Aodhn suspected this was the main reason she''d called him to her office in the first place. Yes. He replied dly, Is there a problem? Of course not. Principal Zatya replied, her smile widening into a cheshire grin that sent a shiver down his spine. There is something of mine within the Blackwell mansion; how would you like to help me retrieve it? Book 2/Chapter 78: Norbuik city Norbuik City is well-known as a historical site, having been the birthplace of two ascendants: Ender, the destroyer, and Luscious Blackspire, the Malefic warrior. Nestled in the southeastern region of the 5th Sector, Norbuik City epitomizes peace and serenity, warmly welcoming all without discrimination. Despite its beauty and charm, Norbuik can be exceedingly quiet and somewhat dull, thus earning only a three-star rating. Gavin, the Explorer Travel and Lifestyle Magazine Ragnarok, Year 2273
Aodhn stepped out of principal Zatya''s office an hour later and sighed. He''d of course rejected the mission at first and had even managed to resist for a minute or two, but one mention of his identity and he had instantly caved. Aodhn wasn''t sure which action was most foolish. Agreeing to steal a magical item from a high-ranking noble family or resisting the principal in the first place. He sighed once again, because why the fuck not? When he''d boarded the Raventhorn to come to the academy, this wasn''t what he''d envisioned for himself at all. Zatya had called it his first mission, but her enthusiasm only pushed Aodhn''s rebellious buttons. He wanted to fail the mission, just to see if she would get bored and leave him alone like Eldrith said she would, but he doubted that would be happening in his case. He checked his messages and saw that Andrew, Daruk, and his other friends were already waiting for him, so he sent a quick reply, explaining that he would be with them shortly. He arrived at the academy gate a few minutes later to find Daruk, Andrew, Yurin, and Lupin all gathered around the entrance. Finally! Yurin exclaimed. If I had to stay one more minute within these walls, I would have died. Dramatic much. Lupin rolled her eyes as she approached him and inquired. What held you so long? It doesn''t matter. Andrew shouted in excitement. We''re finally leaving these blasted walls. Uhm, you realize we''re coming back, right? Daruk chuckled. The break is only a week long. Yurin groaned miserably. Ugh, Raol, have mercy. A week isn''t nearly enough to recover from all this madness. You make it sound like we were imprisoned for the last five weeks. Daruk chuckled, and Aodhn shook his head, turning away from the bickering boys to smile at Lupin. I''ll miss you. She giggled. I''ll miss you too, but it''s only for a few days. I''ll see you when you come to the party. A few days away from you is torture, and you know it. Aodhn complained, and his hands tightened around Lupin''s waist. He''d never gone that far before, but the fact that he wasn''t going to see her for the next five days filled him with a gnawing sense of unease. I''m really going to miss you. She smiled and brushed his hair back with her delicate fingers. I''m really going to miss you too. "Okay, that''s enough; you guys sicken me. Yurin shouted, and Aodhn glared at him before reluctantly letting Lupin go. Text me when you get home. He said to her, and she nodded. I will. Now I have to go; my driver is waiting for me. Despite the loud grumblings and complaints from his friends, Aodhn insisted on following Lupin to the private hovercar her family had sent to pick her up, and it was only after the car disappeared from view that he turned back to his friends and grinned. Now, where''s the first bus heading for Norbuik? Andrew had a driver of his own, while Yurin was headed for the port, so they soon parted ways, and five minutes later, after buying their tickets, Aodhn and Daruk boarded a hoverbus headed for Norbuik. Surprisingly, they found Aida seated in the front row, and she waved to them excitedly. I can''t believe you guys live in Norbuik. Our parents just moved; how about you? Aodhn asked as they took their seats behind her. I''ve lived there my whole life. Aida chuckled. By Raol, we could be neighbors! What part of Norbuik do you live in? Daruk asked. The Barny fields, north-west of the arcade. She replied excitedly, but Aodhn frowned as he scanned the address Synove and Unrid had sent. Uhm, I doubt it''s the same area. Daruk replied, unsure. There''s no mention of an arcade or a field at this address. Aida looked disappointed but asked, "Where do you stay then? Maybe I can guide you." "A place called Menton. It''s supposed to be a small town in Norbuik," Aodhn replied, causing Aida''s expression to fall even further. Oh, that''s literally in the opposite direction of my town. She gave a sad smile. It would have been nice to have other students around; Norbuik can be so dull sometimes. Is it that bad? Aodhn chuckled, and Aida groaned. Like you wouldn''t believe. By Raol, I cannot stand the place. Okay, now, you''re scaring me. Daruk frowned. Arent there any interesting sights in Norbuik? Not as much as there is in the capital here. Aida shrugged. Don''t get me wrong, Norbuik is a beautiful place; it''s just quiet and sleepy most of the time. Their conversation continued as the shuttle slowly filled up. It rumbled to life a few minutes later, and the journey to their new home began. Aodhn''s thoughts drifted back to his conversation with Principal Zatya, which had covered everything from fame to the impact his presence might have on his family. He wasn''t sure how bad things could getmaybe Principal Zatya was being overly cautiousbut he figured it was better to be prepared. He decided he would talk to Unrid and Synov as soon as they got home. He suspected Synov would handle the situation well and adjust to a bit of fame without any trouble. Unrid, however, was a different story. In fact, the more he thought about it, the more he realized that Unrid might be the only one to struggle with the changes. Aldric''s charm and carefree attitude seemed perfect for the spotlight. Besides, would a little fame really be such a bad thing? Yes. It would. Aodhn remembered how the press had ruined the lives of many celebrities and their families back on earth, distorting their image and reputation with every foul word they printed. He sighed. Perhaps he couldn''t save his family from the press after all, but he could at least prepare them. Daruk leaned back at one point and whispered, "So, what are you thinking about?" Aodhn shared his thoughts, and by the time he finished, Daruk replied, "Don''t worry too much. Mum and Aldric will be fine, and even Dad will adjust, though it might take him a bit longer." "I know that," Aodhn sighed. "I just don''t want to cause them any trouble." Daruk laughed. "It''s just a bunch of reporters. What''s the worst that could happen?" Aodhn groaned, convinced that Daruk had jinxed it and that they would now find a million reporters outside the house by the end of the week. He said as much to Daruk, who burst out laughing. "What kind of horrid superstition is that?" "It''s not superstition; it''s reality," Aodhn argued. "Never say, ''Whats the worst that could happen?'' You''re tempting fate when you do." I can''t. Daruk burst out laughing again. By Raol! I''m sorry; it''s just so absurd. I can''t believe you actually believe that. Rather than continue arguing, Aodhn shook his head and asked, "What do you think their reaction will be when they see us?" Daruk smiled and shook his head. "Dad would be proud, of course. Mom would be an emotional mess. And Aldricwell, Aldric is the one I''m worried about." Aodhn nodded in agreement. He was concerned that Aldric would feel outshined. In just two months, they had evolved, gained bloodlines, and advanced to the 20th tier, a feat Aldric hadn''t managed in the last two years at the 12th Academy. When they left the Warren, Aldric had been at the 12th tier. His slow advancement was due more to the scarcity of powerful cores in the sector than to a lack of talent. Thankfully, Aodhn''s storage space was filled with conceptual cores, most of which had been donated by Varc, and while he intended to sell a few for money, he didn''t mind saving some for Aldric. They arrived at Norbuik city an hour later, and just as Aida had said, the city was sleepy. Compared to the hustle and bustle of the sectors capital or Nematon, Norbuik seemed like a different world entirely. The city exuded a timeless charm. Cobblestoned streets wound lazily between rows of quaint, beautifully preserved houses, their facades adorned with ivy and blooming flowers. A few dozen people walked around, unhurried, ambling along the pathways, exchanging warm greetings and indulging in leisurely conversations. Merchants lined the streets, their brightly painted stalls blending seamlessly with the picturesque surroundings. By ascendants. I hate this place. Aida muttered, her face scrunched up in disgust, and Aodhn chuckled. It doesn''t seem so bad to mea little quiet perhaps, but it''s beautiful. Aida shrugged, her expression unchanged. Give it a few weeks. By then, I''m sure you''ll come to share my sentiments. We won''t even be staying here for a week. Daruk reminded them, his expression neutral, neither enthused nor disappointed. Well, good for you. Aida shrugged and began walking forward. We should find you a shuttle headed for Menton near the mall.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Not yet," Aodhn said, holding her back. "Is there somewhere we could do a core exchange?" She frowned but pointed to a street just after the shuttle park. "There''s an exchange pavilion down that street; in fact, let''s go together. I have a ton of cores I''d like to exchange myself." As they walked towards the exchange pavilion, Aodhn admired the architecture around him, a unique blend of rustic and elegant styles with terracotta roofs and pastel-colored walls. Each house featured a cozy garden or charming balcony overlooking the serene streets. They arrived at the pavilion a few minutes later. It was a small square building made entirely of wood and sheer glass, and as they approached the shop''s entrance, a small bell above the door tinkled, announcing their arrival. The visible interior of the pavilion was quaint and cluttered, with shelves lined with various books and items. Behind the counter stood an elderly merchant, his eyes twinkling with curiosity as he greeted them. "Welcome! What can I do for you today?" "Can we come in?" Daruk asked. "We have some cores we would like to exchange." The man smiled, opened the door, and gestured for them to enter. Once they were inside, he shut the door, and, with a wave of his hand, three wooden stools grew out of the floor. Aodhn raised an eyebrow in surprise, not expecting to see such finesse and control in a place like Norbuik. It shouldn''t have surprised him, though; considering the nature of the man''s job, it was only natural that he could protect himself. The man sat opposite them and asked, "So, how many cores are you willing to sell? Daruk spoke first. I''ve got a total of fifteen elemental cores between tiers 17 and 21 that I''d like to exchange. How much could I get for them? The man raised a brow in surprise. That''s a lot of cores, more than we usually get here in Norbuik, but the exchange rate of cores depends on several factors, mainly its affinity, class, and tier. He folded his arms and leaned back slightly. I can only give you a reasonable price after I see the cores. Daruk frowned; they had only delved into the Rugwort Rift, which was the only rift they were allowed access to for now. Perhaps, after the midterms, things would change. He took out the rugwort cores, which had a greenish-brown hue of mud affinity. The man picked up a core and scrutinized it for a moment before placing it down. This is identified as a Tier 21 rugwort core. I see you''ve taken good advantage of the academy rifts. I''ve got about a dozen of the same cores, Aida said. What are the exchange rates for these? Aodhn lay back, watching as the man picked up one of the smaller cores, scrutinizing it for a moment before responding. How about five silver coins for a core above tier 15 but below tier 20, and six silvers for any core below tier 25? Aodhn frowned slightly. That was a decent offer, in his opinion, and if he''d been here alone, he would have taken it. However, Aida disagreed. That''s too low; a tier 10 evolved core is worth nothing less than five silvers. These cores should be worth much more. The man smiled thinly. I see we''ve got an experienced one among you, green beans. Well then, eight silvers for any core above tier 15, but below tier 20, and ten silvers for any core below tier 25. Aida looked like she wanted to continue haggling, but the man shook his head. That''s the highest I''m willing to go. These are mud affinity cores after all; they have almost no other utility outside of advancement. Aida exchanged glances with them before shrugging. Fine, we''ll take it. Very good. The man smiled and looked at Aodhn. What about you, young man? Aodhn smiled and poured out about forty shimmering coresan entire half of all he''d accumulated so far. The cores were mostly conceptual, with a few rugwort cores mixed in, and they all ranged from tier 16 to 22. The merchant''s gaze went wide, and Daruk snorted in envy, while Aida turned sharply in alarm. That''sthat''s a lot of cores. The merchant stated quietly, and Aodhn nodded. I assume conceptual and elemental cores do not have the same exchange rates. Also, I''ve got some pretty rare affinities here, he said, pointing to a translucent core. This is a Tier 21 silence core, while this blue one is a Tier 22 sky core. I see. The merchant frowned as he picked up a cloudy white core and raised it to his eyes. This is a Tier 20 mist core; I didn''t realize the academy had opened up their more advanced rifts to first-year students. They haven''t. Aodhn replied simply,not offering any more information on the matter. When he said nothing else, the merchant sniffed and said. Well, I guess we''ll have to crack the safe open. Fifteen minutes later, Aodhn stepped out of the exchange shop, several cores lighter but thirty-five gold coins richer. It was an immense amount of money, and Aodhn was glad. Now he had enough to get himself a few outfits worthy of the noble events he needed to attend. Daruk had also made a nice haul, gaining almost twenty gold, although he''d added a few more cores to the initial amount he''d intended to exchange. All in all, Aodhn was happy, and after sending an emotional burst of gratitude to Varc, they parted ways with Aida and made their way back to the park, where they boarded a shuttle headed for Menton. It took almost an hour before the shuttle filled up, and Aodhn breathed a sigh of relief when it finally rumbled to life and began moving. The journey from the park to Menton took only fifteen minutes, much to Aodhns annoyance. If he had known the distance was so short, he would have simply created a platform and zoomed off. After alighting from the shuttle, they walked down the quiet street, counting the houses until they reached the tenth one, a Victorian-style duplex whose facade was a tapestry of blooming flowers and verdant vines. Already, he could detect Synov''s unique touch in the way the vines clung to the ornate, weathered woodwork. A manicured lawn lay before them, littered with budding flowers, and the barking of a pet echoed in the distance. The perfect word to describe the area was serene, but that serenity was broken a moment later when Unrid walked out of the house, dressed in dirty work clothes with a shovel slung over his shoulders. When he saw them, his eyes widened in surprise. The shovel fell from his hands, and he shouted. My boys! Aodhn choked back tears as Unrid ran towards them and swept them both into a hug. He buried his face in Unrid''s dirty clothes, breathing in the familiar smell of soil and fire he hadn''t quite realized he''d missed. Oh, my boys, I''ve missed you both so much. Unrid cried, and Aodhn forced himself not to squeeze harder to avoid breaking Unrid''s bones. We missed you too. Aodhn replied as he pulled back to observe Unrid''s face while Daruk clung tightly to his father. Unrid looked much older than he had been only two months ago; his skin was weathered and leathery, a dark ruddy brown from prolonged exposure to the sun, with spots scattered across his cheeks and forehead, yet his eyes were bright and alight with joy. The front door barged open an instant later, and Aodhn turned to see Synov running towards them, her gown held tightly in her hands as happy tears streamed down her face. Oh Aodhn. She cried as she pulled him into a hug, and this time, Aodhn was unable to hold back his tears. Despite the fact that he was several inches taller than her, Synov cradled him, and he buried his face in her chest. Soaring the skies gave him a feeling of freedom and usually filled him with joy, but in this moment, Aodhn felt whole, loved, and accepted. When he pulled back, Synove grabbed onto Daruk, squeezing him tightly as if he were a lifeline. A moment later, she pulled Aodhn in for another hug, unable to help herself, and Aodhn willingly slid into her arms, while Unrid wrapped them all in his arms. Aodhn sighed blissfully. This was a moment he would never forget. His heart was full, and in that moment, he realized he would do just about anything to protect this family. He was lucky to have found a family who loved him as their own, and he would be damned to let anything happen to them. They stood in that position for several minutes, just enjoying the comfort and warmth of each other''s arms, until Daruk muttered. Uhm, this is nice and all, but I''m beginning to have trouble breathing. They all pulled back, laughing, and Synov ran her hands through their hair. By Raol, your bloodline manifestations are so beautiful. She choked back another round of tears and pulled them back into a hug. I''m so proud of you both. I''m so, so proud. Over the course of their correspondence, Synov had slowly become obsessed with understanding everything about awakening and advancement. She had argued that, with three awakened children, it would be foolish of her to remain ignorant. She''d bought several textbooks, and over the last three weeks, she had become so informed that she even offered them advice on skill creation. Contrary to what Aodhn had expected, the advice had actually been pretty solid, and he wondered if her unique understanding stemmed from her perspective as a sleeper. Unrid wasn''t as interested in the topic and barely said much about it in their letters, but Aodhn couldn''t blame him considering his limited core. When Synov pulled back, Aodhn opened up his spirit, and Varc rushed out, causing Synov to stumble back in alarm while Unrid stood with his arms out, his stance protective yet fearful. Aodhn grinned and said, Guys, meet Varc, my familiar. Varc roared, the sound an ominous rumble of thunder, as he stretched his sinuous neck towards Synov. Slowly, her expression morphed from fear to amazement, and with wide eyes, she stretched a hand forward and placed it on Varec''s head. Electricity crackled, and Synov jerked back in alarm. Don''t be scared; it won''t hurt you. Daruk chuckled and placed his hands on Varc before guiding Synov''s hand to do the same. Varc growled contentedly, and Unrid finally joined in, his rough palms coming to rest on Varc''s hide. Amazing. Unrid gasped as he caressed Varec''s hide. The sound of doors and shutters soon drew their attention away from Varc, and Aodhn turned to see several of their neighbors staring at them. Some from their windows, others from their balconies, and the most disturbing was an elderly woman who was hanging half out of her window, eyes wide with fear. Perhaps, we should go inside. Aodhn muttered uncomfortably, and after another growl of contentment, Varc returned to his spirit. Never in my life have I seen anything more beautiful. Synov sighed, but when she noticed the watching neighbors, she grabbed their arms and pulled them towards the house. Come on, I''ve prepared your favorite meals. They walked into the house a moment later, and Aodhn choked when he realized that Synov had tried her hand at decorating once again. The living room was a patchwork of mismatched colors that contrasted painfully with each other. A set of sky blue couches were arranged on a burnt orange carpet that clashed with the neon curtains and yellow walls. It was a disaster, and Aodhn decided that this time he would do something about it. The living room was spacious, and by the left, an artfully designed staircase wound to the upper floor. Synov led them to the dining room and pushed both of them to their seats with excitement. Unrid asked about their journey as he slid into the chair opposite them, and while they spoke, Synov rushed to the kitchen. She returned barely a minute later with a tray filled with steaming bowls of porridge, and as she placed the last bowl before Aodhn, she grinned. Now, I''m ready. Tell us all about your exciting adventures. Her gaze shifted to Daruk. Especially how you managed to change your affinity from earth to ice; you didn''t tell us that in your letters. And don''t leave anything out. Unrid spoke around a mouthful of porridge, and Aodhn chuckled as Daruk began narrating. Well, after we left the Warren, we boarded the Raventhorn, which was supposed to bring us to the fifth sector, but only a few days after leaving the harbor, we met with a devastating accident that destroyed the ship and took the lives of many. They''d had several discussions on how this particular conversation would go, and they''d both decided to keep the truth of Raventhorns event hidden from Unrid and Synov. Synov gasped as Daruk continued, her hands tightening in shock as he narrated the accident. Aodhn kept quiet for most of the conversation, only adding in a few details Daruk neglected to mention. They narrated their journey through the forest and into the inheritors trial, where they''d found the legacy seed, after which they moved on to their time spent in the 8th sector and their eventual admittance into the 5th academy. That''s quite the adventure you''ve both had. Unrid said as soon as they finished, and Synov nodded in agreement. I''m still shocked by the fact that you met an ascendant. Yeah, that was pretty cool. Daruk chuckled, but Synov frowned, and her next question hit Aodhn like a hammer to the head. Do you think it''s possible for one to be rid of the limit if they encounter an inheritors trial? Aodhn blinked, stunned that the thought had never crossed his mind before now. He exchanged glances with Daruk and Unrid, who looked just as shocked by the idea as he was. Daruk swallowed slowly before responding. It won''t be a cure, persay. It''s more of a reset. A painful reset. Aodhn nodded in agreement, although he doubted Unrid would mind the pain if it meant a chance to restart his advancement with his current knowledge. But its possible? Unrid asked, his voice tinged with hope and barely contained excitement. It should be, Aodhn replied with a frown. Daruk was at the seventh tier when he changed his affinity, though I have no idea what effect your limit would have on the process. It might make it harder or even fatal. Still, its worth a shot, isnt it? Unrid pressed, his hope and excitement growing. Aodhn sighed and shook his head. I understand your excitement, Unrid, but I wouldn''t want you to get your hopes up. Finding the legacy of an ascendant is almost impossible, even for high-tiered seekers, and apart from fortunate encounters like ours, an inheritor''s trial is almost impossible to locate. Unrid''s expression fell with disappointment, and he chuckled sadly. I guess I got too excited. Its alright, Daruk smiled. If we come across another inheritor''s trial, Ill make sure to teleport you over. They all laughed, and the conversation shifted to lighter topics. They discussed their housemates, the forge rankings, and their classes, carefully avoiding any talk of war. Soon, they were all laughing as Unrid narrated a recent amusing incident at work. An hour later, as Daruk and Synov cleared the plates, a knock sounded at the door, and Aodhn stood up. Ill get it. He announced as he moved towards the door, but the moment he opened it, he was instantly blinded by hundreds of camera flashes and bombarded with the voices of a dozen reporters, all shouting variations of the same question: How did an evolved class awakened bond with a familiar? Panicked, Aodhn slammed the door shut and turned back to his family with wide eyes. Oh shit! Chapter 79: Interview It is quite intolerable how these reporters, in their relentless pursuit of the truth, often overstep the bounds of privacy and decency. Their ceaseless quest for sensational stories can and has fostered a culture of mistrust and fear, where the line between public interest and personal intrusion becomes perilously blurred. They are a menace to society, and they cannot be left unchecked. Duchess Indiana Solaris Sector 3, Ragnarok.
Ten minutes later, Aodhn found himself seated before a dozen reporters and their crew. Daruk sat beside him, while Unrid and Synov stood behind, nervous but supportive. Aodhn adjusted his clothes awkwardly. The academy hadn''t prepared him for this, and although the principal had warned him that this would happen, he hadn''t imagined it would be this overwhelming. The initial excitement surrounding his familiar academy had faded after the first week of classes, and with the way the professors had treated him, Aodhn had almost forgotten that he''d accomplished the impossible. Yet, only a few hours after returning home, he was already being faced with reporters. Not one, but dozens. Daruk had truly jinxed things. As if aware of his thoughts, Daruk patted his hands and whispered. Don''t be nervous. Just pretend that they''re ants, and you''ll be just fine. Aodhn tried, but his imagination failed him. Deep breaths helped, though, and after a few more seconds to settle his nerves, he gestured for the reporters to begin. A young woman stood up first. She had no bloodline manifestations, save for a few gill-like protrusions around her wrists, but she was strong, and from the feel of her core, Aodhn gauged her to be around the 35th and 40th tiers. I''m Michelle Covington, she began. I am a journalist with the Daily Herald, and I have a series of que Just one, please. Aodhn cut her off. I''m sure you all have other things to do; this way, we can move things along. Okay. Michelle replied with a tight smile. Then I''ll get right to the gist of it. My question is simple. How did you, a lowly evolved class, manage to bond with a familiar? Aodhn sighed and repeated the same thing he''d told Bethany and her posse. Like I''ve said a dozen times to a dozen different people, I can''t explain how it happened. One minute I was in the tower, and the next I found myself within the origin plane. That is not an answer to my question, Mr. Brystion. Michelle replied with a frown. How you accessed your origin plane is of no importance to me. What I want to know is how you bound your familiar. II don''t know. Aodhn stammered. I couldn''t exactly think within the plane. So you claim this was an accident, then? Michelle narrowed her eyes in disbelief. Do you truly expect us to believe that you bonded with your familiar by chance? He said one question. Synov cut in, her gaze nervous but unrelenting. Let someone else ask. Michelle hesitated before sitting down, and Aodhn breathed a sigh of relief. For a moment there, he''d feared that the reporter would take offense and react badly to a sleeper cutting her off. Not all awakeneds disdained sleepers, but enough of them did that it wasn''t unusual for some to kill or seriously maim a sleeper just for looking at them wrongly. Thankfully, such actions were thoroughly punished by the Ministry of Awakened Affairs, but Aodhn still apologized. Forgive my mother''s directness, but she''s right. I would very much prefer if we kept our questions limited to one; that way, we can move on to other things. The reporters agreed, and the next person stood up. My name is Hermes Scorchborn, a journalist with the Arcane Observer. He gestured towards the first speaker and continued. Like Ms. Covington said earlier, it''s considered impossible for an evolved class to bond with a familiar without some sort of external assistance. So my question is, Did you have any magical items or rituals that made this possible? No, there were no rituals or magical items that aided me. Aodhn sighed. In fact, the only magical item I have is my spatial necklace. If you didn''t have any magical items that made this possible, then were you assisted in any way or form during the tournament? Another reporter asked, and Aodhn tensed but refused to let it show and simply replied. Like I said earlier, I had no help whatsoever. Can we have a look at this necklace of yours? Another reporter asked, and others echoed their agreement, clamoring and asking to appraise the item until Aodhn grew frustrated with trying to placate them and snapped. I am not giving out my spatial storage to be inspected by a bunch of strangers. I have given you my word, and if you do not believe it, you''re free to leave. Perhaps it would have been much easier to tell the truth, but then he would have to give away the necklace, and it would be foolish of him to do so without having explored the extent of the necklace''s capabilities. An uncomfortable silence descended on the room, but the reprieve was brief as, the next moment, another reporter stood up. I''m Edgarin Wright with the Magic Times, and I''ve received information from a trustworthy source that you were bestowed a different soul seed compared to the ones given to the other winners of the tournament. Do you mind telling us what grade it is? Aodhn sighed, thankful that the topic of his familiar had been put aside for now. Still, Edgarin''s question wasn''t an easy one either, so he took his time, thinking of the ramifications of spilling such information, before he replied. I was given a unique grade soul seed by the principal for my outstanding performance. Another clamor rose at his response, and another reporter asked. A unique bloodline requires an opening into the spirit to function, which meant you not only gained a familiar from the origin plane but an opening too. Can you tell us what other things you ''miraculously gained from this unassisted excursion into your origin plane? Aodhn cursed his foolishness, and Synov tightened her grip on his shoulders. He hadn''t thought of that, and now he''d inadvertently revealed to the world that he''d made an opening within his spirit. He needed to be more careful with his words. Aside from a few titles, I gained nothing else. He replied after a moment of silence, and the reporter sat down, but before he could even breathe a sigh of relief for not fucking that up, another reporter stood up, and Aodhn tensed when he realized he couldn''t sense the man''s core. Similar to the other reporters, the man was in the advanced class, but Aodhn suspected he was only a few tiers away from his Mythic advancement.Stolen novel; please report. The man gave a warm smile and began. I am Lucas Evermore, a journalist with the Vanguard newspaper, and I''m beginning to think you''re an enigma of impossibility, Mr. Brystion, as it shouldn''t be possible to gain a glimpse, a grasp, and an opening, all from a single excursion into the origin plane. Can it be assumed that this isn''t your first excursion into the origin plane? This time, Aodhn was unable to control his expression, and he winced. Now, that was information he didn''t want to get out, especially not in front of Synov and Unrid. Talking about the origin breach would eventually tie him to the Raventhorn accident, and he wanted to avoid that at all costs. He scrambled, thinking of a suitable answer that would reveal nothing more than he intended, and finally settled on the truth. This is my first excursion into the origin plane of a storm." The man waited, expecting him to say more, but Aodhn kept quiet, letting them assume and draw their own conclusions. There were a few seconds of reprieve as Unrid handed him a cup of water before the interview continued and the next reporter asked. My apologies for dragging us back, but I''m curious as to how your familiar has affected your skills and abilities; do you feel more powerful or different in any way since your bonding? The interview continued in this manner, and with the complicated questions now out of the way, Aodhn relaxed and answered the remaining questions as truthfully as he could. Still, there were a few questions that he meticulously fielded, trying not to reveal more than he intended to the very perceptive journalists. He didn''t always succeed, and at one point, Daruk had to step in and save him with his pseudo-noble skills. The interview lasted for the next fifteen minutes, and when it was finally over, Aodhn breathed a sigh of relief while Daruk took over. Thank you so much for coming, but that''ll be all. We''ll be taking no further questions. The reporters grumbled as they filed out, but Lucas stayed back and handed him his card. Just in case you have anything else you would like to share. Aodhn doubted he would need it, but he accepted it anyway and threw it into his spatial storage. Once the living room was finally cleared out, they all collapsed on the hideous blue couches, and Synov groaned. Is this what we''ll have to deal with from now on? Raol, have mercy. Unrid frowned. I cannot take anymore of those camera flashes. Its mentally and emotionally exhausting, Aodhn muttered, sinking into the couch. But I doubt we can get out of it; principal Zatya said it''ll only get worse from here on out. The reporters weren''t satisfied with your responses. Daruk sighed. It''s only a matter of time before they come back with the same question; only this time, it''ll be phrased differently. We need to find a way to manage it, Synov said gently. It cant go on like this for the rest of the week. I''m more concerned as to why it''s such a big deal. Unrid asked. I know they said bonding a familiar in the evolved class is impossible, but if you did it, surely it can''t be impossible. Aodhn shifted awkwardly, and Daruk grimaced. Aodhn had expected this question to pop up, but he hadn''t expected it would be so soon, nor had he expected it to come from Unrid. Synov''s gaze darted from him to Daruk, her expression questioning, and when they failed to respond, her eyes narrowed in suspicion. If there''s something you''re not telling us, I suggest you spit it out before we tear it out of your throats ourselves. Aodhn sighed. Trust Synov to go from 0 to 100 in seconds. Yet he squirmed under her intense gaze and glanced at Daruk, whose expression was once again a mask of neutrality. Aodhn had begun calling it his shutdown expression. Aodhn? Unrid prompted, and Aodhn sank deeper into the couch. It''s supposed to be impossible. He confessed. I did have an artifact that helped me. Synov and Unrid exchanged confused glances before Unrid asked. So what you''re saying is that the reporters were right? What sort of artifact is this? Synov asked instead, and Aodhn pulled out the chain to show them. I have no idea either. I bought it at the Warren, and till now I''ve yet to understand its full capabilities. Have you tried an appraiser? Unrid asked, and he nodded, glancing once more at Daruk, who remained unhelpful in this conversation. We met an appraiser once in the 8th sector, but he only identified it as a slightly unique spatial storage, flavored with storm essence. It''s capabilities, though, are far more than that, and revealing them to the reporters will mean losing it, and I can''t afford to let that happen. There was a beat of silence as they took in his words until Synov asked. What does it do, then? It''s basically a mind-fortification item. Daruk finally spoke up, and Aodhn glared at him. Now that it was obvious that Synov and Unrid were more curious than intrigued, he''d finally found his voice. After a guilty glance in Aodhn''s direction, Daruk continued. It''s an extremely powerful one too, as it specifically wards against the chaos of the origin plane of the storm, which allowed Aodhn to concentrate on bonding with a familiar without losing himself to the insanity of the chaos planes. Synov gasped in shock while Unrid looked around cluelessly, trying to keep up with the conversation. As Synov and Daruk began discussing the origin planes and the threat of losing oneself, Unrid cut in. As fun as this conversation is, we need to find a way to deal with these reporters and whatever else Aodhn''s new-found fame will cause. You''re right. Synov nodded. Before that, though, who else knows about the necklace? Uhm, just you guys. Aodhn muttered, but after a moment of thought, he added. And principal Zatya, I think, but she''s never mentioned anything about it. I need to have a talk with that principal of yours. Synov muttered and sighed. Let''s try and keep it that way. Also avoid the interviews from now on; those reporters are good at deducing new information regardless of how curt and direct your responses are. What if they arrive unexpectedly? Daruk asked, and Unrid responded. Perhaps we could hire someone else to deal with the press in your stead, like a publicist. Aodhn sighed, rubbing his temples. Thank you, Unrid; that''s a good idea. Synov walked towards him and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. I know you never wanted this sort of attention, but youve achieved something incredible, and people are naturally curious. We just need to find a balance that allows you to live your life without feeling trapped. Unrid added, And were all here to support you. Well figure it out together. Thank you. Aodhn smiled. He''d been so worried about them and how they would react to their newfound fame and the invasion of the press, but here he was, being comforted by the very people he''d been worried about. It was nice, and his smile expanded into a grin, but his expression soured when Synov shook his shoulders excitedly and said, Oh, I can''t believe you guys will be attending a noble event. Multiple. Daruk corrected, and Aodhn groaned again. What had he been thinking about accepting those invites? I''m not sure I want to go anymore. He muttered sourly. I''m not ready for all that attention. Synov smiled reassuringly. Oh, youll be fine. And you don''t even need to bother about clothes, because I''ll speak to Kieran. Remember him? the friendly neighbor I told you about in my letters? In fact, he should be dropping by soon to deliver a few clothes he''s made for me. He can totally take care of you guys. Kieran is a mad man. Unrid snorted. If you don''t stand your ground, he''ll have you wearing frills and silk like one of those empty-headed nobles we see in pictures. I don''t mind a few frills. Daruk chuckled, and Synov smiled. You see, Unrid, not everyone shares your distaste for modern fashion. Unrid scoffed, but before he could respond, another knock sounded on the door, and Aodhn froze. "Oh, calm down. Synov responded with a smile that wobbled with uncertainty. Kieran''s probably just earlier than expected. When no one stood up to open the door, though, she sighed and rolled her eyes. Fine, I''ll go check. If it''s the reporters again, just send them away. Aodhn called out, but when she opened the door and no cameras flashed, he followed her to find a tall man impeccably dressed in a black tailored suit. His red hair was slicked back and riddled with silver streaks, and his pupilless eyes changed constantly, morphing from a metallic gray color to an ocean blue and then to a deep green that soon turned as black as night. Aodhn felt like he could stare into the man''s eyes forever, but his gaze was pulled away by a ghostly apparition of what seemed to be a cube that faded in and out of existence above the man''s shoulder. It was obviously a familiar, and even though it had no face, Aodhn could feel it staring at him. Varc''s emotions pulsed in response, and Aodhn shook his head, asserting control before things went, well, out of control. The man smiled at them and asked. May I come in? Synov glanced at Aodhn, and he nodded. How could he say no? Would it even matter if he did? The man walked in, his pupilless gaze turning to take in the disaster that was Synov''s handwork, and although his aura was restrained, it still felt overwhelming, so much so that Synov gasped and had to move several feet backwards, her face almost blue. The man grimaced, his expression apologetic, as he restrained his core more tightly. The man''s core disappeared entirely from Aodhn''s senses, and Synov gasped as all of a sudden the pressure disappeared and they could all breathe once more. Daruk and Unrid stood behind them, their gaze locked on the Mythic, who smiled and said to them, Do not fear; I have not come to do you harm. Chapter 80: Emissary Once again, Aodhn was seated on one of the hideous blue couches. Daruk sat beside him, while Unrid and Synov nervously stood behind him. The Mythic sat on the opposite couch with his familiar slowly revolving above his head like a lost puppy. It stopped to stare at them at irregular intervals, and every time it did, Aodhn shivered. Something about its faceless gaze creeped him out. A plate of warm cookies lay untouched on the table between them, Synov''s attempt at hospitality, but now that he thought about it, Aodhn realized he had never seen a Mythic eat before. Granted, he only knew a few Mythics, however, he''d spent every Sunday for the past four weeks with principal Zatya, and not once had he ever seen her eat anything, except for the wine she''d been sipping this morning when he entered her office. He shook his head slightly and returned his mind to the present, only to see the ghostly apparition morph into a spherical shape before violently transforming back into a cube. Pay no attention to him. The Mythic smiled at them while still managing to give the familiar a stink eye. He''s a bumbling fool at times. Oh. Aodhan swallowed nervously. For some reason, this man unnerved him. Far more than principal Zatya or any other Mythic ever did, however, he pushed past his fear and pointed at the ghostly apparition. What is he? Unlike when he''d first arrived on the planet, Aodhn could now differentiate between improper and appropriate questions. This one rode the line of incivility, but Aodhn was too curious, and the Mythic didn''t seem like one who cared much about such things. Fortunately, he''d assumed correctly, and the man waved a hand dismissively. Hes a morphalith; his name is Jarvis. Jarvis paused at the sound of his name, but it was only for a moment before he continued spinning again. The man smiled and turned to face Aodhn squarely. My name is Ludacris Black, an emissary or agent, if you will, of the 1st Academy. Ah. Aodhn had guessed as much, but he hadnt been so sure, considering the man''s class. The fact that a Mythic-class individual was a simple emissary was astounding. Even the fifth academy only had a few Mythics within their ranks, all of them important members of the academy, not some random emissary. It made sense now why principal Zatya had gone to such lengths to keep him attached to the 5th academy.The fact that the first academy had a Mythic as an emissary didn''t necessarily mean they were a much better academy; it simply meant they held more prestige and power. If this man had approached him before the principal knew of his identity as a transmigrant, Aodhn would have accepted his offer without looking back or thinking twice. Now, though, not even a hundred gold coins could sway him away. He couldn''t break his deal with Zatya without suffering serious consequences for it. To put things plainly, he was her bitch, and until he no longer had to hide his identity, he would remain that way, so rather than the excitement Ludacris might have expected, it was with a very dark expression that Aodhn said to him. I''m sorry to say this, sir Ludacris, but your journey here has been in vain. I cannot leave the 5th academy. Ludacris''s friendly smile tightened a little, and Jarvis paused to stare at him with a motion that vaguely conveyed confusion. I see that Zatya has sunk her little claws into you. Ludacris chuckled. But not to worry, the 1st Academy is prepared to recompense her for all that she has spent or done to hold you down. His gaze swept across the house, and Aodhn caught a slight downturn of his lips. Although it was gone so fast, he almost felt like he''d imagined it. Aodhn shook his head, prepared to give a few reasons as to why he preferred to stay in the 5th academy. Most of them were actually true, but Ludacris cut him off before he could begin. I''m aware that Zatya''s responsible for relocating your parents here, but we are willing to relocate them to the 1st sector and, like I said earlier, reimburse Zatya for all her troubles. We''re not sheep to be herded around from sector to sector." Synov muttered under her breath, forgetting that at their advancement level, they could all hear her perfectly. She gasped in realization when all of them, except Unrid, turned to stare at her. Aodhn and Daruk with alarmed expressions, while Ludacris glared at her with an expression of annoyance and irritation. Never one to back down, even when faced with impossible odds, Synov stiffened and repeated herself, this time loud enough for all to hear. We are people. She continued, now burning with outrage. We have families and friends. We''ve had to leave them all behind once already, yet barely a month later, you''re proposing we move again? Daruk immediately grabbed the untouched plate of cookies and rushed to his feet. Mum, let''s go warm this for our guest. He grabbed her and gently pulled her away. She didn''t even try to resist. Aodhn turned back to Ludacris, whose gaze was still on Synov''s retreating form, and apologized immediately. Of course, Synov was right, but she hadn''t quite realized that she wasn''t in the Warren anymore, where the highest-tiered individual was tier 9. In the Warren, the difference between awakeneds and sleepers wasn''t too obvious; besides, Synov had been the wife of one of the more powerful members in the village. This had granted her both power and status, enough to speak her mind to whomever she wished, but here, in the quiet city of Norbuik, they were nobodies, and despite the laws protecting sleepers, speaking to a Mythic in such a manner was ill-advised at best. It''s alright. Ludacris cracked a small smile, the tension draining away from his features. Your mother is very spirited. Yes. Unrid cleared his throat nervously. But she speaks our mind. We''re not much inclined to move again; we love it here, and we''ve even begun to build a life for ourselves. I see. Ludacris nodded and turned his pupilless gaze back to Aodhn. He snapped his fingers just as Daruk and Synov returned to the living room, and a small rune-scripted chest appeared on the table. Ludacris gestured for him to open it, and Aodhn sighed as he unclasped it, expecting to find a pile of shimmering gold coins, but his eyes widened in shock when instead of gold, he found a pile of credits instead, their dark surfaces shimmering with glowing green runes. Daruk froze, and Synov let out a very unladylike sound similar to a squack. Unrid.. Unrid had fainted. Lutian credits were the highest currency used in Lutia, and they were crafted from solidified metallic essence embellished with elder runes. A single Lutian credit was worth a thousand gold coins, and the small chest contained nothing less than a dozen of them. There''s enough money in that chest to set you up for life. Ludacris smiled at him. Your parents would never have to work again, and in the first sector, so close to the capital, they''ll be protected and safe. When Aodhn didn''t immediately reject the offer, Ludacris''s smile widened into a grin, already sure of his victory, and if it wasn''t for his identity that was still at stake, Aodhn would have broken his deal with Zatya Malakov without a second thought. Even still, his entire body twitched, itching to grab the coins, and he had to draw on a large amount of willpower just to shut the chest before he did something he would regret. Aodhn glanced at Daruk, who was just as wide-eyed as he was, and he knew it was costing him a ton of willpower to stay quiet and let him make his decision by himself. Ludacris took in their expressions with smug satisfaction, caressing Jarvis''s ghostly body with his fingers. He was already convinced of his victory in luring Aodhn away from the 5th academy, so he was understandably shocked when Aodhn hesitantly pushed the chest towards him. I''m very sorry, sir Ludacris, but I can''t accept this. I already have a deal with the principal, and I can''t afford to break it. Ludacris stared at him incredulously, his eyes darting from him to Daruk, Synov, and Unrid as if asking them if Aodhn was alright. Unrid looked as if he had something, perhaps multiple somethings, but Synov''s grip on his shoulders kept him mute. Daruk, on the other hand, was almost shivering with barely restrained opinions, and just when Aodhn thought he was about to burst, Ludacris asked. Do you realize just how much money is in that chest? You could buy yourself a barony and noble title, elevate your family to the top, and solve just about any monetary problems you might have. This is the opportunity of a lifetime. Daruk whimpered, but as good as the offer was, Aodhn couldn''t accept it, and he shook his head sadly. You have no idea just how much I want to accept your offer, but I truly can''t.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Unrid sighed heavily behind him, his gaze purple from disappointment, but made no move to contest Aodhn''s decision. Ludacris observed him with narrowed eyes, his gaze hard as if to pressure him into accepting, but when Aodhn remained adamant, he said, If you''re expecting a better offer from Ramiel, I assure you that you''ll be sorely disappointed. Aodhn had no idea who Ramiel was, but he assumed it was the emissary of the 2nd Academy, and he shook his head. Im not doing this to get a better offer from you or any other emissary; your offer is already more than generous, and if I hadn''t already made a deal with principal Zatya, I would have accepted your offer without a second thought, but I''ve given my word, and I can''t break it. Ludacris''s expression softened, and he said. It is rare to find a man of such integrity within this generation, but I''m honored to have met you, Aodhn Brystion. He stood up, and the chest disappeared from view. Aodhn tried not to grimace, but he must have failed because Ludacris grinned and said, Letting this opportunity pass you by must be hard. I hope you do not come to regret your decision. Aodhn already regretted it, but he stood up and bowed stiffly. I hope so too. Ludacris smiled, perhaps seeing through his false facade and a small capsulated pill. Crackling with electricity appeared in his open palms. A gift to reward your integrity." Immediately Aodhn''s gaze landed on the pull, an overwhelming hunger erupted within him. His cells raged, screeching with a violent urgency that clouded his senses. He snatched the pill before he even realized what he was doing, but Ludacris quickly grabbed his hands before he could swallow it. This is an elemental lightning pill. Ludacris spoke, his stern voice piercing through the fog that clouded Aodhn''s mind. Absorbing it is sure to grant you a seal, but you cannot use it without supervision. The feeling of overwhelming hunger subsided a little, and with shaky breaths, Aodhn threw the pill into his spatial storage. Thank you so much, Sir Ludacris; I will not forget this. No need to thank me. Ludacris replied with a smile. I''m simply sowing a karmic seed. This is as much a gift for myself as it is for you. Aodhn nodded, still grateful. The elemental lightning pill was obviously a high-grade pill, maybe even peak, and he couldn''t wait to use it. Ludacris left the house a few minutes later, and Aodhn shut the door behind him before turning to lean against it and howling in helpless rage. I don''t know whether to be proud of your integrity or to slap some sense into you. Unrid glared at him from across the room. Im leaning towards the latter, but I can''t even hurt you, talkless of slapping sense into you, but by Raol, I''m willing to try! You will do no such thing. Synov glared at him. We should be proud that he has such a strong sense of integrity. It is an attribute we should applaud, not ridicule. Unrid raised his hands in frustration. Do you realize just how much we just lostthousands of gold, Synov? Thousands! Have some dignity, Unrid; it is more honorable to be a man of integrity than a man of wealth! While Aodhn mourned the loss of such a massive fortune, Synov and Unrid argued, while Daruk sat in one corner of the living room, sad and depressed yet unable to muster any anger. He understood why Aodhn had refused the deal, but they''d just lost so much more money than he''d ever seen in his entire life. Money that could have made his dreams of nobility a reality and bought them enough land to live the rest of their lives in luxury. Aodhn, on the other hand, didn''t shed any tears, but he was deeply hurt. Unrid eventually tried to console him after several minutes of argument, but Aodhn refused to be consoled, and he soon gave up. Synov, on the other hand, stayed with him while he mourned, and it wasn''t until another knock sounded on the door that they both hastily scrambled to their feet and retreated several steps. Is it just me, or has a knock on that door become absolutely traumatizing? Daruk muttered as he rushed to stand with them. Maybe we should just ignore it. Synov replied, and Aodhn swallowed nervously. What they needed was a freaking peep hole; that way, they could see who was knocking without opening the door. The knock sounded again, and Aodhn muttered. Someone really needs to get that. Well, thank Raol; I''ve got two powerful sons. Unrid responded, and Daruk stepped back immediately. Not me. Fine! Synov snapped. I offer myself as tribute." May Raol''s mercies be with you. Unrid grinned as Synov moved hesitantly towards the door, and Aodhn held his breath, waiting as she cracked it open, expecting to see another gaggle of reporters or Ramiel, the assumed emissary of the 2nd academy, but he sighed in relief when she chuckled and pulled the door open to reveal a feminine-looking man with bright blue eyes and hair as smooth as silk. He was dressed in a vibrant, multicolored attire that shimmered and changed hues with every step he took, and as he walked into the house, Synov giggled. No need to panic, guys; it''s just Kieran, the neighbor I told you all about. When Kieran saw them, he gasped in dramatic excitement. By Raol, are these your children? His voice was a melodic blend of warmth and animation as he floated forward, quite literally, until he was only a few steps away from them. Two of them. Synov replied, her face aglow as she beamed with pride. They are my pride and joy. Aodhn, Daruk, meet Kieran, our friendliest neighbor and tailor extraordomaire. Kieran blushed and flicked a non-existent braid back. Oh, isn''t your mother just the sweetest? She is. Daruk grinned and extended a hand in greeting, but Kieran pulled him into a hug instead. When he pulled back, he grabbed Aodhn and crushed him against his chest, his lean arms bearing more strength than Aodhn realized. When Kieran pulled back once more, Aodhn focused on the man''s core and was surprised to find it almost completely dim, indicating that he was almost at his limit. In the river of evolved and blazing cores, every dim core stood out to his senses, but what surprised him most was the fact that Kieran was at the 32nd tier, although he remained in the mundane class. Kieran glanced at Synov, and, with a wave of his hand, half a dozen extravagant velvet dresses materialized on one of the blue couches. Synov squealed in excitement and began discussing with Keiran as she tried the dresses on. While Synov and Kieran discussed, Unrid pulled them aside and whispered. That man is a hurricane, and he''ll have you boys dressed in velvet gowns if you allow him. That won''t happen. Aodhn reassured him, taking the matter seriously. I just want a tux, something clean and simple. The moment he spoke, though, Kieran turned towards them and produced a measuring tape. Your mother informs me that you both need outfits for a noble event. Three events. Daruk corrected as they turned to face him. Technically, it''s four. Aodhn replied sheepishly. I forgot to tell you that I accepted Imani Blackwell''s invitation this morning. What! Daruk and Kieran exclaimed at the same time. I thought we agreed on three. Daruk complained while Kieran rushed forward in excitement. You''re attending the Blackwell event? I can''t believe it. I can''t believe I get to design an outfit for such a high-class event! We did, Daruk. Aodhn replied as he tried to pull away from Kieran''s grip. I wanted to tell you, but with all the excitement this morning, it skipped my mind. Fine! Four then. Daruk sighed, trying to hide his excitement. How fantastic. Kieran squealed. We need to do something grand, something big; something with a lot of flair, so that your debut into high society is branded into their minds forever No, no, no. Aodhn shook his head. Slow down; I just want something simple and black or gray. No flair, no frills, no drama, no nothing. You can''t be serious! Kieran exclaimed. This is a high-class event, but more than that, it''s your debut into noble society; you cannot afford to be anything other than spectacular. *I wouldn''t mind a few frills. Daruk muttered. But I do agree with my brother; something simple and classy will do. Kieran stared at them incredulously and looked at Synov. Can you hear your children? Simple is not a word in the thesaurus of nobles. Unrid glared at Kieran. If they want something simple, then that''s what they''ll get. Okay, okay. Synov walked into their midst to prevent any further argument. I think Kieran is a little right; you need to wear something more than a simple tux to an event of this caliber, but" she glanced at Kieran "simple can still be amazing. Kieran groaned. Fine. Something simple yet elegant, beautiful, dramatic, regal, outrageous Too much. Aodhn quickly cut him off. Let''s stop at elegant. Honestly, I''m fine with whatever, as long as it''s silver or ice blue. Daruk shrugged, and just like that, Kieran ushered them into a small room Synov had decorated for this exact purpose. Sunlight streamed in through the windows, bathing the entire room in golden light, and Kieran placed a dozen magazines on an ornate table, displaying a myriad number of magical and mundane male outfits. Aodhn picked one of the magazines and began searching for an outfit that called to him. His eyebrows climbed higher and higher as he flipped through the pages, displaying several magical outfits, each one more outrageous than the last. The outfits were interesting, though, and Aodhn wondered how each one was imbued with several elements and concepts. Let''s start with you, Aodhn. Kieran moved towards him. Ill be showing you a few styles that I think resonate well with you. If you find anyone you like, you just have to indicate, and we''ll set it aside before doing a final selection. Aodhn nodded in agreement, and Kieran began flipping through the magazine. First, he showed him a flamboyant black robe covered in white and gold threads that crackled with electricity. Aodhn shook his head. Nope. Too flashy. The next was a cloak of storm clouds that shifted and roiled as if alive, but Aodhn shook his head once again. Too dramatic. The next outfit was a suit made of spider silk, embedded with purple sapphires the size of chicken eggs. It was exactly the opposite of what he wantedtoo extravagantand he shook his head again. Nope, definitely not. Everything is wrong with this one. One by one, Kieran presented designs after designs, each more elaborate and extravagant than the last. A tunic that changed color with the weather, a suit that rumbled with the sound of thunder every time he moved, and an armor covered in frills that somehow resembled storm clouds. Each one, Aodhn rejected. Surely, you do not intend to attend this event looking no different from the servants? Kieran exclaimed in frustration half an hour later, when Aodhn pointed to a plain black tux with simple silver designs around the wrists. What''s wrong with a plain tux? Aodhn protested. Everything is wrong with a plain tux. This time, it was Daruk who responded. Pick one freaking outfit and let''s move on. Fine! Not the plain tux then, but I''m not wearing the floating cape either. Kieran sighed and stared at him for a moment before he took out another pile of magazines. This pile was old and outdated, even worn around the edges and torn in some parts, but on the front cover of the first one stood a man whose hair crackled with white gold electricity and whose expression was just as indifferent as it had been in Aodhn''s visions. Az''marthon. The slaughterer was dressed in a stormy gray attire that resembled a GI, the martial uniform used in Jiu-jitsu. Lightning arced across its surface, and its edges were rimmed with runic designs. The design of the outfit was subtle, but something about it called to Aodhn, and he cleaned off the small gathering of dust that covered it. I like this one. Kieran smiled and wiped a non-existent bead of sweat from his eyebrows. Great. One down, three more to go. Chapter 81: Cheating the Origin plane! Karma signifies the universal law of cause and effect, where every action, thought, and intent we project into the world shapes our future experiences. It is the cosmic ledger that meticulously records our deeds, ensuring balance in the grand tapestry of existence. It is a sad thing that despite how large and important the law of karma is, not many know of its existence, and those who do rarely believe in it, so they inadvertently end up sowing bad karma, a shadow that manifests as obstacles, suffering, and misfortune, not as punishment but as a natural consequence, urging us to reflect and realign our paths. Renowned Karmic awakened and scholar. Liandros Frostfire. Unoros, year 2095.
It took them another hour to select the remaining three outfits for Aodhn, and after Kieran took his measurements, Synov guided him upstairs to his assigned room. The room was almost as large as the one in the academy, excluding the training area, but it was completely bare, save for a rickety-looking bed and an antique table. I thought you might want to decorate it yourself. Synov smiled and gestured at the bare walls. You know, add your own artistic touch. I would love to. Aodhn responded, and Synov smacked him lightly on the back. Good. This was a bribe to keep your scrubby little fingers away from my living room. Don''t think I don''t see how you keep looking at it, and I just know you can''t wait to mess it all up." That''s because it''s terrible. Aodhn exclaimed, laughing, and Synov smacked him again. Unfortunately for you, your father doesn''t see my decorating skills that way, which means it stays! Synov, I just want Shhh. You either decorate your room and leave the living room as it is, or I let you have a go at the living room while I decorate yours. Aodhn groaned. Obviously, there was no way he was letting Synov decorate his room, but the living room could definitely use his help, and he wouldn''t give up on them so easily. Synov, the colors are clashing; at the very least, let me offer you some pointers. Synov shook her head resolutely, unmoved by his argument. Clashing colors are so much better than the shades of black and gray you''re sure to come up with. He gasped. Touche, mom. Touche. Aodhn shook his head. It was true that gray and black were his favorite colors, but now that Synov mentioned it, he decided that this time would be different. Perhaps he could add a touch of blue or red to spice things up. Are you taking the deal or not? Synov asked with a victorious smile, and he shook his head in defeat. Fine. I won''t touch anything in the living room. Perfect. Synov''s smile widened. Everything you need for your room is in the basement. Thank you, Synov; I really appreciate it. Awwn, we are the ones who should be thanking you. She rumpled his hair fondly, scattering tiny, harmless arcs of electricity in all directions. You are the reason we''re here, after all. Aodhn just smiled in response, and she patted his cheeks gently before turning around to leave, but after only a few steps, she turned back and asked. Do you mind decorating Aldric''s room too? He should be arriving on Sunday. Aodhn frowned. Wouldn''t he prefer to decorate himself? One would think so, but sadly, neither he nor Daruk inherited my love for decorating and knowing Aldric, he''ll most likely sleep in that room without decorating. Aodhn chuckled. I''ll see to it once I''m done with mine. Thank you, honey. Also, dinner will be ready soon, so hurry up. After Synov left, Aodhn immediately texted Rahim, asking to speak with him urgently. When he received no response after almost a minute, he texted him again and again, and after another minute of silence, he texted again. Two minutes later, a portal appeared within his room, and Rahim stepped out, looking very frustrated and disheveled. In a clipped tone, he said. You just interrupted the end of a very romantic dinner. In case you don''t understand, I was just about to get laid. Ugh. Aodhn grimaced as the unwanted image appeared in his mind. I didn''t need to know that. You didn''t need to text me a dozen times either. You could have just told me you were busy. Aodhn argued. You should have realized I was busy. Rahim glared at him, but after a short moment, he shut his eyes, massaged his temples, and sighed. I''m here now; what do you want? I wanted to inform you of how my day went and all that has happened since I arrived. Rahim cocked an eyebrow. I assume it has been eventful. Try traumatizing. Aodhn shook his head. First, we were ambushed by a dozen reporters, and then Ludacris showed up. Oh. Rahim paused, his frustrated expression now tinged with curiosity. He pulled out a wooden chair from his spatial storage and sat down. We weren''t expecting any of the emissaries to show up this early. Well, this one did. Rahim chuckled, leaned forward, and clasped his hands. So, what did he offer you? Credits. Aodhn spat, unable to contain his anger and pain. He fucking offered me creditsabout a dozen! Rahim''s eyes widened, and after a beat of astonished silence, he whispered. I know I''m supposed to be on the side of the 5th academy, but for the love of the ascendants, please tell me you accepted the offer. Aodhn shook his head and muttered. I didn''t. Icouldn''t. Are you insane?! Rahim hissed. That''s enough money to set up generations if spent wisely. The 5th Academy can''t offer you that. The highest we can give is platinum. I know how much money it was, Rahim; I just couldn''t accept the offer. Why the fuck not? Aodhn sputtered, opening and closing his mouth as he searched for what to say. When he found no easy answers, he asked instead. Aren''t you supposed to be glad I stayed? Rahim glared at him for a moment. Don''t get me wrong; I am glad you stayed. I just think it''s foolish to turn down such an amount of money. The academy would be reimbursed for however much we spent relocating your family here.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. I don''t care about the money. Aodhn lied, and Rahim laughed. That''s a lie, and we both know it. You care; in fact, you care so much that it''s obvious you regret not taking the offer, which leads me to believe there''s a reason why you turned it down. Theres something that held you back, something I don''t know about. Rahims expression sobered and he asked. What have you gotten yourself into with the principal? I know something''s up. Aodhn didn''t respond, and Rahim walked closer. Aodhn, I''m your mentor. You can tell me. I can''t tell you. Can''t or won''t? Both. Rahim frowned. You know, keeping secrets from your mentor is a very terrible idea. Telling you this secret is also a very terrible idea. Aodhn responded quietly, and after a long period of silence, Rahim relented. Fine, keep your secret. Can I go now, or is there something else you would like to discuss? There''s something else. He took out the elemental lightning pill from his storage, but this time when it appeared in his palms, he had enough control to keep himself from popping the pill. Ludacris gave me a gift. Rahim paused once more, his gaze fixed on the pill, and in a surprised tone, he asked. He gave you... this as a gift? He said it was a reward for my integrity at first, and then he called it a karmic seed, so I''m not quite sure what it is exactly. Rahim sighed. It''s a karmic seed, which isn''t exactly a bad thing, but it''s not a good thing either. He moved back to his chair, dusted invisible dust from his hair, and continued. Karmic seeds are essentially debts with no stipulated payback time, but it''s important to note that they''re still debts, and one day, you''ll have to repay them. Will I be forced? Like a core oath? Aodhn asked worriedly, but Rahim dispelled his worries. Not at all, but if you fail to repay it when the time comes, you''ll be sowing bad karma, which, from what I''ve heard, is not something you want to do. Aodhn''s excitement concerning the pill diminished slightly, and he stared at it cautiously. Being indebted to a Mythic wasn''t always a bad thing, but this early into his advancement, Aodhn wasn''t sure he was ready to start owing favors. Still, from what Ludacris had said, he was likely to gain a seal from using the pill, which would also come with a new skill. Those were power boosts he couldn''t simply reject. During the past few weeks, he had tried to gain a seal, going so far as to open up his spirit to the origin plane, yet his efforts had been futile. His ideals and temperament weren''t fully aligned with those of the storm yet, and from what he''d garnered from his failures, he was still too kind and merciful to be imprinted with the mark of the storm. A storm was brutal, unforgiving, overwhelming, and loud. Aodhn was none of those things yet, but with the elemental lightning pill, he might stand a chance. Perhaps he could bypass the personality requirements. It wasn''t a sure thing, but it was something, and Aodhn didn''t want to lose it. He wanted to take the pill, even with the threat of bad karma hanging over him. Do you have any suggestions? He asked, but Rahim shrugged. Like I said earlier, a karmic debt isn''t necessarily a bad thing. I suggest you take it. You''ve accepted it anyway, so it isn''t like you can give it back. Besides, that is a high-grade pill, which is sure to at least give you a chance at a seal, but considering your unaligned ideals and personality, the compulsion of the twisted effect will be much worse. Aodhn frowned as Rahim mentioned the twisted effect. That was one of the main reasons he''d texted Rahim in the first place. If he used the pill and gained a seal, he wanted to be as far away from his family as possible. He observed the pill for a moment before deciding to use it. Is there somewhere in the academy I can do this without hurting anyone? Rahim smiled. I''ve got a better idea. Come with me. He created another portal, and Aodhn sent a quick text to Daruk before following Rahim into the portal. The world blurred, and the next instant, they arrived within a tastefully decorated building, crafted from rich brown wood and ornate glass that seemed to glow with an inner warmth. Each piece of furniture was highlighted with delicate gold accents, from the intricate scrollwork on the armchairs to the elegant trim on the large, central table. The house had a sophisticated feel that screamed nobility, and everywhere Aodhn turned, golden runes shimmered. This is one of my family''s homes." Rahim said with a proud wink and gestured for Aodhn to follow him up the artfully designed stairs at the edge of the living room. We''ve got a time chamber upstairs for a situation like this. A time chamber! Aodhn exclaimed, surprised. When he''d asked for a safe place to gain his seal, he hadn''t pictured anything quite as grand as a time chamber. He hurried up the stairs after Rahim and asked. I''ve never used a time chamber before; will it have any adverse effects on me? Not really, Rahim shrugged. I doubt you''ll be spending up to a week within it, so at most you''ll experience a temporary detachment from reality as your mind tries to sync up with reality. They arrived at the chamber a few minutes later, and Aodhn''s eyes widened as he took in the marvel of magical architecture. Essentially, it was a rune covered glass box, several meters long, and densely packed with time essence. A straw mat lay at the center, and in one corner stood an ornate table upon which rested an hourglass, its sand, a shimmering mix of gold and silver grains, which flowed at an unnatural pace. A wooden bucket of water stood at the opposite corner, along with a pack of consumables that Aodhn didn''t recognize. Are you ready? Rahim asked, and Aodhn nodded. He wasn''t exactly sure what ''ready'' entailed, but he was willing, and that was all that mattered. Rahim moved to a panel on the chamber walls and began tapping it. "I''m raising the time ratio to its maximum setting, which is six to one. This means that for every hour in reality, you''ll experience six inside the chamber. So essentially, 16 hours on the inside equals 4 days in reality. Will I need up to that? I doubt it. Rahim shrugged again. But I''ll keep your parents updated if things go that far. Aodhn swallowed nervously and walked to the chamber''s entrance. Before stepping inside, though, he asked. Will this chamber hold me when I turn into a mindless killing machine? Rahim smiled. It has held much stronger people, including myself; I think it''ll be just fine. Okay. Aodhn nodded, firmed his resolve, and finally stepped inside the chamber. The door shut behind him, and he was immediately struck by the profound silence. The air was thick with an almost tangible sense of timelessness, as if every second stretched to eternity. Tentatively, he moved to sit on the mat and took out the. elemental lightning pill. Just like the last time, a feeling of overwhelming hunger rose within him, but this time he didn''t resist it. He swallowed the pill, closed his eyes, and, after a calming breath, opened his spirit to the origin plane of storm. Chaos rushed in, and he found himself once again surrounded by an infinite amount of stormclouds. The wind howled, thunder rumbled, and lightning rippled ceaselessly. Rain poured down into a bottomless abyss of storm clouds. His necklace glowed, repelling the murmurs of chaos that tried to invade his mind, but it did nothing to prevent the all-encompassing consciousness of the origin plane that had rejected him several times now. Unlike the unfeeling and cold invasion of the mind that Daruk had experienced, the consciousness of the storm ravaged through his mind like a rabid animal, brutal and violent as it rifled through his thoughts, scrutinizing his memories and once more declaring him unfit for a seal. Just as the consciousness began to pull away, though, the elemental pill that had now settled within his core exploded, and lightning of various hues surged into his spirit. The consciousness paused, curious, and deciding not to waste this opportunity, Aodhn took a risk. He pushed every vision of Az''marthon he had to the forefront of his mind. He''d never done it before for fear of offending the consciousness, but he''d never been this close to gaining a seal either. Surprisingly, approval flared from the consciousness, and suddenly, heat exploded on his chest as the origin plane imprinted its mark. Aodhn only had a moment to sigh in relief before his mindset and emotions suddenly twisted and violent urges overrode his mind. The necklace flared as it tried to resist the compulsion of the twisted effect, but its efforts were futile, and Aodhn''s mind was soon overtaken by an overwhelming need to destroy, conquer, and subjugate. . Rahim watched impassively as Aodhn''s visage twisted. One moment he was seated peacefully, and the next, a storm hammer as tall as he was smashed against the chamber walls. Runes flared in response, tearing apart the force of the attack and causing Aodhn to recoil violently. Rahim sighed and turned to Principal Zatya, who was watching her pet transform into a mindless killing machine with glee. A loud rattle echoed out once more, and Rahim turned his attention back to Aodhn. There was neither fear nor hesitation in his eyes; only a savage needed to destroy, and when he realized that the storm hammer was having no effect, he destroyed the construct and massive black wings, rippling with electricity burst out of his back. His arms rippled with gleaming scales, and his fingers transformed into long, black claws as sharp as blades. His crackling white hair elongated, and sharp fangs grew out of his mouth. Finally, a merge. Principal Zatya chuckled. I suspected it would come with a seal. I might just have to thank Ludacris for this. It wasn''t a gift; there''s no need to thank him. Rahim muttered, but principal Zatya waved dismissively. Oh, you know it''s always the principle of the thing with Ludacris; besides, it''s only polite. Rahim sighed once more, his gaze still fixed on Aodhn''s beastial form as he attacked the chamber relentlessly. His long claws raked against the glass at such speeds that Rahim shamefully had to increase his perception all the way to the Advanced class to follow him. How long do you think this will take? Principal Zatya asked a moment later, and Rahim shrugged. Two or three days. He''s completely out of control. Rather than worry, the principal''s smile widened further. Very good. You should inform his parents that he won''t be home for dinner tonight. Chapter 82: Testing out new skills It took eight hours, which equaled two days in actual time, for Aodhn to regain his senses. Still, rage simmered within him like an undercurrent, ready to burst forth at a moment''s notice, and it took a steady harnessing of willpower to get it under control. A smattering of system messages littered his view, but he pushed the notifications aside and turned to take in the chamber with less reptilian eyes. In fact, now that he thought of it, his eyes snapped to his clawless fingers, and he breathed a sigh of relief. He couldn''t remember all that had happened when he''d been under the compulsion of the twisted effect, but he remembered the merge with Varc. Rather than Varc taking control like he had done the last time they''d merged, it was almost like their minds had become one, fused into something different, half man, half beast. Chaotic. He turned to take in the chamber once more. The ornate hourglass was a shattered mess of glass and shimmering sand; even the bucket of water and consumables had been destroyed and disintegrated by lightning. Surprisingly, the straw mat had survived, although it was riddled with holes and burn marks. The only thing still intact were the chamber walls. It remained undamaged, despite how savagely he''d attacked it. There were no cracks, marks, or even scratches on it. A part of him was a little embarrassed that he''d feared breaking it in the first place, but mostly he was just relieved the whole thing was over. Aodhn sighed in relief, grateful that he hadn''t made the mistake of using the pill without informing Rahim first. The results would have been disastrous, and he doubted Daruk alone would have been able to protect Synov and Unrid from him at all. Perhaps they would have stood a chance with Kieran''s help, but Kieran was just a mundane class awakened, and there was very little he could have done against a chaos-driven, evolved awakened hell bent on killing and destroying everything in sight. Opening his spirit completely to the origin plane had filled him with so much power, far more than he''d ever thought himself capable of wielding, but it drained his willpower tremendously, and if it wasn''t for the time chamber, Aodhn was certain he would have bottomed out. He had heard of warriors fully opening up their spirits to the origin plane before, and now he finally saw the appeal, but he imagined the willpower drain would be a serious drawback for anyone except for inheritors like Daruk, who had an almost inexhaustible amount of willpower at their disposal. Finally, he tore off his tattered uniform and looked at the faintly glowing seal on his chest. It shimmered with a white gold hue, similar to the cracks that covered his skin. It was a complex symbol that looked like a rune but was vastly different, and when he probed it mentally, he felt a large amount of chaotic quintessence within it. Daruk had described the seal as a sort of amplifier, as when harnessed, it gave one''s skill or ability an extra boost and impact that it would have otherwise lacked. More importantly, it was a finite but replenishable source of chaotic essence that, if completely used up, would take a while to refill. In more ways than one, it was very similar to willpower, as both were finite and replenishable, but Aodhn suspected he would only get to understand it well after testing it out. The chamber door slid open, and he turned to find Rahim smiling at him. I told you it''d hold. Yeah, right. Aodhn chuckled awkwardly. I''m sorry for the mess, though. Rahim dismissed his apology. That''s not a problem; no one can blame you for what happens under the compulsion of the twisted effect, not even the court. Really? Don''t people take advantage of that? Some foolish ones do. But they forget that although you can''t be held responsible for your actions during the duration of the twisted effect, you are still responsible for your actions before and after that. Aodhn nodded. He hadn''t known that before, but it was great information to have, just in case. So, how do you feel? Rahim asked as Aodhn walked out of the chamber, and he shrugged. I''m not quite sure. I''m perfectly fine now, but it feels like I could descend into a maddened rage at any moment. That sounds about right, given your element. Rahim nodded. You''re still being affected by the infusion of chaos; you''re just no longer under its compulsion. It should subside with time. Subside? You mean it won''t leave? Unfortunately not. Rahim replied as he led them down the stairs. You now bear the imprint of storm, and its essence courses through you like never before. It''s only natural that you take on some of its attributes. That''s the side effect of a seal. Does the compulsion of the twisted effect get worse every time you gain a seal? No, actually, it gets better. The more seals you gain, the more aligned you become with your element, and the less affected you become with every subsequent one. Oh. How many seals do you have? Aodhn asked, and Rahim shrugged. Give or take a dozen. That''s not a specific figure. Indeed. Rahim smiled and changed the topic. Your mother freaked out when I explained to her what was happening; she thought you''d been kidnapped. Aodhn chuckled. Of course. Did she blame the principal? Rahim leaned in and whispered. She called her a cow. Oh, the horror. Aodhn gasped, and Rahim shook his head. I was speechless for a moment. I don''t think I''ve ever met anyone who had the guts to insult the principal. Aodhn nodded in agreement. Still, my mom should be more careful, though; we''re no longer in the Warren. Rahim hummed and pulled out a vintage shirt for him to wear. Don''t bother returning it. Uhm, thanks. Aodhn collected the shirt, and while he buttoned it, Rahim asked. I hear the principal has given you your first mission. Aodhn''s expression sobered and he sighed. I tried to get out of it, but... You couldn''t. Rahim finished with a bitter smile. I believe this has to do with your secret deal. Aodhn nodded, and Rahim sighed. However it turns out, keep me informed. I won''t be at the event, but I''ll be close by. In the mean time, I''ve spoken to the principal about Ludacris''s deal, and she has agreed to pay you a certain amount to help lessen the sting of such a loss. I''m not sure how much we''ll be giving you, but I know it''ll be something substantial. Thank you for this and for everything. Rahim nodded and opened a portal that transported Aodhn directly to his room. As soon as he stepped through, the portal closed behind him. Aodhn sighed and moved towards the antique table situated by the window before removing the vintage shirt and releasing Varc from his spirit. He spotted the changes in his familiar almost immediately. Varc''s horns had grown longer and his claws sharper. Lightning crackled across his hide erratically, and his eyes shone with a brighter intensity. The most obvious change, though, was his height, which now neared seven feet. Aodhn couldn''t correctly assume his length, but it was obvious he''d grown longer too, which was why, even though the bed was the same size as the one in the academy, Varc''s hind legs, wings, and tail scraped across the floor. Varc groaned in complaint, tearing into the foam and sheets as he tried to find a comfortable position. It soon became obvious that the bed couldn''t support him, so Aodhn directed him to the floor. It''s better anyway; these sheets don''t have any self-repair runes. After that, he ignored Varc''s grumblings and turned his attention to the messages on his status screen. Half of them were messages from Daruk asking if he was alright, one from Andrew, and another from Lupin, both asking if he''d gotten home safe. It was then that Aodhn realized he hadn''t even spoken to them since he''d arrived home. Feeling slightly guilty, he texted Andrew back and apologized for his late reply. After that, he texted Lupin, apologized, and told her he''d just gained a seal. Before he even finished texting Lupin, his chip pinged with another reply from Andrew, but he put the messages aside for now and pulled up his status screen.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. [STATUS] Name: Aodhn Ashoka-Brystion. Title: Neophyte, Storm Spirit, Bronze, Origin Marked, Seal Bearer. Class: Evolved storm awakened: 99.9% (PENDING) Tier: 2113% GlimpseGraspOpening: Increases elemental affinity and abilities by 2.5% Techniques: perfect will imbuement (8). Skills {Innate}: [Storm creation and manipulation] [Lightning creation and manipulation] {Other}: [Lightning surge] [Lightning beam] [Lightning descent] [Create constructs] [Absorb lightning] [Spear rainLightning] [Spear rainStorm] [Vortex of lightning] [Vortex of Storm][Elemental lightningStage 1] Bloodline: Origin Storm supremacy. {Unique} ?Amplifies storm abilities by 3%. ?Grants major resistance to lightning. ?Aura of Origin supremacy. FamiliarDragonkin (Fury) Perks: pyschic bond, merge. Seal bearer: A title awarded to an awakened who has been recognized and marked by their origin plane. There were a few important changes in his status screen. First and foremost was his new title, which was explained towards the bottom of the screen. He''d also gained a single level, which increased the number of strands he could now use. The third change, though, was what interested him the most. Aodhn focused on his new skill, and as its information flowed into his mind, he smiled. The elemental lightning skill was a complex one, divided into four stages that granted him the ability to summon and manipulate lightning of various hues to achieve different effects. From the information he got, each stage of the skill granted him three lightning hues, which totaled twelve for each class. This was the first time Aodhn was seeing a skill that scaled with class advancement, and although he was currently limited to red, black, and green, he was extremely excited to try it out. Before he could do anything, though, Daruk and Unrid suddenly barged into his room, with Synov rushing in a moment later. Synov and Unrid stared at him with wide eyes, seeing the full extent of his bloodline manifestation for the first time, while Daruk focused on the seal glowing on his chest. Varc growled, but soon settled back down, grumbling discontentedly at the situation. After a wary glance in Varcs direction, Daruk smiled and rushed forward to congratulate him. I knew you could do it. Synov and Unrid hesitated a little, warily watching Varc, but they soon rushed forward to hug him. Bless the ascendants! I thought you''d been kidnapped by that principal of yours. Synov said, and Daruk sighed in frustration. Mom, I told you he was fine like a dozen times. It''s good to have you back. Unrid added after ruffling his hair fondly. He was only gone for two days! Daruk exclaimed, and Synov glared at him. Quit your yapping, young man; I have every right to miss my son. Aodhn chuckled, and Synov patted him gently before dragging Daruk out of the room. We''re preparing dinner; make sure you do not disappear this time. I promise. Aodhn laughed, and when they left, he turned to Unrid, whose gaze held a faraway look, although they remained fixed on the seal glowing on his chest. What are you thinking about? He asked, and Unrid shook his head. Just how I''ve been a fool. I let the fact that I couldn''t advance my core stop me from advancing my spirit. Even with the limit, I could still gain a sealmultiple seals. In fact, I can still progress. Aodhn paused, a little surprised by Unrid''s comment. The limit seemed so whole, so limiting, and so life-determining that he hadn''t actually considered the fact that it wasn''t exactly the end. My physical cultivation is limited. Unrid continued. But a glimpse, grasp, or even an opening is not impossible. Hard, but not impossible. He folded his arms and leaned against the bare wall. I''ve been wasting my time moping around and gardening when I could have been growing stronger... He trailed off, but rather than respond, Aodhn kept quiet and listened. Unrid shook his head once more, disappointed in himself, but his eyes shone with determination, and when he smiled, Aodhn was certain it was the first genuine smile Unrid had displayed in a while. No more moping around! Unrid said. My core might be limited, but I''m still an awakened, and I still have room to grow. Unrid rushed out of the room a moment later, and Aodhn chuckled, happy that Unrid had found hope once again. Now that he was finally alone, he moved to the open window and activated {Elemental lightningBlack}. Immediately, a crackling bolt of black lightning appeared in his palms. It rippled and moved in a more subtle manner compared to the erratic nature of normal lightning. It was beautiful, and with a simple flex of his will, he transformed the bolt into a spear. He scrutinized the construct for a moment before throwing it into the garden below. Contrary to what he''d expected, the construct didn''t explode; instead, it dispersed into a black mist that caused all the plants within a two-meter radius to wither and decay as if poisoned. Aodhn stared at the damage open-mouthed, glad he hadn''t imbued the spear with willpower; otherwise, the damage would have been far more extensive. The withering process was very similar to that of the plague wraith, except on a much smaller scale. Aodhn tried to imagine what effect the skill would have on animals or other humans, more so when empowered with all eight strands of energized willpower. The image was devastating, but he pushed down the urge to test it out and instead activated {Elemental LightningRed}. This time, it was a crackling bolt of red electricity that appeared in his hand. So erratic and wild was its nature that it shot out of his hands before he could even take control of it. Still, Aodhn managed to alter its trajectory, so it struck the already withered part of Synov''s garden. It exploded violently, throwing up dirt and withered vines in every direction, and Aodhn winced as the entire family rushed out to the backyard to see what was going on. Despite altering its trajectory, the red bolt had run rampant, destroying several plants, some several meters away from the withered patch. It had basically wrecked the entire garden. Oh Raol. Synov gasped in horror, and Aodhn quickly apologized. I''m so sorry, Synov; I was just testing out a new skill, and it got away from me. You lost control of a skill. Daruk asked incredulously, but Aodhn ignored him. I promise I''ll fix it before the break is over. I''ll make sure it''s as good as new. You better. Synov glared and pointed a finger at him. Ive been tending this garden for weeks! I promise. Aodhn nodded. Ill do it. Synov glared at him for a few more seconds before walking back to the room, grumbling under her breath about careless children ruining all her hard work. It''s not only her garden, you know. Unrid shook his head in disappointment. I spent days tilling this ground. He walked away with a grunt, and Aodhn sighed. After urging Varc back into his spirit to avoid another accident, Aodhn jumped out of the window and walked to stand beside Daruk. So, care to explain how you lost control of a skill? Your control is top-notch." Daruk asked Aodhn explained all that happened with the elemental lightning skill and shook his head. It''s my fault; if I''d turned the bolt into a construct, there would have been less damage. Woah, that is a powerful skill. Daruk shook his head, amazed. I can''t wait to get something like that. Aodhn simply stared at the damaged garden, wondering just how he could restore it, when Daruk added. You should try out the last hue; I mean, it''s not like you haven''t destroyed the garden already. Aodhn glared at him, but then a grudging smile crept onto his face. "Fine," he said, his excitement barely contained. "But if things get worse, you''re helping me clean it up. This time, when he activated {Elemental LightningGreen}, a bolt of verdant electricity appeared in his hand, but unlike the red lightning, its movements were far more gentle, undulating, and flowing almost like water. For how gentle it seemed, it resisted Aodhn''s attempt to transform it into a construct, and after almost a minute of trying, Aodhn gave up and simply aimed the bolt at the ground. It shot out with surprising speed and sank into the ground with no effect. Aodhn stared at the ground, eagerly waiting for an explosion, a bang, anything to show the effect of the skill, but nothing happened. Maybe you should do a bigger one. Daruk muttered, and although Aodhn had the same thought, he hesitated. Obviously, the effect of the green lightning was more subtle, but what if it was poisonous? Doing a bigger one would only ruin things. Then again, things were already ruined. After another minute without any observable change, Aodhn activated the skill again, but this time, he also activated {Lightning Beam}. Green lightning shot out of his hands in a torrent and sank into the ground like water in a desert. Aodhn didn''t cut the skill off, though; instead, he channeled it, letting it flow from his hands in an unending stream. Aodhn had only channeled the skill for a few seconds when they began to see results. The blackened and withered ground healed, and small plants sprouted, their tiny green petals crackling with electricity. It was an understatement to say that Aodhn was astonished, but now that he knew the effect of the skill, he decided to go all out. While Daruk rushed to call Synov and Unrid out, Aodhn willed a storm cloud, the size of the garden, into existence and began funneling energy and willpower into it. It took only a few seconds before it was fully charged and crackling with a river of electricity, and as Synov and Unrid rushed out, Aodhn activated {Elemental LightningGreen} along with {Lightning Descent}, and to top it all off, he imbued each skill with all eight strands of energized willpower. The effect was wondrous. Green lightning descended from the storm cloud like a river, cascading downward in a radiant torrent. It sank into the ground with a gentle touch, and within moments, tiny green shoots emerged from the ground. They grew rapidly, unfurling into a chaotic mass of verdant plants that soon covered the entire garden. The ground disappeared from view, replaced by a lush carpet of vegetation, each plant crackling with verdant electricity, so much so that the air was soon filled with a dense amount of lightning and nature essence. In the awed silence that followed, Daruk whispered. Well, I guess you fixed the garden after all. Chapter 83: Magical — Mutated Forest Aodhn stared wide-eyed, completely awed by the small forest standing before him. He had stopped channeling the skill and dismissed the storm cloud about a minute ago. In fact, both skills had barely been active for a whole minute, yet in the span of moments, the garden had been completely transformed from a scant plain of budding flowers into... he had no idea what to call it. Lush, verdant plants surrounded them, the least of which reached up to his knees. Still, Daruk was wrong. He hadn''t fixed the garden; instead, he had created an entire forest of magicalno mutatedplants. The plants stretched out their leaves to the sun, each one crackling with green electricity and choking the others in a struggle for survival. The dense amount of lightning and nature essence in the air wasn''t helping matters either. They diffused into the still-growing plants, causing bizarre flowers and offshoots to sprout out of their verdant stems. The plants drank in the essence like a man dying of thirst, growing larger and bigger with each absorption, further exacerbating the problem. Synov sputtered, shocked and at a complete loss for words, as she took in the magical garden. She took a step forward and traced the leaf of the nearest plant, a green rose whose stem was filled with smaller roses instead of thorns. She turned to him and tried to speak, but no words emerged from her parted lips. Aodhn couldn''t blame her; even he was shocked. He had known that the elemental lightning skill was a powerful one considering the fact that it was a class scaling skill, but he hadn''t imagined it was this powerful, and although using the skill in tandem with {Lightning Descent} had drained almost ? of his energy pool, he knew he hadn''t even touched the limit of the skill. What would have happened if he''d added the boost of his seal? What would have happened if he''d opened up his spirit to the origin plane or used up all of his energy? He dismissed those insane thoughts with a vigorous shake of his head. Using his seal and opening his spirit to the origin plane wasn''t really a bad idea, but using up his entire energy pool was a terrible idea, and he wouldn''t risk being comatose for a week just to see what would happen. Aodhn breathed in deeply, and as the intermingled essence of lightning and nature rushed into him, Aodhn felt a jolt in his spirit that caused a refreshing wave of vitality to spread through him. Surprised, he breathed in again, this time taking in a mouthful, and he gasped as the pleasurable wave intensified, causing his muscles to loosen as if he''d just had a very good massage. He turned to the others, and that was when he noticed they were going through the same thing. Daruk''s expression was slack, and he was slouched in relaxation. Synov and Unrid, on the other hand, were going through a transformation that made his eyebrows climb all the way up to his hairline. Unrids wrinkles and crow feet had faded, and it looked like he''d aged back a dozen years. His scared face had smoothed, and his receding hairline had grown out, but it was Synov who had changed the most. She had somehow grown even more beautiful. Just like Unrid, her wrinkles were gone, and her cheeks were rosy and bright, brimming with the allure of youth. She looked like she had gone back twenty years in time, and as she breathed in more of the essence, her skin glowed even brighter. Aodhn''s mind shook as he realized the full potential of the green lighting. It obviously had some sort of healing or nature effect, and he couldn''t wait to experiment more on it. If simply breathing in the essence had made them look so much younger and healthier, what effect would a direct infusion of lightning have? Before he did something he would regret, he quickly pushed down the urge to channel green lightning directly into their bodies. Better to experiment on animals first before using the skill on humans. Still, the very thought of healing abilities filled him with joy as it diversified his skillset, transforming him from a purely offensive warrior to an offensive/support one. I dismissed the rumors of your magical rain back in the Warren; I thought it couldn''t be true, but now, I... I feel better than I have in years. I look better. Unrid blurted out as he stared at his callus free palms. Synov had no words, so she hugged him instead, while Daruk patted his shoulders before moving to stand with Unrid. Synov shook her head against his chest, still speechless, but Aodhn understood. They stood like that for almost a minute before Synov finally asked. How is this possible? Neither of you have a nature or healing affinity. I got a new skill along with my seal. Aodhn replied, smiling lightly. It allows me to summon elemental lightning instead of the usual white-gold, and apparently, one of them has the ability to heal. Unrid shook his head, baffled. Thishe gestured to the forest of lush plantsis the most amazing thing I''ve ever seen in my life. Ithank you. Aodhn nodded, and they all just stared at the forest in awe until Synov gasped. By ascendants, I need a mirror. She rushed into the house with Unrid, both excited to see their new looks, and Daruk shook his head in amusement. I''m surprised that this happened, but I''m not exactly shocked. Aodhn raised a questioning brow, and Daruk chuckled. How you always find yourself in situations like this is a mystery only Raol can explain. You literally asked me to do this, remember, like five minutes ago. Nope. Daruk smirked. I asked you to make the lightning bigger, not to create an entire forest in the garden. And speaking of, are these plants even mundane? Aodhn sighed. No, they''re not. Gwendolyn Blackwood had spent four weeks teaching them how to identify and harvest awakened plants, and even if he was blind, he couldn''t miss the electrifying aura radiating off each plant. Normally, this would be a cause for joy, as it simply meant he could sell them and make a lot of money, but even with his limited experience, he could tell that there was something wrong with these plants. It was more appropriate to call them mutated plants rather than awakened ones. From what he understood of the elemental lightning skill, the green lightning had sunk into the earth and saturated the dormant seeds within it with dense healing or life energy, causing them to sprout rapidly. What that meant was that he now had a forest of plants, mutated by lightning and life/nature essence. To the side was a rose stalk that reached all the way to his shoulders and was covered in crackling green roses. He moved towards it, kneeled down, and meticulously following the instructions Gwendolyn had taught, he uprooted the plant. Still, he must have messed things up, as the plant wilted almost immediately and died. He discarded it and harvested another, this time a spinach plant with extremely large leaves and a stem gently pulsing with greenish energy. Fortunately, this one was harvested right, and after observing it for a long time, he took out his textbook on awakened plants and began riffling through it, trying to find anything on the topic of plant mutations. Five minutes later, as he turned to the last page, Daruk muttered. It''s either too advanced for first-year students, or perhaps, like your familiar, you''ve done the impossible. Again.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Aodhn glared at him, but he had to admit that Daruk was probably right. There was nothing in the whole textbook that even hinted at mutations or the transformation of a mundane plant into an awakened one. But Aodhn was convinced that somewhere, somehow, it existed. Surely, he couldn''t be the first to discover something like this. Why do they keep dying so easily? Daruk asked, and Aodhn looked up to find him holding a bunch of dead plants. That was another proof that the plants weren''t exactly awakened, as they seemed heavily dependent on the energy within the soil, and even that, he suspected, would need to be replenished constantly to prevent the plants from dying. Perhaps it was because the plants and seeds had been oversaturated with the lightning, or perhaps it was just a limit of the skill; however, he doubted the latter. He needed to carry out several experiments with the lightning to understand it; until then, he was just as confused and lost as Daruk. Uhn, this one too. Daruk complained as he uprooted another plant, which immediately withered. These things really have a short life span. Are all awakened plants like this? No. Aodhn sighed. Perhaps he wasn''t quite as lost as Daruk after all. Awakened plants can last for hours even when improperly harvested, and although they lose most of their potency, they''re not supposed to wither and die immediately after being harvested. Daruk frowned in confusion and shook the bunch of dead plants held in his palms. So, these aren''t awakened plants? Aodhn snorted. No, they''re a sort of mutation that I do not understand. He searched through the textbook one more time, and when he still found nothing, he decided to text Gwendolyn. Directly texting teachers was frowned upon by the academy, but it wasn''t exactly a crime. Besides, Gwendolyn wasn''t an actual teacher. He explained the nature of the mutations in his text, although he refrained from stating that he''d been the cause, and asked if such a thing was a common occurrence. He and Daruk waited patiently for a response, but after half an hour of waiting, Aodhn decided to text Rahim instead. "What is it this time?" Rahim replied barely a minute later, and this time, Aodhn explained everything that had happened. His new skill and how he''d created an entire forest of mutated plants in his parents backyard. A portal shimmered into existence before he even finished, and Rahim rushed out, eyes wide, as he took in the crackling forest with a bewildered expression. Aodhn tried to speak, but before he could, a shimmering dome of spatial energy appeared above the house, and Rahim glared at them. How long has this been here? About an hour. Aodhn replied, confused. Why? Because there are still reporters lurking around. Any of them could see, and then you''ll have to explain the sudden appearance of a forest crackling with electricity in your backyard. Aodhn''s eyes widened as he realized his mistake. He couldn''t stomach another interview, nor did he want the reporters asking about his skills or, heavens forbid, finding out about his seal. He was already in the limelight, but giving the reporters more things to talk about wouldn''t help matters. Synov and Unrid stepped out of the house a moment later, their expressions souring when they noticed Rahim. Aodhn ignored them and instead willed another storm cloud into existence before channeling energy and willpower into {Elemental LightningBlack}. Black lightning washed over the verdant forest, destroying everything in it''s path until all that was left was blackened land covered in ash. Synov whimpered at the sight, her eyes wide as she took in the destruction of her garden. I''m sorry Aodhn began, but she cut him off with a glare and said, Fix my garden. He nodded and handed over the spinach he''d harvested earlier. I promise. Her gaze turned to Daruk, and he raised his hand innocently. I had nothing to do with it. Synov''s glare intensified, and she took a single, threatening step forward. Daruk Christopher Brystion, I swear to the ascendants that if you do not join your brother in fixing this garden, I will strangle you to death. She stalked back into the house after that, and Unrid chuckled, shrugging helplessly, before following her. When they''d both left, Aodhn turned back to Rahim. Im sorry for my parents sour welcome." Rahim shrugged. We can''t always be liked. Your father is at least polite, but your mother... Is a real menace. Daruk muttered darkly, and Rahim sighed. Anyway, try not to do anything too flashy until you''re within the protection of the academy walls once more. Also, I noticed how much healthier your parents look; I''m assuming it''s as a result of this life-aspect lightning. When they both nodded, Rahim continued. I hope I don''t need to remind you to carry out your experiments on animals first. No. Aodhn shook his head. I don''t plan on using it on people until I understand how exactly it works. Good. Don''t text me again. In fact, I don''t want to see your face until next week. Rahim teleported out of the barren garden after that, and Daruk muttered. What a mess! You want to fix the garden now? Aodhn shook his head. That''ll be tomorrow. Right now, I''m famished and exhausted. They walked into the house a moment later and found Unrid already seated at the dining table, downing a cup of water. When they reached the dining room, Unrid added more water to the cup and stretched it towards Daruk. Can you transform this into your coldest, most glacial-melt, polar-bear-approved ice water? Make it so cold that even an ice elemental would shiver! Daruk snorted as he grabbed the cup. Unfortunately for you, Dad, I''m not ready for you to die yet. Aodhn chuckled, while Unrid sighed in disappointment. Still, Daruk made the water cold enough that the glass cup was immediately covered in frost, and a chill mist emitted from it. Unrid downed the cup in a single gulp, and Aodhn laughed as Unrid''s face turned slightly blue, although he immediately combated the chill with a flare of fire essence. Ahh, I think I''ll have the same thing. Aodhn stretched his own cup to Daruk, who glared at him and muttered. I''m not a waiter! He chilled the cup anyway, and Aodhn sighed blissfully as the cold liquid went down his throat. Synov came out of the kitchen a moment later with a steaming tray of mashed potatoes and roasted chicken. Despite the sweat still clinging to her body, she looked radiant. Synov had always been beautiful, but now she almost looked like an awakened with how flawless and perfect she looked. She set the tray down on the table, and if anyone noticed the extra chicken in his bowl, no one mentioned it. Women were always extra when it came to looking younger and prettier, so he took the extra chicken as a sign of appreciation and dug into the food immediately. So, what happened in the last two days since I was gone? He asked after a few minutes, and Synov began narrating. Oh, it was terrible. The reporters returned with even more numbers, and although we managed to convince them that you truly weren''t around, they hung around, dropping by at irregular intervals and asking to speak with you. I got angry yesterday and covered the entire porch in a mass of jagged icicles. Daruk added, and Aodhn chuckled at the image, but Unrid snorted. That would have been good if it had worked; instead, they began knocking on the windows. Synov shook her head. All morning, we''ve been dreading another knock on that door. As the complaints continued, Aodhn felt the simmering rage within him begin to stir. The events of the last two hours had pushed it to the back of his mind, but now that it had stirred, it was all he could feel and think of. The reporters were doing too much, and although he understood their curiosity, after all, it was only natural; they were being too invasive. What about the agents? He asked, and Synov shook her head. No sign of them, just the reporters. Don''t worry about it. Unrid said calmly. We can handle it; besides, you''ll be gone in a week, and then they''ll eventually have to leave. Or they''ll stay and just keep harassing you. Aodhn muttered angrily. I honestly doubt that. Daruk replied. Remember, they don''t even care about me; all they''re concerned about is Varc and finding out how you bonded with him. Aodhn nodded and pushed down the rage growing within him. He understood that the reporters were just trying to do their jobs, but there was only so much invasion of privacy he could take, and he couldn''t have his parents scared in their own home. Synov and Unrid shifted the conversation away from the topic of reporters when they noticed that it was upsetting him, and Aodhn let his mind drift away from it too; he would deal with it later. Still, the rage didn''t subside, and he had to take several deep breaths to get himself under control. But just as he began to get a handle on the infernal emotion, a knock resounded on the door. He lost his grip on the emotion, and it roared through him. His vision went red, his self-control withered, and with astonishing speed, he dashed forward, pulled the door open, and aimed a black lightning spear at the intruder. The crackling spear stopped only an inch away from the intruder''s neck as all of Aodhn''s emotions drained out of him like water in a sink, and the intruder gave a sly smirk. Nice to see you too, Sparky. Do I get a hug or just the electrotherapy? Chapter 84: Aldric arrives Aodhn dismissed the spear immediately and moved to hug Aldric, but somehow, by some mystical sorcery, Synov beat him to it. She launched herself into Aldric''s open arms, and he spun her around like a child. Synov laughed, clinging desperately to her eldest child with so much joy that tears fell from her eyes. Oh, how I''ve missed you. She cradled Aldric''s face in her palms the moment he placed her back on her feet, and he smiled. I missed you too, mom. Synov hugged him again, squeezing tightly, and Aodhn let them have their moment. Unrid was next, and when they finally pulled apart, Aldric grinned and waved him forward. "Hey, Sparky, won''t I get a hug? Aodhn hugged him tightly, and as he breathed in Aldric''s familiar scent, he realized just how much hed missed his nonchalant brother. In the few weeks they''d spent together in the Warren, Aldric had been there for him, from helping with his meditation to helping them escape the army, and as he pulled back, he wondered if this break was the right time to tell him about Eldridge''s demise. Ah, if it isn''t our very own superstar. Aldric laughed. The press must have been a menace if you were ready to skewer them with lightning. Aodhn groaned and shook his head. I promise, I only wanted to scare them to death. Aldric laughed and turned to the final member of the family. Hello, little brother. Have you missed me? Daruk shrugged, smiling. I''m not quite so little anymore. There was a beat of silence before Daruk lunged into his brother''s arms. The family laughed as Aldric spun Daruk around, and when they finally came to a halt, Aldric grumbled. Oh, I miss when you used to get dizzy from that. Like I said earlier, I''m not quite so little any more. Daruk smiled, and Aldric frowned. I can''t see that; a lot has changed in the past month. You''ve somehow changed your affinity; Aodhn is now a celebrity; also, is it just me, or are mom and dad looking a lot younger than they should be? Synov chuckled and grabbed Aldric''s arms. Oh, a lot has happened, and I cant wait to tell you all about it. She pulled Aldric to the living room, and he whistled as he took in the house. Woah, this place is beautiful, and mom, I see you''ve added your unique touch. I''m glad you love it, honey. Synov grinned and shot Aodhn a victorious glare before rushing to the kitchen to bring more food. So, how was your journey? Unrid asked as they all sat down, and Aldric began narrating his journey. While Aldric spoke, gesturing wildly to describe being attacked by a group of pirates and murderous fish, Aodhn observed him carefully. Aldric had changed drastically. His dark hair now fell past his shoulders, and a thick, unpleasant-looking beard framed his jaw. Aldric had always been taller than him, but now he was just as tall as Unrid, perhaps even taller. His arms bulged, evidence that he had begun working out, but what surprised Aodhn the most was Aldric''s core, which blazed brightly to his senses and emanated a pressure roughly at the 24th tier. Aodhn focused his core sense on Aldric''s core, and his eyes widened when he sensed the telltale shimmer of a glimpse within it. I see academy life has been good to you. Aldric said to Aodhn after he finished his story, and Aodhn shrugged. It hasn''t exactly been pleasant, but I guess it hasn''t been terrible either. That''s the understatement of the year. Aldric chuckled. Dude, you gained a familiar! Surely, life''s been great. You have so much to tell me about your advancement, the academy, your familiar, and Okay, slow down. Aodhn chuckled while Daruk shook his head in amusement. I''ll tell you everything. No, wait! Don''t start without me. Synov shouted from the kitchen, and they all laughed. You''re early though; we weren''t expecting you till evening at the very least. Unrid said to Aldric, who shrugged. Our stop at the 8th sector got cut short because of the war and all, but I''m glad I get to spend a few more hours with you guys. Awwn. Synov smiled as she emerged from the kitchen and placed a large bowl of porridge in front of Aldric. I''m not glad about the war, but I''m happy you''re here. As annoying as that beard is, I''m glad to see you too. Daruk added, chuckling, and before long, laughter and the clinking of cutlery filled the air as they chatted and bantered. Synov passed around another tray of mashed potatoes, and Aodhn eagerly piled a generous portion onto his plate. I can''t believe you guys found an inheritor''s trial. Aldric shook his head in amazement. Those thimgs are incredibly rare. Daruk nodded in agreement and raised his cup in Aodhn''s direction. I would never have found it on my own. In fact, I would have failed the trial if it weren''t for Aodhn. How''d you get on the island anyway? Aldric asked, and Aodhn stiffened. It was only for a moment, but Aldric caught the motion, and Aodhn sighed in resignation. There was no point in lying to Aldric. How could you lie to someone who could read your emotions as easily as breathing? Daruk glanced at him, as if waiting for his go-ahead, but Aodhn decided to respond instead. We encountered an origin plane breach that destroyed the ship and took the lives of some people. Aldric gasped, horrified, and Aodhn hastily continued. Fortunately, we were very close to the island, so it wasn''t too much of a big deal. Aldric''s eyes narrowed, but before he could ask any more questions, Unrid interjected firmly. Enough with the negative topic. This is the first time we''re having dinner as a family in more than a month; we should celebrate it, you know, talk about beautiful things. Aldric nodded and turned to Synov. Speaking of beautiful things, is it just me, or have you both grown younger since the last time I saw you? Synov blushed, and Unrid chuckled. We have Aodhn to thank for that too. He ventured into the garden story, and Daruk rolled his eyes in amusement as Unrid exaggerated the story.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. I assure you that the spirit of nature didn''t make an appearance. Aodhn corrected Unrid in between laughter. Are you sure? Unrid asked, genuinely baffled. I thought I saw something. I have to agree with the children on this one. Synov chuckled. I doubt there''s even such a thing as the spirit of nature. There''s isn''t. Daruk laughed. At least, as far as I know. Nevertheless, the swirl of nature and electricity essence was beautiful. Damn, you''ve got to do another one so I can see. Aldric complained. I can''t believe you guys wrecked it just minutes before I arrived. Synov snorted and glared at Aodhn. You better fix my garden. Aodhn laughed. I promise. I''ll even water your spinach if need be. Their conversation continued, moving to much lighter topics. They spoke about everything and anything, from their bloodlines to the Forge challenges and then to Aldric''s life in the 12th Academy. Synove and Unrid watched on proudly, only interjecting to encourage them or mention something they''d either forgotten or neglected to mention. It was towards the end of the dinner, while they were discussing how annoying and invasive the press was, that Daruk mentioned Ludacris''s offer, and Aldric exclaimed in shock. Bloody ashes! You gave up a dozen credits to remain in the 5th academy? It''s not even the best academy in the kingdom! Aodhn sighed dejectedly as Unrid shook his head sadly and took over the story. A dozen credits lost! He said when he finished. I almost fainted where I was standing, but you know how these things are; the Mythic would have frowned at my intrusion even if it was in his favor. Aldric didn''t seem to be listening and stared at Aodhn with wide eyes before shaking his head in incredulity. Fucking credits! Bloody Okay, that''s enough swearing, Aldric. Synov cut in before Aldric could continue. Aodhn is a man of integrity, and we should be applauding him instead of scolding him. But mom, we''re talking about credits here. Aldric protested. Friggin'' credits. Unrid shook his head sadly, while Synov glared at the two of them. So does this mean the both of you would give up your integrity for credit? Unrid, would you give me up for credits? Unrid sputtered, his eyes going wide as Synov fixed him with an intense glare, and Aodhn hid a smirk as he settled back to watch the drama. That''s not what I meant; it''s justSyn, we''re talking about credits here. Yes, mom. Totally not the same thing. Aldric replied, rushing to his father''s aid, but their response only sparked Synov''s ire. An argument quickly erupted, and Daruk shook his head while Aodhn nonchalantly helped himself to another serving of mashed potatoes. The argument lasted for nearly half an hour, and as expected, it concluded unfavorably for Aodhn. Resigned, Aodhn moved to the basement to pick out a few things to decorate his room. As unpleasant as it was to be judged by his own family for his supposed ''bad decision, Aodhn consoled himself with the fact that they were unaware of the real reason he''d rejected Ludacris''s offer. Still, it hurt, and Aodhn wanted to spend the next few hours decorating to lessen the sting of their judgment. When he arrived at the basement, he found several buckets of unopened gray paint, and after placing them into his spatial storage, he began making a list of all the things he needed to buy. After that, he made his way back to his room and began painting. While he worked, his mind drifted back to their dinner conversation. Aldric and Unrid were mistaken, yet he couldn''t blame them for being disappointed in him as they were ignorant of his deal with the principal or his identity as a transmigrant. He soon pushed the thought out of his mind and proceeded to spend the next few hours painting. He wasn''t exactly an expert, but he wasn''t terrible either, and after several hours of work, he stared at the light gray room with a satisfied smile. There were still a few places that he still needed to touch, though, and after sending another message to Lupin, he resumed his work. Half an hour later, he sensed Aldric coming towards his room, and he turned to the open doorway, just a second before Aldric arrived. Aodhn raised a questioning brow, and Aldric sighed as he leaned against the door frame. Eldridge is dead, isn''t he? Aodhn didn''t bother lying; instead, he put down the paintbrush and nodded. He was struck by lightning. He didn''t make it. Aldric smiled sadly. That fool; I knew something was wrong when I received no letters from him. I''m sorry. Aodhn began. I know he was your friend. Former classmate. Aldric corrected with a small smile, which soon morphed into a frown. Why do you feel guilty about it, though? I know you and Daruk haven''t told mom and dad the whole truth about what happened that night And I''d prefer we keep it that way. Aodhn cut in, his voice firm, and Aldric raised an eyebrow in surprise before chuckling. Okay, I can keep a secret. I know. Aodhn sighed. I justI just want to forget about it. Aldric nodded slowly and observed him for a moment before sighing. I was a little rude earlier about the offer you turned down. Aodhn snorted and resumed his painting. Trust me, it was not an easy decision for me to make, but I don''t blame you all for being mad at me. Daruk isn''t mad at you. Aldric replied and walked slowly into the room. He sympathizes with you, which is weird because he''s usually very logical, so I''m inclined to believe that something else is going on. Aodhn paused and turned to find Aldric smiling at him. Their gazes locked, and after a moment of hesitance, Aodhn sighed. I forgot how hard it was to live with you. When Aldric didn''t respond to his attempt at deflection, he sighed once again and said, You''re right, I can''t leave the 5th Academy. Principal Zatya won''t let me. Aldric''s eyes narrowed protectively. Is she bullying or harassing you? Because if she is You can do absolutely nothing about it. Aodhn smiled. She''s a Mythic remember? Besides, she isn''t harassing me yet. It''s something else. And you''re not ready to talk about it either. Aldric smiled, sensing his emotions, and Aodhn nodded. Rather than leave, though, Aldric picked up a spare paintbrush and moved to the opposite wall to help him. Something else is bothering you, though. I can sense it. Aldric said a moment later, his sly smirk now back in place, and when Aodhn glared at him, he shrugged. I can parse your emotions more easily than before. Aodhn snorted. No shit. It''ll be weird if you couldn''t considering, you know, Tier 24 and all. Aldric''s eyes widened in surprise, and he asked. How do you know that? I can sense your core, remember? Oh, yeah. That bizzare ability of yours. Aldric smiled and waggled a finger at him. I won''t let you distract me, though. What exactly is bothering you? Before Aodhn could respond, Aldric narrowed his gaze in warning. And don''t tell me it''s the reporters. Aodhn laughed. "No, it''s not the reporters, although they''re really high on my worry list too. I was ready to skewer someone when I opened the door earlier. Aldric laughed. I know that, and for a moment there, I was scared, but you''re hotstuff right now. I saw several newspapers about you in Norbuik, and although most of the headlines weren''t exactly flattering, no press is bad press. Aodhn scowled. Ugh, I hate it. Don''t get me wrong, I love being noticed, and if they just wanted me to take pictures and smile, I''d be fine with that, but no, they want to dig out my secrets. Aldric chuckled. Isn''t that their job, though? To dig out secrets and expose them to the world. Aodhn sighed. I just can''t wait for it to blow over so things can finally return to normal. Well, good for you. Now stop deflecting and answer my question. What the fuck is bothering you? Aodhn groaned in frustration and amusement. You do not give up, do you? I''m a dog with a bone. Aldric chuckled. "Now, answer the question. Fine! I was going to ask for your help anyway." Aodhn chuckled and moved closer to Aldric. So, here''s the thing: I made a sort of trainer-student deal with principal Zatya, and she''s issued me a mission I can''t refuse. Aldric paused, his gaze narrowing in curiosity. What sort of mission? A foolhardy one. Aodhn scoffed. She wants me to steal something from the Blackwell''s mansion when I attend their event this Friday, and I have absolutely no idea how I''m supposed to go about it. Aldric dropped his paintbrush, his eyes alight with excitement, and with a mischievous smile, he asked. So, what are we stealing? Chapter 85: uncontrollable Rage! The next morning, after breakfast, Aodhn, Aldric, and a reluctant Daruk made their way to the garden behind the house. All that was left of it was a barren and blackened land. Not even the ashes remained, as they had been swept away by the wind. I can''t believe you ruined mother''s garden so terribly. Aldric snickered. She must have had a seizure when she saw it. Almost, but no. Aodhn chuckled. She''ll have one, though, if she comes back from work to meet this garden like this. Does that mean more magic? Daruk asked and waved his hands. Please say yes, because these hands weren''t made for manual labor. Aldric leaned against the wall and gestured towards the garden. Mine neither; besides, a little magical experiment can''t hurt. Daruk snorted at his brother''s response but moved to stand beside him anyway, leaving Aodhn standing at the center of the blackened garden. Aodhn shook his head and discarded the rake he''d taken from the basement. As much as he feared any of their neighbors or reporters seeing what he was about to do, he was too excited and curious to do things the mundane way. Okay, but nothing too fancy. He replied, and with a smile, he summoned a storm cloud half the size of the garden. He didn''t charge it with energy this time; that wasn''t what he was going for. What he needed was rain. Rain poured down from the storm cloud in a sudden cascade, drenching Aldric and Daruk, who glared at him fiercely. Aodhn ignored them and instead focused on directing the storm cloud. He cut off the rain from some parts and intensified it in others until the garden was completely soaked with water. Brown, muddy ground appeared a few minutes later, and when there was no longer any sign of blackened ground, Aodhn finally dismissed the cloud. "Well, that was wasteful. Aldric said as he squeezed water from his clothes and hair, but Aodhn just grinned. It was also intentional. Daruk discarded the umbrella he''d created at one point and, with a wave of his hand, converted all the water on Aldric''s cloth to ice before destroying it. Aldric shivered. We could have used the umbrella together, but no, you''re just so spiteful. Daruk ignored him and asked. What next? Aodhn scratched his head. Well, I guess we have to till the ground or something. Aldric snorted. Look who would have been useful if they had just stayed an earth awakened. Daruk shot him a glare before creating a pair of ice hoes, one of which he handed to Aldric. As you can see, I''m still very useful. There''s no way I''m touching that. Aldric moved away from the chilling construct and gestured towards Aodhn. Make one for me. Aodhn chuckled while Daruk hissed as he merged the two hoes together and moved to one edge of the garden to begin making ridges. It didn''t take long to prepare the ground, and after that, Aodhn took out several jars of flower seeds he''d gotten from the basement. There were only six jars, two of which were filled with blue Salingers, but one was filled with the brown and white flowers they''d ones had in the Warren. Eh, I doubt this will grow. Aldric muttered as he eyed the jar. Mom said it couldn''t grow in this region. Maybe. Aodhn smiled. But she didn''t use magic. The other three jars contained seeds Daruk identified as Delphinium and another he recognized as a snapdragon seed. The last wasn''t one any of them knew, but they planted it anyway. They mixed, arranged, and organized the entire garden, sometimes bunching the seeds together and sometimes arranging them into organized rows. The whole thing barely took an hour, and when they were done, Daruk and Aldric shifted back. I guess the rest is left to you. Daruk said, and Aldric nodded in agreement. We have done our part. Aodhn chuckled. Okay, here we go. He stretched his arms out, closed his eyes, and activated {Elemental LightningGreen} and {Lightning Beam}, after which he imbued each skill with strands of energized willpower. Green lightning surged out of his palms and into the earth like a torrent. It sank into the earth easily, like water in desert sand. Aodhn turned, moving his arms like a sort of sprinkler, and that was when he caught a flash of a camera at the corner of his vision. Anger rose within him, and in a blink, he appeared before the Tier 19 reporter and seized his camera before smashing a Storm hammer on his head, knocking him unconscious. Aldric whistled as he came to stand beside Aodhn, and Daruk murmured. At least you got that snapper you always wanted. Aodhn smiled, but he wasn''t really listening. Instead, he was scrolling through the most recent images the man had taken. His face darkened as he scrolled through images of himself, Daruk, Synov, Unrid, and most recently, Aldric. His entire family was in here, but what angered him the most was the last picture, a blurry image of the entire family eating dinner last night. Aodhn. Rage rose within him, hot and overwhelming, but Aldric stepped in front of him before he squashed the reporter''s head like a watermelon.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. Aodhn blinked as the concerned faces of his brothers came into focus. It was only then that he realized what he''d been about to do, and he immediately took a shuddering step backward. Get that man out of here. Aldric shouted to Daruk, who immediately dragged the unconscious man away, and it wasn''t until Daruk finally left his line of sight that Aodhn''s rage finally subsided. He shuddered and moved back until he leaned against the wall of the house. Do you still feel like popping heads? Aldric asked, and when Aodhn shook his head, he nodded. Good, that''s good. So is this normal, or do you need therapy? Aodhn let out a sad chuckle and shook his head. It''s definitely not normal; I''m still suffering from the twisted effect. Aodhn cocked his head in confusion. I thought you said it''d been three days since you gained the seal. Yeah, but for some reason, this rage won''t leave me. Aodhn sighed and opened his eyes as Daruk returned. I feel it simmering within me, ready to burst out and overwhelm my senses at a moment''s notice. He glanced at the now-crushed camera in his hands for a moment before discarding it. That man would have died if you guys hadn''t been there. Surprisingly, he wasn''t too bothered by the prospect, despite the fact that he knew he should. He was changing; he could feel it. A month ago, the thought of killing someone would have sent him hurling, but now he only felt averse to it. He wasn''t the least bit nauseated by the idea. He turned to stare at the still-barren garden and chuckled bitterly. I''m not really in the mood for any more gardening; I''d rather be alone at the moment. Aldric nodded, and Aodhn left. He made his way to his room, and with a tired sigh, he lay on his bed and closed his eyes. Images of gore and blood flashed before his eyes, but rather than fight them, he let them play out. He stayed like that for almost an hour before he finally got up, wrapped his storm scarf around his face, and headed to Norbuik. It only took him a few minutes to get there, but as he moved through the quiet streets, he realized that his scarf drew more attention to him rather than reducing it. People stared at him curiously, children pointed, and a few reporters stared at him suspiciously. Still, Aodhn refused to take it off, as that would only cause reporters to swarm him like flies. He passed by a newspaper stand and scowled when he read the headline of The Magic Times. Young awakened claims accidental bond with familiarwas it really luck? Principal Zatya had asked him the same question the second week, and he''d told her the same lies he''d told anyone else. She obviously hadn''t believed him, but rather than pester him, she''d let the matter go, even going as far as stopping the other professors from pestering him. Why couldn''t the reporters be like that? Why couldn''t they just buy into his lies and leave him to cultivate in peace? They obviously knew something was fishy about his story, and Aodhn thanked his stars for the multiple laws made against fighting down a class, as he was sure many would have attacked him if they weren''t so restricted. He weaved past a row of shuttles, heading towards the exchange pavilion to sell the conceptual cores he had left, as it was obvious Aldric didn''t need them anymore. He''d expected Aldric to be at the 15th tier at most, considering the scarcity of cores in the 12th sector, and although he hadn''t asked yet, he suspected Aldric might have gone through a tribulation of his own. He passed by another newspaper stand, and although he would have walked past without sparing the stack of newspapers a second glance, the headlines of the Arcane Observer caught his attention. Child prodigy boasts of unmatched powerdanger to others? Aodhn scowled and moved closer so he could read more, and when the peddler noticed his attention, she waved him forward. Stranger, come. She raised the arcane observer. This only costs 5 coppers. Aodhn tried to move away. No, sorry, I''m not interested. Three coppers. She urged him and frowned. I can''t go lower than that. Aodhn hesitated for a moment before he shrugged, paid, and collected the newspaper. He moved to the shade of a building not too far from the stand, and with a mixture of excitement and dread, he began reading. The column began with some brief information about his age, name, and school, but Aodhn wasn''t too worried about that, so he only skimmed to make sure they hadn''t printed anything untoward about him. Surprisingly, there weren''t, and as he read the second and third paragraphs, a faint smile bloomed on his face. Aodhn had been expecting something sordid or negative, but so far, there was nothing like that. In the storied halls of the 5th Academy, a new name has risen to prominence: Aodhn Ashoka-Brystion. This first-year student has recently achieved a feat that has left the entire kingdom astoundedhe successfully bonded with a familiar in the evolved class, an achievement once deemed impossible. For those unfamiliar with the intricacies of familiar bonding, it''s worth noting that such a process typically involves a psychic and symbiotic relationship between an awakened and a creature born from the origin plane. Due to the overwhelming amount of chaos within these planes, it was formerly considered impossible to bond a familiar without being in the Mythic class or, at least, the late-stage Advanced class. Aodhn Ashoka-Brystion has shattered that illusion. Even before he gained his bloodline and familiar, Aodhn is reported to have shown astounding control over his affinity and was able to fight four tiers up. Now, with a familiar name and a bloodline, Aodhn has been termed a champion candidate, estimated to be capable of fighting up nothing less than six evolved tiers and almost double that for mundane classes. Aodhn could barely contain his smile as he read further, but his smile soon withered as he reached towards the end of the column. As word of Aodhn''s achievement spreads, many evolved and advanced-class individuals have begun taking drastic measures to replicate his success. However, the Ministry of Awakened Affairs maintains that bonding with a familiar at the evolved tier is technically impossible. They, along with many others, believe that Aodhn was likely aided by an artifact or an unknown ability. Speculation continues to grow, but principal Zatya Malakov and ascendant candidate Lightus have publicly dismissed rumors of the academy secretly assisting Aodhn. They have declared the young prodigy under their protection, warning that any harm directed at him will be met with swift and brutal consequences. Aodhn sputtered, his gaze fixed on the last few sentences. The fact that the principal had declared him under her protection wasn''t too surprising, but ascendant candidate Lightus? No wonder he hadn''t been assaulted yet. He glanced surreptitiously at the surrounding area, but when he found nothing suspicious, he discarded the newspaper and continued on his way to the exchange pavilion. He had known that he couldn''t deceive everyone and that it was only a matter of time before the truth came out. It always did, but he had hoped to prolong it a little. Hopefully, he could do so with his next action. He arrived at the exchange pavilion five minutes later, and after exchanging pleasantries with the old merchant, Aodhn took out all the conceptual cores he had left and placed them on the table. The merchant raised an eyebrow in surprise and asked. Are you a student? Does it matter? Aodhn responded cautiously, and the merchant smiled. I guess not. The merchant scrutinized the cores and began separating them according to their tier and affinity. This batch of cores was smaller than the last, but after the experience he''d gained last week, Aodhn was prepared to haggle for a better exchange rate. After the merchant stated his price, the haggling began and continued for almost fifteen minutes until the man finally gave in and they came to a favorable agreement. Aodhn walked out of the pavilion a few minutes later, almost thirty gold richer than when he''d first arrived, and with a wide smile, he headed for the Norbuik shopping mall to enact his plans. Chapter 86: Party Preparations It was noon when Aodhn arrived at the Norbuik shopping mall. The multi-story building was located at the center of Norbuik and was crafted with runic-reinforced concrete and Romanian glass. Stepping into the mall, Aodhn was immediately struck by how vast it really was. The ground floor was divided into different sections, each catering to various mundane and low-tier magical needs. A din filled the air as people moved about, both awakened and sleepers, either pushing carts or conversing with each other. Aodhn signaled one of the staff members, and after getting directions, he made his way to the section allocated to the sale of furniture and interior decor. He had two main reasons for coming to the mall: the first was to get several materials to decorate his room, as well as some essentials for himself, while the other was to get a new spatial storage item for himself. With the growing suspicions around his familiar, it was only a matter of time before people threw civility out of the window and attacked him to get a hand on his necklace. Despite his strength, Aodhn couldn''t fight off dozens of evolved individuals alone. When he got to the interior decoration section, he bought a new bed sheet, table, wardrobe, curtains, lamps, and several other things that he needed, after which he moved to a boutique and bought himself an array of t-shirts, shirts, jeans, and even a traditional attire known as the Gojo. He also bought a few clothes for Unrid, Aldric, and Daruk that he thought they might like before moving on to the section dedicated to perfumes, soaps, and hair products. When he was finally done, he moved to the second floor, which was dedicated solely to awakened items, and smiled when he felt the expected clash of auras and essences in the air. A young man dressed in a red uniform approached him immediately, and from the pressure of his core, Aodhn estimated him to be at the 23rd tier. Welcome to the evolved floor. The man spoke with a gentle smile. How can I be of assistance? Aodhn glanced at the name printed on the man''s uniform and nodded. Good afternoon, Javn. I would like to get a few common ranked items, but first, can you lead me to the section dedicated to spatial jewelry? Absolutely. Javn replied and led him forward. What other items are you interested in? Aodhn shrugged. Just a few farming equipments and a gift for my mother and brothers. Javn smiled and led him into a large section filled with all kinds of awakened jewelry, and Aodhn''s gaze roamed the stalls curiously until they reached a large room dedicated solely to spatial jewelry. The walls were covered with shelves, each housing a variety of spatial items. Rings on the right wall, chains and pendants on the left, while armbands and small weapons filled the opposite wall. Aodhn focused on the left wall, and after a minute of searching, he found a black-stripped golden necklace that looked similar to his own. The black stripes were scantier and more matte than jet, but it was similar enough to his necklace that Aodhn doubted anyone aside from himself, and maybe Daruk could spot the difference. He picked up the necklace and then began searching for a lightning pendant. Unfortunately, he couldn''t find any even remotely similar to his own. We could ask the other shops if they have. Javn suggested a few minutes later, and Aodhn agreed. They moved to the other shops, and although Aodhn didn''t find anything similar to his pendant, he did find a beautiful jade necklace inscribed with protection runes that he thought Synov might like and a chip for Aldric. After almost an hour of futile searching, Aodhn finally decided to recreate the pendant instead. He drew a sketch of the pendant and handed it to an artificer, who agreed to recreate it in two days for the meager sum of two gold coins. After paying for his new necklace, Synov''s jade necklace, and the communication chip he''d bought for Aldric, Javn led him to another section of the hall filled with both mundane and common-ranked agricultural equipment, where he bought a plough, a shear, and an ornate wooden hoe called the Hoe of Growth. After that, he moved to the next section and bought five different packs of awakened flowering seeds. Each pack only contained a dozen seeds, yet they were insanely expensive, and Aodhn scowled as he paid for them. After all that he''d bought today, Aodhn wasn''t willing to spend more money, and with a regretful glance at the camera section, he left the shopping mall. In total, he had spent over fifty gold coins, which left him with only a little more than two dozen gold coins left, but he felt fulfilled. This was the first time he was buying gifts for his family, and in his excitement and rush to get back home, he completely missed the constant flash of cameras that followed him home. When he got back home, he found Kieran already present in the sitting room, helping Daruk into an ice-blue complex kimono-shaped robe designed with silver highlights while Aldric watched from the opposite wall. Oh, thank heavens! Kieran exclaimed when he saw Aodhn and waved him over. I have another fitting in two hours, which means we have to wrap this up quickly. Also, what in Raol''s name are you wearing? Aodhn unwrapped the scarf from his face and smiled. I went shopping. Welcome back. Daruk grumbled as he pulled awkwardly on the arms of the outfit, which refused to settle on his shoulders. When he made no progress with it, he complained to Kieran. The arms are too tight; also, are the frills necessary? I think they suit your frilly nature perfectly. Aldric commented with a grin and a nod in Aodhn''s direction, but Kieran ignored them and pulled out a stack of gray and black outfits from his storage space. Come on Aodhn, try them out. I need to make sure they fit without a hitch." Aodhn picked out the first outfit, the one inspired by his patron, and regardless of his complicated relationship with the man, he had to admit that he definitely had style. The suit was perfect, fitting him almost like a glove, and the shirt underneath was no different. Oh, perfect. Kieran squealed. You should wear that to the Blackwell''s event. Kieran, I''m a single second away from tearing this outfit from my body if you don''t get rid of these frills immediately. Daruk interjected, and Kieran groaned. Fine, but I''ll have you know that these frills are the life of this outfit. If I take them off, you''ll look like a block of ice. I don''t mind looking like a block of ice. Daruk scowled and pulled at the outfit again. Anything is better than frills. Aodhn chuckled, and while Kieran dealt with Daruk''s frills, he turned his attention to the remaining outfits. They were all suits, or at least, they vaguely resembled suits. Aodhn picked up the second outfit, which was a silver suit designed with black lines reminiscent of lightning arcs. The shirt and suit fit perfectly, but the trouser was a little tight in the groin region, so he returned it to Kieran to fix while he tried on the third outfit, which was essentially just another suit made of roiling dark clouds. When he put it on, Kieran hummed in approval. Oh, that looks good. Which event are you wearing that to? Aodhn shook his head, chuckling. I actually have no idea; I''m thinking maybe the Vilaris event tomorrow? It''s a burial, so this might fit nicely. What? No, you can''t do that. Kieran shouted, and Aldric burst out laughing. Even Daruk shook his head. "Sorry, Aodhn, but I agree with Kieran. You can''t wear that to a burial; it''s too Plain. Kieran interjected. I was about to say distracting. Daruk mumbled, and Kieran shook his head in disappointment. You know what, Give me a rundown of your schedules, and I''ll pick the outfits you''ll be wearing. Aodhn listed the events as he buttoned the storm suit. I was hoping to wear this one to Alesh Vilaris''s great-grandfather''s burial tomorrow evening, but I guess we can go for the fourth outfit instead. The fourth outfit was a matte black suit that blended perfectly with his skin tone and was covered in small, shiny gems that twinkled when they caught the light.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. It was the most decorated outfit of the four he''d chosen, but Aodhn liked it and had been hoping to wear it to Lupin''s family event the day after tomorrow. When he raised the outfit, Kieran nodded in agreement. Yes, this is a much better choice. So you''re wearing this for the Vilaris''s event tomorrow, the slaughterer''s inspired outfit to the Blackwell''s event on Friday. He pointed to the stormy suit and said, You can wear this to the Cavanaugh''s event on Wednesday and the last outfit to the Willowood event on Thursday. Aodhn agreed, not too bothered about what he wore to which event, and after Kieran finished with the trouser of the second suit, he turned back to Daruk, who was wearing a very fashionable black suit that, in Aodhn''s opinion, looked better without the choking collar and shimmering gems. Apparently, Daruk shared his sentiments and complained. I feel like I''m being choked to death in this outfit; cant we get rid of this collar? But that''s the beauty of this dress! Kieran groaned and glared at him, but Daruk refused to back down. He pointed at the collar once more and glared back at Kieran. Did you miss the part where I said I was being choked to death? What kind of fabric is this anyway? Fine! I''ll cut it off. Kieran muttered angrily, ignoring Daruk''s second question, as he took out a large pair of scissors and began cutting. While Kieran battled with Daruk''s outfit, Aodhn moved to stand beside Aldric, who was watching the whole thing with an amused smile. How''s the rage? Aldric asked, and Aodhn shrugged. Under control for now. Hopefully it stays that way. Aldric grinned. Hopefully, if not, the reporters are going to have a field day with you, and the next headline you''ll find on the Daily Herald is CHILD PRODIGY HAS ANGER ISSUES AND SHOULD BE LOCKED UP FOR LIFE. Aodhn chuckled and shook his head. Aldric might be joking, but he was still right. He had to be careful, but more importantly, he needed to find a way to get his simmering rage under control. After a short moment of companionable silence, Aldric asked. So, how prepared are you for your girlfriend''s family event? Aodhn gave Aldric a side eye and scowled. She''s not my girlfriend, at least not yet. But you want her to be, though? Aldric asked with a knowing smile, and Aodhn sighed. I intend to ask her at the party; hopefully she''ll say yes. Of course she''ll say yes. Aldric waved a hand dismissively. Who wouldn''t? Me. Daruk called out, now free of the restricting collar. He spun dramatically, and Kieran gasped. Oh, marvelous. You''ll have all the nobles eating out of your palms in no time. Well, that''s a gross image. Aldric muttered as he moved towards Kieran and stretched so Kieran could take his measurements. So, I''ve got good news and bad news; which one would you guys like to hear first? Aodhn shook his head. Knowing you, it''s probably all bad news, so you might as well spill. Aldric scowled and turned to Daruk, who sighed and humored his brother. Good news first. Aldric grinned. The good news is, Aodhn''s right. There''s no good news. Something came up, and as much as I want to attend all the events with you guys, I''ll only be free on Thursday and Friday, which means I''ll miss the Vilaris''s and Cavanaugh''s events. What about the rest? Daruk asked hopefully. Tell me you''ll miss the rest too. Aldric smiled widely and raised his neck for Kieran to measure. Unfortunately for you, little brother, I wouldn''t be missing those for the world. Aodhn grinned while Daruk shook his head miserably. I still can''t believe I let you both rope me into this mission. It''ll be a miracle if we don''t all end up in jail for this. Aodhn grimaced. After his conversation with Aldric yesterday, he''d spoken to Daruk about the mission too, but unlike Aldric, who was excited for the mission, Daruk had only grudgingly accepted it and hadn''t ceased to point out the consequences of failure in every conversation. It wasn''t terrible to have him as the voice of reason on this daredevil mission. In fact, Aodhn was grateful for it. He needed someone to calm Aldric''s excesses on this mission, and besides, he doubted they could even pull it off without him. But it''ll be fun, though? Aldric grinned, not at all bothered by the threat of jail. Think about the thrill and excitement it''ll bring. You mean the dread and anxiety? Daruk glowered. You guys care to fill me in on this mission you''re all talking about? Kieran asked, his eyes darting from one person to another. Nope, we do not care to. Aldric responded with a smirk, and rather than take offense like Aodhn expected him to, Kieran blushed and bent down to measure Aldric''s legs. Aldric paused, obviously sensing Kieran''s emotions, and a moment later, he too blushed, although his face showed no sign of embarrassment. Aodhn grinned, but rather than comment and embarrass the both of them, he took out the gift he''d bought for Daruk. It was a perfume flavored with ice affinity that left a person feeling fresh and chilled for the duration of an entire day after use. It was also very expensive, but considering the icicle-shaped, palm-sized bottle was also inscribed with runes that converted ice energy into more perfume, Aodhn thought it was worth every penny. Daruk''s eyes widened slightly as he accepted the gift, probably feeling the runic resonance with his affinity, but it wasn''t until he sprayed the perfume, feeling its scented chill, that a smile finally blossomed on his face. By ascendants. This is great. Daruk gushed as he sprayed the perfume again and again. It smells exactly like winter! Yep. Aodhn agreed with a smile. And as long as the runes remain intact, it''ll never finish. Are you serious? Daruk asked, glancing at the bottle for a moment before turning back to him. Thank you for this; I really appreciate it. Youre welcome. Aodhn smiled and turned to Aldric, who was waiting expectantly beside Kieran. When Aodhn innocently asked what the matter was, Aldric scowled. Are you giving me my gift or what? So rude. Daruk muttered and sprayed the perfume all over himself once more. If I were Aodhn, I wouldn''t even buy you a gift. Well, thanks to Raol, you''re not. Aldric replied with a smirk, and Aodhn chuckled before pulling out a different perfume and handing it over. Aldric collected the perfume, stared at it for a moment, and then frowned. Not to be ungrateful, but what am I supposed to do with this? Smell nice. Aodhn quipped, and Aldric''s frown deepened. Before he could speak, though, Aodhn pulled out a pack of shaving sticks and handed them over. Also, this one is for that hideous beard you have on. Kieran, please tell my brother it''s awful. Kieran sputtered. Uhm, I think it''s actually quite nice. Aldric snatched the pack from his hand and turned to Kieran. Thank you, Kieran. Where did you say you lived again? Perhaps I could pay you a visit. Just two houses away. Kieran replied hastily, his eyes slightly wide and his face flush with excitement. When would you like to come? You know, so I can prepare. Ugh, please spare me. Daruk groaned. I do not want to be a witness to iniquity. Aodhn chuckled and finally took out the chip he''d bought for Aldric. This way, we don''t have to send letters all the time. Aldric accepted the silver and black chip with an unreadable expression, and Aodhn continued. It hasn''t been configured to your status screen yet, but that''s a minor issue. Thank you, Aodhn. Aldric replied, his expression somber and sincere, and Aodhn wondered what memories his gift had dredged up for Aldric. He''d expected some form of enthusiasm, but Aldric seemed almost as if he was about to cry rather than leap for joy. An uncomfortable silence descended on the room, so Aodhn cleared his throat and handed a large pack of chocolate to Kieran. I hope you like chocolates. Kieran accepted his gift with a small bow of gratitude and smiled. You''re a true gentleman. Aldric placed the chip in his spatial ring, and his mood soon returned to normal. They discussed it for almost an hour as Kieran made the necessary adjustments to their clothes before they had to try it on once again. Fortunately, there were no more corrections to be made, so Aodhn and Daruk took the clothes to their rooms while Kieran and Aldric remained in the living room. When Aodhn reached his room, he took out everything he''d bought to decorate it and began working. Aldric and Daruk soon came to join him, and two hours later, the once-bare room had been transformed into a small den of luxury. The golden rays of the evening sun streamed into the room, bathing his new wardrobe and curtains in soft golden light. Aldric whistled. These curtains are sick. Now, you have to help me decorate my room too. Mom already asked me to. Aodhn chuckled as he looked around his newly decorated room. It still wasn''t as beautiful as the academy''s customizable rooms, but it was so much better than before, and most importantly, Aodhn loved it. Daruk and Aldric soon left to meditate and train, and with nothing else to do, Aodhn took out his note on runic theory and began practicing. He only spent a few hours on the fourth rune, ANSUZ, before perfecting it, and he smiled as the rune of heat and fire shone brightly. The urge to activate the rune returned once more, but Aodhn shook his head. He was certain that activating the rune would barely even hurt him, but it was the principle of the thing that mattered. If he gave in to the urge to activate this rune, then he would give in to the urge to activate the next and then the next after that, and before he knew it, he wouldn''t be able to resist the urge to activate a rune powerful enough to blow him to smithereens. It would be better to wait until Professor Caldwell taught them how to properly activate runes. He admired the perfected rune for a few minutes before moving on to the fifth rune, ISA, the rune of ice and cold. As he began practicing, his mind drifted to principal Zatya''s mission, and he wondered, not for the first time, just how he was supposed to steal from the Blackwells without getting caught. It was crazy and insane. The Blackwell''s were a noble family descended from an ascendant, and although they weren''t as powerful as they used to be centuries ago, they were still well respected and held in high regard by the other nobles. Stealing from them and getting caught would be disastrous, not just for him but for Aldric and Daruk, whom he''d dragged into it. He doubted the principal would let anything really bad happen to him, but he also knew her well enough to know that she wouldn''t shield him from everything. Besides, even if she did, his reputation would still take a serious hit if he were caught, and he could already imagine the headlines that would follow. He sighed, remembering Eldrith''s warning on the first day of their training about Principal Zatya''s impossible expectations. Yet, regardless of how impossible it seemed, Aodhn didn''t want to fail or, worse, get caught. He mulled on the subject for hours, trying to come up with a feasible plan that could work, but his efforts were futile, and it wasn''t until Synov and Unrid returned from work that his mind returned to the present, and he found half a dozen perfected ISA runes on his note. He grinned, surprised but excited that he''d perfected the fifth rune so quickly. He glanced at the next runic alphabet, RAIDHO, the rune of space and distance, before closing his note. He would work on it later. He rushed downstairs to meet Synov and Unrid, and after greeting them, he gave them the gifts he''d bought. To Unrid, he gave the plough, shears, and the hoe of growth, while to Synov, he gave the beautiful jade necklace. Only Synov seemed excited with her gift, and Aodhn came to the conclusion that perhaps he wasn''t the best at giving gifts, but, hey, it was the intentions that mattered, right? Chapter 87: The Vilaris Burial Today, we celebrate the memory of Marquis Elarion Vilaris, my father, as well as a Mythic class Ash awakened, whose wisdom, strength, and dedication to the arcane arts have left an indelible mark on our society and the kingdom at large. His mastery over ash and decay symbolized his resilience and passion, traits that defined his long and illustrious life. Though his physical form has returned to the elements, may his legacy continue to inspire future generations of awakened individuals. May his soul find peace, and may his memory burn brightly in our hearts forever. Viscountess Enara Vilaris. Vilaris estate, sector 5. Year 2275.
Aodhn sat solemnly in the expansive hall of the Vilaris''s mansion the next evening, his expression somber, just like he''d practiced with Daruk the evening before. The hall was decorated in red and ash, the Vilaris''s family colors, and the transparent glass roof displayed a sky overcast with dark clouds as if nature itself mourned the passing of the former patriarch of the Vilaris''s family. As the ceremony began, Aodhn adjusted the collar of his suit, feeling slightly out of place and doing his best to ignore the curious and narrowed gazes of several extravagantly dressed nobles. They were all dressed in black, which at least aligned with the theme of the burial, but the outfits were so flamboyant and gaudy that the embroidered sleeves of the woman seated next to him poked his head despite the meter of space between them. You''re glaring. Daruk whispered, and Aodhn shifted his expression once again. It was hard to maintain his somber expression, though, as he could feel the gazes of several nobles glaring at his head. Still, he forced himself not to turn and glare at them. Instead, he reviewed his status screen to pass the time, after which he once again sent another message to Lupin, who had yet to reply to any of his messages. With nothing else to do, Aodhn turned his attention to the row before him, where Cyrus and his friends sat confidently, their posture relaxed but respectful. They weren''t the only academy students in attendance. In his line of vision alone, Aodhn spotted at least a dozen people he recognized, but when he tried to turn around, Daruk pinched him and subtly gestured for him to pay attention. Aodhn sighed and focused his gaze on Viscountess Enara Vilaris, the daughter of the deceased, and Alesh''s grandmother, as she climbed the stage to give her speech. Lady Enara Vilaris stood before them, her pupilless gaze somber and her slender frame trembling slightly as she ran a hand lightly through her ashen gray hair. She was dressed in a simple black gown whose only decoration was a slight flicker of flames, reminiscent of coal embers at the hem of the dress. Thank you all for being here today. She began, her voice unwavering. We gather to mourn my father, Lord Elarion Vilaris, and to celebrate his life and the legacy he has left behind." She paused, looking out at the gathered faces, before proceeding. "My father was a man of great vision and wisdom. He taught me that true nobility lies in our actions and how we treat others. He always put the needs of our people above his own, and he was a beacon of hope in times of turmoil. Elarion Vilaris was not just a lord; he was also a loving father, and he faced every challenge with unwavering courage and honor." Her voice grew stronger. "As we stand here today, let us remember him with gratitude. His spirit lives on in our memories and actions. Father, we will miss you every day, but we promise to carry your ash within us. Thank you for everything, and may you find peace and rest, knowing that you left this world a better place." With those final words, Enara bowed her head to the ornate casket filled with the ash of the former patriarch, and the crowd stood up. Aodhn joined them, bowing his head in reverent silence for a minute in honor of the deceased. When Enara finally stepped down from the stage, Aodhn sighed in relief, reminding himself that Alesh Vilaris was a friend, or at the very least, an acquaintance, and the least he could do was show up and honor his grief. The ceremony continued with a dirge sung by a choir, their voices echoing through the hall, and Alesh, dressed in a jet black mourning suit, moved to stand in front of the casket along with the rest of his large family. His face was a mask of sorrow, but he nodded gratefully to Aodhn and Daruk when he saw them. As the ceremony continued, nobles mingled quietly, exchanging condolences and engaging in muted conversations. Remember what we practiced. Daruk whispered to him as they prepared for the inevitable. You''re not afraid of them, but you''re not proud either; you''re humble but not submissive. Got it. Aodhn nodded and let out a deep breath. I''m ready. Good. Daruk smiled, and they turned to a trio of approaching nobles, one of whom they recognized. Aodhn smiled. Hi Grendar, fancy meeting you here. She grinned, showing an excessive amount of teeth. Well, I wish I could say the same for either of you. Unfortunately, I can''t. Believe me, the feeling is mutual. Daruk replied, his expression cold, and Aodhn sighed. Is that all? Or do you have something else you want to say to me? Grendar sniffed disdainfully and eyed him. I guess the newspapers were right; I always knew there was something shady about you. Well, it isn''t a storm cloud if it doesn''t cast a shade, now is it? Aodhn smiled, unfazed. Now if that is all, I see a few important nobles who are actually worth my time, and I would hate to miss them. Daruk chuckled as they walked away from Grendar and her posse, and Aodhn shook his head. That young lady is nasty. Daruk smiled. You should have seen her during the simulation exercise. Real mental case. They moved towards the drinks stand, but before they got there, they were approached by another group of nobles, and before long, they were soon surrounded, both by people they knew and others they didn''t. Most of them were fellow academy students, though, who just wanted to introduce Aodhn to their parents and friends. Aodhn nodded politely, smiling when necessary and scowling at anyone who made a rude comment. He wasn''t a noble, so he didn''t have to fake any niceties; thus, whenever anyone made a disrespectful statement, he fixed them with a glare and insulted them right back. Well, maybe he didn''t exactly insult them right back, but he made sure that his annoyance was made very clear. Despite the rage simmering within him, though, Aodhn refrained from releasing his aura. Apart from the fact that it would have been extremely disrespectful to do so, it would have soiled his budding reputation and labeled him uncouth and ill-mannered. Daruk was separated from him at one point, led away by Gwendolyn, Lupin''s friend, who also hadn''t received any message from her, and Aodhn soon found himself surrounded by a gaggle of noble ladies, all requesting to see his familiar. Maybe some other time, lady Racquel. He bowed his head to the daughter of a random Viscount in attendance and quickly excused himself. On his way, he grabbed a glass of sparkling gold wine and downed it in one gulp. The drink burned its way down his throat, and he grimaced before downing another. The second glass hit him like a punch to the gut, and he shook his head to dispel a wave of dizziness before it took hold. He moved to the array of snacks provided, but just as he placed the first shortbread on his paper plate, a loud voice called out. My word, if it isn''t the child prodigy himself. Aodhn turned to find a pudgy, red-faced man moving towards him. Rather than weave through the mingling crowd, the man barreled through, and Aodhn instantly recognized him. Nice to meet you too, Viscount Bloodmoon. My sincere apologies for rejecting your invitation; my schedule was quite full at the time. Viscount Bloodmoon laughed and rubbed his belly. You''ll just have to make it up to me sometime soon, perhaps after your exams. There is much I would like to discuss with you. Oh, can we not discuss it here? Viscount Bloodmoon shook his head and leaned forward conspiratorially. I''m not exactly in the right mental space to have any serious conversation. He smiled and gestured to the cup in his hand. Wine and all. Aodhn smiled. It''s alright, my Lord; I''ll do my best to honor your next invitation. Viscount Bloodmoon laughed and patted his shoulders before leaving to speak with someone else. Crisis averted. Aodhn muttered to himself and turned back to the snack table, but a figure soon joined him. Aodhn plastered on a smile and prepared to deal with the next curious noble. Ah, Aodhn Brystion, the young awakened with the accidental familiar. The man was tall and meticulously groomed. He looked vaguely familiar, but it wasn''t until the man introduced himself that Aodhn recognized him. Viscount Cedric Alaric. I''ve heard much about your remarkable feat, both from the press and from my brother. Surely, such talent would be wasted without proper guidance. Have you considered joining a family that could elevate your status and skills? Aodhn tamped down on the rage that tried to burst forth and smiled tightly. I appreciate your interest, Lord Cedric, but I''m quite content with my current affiliations. I see. Viscount Cedric chuckled and gave Aodhn his card. My brother warned me; you might say that. Nevertheless, feel free to text me whenever you change your mind. Aodhn hummed in response, trying not to grimace as the Viscount walked away. He glanced at the card that contained the Viscount''s chip address, and without hesitation, he threw it into his spatial storage. Daruk returned a minute later, with a half-full cup of sparkling wine held in his hand. He downed the drink and grinned. How are things going? Aodhn took in the din of boisterous conversations and the cluster of dancing nobles. This has to be the most upbeat funeral I''ve ever attended.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. Daruk chuckled. It''s the funeral of a Mythic class awakened who has lived for over two centuries. Of course it''s upbeat. Aodhn smiled lightly and gestured toward Viscount Cedric''s retreating figure. He tried to recruit me, just like all the others. Barely an hour into this event, and I''ve received more than a dozen proposals to join one family or the other. Daruk shrugged and took a shortbread from Aodhn''s plate. You''re a champion candidate with no noble affiliations; you''re essentially fresh meat. Aodhn shook his head and turned his attention to the stage where Alesh and his family were discussing with a few important nobles. His gaze landed on the music band next, before moving onto the cluster of dancing nobles at the center of the courtyard. He had feared that he would be assaulted by excessively curious nobles during this event, but Daruk had dismissed his worries. According to him, nobles cared too much about their reputation and wouldn''t shame their families by picking a fight with him in an event like this. The night wasn''t over, though, so Aodhn was still prepared for the unexpected. Perhaps the nobles wouldn''t attack him here, but he couldn''t afford to relax either. As his eyes roamed the courtyard, his gaze landed on a group of noble ladies, who were all staring at him. Most of them just seemed curious, but more than one stared at him with a lustful expression. Their attention made him uncomfortable, and he turned his gaze away from them immediately. I''ll be right back. Daruk grinned as he dropped his now-empty wine glass and moved towards a group of students from his simulation group. Unlike him, Daruk was enjoying this party, and Aodhn couldn''t blame him. This was what Daruk had always wanted, what he''d spent many years training for, and now that he had it, Aodhn wouldn''t deprive him of it just because he had no idea how to party. Still, Daruk''s presence had granted him a reprieve from obnoxious nobles, and only a second after he left, Aodhn found himself surrounded by a trio of young lords. They were all siblings, judging by their similar facial appearance, but Aodhn focused his attention on the strongest, a purple-haired giant who was almost 7 feet tall and had a swirl of runic tattoos on the left side of his face. His black pupils were ringed by two bands of gold, and from the pressure his core emanated, Aodhn estimated him to be around the 36th to 40th tier. The young lord extended a hand in greeting. I''m Kolvir Rockhelm, first son of Baron Rockhelm, and I must confess that ever since I heard the news about your familiar, Ive been dying to meet you. Aodhn grimaced and introduced himself. Nice to meet you too, Kolvir. I''m glad our meeting has put an end to your suffering. Kolvir''s siblings also introduced themselves. The second brother was named Roquib, while the last brother was named Keith. After the introductions, Kolvir leaned forward and whispered conspiratorily. Is what the newspapers say true? That you were aided by an artifact? Aodhn sighed and folded his arms, already tired of the conversation. When he didn''t respond, Kolvir frowned. I''m just asking because, you know, it''s wrong to lie to the whole world that a thing is possible when in fact it isn''t. Aodhn scoffed. I don''t remember telling the whole world anything. Roquib, the second brother, glared at him. You know, if it weren''t for Ascendant candidate Lightus, we wouldn''t even be approaching you so civilly. Yet, after lowering ourselves to speak to you, you don''t even have the decency to treat us with respect. Aodhn closed his eyes and tamped down on his rage as it threatened to overwhelm him. He couldn''t wait for the twisted effect to be over; having to constantly deal with and manage his emotions was exhausting, and the subtle jabs and insults of the nobles weren''t helping matters at all. Before he could respond, though, Daruk returned and politely pulled him away, leading him past the group of lustful nobles and towards a small gathering of important nobles. When Aodhn saw them, he stiffened, but Daruk grabbed a glass of sparkling wine from a passing servant and handed it to him. Drink this; you''ll need it for this next part. Aodhn glanced back at the group he was about to meet, and without hesitation, he downed the glass, scrunching up his face in distaste as the wine burned down his throat. Okay, so as much as I''d prefer you skip this part, it would be very rude to leave this event without at least saying hello to everyone of them, and since they''re all together, I figured you could do this at once. Can I, though? Aodhn asked nervously, but Daruk waved a hand dismissively and chuckled. Absolutely. I believe in you. Okay. Aodhn nodded. Let''s get it over with. He squared his shoulders and pushed his nerves aside. So what if they were Mythics who could easily detect a lie from a mile away? He didn''t need to quaver and shiver in fear; after all, he still had principal Zatya and ascendant candidate Lightus protecting him. Not that any of them were present right now, though, but still... When they arrived before the group, Aodhn and Daruk bowed in greeting, and it wasn''t until one of them spoke that they raised their heads. The Mythic who had spoken was a small woman who was dressed in a simple black gown, designed similarly to that of Enara Vilaris. Aodhn immediately recognized her as Marchioness Nzinga Vilaris-Syraveth, the wife of the Marquis of Emberveil and Enara Vilaris younger sister. You''re the one the press refers to as the child prodigy, aren''t you? Aodhn swallowed nervously and responded. I''ve heard that that is what they call me. And do you agree with them? This time, it was Duke Solaris himself who had spoken, the ruler of sector 5, and Cyrus''s father. Aodhn was inclined to say no at first, but he remembered Daruk''s advice and instead replied. I do agree with the prodigy part, sir, less so with the child part. The duke blinked, surprised by his response, but rather than smite him on the spot like Aodhn had expected, Duke Solaris laughed, and a second later, the others followed suit. You know, I was at the tournament when you bonded your familiar, and it was indeed an impressive feat. A Mythic he didn''t recognize spoke in between laughter, and Aodhn bowed his head in gratitude. You know what. Duke Solaris began. I''ve decided that I like you. Young Awakeneds these days are so easily cowed and skittish; I''m glad you''re a man with grit. Aodhn grinned. Thank you, my lord. How very respectful. Nzinga Vilaris commented, and although she smiled, Aodhn sensed a hint of disdain in the slight downturn of her lips. You truly are a gem among the rubble; however, I wonder if such power in inexperienced hands might lead to unintended consequences. The laughter died almost immediately, and Aodhn grimaced. I understand your concerns, my lady, but I''m committed to mastering my bond and ensuring my abilities are used properly. Make sure you do. She replied, her smile as sharp as a blade. It''s always a shame to snuff out a talent before they''re even completely formed. Aodhn swallowed, and the duke nodded in agreement. Nzinga is right. The binding of a familiar is never an easy one, even for us Mythics, and I would dearly hate to have you investigated and put behind bars. The Blackwell mission flashed across his mind, and Aodhn winced. I would hate that too. I promise to do my best to prevent that from happening. Good. Duke Solarion replied, and a moment later, they dismissed him. Aodhn turned back, grabbed Daruk, and when he felt he was past their hearing range, he whispered. Is Varc the only thing people are going to keep talking about? Daruk Shrugged. He''s the only thing worth talking about. Aodhn glared at him, and he sighed. I didn''t mean that in a mean way; it''s just... Varc''s the only reason we''re even here. Look around you; how many commoners do you see? Aodhn didn''t need to. The answer was none. He and Daruk were the only commoners present. See? Daruk continued. The only reason why I''m even in here is because of you, and because I also happen to have a bloodline, so I don''t stand out too much, but Varc is what makes you a champion candidate. If it weren''t for him, you''d be no different from me and Yurin. Aodhn shook his head. Yeah, well, I''m tired already, and I want to go home. Daruk grinned. I hear you, but we can''t leave yet. We still have to say goodbye to our host, which meanshe gestured to the stage where Alesh was still standing and discussing with several nobleswe need to wait for him to come to us. While they waited, Aodhn realized that aside from the evolved and advanced class awakened, no one else cared how he bonded with Varc. The Mythics didn''t care, and even when principal Zatya had asked, she hadn''t pushed for an answer even though she knew he had been lying. Even Ludacris hadn''t commented on it. While he pondered their disinterest, Alesh finally made his way to speak to them. His eyes were red-rimmed, but he managed a weak smile. Thank you guys for coming; it means a lot to me. We''re glad we did. Aodhn responded sincerely, and Daruk asked. How are you holding up? Alesh sighed. It''s been... difficult, but seeing familiar faces helps. I saw some nobles approaching you earlier; I hope they weren''t too forward. Aodhn chuckled awkwardly as he noticed a few heads suddenly turn in their direction, obviously listening in. It''s beeninteresting. Aodhn replied. Some want to recruit me, while others think I''m a danger to myself and to the world at large. Alesh chuckled. "It seems like you had a great time then. I did. Aodhn nodded. I''m ready to leave, though. Alesh smiled and bowed slightly. I wish you a safe ride back home. You too, Daruk; I look forward to beating your ass at the next simulation. Alesh flushed with embarrassment as a noble lady turned sharply to glare at him for swearing, and he quickly apologized. I''m very sorry, Lady Ursula. Slip of tongue. He turned back to them, and Daruk grinned. Like I said countless times last week, it was a lucky win. We''re ready for all your tricks now; you won''t take us down so easily next time. They laughed and spoke for a few more minutes before Alesh waved them goodbye and moved on to speak to the couple next to them. I guess we''re free to go now. Daruk muttered, and Aodhn sighed. Finally! They walked out of the courtyard and past a sprawling garden filled with ash and red flowers, but as soon as they reached the courtyard''s entrance, Aodhn turned his face away from the camera flashes that erupted in a blinding flurry. It wasn''t that he hated having his picture taken; in fact, he''d always considered himself satisfactorily photogenic, but he just wasn''t used to being on the other side of the camera. Also, giving the reporter a hard time brought him immense satisfaction. They dodged behind a large rose bush, laughing as they hurriedly made their way towards the main gate, but the camera flashes followed them, and Aodhn cursed as another reporter emerged from an underbrush in front of them. Chuckling, they dove into a small, dark corridor and ran past a cluster of young nobles, including Cyrus, Kellan, Grendar, and Lilith. Cyrus sneered as they walked past, and Grendar smirked disdainfully, but Aodhn ignored them, and after several twists and turns, they finally found a small hallway that led to the main gate. Relieved, they ran forward, but just as they exited the hallway, they came across a man whom Aodhn had heard much about but hadn''t yet had the pleasure of meeting. The man turned at the sound of their footsteps, and when he recognized them, he pulled his daughter from their carriage and walked towards them. Viscount Harding. Aodhn bowed slightly in greeting, while Daruk followed suit. It''s a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance. The Viscount laughed and patted Aodhn''s shoulders, completely ignoring Daruk. Ahh, the pleasure is all mine. I was very impressed with your showing at the tournament and was looking forward to speaking with you. Alas, my daughter here is quite terrified of crowds. Aodhn turned his gaze toward the girl. She was short, and had the same round features as her father. The girl curtsied, and Aodhn returned the gesture with a slight bow. Janine is a little shy. The Viscount sighed, seemingly both frustrated and bemused at the same time. Hopefully, she''ll become more courageous after she awakens next year. If I awaken. The girl replied curtly, but the Viscount simply smiled and continued. I know that you must have received many offers by now, but I won''t forgive myself if I don''t at least extend one myself. I see the news the press prints about you, and we all know how invasive they can be. He chuckled and leaned forward. There''s an easy way to get rid of them permanently, and that is to affiliate yourself with a powerful noble house. This shields you from the extremities of the press and even limits what people can say about you. Because slandering me would mean slandering the reputation of the noble family I''m affiliated with." Aodhn finished. The Viscount smiled and handed over his card. Exactly. I can offer you that. My family can offer you that. Aodhn accepted the card and placed it in his storage space with all the others. Thank you for your offer, sir; I''ll think about it. That''s all I can ask for. Viscount Harding replied. And tell your elder brother that I have a job for his particular skillset. Text me if he''s interested. I will. Aodhn nodded and sighed when the Viscount turned back to his carriage, pulling his daughter along. This entire night has been a mess. Daruk scowled. I know nobles are obnoxious, but the blatant disregard is... Annoying? Dream shattering! Daruk exclaimed. It''s like he didn''t even see me. Most nobles dont. Aodhn smiled sadly. Even when they talk to me, they only see a potential asset, weapon, or underling. They don''t care about me; all they care about is the prestige it would give their family if I affiliated myself with them. Daruk shook his head and grinned. The part about being rid of the reporters was cool, though. Aodhn shrugged. We''ll have to find another way to handle them. For now, though, we''ll just have to suffer their insufferable presence. They soon made their way out of the Vilaris estate and headed towards the carriage they''d commissioned for the night. An hour and a half later, they arrived at their home. It was night already, and although the sky still bore the glow of dusk, it was almost midnight. Aldric was the only one still awake, and he shushed them as he opened the door. Mom and Dad are asleep. He gestured towards the dining room. Come, I need to know all that happened. Daruk groaned and shut the door behind him. If you ever hear me speak favorably of nobles again, I permit you to boil my bathing water. Aldric''s eyes widened, and he whispered urgently. Now I really need to know what the hell happened. Chapter 88: Troublesome Reporters Apparently, it isn''t just the kingdom that champion candidate Aodhn Brystion has taken by storm, but the hearts of young nobles too. He was spotted last night at the burial ceremony of Marquis Elarion Vilaris, and his appearance sent the hearts of many quivering and burning with desire, wondering just how toned and sexy he looked outside that perfectly fitting suit, but more importantly, many are curious as to how far those golden cracks on his skin go and how it might feel to trace them or taste them. Sensational daily. Margaret Erindale. Sector 5, year 2275.
Aodhn awoke the next morning to the smell of pancakes and the loud rumbling of his stomach. The first thing he did was check his messages, and when he saw that Lupin still hadn''t replied to his message, he frowned. It had been five days now since they''d spoken, and he was getting worried. She still hadn''t sent her address yet, which meant he couldn''t just create a platform or hop on Varec and fly over to check up on her. He sighed and sent her another text before moving to the bathroom to freshen up, after which he headed downstairs to the dining room, where he found Synov already setting the table, the jade necklace he''d given her dangling gently from her neck. Good morning. He greeted her, and Synov replied with a smile. Good morning, darling, how''d you sleep? Pretty well. In fact, too well. He frowned, suddenly realizing that something was amiss, and that was when he realized that the simmering rage that had plagued him for the past three days was finally gone. No, not really. It was more appropriate to say it was muted. He could still feel it within him, but it was completely still as if it were frozen. Aodhn sensed that he could still harness the rage if he wanted, but now it was completely under his control. Tame, like sheep. I see you''re in a good mood this morning. Synov eyed him suspiciously. Excited for today''s event? Aodhn shook his head. I''m not sure we''re still going to the event. I still haven''t gotten anything from Lupin yet. Synov frowned. Thats very improper. If she really wants you to come, shouldn''t she have sent the address days ago? Aodhn shrugged, not sure what to think anymore. Even if Lupin''s family didn''t approve of his presence at their event, at least Lupin should have texted him by now to inform him of whatever was going on. But she wasnt even replying to his texts. Well, if you don''t end up going, you can keep me company. Synov smiled, and when he raised a questioning eyebrow, she clarified. I''m not working today; I''ve got the day off. Ah. Aodhn muttered and grabbed an apple from the table before plopping down on one of the wooden chairs. Sensing his mood, Synov changed the subject. You boys came in pretty late yesterday. How was the burial? Aodhn snorted and began narrating all that had happened at the event. I felt like a prized horse at an auction, and frankly, I couldn''t wait for it to be over. By ascendants. Synov chuckled as she arranged their cutlery. Surely, it couldn''t have been that bad. Trust me, it was. Even Daruk now hates their guts. Synov laughed at that. Oh, my poor baby; he was always so impressed by their fine manners and poise. Aodhn grinned and followed Synov into the kitchen. I think the exact words he used to describe the event were dream-shattering. Synov laughed once again, and Aodhn shook his head. I couldn''t have done it without him, though, and now I''m thinking of taking etiquette lessons. Synov nodded thoughtfully. That''s wise. If these events are going to become a thing, then it wouldn''t hurt to be prepared. She sighed and shook her head. I''m just glad Daruk finally sees these nobles for the obnoxious degenerates that they really are." Stop gossiping about me. Daruk muttered drearily as he walked into the kitchen and fixed himself an ice-cold cup of water. I have a headache. No, what you have is a hangover." Aodhn chuckled, and Daruk turned to glare at him. How are you not afflicted by this infirmity? Because I stayed away from the black wine. Aodhn winked. Synov cleared her throat in dissatisfaction. So you boys drank at the party? What happened to the juice and milk? They both paused, eyeing each other carefully, before Daruk responded. There was no milk present, mom. But there were other drinks. She insisted, glaring at Daruk. Aodhn stayed silent, barely holding back laughter, as Daruk shifted awkwardly beneath the weight of Synov''s disapproval. At seventeen, Aodhn was considered old enough to drink, but Daruk hadn''t earned that right yet. Daruk noticed Aodhn''s barely restrained smile and decided to throw him under the bus rather than suffer Synov''s wrath alone. Aodhn plans to propose to his girlfriend today. He blurted out, and Synov gasped, turning sharply to stare at Aodhn. What?! You have a girlfriend? It''s not a proposal. Aodhn hastily replied and glared at Daruk. It''s justwe''re just I don''t have a girlfriend! He definitely does. Daruk grinned evilly, and Synov sidled closer to Aodhn, wiggling her eyebrows teasingly. Dont be shy; you can tell me. No, Synov. There''s nothing to tell. Is it that Cavanaugh girl? Synov pressed, frowning slightly as she began making deductions. Is she your girlfriend? Yep. Absolutely. Daruk replied, unrepentant. They''ve been going on dates for over a month now, and Aodhn intends to finally pop the question today. Synov squealed, positively giddy, as she turned to Daruk to get the full gist, and as if things weren''t bad enough, Aldric walked into the kitchen and sniffed. Ugh, is that young love I smell? Disgusting. Aodhn rolled his eyes as Aldric walked out of the kitchen and said to Synov, I see you no longer need my help, so I''m going to let myself out. Oh, come on. She laughed. You''ve yet to tell me anything about this Lupin girl. There''s nothing to tell. Aodhn insisted. Oh, there''s plenty to tell. Daruk quipped, sipping his ice-cold water with a sly smile, and Aodhn scowled at him. You sniveling, ratfaced mother... ducker of brother. Didn''t you have a headache just now? Daruk grinned and raised his cup. Obviously, I found a cure; besides, what does a headache have to do with gossiping? Everything! Aodhn exclaimed. You know what? Since you want to gossip so much, how about we finally talk about your relationship with Gwendolyn Tideborn? Daruk gasped; his eyes panicked as Synov turned to him once more. Daruk, you have a girlfriend? No! He replied immediately. It''s more of asituationship. We''re just friends who like each other''s company and spend a whole lot of time together. That''s a lie, and you know it. Aodhn refused to let him off the hook so easily, but Aldric poked his head into the kitchen once more. Are you guys still talking about love? Mom, I''m hungry. Yes, yes. Daruk hastily agreed. Let us suspend this conversation. My headache is back, and I don''t have the strength to gossip anymore. Is that so? Synov scowled before turning her attention to Aldric. What about you, Aldric? Care to fill your mother in on your love life? Uhm Aldric pretended to think about it for a moment before shaking his head. Nah, I think I''m good. Daruk slunk towards the entrance, and Synov glared at them. You guys never give me any tea, yet you want to eat my food. I''ll make sure these pancakes are burnt, wet, and sloppy! Aodhn almost puked from the image Synov''s words conjured. Daruk heaved, and Aldric scowled. I never knew you could be so evil, mom. He shook his head. I''m still not telling you anything. He left the kitchen, and Daruk hastily followed after him, leaving Aodhn standing by the entrance with a smug smile and folded arms. Synov turned back to him, but before she could say anything, Aodhn shook his head. Nope, I''m not telling you anything. Who else will you speak to about it, though? Daruk? Aldric? Orshe grimacedyour father? Whom I''m sure is even more averse to the topic. Aodhn wasn''t swayed, so Synov threw away her metaphorical knives and took out the big guns. It''s alright. She shrugged and turned her gaze to the eggs she was frying. You don''t have to tell me everything that goes on in your life. Aodhn''s gaze narrowed in suspicion, but Synov just smiled. Truly, you don''t. Although I wonder what that girl must be going through, didn''t you say she hasn''t replied to any of your texts? What if she''soh! What if she''s what? Aodhn asked curiously and a little worriedly, but Synov shook her head. I probably shouldn''t say, you know, women''s matters and all. Aodhn frowned, watching Synov, who shook her head bitterly and sighed. It''s a shame, truly.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Aodhn sidled closer, wanting to know Synov''s thoughts on the matter. The fact that Lupin wasn''t replying to his texts was extremely worrisome, but if Synov had an idea of what could possibly be going onwhich, now that he thought about it, she probably did, considering she was also a woman and allthen he had to know. When you say women matters, what do you mean? He asked, but Synov shook her head and smiled sadly at him. I might have an idea of what''s going on, but I can''tshouldnt even share it with you. Besides, my instincts could be wrong, considering I have no information about the relationship at all, so it''s better if I don''t say anything. Aodhn hesitated, struggling between his curiosity and the desire to keep his relationship secret from his adopted parents. His curiosity won out in the end, and Aodhn soon found himself blushing in embarrassment as he narrated his dates to Synov, who giggled and gasped in all the right places. Aldric and Daruk returned from wherever they''d escaped to as Aodhn placed a large stack of pancakes on the table. He paused, unwilling to continue his narration in front of his traitorous siblings, and a few minutes later, the delicious smell of fluffy brown pancakes accompanied by warm maple syrup, butter, and powdered sugar filled the air. Synov placed a small tray of bacon and scrambled eggs on the table and patted Aodhn gently. We''ll continue our conversation later. Just as they sat down to eat, Unrid walked into the house, holding a stack of newspapers. He dumped the papers on the table and growled. I have never read anything as traumatizing as this column in the Sensational Daily. When has such explicit content been allowed into the local newspaper? Aodhn snatched the paper, his eyes narrowing as he read the headline. Electrifying and irresistable: Aodhn Ashoka-Brystion is not only taking the sector by storm but the hearts of noble dames too. He grimaced as he saw a picture of himself sneaking out of the Vilaris estate printed on the first page. Despite his hiding and sneaking, the picture was surprisingly clear and clean, putting all his hard work to shame. Damn! That''s a nice picture. Aldric muttered from behind him, but Aodhn wasn''t listening; instead, his gaze was on the words printed below the picture. ...The burial of the esteemed Lord Elarion Vilaris marked the beginning of the dry season and became the talk of the sector for reasons beyond mere mourning attire. Amidst the sea of impeccably designed gowns and tailored suits, one figure stood out: Aodhn Ashoka-Brystion. This first-year student from the 5th Academy, notorious for ''accidentally'' bonding with a familiar in the evolved class, ignited scandalous whispers among the young lords and ladies. The night was charged with desire, as many aristocrats, cheeks flushed and eyes gleaming, couldn''t take their eyes off the champion candidate. Bold vows were made, and one particularly daring heiress, who shall remain nameless, confided to her companions her determination to have a private moment with the miraculous Aodhn, yearning to feel his electrifying touch on her skin. Yet, much to her dismay, the champion candidate vanished before the evening''s end, leaving a trail of restless dreams and burning hearts in his wake... Aodhn stopped reading, completely embarrassed, but before he could tear the paper to pieces, Aldric plucked it from his fingers and moved to continue reading with Daruk and Synov. Sorry kid. Unrid shook his head. As bad as it is, I must confess that I read it to the end. In fact, I wasn''t the only one reading; there were like a dozen people reading with me. Aodhn just sighed and shook his head. What was there to say anyway? When Synov finished reading the column, she shook her head and said to him, I just don''t get why they would write such explicit things about you. Me neither. Daruk agreed, his eyes roaming Aodhn''s body in amusement. I mean, I don''t get the appeal; he''s not even that good-looking. Aodhn let out a deep breath and sank into the chair, promising to skewer the next reporter he found on his doorstep when Aldric called out. Hey, listen to this part: ''many are curious as to how far those lightning arcs on his skin go and how it might feel to trace them or taste them. Damn, now I regret not having gone to the party. That''s enough reading. Synov grabbed the newspaper from Aldric and folded it. What were they thinking to print this out on paper? The better question is how dad got them. Aldric turned to his father and grinned. It''s obviously a paper for thirsty women. Unrid, who was downing a cup of ice-cold water, almost spat it out and rushed to explain. It was the first one I saw at the vendor, so I just paid and took them. Synov glared at him. You mean you boughtshe counted the stackthree of this crap? I realize now that I seemed to have made a mistake. Unrid replied, and Daruk laughed. What do we even need three newspapers for? While the family bickered and dragged Unrid over his accidental choice of newspapers, Aodhn piled a stack of pancakes on his plates, doused them in maple syrup, and began eating. At this point, fighting his growing fame was pointless, and with his mind already occupied with thoughts of Lupin, he had no mental room for the press. He wondered if Lupin would read the paper or what she might think if she did. Perhaps she would finally text him back and let him know what was going on. As if his thoughts had reached through time and space, a notification pinged in his mind, and his eyes widened when he realized it was from Lupin. Hastily, he opened the message, but his growing excitement withered as he read through the dour message. I apologize for the late reply; I''ve not been in the best place emotionally. The awakening party has been cancelled. I should have sent this earlier, but I just couldn''t. Congratulations on finally gaining a seal, though; you''ve earned it. Aodhn frowned. If he was merely worried before, now he was very, very worried. Noble events, regardless of how small, weren''t so easily cancelled. The fact that they''d cancelled this one clued him to the fact that something really bad had happened. Now that he had her attention, though, he immediately replied, curious to know what was going on. What''s wrong? Daruk asked, and Aodhn looked up to find his entire family staring at him worriedly. Lupin just texted to inform me that the event has been cancelled. Something bad must have happened. Synov frowned. Nobles don''t just cancel events out of the blue like that. I know. I just asked her why, but she hasn''t replied yet. Aodhn sent her another text, asking for her house address so he could visit, and this time, her reply was immediate. No, I''m sorry. But we''re not accepting visitors at the moment. Don''t worry about me, though. I''ll be fine. Aodhn read the message out loud and looked at Synov. What do you think? She sputtered for a moment before replying. I honestly don''t know. What I do know is that something terrible must have happened if they aren''t even accepting visitors. She could also be lying. Aldric remarked dryly, and when they all turned to look at him, he shrugged. What? It''s called petering out. You ghost a person and reply with monosyllabic answers. It works every time. It sounds like you''re speaking from experience. Daruk muttered, and Aldric turned red from embarrassment, although he quickly snuffed out the emotion and asked. What in the world could have given you such a ridiculous thought? Not knowing what to say or think, Aodhn just shook his head. He doubted Aldric was right, though. He had known Lupin for weeks now, and she wasn''t the type to concoct an entire scheme rather than just break things off with him. Besides, she''d been so excited for the party when they''d parted at the academy gates. What had happened between then and now? In the tense silence that followed, Aodhn''s mind roiled, trying to understand what was going on, but he couldn''t, and a minute later, Daruk muttered. Well, I guess we''re staying home then. We could use this time to plan the Blackwell thing. Synov glared at Daruk. Be sensitive, Daruk. She then turned to Aodhn and patted his palms gently. I''m sure she''s fine and will text you soon. Even if she doesn''t, you guys can talk when you resume after the break. Aodhn nodded and tried to finish his food, but he''d lost his appetite, and after a few more slices, he gave up and went to his room. He searched for something to do and even took out his note to practice his runes, but he couldn''t focus, so he recreated his storm scarf, wrapped it around his face, and jumped out of the window. He created a storm platform just a moment before he crashed into Synov''s garden, and after a momentary glance at the rapidly growing flowers, he zoomed off towards Norbuik. His troubled thoughts disappeared as he zipped towards the shopping mall, and when he arrived, he moved up to the second floor and made his way to artificers shop for his pendant. The man smiled when he saw him. Right on time, customer. I just finished with it. He took out a small wooden box from his spatial storage and handed it over. I hope you like it. It has its own storage space, which slightly exceeds the size you asked for, but asides that, all things are in order. Aodhn collected the box and opened it to find an exact replica of the pendant currently hanging on his neck. Black lines arced around the jagged bolt pendant, which glowed slightly with residual energy. Aodhn took out the necklace he''d bought the other day, and after hooking it with the pendant, he grinned. Thanks, it fits perfectly. The imitation could barely be differentiated from the original, and after another moment of scrutiny to ensure that the necklace was indeed perfect, he paid the artificer and returned home. It had barely been an hour since Lupin''s text, but the ride to and from the mall had calmed him. Rather than go through the front door, Aodhn entered through his window, only to find Daruk and Aldric lounging on his bed. I would ask where you were coming from, but I doubt you''ll tell me. Aldric smirked from his position on the bed, but Aodhn just rolled his eyes. I went to the mall to get something. Daruk sighed in relief. For a moment there, I thought you''d done something irrational, like go to Cavanaugh''s estate. I don''t even know where it is. Aodhn shook his head and constructed a chair for himself to sit on. I contemplated texting Rahim to ask for her address. Well, I''m so glad you didn''t. Aldric replied and pushed himself up to a sitting position. Now, can we discuss the Blackwell mission? We need to come up with a plan if we''re to succeed. Aodhn let out a heavy sigh, already weary of the direction this conversation was taking, but he forced himself to concentrate and asked. So, how do we go about it? Aldric cocked his head in confusion. Shouldn''t we be the ones asking you that? Daruk frowned. Before we start making any plans, can you give a quick summary of the whole mission so we can really focus our minds and get into a resourceful headspace? Aldric nodded in agreement, and Aodhn sighed. Basically, principal Zatya tasked me with stealing Retrieving. Aldric interjected, and Aodhn glared at him. It''s only retrieving if what I was asked to steal was hers in the first place. It wasn''t. Aldric shook his head in disagreement, but before he could speak, Daruk cut in. It doesn''t matter what word we use. Neither of them makes this mission any less illegal. Right. Aodhn agreed and cleared his throat. Like I was saying, she tasked me with stealing a pair of uncommon-ranked earrings in the possession of Makeba Blackwell, Imani''s grandmother and the viscountess of Duskshire. Aldric whistled appreciatively, and Daruk shook his head in confusion. What does she need uncommon-ranked earrings for? She doesn''t. Aodhn replied. This dastardly mission is a test. What happens if we fail? Aldric asked, and Daruk sighed in frustration. Have you not been listening, Aldric? Jail. If we get caught in this mission, we''re going to be locked up. Aldric snorted. I highly doubt that''ll happen, but you know what, little brother, if you''re scared, you can always sit at home and bake pancakes with mother. Daruk glared at both of them before huffing. You guys are not doing this without me. Good. Aldric grinned. Now that we''re on the same page, what do we have to work with? Aodhn took out two items from his spatial storage: one was a map of the Blackwell mansion, and the other was a palm-sized picture of the earrings he was supposed to steal. He created a table construct and spread the map on it. Aldric and Daruk moved closer, and together they perused the complex map of the six-story mansion until they found Makeba''s living quarters, which was situated on the 5th floor, along with the rooms of several other family members, cultivation rooms, and even a time chamber. Aodhn marked the room with a pen and said, So, now that we know the location of Makeba''s room, all that is left is finding the earrings. Daruk hummed in contemplation. Considering its rank, it''s highly unlikely that the earrings are well protected; in fact, it''s very possible that they''re laying around somewhere among a pile of useless jewelry. Aodhn nodded in agreement. Which means getting the earrings themselves shouldn''t be too hard. What we need to figure out is how to open whichever drawer or chest the earrings are hidden in. No, we''ve gotten ahead of ourselves. Aldric frowned at the map and said, We haven''t discussed how to get into Makeba''s room. That is our first and major hurdle. Right. Daruk agreed. We also need to discuss how to escape the attention of the nobles at the party as well as a method to get past the guards most definitely stationed on each floor. Aldric shook his head and muttered. I didn''t want to say this, but we need to discuss how to silence the runic protections that most definitely surround Makeba''s room. Aodhn stared intently at the map, his eyes locked on the fifth floor, where Makeba''s quarters were situated. After a prolonged moment of contemplation, he let out a sigh. Let''s set our problems aside for now. What we need is information. He leaned back on his chair and fixed his gaze on his brothers. What do we know about the Blackwells? Chapter 89: The Willowood banquet I The next day, after Unrid and Synov left for work, Aodhn and Daruk made their way to the garden while Aldric meditated. For the last three days, Aodhn had watered the garden with rain, keeping the earth wet and soft despite the ongoing dry season. They had also planted the seeds he''d bought from the mall, arranging them in the way they knew best, sometimes in clusters and sometimes in an orderly manner. After planting, Aodhn had channeled {Elemental LightningGreen} into the earth just as he had done on the first day before he''d been interrupted by that reporter, and now, three days later, the flowers had blossomed. Their growth was abnormally fast, but there was no sign of oversaturation or mutations, so Aodhn believed they were still in the clear. He twirled the shears he''d bought from the mall, and although there was nothing to prune yet, it just felt wrong to work in a garden without a single gardening tool in sight. Daruk did not share his sentiment, though, and had frowned at him when he''d taken out the shears from the basement. Why carry metallic equipment when you can simply create a construct? Because this metallic weapon is a common-ranked awakened instrument with special capabilities. Aodhn shrugged and pointed disdainfully at the ice plough Daruk held. And that is not. Daruk rolled his eyes and sighed. You all forget that the smartest person in this house. You shouldnt be arguing with me. Aodhn had argued, but after fifteen minutes of debating the advantages of actual equipment over constructs, they''d finally agreed to disagree. Now, as he moved around the garden, still twirling the shears in his hands, Aodhn observed the flowers, the tallest of which now stood about a foot in height. The faint smell of lavender filled the air, and everywhere he turned was a burst of red, orange, purple, blue, and yellow. He kneeled beside a cluster of snapdragons, scrutinizing them for mutations, but when he found none despite the insane amount of vitality lightning he''d pumped into that particular cluster yesterday, he grinned and said to Daruk, I think they''re fine. Daruk hummed in agreement, watching a small bush of cosmos and lavender. All that remains is finding the right balance, then. Do we continue feeding them with your life lightning, or do we let them grow on their own? Daruk had taken to calling the green elemental lightninglife lightning; the redexplosive lightning; and the blacknecrotic lightning. Aodhn had to admit that the names actually fit quite nicely, although he felt the name of the green was too pompous. To call it life lightning was giving it too much credit, so he instead referred to it as vitality lightning, as it seemed more appropriate. He moved to stand near the cluster Daruk was watching and frowned. I think they''ll survive if we leave them alone, but I''m curious as to how far we can actually push the seeds without oversaturating them. Daruk gestured to a mound of lilies at the edge of the garden and said, How about we experiment with those? Pump them slowly with life lightning and see when things... you know, go boom. Aodhn chuckled. The lilies were hidden behind a small bush of whispering tulips, so even if he accidentally destroyed them, Synov wouldn''t mind too much. They moved towards the cluster of lilies, and Aodhn activated {Elemental LightningGreen} and then {Lightning Beam}. Vitality lightning sank into the ground, causing it to glow with a verdant hue, and a moment later, the lilies began to grow. Their stems grew rounder and taller. More leaves appeared, and the white petals grew larger. In less than thirty seconds, the lilies had doubled in height, and their white petals were so pure and bright that they were almost blinding. Aodhn cut off the skill, and he and Daruk peered closer, searching for mutations. They found none, except a few arcs of green electricity rippling around the white petals and flowing gently around their verdant stems. Aodhn frowned. He wasn''t entirely sure, but he attributed the appearance of those green arcs of electricity as a mark of oversaturation or at least a symptom. Nevertheless, the lack of mutations on the flowers probably meant that he hadn''t exceeded the saturation limit of the seeds. They eventually decided to observe the lilies for the next few days and see if they survived without more vitality lightning. Before leaving the garden, though, Aodhn channeled another bout of lightning into the other flowers, watching as they grew by a couple more inches before cutting off the skill. After leaving the garden, Daruk went to prepare himself an ice-cold bath, while Aodhn went back to his room to continue his runic practice. Perhaps it was as a result of the seal, but Aodhn noticed that it had become much easier for him to draw the runes. RAIDHO, the rune of space and distance, only took him a few hours to perfect, and he smiled as he observed the glowing symbol on his note. This was his sixth perfected rune, and at the rate things were going, Aodhn saw himself perfecting the entire runic alphabet before the end of the term. Just as he was about to dive into the next rune, Aldric barged into his room and shouted. For Raol''s sake, what are you still doing? The Willowood event is in two hours! Aodhn''s eyes widened as he glanced at the time. He hadn''t realized just how fast time had flown, and not for the first time, he found himself wishing for a time chamber where he could practice his runes for as long as he wanted. Aldric glanced at Aodhn''s note and scrunched up his face in disgust. Ugh I should have known youd be interested in all this squiggly runic stuff. Aodhn slammed his book shut and grabbed his towel. Of course I''m interested. They''re an important part of our advancement. Aldric groaned. Please spare me the lecture; I spent an entire year trying to learn this infernal language, all to no avail. Aodhn was reminded of Yurin, and he grinned. Poor you. My professor says people like you are too stupid to comprehend the intricate and complicated nature of runes. Your professor is a cunt. Aldric replied simply, and Aodhn turned sharply in his direction, both offended and appalled by Aldric''s words. Where did you even learn to curse this much? At sea. Aldric grinned. I spent the last few months working with sailors. Aodhn frowned in confusion. I thought you were busy studying at the 12th academy. What happened to wanting to get your certificate first? I was studying. Aldric shuffled awkwardly. Or at least, that''s what I told mom and dad, so don''t go spilling. Are you serious? Aodhn hissed and moved closer, flinging his towel uselessly on the bed. Are you telling me that rather than studying, you''ve spent the last month gallivanting around with sailors? It''s not as terrible as you make it sound. Aldric sighed. Im still studying; I just barely attend the classes. It''s not like a certificate from the 12th academy holds much value anyway. Still. Aodhn shook his head, although he couldn''t help but agree. A certificate from the 12th academy was practically useless except in the 12th and perhaps 11th sectors. Aodhn watched Aldric closely, and after a moment, he asked. So, are you like a pirate now?Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. Well, I joined the Ravens, so I guess I''m a sort of pirate now. That''s how that Viscount you met the other day knew of me and my "skillset." We''ve met before. Aodhn shook his head and asked. But isn''t piracy illegal? Aldric snorted. Everything is illegal if you search hard enough. Besides, the Ravens aren''t exactly committing crimes; we just have some shady stuff. Like transporting young Awakeneds out of their villages to escape military recruitment. Aodhn stated, and Aldric winked. Exactly. Now run along; we''ve got a party to attend. Just be careful. Aodhn called out to Aldric''s retreating figure. I would really hate to have to bail you out of jail. That''s if your mission doesn''t send us there first. Aldric winked, and Aodhn chuckled, grabbed his towel, and proceeded to the bathroom. It was a little surprising to know that Aldric was a pirate. His drastic rise in advancement made perfect sense now. It was a little concerning, though, as Aodhn was yet to hear of any good pirates. He didn''t really know much about the Ravens, though, save for the little he''d heard on the Raventhorn, but as he stepped into his bathroom, he decided he would find out. After bathing, Aodhn packed all that he might need for the next two days, as they wouldn''t be returning from sector 8 tonight; instead, they would be staying over at the Willowoods estate before moving on to sector 3 for the Blackwell''s event. After several hours of planning, arguing, and scouring old newspapers, they''d finally come up with a decent plan for the mission, and although it seemed perfect on paper, Aodhn desperately hoped it would remain so in reality. He packed his clothes, shoes, books, and every other essential he could think of. After that, he switched his necklace with the facsimile, wrapped his storm scarf around his face, and moved downstairs. Daruk and Aldric were already waiting for him, and when they saw him, Daruk said, You look like a terrorist with a bad haircut. I honestly don''t know why you insist on wearing that thing. Because I''d rather not be recognized. Aodhn replied and touched his head. Besides, my hair is fine. It''s sticking out at odd angles. Aldric pointed out, and Aodhn took a moment to smooth them out before announcing. Great, I think we''re ready. They stepped out of the house, and Aodhn created a storm platform large enough to accommodate the three of them. He ignored the distant sound of a shutter as well as the gazes of their oh-so-friendly neighbors as they made their way to the portal station in Norbuik. When they arrived at the station, they found a series of portals, each calibrated to different sectors, including the capital. They headed towards the portal section, helpfully labeled Sector 8, and after paying an extra two gold coins to recalibrate the portal to their exact location, which was the city of Willowsburgh, the three of them walked into the portal. The transition was seamless, and the next instant, they found themselves in the Portal station of Willowsburgh. Aodhn took a deep breath, savoring the scent of trees and flowers in the air even as the familiar hum of distant factories filled his ears. Sector 8 was just as he remembered it, except for one key factor. The air was fresh and crisp. The last time Aodhn and Daruk had been to the 8th sector, they''d spent most of their time in the port city of Nematon and the city of Orom, but the one thing those two cities had shared was the haze of industrial pollution that hung heavy in the air. Willowsburgh was different, though, and when they stepped out of the portal station, they arrived in a city filled with trees, vines, and flowers. Everywhere he looked, the ground was lush. The color green filled his vision, despite the fact that it was still dry season. Flowery vines grew everywhere, covering houses and poles, and there was barely a patch of ground unoccupied by grass, flowers, or trees save for the road. After taking a moment to look around in amazement, they boarded a shuttle that would lead them directly to the Willowood estate. Unlike the Vilaris event, this event was more casual, so several acts of propriety could be done away with. As the shuttle zoomed towards their destination, Aodhn and Daruk marveled and discussed the beauty of the city. Aldric wasn''t too impressed, but Aodhn absolutely loved it. The dense amount of greenery soothed him, so much so that he felt comfortable removing the scarf from his face. The air was filled with the verdant essence of nature, and it only got thicker the closer they got to the estate. More trees appeared, and at a point, Aodhn could have sworn that they were in a forest. The trees on each side of the road loomed high above them, their branches intermingling with the branches of the opposite trees to form a dense canopy of leaves that only allowed a few spots of sunlight to pass through. Despite the mundane nature of these trees, they were so old and large that they exuded an aura of timelessness, like silent guardians. I can''t believe you''re this relaxed; it''s like all your emotions are muted. Aldric shook his head in amazement, but Aodhn only grunted, basking in the feeling of peace and security that engulfed him. Forests had always been his happy place, but this was on another level. He must have drifted off to sleep, because when he eventually opened his eyes, the shuttle was just coming to a stop before a massive gate crafted out of brown wood and pulsating green vines. They exited the shuttle and paid the driver before heading towards the gate, which was guarded by two advanced-class soldiers adorned in green and gold robesthe colors of the Willowood family. Although the guards had no visible bloodline manifestation, their bodies were covered in numerous strength and vitality runic tattoos. When they reached the gate, Aodhn presented their invitation, and while the guards scanned it, Aldric whispered to him. It seems you''re not quite as popular here as you are in the 5th sector. And I thank the maker for that. Aodhn replied as the guards pushed the gate open. I''m much too relaxed to handle those evil reporters right now. They stepped through the gate, and as one, their jaws dropped in amazement. The Willowood estate wasn''t just beautiful; it was glorious. Fountains and beautiful statues filled his view, and the scent of flowers filled the air. Trees stood tall and majestic, their leaves glowing with a verdant hue so rich in vitality that Aodhn could almost taste it. A cobblestone pathway led inward, and on either side of the narrow pathway were gardens filled with a myriad number of flowers and plants, each releasing their scent into the air. Rather than a clash of scents, though, the fragrance blended into one, a heady perfume that invaded their bodies and relaxed their muscles, making them feel light and boneless. However, as beautiful as the compound was, it was the mansion itself that stole Aodhn''s attention. It was crafted around a tree so tall that it seemed to pierce the clouds. Its bark and branches shone with a golden hue that contrasted beautifully with its red leaves. It took Aodhn a moment to realize that the four-story mansion was crafted out of the tree itself. In fact, when he focused on his surroundings, he realized that the roots of said tree ran beneath the entire estate, feeding off and nourishing every single plant growing within the estate. "Jorgumien, he muttered quietly, recognizing the spirit tree immediately. It wasn''t too surprising that a noble family of life and nature Awakeneds had a spirit tree of their own, but the realization that he was standing only a few meters away from a tree that had reached the height of its evolution was simply overwhelming. He turned around, lost for words, as he took in the rest of the estate. Servants moved about, busying themselves with various tasks, and upon noticing them, a stern-looking maid stepped forward and bowed. Esteemed guest, welcome to the Willowood estate. Please follow me; I shall lead you to the banquet hall. Hesitant and dazed, they followed the servant, gawking as they tried to take in everything at once. Aodhn was admiring a sparkling pool filled with aquatic plants when they rounded a bend and suddenly came face to face with a...tree? No, Aodhn reevaluated. It was a woman, but her bloodline manifestation was so severe that he''d almost mistaken her for a tree. Her hair was a tangle of verdant leaves, flowers, and vines, but her skin was wood, although when she smiled, he realized that her movements weren''t inhibited at all. Despite the fact that they had no idea who the woman was, the three of them bowed immediately. Such a severe manifestation could only be brought about by a blessed bloodline, which meant she was definitely not an ordinary member of the Willowood family. There''s no need to be so formal. The woman spoke in a voice that commanded respect, urging them to lift their heads, and when they did, she continued. Little Drew did mention that a couple of his friends would be attending today''s celebration, I''m guessing you''re said friends. Yes, my lady. Aodhn hastily replied. I''m Aodhn Brystion, and these are my brothers, Daruk and Aldric. The woman''s gaze lingered for a while on Daruk, assessing him before turning to Aldric, who stiffened slightly under her gaze. An unevolved awakened, that''s a rare sight in this parts, she stated with a slight smile, and Aldric shrugged. I wasn''t quite as fortunate as my brothers. Well, fortune is a fickle mistress, isn''t she? The woman laughed and turned back to Aodhn. Anyway, you''re welcome to my humble home. I''m Colonel Fortuna Willowood, heiress to the Willowood''s barony and Andrew''s eldest sister. Aodhn blinked, unaware that Andrew had another sister aside from the one they''d come to celebrate. Come to think of it, Andrew barely spoke about his family at all, and the only people he knew was Pope and a sister Andrew had mentioned a couple times. Fortuna chuckled at their silence and said to the maid. Lead them to the banquet hall, Azula. My little brother has been eagerly awaiting their arrival. "Yes, my lady." The maid, now introduced as Azula, bowed and gestured for them to follow. They complied, but after only a few steps, Fortuna called out, "Oh, lest I forget. Do await my return, Aodhn; I would love to speak with you about your familiar. I believe there is much we need to discuss. Chapter 90: The Willowood banquet II Fuck! Aodhn cursed as he turned back to his brothers. Just when I thought no one would recognize me, this happens! It''s like the cosmos is joking with me. Aodhn glanced at Daruk and Aldric, expecting a response, but both were too focused on Fortuna''s departing figure to hear him, and it wasn''t until the maid loudly cleared her throat that they snapped back to attention. Damn, despite that eerie manifestation, I still think she''s hot. Aldric muttered, and the maid glared at him. Apologies, he didn''t mean that. Daruk quickly responded before glaring at Aldric, who frowned in confusion. I didn''t? Daruk shook his head. You''re going to put us in trouble if you keep speaking of nobles in that manner. Oh, relax. Aldric dismissed Daruk''s concern. The woman is a soldier; I''d be surprised if she hasn''t heard worse. Aodhn''s gaze darted from Daruk to Aldric as they bickered, but when Daruk gathered himself in the manner he usually did when he was gearing up for a major argument, Aodhn finally had to step in. Okay, that''s enough, both of you. He glared at both of them and hissed. Besides, did you not hear what she said last? She wants to talk about Varc. And that''s a problem because? Aldric asked with a confused expression. Because I don''t want to talk about him. Aodhn sighed. I thought I left all that in the 5th sector; this was supposed to be a fun vacation. Daruk patted his shoulders sympathetically. Aodhn, at some point, you''ll just have to accept that you''re a celebrity now, and for the rest of your life, everyone you meet will want to talk about Varc. Aldric agreed with a hum. As terrible as it sounds, it''s just the reality of fame, and trust me, the more you try to fight it, the more terrible it gets. Daruk glared at Aldric for a moment before nodding grudgingly. As much as it pains me to admit, Aldric''s right. I know you didn''t choose this, and I understand why you don''t want to speak about Varc, but you can''t hide him away forever; you''ve barely even let him out this week. Aodhn rubbed his face wearily. Daruk was right; he couldn''t hide Varc away forever, but he wasn''t just keeping Varc within his spirit to hide him from the reporters; although that was the major reason, he also wasn''t comfortable letting Varc out in a residential area like Norbuik. Varc was unlikely to attack a random person, but accidents could happen, and if he wasn''t jailed for it, even more reporters would swarm his house in search of juicy gossip. His control over Varc was growing stronger each day, but it was still far from absolute. While he was no longer suffering from the consequences of the twisted effect, he wasn''t sure that Varc was free from it as well, and he wasn''t willing to take that risk. The main reason he wanted to avoid conversations about Varc, though, was because talking about Varc always led to talking about how he bonded Varc, and Aodhn much preferred to keep the how to himself. He shook his head as they took another turn. I just wish things could go back to how they were in the academy. All I had to deal with was hate, jealousy, and girls throwing themselves at me. Aldric shook his head in amazement. What are they teaching you children in that academy? Aodhn ignored him, and Daruk snorted in response to his earlier statement. Things weren''t this bad in the academy because most of the students, including myself, didn''t quite understand the gravity of what you''d done. I didn''t even know what familiars were until the tournament, and it wasn''t until the interview that I realized the true gravity of what you''d achieved. Things might have been better in the academy, but when we return, I can guarantee that things will be much worse than they were before. It''ll be a messy show. You mean shit show. Aldric muttered, and Daruk glared at him. Unlike you, brother, I pride myself on being cultured and proper. Aldric mimicked Daruk, and the maid turned to glare at him once more. Apologies. He muttered, and when she turned back, he whispered. I can''t make a freaking joke in this place without someone glaring. Aodhn chuckled, and Daruk replied. Well, if you chose not to speak for the entirety of the night, I would be most grateful. Aldric sighed as if he bore a great burden. Alas, that is impossible. The girls love me, the boys love me; I just have to speak. I''m sure you''re doing the world a great service. Aodhn replied, and Aldric grinned. See, Daruk, Aodhn gets it. They all laughed, and moments later, they finally stepped into the mansion. Verdant energy engulfed them immediately, leaving them in awe as they walked through a hallway filled with glowing roots. They emerged into a vast hall adorned with golden vines. The walls were lined with portraits, each displaying a member of the Willowood family. A staircase, crafted from golden vines, led up to the second floor, which was actually a tree branch repurposed as a deck. It was a testament to the size of the spirit tree that its branches were robust enough to serve as a part of the mansion itself. Azula led them up the stairs and past several rooms, many of which Aodhn identified as indoor herb gardens or terrariums. They took several twists and turns, and it took them almost ten minutes to reach the banquet hall. When they finally did, Azula gave a perfunctory bow and departed, leaving them to deal with the two advanced-class guards standing before the entrance on their own. The first was a thin, tall man with a scar running down the left side of his face, while the other was a buff, stout man with stern features. Both guards observed them silently for a moment before waving them forward, but as the second guard moved to open the door, it swung open, and Andrew barged out. Hey bloodfuckers! I''ve been expecting you guys for hours. Daruk cringed, and even Aodhn winced. Swearing and cursing while they were in the academy was all fine and good, but doing the same before a bunch of noble guards just seemed wrong somehow. The second guard frowned in disapproval, but Andrew just scoffed. Don''t get all soft and proper on me now, Aaron; these are my friends; they''ve heard me curse a thousand times. Aaron''s frown deepened. It would be good if we kept it that way, my lord. At a thousand. Andrew sighed and turned back to them. He rolled his eyes and whispered. Aarons always so stiff; he needs to lighten up. If Aaron heard Andrew''s words, he gave no indication of doing so. Aodhn gestured towards Aldric and introduced them. Andrew, meet my elder brother, Aldric. Aldric gave a polite bow. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lord Willowood. I''m sure we can do away with the title. Andrew responded and extended a hand in greeting. Just call me Andrew. As you wish, Andrew. Aldric replied with a frown, as if the words tasted sour on his tongue.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Andrew grinned and waved them forward. Come, let me introduce you to my family. The guards pushed the door open, and Aodhn walked into chaos. Over a hundred people milled about the hall, chatting and laughing. Children ran around in circles, and impeccably dressed servants moved around, serving drinks to the guests. A din of conversation filled the hall, and at one corner, a musical band played a merry tune. Are all of these people your family members? Aldric asked the question Aodhn was thinking, and Andrew shrugged. Just about 90% of them. Aodhn''s eyes bulged, and after a beat of silence, he asked. So that''s about 90 people if I''m doing my math right. Am I doing my math right? You''re doing your math right. Daruk muttered and shook his head. I can''t imagine having to deal with so many people all the time. Andrew frowned. It does get a little chaotic from time to time, but I''ve grown used to it. He shrugged apologetically and continued. I know I don''t talk about my family a lot, but our numbers aren''t too surprising if you think about it. We''re mostly nature, life, or wood-affinated, so vitality is kind of our strong suit. How far back does your family go, though? Daruk asked, and Andrew frowned again, thinking for a moment before responding. I''m not really sure, but my grandfather is somewhere around here, so I''m guessing we go pretty far back. Not exactly what I was asking, but I guess it''s good information nonetheless. Aodhn just shook his head, still amazed by the whole thing, and he soon found himself wondering how his life would have turned out if he''d had a large family of his own. What about your actual nuclear family? Aodhn asked. In fact, how many siblings do you have? We just met your eldest sister, who has a blessed bloodline, by the way. Aren''t those meant for, like, high dukes and royals? Andrew chuckled. I guess my nuclear family is still a little large. We''re six, including my parents, and I''m the last of them. How did I not know any of this? Aodhn blurted out, but Andrew just smiled and continued. "Also, I see you''ve met Aunt Fortuna." He leaned forward and whispered. As for her bloodline? I''m just as surprised as you are, but she somehow managed to evolve it, which is, you know, insane. Daruk''s eyebrows climbed up to his hairline, and Aldric let out a decidedly undignified squack, but Aodhn... Aodhn was too stunned to speak. Bloodline evolution was a pretty common topic, but it was considered extremely hard to achieve, requiring an enormous amount of willpower to do so, especially when it came to the higher grades. Evolving from common to uncommon grade was... well, common to uncommon to epic was hard, and epic to blessed was so difficult that it was considered nearly impossible. The fact that Fortuna had done it was astonishing, and Aodhn wouldn''t be surprised if she was titled an ascendant candidate the moment she stepped into the Mythic class. Unlike he and Daruk, who had a wellspring of willpower to tap into, others weren''t so fortunate, and Aodhn had half a mind to ask Andrew if Fortuna was his actual sister or an adopted one, but he tamped down on the urge and allowed Andrew to lead them around the room. Ideally, I should lead you to my parents first, but I still have to introduce you to all these people, so we might as well work our way down randomly... or is it up? Daruk must have responded, but Aodhn was barely listening, his mind still distracted by the fact that Fortuna was either an inheritor or a transmigrant. They walked past a couple guests whom Andrew greeted and introduced them to, but as they neared the first member of Andrew''s extended family, Aldric snagged a drink from a passing servant and downed it all in one gulp. He returned the glass, and when he noticed them staring, he asked. What!? This is obviously going to be a long, boring night, and I won''t subject myself to it without at least a buzz. Why am I not surprised? A voice replied from behind them, and they all turned to see a dark man with wooden eyebrows and a golden moustache grinning at them. By all the dead stars! Dreamond Corvuis! Aldric exclaimed, his entire face lighting up in excitement as he pulled the man into a hug. What are you doing here, man? He asked after he pulled back, and Dreamond snorted. Just because I spent my vacation fooling around with y''all doesn''t mean I don''t have a family of my own. Aldric laughed and shook his head. Damn, you should have said something; I never knew you were a noble. Dreamond shook his head, chuckling. Now that''s information you want to keep to yourself while at sea and suffering terribly from hydrophobia. He grinned and gestured toward Andrew. Besides, I ain''t no noble. I was only adopted by the Willowoods. Young drew here is technically my uncle or nephew? I can''t remember. Andrew laughed. I can never get it right either. These are my friends from the academy, Aodhn and Daruk. I see you''ve already met their brother. Dreamond extended a hand in greeting, and Aodhn clasped it. Nice to meet you guys. Hopefully, you guys aren''t as mischievous as Aldric here, sneaking around and manipulating people''s emotions callously. You know he once made two strangers have sex at the gangway just because they pissed him off. I tell you Dreamond spent the next few minutes narrating a few of Aldric''s questionable escapades, many of which caused Daruk to frown in confusion and disapproval. After another wild sex story that just confirmed to Aodhn what Aldric''s ''skillset might entail, Dreamond grabbed Aldric and said to him. Come with me; I''ve got a ton of people Id like to introduce you to. Aldric grinned, grabbed another drink, and with a wave in their direction, he and Dreamond disappeared within the crowd, which had only increased in the last few minutes. Come, Andrew said, leading them towards the family member he''d been taking them to before Dreamond''s interruption. That''s Aunty Mio, and she''ll eat me alive if we pass her by without greeting. Aunty Mio''s was a wizened old woman with a life affinity limited to the Advanced class. Her core blazed brightly, which meant she must have suffered from some sort of spiritual limit rather than a core limit. The topic of spiritual limits had been hinted at by professor Jorendil in one of their classes on awakened advancement theory, but it was a confusing thing, and Aodhn only had a surface understanding of the topic. Unlike Fortuna, Aunty Mio''s hair wasn''t a tangle of vines but rather a verdant mane of smooth grass that reflected and refracted light. She squinted at them after Andrew introduced them, and after a few words of acknowledgement, she promptly dismissed them in favor of chasing a running child. Apologies. Andrew grimaced, adjusting his tailored suit awkwardly. Aunty Mio can be a little asocial at times, but she bears no ill will, trust me. After their meeting with Aunty Mio, Andrew introduced them to several uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews, nieces, and even his grandfather. After the sixth aunt, three of whom bore the same name, Aodhn gave up on memorizing the names of each family member and simply identified them by their bloodline manifestations or any other interesting markings they bore. Fifteen minutes later, Aodhn was completely and utterly lost, and he couldn''t understand just how Daruk was managing to keep up with the names. When they reached the next group, Andrew bowed. Uncle Roshan, Aunt Derindale. Meet my friends from the academy. The man Andrew had addressed as Uncle Roshan was a tall, handsome man with almost no visible bloodline manifestation save for the glowing gold highlights on his midnight black hair. His wife, on the other hand, had tiny lines that resembled verdant veins glowing from within her skin. In his experience, Aodhn knew that the severity of a bloodline manifestation not only depended on the grade of a bloodline but also on spiritual compatibility, but in this case, Aodhn was leaning towards the former. He estimated Derindale''s bloodline to be at least epic grade, which was weird considering the Willowoods were a barony, so he''d expected to see mostly uncommon and common grade bloodlines with only a smattering of epics, but now he couldn''t count the number of epic grade bloodlines he''d seen so far on one hand, and that was saying a lot. Another thing he''d noticed as they''d moved about the hall, greeting people and introducing themselves, was the large number of family members who had chosen a military profession. It shouldn''t have been surprising, considering Andrew''s battle lust and the fact that they were here to celebrate one of Andrew''s sistersAodhn no longer knew whichwho had recently gotten promoted to the rank of captain. Aodhn had seen how brutal Andrew could get in a fight, but he still had a hard time reconciling the fact that life and nature affinity awakeneds had chosen to be soldiers rather than healers. Aodhn and Daruk bowed in greeting, their mouths and bodies moving along to the routine they''d gone through several times now. It was almost always the same polite question, and they both answered accordingly. We''re fine. Our family is fine. Our studies are fine. Yes, we love to fight. Yes, the war is terrible. Aodhn was barely even paying attention to the conversation, simply replying whenever Daruk failed to, but all that ended when Roshan asked. Do you boys have any plans to join the military after your time in the academy? We''re always in need of fresh blood. Aodhn and Daruk paused, both of them wondering just how they were supposed to tell the man that they hated the war and would much rather avoid it entirely. Fortunately, they were saved by a ruckus at the entrance as the banquet''s door was pulled open and a man walked in. The man was dressed in a very decorated military uniform, and although his presence commanded respect and attention, it was the man who walked in behind him that caused Daruk to inhale sharply and Aodhn to frown in disbelief. The second man was a younger, better-looking version of the first, with coppery blond hair and a fiery gaze. It was a man they both recognized. Second lieutenant, Tyrus Hadjen. Chapter 91: Arnold Frostbourne II Second lieutenant Tyrus Hadjen tried to maintain his composure as he walked into the Willowood estate. Gawking would have earned his father''s ire, yet he couldn''t keep himself from looking around in amazement. This wasn''t his first time on a noble estate, but this one had a magnificent beauty and exuded an alluring warmth that the others lacked. As Tyrus took in the beauty of his surroundings, a twisted thought suddenly entered his mind. Tyrus clenched his fist and shook his head forcefully, trying to rid himself of the maddening impulse to burn down the entire estate. A sigh escaped him as the thought finally dissipated. Ever since he gained a seal two days ago, Tyrus had been struggling with the overwhelming desire to engulf the world in flames. He turned his gaze away from the tempting leaves and focused on his father''sno, commander''sbroad back, which was occupied by a gleaming black sword, before turning to look at the spine-chilling raven perched on his shoulders. The familiar stared back at him; it''s black eyes gleaming with an ominous light caused Tyrus to shudder. Those eyes had been a constant in his life, a witness to every terrible memory. He shook his head again and pulled his mind away from the cesspool that was his memories to focus once more on his surroundings. They stepped into the main hall a few minutes later, led by a maid who kept glancing back at the commander in fear. He couldn''t blame her; even he feared the man. They wound their way through the Willowood mansion, taking several twists and turns. However, as the saying goes, ''all good things must come to an end,'' their peaceful journey came to an abrupt end as they approached the banquet hall. One of the guards standing by the door stretched a hand to halt their approach and said, You cannot go in with your weapon, sir. You either have to drop it outside here or keep it in a restricted storage. Tyrus swallowed nervously as he waited for the commander to explode. If there was one thing the man hated, it was being told what to do by those he considered lesser than himself. Still, the guard was right. Entering a noble event with a weapon strapped to your back was not only frowned upon; it could also be seen as a threat to said family. The commander knew this. Raol''s beard! Even a street urchin knew it, but Tyrus had learned a long time ago never to volunteer advice to his father except when expressly asked to do so, which rarely happened. Tyrus was almost certain that the commander had forgotten that the weapon was strapped to his back and was now embarrassed to admit that, despite being in the advanced class, he was still prone to a temporary lapse in memory. Rather than apologize and heed the guard''s instructions like any sane person would have done, Commander Hadjen glared at the guard, who, to his credit, managed not to flinch when the commander''s deathly gaze landed on him. How dare you speak to me in such a manner? The commander growled, and Tyrus flinched slightly, even though the commander''s ire wasn''t directed at him this time. As if the situation wasn''t bad enough, the second guard interfered. Apologies, commander Hadjen. These are just standard protocols. I know the protocols. The commander snapped. And I planned to heed those protocols just before this idiot tried to lecture me. The stout guard glared at the commander, unintimidated. I''m only doing my job, sir. You shouldn''t even have been allowed into the mansion with that weapon. I''ll have to speak to my soldiers once again about the importance of following orders. The other guard tried to calm things down, but it was obvious to Tyrus that the commander was offended by the stout guard''s lack of cowardice. Fortunately, the guards weren''t that much weaker than the commander, so what would normally have devolved into a brutal fight turned into a violent exchange of words instead. Tyrus contemplated stepping in, but he knew that would only further anger the commander. Besides, he was only at the 24th tier; what good was he against two high-level advanced guards? Realizing the foolishness of helping, Tyrus stood back and waited. The screaming match continued for the next few minutes, and at one point, even Gorith, the commander''s familiar, joined in, cawing at the guards and spewing black smoke from its mouth. As one, they all turned to glare at the familiar, even the commander, and the next instant, Gorith disappeared, banished into the commander''s spirit. Regardless of his station, even the commander knew that using any sort of offensive ability within a noble house was a crime he couldn''t get away with. The only reason they hadn''t been dragged out by a battalion of guards yet was because the commander was known and respected, both as a guest and as an acquaintance of the Willowoods. Just as the argument began to escalate, the door was pushed open from within, and they all turned to see a crowd of almost two hundred people staring at them. Tyrus flushed red with embarrassment, but a quick activation of {Fiery Heart} burned the emotion to ashes. The commander, on the other hand, flushed a deep purple, both from maddened anger and embarrassment. Still, he held his head high, his gaze unflinching, and like any dutiful son, Tyrus moved to stand with the commander. Rather than appreciate the emotional support, the commander turned to glare at him as if to say, Now you show up''. Tyrus winced and looked away. Seriously, there was no winning with the man. Rather than respond, as that would only aggravate the commander, Tyrus focused his gaze on their approaching host, Baron Nikolai Willowood. Hadjen. The baron called out, his expression tinged with distaste. I see you haven''t lost your penchant for trouble, despite all these years. The commander stiffened at the subtle insult, and in a rare display of meekness, he finally placed the sword into a restricted spatial space, which he handed to the guard, although his expression was as dark as a storm cloud. The commander bowed to the baron, and Tyrus followed suit. Regardless of his father''s status in the military, he was still a commoner, and it would be the height of disrespect to insult the baron by not bowing.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Baron Nikolai glared at them for a moment before gesturing for them to come into the hall, restoring a bit of the commander''s dignity. They walked into the hall a moment later, and Tyrus instinctively activated {Fiery Sight}. It was a new skill that allowed him to see the heat signatures of people and objects. His eyes roamed the crowd of people who had turned their attention away from them to more interesting topics. He observed the sea of green, red, and orange heat signatures with mild interest, but as his gaze reached the far left corner of the banquet hall, he came to a sudden halt and frowned. Standing with a group of bright red and gold heat signatures stood a small column of void in human form. The figure was completely devoid of heat yet alive. Confused, Tyrus deactivated the skill, and his eyes widened both in relief and surprise as he took in the arrogant face of a noble he had once saved. Arnold Frostbourne. . Daruk frozealthough that was technically impossibleas his gaze locked with that of Tyrus, and Aodhn cursed softly. Mumbling a quick goodbye to Roshan and Derindale, Aodhn pulled Daruk and Drew aside, hiding them behind a group of cackling women. "Okay, Daruk let out a deep breath and pulled himself together. Do you have any ideas on how we can get out of this mess? Aodhn scowled. I do not pull ideas out of a hat, Daruk. Of course you do. Daruk retorted, his gaze darting around the room as he tried to keep tabs on the lieutenant. Okay, can someone tell me what the fuck is going on? Andrew asked, and Daruk hissed. We''re screwed, is what''s going on. "Uhm, hello, you, not we. Aodhn corrected with a snort. I highly doubt our favorite lieutenant would recognize me even if my face hadnt been concealed the last time we''d met. Daruk''s gaze widened as he realized the truth in Aodhn''s words. You''re not going to feed me to the wolves, are you? Of course not. Aodhn snorted. Althoigh, I have half a mind to do just that, especially after you betrayed me and exposed my relationship with Lupin to Synov yesterday. Daruk''s gaze turned apologetic, but before he could respond, Andrew whispered. Not to burst your bubble, guys, but I think the lieutenant is heading towards us. Daruk and Aodhn turned to see Tyrus Hadjen walking straight towards them, despite the fact that they were still hidden behind the group of cackling women. Okayuh Daruk scrambled, his usual composure cracking. I do not like to swear, but I believe this warrants a very good fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Thats a little excessive. Andrew tittered, but Aodhn just shook his head, trying to come up with a viable solution to their current dilemma. When Tyrus neared and he still hadn''t found any, he whispered to Daruk. Okay, get in character. We don''t have a solution yet, but you''re still a noble What? Andrew exclaimed in confusion. and Arnold Frostbourne would not be intimidated by a simple lieutenant. After that, he turned to Andrew and said, Play along. Daruk took in a deep breath, and as he let it out, his bearing shifted, his back straightened, his erratic breaths evened out, and his face became etched with the familiar arrogance of nobility. In an instant, Daruk had transformed from his usual self into a noble of high station. His imitation of nobility had been superb before, but now, after spending so much time with and among them, it was perfect. He snagged a drink from a passing servant and waved them off without even looking. Andrew glanced at him in surprise and confusion, but fortunately didn''t ask any questions and simply moved to stand beside Daruk, who was eyeing the approaching lieutenant with a gaze that would have sent a weaker man scrambling. Tyrus, though, remained unaffected, and when he closed the distance between them, he bowed. "Greetings, Lord Willowood. Lord Frostbourne. His gaze turned to Aodhn, who was standing slightly behind Daruk and Andrew. "Apologies, my lord, but I''m unfamiliar with your name. Call me Aodhn. Aodhn replied curtly, slightly uncomfortable that he was being addressed as a lord, although he had to admit that it felt nice. Tyrus nodded and turned his gaze back to Daruk. I''m surprised to see you here, Lord Frostbourne. I thought Why is that? Daruk cut him off and raised an eyebrow. This is after all a noble event, and as you well know, I am a noble. If anyone is to be surprised, it is I. Right, yes. Tyrus stuttered. Apologies, I''m here with my father, commander Hadjen. I just came to say hello. I see. Daruk smiled and turned to Andrew, whose gaze was darting from Aodhn to the lieutenant in confusion. This is the man I told you about, the lieutenant who saved me and my retainer a few months ago from that terrible island. For someone who was completely clueless about the entire story, Andrew managed to respond appropriately, reminding Aodhn once again that regardless of his crass exterior, Andrew was still a noble. Ah, Lieutenant Hadjen. Andrew extended a hand in greeting. I''ve heard so much about your bravery and dedication. You''re indeed an asset to our precious kingdom. Tyrus blinked and blushed. Thank you, my lord. I am forever willing to serve. Where are you currently serving? Andrew asked, and Tyrus immediately replied, his posture morphing into one almost resembling a salute. The border plains of conquestia, my lord. Sector 7. Andrew nodded, seemingly impressed by Tyrus''s response, but before the conversation could take an unnecessary turn, Daruk cut in. That''s good. Also, I spoke to my father, and although he''s not here now, he''s still very willing to repay you for saving me. The question now is how you would like to be repaid. Money? Land? Women? Aodhn sputtered, his gaze widening slightly as he glanced worriedly at Daruk, who remained poised, the perfect image of nobility and superiority. I Tyrus opened his mouth to speak and then shut it. His gaze darted to his father before returning to them. I have no need for money, land, or women, my lord. He whispered. What I want is to be transferred from Camp Conquestia to another. Andrew frowned. Why? Are you unsatisfied with your current company? It''s a matter of personal interest, my lord. I would be able to serve the kingdom better if I were to be transferred under a different commander. I see. Daruk responded, exchanging a glance with Aodhn before proceeding. Well, it has been a pleasure to meet you once again, Lieutenant Hadjen. I''ll relay your request to my father, and we''ll see what we can do. Tyrus hesitated, as if he had something else to say, but he shook his head and bowed instead. As he turned to leave, though, Daruk said to him, Oh, and call me Daruk. Let''s discard the titles for tonight. Tyrus nodded. As you wish, Lord... Daruk. Tyrus left a moment later, and when he was finally out of earshot, Aodhn hissed. Are you crazy? What if he''d asked for money, land, or women? We don''t have any of that. It was a spur-of-the moment thing. Daruk hissed back. I had to make it look convincing. By suggesting what we don''t have? We don''t have anything! Daruk gritted out, his voice loud enough to draw the attention of the women they were hiding behind. This whole thing is a farce. Besides, I have to remind you that the whole Arnold Frostbourne character was your idea in the first place. Aodhn glared at him, but before he could speak up, Daruk continued. It doesn''t matter anyway. He didn''t pick any of the options, so we can just go back to forgetting he exists until such a time when we meet him again. Aodhn grimaced, not liking that option at all. The lieutenant had helped them, and since they''d promised to repay him, it was only right that they did. So... would anyone like to clue me in? Daruk asked after a moment of silence. I still have no idea what the fuck is going on. Also, who is Arnold Frostbourne? Aodhn exchanged a glance with Daruk and sighed. It seems we have a lot to tell you. We Before he could continue, the large doors at each end of the front of the hall opened, and a long, decorated table rolled in, filled with a myriad of delicacies. The tables were pushed in by dozens of servants, with more still carrying several plates of food and jugs of wine. The aroma of meat, rice, and hot sauce soon filled the air, causing the crowd to raise a cheer in merriment. The crowd parted to let the tables through, and a man who bore an uncanny resemblance to Andrew announced. Let the celebrations begin! Chapter 92: Colonel Fortuna Willowood After Aodhn promised to explain the whole Arnold Frostbourne saga at a later date, Andrew finally led them to the front of the hall to introduce them to his family. Aodhn observed the group of five gathered around the front of the hall as they weaved through the other guests and distant relatives, only saying hello to a few more people Andrew deemed too important to simply pass by. Andrew''s family was a weird one in Aodhn''s opinion, but what really surprised him was the fact that Andrew was the only male offspring in his family. The other three were females, and from their stance, Aodhn could already tell that at least two of them were soldiers. Really? What was with this family and the military? When they finally arrived before the family, Andrew introduced them. Mother, Father, this is Aodhn and Daruk Brystion. My friends from the academy. Andrew''s father, the Baron, was a large man, almost seven feet tall, with a bloodline manifestation almost as severe as that of Fortuna''s. His wife, on the other hand, was more in line with what Aodhn had expected, with a bloodline manifestation that indicated an uncommon-grade bloodline at best. Nevertheless, the woman was beautiful, but what caught Aodhn''s attention was the tiny snow-white bird hanging on her shoulders. The familiar, which Aodhn immediately recognized as a Caladrius, quipped and cocked its head curiously in their direction. Realizing that they''d been staring for a touch too long, Aodhn and Daruk hastily bowed. It''s a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance, my lord, my lady." Aodhn addressed them, with Daruk echoing his words. The pleasure is ours. The baron smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. We''ve heard much about you both, and we''re glad you accepted our invitation. We''re glad we did. Daruk responded and nudged Andrew playfully. I hope you''ve been telling them good things. Only when he''s sober. A girl, only a few years older than them, tittered, and Aodhn immediately recognized her as Andrew''s immediate elder sister. He doesn''t hesitate to spill the dirt after he''s been lubricated enough. She continued, and everyone chuckled at Andrew''s expense. That was a one-time thing, Ashley. Andrew protested and turned back to Daruk. I promise I can hold my liquor. You''re too young to be holding anything at all. His mother scolded him with a frown before turning to smile at them. It''s nice to meet you both, and even better to know that Andrew finally has a friend aside from Pope. Okay mom. Andrew quickly cut in, frowning at his mother. You''re going to freak my friends out. They don''t need those details. One of Andrew''s sisters, the one Aodhn suspected they were here to celebrate, judging by the military uniform she was wearing, laughed and said, I believe his exact words were, I couldn''t have made it through the academy trials without them. That is absolutely not true. Aodhn chuckled. Andrew is, for lack of a better term, a battle maniac. If anything, we''re the ones holding him back. Baron Nikolai laughed proudly and patted Andrew on the shoulders, causing his mother to sigh with worry. Unfortunately, that''s the case with all of my children except Diendre hereshe gestured towards the celebrantwho has taken up a healer''s profession instead. Diendre is still a part of the military, mom. Fortuna commented in a manner that suggested this wasn''t the first time she was making that exact argument. I know that. Andrew''s mother smiled thinly. But she''s saving lives rather than taking them. Diendre nodded sagely. That is true. Healing is the noblest of professions. Before the conversation could devolve further, the baron cleared his throat and cut in. All professions are noble, as we''re all working towards the greater good. Don''t you agree, Aodhn? Uhmyeah. Aodhn responded, trying to air his opinions in a way that offended nobody. In the end, we''re all just trying to keep our families safe. The boy gets it. Baron Nikolai laughed while his wife snorted, although she acknowledged his opinions with a nod. Aodhn breathed a sigh of relief and turned to Diendre, congratulating her on her officerial position and wishing her the best. Daruk did the same, and their conversation continued until the servants finished setting the table. The banquet tables were arranged in a U-shape, with each side long enough to accommodate a total of about 100 people. The table was filled with a variety of sumptuous-looking delicacies, and Aodhn''s mouth watered slightly as he moved to take a seat beside Daruk and Andrew, but one of the servants politely stopped him. This seat is reserved for someone else, my lord; allow me to lead you to your designated seat. The servant moved, and after exchanging confused glances with Andrew and Daruk, Aodhn followed. They moved to the opposite table before the servant finally came to a stop by a chair marked with his name. He glanced at the chair beside him and grimaced when he saw the name Fortuna Willowood written on a small napkin in stylized letters. On his other side was a name he didn''t recognize, but he spotted Aldric''s name only a few chairs away. Aodhn glanced over at Daruk as he took his seat and shrugged in response to his confused expression. Fortuna slid into her seat the next moment, and Aodhn hissed, despite wearing a polite smile. I assume this is all your doing. Couldn''t it have been a simple twist of fate? Fortuna grinned, and Aodhn suppressed a scowl. I very much doubt that''s the case. "So cynical for someone so young," Fortuna remarked, shaking her head. She sliced a piece from the large slab of roasted meat in front of them and then smothered it in spicy, hot sauce. "This is Tier 20 Kanima meat. Want to try some? Aodhn''s gaze darted from the delicious-looking meal to his suspicious partner, trying to resist her tempting offer, but in the end, he failed and extended his plate. I''ve never eaten a Kanima before.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Fortuna''s grin widened as she cut out another portion of meat, dipped it in hot sauce, and placed it on his plate with a florish, somehow making the mundane act seem mystical. So, tell me about the 5th academy. She asked as he dug into his meal, but before he could respond, raucous laughter erupted from the head of the table, where the baron, the celebrant, and a few other distinguished guests were seated. Their laughter filled the air with a merry din that tugged at Aodhn''s lips and caused him to relax slightly. He turned his attention back to Fortuna and shrugged. There isn''t much to tell. I doubt Andrew shares your opinion. Fortuna snorted, glancing over at Daruk and Andrew, whose gazes were fixed on them like hawks as they whispered hurriedly between themselves. Whatever they were saying, Aodhn couldn''t hear over the din that filled the room, but it was obvious that Daruk was worried for him. Fortuna ignored their gazes and continued. He had so much to talk about when he returned last week that it took a considerable amount of effort not to cut my ears off. Fortuna chuckled, and Aodhn even cracked a smile. Andrew could be so bubbly and enthusiastic some times that it was usually hard to imagine him as a brutal and efficient warrior. Still, Aodhn chose not to respond, choosing to take a large bite of meat instead. He chewed slowly, taking his sweat time. Fortuna sighed. Come on, humor me. Aodhn knew what she was doing. It was the same tactics principal Zatya had employed at first. She was trying to make him lower his guard and get him comfortable before pouncing. Aodhn glanced at her, and after a brief moment of contemplation, he decided to humor her. He told her about the tournament, the classes, gym exercises, awakened advancement theory, and even the simulation exercise. They spoke for almost fifteen minutes, with Fortuna listening intensely even though she''d just confessed to hearing the entire story from Andrew a hundred times already. Fortuna''s frustration became obvious after another ten minutes of random, unimportant talk about the difficulties of runic theory. Aodhn barely held back a smile as he watched her jaw tick again. He understood her frustration; in fact, a part of him even feared the consequences of his actions, yet he refused to say a word about Varc. After another five minutes, Fortuna had finally had enough, and she snapped. Enough! If you''re trying to bore me to death, I can assure you that you''re succeeding. Aodhn shrugged, pretending to be clueless as to the cause of her ire. You asked about the academy. Yet, you''re no fool, Aodhn Brystion. Fortuna glared at him. You know what I want to hear about. You''re being purposefully evasive. Aodhn shifted awkwardly, and they lapsed into a strained silence, albeit surrounded by laughter, as a man, dressed in clownery attire, juggled a dozen runic balls with his eyes closed and performed several tricks that could be easily explained by a combination of spatial, time, and displacement affinities. Nevertheless, it was fun, and Aodhn soon found himself enjoying the show. After he was done with the meat, Aodhn helped himself to a bowl of salad and seasoned shrimp. He dipped the latter in a bowl of hot, spicy sauce and grinned when Fortuna frowned in disgust. The silence between them stretched for another fifteen minutes before Fortuna spoke again. You know, there are several advanced-class individuals who have bonded a familiar despite lacking the supposed ''mental fortitude'' required to do so. Her gaze darted first to her mother and then to Commander Hadjen before she smiled. "Astounding, isn''t it? Aodhn grimaced, disappointed that they had somehow managed to circle back to the very conversation he was trying to avoid. What I''m trying to say is that cultivation is the act of doing the impossible. She continued when he gave no response. It is a defiance of the heavens. Hundreds of years ago, flying cars were deemed impossible, and now they''re our reality. She frowned. The word impossible is a shackle that I choose not to wear. Aodhn glared at her and let out a deep breath. I don''t understand where this conversation is going. Fortuna chuckled and leaned forward. Did you know that the legend, Von Amyl Argent, had an icon at the evolved class? An impossibility in the world today. Aodhn glanced up sharply, surprised. He hadn''t known that, and all the books he''d read on Von Amyl hadn''t mentioned it either. I see you''re surprised to hear it. Fortuna shook her head. It''s no surprise though; after all, Lutia is the continent of secrets. Aodhn''s mind flashed to the Attilan continent, and he grimaced. Okay, I still don''t see what all this has to do with me. What do you want? For you to trust me. Fortuna replied simply, and Aodhn snorted. Hell will freeze over before I make such a foolish mistake. Fortuna frowned, not getting his hell reference, yet she was smart enough to understand what he meant. Well, good for you. I wouldn''t trust me either. Aodhn blinked, his face twisting into a mask of confusion. You want me to trust you, yet you advise me not to. It''s quite the conundrum, isn''t it? Fortuna shrugged. But what is life if not a long list of things we shouldn''t do yet can''t help but crave? Aodhn frowned. You''re not as wise as you seem to think you are. So, many have said. She smiled and downed a glass of sparkling wine. That doesn''t mean I''ll give up, though. Aodhn sighed. Can you please go straight to the point? Fortuna turned, her smile disappearing as she focused squarely on him. The point is, I want to know about your familiar. How an evolved class awakened like you managed to succeed where countless others have failed. I want to know how you managed to do the impossible and whether I can do the same. Aodhn gritted his teeth and glanced around to see more than a dozen heads suddenly turn in their direction. Despite the noise in the hall, the subject of a familiar was one that most people were interested in, and like a beacon, it called the attention of dozens. Aodhn shook his head and was just about to deny her when his gaze landed on Tyrus Hadjen, and a thought suddenly came to mind. He mulled over the idea for a moment before turning back to Fortuna. Fine, but we can''t talk here. Too many eyes and ears. Fortuna glanced around too, and when she noticed the attention their conversation had drawn, she stood up, pushed her chair back, and said to Aodhn. Come on, then, let''s find somewhere more private to speak. The gazes of the eavesdroppers morphed into glares, most of them directed at Fortuna, but she ignored them all and pulled him away from the banquet table. Eyes followed them, although the conversations and laughter never stopped, and when Aodhn found Daruk''s worried gaze, he shook his head to explain that he was fine. Daruk didn''t seem convinced, but at least he wasn''t bolting out of his seat in worry. Fortuna led them out of the hall, taking so many twists and turns that Aodhn was sure he would get lost if he ever tried to make his way back on his own. They walked in silence for almost ten minutes before Fortuna gently tapped a staccato rhythm on the walls of a plain-looking hallway, and the vines receded to reveal a fairly spacious room filled with nature and life essence. Thick vines covered the walls and roof, leaving only the floor bare. Runes peeked out from between the mesh of vines, and a glowing crystal hung from the ceiling, filling the room with verdant light. This is my cultivation chamber. Fortuna whispered, staring at the room with a mixture of pride and satisfaction. She turned back to him and smiled. Trust me, nothing you say here shall ever leave this room. Aodhn snorted, not quite sure he believed the eccentric woman, but he had decided to do this, and there was no going back. Still, Aodhn stayed silent, turning around to take in the room until Fortuna spoke again. You are very aggravating. Do you know that? Aodhn grinned. I''ve been called that once or twice in the past few weeks. So, it''s not a new development, then? Aodhn thought back to the monks and shook his head, chuckling. I very much doubt it. He stared at the verdant corona for a moment, somber, before he spoke up. I can''t tell you how I bonded Varc. Fortuna tried to protest, but Aodhn spoke over her. I can tell you anything else except how. Fortuna glared at him, discontented, but after a moment, she sighed. Then I''ll settle for all that you can tell me; perhaps I''ll gain a thing or two from it. Aodhn nodded and said. I''ll tell you my experience with Varc; in fact, I''ll even show him to you, but before I do so, I have two conditions. Fortuna frowned and observed him closely before speaking. What are your conditions? Aodhn created a chair for himself and sat down. I require an explanation about a class scaling skill I just got, and the second condition concerns Lieutenant Tyrus Hadjen. Chapter 93: Familiars and conditions Being creatures born of chaos, familiars experience the Twisted Effect far more intensely than humans; however, under the law of awakened advancement and cultivation, it is explicitly stated that the bonds (humans) are and will be held responsible for the actions of their familiars regardless of the situation or their own state of mind at the time. This provision clearly holds the bond accountable for any misconduct or damage caused by their familiar, emphasizing the need for control and responsibility during the process. Professor Faelar Dubois (AC) Sector 5, Ragnarok.
When Fortuna had asked Aodhn how he bonded Varc, his first instinct had been to completely deny her, but after his gaze landed on Tyrus Hadjen, who was seated stoically beside his father, hed gotten the brilliant idea to use Fortuna to fulfill Daruks promise to the lieutenant. Perhaps, because of her friendly demeanor, Aodhn had forgotten that the woman was a colonel, a military rank even higher than that of the commander, and to be completely honest, he was uncomfortable with the whole Arnold Frostbourne charade. As much as he wanted to forget all about the lieutenant and the event that tied them together, this was a chance to sever whatever karma existed between them, and it would be foolishness not to take advantage of it. Fortuna observed him quietly for almost a minute, her expression twisted into a frown of confusion and irritation. Is there a reason youre requesting the transfer of a soldier, Mr. Brystion? She folded her arms and squared her shoulders. I didnt think I had to remind you that civilians have no business meddling with the military. Aodhn stared at Fortuna calmly, not allowing her change in tone and demeanor to scare him. He let out a deep breath, squared his shoulders, and replied. Lieutenant Hadjen was instrumental in the survival of my brother and me after a terrible ship accident, and we promised to repay him. This is what he wants. I see. Fortuna gave a tight smile and created a chair for herself to sit on. What I do not understand is what you expect me to do about it. Aodhn shifted awkwardly under Fortunas intense gaze. Admittedly, he knew very little about the military or the procedures and requirements involved in the transfer of a soldier from one sector to another, but Fortuna was a noble, a Colonel, a champion, and more importantly, a future ascendant candidate. Surely, she had enough pull within the military to do something like this. Lieutenant Hadjen has asked to be removed from the Sigma 25 camp in Conquestia and transferred to another. As a Colonel, I thought you could You thought wrong. Fortuna cut him off with a glare. Transferring a soldier to another sector isnt the problem. Transferring Tyrus Hadjen is. His father will fight me tooth and nail if I even suggest moving him out of his current post. Besides, I have no official grounds to carry out such a request. Its simply too hard and frankly not worth the trouble. Aodhn glared at her. Evolving your bloodline from Epic to Blessed was considered almost impossible, yet you did it anyway. I never pegged you for someone who would shy away from hard situations. Fortuna smirked, not at all offended by his words. I think you missed the part where I said this wasnt worth the trouble. Aodhn wanted to argue, but instead, he shrugged. Well, Im sorry, but those are my terms. If you cant fulfill them, then I cant tell you anything. Fortunas smirk twisted into something more sinister, and she leaned forward slightly. You do realize that I could force you to tell me, dont you? She gestured to the soundproofed chamber. No one would hear you even if you screamed. Aodhn barely managed to suppress a shudder as his gaze darted around the vine-covered chamber, and he hastily took several deep breaths to steady himself, only now realizing that he was alone with a late-staged, advanced-class soldier with nowhere to run or hide. Foolish. He berated himself quietly. However, the situation wasnt too dire. He might be alone, but he wasnt exactly unprotected. He let out a small smile, crossed his legs, and said. You would risk offending not only Mythic Zatya Malakov but Ascendant candidate Lightus as well if you dare do such a thing. His voice was soft and unthreatening; however, it had a more profound effect on Fortuna than he could have imagined. Her cruel smile withered immediately, and a flash of fear crossed her verdant gaze, although it was gone so fast that Aodhn wondered if hed imagined it. Fortuna grimaced and observed him for a moment before she snapped. Fine! Ill transfer the fucking lieutenant, but I wont be fulfilling the second condition if you wont even tell me how you bonded the familiar. Its only a deal when its fair. Aodhn shook his head and tried to convince her. I assure you, the class-scaling skill is less of a condition and more of an opinion. I just want you to observe the skill and tell me what you think. Im not doing it without additional information. She refused. In fact, I shouldnt even fulfill the first condition without additional information. If I wanted to know more about familiars, I could have read a fucking book or asked my mother. The only reason Im even speaking to you is because I want to know how you managed to do the impossible. If you cant tell me how, this entire conversation is pointless. I cant tell you how. Aodhn spoke softly, trying to reason with her. But I can tell you all I know. Everything pertaining to familiars No! Aodhn. Fortuna shouted, and the vines around them pulsed eagerly. I dont need a lecture on the topic of familiars. Ive been studying them before you even awakened. Aodhn sputtered, desperately searching for a way to convince her. The second condition was no longer a priorityhe could always consult Gwendolyn Blackwood for answers once they returned to the academy. However, the first condition was crucial. If he couldn''t persuade her to meet it, he doubted he could fulfill Tyrus''s request by any other means. I could maybe walk you through the process or something. He said to her after a moment of thought, but Fortuna shook her head in disappointment and sighed. I dont want you to walk me through it, Aodhn; I want you to tell me how. I cant do that! You cant or you wont? Fortuna asked, her verdant gaze piercing through him and stirring his guilt. In that moment, Aodhn struggled to remember why he had been lying and deceiving the world in the first place. Aside from the fear of having the necklace taken from him or being attacked for it, he realized he had no other reasons for his deception.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! Not that the above reasons weren''t legitimate concerns; however, as Fortuna stared him down, they suddenly felt insignificant. What was the point of lying if no one important believed him anyway? Principal Zatya definitely didnt, and neither did the awakened council. In fact, he doubted anyone above the advanced class did, which begged the question once again: What was the point of lying? Only people like Fortuna believed his lies, and it was only a matter of time before others began losing themselves to the origin plane in an attempt to achieve the impossible. Guilt pricked at him with the thought. Confessing to Fortuna might have been a foolish decision, but Aodhn did it anyway. He was weary of the lies and deceit. Besides, now that the necklace was safely hidden where no one would ever find it, he no longer cared if the world knew the truth. Meeting Fortuna''s gaze, he finally spoke the truth. I didnt bond Varc on my own. I was aided by an artifact. The words echoed loudly in the chamber as silence descended. Aodhn sighed in relief, feeling his spirit lighten as if he had thrown off shackles and laid down a heavy burden. Bliss and contentment washed over him, and Aodhn smiled, basking in the newfound weightlessness that coursed through his spirit. The blissful moment was, however, cut short when Fortuna flashed forward and grabbed the only magical item on his person, his fake necklace, and raised it up to the verdant lamp. Aodhn had barely been able to follow her movements, as she had been so fast that he hadnt even seen a blur, but as Fortuna probed the necklace with a strand of energy, Aodhn was glad that hed had the good sense to hide the real artifact away. After almost a minute of scrutiny, Fortuna grimaced and handed the necklace back. Thats not the artifact, is it? I could have told you that if youd just asked. Aodhn responded with a small grin as he collected the necklace and fastened it once again. Fortuna observed him quietly, her gaze lingering on the necklace for a long moment before she asked. What sort of artifact was it? Aodhn grinned. Ill tell you if you say yes to both conditions. Fortuna smiled and shook her head. Fine, Ill fulfill both conditions. Aodhns grin widened, and with a flourish, he stood up, dismissed the chair construct, and gave a shallow bow. Colonel Willowood, say hello to Varc. With those dramatic words, Aodhn opened his spirit to release Varc but instantly staggered as overwhelming rage and malice flooded his mind. Varc surged out of his spirit the next instant, his eyes aglow with chaos and fury. The torrent of emotions surged through their psychic link and into Aodhns mind, causing him to stagger once more as he struggled to regain his footing. Aodhn had suspected that Varc would be enraged at being cooped up within his spirit for the past four days, but he hadnt expected the intensity of the emotions Varc bore, and he wondered if this was a lingering consequence of the twisted effect. Before he could react or reorient himself, a torrent of black lightning shot out of Varcs mouth and slammed into him, engulfing him in a dense amount of decay essence that reduced an entire half of his suit to ash before he managed to stumble out of the attack. Calm down, Varc. He shouted when he finally gained a semblance of control over his mind, but Varc wasnt listening. He couldnt listen. Varc''s mind was so filled with chaotic essence that all of Aodhn''s attempts to control him only aggravated him more. Varc let out another torrent of lightning, red this time, and although Aodhn defended with a shield construct, the explosion still sent him tumbling through the air. It slammed him against the vine-covered walls, and Aodhn groaned as he quickly picked himself up from the floor and moved towards Varc. Ignoring the numerous welts and injuries that now covered his skin, he focused on trying to push emotions of calm and control through their bond. However, Varcs mind was completely obscured by a thick haze of chaos essence that made his efforts seem like pouring resources into a black hole. He glanced at Fortuna and found her seated at the far end of the chamber, her eyes focused on Varc as she took down a few notes. Fuck my life. Aodhn cursed as he turned his gaze back to Varc and willed a storm cloud into existence. The cloud had barely even formed before it was completely obliterated by another torrent of red lightning. The resulting explosion was so powerful that Aodhn was blasted back once again and slammed against the wall with so much force that runes flared brightly and his bones rattled violently. Okay, that hurt. Aodhn gritted out as he picked himself up once more and dodged another torrent of black lightning. Still, he wasnt fast enough, and he grimaced as the last of his suit crumbled to dust, leaving him only in his boxer briefs and the tattered remnants of his trousers. Aodhn glared at Varc and muttered angrily. Well, if emotions wont work, force definitely will. Without further hesitation, Aodhn launched forward and activated {Lightning BeamRed}. A torrent of red lightning rushed out of his palm and slammed into a similar torrent from Varc. The subsequent explosion was so large and loud that it blasted both of them backwards and slammed them against the wall with so much force that the entire chamber came alive with runic light. Despite Aodhns resistance to lightning, gashes opened up on his skin, and his earlier wounds widened, soaking his briefs in blood. Aodhn barely grimaced. After several weeks of pain tolerance training with Eldrith, welts and gashes werent enough to put him out of commission. He dashed forward, white-gold lightning arcing in his wake, and with a furious growl, he slammed a storm hammer into Varcs head. Varc let out a pained roar as the hammer shattered from the force of his attack, but Aodhn easily created another and brought it down on Varec''s head with enough force to topple a small building. Varc staggered, and one of his fangs shattered, but the pain only seemed to fuel his anger. He gave up on using his skills and lashed out. Claws, fangs, and a bladed tail struck forward, all intent on skewering Aodhn to pieces. Aodhn dodged instinctively, his body contorting painfully as he spun around to smash another hammer into Varcs head. Varc staggered and slammed his head against the wall. Aodhn probed their psychic link again, and although the chaos cloud around Varcs mind had reduced, it was still too thick for Aodhns emotions to pierce through. In that small moment of distraction, though, Varc roared, releasing another torrent of black lightning that sent Aodhn careening backwards. Aodhn countered the spreading decay by injecting a beam of {Elemental LightningGreen} directly into his wounds. He didnt have time to study the effects, though, as he had to dodge another barrage of black lightning. He launched forward once again, grimacing as black and green lightning fought for superiority within his body. He slammed another hammer into Varcs head, but Varc countered by stabbing his horns into Aodhns shoulders and releasing another torrent of red lightning at point blank range. Aodhn gritted his teeth in pain as he twisted and blocked the attack, but Varc was already gearing up for another attack, and Aodhn knew it was time to bring out the big guns. He dug deep and harnessed the dormant rage within him. Almost immediately, Aodhns gaze turned red, and his hesitation to avoid severely hurting Varc flew out the window. He was still in control, but it was as if his emotions were muted. Silenced. Replaced solely with a rage that burned violently within him. This time, as Varc arched his neck to unleash another torrent of red lightning, Aodhn seized control of the energy and detonated it right within Varcs throat. If Varc had been a normal awakened beast, that would have been his end. Instead, his sinuous neck exploded in a gruesome burst, cutting off a roar of pain almost as soon as it began. Roiling clouds of chaos surged to regenerate the neck, but even Varcs inherent ''unkillability'' couldn''t mask the toll it took. The violent healing process drained him, severely diminishing the chaos cloud around his mind and causing him to stagger. Aodhn barely sympathized. In the next instant, he willed a storm cloud into existence and activated {Lightning Spear RainRed}. Dozens of red lightning spears as thick as his arms rained down from the cloud, piercing Varcs wings and body. Varc tried to retaliate with another torrent of lightning, but Aodhn detonated that too, along with all the spears lodged within Varcs body. The ensuing explosion was so violent that Varc almost completely vanished, turning translucent as his entire body exploded in a shower of chaos and lightning essence. Aodhn finally let go of his rage and probed Varcs mind once more. The chaos cloud was completely gone, leaving only pain and confusion bleeding from Varcs thoughts. Aodhn sighed, feeling a pang of guilt as he approached Varcs weakened form. In his studies about familiars, he had read that it wasnt unusual for them to have a more severe reaction to the twisted effect. However, when Varc had shown no signs after their return from the time chamber, Aodhn had hoped he was fine. Hed been wrong. He knelt beside Varc and cradled his large head. Im sorry, buddy. Varc was too exhausted to respond and simply retreated into Aodhns spirit for a much-needed rest. Aodhn then turned back to their spectator. Fortuna''s grin was wide with excitement as she tucked her notes away and stood up. I couldnt have asked for a better presentation, Aodhn. Now, how about we discuss that skill of yours? Chapter 94: The morning after Aodhn collapsed onto the monster-sized guest bed alongside Aldric and Daruk after the banquet finally ended. Following his battle with Varc, Aodhn had to change into the outfit he was supposed to wear to the Cavanaughs event yesterday, as the suit hed worn earlier was now, well, nonexistent. Once he and Fortuna returned to the banquet table, Aodhn sent a text to Daruk, promising to fill him in on the meeting later. The banquet proceeded smoothly after that, and now, with only four hours left before dawn, all Aodhn wanted was to sleep. However, his brothers wouldnt let him. Do you still remember our plans for tomorrow? Aldric asked, his words slurred from all the alcohol hed drunk. Aodhn opened his tired eyes and sighed. Yes, Aldric. I remember, but if I dont sleep now, I''ll most likely forget. Daruk chuckled. And we wouldnt want that, because that''d mean going to jail. Daruk''s words weren''t as slurred, but he was clearly very drunk. Aodhn wasnt sure that being this inebriated on the night before their mission was a good idea, but he wasnt exempt either. He had lost count of the number of wine glasses hed downed after the twelfth. Nah, no jail for us. Aldric drawled. Our plans are airtight. Or is it watertight? Damn. Daruk chuckled. Thats a good question. Perhaps its fire-tight. That makes sense, doesnt it, Aodhn? I mean, fire is like... tight. I guess it is, Daruk. Fire seems really tight. Aodhn sighed and closed his eyes once more. His eyes felt like lead weights. If he could just What was I talking about before all this tight business? Aldric muttered and jerked slightly before snuggling closer to Aodhn. Oh, I remember. I just wanted to make sure we have everything in order. Daruk picked it up, his words barely coherent. The crushed somnorus seeds, rope, your a-game, and flowers. Flowers werent on the list, Daruk. Aodhn replied once again. "Please, guys, be quiet. I need to sleep. Fortunately, they kept quiet after that, and Aldric even began snoring quietly. It took only a few minutes for Daruk to join him, but as drunk and tired as Aodhn was, his mind refused to sleep. It spun from one thought to the next, replaying several events from the day until it eventually settled on the conversation hed had with Fortuna after hed shown her the elemental lightning skill. Contrary to what hed expected, seeing the skill had only made Fortuna more reluctant to discuss the skill. I truly cannot help you with this skill, as thatll risk limiting its future potential. Ill advise you to understand it on your own. Shed insisted after Aodhn had asked if she had any opinions to offer for the second time. Okay, isn''t there anything useful you can tell me about the skill? Fortuna shook her head. Aside from the fact that the green lightning is vitality aspected I cant tell you anything else about it. Cant or wont? Aodhn glared at her, and Fortunas grin widened. Wont. She laughed and patted his shoulders playfully. Trust me, this is a skill you want to figure out on your own. Telling you anything risks tainting your budding understanding with mine. I promise Im doing you a favor. Aodhn sighed and pushed the thought out of his mind, but his mind didnt stop spinning, and only moved on to the next event. Varc. Guilt pricked at him as he tried to shift his thoughts away, but images of his battle with Varc kept replaying in his mind. As creatures of chaos, familiars were naturally prone to emotional imbalances, but in this case, Aodhn felt responsible. Hed kept Varc cooped up within his spirit for a good reason, but perhaps he should have let him out earlier? Would that have made any difference? Aodhn sighed and turned, trying to find a more comfortable position on the extremely soft bed. It wasnt working, and after another fifteen minutes of tossing and adjusting, he stood up, created a storm cloud for himself, and collapsed onto it. He let out a purr of contentment as his element surrounded him, and before long, he too fell asleep. *** When Aodhn next woke up, it was already late morning, and the first thing he felt was a migraine. He groaned, burying his face deeper into the cloud to block out the sunlight and keep his head from exploding. Aldric and Daruk were nowhere to be found, so Aodhn assumed they must have gone downstairs. Rather than freshen up to join them, Aodhn decided to review his status instead. [STATUS] Name: Aodhn Ashoka-Brystion. Title: Neophyte, Storm Spirit, Bronze, Origin Marked, Seal Bearer. Class: Evolved storm awakened: 99.9% (PENDING) Tier: 2113% Glimpse --->Grasp ---> Opening: Increases elemental affinity and abilities by 2.5% Techniques: perfect will imbuement (8). Skills {Innate}: [Storm creation and manipulation] [Lightning creation and manipulation] {Other}: [Lightning surge] [Lightning beam] [Lightning descent] [Create constructs] [Absorb lightning] [Spear rainLightning] [Spear rainStorm] [Vortex of lightning] [Vortex of Storm] [Elemental lightningStage 1] Bloodline: Origin Storm supremacy. {Unique} ? Amplifies storm abilities by 3%. ? Grants major resistance to lightning. ? Aura of Origin supremacy. FamiliarDragonkin (Fury) Perks: psychic bond, merge. There were barely any new changes since the last time hed reviewed it, but seeing his progress like this usually calmed him. His gaze roamed through his skills, some of which he hadnt really tested out in a battle, like {Lightning Vortex} and {Spear RainStorm}. When he reached {Elemental Lightning}, he grinned slightly. So far, the black lightning was pretty understandable, even the red lightning, but the green was still a mystery to him, and Fortuna had been thoroughly unhelpful in that regard. He could always ask Andrew, though, but he doubted he would get anything reasonable from him. No offense, but Andrew wasnt the brightest when it came to skills or advancement in general. After reading through his status screen, Aodhn moved on to his messages, hoping for a text from Lupin, but there was none. Even his last message to her remained unread. The silence was troubling, and he couldn''t shake the worry gnawing at him. After a few minutes of fretting, he forced himself to set the matter aside, resolving to deal with it some other time when his head wasnt in danger of exploding. He closed his eyes and spent the next few minutes paying for his drunken sins from the night before. However, just as the migraine began to ease, the doorbell rang loudly, and he cursed as the pain spiked. Bloody fucking ashes! he groaned as he turned and settled deeper into the storm cloud, but the bell rang again, this time even louder, and with an expression as dark as a storm cloud, Aodhn made his way to the blasted door and pulled it open, ready to give whichever servant he found there a strict warning. Rather than a maid or servant, he found Ashley, Andrews immediate sister, smiling up at him with her arms folded behind her. Aodhns anger subsided, but his head still felt like exploding, so he asked gruffly. What do you want?The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Ashleys smile widened into a grin. Ah, not in a good mood, I see. I did warn you all to stay away from the verdant wine. Im not in the mood, Ashley. Aodhn glared at her. State your business and leave me be. Poor little thing. Ashley cooed, observing him with a mixture of amusement and pity. Aodhn scowled at her, but just as he moved to shut the door in her face, she produced a tray of heavenly-scented tea, whose aroma alone subsided his migraine by a quarter. She held it out to him and said, I figured you could benefit from my hangover remedy brewed with several herbs and a touch of life essence. Aodhn didnt need to be told twice, and in one gulp, he downed the entire jug of the surprisingly sweet drink. Usually, hangover remedies were disgusting and bitter, but as the sweet, slightly viscous tea slid down his throat, life essence surged through his entire body, in a manner not dissimilar to the movement of energy during an advancement. His migraine subsided almost immediately, reduced to a slight pounding at the back of his mind that he easily ignored. By ascendants! How did you brew this sorcery? he asked, hoping to get the recipe from her, just in case he found himself in a similar situation in the near future. That I will not tell you. Ashley grinned and walked into the room. Her gaze took in the storm cloud and the rumpled bed sheets before turning back to him. In case youre wondering, your brothers are downstairs with Andrew. I figured. Aodhn shrugged, already feeling so much better, but as Ashley continued to stare at him, he began to feel self-conscious. He moved to the opposite end of the room, putting more than enough space between them before asking. Arent you worried about your reputation? Anyone could come in. Ashley raised an eyebrow in confusion and amusement as Aodhn continued. It is my understanding that noble ladies are usually conscious of a scene such as this to protect their... Their what? Ashley asked, grinning at Aodhns discomfort. Surely you can say it. To protect their virtue and all that. Aodhn finished, burning from embarrassment. Ashley laughed, the sound filled with incredulity. Dont you have noble ladies in the academy? Thats different. Aodhn hastily responded. Besides, we usually arent in the same room. Relax. Ashley chuckled and moved to sit on the edge of the bed. Its practically impossible for you to ruin my reputation; in fact, Id wager getting caught together will do just the opposite. She cocked her head and smiled. You still don''t realize just how powerful you are, do you? Aodhn grimaced, already sensing the direction this conversation was taking. I believe youre about to enlighten me. No. Not really. Ashley grinned. I believe youve grown weary of the topic by now. Its all anyone wants to talk to you about; after all, Id be out of my mind with frustration if I were you. Aodhn stared at her for a long moment before he created a chair for himself and sat down. What do you want? Absolutely nothing. I swear it. Im just sizing up the competition. What competition? Aodhn asked, and Ashley waved a hand dismissively. Oh, you know, the academy tournaments and all. It should be coming up very soon. Aodhn grinned. I doubt well be facing each other considering our different classes and all. But our academies will be. Ashley winked. The 4th academy is prepared to take the title of the best academy this year. Aodhn snorted in amusement. The 4th Academy is not even in the running for third place. You underestimate us. Ashley shrugged. We may not have entered the top five in the last ten years, but this time will be different. Youll be doing yourself a favor to not underestimate us. Aodhn nodded. Ill take that under advisement. Ashley pursed her lips, scrutinizing him for a moment before sighing. Fortuna says youre an excellent fighter. Thats high praise coming from her. Aodhn snorted. No offense, but your elder sister is a Madwoman? I would have used a less offensive word, but yeah. That about sums it up. Ashley laughed. "Many people think the same, and no, I''m not trying to make excuses for her. She''s just obsessed with doing the impossible, breaking limits and preconceived notionsmuch like you did with your familiareven though she''s already a walking definition of impossibility." Aodhn nodded, relating a little. Although he wouldnt describe his need to stand out from others as obsessive, he definitely thought it was a little extreme. That didnt make Fortuna any less of a bitch, though. He shook his head and asked. This whole familiar thingI take it your entire family knows? Ashley shrugged again. The flow of information into the 8th sector has been weird ever since the Sunstonians attacked, but I expect about half, if not all, of those present at the banquet yesterday now know. Fortuna wasnt exactly discreet in her interrogation. Aodhn shook his head and sighed. It didnt matter any more, though. This was his life now, and he just had to learn to live with it. Ashley grinned, stood up from the bed, and headed towards the door. Ill let you freshen up. Lunch should be ready soon. After she left, Aodhn dismissed the storm cloud and made his way to the bathroom. Fifteen minutes later, he was dressed in a gray t-shirt and black shorts. He sprayed his lightning-flavored perfume, recreated his storm scarf, and stepped out of the room. Needing directions to the lunch or dining room, he grabbed the first servant he found, and ten minutes later, he arrived in a relatively large room that was technically an indoor garden. A long wooden table stood at the center of the room, and because of how realistic it looked, it took Aodhn a moment to realize that it was a root instead, repurposed or manipulated into the shape of a table. Daruk, Aldric, and several members of the Willowood extended family sat around the table, discussing merrily among themselves as they waited for the food to arrive. Baron Nikolai and his wife sat at the head of the table, with Fortuna and Diendre seated on either side of them, followed by Aunt Mio, Ashley, Andrew, and several other family members whose names hed forgotten. Andrews grandparents were nowhere to be found, nor was his great-grandmother, whom Aodhn hadnt had the pleasure of meeting yet. After greeting Andrew''s parents, Aodhn slid into the empty chair beside Daruk, who was busy arguing with uncle Roshan about the consequences of seals and the Twisted effect. Aodhn doubted this was an appropriate breakfast/lunch conversation, but if the hosts, whom he noted were listening, had no problem with it, then who was he to complain? Although we take on some of the behaviors of our concepts or elements after a seal, it''s only ever obvious during the duration of the twisted effect. Uncle Roshan argued, and in a stiff, scholarly tone, Daruk disagreed. The seals change us permanently; even after the duration of the twisted effect, many have been known to display unusual characteristics, abrupt behavioral changes, and untempered rage. You do have a point. Uncle Roshan conceded. I just think people should be held accountable for their actions after the duration of the Twisted effect, which shouldnt exceed three days in my opinion. Many have hidden heinous crimes under the pretense of being out of control. As Aodhns gaze roamed the gathered group, some of whom were staring at him with a mixture of fascination and curiosity, he noticed that almost everyone present was listening to Daruks and uncle Roshans argument, although, if they had differing opinions, they neglected to offer them. That is true. Daruk muttered with a contemplative frown. But it still doesnt explain why you referred to the element of cold as the antithesis of life in your previous statement. How a topic on the twisted effect had stemmed from a simple conversation regarding the antithesis of life, Aodhn couldn''t understand; however, he listened closely as this was a conversation he was very curious about. Because," Uncle Roshan began after a nod of acknowledgement in Aodhns direction, "it is indeed an antithesis of life. Have you experienced the winters of Unoros? Of course, its perpetually snowing in their kingdom, but their actual winters kill. In fact, I daresay, that after death itself, cold is the next. Aodhn frowned in disagreement, and apparently many others shared his sentiment, because several murmurs rose up, and Diendre spoke up. No offense, uncle Roshan, but I disagree with that part of your argument. Cold is not the next antithesis; if anything, its the fifth. Or seventh. Aunty Mio snorted, balancing a child on her knees. Whatever happened to oblivion, void, fire, doom, entropy, or plagues. I would place those far above some measly cold. Aodhn chuckled as Daruk grimaced, dissatisfied that his element had been referred to as measly, but Aunty Mio was technically on his side, so he couldnt exactly argue with her. Instead, he said, I agree with Aunty Mio. Even blood and ethereal concepts can be considered more antithetical to life than cold itself. This argument is pointless. Fortuna suddenly spoke up, earning scowls from multiple people, including her parents. what? She scowled back at them. To call an element or concept the antithesis of life is absurd. Even death itself fosters a form of life that is seen in the undead. The mention of the undead caused a ripple of disgust that moved through the whole room. People frowned, their expressions hardening and their gazes sharpening in anger. The unliving are an abomination. Baron Nikolai spoke up for the first time, an intense glare etched into his face. Necromancy is a profession that is against the very foundations of our world. To call that life is heresy. Most people present nodded in agreement, even Daruk, and from their expressions alone, Aodhn understood the general consensus. Necromancy was detested, but that begged the question. What about those who cultivated the concept of death, like ascendant candidate Mordok or commander Hadjen? Weren''t they technically necromancers? The excitement in the air subsided after that, and it wasnt until the servants came in with their food that the conversation started up again. Aodhn kept sneaking glances at Fortuna, who somehow always managed to sense his attention and turn his way every time he looked at her. She said nothing, though, and after the meal, Aodhn, Aldric, and Daruk said their goodbyes, promising to return as soon as they had the chance. Ashley provided him with a bag of her remedy tea, promising to give him the recipe if he managed to figure out half the herbs in the tea, while Diendre gave them an ointment dense with life essence that she instructed them to give their mother, going so far as to make them promise not to use it on themselves. That only made Aodhn and Aldric want to test it out, so Daruk kept it in his spatial storage and refused to bring it out despite their pleading. They soon departed the Willowood estate and made their way back to the portal station, where they paid the required dues and joined the queue headed for the 3rd sector. This time, they didnt pay the extra fees for recalibration, so when they stepped into the portal, they arrived at the portal station in Shilem, the port city of sector 3. A loud din of hustle and bustle filled the air, entwined with the horns of shuttles and the vibration of hovercars. The scent of caffeinated tea filled the air, tinged with the pungent scent of ink. They stepped out of the portal station a moment later and walked into the crowded streets of the 3rd sector, more popularly known as the sector of Laws and Awakened Affairs. Chapter 95: The sector of Law and Awakened Affairs Shilem, the port city of Sector 3, was a crowded city filled with towering office and residential buildings, each bearing a spire that reached up to the clouds. The buildings were clad in shimmering black glass and cold steel that reflected the blinding midday sun in a dizzying array of flashes. The streets themselves were filled with people, all moving with purposeful strides. Men and women in business attire hustled about, clutching transparent file bags, briefcases, or speaking into their chips, as they weaved through the crowd with practiced ease, most likely returning from work. Everywhere, Aodhn looked teemed with life and movement. People spilled out of office buildings, their animated chatter adding to the cacophony of honking shuttles. As they moved deeper into the city, they found a cluster of older, grandiose buildings, their neoclassical facades standing in stark contrast to the modern, minimalistic structures around them, adding a touch of historical depth to the bustling district. The sector was everything Aodhn had expected it to be from his studies, and from the wide smile on Daruks face, it was obvious he shared Aodhns sentiment. Aldric, on the other hand, wore a scowl, overwhelmed by the sheer number of people and emotions he was probably feeling. Aodhn had thought the 5th sector was crowded, and compared to the 8th or 12th sector, it was, but it couldnt be compared to the 3rd sector. The number of people moving around him alone was astounding, and Aodhn wondered how crime was managed in a sector this large. His question was answered a moment later, when they saw a group of security officials milling around, trying to manage and control the traffic of both people and shuttles. Just as they watched, a security officer dove his hand into the crowd and pulled out a boy, about their age, from the shadow of an old woman. The boy froze like a deer caught in headlights, a coin purse still clutched in his hands, and when he tried to escape into another shadow, the security officer quickly placed a runic cuff on him and handed the old woman back her coin purse. This place is a mess. Daruk frowned as the security officer handed the boy over to a colleague and continued his watch. It''s almost like no one even noticed what just happened. They did. Aldric snorted. They just dont care. A couple of them are too scared to speak up, though. I imagine those are the criminals among them. Aodhn narrowed his gaze and observed the crowd. Despite how tired most of them looked, they laughed, smiled, and partied. They didnt look like oppressed people, which meant this was probably just business as usual in the port city. This probably isnt the first time such a thing has happened." Daruk muttered. In fact, Id wager that it happens a lot. Look at the crowd in this place! Aodhn chuckled as they moved further into the city, towards a round black building covered in runes and glowing with reddish light. The building was one of the largest in the area and was easily identified as an annex of the Ministry of Awakened Affairs by the large symbol of a glowing Ragnar placed atop its shortest spire. Aodhn chuckled as he took in the heavy traffic, which was a sight hed never seen before now. Despite how large the roads were, each lane churned with a sea of vehicles, each one vying for a position in an unending stream of honking metallic beasts. Private cars darted in an out-of-lane, much to the frustration of the traffic wardens. Mega-shuttles, another new sight, lumbered heavily along their routes, and shuttles inched forward in a slow yet determined crawl. In the air, hovercars and buses flashed around endlessly, moving around in a formation that, although it made sense to the people of the sector, was utter chaos to Aodhn. Above the hovercars, though, were flying people, some moving on their platforms while others used various other methods that enabled flight. Rather than create a platform and zoom off, an idea that Aldric was firmly in support of, Aodhn and Daruk decided to walk instead, determined to get the full mundane experience and really soak in the city. They moved around the city, buying snacks and gawking at the new sight, but in their amazement, Aodhn and Daruk failed to notice the looks and attention they were slowly garnering, until Aldric tapped Aodhn on the shoulders and grinned evilly. It seems to me that the people of sector 3 arent quite as uninformed as the residents of Willowsburgh. Aodhn turned in confusion, and that was when the first flash of a camera went off. As if the first was a signal, a flurry of camera flashes followed, blinding Aodhn with their intensity. It only took a few seconds before they were completely surrounded by people, and Aodhn cursed, hastily adjusting his storm scarf to conceal his face. He may have accepted his fate as a celebrity now, but he still wasnt ready for all this razzle-dazzle. Aldric''s grin widened. "I hate to say I told you so, but we should have taken off when we had the chance." Aodhn grimaced and conjured a storm platform big enough for all three of them. Just as he stepped onto it, an explosion shook the entire district, catapulting him into the path of an oncoming mega-shuttle. Bang! The last sound Aodhn heard before blacking out was a piercing, high-pitched whine that stabbed through his mind like a spear of lightning. *** Ten minutes before the explosion. Nikolaus Valerion leaned against the walls of a particularly busy tea house, watching the bustling crowd go by. He was dressed in his usual black cloak that looked like a rag to the unperceptive, which most of the people in this sector were. To those who knew what to look for, the cloak was instead an epic-grade magical item, tuned specifically to the concept of sunlight.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. Nikolaus had stolen it from a rich merchant in Rys, along with his boots and his current girlfriend, Denise, whom he loved oh so dearly for her cloak and disguise abilities. He grinned at the thought and shook his head, his gaze roaming the busy streets and noting the positions of the security officers stationed around the area. They would be gone soon, by the time their shift ended, and another set of officers would take their place. But it didnt matter; all he needed was that small window of opportunity before the new officers arrived. It would be enough. He assured himself. This wasnt the first time he was carrying out this sort of heist, and in his experience, it was usually over in a few minutes. Ascendants willing, he would make away with just enough money to set him up for the next few weeks. A man brushed past him, and Nikolaus scowled. The man apologized hurriedly, but Nikolaus waved him off. There was no need to call attention to himself by getting into an altercation with the man. That would only ruin his plans. Instead, Nikolaus adjusted his bandana in an attempt to conceal his signature pink hair, and with a sigh, he settled in to wait for a few more minutes. While he waited, a newspaper peddler pushed his cart past him, and Nikolauss gaze caught the familiar smile of his younger brother, Artemis, on the front page, along with his girlfriend, Geneva Ryntharion. Didnt they have a messy breakup a few months ago? Love sick imbeciles. Nikolaus snorted in amusement, genuinely glad for his brother. Unlike Artemis, Nikolaus wasnt a monster, nor was he a genius like Cyrus, and although he had his tricks and cunning, he never fancied himself anything other than mediocre, despite bearing the same affinity as the duke himself. One would think that that little detail would have at least drawn his fathers attention to him, but Nikolaus had been cast aside and left to the Duchess to do with as she pleased. He was the first bastard son of Duke Valerion, and the duchess had made him pay for the duke''s mistake. A single mistake hadnt been enough for his father, though, and so, a few years later, Artemis had been born. The duchess grew more bitter with each consecutive bastard, and although she took out her wrath on all of them, Nikolaus had suffered the worst of it. He tried to shield both himself and the other bastards from her wrath, but he rarely succeeded, and when his third half-sibling finally got admitted into the 3rd Academy, Nikolaus decided it was time to go off on his own too. He wasnt doing anyone any favors by allowing himself to perish within the Valerion estate while the other bastards spread their wings. The decision to leave had been a terribly hard one, though, and Nikolaus usually found himself thinking of his half-siblings from time to time. After all that life had dealt him, was it really so surprising that hed turned out to be a thief? Perhaps it was. Nikolaus admitted to himself and glanced across the busy streets again. He perked up when he noticed the security officers moving, and with a languid smile, he prepared to do what he did best. He waited for only a few minutes until the security officers completely left the area before heading towards the Energy Pavilion. Some might argue that any sort of thievery was best done at night, but considering Nikolaus affinity for sunlight, he obviously didnt share such sentiments. Noon was the time he was most powerful, and night was the time he was most vulnerable. Not that he became completely useless or weak, but the absence of the sun usually sapped him of his strength, leaving him half as strong as he was supposed to be. The energy pavilion loomed ahead, a fortress of glass, which indicated to Nikolaus the sort of affinity the merchant who owned the establishment had. When he approached the entrance, he activated {Sun Cloak} and seamlessly blended into the light of his surroundings. With practiced ease, he weaved through the bustling crowd and, a moment later, stepped through the doors of the pavilion. Nikolaus released his aura as soon as the merchant looked up, and a bristling wave of heat suddenly engulfed the whole building. This wasnt his first rodeo, obviously, and after several years of thievery, Nikolaus had gotten quite good at his job. Merchants, especially, were like children''s books, and robbing them was almost as easy as breathing. Pavilion merchants were usually strong considering the nature of their business, but what sort of thief would he be if he attacked a merchant who was stronger than he was? A foolish one, and Nikolaus was no fool. From the information hed gathered on the merchant, the man was barely tier 60 yet, which put him within Nikolauss usual range of victims. The merchant glared at him, and just as Nikolaus expected, he slowly moved to flip the alarm switch. Nikolaus immediately activated {Sun Beam}, and the concentrated beam of solar rays melted the red button to slag before the merchant could flick it. Nikolaus smirked. It was always the same routine with these merchants. If he wasnt the sort of person to take joy in lifes little gifts, hed have grown bored of his job by now. As expected once again, the man moved to flip the runic switch directly behind him, but another {Sun Beam} destroyed that option before the merchant could move more than a couple inches. The merchant paused, his eyes wide with alarm, and Nikolaus tensed slightly. This was the moment he loved the most, the point where the merchant contemplated either fighting or surrendering. Their eventual decision was always obvious in their stance, and Nikolaus grimaced when he noticed the path this merchant had chosen. Without hesitation, Nikolaus shot out another {Sun Beam} just as the merchant moved, and that was when things went to shit. Usually, when faced with danger, humans respond either with a flight or fight option. In rarer cases, they employed the third option: freeze. This merchant chose neither and decided to fuck everything up. He took out two large advanced cores, neither of which were less than the 75th tier, and with a grin of utter malice, he smashed both cores together just as the concentrated beam of solar rays struck. The cores exploded in a volatile mix of unstable energies that soon spiraled out of control as the smaller cores, which had been displayed on the shelf behind the merchant, smashed to the floor. Essence surged, mixing and roiling violently as several incompatible energies mixed and undulated. Alarmed, Nikolaus grabbed the closest pouch of cores from the counter, barely a dozen in number, but he would forever hate himself if he left this pavilion without stealing anything. He sprinted towards the exit just as the threads of reality began to unravel. Cursing, he weaved several layers of sunlight to protect himself, but just as he burst out of the front doors, a massive explosion rocked the entire building to its core. Concrete and steel from the foundation blasted out, accompanied by a wave of energy, fire, and glass that propelled him forward. Nikolaus hit the ground hard, his ears ringing and his vision blurred. He staggered to his feet immediately, the pouch of cores hed stolen mercifully intact. He ignored the moans and cries of the bodies around him, hurrying to leave the premises before the security officers came, but before he could take more than a few steps, a group of security agents immediately surrounded him, their runic weapons drawn. Nikolaus Valerion, youre under arrest. One of the officers shouted, his voice barely audible over the ringing in Nikolauss ears. He looked around, trying to find an escape route, but his luck had run out, and he couldnt fight off a dozen security officers in his current state. With the weight of his failure crashing down on him, Nikolaus dropped the pouch of cores and raised his hands in surrender. Take him away, and send for the healers immediately. One of the officers, presumably the leader, said to the others, his gaze roaming the pile of broken and injured bodies now littering the street. We have news that the child prodigy is here somewhere. Find him immediately. If he dies, were looking at an unending stack of paperwork along with a very pissed-off high duke, and trust me, we do not want that. Chapter 96: Government officials Aodhns consciousness drifted in and out, the harsh fluorescent light above causing him to wince in discomfort. It took a few seconds for his eyesight to adjust, but when it did, he turned his head to take in his surroundings. Sterile white walls and medical equipment filled his view, and the faint scent of antiseptic hung in the air. As he took in his surroundings, the memory of the speeding mega-shuttle flashed across his mind, and Aodhn suddenly remembered the explosion. He lurched forward, pushing himself to his feet, but he was knocked back down by an intense wave of dizziness. He stumbled as his vision swam, but managed to stay upright by bracing himself on the metallic frame of the hospital bed. The nurses must have been alerted to his awakening because a trio of them rushed in a few seconds later, followed closely by Aldric, who let out a sigh of relief when he saw Aodhn awake. Bless the ascendants!" Aldric exclaimed. Mother would have killed me for sure. The nurses helped him back to the bed, but before Aodhn could ask any questions, the door swung open once again, and a procession of government officials marched in. Please excuse us; we would like to have a moment with Aodhn Brystion. One of them, a nerdy-looking man with ginger hair and copper-rimmed glasses, stated, but Aldric scowled and placed himself before them. Okay, you fucking nutjobs, hes just waking up. He hasnt even said a word; it wouldnt kill you to wait a few more minutes. Weve been waiting for an hour now. The agent scowled, but Aldric refused to budge. Tough shit ginger, youll just have to wait for another. As you can see, my brother is in no position to sign your damnable contracts. The agents exchanged glances and frowned before hesitantly stepping out of the ward along with two of the nurses, leaving only Aldric and one of the nurses left in the ward. The nurse was an advanced-class healer with honey brown hair and two green rings around her golden pupils. She was dressed in a similar manner to the nurses back on earth, but her uniform covered her entire arms, leaving only the tip of her fingers bare. She smiled kindly at him and said, Your younger brother is alive and well. You have no need to worry. Aodhn sighed in relief and smiled at her in gratitude. She patted his palms gently before leaving, and Aodhn turned his gaze to Aldric, who was seated at the edge of his bed. Aldric raised an eyebrow and chuckled. You dont look much like the child prodigy from this angle. Aodhn snorted in amusement. How bad is it? Aldric shrugged. Youre pretty healed up, actually. Im surprised you arent more injured; from what I saw, you took that mega-shuttle to the face like you were made of reinforced steel. Aodhn winced at the memory and shook his head. How are you not injured, though? Luck. Aldric winked. I was thrown into a cart of newspapers instead ofhe gestured to Aodhn with a grimaceyou know, a mega-shuttle. Ascendants know I wouldnt have survived it. Aodhn chuckled lightly and sighed. What about Daruk? Hes still asleep. Unsurprisingly, hes not quite as resilient as you are. Aldric shrugged. Hes doing okay, though, and he should wake up soon. Aodhn closed his eyes and pictured the explosion again. It had happened so suddenly that all he''d sensed was an abrupt spike in energy density, only about a second before the world went black. He shook his head slowly and asked. What even happened? One minute were trying to escape from a ton of paparazzi, and the next, Im getting railed by a mega-shuttle. Aldric laughed and explained all he had seen after the explosion. The person responsible for the explosion was caught almost as soon as he stepped out of the pavilion. Say what you will about this hideous sector, but their security is top-notch. Aodhn snorted. Not good enough to have stopped the explosion before it happened, though. Aldric grinned. Disaster is the spice of life. Whats the fun in preventing it? Im sure the dozens of people who died from the explosion all share your sentiment. Aodhn scowled, and Aldric''s grin faltered. He stared at Aodhn for a moment before sighing. Aodhn, people die all the time. Im not taking joy in it; its a fact of life. Besides, I can assure you that most of those people died of shock rather than pain. Im not sure if thats a better way to die, but its definitely an easier one. Aodhn contemplated Aldrics words for a moment before he shrugged. I guess its better to die of shock than pain. He pushed himself to a sitting position and said, Wave those officials in; we might as well get the necessary paperwork out of the way. We still have an event to attend after all. This break just keeps getting better and better. Aldric rolled his eyes and moved towards the door. Immediately he pulled it open, and the three government officials walked intwo women and a manall dressed in the same crisp black suit, their faces a mask of professional concern and discomfort. The ginger-haired man stepped forward, his slightly pudgy features giving him a look that seemed stuck halfway through puberty. He was a mundane class Awakened like Aldric, with no visible bloodline manifestation save for the above-stated hair. The man adjusted his copper-rimmed glasses and took out a stack of documents from his spatial storage. Mr. Brystion. He began. Im Agent Selwyn, a representative of the MAA. He gestured to the diminutive woman on his right. My partner here is Agent Meira, a representative of the ministrys emergency response unit, and to my left is Agent Nevaeh, our legal consultant. Aodhn nodded, and the man continued. We are here to discuss the next steps following the unfortunate incident at the energy pavilion. Agent Meira took it up from there. There was an explosion. You were caught in the blast, but we managed to get you out in time. Aldric snorted. That wasnt a random explosion. It wasn''t a planned attack either. Agent Nevaeh replied curtly, glaring at Aldric, but Agent Selwyn stepped in before an argument could break out. Theres no need to argue. The nature of the explosion doesnt matter. What matters is that youre safe and healthy, but before the healing center releases you, we need you to sign a few documents, some of which are compensation forms for your injuries, while others are agreements related to this incident. UhmNo. Aldric interjected. Were not agreeing to anything. This might not have been a planned attack, but there''s a criminal involved. We''re not signing or agreeing to anything without getting a lawyer involved.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Okay, Mr. Brystion, calm down. Agent Meira spoke quickly. This is not an interrogation, but a compensation. You''re not being accused of anything, nor are you being suspected of anything. Still Aldric began, but Aodhn cut him off. Let them speak, Aldric. He chuckled and waved for Agent Selwyn to continue. Agent Selwyn stuttered. Well, the thing is, weve got a few documents for the both of you to sign before the hospital releases you." He glanced at Aldric and added. " Your brother insisted that he won''t sign his portion of the documents until you awoke." Aodhn eyed the stack of papers suspiciously. How many documents are there? Agent Selwyn chuckled nervously and turned to his partners as if seeking their reassurance. Just a little over a dozen. Well be done in no time. Aodhn stared at the man with a mixture of disbelief and alarm. Why so many? Agent Meira sighed. Im afraid theres a lot to go through, but thats why were hereto guide you guys. She gestured toward the first stack of papers. This set covers your medical expenses and compensation for your injuries. Aldric leaned closer and scanned the first document. When you say compensation, what exactly do you mean? Agent Selwyn exchanged a glance with his partners before speaking. Let''s just say some very powerful people would like to keep any information about the explosion secret. We''ve been tasked with compensating the affected victims. Bribe us, you mean? Aodhn asked as he read through the compensation documents with Aldric. When he was done, he looked up and frowned at the officials. What about those who didn''t make it alive? Agent Selwyn sputtered, his mouth opening and closing without sound. After a few seconds of silence, agent Naveah responded. We cannot do much for them, but we will compensate their families and put the criminal behind bars. That is all we can do. Aodhn frowned, but before he could speak up, agent Meira spoke. I know what this seems like, but we''re not compensating you to keep the information to yourself. We''re not trying to keep the criminal out of prison. He will definitely pay for his crimes, which are numerous at this point. But the main reason we''re paying you is so that his family''s name doesn''t inadvertently get dragged into the cesspool that going public will create. Aodhn exchanged a glance with Aldric and asked. What if I want to pursue legal action?" I mean, me and my brother were knocked out and injured. Agent Nevaeh considered his question for a moment before shrugging. I mean, you could get some traction, cause a few waves, get people talking, maybe even protest, but it doesn''t matter because the criminal is already being put behind bars. You will gain nothing, save a little more fame and the enmity of the noble family that wants to keep their name away from this mess. Aodhn grimaced at the thought of more fame. Besides, did he want to incur the wrath of a noble family strong enough to pay off the ministry of awakened affairs? The deaths of those who didn''t survive the explosion were a disaster, a sad one, but he wasn''t a hero, nor did he have the capability to be one either. I don''t want to incite a protest. He said after a moment of thought and turned his gaze to agent Meira, who seemed the most trustworthy among the three agents. However, I want to know what noble family we''re dealing with. It''s not important. Agent Selwyn cut in, trying to steer the conversation away from the topic, but Aodhn refused. We won''t sign any document without this information. He smirked and tapped the papers gently. When the agents didn''t respond, he continued. We can always get it by asking around; Aldric saw the criminal after all. It would only take us a few weeks to identify them, which means we''ll know eventually, so you might as well tell us. The three agents exchanged glances, obviously a little confused about what to do. Aodhn fixed his gaze on agent Meira, and just like he thought, she cracked. Ill level with you, Mr. Brystion, because unlike my partners here, I see no reason for dishonesty in a procedure such as this. The person responsible for the explosion is Nikolaus Valerion, a noble whose family name I assume youre quite familiar with considering the sector you reside in. Aodhns eyes widened, and he shook his head incredulously. Just how many Valerion children are scattered around the kingdom anyway? Less than a dozen, I think. Agent Meira responded with a wry smile and continued. Despite Nikolauss estrangement from his family, the duke prefers not to have his familys name dragged into the mud. This is a bribe from Duke Solaris himself for you to keep your mouth shut and keep his family''s name out of this mess. Aodhn nodded in understanding and exchanged a glance with Aldric, all thoughts of going public with this information gone from his mind. Aside from the fact that Duke Solaris was a potential ally, his family lived within the duke''s territory. It would be better to keep his mouth shut than make an enemy of a man like that. Aldric nodded and asked. How much are we talking about here? Just about a hundred golds." Agent Selwyn responded, but after a glance at Aldric, who was glaring furiously at them, he added. For the three of you. Bullshit! Aldric rolled his eyes. What are we supposed to do with a hundred gold? It is a decent amount, agent Nevaeh began, but agent Meira cut her off with a glare and stepped forward. You''re each entitled to three hundred gold coins, which total 900 gold coins. It was an incredible amount of money, more than Aodhn had even expected. Rather than accept right away, he glanced at Aldric, who stepped forward and smirked. I hope you''re not lying, agent Meira, because I can tell when you''re lying. Agent Selwyn and Nevaeh exchanged confused glances, and Aodhn smirked. Aldric is an empath. Aodhn was unprepared for the reaction his words caused. Agent Selwyn jerked, his eyes going wide behind his rimmed glasses, while Nevaeh began murmuring some sort of chant to ward against telepathy and all related mentally intrusive abilities. Agent Meira, on the other hand, had no visible reaction to the statement, save for a slight twitch of her eyes. It didnt exactly mark her as trust-worthy, but Aodhn was more inclined to trust her than the others. I speak the truth. She responded calmly, and a second later, Aldric smiled. So she is. Thank you for your honesty, agent Meira. You''re welcome. Agent Meira nodded, took out a pouch from her spatial space, and handed it over. That pouch contains your individual compensations. However, we''ll have to speak to your younger brother to certify that he is in agreement before paying his quota." Aodhn accepted the pouch and agent Meira continued. "Please note that this isnt the same amount were paying every victim, but you''re a special case. A particular high duke was quite dissatisfied to hear of your accident and has urged us to pay you more handsomely. Aodhn grinned. Thank you, Agent Meira. He exchanged an excited glance with Aldric before proceeding. We wont speak to any reporters about this. Good. Agent Meira responded and moved closer. That being said, youll both have to sign an NDA to ensure that the details of this explosion are kept between us as as well as a settlement confidentiality agreement. Agent Selwyn cut in, but when they all glared at him, he muttered. Fine, Ill just be a spectator then. There''re also liability waivers and indemnity agreements. Agent Meira continued and waved a hand dismissively. Trust me, these documents might seem like a lot for a simple explosion, but theyre all just a formality. All you need to do is sign, and youre free to go. Aodhn gazed at the mountain of paperwork and exchanged a glance with Aldric. They came to an agreement without issue, and Aldric sighed. Fine, lets get it over with. Aodhn took out a pen from his spatial space and began reading. Like Agent Meira had said, the documents covered his medical expenses, consent to access his nonexistent medical records, and details of the treatment hed received. The treatment hed received was very minor, as his regeneration had done the most work. Still, Aodhn went through every single detail before signing. He moved on to the compensation agreements next, which were essentially a provision of financial compensation for his injuries, medical expenses, and any other damage he might have suffered as a result of the explosion. It took him and Aldric more than fifteen minutes to read through and sign all the documents placed before them, after which they returned the documents to agent Meira. The agents left shortly after that, arguing inaudibly amongst themselves, and Aodhn pushed himself to his feet. He still felt slightly woozy, but he estimated he would be alright in an hour. Howre you feeling? Aldric asked, and Aodhn chuckled. Much better after all that money. Aldric laughed and waved him forward. Lets go check on Daruk and get out of here. A grand party awaits us. Chapter 97. The Blackwell Event Daruk was already on his feet when Aodhn and Aldric walked into his ward. The left side of his face was encased in a block of ice, and the right twisted into a scowl when he saw them. Get me out of this place. I swear to the ascendants! This antiseptic is making me nauseous. Master Brystion, one of the two healers in the room began, but Daruk cut off with a firm wave of his hand. I''m perfectly fine. No, youre not. The second healer, standing on the opposite side of the bed, said, sighing as if shed said those exact words a dozen times already. Like I said earlier, Master Brystion, you suffered a concussion. Your self-regeneration is insufficient for such damage; neither is that block of ice going to do anything to heal your wounds. Daruk glared at her and turned his gaze back to them. Get me out of here. Mr. Brystion, I have to insist. The first healer began again, but a yell from Daruk cut her off. I said Im fine! By ascendants, quit fussing over me. Aodhn was honestly surprised to see Daruk in such a state. He was usually so composed and cold. These explosive surges of anger and irritation he was displaying were incredibly unusual. Aldric sighed and whispered to Aodhn. For some reason, hes always hated hospitals. Aldric turned back to Daruk, and in a placating tone, he said to him, Daruk, I know you dont want to be here, but youre still injured. The sooner you let the healers do their jobs, the sooner you can speak to the government officials impatiently waiting to speak to you, and the faster we can get out of here. Im fine! Daruk insisted with a stern glare, but Aldric sighed. Brother, you can barely stand on your own. As one, they looked at the metallic bars Daruk was leaning against, and the healer sighed. All we ask is that you rest for one more hour before you leave. Daruk glared at all of them and grudgingly lowered himself back to the bed. The healer fussed over him for a moment, placing pillows underneath him to help him get comfortable before leaving. Aodhn moved closer to the bed and whispered. I didnt know you hated hospitals. Daruk sighed and turned his gaze to the clock on the opposite wall. Were going to be late for the Blackwell event. Aodhn grinned. Youll be of no use to anyone at the event if you cant even stand on your own two feet. Daruk glared at him and sighed. I dont hate hospitals; I just dont like the smells and all the fussing. An hour of rest wont kill you, Daruk. Aldric muttered from the other side, and Daruk''s glare intensified. Maybe not, but I can already feel my brain rotting. Dont be dramatic. Aodhn laughed and created a chair for himself. After finding a comfortable position, he crossed his legs and asked. So, how are you doing? Fine. Daruk replied curtly and turned to Aldric. You said something about government officials earlier. What''s that about? Aldric explained everything to Daruk, and when he was done, Daruk grumbled. Send them in. I want this to be over as soon as possible. So irritable. Aldric sighed as he moved towards the entrance and waved the agents in. The agents began to introduce themselves, but Daruk cut them off with an impatient wave. Please, just give me the documents and let me sign. Ten minutes later, the agents left the hospital, and Daruk sighed. How many more minutes before an hour is over? Fifty. Aodhn replied, and Daruk sank deeper into the bed with a groan. He glared at the wall for a moment before asking. What happened to me? Aldric tittered. You were slammed in the face by a slab of reinforced concrete, glass, and molten metal. Fortunately, he blacked out almost immediately. Daruk bristled at the memory and placed a hand on the block of ice to keep it from melting. I definitely saw my life flash before my eyes in that moment. Aldric chuckled, and Aodhn grimaced. Im just glad youre alright. Aldric nodded in agreement. Those Valerion bastards are nutcases, the whole lot of them. Daruk snorted. Im not sure even Cyrus is mentally balanced. Eldrith is insane, and now this Nikolaus is a thief? Disadvantages of having so many children. Aldric muttered and shook his head. How are you supposed to train them all with life being such an immense bitch all the time? Aodhn chuckled. Perhaps Artemis escaped the insanity gene. Hes a champion after all. Or perhaps hes the craziest of them all. Aldric muttered, and they all laughed. Their conversation continued until the hour was up, and Daruk immediately rushed to his feet. His innate regeneration had finished mending him, and although he was still a little weak, he could stand and walk on his own, which was all that mattered. Aodhn had also benefited from the hour of rest, regaining more of his strength, and after checking themselves out of the hospital, Aodhn created a storm platform large enough to carry them and zoomed off in the direction of the portal station. It wasnt as exciting as walking had been, but they had learned their lesson. Besides, there was just something extremely satisfying about floating above a crowd of people and looking down on them. The view was amazing too, and this high up, the scent of ink was less pungent. When they reached the portal station, they paid for their transport and made their way to Wraithstone, one of the cities controlled by the Blackwells. Wraithstone wasnt as crowded as Shilem or even Nematon, but it still bustled with life and activity. It was almost no different from Norbuik with its terracotta roofs and Victorian mansions, but unlike the streets of Norbuik, Wraithstone was in no way sleepy. Neon lights flickered from every building, and just down the street, a few meters away from them, music blared loudly from what seemed to be a nightclub.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Shadows covered the city in abundance, flickering and moving despite the light of the evening sun. The city was cast in a haze of darkness and shadows that gave it an eerie appearance. The houses were built with black stone and aether glass, a glass imbued with the element of darkness. The buildings didnt reflect sunlight or absorb it. Instead, it created shadows that fought against it, their deep hue contrasting greatly with the shimmering runes and neon lights that covered most of the buildings. The perfect word to describe the city of Wraithstone was gloomy and gothic, yet the people were anything but. Most of them were dressed in bright colors, as if in defiance of the gloomy aesthetic around them. . Surprisingly, the first building they saw after exiting the portal station was a library, albeit a very large one. It was even larger than the library in the academy, and Aodhn had to suppress the urge to explore it immediately. Daruks eyes widened in amazement, and Aldric, for the first time, didnt have a negative reaction to the city, even going so far as to comment on its beautiful aesthetics. They chartered a shuttle that took them to an inn not too far from the Blackwell estate, and when they arrived, they booked one of their best rooms and ordered a light dinner. They still had a few hours before the start of the event, so after eating, they decided to spend the time going over their plans once again. After almost an hour of discussion and deliberation, they came to a single conclusion. Their plan wasnt as airtight as theyd previously assumed. In fact, the entire plan was a disaster waiting to happen, and Aodhn couldnt believe he was a party to its creation. Theyd left too many things to luck and chance, and Aodhn would be certain the Ascendant of Luck, Bastille Myrthalian, was looking out for them if things really happened how they wanted. The major problem with the plan was getting into Makebas room in the first place. Their plan for that was riddled with so many holes that Aodhn had half a mind to call off the entire mission and simply go home, but he couldnt do that. No, he didnt want to do that. He wanted to make this work, not for the principal but for himself. They spent the next few hours cursing, arguing, and then finally agreeing on a plan to escape the building just in case things went south. After securing their plans, they dressed, synced up their chips, and made their way to the Blackwells estate. This time they chose to go on foot, and Aodhn tried his best to ignore the flashes of cameras that turned his way every time a reporter recognized him. It only took them fifteen minutes to arrive at the main gate, and Aodhn swallowed nervously when he saw the mass of people standing by the gate. Some of them were reporters, and others were members of the Blackwell Security, but most of them were simply fans. People who wanted to see their elites or favorite families walk the red carpet to the Blackwell event. Many of them were sleepers, but a few awakeneds were scattered among them, whistling and shouting in excitement whenever their favorite celebrities stepped out of their individual hovercars. Since Aodhn and his brothers hadnt boarded any vehicles, they werent immediately recognized by the mass of spectators as guests until they reached the red carpet and one of the reporters called out. Aodhn. Wheres your familiar? A single mention of the word familiar, and all hell broke loose. Heads turned, people screamed, and before Aodhn knew what was happening, microphones were being shoved in their faces just as a dozen questions rang out in succession. Aodhn, how does it feel to be the youngest champion candidate ever? Daruk, how has Aodhns fame impacted your family, both positively and negatively? Aodhn, can you share any insights into your relationship with your familiar? What is the secret behind your astounding control? Aodhn, who is this bearded man here with you today? Is he your butler? Speculations about your familiar have run rampant, Aodhn; would you like to clear up some of them? The questions came in a rapid-fire fashion, with Aodhn barely being able to follow half of the questions while being constantly assaulted by a flurry of camera flashes. Nevertheless, he refused to run and hide his face anymore, so he answered the questions directed at him as much as he could, leaving the rest to Daruk and Aldric, who was scowling at the reporters for being called a butler. When they finally hit the red carpet, Aodhn was exhausted. He presented their invitation to the guards, and after confirmation, they finally stepped into the Blackwell estate. Most of the estate had been obfuscated with runes from the outside, which had made it impossible to see the mansion from behind the gate. However, despite the hours they''d spent poring over the map of the Blackwell mansion, nothing could have prepared them for the sight that greeted them the moment they stepped into the estate. The Blackwell mansion wasnt as beautiful or awe-inspiring as the Willowood mansion, but it was still enough to take their breaths away, most especially Aldric, whose mouth had dropped open in amazement. The mansion was made entirely from reinforced black stones and Aether glass that shone gold as a result of the runes inscribed on them. Shadows flickered everywhere, seemingly alive now that the moon was out, but what took their breaths away was the large statue of Erina Blackwell, the Abyssal Terror, standing at the center of the courtyard. The statue was extremely lifelike, and somehow, the statue of her familiar, a humongous octopus, floated above her, suspended by seemingly nothing. Black water flowed from its limbs in a beautiful manner, obviously in tribute to her element, before pooling into the fountain below. Erina Blackwell was a legend, one of the strongest calamities to ever ascend from Ragnarok. perhaps even in the entirety of Lutia. She had pushed her family from lowly merchants to the prestigious rank of a marquis. However, despite how high Erina had pushed her family, they had fallen in her absence. They still retained their rank as a marquis family, and in recent years, theyd even amassed so much wealth from the sale and export of ink that their names had climbed into the top 100 wealthiest noble families in the kingdom three years ago. No, where the Blackwells had fallen was in regards to their strength and magical power. Ever since the ascension of the abyssal terror approximately four hundred years ago, only one other person from the family had risen to the prestigious calamity class, and he was a mediocre talent at best. Not that anyone who managed to reach the calamity class wasnt a genius, but compared to other calamities and ascendant candidates, the mans power had been found wanting. The magical power of the Blackwells had been in a steady decline ever since then, and their current patriarch, Lycellis Blackwell, was considered a half-step Mythic. From the information theyd gathered during their reconnaissance for the mission, a half-step Mythic was someone whose spirit had been limited on the cusp of their Mythic evolution, so in essence, they had half the spiritual authority of a Mythic, yet remained in the advanced class. It was a shame to say the least, but the rest of the family was even more pitiful, with most of their members limited to the advanced class while others like Makeba remained in the evolved class. Finding out that their target was an evolved class awakened had brought Aodhn a great deal of relief, as it meant their skills could still work on her if push came to shove. Now that Aodhn knew the state of Imanis family, he understood her need and drive to do better, to break the yoke somewhat. They entered the main hall a few minutes later and were instantly bombarded by a cacophony of conversing voices and music. People milled about, dressed in elaborate, overly embellished dresses and suits. Servants moved around, dressed in the Blackwell family colors, blue and black, to signify their major elements. Water and Darkness. The air was charged with excitement, and with a confident smile, Aodhn and his brothers made their way to the center, where they would find members of the Blackwell family. As they moved, they passed by several of their classmates, including Tobias, Dylan, and even Meredith. When they reached the center of the hall, where they found Imani alongside several members of her family, they bowed in greeting, introduced themselves, and even produced a wrapped gift theyd bought from the Norbuik hall. It wasnt anything special, considering their financial status, but it would have been extremely rude of them to show up without a gift, regardless of its monetary value. It was as they conversed with Imanis family that Aodhn suddenly caught sight of a face he hadnt been expecting to see. The man stood at the edge of the hall, a cup of sparkling wine held in his right hand and a beautiful woman held in his left. When their eyes locked, the man grinned, raised his glass in greeting, and said. When I said I didnt want to see your face until the academy resumed, I didnt realize you would take me so seriously. Chapter 98: The Blackwell party II No, I will not help you. Those were Rahims words after Aodhn pulled him aside and asked for his help with the mission. The principal has instructed me to simply be a spectator. He continued and took a sip of his drink. Besides, I believe that by now, you''ve had enough time to come up with at least a decent plan. My plan is shit. Aodhn hissed. Even with the help of my brothers, were relying too much on chance for half of it. Hmm, chance is a cruel mistress. Rahim mused. You cant afford to rely on her. I know that! Thats why I need your help. Rahim shook his head. Sadly, I cannot help you, but if you do not believe in the plan youve come up with, you can always cancel the mission. This isnt a do-or-die affair. Aodhn sighed. I dont want to cancel the mission. Why not? Rahim asked, his gaze narrowing as he leaned forward. Do you also crave the attention and approval of the esteemed Zatya Malakov? Aodhn scowled. I dont care for her approval. Then why are you still going through with a mission that is obviously above your pay grade? Rahim hissed. At your tier, this mission is incredibly hard. There would be no shame in having the good sense to cancel it. I know that! Aodhn hissed back. I justhe glanced around the hall before leaning forward to whisperI cant quit because I dont want to. For some bizarre reason, I want to see this through, even though I keep bitching about it. Besides, I dont have a choice in the war. Whether I like it or not, Ill have to fight. Its important that I try to learn all that I can before then. Rahim observed him for a moment before nodding. Youre right; you do not have a choice in the matter. Youre too strong to be left on the sidelines. Rahims words saddened him, but Aodhn had already made peace with the matter a long time ago. "I doubt this mission will offer you much insight into the realities of war," Rahim remarked, his brow furrowed as he considered Aodhn''s words. After a brief pause, he shrugged and added, "Still, it wouldn''t hurt to absorb whatever knowledge you can from the principal. There''s a reason why she''s both feared and respected across the kingdom. Aodhn pushed aside the urge to ask what this reason was and instead asked. So, will you help me? My answer remains no, Aodhn. I will not, may not, and cannot help you. This is your mission, not mine. What if I fail? Aodhn hissed, his gaze urging Rahim to reconsider, but Rahim remained adamant. Then youll be put in jail like any other criminal. Aodhn froze, his eyes widening slightly in alarm. Of course, he knew the consequences of thievery, and Daruk hadnt hesitated to remind him of it at least a hundred times in the last few days, but at the back of his mind, Aodhn had thought the principal or Rahim would step in before things became that dire. Surely, the principal wouldnt leave him to suffer for a mission that shed given him. Right? Lowering the tone of his voice, he asked. Surely, she would bail me out if, hypothetically speaking, I was caught and thrown in jail for this. Right? Certainly. Rahim nodded. Youre her pet project, after all. Although, I suspect the speed with which she would do so would depend heavily on how disappointed shell be at your failure. Aodhn swallowed nervously and glared at Aldric, who was speaking animatedly with Rahims escort, before turning back to Rahim. This just means I cant afford to fail. Besides, a few hours or days in jail cant be so terrible, right? Rahim chuckled and took another sip of his drink. I shall pray to the ascendants that you do not find out. Aodhn left Rahim after that and headed towards the center of the hall, where Imani stood with her family. He needed to be near her throughout the evening. Their entire plan depended on it, and from what Rahim had just said, he couldnt afford to fail. He ignored Merediths inviting yet rude expression as he made his way towards Imani. Their plan was simple: seduce Imani. As crass as the plan sounded, it could actually work if everything went according to plan. If was the determining factor in the equation, but they had to work with what they had, and frankly, they didnt have much. He glanced over at Makeba, their target, who was standing only a few feet away from Imani, discussing animatedly with a beautiful woman whom Aodhn suspected to be Merediths mother. His gaze dipped to Makebas waist, and he breathed a sigh of relief when he found a pouch of opiates tied to it. After several hours of reconnaissancerummaging through old newspapers and magazines on the Blackwell familythey''d found out that Makeba had an opiate addiction. Predictably, they had based their entire plan around that. It was foolish, as Aodhn knew, but like he said earlier, the plan could work if everything went according to plan. Like many nobles who could afford the expensive drug, Makeba was addicted to the use of opiates. But unlike others who preferred to keep their shameful addiction a secret, Makeba gloried in hers, going so far as to keep an opiate pouch tied to her waist at all times instead of stashing it away within a spatial storage. Aodhn accepted the cosmic assistance without question, as it had made their mission much simpler. All they needed was for Aldric to steal the pouch and then somehow convince Makeba that she needed to get another. Aodhn was surprised when Aldric agreed to do the plan, especially since what they were asking of him was dangerously close to mind control and Aldric wasn''t a telepath. However, Aldric insisted on carrying out the task, and although Aodhn and Daruk pressed him for details on how he intended to pull it off, Aldric had refused to clarify or explain. After a few minutes of futile probing, Aodhn and Daruk decided to revisit the topic later. Some other time, they didnt have the threat of jail hanging above their heads. When Aodhn finally reached Imani, he offered a small bow and smiled. "Greetings, Lady Blackwell." Imani chuckled, returning the gesture with a relaxed bow, clearly more at ease with him than she once was. She nodded towards a woman Aodhn recognized as her mother and said, Im afraid that title belongs to my mother over there; besides, were housemates; we neednt stand on formality. Very well. I wont stand on formality. Aodhn grinned and sidled closer. Congratulations on your fathers birthday. Has he made an appearance yet? Imani snorted. Itll probably be a while before he does. My father loves to make an entrance. She shook her head, grabbed two drinks from a passing servant, and handed one to him. I hope youre enjoying the party. Aodhn accepted the glass and shrugged. The partys great; I mean, weve only just arrived, but the music, the lights, the ambienceeverythings great. Why then are you standing here by your lonesome? Correction, Im standing here with you. Aodhn chuckled and glanced around the hall once more. Besides, Im kind of avoiding talking to people. If youll let me, I dont mind hanging by your side all night. Imani blushed and looked away, having not expected such a comment from him. She stuttered for a moment before responding. I didnt realize I was your favorite person.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. Aodhn leaned forward and smiled, fully aware of what he was doing. We never had beef, Imani. You know that. Imani shrugged, not fully convinced, and Aodhn cursed his luck. Obviously, he hadnt expected Imani to be putty in his hands, but hed hoped she would be more malleable and receptive to his wiles. She cleared her throat and changed the topic. I take it your avoidance of the guests is because of your familiar? Aodhn nodded. Its all everyone wants to talk about, and although I understand their curiosity, it can get really exhausting to repeat the same thing every time. Imani shook her head in amazement. I knew your familiar was a big deal, but I didnt quite realize just how big of a deal it was until I came home and saw the news of your interview plastered everywhere. Aodhn grimaced. Daruk had been right after all. Things would change when he returned to the academy, and perhaps it would be even worse than it had been in the first week. Aodhn felt like he was better prepared to handle it, though. He would simply ignore them. Before he could respond, though, a man, one of Imanis brothers or uncles, politely but hurriedly pulled Imani away, stating that there was an urgent family matter they needed to attend to. Left to his own devices, Aodhn sipped his drink, ignoring the glare of disapproval Daruk sent him from across the hall. Perhaps drinking on the night of a mission such as this wasnt the best idea, but a few sips wouldnt kill him. Besides, despite his outward calm, Aodhn was nervous as hell. He glanced across the ballroom filled with dancing couples as they moved merrily to the tune of the fast-tempo music, and his gaze soon landed on Aldric, who was dancing with a woman he didnt recognize. Aldric caught his eye, almost as if he could feel Aodhn''s gaze. After a few minutes, he excused himself from the lady he was with, passing her off to another gentleman, and made his way over. Leaning in close, he hissed, "You reek of anxiety, Aodhn. Calm the fuck down." I am calm. Aodhn hissed back and glanced at Makeba. When are you going to do it? Aldric sighed and patted Aodhn''s shoulders in a frustrated manner. When the time is right, For now, pick one of these beautiful, lonely ladies who have been ogling you all night, and get on the dance floor. Staring daggers at me is not going to get me to move faster. Aodhn grimaced, and after Aldric left, he stepped onto the dance floor. Almost immediately, he was swarmed by a bevy of noble ladies who batted their eyelashes at him in a bid to appear more appealing. One of them stood out, though. She was dressed in a full-length black gown that complimented her hair and ink-black eyes. Aodhn was a sucker for black, and without hesitation, he extended a hand to her and asked. May I have this dance? She blushed and gave a small bow. I would be honored. He took her hand in his just as the first song ended and another began. Aodhn wasnt the best dancer, and he barely knew the steps to this particular song, but he somehow managed not to thoroughly embarrass himself, and when the next song came up, he had found a rhythm that worked for him. The minutes passed in a blur, and Aodhn soon began enjoying himself, laughing, dancing, and having polite discussions with several noble ladies and lords as he passed, and was passed around the dance floor. The music soon changed to one with a much faster tempo, and laughter echoed through the hall as more people joined the dance floor, trying and failing to move along to the erratic beat. Many stumbled, including Aodhn, who barged into an uncountable number of people within the span of minutes. Each stumbling person sparked a roar of laughter as the dancers wondered which lord or lady would stumble next. Aodhn was soon lost in a sea of bodies, moving and dancing as if they were in a crowded club. Despite how much fun he was having, Aodhn kept Aldric and Imani in his line of sight, waiting for when the first would act and when the second would extricate herself from her family so he could join her once more. For some reason, though, none of them moved as he intended, and it was only an hour later that Imani left her family. Before she could be swept away by a drunk lord or another curious noble lady, Aodhn made his way towards her and pulled her onto the dance floor. She gasped, and a smile blossomed on her face when she noticed him. Dont tell me youve been standing around waiting for me this entire time. She asked as he wrapped an arm around her waist. Aodhn grinned and twirled her around. Id wait forever just to dance with you. Okay, perhaps he was laying it on too thick, but he desperately needed this to work. He would definitely regret this plan later, but for now, the mission was all that mattered. Imani blushed deeply and turned to hide her face. I didnt realize you were that into me. She murmured, but rather than respond, Aodhn drew her closer and whispered. You should note that I am a terrible dancer and may inadvertently step on your shoes once, twice, or a million times before this song ends. Imani laughed, her voice carrying over the loud music and drawing the attention of several people as they began to dance. Thankfully, Imani was a far better dancer than he was, so she didn''t stumble much. Aodhn, on the other hand, moved awkwardly, his body jerking in a rushed attempt to keep up with the music and the dancers around him. It was horrible, but at the very least, it made Imani laugh. In fact, she laughed so hard that any lingering suspicion concerning his motives towards her evaporated like smoke. Aodhn didnt let the pang of guilt that lanced through him regularly affect his actions and simply continued dancing, subtly keeping an eye on Aldric and Makeba at the same time. An hour before midnight, a trumpet blast echoed through the hall, and the grand doors swung open, revealing a striking man with ink-black hair and eyes ringed in two different shades of blue. The man was clad in a lavishly decorated robe adorned with jewels, and as one, the crowd cheered the celebrant and patriarch of the Blackwell family, Alyn Corelis Blackwell. Grinning broadly, Alyn made his way to the center of the hall, basking in the attention like a sponge soaking up water. Once there, he turned and delivered an intentionally lighthearted and amusing speech, playfully noting that he was now a year older yet none the wiser. The crowd erupted in laughter, and with the speech concluded, the party kicked into high gear. Laughter rang out from every corner of the hall, crystal clear despite the loud music and the erratic tapping of shoes on the glass dance floor. Wine flowed freely, and soon the sweet, mouthwatering aroma of roasted meat filled the air. It was hard not to get lost in the excitement, and there were times when Aodhns gaze strayed from Aldric or Makeba for more than fifteen minutes. Fortunately, though, his attention returned to Aldric just as he began moving. Aodhn tensed, but quickly relaxed his muscles. It had been an hour since Alyn Blackwell made his appearance, and Aodhn had been thinking that perhaps Aldric was no longer up to the task. He was glad to have been proven wrong. Aldric inched towards Makeba, who was drunk off her ass and high as a skunk on opiates. Due to her Advancement level, she required regular consumption of the opiates to maintain her euphoric state, and even as he subtly watched, she dipped a finger into her pouch and placed it on her tongue before grinning at the crowd like a fool. Aldric inched closer, and when he was only a few meters away, Aodhn unconsciously tensed. He had been tracking Aldrics movement so intensely that hed unconsciously stopped dancing, and it wasnt until Imani nudged him in concern that he snapped out of it. Im sorry, I just thought of something. He lied, and Imani frowned in worry. Did something bad happen? No, no, its nothing. You dont have to worry about it. He grinned and twirled her around once more, throwing off the rhythm of the nearby dancers. This sparked another roar of laughter as the disrupted dancers stumbled, colliding with others and causing a chain reaction of missteps and laughter across the dance floor. They soon regained their rhythm, but as much as he tried not to stare, Aodhn couldnt help stealing glances at Aldric just to see how he would steal the pouch. However, despite his constant glances, Aodhn was unable to understand what happened. One moment, Aldric was politely conversing with Makeba, and the next, both he and the opiate pouch had vanished. Aodhn narrowed his gaze, and although he turned to respond to something Imani asked, his heart thudded loudly in his chest. Phase one was complete. Now, they just needed Makeba to ask Imani to retrieve another pouch from her room instead of going herself. Aodhn grinned, unable to contain both his fear and excitement. Things were finally going to plan, and with an uncontrollable grin, Aodhn twirled Imani around once again, causing another cascade of stumbling nobles. His attention to Imani was obvious, and theyd even begun drawing the attention of several elders who whistled in encouragement. Imani blushed, and Aodhn suppressed another pang of guilt as he pulled them closer towards Makeba. If Makeba was to send Imani for her opiates, then they would need to be in her line of sight. For the next few minutes, Aodhn waited rather impatiently for Makeba to notice her missing pouch, all the while praying to all the gods that existed to grant him this one wish. Time crawled, but just as theyd estimated, Makebas finger moved to her waist five minutes later. Aodhn tensed once again, and his grip subconsciously tightened around Imanis wrist. Are you sure youre alright? Imani asked with a look of concern, and he immediately forced a smile. I''m just a little drunk. Imani chuckled in relief and leaned closer. You know, after the past few weeks, I must say I never saw this coming. I didnt even realize you had any feelings for me. Uhm, me too. Aodhn responded distractedly. He stared at Makeba from the corner of his eyes, mentally urging her to call Imani for help. They were so close to her now that they were practically the definition of line of sight. If she would just call Imani Meredith, dear, I think I need your help, Makeba called out, and Aodhn nearly stumbled as their carefully laid plans shattered like fragile glass. The rest of Makebas words were drowned out by a sudden burst of laughter from a corner of the hall, but Aodhn didnt need to hear them. He already knew what she was asking for. His eyes flicked over to Aldric, now at the far end of the hall, and he ignored Imanis whispered questions of concern. His gaze quickly snapped back to Makeba just as she handed a set of keys to Meredith. A headache began to throb in his temples, and he cursed under his breath, Fuck my life. Chapter 99: The Blackwell party III The overindulgence in aphrodisiacs and hallucinogens by awakened individuals is a concern that remains largely underexposed, particularly among advanced-class awakeneds who have not yet transcended the limitations of their physical form. Their elevated cultivation levels demand significantly higher doses to sustain their euphoric experiences. While the consumption of these substances has no direct impact on spiritual cultivation, the physical body and core are not as fortunate. Dr. Halima Preznik, Royal Constable of Lutia Year 2271
Aodhn scrambled, his mind racing a mile per second, as he tried to come up with a solution to prevent this disaster. However, his thoughts were a jumbled, incoherent mess that sputtered and smoked like a malfunctioning engine. His gaze roamed the hall hurriedly, and in a desperate attempt to keep a semblance of their plan ongoing, he pulled away from Imanis confused form with a muttered apology and moved towards Meredith. Imani called after him, but Aodhn barely noticed, so intensely focused on the keys jiggling in Merediths palms. Daruk immediately stepped in to dance with her, stopping her from following after Aodhn. Hey, what''s up with my brother? He asked, his face scrunched up in confusion, and Imani, sweet soul that she was just shrugged. I dont know. One minute we''re dancing, and then he just leaves. Daruk shrugged, pretending to be just as confused as she was. I''m sure he''s fine. Wanna dance? While Daruk distracted Imani, Aodhn weaved around several dancing lords and ladies in a bid to cut Meredith off before she exited the hall, and a glance across the room showed Aldric doing the same. Seducing Meredith wouldnt be easy, despite her obvious attraction to him, so Aodhn decided to bring out the big guns. He tousled his hair, scattering tiny arcs of lightning in the air, and then unbuttoned the first two buttons on his shirt, exposing his toned chest and the golden lines that marked it. When he reached Meredith, he immediately plastered on the brightest smile he could muster, considering the circumstances. "Hey, Meredith, would you like to dance? Meredith scowled at him, although her eyes dipped to his exposed chest, tracing the glowing lines on it seductively. What do you want, Aodhn? She asked, her gaze glued to his chest, and Aodhn wondered if she hadnt heard his opening question. She seemed distracted by the view he was providing, though, so despite feeling like shit, Aodhn slowly unbuttoned the third button, exposing more of the golden lines, and Meredith inhaled sharply. Her eyes widened, and she looked up at him with eyes burning with an unmistakable flame of hunger. What did you say you wanted again? Aodhn grinned. To accompany you. He leaned forward and whispered. I thought perhaps we could go somewhere less crowded. Meredith licked her lips and glanced behind him. What about Imani? Youve been hogging her all night. Aodhn grimaced as another pang of guilt lanced through him, and he pulled back. This was a mistake. He clasped the first button and pretended to leave, but Meredith grabbed his arms and pulled him closer. Is this what I think it is? Aodhn shrugged. If you want it to be. Meredith stared at him hesitantly, her gaze darting from him to Imani, so Aodhn decided to up his game once more. He leaned even closer to her and whispered. I could be yours on a platter. Meredith let out a sound akin to a whimper and pulled him towards the exit. Come, I know just the right place. They rushed out of the hall, and Aodhn signaled to Aldric that his assistance was no longer needed. Meredith already craved him; heightening her already uncomfortable attraction to him was unnecessary. As they rushed out of the hall, Aodhn grabbed a drink from a passing servant. Unlike the last time, this drink wasnt to suppress his nerves or anxiety but was a necessary part of their plan. With delicate movements, he took out a {Clearveil pill}, an alchemical pill theyd bought specifically to combat the anesthetic effects of the crushed somnorus seeds. He popped the pill into his mouth and downed the drink to flush it down before returning the wine glass. They burst out of the hall a moment later, barely acknowledging the guards stationed behind it, and with urgent steps, Meredith led him up the stairs. The Blackwell mansion had fewer twists and turns compared to that of the Willowoods, and after spending several hours studying the map, Aodhn knew it like the back of his hands. They passed by several scurrying maids and servants, but the sight of them only caused Meredith to feel frustrated, and when they stepped onto the third floor, which was supposed to be deserted by now, Meredith cursed. Is there no reprieve from the gazes of these blasted servants? Aodhn, on the other hand, was thankful for their presence. He didnt want to get with Meredith in some dark alcove or hallway; what he needed was to get into Makebas room, and the more servants that littered the hall, the more enticing the option of Makebas room became. As they climbed onto the fourth floor, Aodhn pretended to be overcome with need and pressed Meredith against the wall. I cant control myself for much longer. His voice rumbled like the sound of distant thunder, and Meredith gasped, her neck arching as if urging him to take a bite. Aodhn didnt see a need to deny her, so he bent his head and took her neck in his mouth. Tiny arcs of electricity sparked from his fingers, and crawled up Meredith''s arms in a manner that had her gasping and shuddering with pleasure while his tongue stroked her neck. Aodhn would be lying if he said he was completely faking his need at this point, but he still retained his senses, and after successfully driving Meredith to the edge, he forcefully pulled back and growled. Lets find a darkened alcove. No. Meredith refused, her voice a harsh and shuddering whisper. It''s too dangerous. Someone could see. A room, then. Aodhn suggested, his hands subtly tracing her right hand, which clutched the keys to Makeba''s room. Predictably, Meredith glanced at the key in her hands, and without hesitation, she rushed up the stairs to the fifth floor, ignoring the guards who frowned at them with disapproval. Aodhn kept up his seduction, using his touch and skills in ways the monks would never approve of, but it was so effective that by the time they reached the fifth floor, Meredith was panting, not from exertion but from need. She raced towards Makebas quarters, and while she fumbled with the keys, Aodhn popped the crushed Somnorus seed into his mouth.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Immediately after the overly potent sedative touched his tongue, Aodhn was hit by an intense wave of dizziness, but the {Clearveil pill} hed ingested earlier cleared his mind just as Makebas door swung open, and without hesitation, Aodhn pressed his lips to Merediths. Lupin''s face flashed across his mind, but Aodhn pushed it aside and thought to himself. Now is not the time. You can feel guilty later! Meredith kissed him back like a woman dying of thirst. Her hands roved his body, savagely clawing at his clothes in her need for him. Aodhn groaned, now overcome by his own need. Gone were his pretenses and manipulation. In this moment right now, he wasnt nearly as in control as he would have preferred. With the last of his restraint, he shut the door behind them, carried Meredith, and pressed her against the wall. She let out a moan of pleasure as his lips connected with hers once more. The pleasant sound shredded the last of Aodhns control, and with a growl that sounded like thunder in the quiet room, Aodhn raised her skirt, shifted her undergarments, and inserted a finger inside her. Merediths gasp echoed in the room. A sound so pleasurable that it nearly made him stagger. Yet, it was nothing compared to the sound she made next when he channeled a tiny arc of electricity into her. She Thud! She collapsed in his arms, the effect of the somnorus seeds only now taking effect. Perhaps it had something to do with her water affinity or the fact that hed ingested it first, reducing its potency, but at this point, Aodhn couldn''t care less about the reason and was more interested in exiting the area Immediately. He pushed her off him and quickly took several steps back, not wanting to be doing anything sexual while she was unconscious. He was toeing the line of his morals here, but this was the best plan they had come up with, regardless of how shitty it was or how dirty it made him feel. This wasnt supposed to happen, at least not to this extent. This extensive make-out session wasnt part of the plan. Hed gone too far. His erratic breathing echoed in the now silent room, and Aodhn sighed, giving himself a moment to regain his sanity. He glanced at Merediths limp form, and after taking a deep breath to steady himself, he carried her to the bed. He had at most five minutes before the anesthetic effects wore off, but that was enough time to get what he came for. With his raging hormones now somewhat under control, Aodhn turned to take in Makebas room. The room was an image of wealth and luxury. Silver, gold, and beautiful stones shone everywhere; even the furniture was trimmed and highlighted with gold and silver. Velvet curtains blocked the moonlight, yet the room was bright enough to see, and a slight haze of opium smoke filled the air. Perhaps he could blame his temporary lapse of judgment on the haze, although he doubted anyone would believe him. He looked around until he found Makebas jewelry table, a silver cabinet trimmed in gold and decorated with sapphires. Rather than the runes hed expected, the cabinet was protected with a simple padlock, and Aodhn breathed a sigh of relief. One potential problem eliminated. He grabbed the bunch of keys from the door where Meredith had left them and began testing each key until he finally opened the spatially expanded cabinet filled with so many jewelries, ranging all the way from mundane to epic-ranked items. The entire cabinet was a treasure trove, and even better, it was a mess. Sure, the jewelries were sorted by their different ranks, but each rank was simply a big pile of items that it was almost impossible to find anything and downright impossible to know if an item or two was missing. Before he began searching, though, Aodhn focused his core sense to search for any hidden runes, but after an entire minute of searching, Aodhn gave up and began riffling through the uncommon ranked jewelries instead. Thankfully, no alarm went off, but barely a minute later, his chip pinged with a message from Daruk. Makeba is on her way. Aodhn cursed and hastened his search just as another message came in. Aldric is trying to stall her, but I doubt he can hold her for long. She looks like shes ready to pass out if she doesnt get her next fix of opiates. Tell Aodhn to give her back her pouch! Aodhn replied as he hastily scanned the bizzare pile of uncommon-ranked earrings, half tempted to just grab the whole thing and run. He dismissed the evil thought and tried to search more carefully despite the ticking clock. It took him almost two minutes to find the earrings, and without hesitation, he tossed them into his spatial storage. Just as he locked the cabinet, another message came in from Aldric. I just returned her pouch, pretending to have found it on the floor somewhere, which caused a sort of scene, but thats by the way. Shes still coming upstairs, though; she says its time for her to retire for the night. You have two minutes at most. You should have stolen the pouch earlier. Aodhn hissed in response and rushed towards Merediths sleeping form. He fought the urge to slap her awake and instead settled for shaking her vigorously. When that didnt work, he zapped her with enough lightning to kill anyone below tier 5, and she jerked awake, eyes wide with confusion. Oh, thank the ascendant! Aodhn exclaimed and hugged her. What happened to you? II dont know. She replied in confusion, and Aodhn shook his head. One moment, we were making out, and the next, you just collapsed. He morphed his expression into one of concern and asked. How are you feeling now? W-what? Meredith asked, still unable to understand his words, but Aodhn didnt have the time for that. Instead, he pushed her to her feet and reminded her. You were here for opiates, remember? Lets get it so you can rest. Meredith glanced around, still confused, but Aodhn urged her forward, and after she grabbed a pouch from Makebas bedside cabinet, he helped her towards the door and said, We can talk about this when youre feeling better. For now, you should rest. Meredith didnt seem to hear him. This has never happened to me before. She shook her head. I cant believe I just fainted in-between our make-out like that. Aodhn forced a grin and urged her forward. Well, when youre feeling better, we can revisit it. Now though, we should get going. Meredith nodded, but when she reached the door, she frowned and asked. How long was I out? Just about five minutes. Aodhn shrugged and held the door open for her. Maybe even less; I wasnt counting. Meredith let out a sigh of relief. Well, it cant be too bad, then. It was probably just a dizzy spell. You know, insufficient ammonia. Aodhn nodded, not bothering to point out that it was impossible to suffer from a deficiency of ammonia. Meredith locked the door a moment later, but they had barely taken more than a few steps away from the entrance when Makeba arrived at the end of the hallway with two guards behind her. Aodhn stiffened slightly, and only then did he realize how disheveled he looked. He hurriedly buttoned his shirt and arranged his hair, but his actions only caused Makeba to stare at him in disdain. I should have known this was the reason why you took your sweet time fulfilling my request, Meredith. I had thought perhaps you had changed your errant ways, but alas... My apologies, Lady Blackwell. Meredith bowed, and Aodhn quickly followed suit. Makeba tsked and turned to him. Her gaze widened slightly, and she asked. Werent you the young man dancing with my granddaughter earlier? She glanced at Meredith and then back at him before shaking her head in disappointment. I had thought you were quite taken with her. Apparently, I thought wrong. Aodhn didnt bother responding or defending himself. Instead, he just stood there and soaked in the judgment of her stare. Id like my keys back, Meredith, and the opiates. Youve proven yourself completely unreliable and frankly untrustworthy. Ill let Imani know to stay away from you. Youre excused. Merediths lips quivered as she handed over the pouch and keys, and it went without saying that Aodhn didnt feel good about the whole thing. It wasnt really Makebas opinion that ate at him; instead, it was just the nail in the coffin. Makeba walked past them with her guards, and Aodhn sighed. Im sorry, Meredith. He left before she could respond, his heart pounding as he walked past the hall guards, who stared at him with judgment and disdain. Their glare was so intense that Aodhn almost believed they could see the earrings in his spatial storage, and despite the fact that he knew that was impossible, his heart couldnt help but pound loudly every time he walked past a guard or servant. Aodhn battled his nerves and forced himself to keep a calm pace. Running would only call unwanted attention to himself. When he reached the third floor, he smiled at the guards and even spent a few minutes discussing with a maid just to maintain the appearance of nonchalance. When he finally reached the first floor, he sighed in relief and sent a message to both Daruk and Aldric that the mission was done. When he neared the entrance to the main hall, he found Rahim grinning at him. I take it that lady luck smiled in your favor. Im just glad its over. Aodhn sighed and subtly handed the earrings over to Rahim. Could you keep this for me? Rahim nodded, and Aodhn felt an immense sense of relief as the earrings disappeared from view. Congratulations. Rahim smiled. With your success in this mission, I imagine your problems with the principal have only just begun. His smile widened, and he patted Aodhns shoulders. Enjoy the rest of your break. Ill see you in the academy. Try not to call me before then. Chapter 100: Willpower Upgrade After the Blackwell party finally ended, Aodhn, Aldric, and Daruk made their way back to the inn theyd rented earlier to spend the rest of the night or morning as it was already nearly dawn. They trudged back home, drunk off their asses and cheering themselves for a mission well accomplished. After Aodhn had handed over the earrings to Rahim, hed finally been able to enjoy the party without worry. He had evaded both Meredith and Imani like a plague and had reveled in the food and overflowing wine. This was their last party before the break was over, and Aodhn intended to enjoy it to the fullest. However, when they reached the inn, Aodhn felt a stirring in his spirit followed by a pulse of eagerness, and he knew he would be skipping sleep that night. He downed a cup of ice cold water and waited a while for his regeneration to purge the effects of the alcohol from his system before moving up to the roof of the inn. Unfortunately, the roof of the inn was made out of flammable wood, so Aodhn had to create a construct large enough to comfortably occupy both him and Varc before releasing the familiar from his spirit. Varc rushed out, the image of excitement and anticipation. His sinuous body dazzled with lightning of various hues, and his horns gleamed even darker than night. Usually, even during the day, Varc was easy to spot, but in the shadows and darkness of the 3rd sector, he might as well have been a beacon. The entire roof top shone with the bright and unstable light of electricity, creating a dazzling display of light and colors that banished the shadows from the surrounding buildings. Windows opened, curtains shifted, and the awed whispers of several people echoed in the silence. Aodhn ignored the whispers and the camera flash that came from the opposite building. Instead, he raised his hands to caress Varcs snout. Im sorry. He whispered, but Varc cocked his head in confusion. For the night at the Willowoods mansion. He explained. I should have been more gentle. Varc growled, projecting emotions of love and understanding through their psychic link. The fact that Varc was so willing to forgive him made Aodhn feel slightly worse, but he pushed his guilt aside and vowed. I promise to do better, to be a better bond. Varc growled again, and Aodhn chuckled. Well, I dont care to hide you anymore; let them take as many pictures as they want. Varc let out a growl of amusement and arched his neck as if posing for those watching. The lightning rippling around him surged, brightening the surrounding areas, and this time, a flurry of camera flashes followed as more reporters appeared. Cone on, lets give them a show. Aodhn grinned, and after creating a saddle, he caressed Varcs neck and whispered. Ready whenever you are. Varc shot into the sky like a bullet, his majestic wings spread out wide and rippling with lightning. Aodhn grinned widely. He had missed this. This overwhelming feeling of freedom and weightlessness. This rush of euphoria. They tore through the clouds, scattering a murder of low-tier crows with their passage and leaving behind several silhouettes in the clouds. Aodhn dared a look down, and his grin widened even further. From this height, he could see the entirety of Wraithstone city and perhaps even the border of Ashville, the neighboring city.It was beautifulan entire city cast in so much shadow that every burst of light stood out in blinding contrast. Aodhn hooted, letting the thunder in his voice rumble out as Varc turned, twirled, and literally danced among the clouds. It had been over three months since the dry season began, and Aodhn couldnt wait for the raining season to return. If Varc was this excited to soar among normal clouds, Aodhn wondered just how excited he would be when actual storm clouds came. Aodhn himself couldnt wait. They soared for hours, just enjoying the peace it brought them until the sun came up and most of the clouds dispersed. Of course, Aodhn could create more, but that was just a waste of energy. Besides, it wouldnt be as interesting as the actual thing. They descended unto the platform floating above the inn, a flurry of camera flashes as their witness, and as much as he had made peace with their presence, Aodhn still scowled at the reporters, his expression warning them not to get close. Varc returned to his spirit, and before long the reporters left too. Aodhn scanned the roof, a little tired, but as much as he would have loved to go to sleep, it was already too late, or in this case too early for that, so he decided to meditate instead. With all the happenings of the past few days, Aodhn had barely had enough time to harness or tame his willpower, not to mention train his control. But now that the mission and parties were over, Aodhn''s felt settled enough to cultivate. Besides, there was no other time more suited for training than dawn. He breathed in the crisp air and lifted his face to the east as the sun rose into the sky. He let himself enjoy the sunrise for a moment before plopping down on his construct and folding his legs into a meditative pose. He closed his eyes and focused on his core, which blazed brightly to his senses. It wasnt as pure as he would have preferred, though. Tiny clumps of impurities were scattered around it, a side effect of his reckless absorption of cores when hed first arrived within the Warren forest. The clumps were too tiny to be of any issue to him, though, so he dismissed them from his mind and focused on taming his willpower. The taming process had become almost as easy as breathing now, requiring even less of his concentration than before, yet Aodhn refused to let his mind wander. Instead, he split his mind between taming and condensing the burning flames of willpower within his core. The extra work grounded his mind in the task, and before long the bronze ball of tamed willpower floating in his core burned almost as brightly as the core itself. It emanated a profound sense of weight and impact that although Aodhn had always been able to sense, hed never been able to physically feel. Now though, he could feel it like a weight bearing down on both his body and spirit. The feeling wasnt painful, but it wasnt comfortable either. An apt description was the feeling of a bloated stomach, and it only got worse as the minutes turned into hours. Aodhn immersed himself deeply in his task, losing track of time as he tamed more willpower and merged it with the condensed ball of tamed will floating in his core. Several hours passed, and the feeling of weight not only grew worse, it became very painful. Aodhn felt like he had a ton of lead weights placed on his chest, and with each strand of willpower he tamed and merged, the overall weight increased, making it harder and harder for him to breathe. This would have been the right time to stop cultivating his willpower, but Aodhn refused to stop. Shuddering, he focused deeper on his core, ignoring the notification pings that echoed in his mind and continued taming. This continued for an extra hour, and it felt like Aodhn was carrying an extremely unstable bomb in his chest, yet Aodhn forced a bloody grin. He was on the cusp of a breakthrough. He could feel it, and with ragged breaths, he tamed one more strand of willpower, and then another, and then another. With each strand he tamed, the crushing weight on his chest intensified, and just when Aodhn thought he couldnt take it anymore, the shuddering ball of willpower within his core exploded. Untamed will and energy blasted out of him in a wave, and he collapsed as willpower surged out of his core and soaked into his entire being. Not an inch of him was spared. Like molten lava, willpower soaked into his flesh, bones, and even his spirit. They widened his pathways and mixed with his blood. His bones hardened, and his flesh thickened as willpower soaked into it.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. All while this happened, Aodhn lay on the roof of the inn, gasping and panting for breath as the crushing weight that had plagued him for the last few hours subsided. Power brimmed within his core, and as willpower surged through him, his fatigue slowly receded. The entire process lasted for nearly five minutes, and when Aodhn finally mustered enough strength to stand to his feet, his willpower had changed hue, turning from its bronze color to a bright silver, reminiscent of the glint of moonlight on cold steel. The silver ball of willpower emanated a dense pressure, almost as if hed let out a wisp of his aura, and Aodhn grinned, wondering what other changes the surge of willpower had made in him. With barely suppressed excitement, he opened the flurry of messages hed received. Most of them were from Aldric and Daruk, with a trio from Andrew and one from Rahim, but he ignored them all and focused on the system messages. Congratulations! You have tamed 1000 units of willpower. Silver title gained. NB: Willpower is now passively infused into your skills, giving them a little more impact than before. Despite how little the changes in his status screen seemed, Aodhn felt like a different man. His sight and hearing had sharpened enough that he could hear Daruk and Aldric bickering two floors below. A glance at his body showed that hed also grown taller, and the tightness around his waist suggested that he had added a few pounds. More than that, though, Aodhn noticed that the surge of willpower had also affected his bloodline manifestation, although he couldnt tell to what degree without a mirror. A quick look at his chest showed that the glowing gold lines had elongated about an inch, now crossing the halfway mark into the left side of his body. Aodhn grinned, feeling the urge to test out his skills, but he pushed the urge aside for now and focused on the other changes his breakthrough had wrought. His mastery over his core sense ability had increased, and through it, he could feel the attention of several individuals; most of them evolved, but he sensed some advanced-class individuals among them. Most of them were simply inhabitants of the neighboring buildings whose attention hed caught, but he sensed some whom he suspected to be security officials. Creeps. He muttered loud enough for them to hear, and almost instantly, many of the inhabitants withdrew their attention. The security officers remained unfazed though, their attention unwavering, and Aodhn wondered if there was a particular reason they were watching him. He could already think if a few, perhaps it was because of his unlicensed jaunt into the sky with Varc or the fact that he was cultivating atop the roof of a public establishment, both of which seemed like serious crimes, but since they made no move to arrest or question him, Aodhn decided a tactical retreat was best. He made his way back into the inn and grimaced as he approached the room theyd rented. With his enhanced hearing, hed heard the ongoing argument, but his mind had been on something else. Now, as he walked closer, Aldric and Daruks voices echoed in his ears, rising with each spoken word until they were basically shouting out at each other. Aodhn had never had a blood brother, but hed had many from the monastery he considered brothers, and if there was one thing hed learned, it was that brothers fought. How else would they show their love for each other if not by fighting? This one was no different, as the argument was about the topic of piracy. Daruk must have found out about Aldric being a pirate, and he definitely wasnt pleased. It is illegal, Aldric! Daruk hissed as Aodhn neared the door. But more importantly, it is dangerous. Pirates die all the time, and then what happens when youre eventually caught by the sea patrol, because I assure you, this is not even a matter of if, but when? Keep your fucking voice down! Aldrics words were barely a whisper, but Aodhn didnt even need to strain to hear them. This is the reason why I didnt want to tell you because I knew youd overreact. Anyone with half a brain would overreact! Daruk shot back, and Aodhn grimaced at the unintentional shade. Perhaps he should have overreacted when Aldric had told him about it. Aldric laughed, and Aodhn wondered what his reply would be, but the door suddenly jerked open and Aldric scowled. I may not be able to sense cores, but I can definitely sense when someones eavesdropping on a conversation. Ha. Aodhn grinned awkwardly and walked into the room. I didnt want to interrupt. Daruk glared at him from the other end of the room. Why am I not surprised you knew about this? I most certainly did not! Aodhn quickly defended himself, but when Daruks glare intensified, he shuffled awkwardly like a kid caught cheating. I only found out a few days ago. I wanted to tell you, but it skipped my mind. Of course it did. Daruk smiled, the expression not at all amused. Im the youngest one here, yet I find myself having to mother you lot all the time. Aldric snorted. You wouldnt have to if you just accepted that Im an adult and that I can make my own decisions. Aodhn refrained from commenting and instead moved towards the mirror to view the changes in his bloodline manifestation. As he sneaked past the arguing boys, though, Daruk suddenly narrowed his gaze and pointed at him. Something is weird with you. Aldric paused and turned to scrutinize him. His eyebrows furrowed as he came to the same conclusion as Daruk, and he waved his hands weirdly. Your aura is leaking out. Thats not it. Daruk disagreed as he came closer, his brows furrowed as he scrutinized Aodhns features. His expression brightened after a moment, and he grinned. Found it! Its your eyes; theyve changed. Curious, Aodhn moved to the mirror and stared at himself. His features had truly changed, but rather than a single concentrated change, his transformation was more widespread and subtle. His gold-ringed pupils were now surrounded by a thin band of silver, too small to be easily noticed, but their presence highlighted the golden bands and caused them to glow slightly. The change didnt stop there though; his hair had grown about an inch or two longer, and his facial structure seemed more refined. He couldnt exactly pinpoint what features had changed, but it was obvious something had. Like hed seen earlier, the glowing lines on his skin had elongated, peeking much further above his collar as if reaching up to cradle his chin. Did you evolve your bloodline? Daruk asked with obvious disbelief, and Aodhn shook his head before proceeding to explain his willpower breakthrough. When he finished, Aldric chuckled and waggled a finger at him. Well, at least now, you cant blame your lack of game on lackluster physical features. If you dont get with someone before the end of the term, then Ill just disown you. Speaking if getting with someoneDaruk exchanged a grin with Aldric, their earlier disagreement now forgottenyou didnt tell us what happened in Makebas room last night. Aodhn froze, as several emotions suddenly took center stage in his mind. He tried to suppress them, but the grin that suddenly blossomed on Aldrics face assured him that hed failed.Before Aldric could expose him, Aodhn quickly responded. Eh, it went just as we planned. They didnt believe him, obviously, so Aodhn decided to distract them instead. Do you guys want to see the changes in my status screen? Aldric narrowed his eyes, understanding what Aodhn was trying to do. Yet understanding his intention and countering it were two different things, and just like hed expected, Aldric caved and agreed to view his status screen instead of countering the deflection. Daruk already had access to his screen and was already muttering to himself as he read the explanation of the silver title. Aldric whistled when Aodhns status appeared at the corner of his vision. His eyes darted from left to right as he read through Aodhns titles and skills, and when he finished, he whispered. Damn, thats a lot of skills and titles. Aodhn exchanged a glance with Daruk and grinned. Well, since youve seen my status screen, now we''ll have to see yours too. Aldrics gaze jerked up immediately, and he shook his head. No, thats not necessary. Oh, but it is. Daruk replied, his lips stretching into a grin that spelled trouble. If itll make you comfortable, Ill even share mine. Aldric retreated several steps and raised both hands in a placating gesture. No, thats not necessary. Why not let us go back to discussing Aodhns lust for Theres no such thing! Aodhn shouted, and Daruk chuckled. Oh, well come back to that. Now though, I want to see your status screen! Im not sharing it! Aldric insisted, a smug grin on his face, but the expression crumpled when Daruk smiled and said. Then Ill just have to inform mom and dad about your new profession and the fact that you''re skipping classes. Aldric scowled at them and swore. By the heavens, Daruk. How can you blackmail your own brother? He wouldnt have to resort to such cruel tactics if you just shared the damn screen. Aodhn retorted, and Aldric glared at him. He relented a moment later and sighed. Fine! Ill share it. A cloudy gray screen appeared before Aodhn a moment later, and with eager eyes, Aodhn read through his elder brothers status. [STATUS] Name: Aldric Brystion Title: Neophyte, Bronze. Class: Emotion Awakened Tier: 24C62% Glimpse>Grasp: Increase conceptual affinity and abilities by 1.5% Skills: {Innate}: [Emotional manipulation] [Sense Emotion] Other: [Empathic link] [Aura Reading] [Emotional resonance] [Empathic shielding] [Pseudo Mind ControlCrude] [Emotional Resistance]. Chapter 101: Runes go boom! They arrived at the Norbuik portal station an hour later, and after taking a detour to lavishly spend their money in the Norbuik mall, they flew back home on a storm platform. It was already late afternoon when they arrived home. Synov was still preparing dinner, while Unrid was busy in the garden, so after dropping off his things in his room, Aodhn released Varc from his spirit and urged him to stay close before heading down to join Unrid in the garden. Rather than fly off, Varc settled on their roof, his tail dangling from the edge of the roof as he bathed in the light of the evening sun. Varcs presence would definitely call the attention of their neighbors and several reporters, but at this point, Aodhn was past caring. Not long after Varc settled on the roof, Aodhn heard the familiar click of a camera, and he turned to find the reporter hed almost killed a few days ago staring at him with his camera half raised. The man paled and stumbled back when his gaze met Aodhns, but Aodhn just sighed and ignored him. He made his way to the garden, and his eyes widened when he found a lush garden filled with color and life. Flowers waved gently in the air, their open petals shimmering with liquid as Unrid moved from mound to mound, watering each flower delicately. The flowers were doing even better than hed expected, despite the fact that he hadnt watered or infused them with his vitality lightning in the last two days. He turned to the prime suspect, the hoe of growth that lay on the ground beside Unrid, and said, I see someone else has taken over my job. Unrid looked up and snorted. If anything, its more of a watered-down version of your skill, but I guess it gets the job done, and thats all that really matters. He wiped a few beads of sweat from his brow and grinned. Welcome back. How was the party? Chaotic. Aodhn groaned as he walked towards the hoe and picked it up to scrutinize it. I bet. The papers have been wild. Unrid chuckled, but his expression soured, and he collected the hoe from Aodhn. I believe they now know about your artifact. Aodhn grimaced. It had only been a matter of time; in fact, he didnt think they even believed him in the first place. He had no idea why hed allowed that lie to get so out of hand. It doesnt matter anymore. Aodhn replied with a shrug. The truth was bound to come out anyway. Unrid nodded and continued watering the mound of flowers beside him. What are you going to do about it? Nothing. Aodhn sighed. The artifact has been safely tucked away, and Im somewhat protected by the principal. I should be fine. Unrid shook his head, not liking the situation of things, but rather than dwell on something they couldnt solve, Unrid changed the topic. You should see the most recent paper of The Arcane Times. They think youre aiming for the Blackwells heiress. Unrid raised an eyebrow. Is that what youre doing? Aodhn grimaced as the memory of his dalliance with Imani and Meredith flashed across his mind. He shook his head. No, absolutely not. We just danced. Right. Unrid grinned, and with that they both turned their attention to the flowers. Unrid handed him the shears, and Aodhn began trimming the garden. They worked in companionable silence for almost an hour, only speaking to comment on the amazing growth of the flowers at irregular intervals, and by the time they were done trimming, Aodhn willed a storm cloud into existence and called down rain. It was only a light shower, but when it was over, the flowers looked brighter and healthier. Varc had taken off at some point, but Aodhn could still feel him in the sky, although he wasnt visible in the clouds. When they finished in the garden, they returned to the house and settled down for lunch, where Aodhn found a copy of the arcane observer, folded on the dining table. He picked it up and shook his head as he read through the very exaggerated tale of his relationship with Imani on the dance floor yesterday. He was a little worried about Lupins possible reaction to these news and would have loved to hear her opinion had they been speaking, but alas, he still hadnt gotten any response from her. Thoughts of Lupin led to lustful thoughts of Meredith, and Aodhn jerked as he forcefully dispelled the images from his mind. They refused to go through the feel of her hands, the softness of her lips, the sound of her "My, oh my, that is an intense wave of lust. Aldrics voice was like a bucket of cold water that snapped his mind back in order and sent the lustful thoughts scurrying. Aldric took the seat opposite Aodhn and grinned. In all the time Ive known you, this is the first time Ive sensed lust so strong from you. Unrid raised an interested eyebrow and leaned forward to ask Aldric. Tell me quick, is it the Blackwell girl? Are we going to be rich? No! Aodhn blurted out hurriedly and turned to glare at Aldric. This is neither the time nor the place. This is exactly the place! Unrid insisted excitedly as he urged Aldric to speak up. Aldric narrowed his eyes and grinned. Mhm. Theres a lot of guilt jumbled with all that lust. Such a fascinating mesh of emotions. I dont want to talk about it. Aodhn glared at Aldric. He didnt understand his emotions concerning Meredith, and frankly, he didnt want to. He already had Lupin despite their current situation, and he didnt need the added headache. Perhaps if he ignored the emotion enough, it would fizzle out and die. Aldric, though, didnt get the memo, and as his grin widened, Aodhn decided that it was time to go. He rushed out of the dining room and up the stairs just as Aldric spoke. What a nice little pickle youve gotten yourself into Aodhn. Your emotionsEnjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Aodhn slammed his door shut before Aldric completed his statement. He focused on his hearing and pulled his focus away, effectively limiting his range to his room. Aodhn sighed and scrunched his face in embarrassment. He wasnt just embarrassed because Aldric had sensed his messy emotions, but because he had hoped to not even address the feelings in the first place. He had hoped for it to simply die and wither, but now he realized how foolish that was. He should have known that it would be impossible to keep his emotions a secret with Aldric around. With nothing else to do, Aodhn took out his note on runic theory and began practicing the sixth rune, RAIDHO, the rune of space and distance. He practiced for hours until he finally perfected it. The runes came easily to him now, barely requiring more than a few hours for him to perfect, and Aodhn couldnt wait to perfect them all. Done with the sixth rune, Aodhn moved on to the seventh, LUMUS, the rune of light. This one barely even took an hour, and with a wide grin, Aodhn dove into the next. He was on a winning streak, and despite the already late hour, he wasnt feeling sleepy yet. The eighth rune, KENAZTH, was the rune of air and wind. It was much more complex than the rune of light. Aodhn spent the next few hours practicing, skipping dinner in his bid to perfect the rune before midnight. Daruk and Aldric dropped by at intervals, but Aodhn barely paid them any mind. The rune of wind was very important to him because it was a major aspect of his element. What was a storm without wind? The main reason why he wanted to perfect the wind rune though was so he could link it with LAGUZ, the rune of water. Obviously, linking runes was still above his current ability, but Aodhn was just so curious as to what such a combination would produce. He doubted it was enough to create a storm cloud, but what if it was? He frowned as he made a mistake and restarted the rune for the umpteenth time. As he drew, his mind drifted again, and he wondered what rank a storm rune was anyway. It wasnt among the initiate runes, so perhaps it was an advanced or grand rune. By nature, the storm was extremely complex, made of several aspects and elements, such as lightning, which was an advanced rune, water, darkness, wind, sound, and several other elements or concepts that he couldnt bother listing. In fact, now that he thought of it, it was extremely doubtful that the linking or merging of the runes of wind and water would produce a storm rune, but Aodhn was still excited to see what he might come up with. It was an hour past midnight when Aodhn finally perfected the wind rune, and he slumped in his chair with relief. His fingers ached from the constant drawing, and his head pounded painfully, yet Aodhn grinned widely. He had done it and was finally close to experimenting, but as much as he wanted to dive into that immediately, he was tired. He hadnt slept the night before, and his eyes were heavy. He closed his book and sighed before taking time to reply to all the messages Andrew, Imani, and even Meredith had sent to him. Andrews message was easyjust a quick question on a skill he was creatingbut Imanis was more complex, despite the fact that it was only a single sentence. We need to talk. Aodhn didnt want to talk, but he knew he at least owed her some sort of explanation for his actions yesterday. Not truthful ones obviously, but at least he needed to give her something. Aodhn sighed again, feeling even more weary than he did five seconds ago. It was annoying that despite his best efforts, he always found himself lying again and again. He left the text pending for now and moved on to Meredith''s, which was much simpler: Cant wait to see you at the academy so we can pick off where we left off. Aodhn grimaced. Perhaps he had been hasty to think this message was much simpler. He stared at the message for a few minutes before simply dismissing the screen. He would respond to the messages tomorrow after his brain cells have returned to peak capacity. Varc returned a moment later with a golden core held between his fangs. Aodhn grinned and accepted his usual bribe. It was a Tier 22 evolved solar core that he couldnt absorb, but that didnt matter as he could easily exchange it for money. Varc returned to his spirit after that, and Aodhn went to sleep. The next morning after breakfast, Aodhn tended to the garden and even infused the earth with another torrent of {Elemental LightningGreen}, just for good measure. When he was done, the garden practically oozed with vitality and a beauty far above the ordinary. It was Saturday, but Unrid and Synov had gone to work, so they had the whole house to themselves. Aldric had sequestered himself away to meditate while Daruk was busy working on a new skill in his room. Aodhn had a hundred things he needed to do, but the runes came first, and with barely restrained excitement, he took out his practice note and prepared to link his first set of runes. Professor Caldwell was yet to teach them how to link runes, but ever since shed mentioned it, Aodhn had begun reading up on the topic. Basically, there were two ways of joining runes. One was through the use of links to create a step-by-step activating script, while the other was a merge, which involved the complete combination of two or more runes to create another more complex rune. It was in this manner that advanced and grand runes were created. For example, the complete combination of two initiate fire runes produced a single advanced fire rune. The same applied to the complete combination of two different runes. For instance, the merge of an initiate fire and earth rune should produce a single advanced Lava rune. However, Aodhn was still too inexperienced to begin merging runes. The process was extremely dangerous, and all the books hed read on the topic warned against attempting it without supervision. For this reason, Aodhn decided to hold off on a merge for now and tackle the linking first. The linking of runes was a much simpler process compared to a merge, as it simply involved joining two or more runes together. That meant that if he linked a light rune to a darkness rune, it would activate in a step-by-step manner rather than as a whole. The light rune would activate first, filling the room with light, and then the darkness rune would activate, plunging the room into darkness. The linking process was used in the formation of scripts and was extremely useful in runic engineering circles. Due to his progress with scripting runes, learning to draw the links and activation circles was a walk in the park. It only took him a few hours to learn, and with that, Aodhn was finally ready to experiment. First, he drew KENAZTH, the wind rune on the left side of his note, left a bit of space for the runic link, and then drew LAGUZ, the water rune on the right. After perfecting both runes, he consulted his textbook and meticulously began drawing the link. The link was a simple line made complex by a series of twirls and curves that acted as a sort of leash that attached itself to several points on both runes. It only took Aodhn two trials to get it right, and with growing excitement, he linked the entire script to an activation circle. The activation circle was the single, most uncomplicated rune hed ever seen, and with a simple infusion of willpower, he jump-started the script. Immediately, the air trembled as the essence of wind and water began swirling above the note. They funneled into the runic script, which began glowing with a cloudish blue hue. Aodhn watched the process with fascination; his earlier reluctance to activate any runes without supervision is now forgotten. The script charged slowly, glowing brighter as it neared its maximum energy capacity, and then it exploded, ripping his practice note to pieces and showering him with a torrent of ice cold water. Chapter 102: Making Runic circuits They say regret is wisdom learned too late, and in that moment, utterly drenched and shivering, Aodhn heartily agreed. His practice note had been torn to pieces by the cutting wind, and his hair fizzled and sparked in an unpleasant way. The air stank of a scent vaguely similar to ozone, and although the energy in the air had stabilized, essence still moved erratically as if searching for a rune to charge. The damage the rune had caused didnt end on his desk alone; rather, it had spread almost to his bed, covering an area nearly two meters in diameter. Aodhn grumbled as he squeezed water from his clothes and hair, yet he couldnt help but feel excited when he took in the damage he''d accidentally caused. It was amazing to witness the power of initiate runes. The wind rune had done little damage, although it had scattered the whole room, ripped off his fancy curtains, and scattered his bed sheets. The water rune, on the other hand, had done comparatively more damage, but it was still negligible. A wet floor, a half-soaked bed, a soaked practice note, and a drenched shirt. Nothing too serious; however, Aodhn was thankful he hadnt begun his test with a fire and wind rune instead. That would have been very destructive. He spent the next few minutes cleaning up the mess, and after changing into more comfortable clothes, he sat down on his desk and began scrutinizing the pieces of his practice note that survived the explosion. It was apparent that he had made a mistake, perhaps during the linking or the activation, and Aodhn intended to figure out what he had done wrong. He scrutinized the remnants of his practice note for a prolonged moment, but when he found nothing, he took out his textbook on runic theory and began searching for possible causes of runic explosions. There were a ton of them, but after nearly an hour of reading, Aodhn managed to narrow down the list of probable causes to three. The first cause of runic explosions was incorrect rune linking, and it was the cause he was most suspicious of. Misalignment or improper placement of link points was one of the major causes of explosions in runic engineering, and considering the fact that hed only just learned how to draw the links a few hours ago, it was very possible that he had fucked it up somehow. The second cause of runic explosions was an overloaded rune. The second cause was closely tied to the third, his inexperience. In fact, the three major reasons were tied to each other. His inexperience had led him to fuck up the runic links, which had probably caused the runes to overcharge and explode. It wasnt a proper diagnosis, but Aodhn suspected he was right. He spent the next few minutes studying the runic links again, and when he was sure that he had perfected it, he cleared away the scraps of his former practice note and prepared for a second round of tests. Rather than test out the elemental runes again, Aodhn decided to do something simpler. To test out a rune with a much smaller area of effect, so that if it exploded again, he could manage it better. One potential reason for the runic explosion that didnt rank high on Aodhns list was using the wrong base material. He didnt see it as a significant factor because if runes could be inscribed on metal, ceramic, and even glass, then paper should be capable of withstanding it as well. Still, to err on the side of caution, he chose to use a different base material this time. With a simple wave of his hand, he created a jagged lightning knife, and with meticulous movements, he carved the rune of strength on his table. Due to the rough surface, it took Aodhn almost half an hour to complete the rune, but when he finally linked it to an activation circle, he was satisfied. The rune was still a little rough, but it would work, and that was all that mattered. He jumpstarted the rune and took several cautious steps backwards as energy began to gather and condense into the rune. The rune absorbed the energy greedily, glowing brighter as more energy was funneled into it. Aodhn grimaced, expecting another explosion, but surprisingly, the swirling energy soon dispersed as the rune reached its maximum energy capacity. It glowed a bright gold that soon subsided into the golden shimmer of runes that he was familiar with. Aodhn warily observed the table for a few moments before moving closer to it. He lifted the table easily, but he noticed that he was expending much more effort than usual to do so. The difference was subtle considering his tier of advancement, but he imagined that someone like Synov or even Unrid would have a much harder time lifting the table. Excited, Aodhn made a mental list of all the runes hed learned so far and began planning. In total, he had learned nine runes, and he could already think of a couple runes that he could link. The first was FEHU and URDA, the rune of strength and the rune of durability. Linking both runes together was sure to produce an interesting effect. Also, linking either FEHU, the rune of strength, or URDA, the rune of durability, with THURISAZ, the rune of protection and defense, was sure to produce something magical. Already, he could imagine the glowing script on the front door, but he soon dismissed the idea. Inscribing the front door with a script would make Unrid and Synov prisoners in their own homes. Nevertheless, a little extra protection wouldnt hurt anyone. Aodhn jotted down both combinations and moved on to the next. However, as he scanned through the list of runes he had learned, none of the remaining combinations seemed particularly useful at the moment. A few ideas crossed his mind, like linking ice and wind runes to create an air conditioning effect, but after a few minutes of consideration, he dismissed the idea. Not only would the script likely be more complex than he anticipated, but it also probably wouldnt deliver the exact results he was looking for. Besides, with the weather still cool despite the dry season, air conditioning wasnt a necessity right now. The same logic applied to every other combination that came to mind, and after a lengthy deliberation, Aodhn decided to stick with the first two combinations and proceeded to cover the entire house in runes. He began with his own front door, but after spending an entire hour drawing both FEHU and URDA on the door, he realized he would spend the entire day carving if he didnt find the right instruments first. With that ingenious realization, Aodhn alerted Daruk and Aldric of his intentions and flew towards the shopping mall in Norbuik. When he arrived, he made his way directly to the runic section, which was filled with runic textbooks, equipment, and tools. The first thing he bought was an inscriber, a pen-like tool with a beak sharp enough to easily cut through metal. It was surprisingly cheap, so Aodhn decided to buy a pack along with a textbook titled Guide to step-by-step runic linkage. After paying for his purchase, Aodhn returned to the house and continued his work. He linked the runes hed drawn on his door and then activated it. Energy condensed seamlessly into the runes, and after only a few seconds, the golden glow subsided into a slight shimmer.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Aodhn observed the runes suspiciously, but after he ascertained that it wasnt going to blow up in his face, he decided to test it out. Grinning in anticipation, Aodhn limited his physical strength to Tier 10 and punched the door. Despite only using about half his strength, the door shattered, and his fist burst out of the other side, throwing several shards of wood into the hallway. The rest of the door soon crashed to the floor with a loud bang, causing Daruk to peek out of his room and frown in annoyance. Do you ever do anything without destroying it first? Aodhn scowled at him, and for the second time that day, he made his way to the Norbuik mall. He returned home with a sturdier door and spent the next half hour fixing it before picking up his inscriber to start afresh. Please work. He muttered as he placed the inscriber on the door and began drawing. It took him a considerably less amount of time to draw both runes, thanks to the inscriber, and after drawing the runic links and activation circle, he activated the script. Energy swirled, and the script glowed intensely as it absorbed energy. Once the golden glow faded to a faint shimmer, Aodhn limited his strength to Tier 10 once again and punched the door. The door shook violently but remained mercifully intact; however, Aodhn was far from satisfied. He consulted his textbook again and frowned. He had expected the runes to be much stronger, but it seemed that at his current tier, a pair of initiate runes were nothing more than a minor annoyancetheir power too weak to truly challenge him. In hindsight, he should have known; even the simplest of inventions was often covered in dozens of runic scripts. After a few more minutes of studying, Aodhn realized his mistake. Instead of just linking a pair of runes, he could create a runic ringor more accurately, a runic circuitby connecting a total of eight runes in a step-by-step process. This would create a feedback loop where the runes would reinforce and draw energy from each other, producing a significantly more powerful effect. Aodhn practiced the runic circuit on a new note to ensure that he got it right before moving towards the door to test it out. This time he linked URDA-FEHU-URDA-FEHU until he connected the fourth FEHU rune to the first URDA rune. The entire circuit took up the entirety of the door, and after linking the whole thing to an activation circle, Aodhn carefully channeled energy and willpower into the script to jumpstart its charging process. Unlike the smaller scripts, which had only taken a few seconds to charge, the circuit took almost five minutes. The air trembled as energy and essence condensed into the circuit. Little by little, the runes lit up as they drew in more energy from the air, and when the final rune lit up, the entire circuit flashed with a golden light that was bright enough to blind a sleeper. Aodhn stepped back to admire his work and grinned. Compared to the work of professionals, the circuit looked crude and inefficient, but by the maker! It was beautiful. Aodhn was certain that it probably wouldnt be as efficient as it should be, but he didnt care about that at the moment. He dropped his inscriber, and to test his handwork, he restrained his strength to Tier 10 once more and punched the door. The door barely rattled. Not even a creak or groan from the force of his attack, and with a wicked grin, Aodhn punched the door again, this time at full strength. Runes flared as his fist came in contact with the door, and although it rattled and let out a loud creak, the door held. Aodhns grin widened, and with an air of determination, he grabbed the inscriber and moved towards the window to begin drawing runes. Time passed in this manner, with Aodhn filling his entire room with runes. He covered the windows in THIRUSAZ and URDA circuits, while he covered the floor with FEHU and URDA circuits. After that, he moved to the walls, fortifying the entire room, until a fully powered punch barely caused anything to rattle. The room glowed with golden light as each circuit activated, draining the energy in the air to fuel itself. Despite the constant siphoning of energy and essence as each runic circuit activated, Aodhn realized that he couldnt even feel a dip in the density of energy around him. As energy was absorbed by the runes, more rushed into his room, filling up any vacuum before Aodhn even noticed it. When he finally finished with his room, Aodhn moved to Aldrics room, which was still bare and undecorated. Aldric barely reacted to his entrance, save for a slight twitch of acknowledgement that Aodhn didnt bother returning. He left Aldric to his meditation and began his work. The lack of decoration made it much easier to draw the runes, and in record time, Aodhn was through with the walls. After that, he moved to the windows and then to the door. He tackled the floor next, experimenting with the size of the runes and wondering if size had any impact on the power of a circuit. Due to the larger size, it took Aodhn almost double the time hed used on the windows to finish the floors runic circuit, and as it turned out, size really did have an impact on the overall power of a runic circuit. The runic circuit took almost an hour to charge, but when it finally did, it flashed so brightly that Aldric was forced out of his mediation. When the glow subsided, Aodhn punched the floor at full power and winced as pain lanced through his arm, and the force of his attack was ripped to pieces. Aldric stood to his feet, admiring Aodhns work, while Aodhn waited patiently for the heartwarming gratitude that he deserved. Impressive. Aldric commented after a few seconds and asked. Do you think you could add noise-canceling runes to the walls? Ive been unable to focus for the last few hours because someone kept punching things. You ungrateful wench. Aodhn scowled at him and pointed to the runic-covered walls. This is the culmination of several hours of painstaking practice, finger cramps, and reading. I see that. Aldric shrugged nonchalantly and grinned. Hows that lustful emotion going, by the way? Aodhn yelled and quickly bolted out of Aldrics room before he could say anything more. Fucking ingrate! he cursed as he moved to Synov and Unrids room. This was the first time he was entering their room, and although he tried to prepare himself for the explosion of colors that he was sure to find, he hadnt anticipated the dizzying array of vibrant hues and eclectic decorations that assaulted his senses as soon as he stepped inside. It was so much worse than the living room. Mismatched colors filled the entire room, and Aodhns hands itched to tear them off. He contemplated running out of the room for a moment before steeling himself and muttered. You can do this, Aodhn. Youve slain Rizzels and Rugworts. You will not be felled by an explosion of colors. With an expression like that of a person crawling through the intestines of a dead mammal, Aodhn walked deeper into the room. He ignored the puce-colored curtains and muddy brown rug. He even ignored the lurid green walls, but despite his best effort, he couldnt ignore the neon bedsheets. He ripped the sheets off and was about to burn them to crisp when he remembered his promise to Synov. With shuddering breaths and a whole lot of disgust, Aodhn lay the sheets back on the bed and quickly turned away. He took a deep breath to solidify his determination, and without looking back, he gripped his inscriber and began drawing. He barely managed to maintain his focus for half an hour, after which he couldnt take it anymore, and in one smooth movement, he pulled off the annoying curtains. The evening sunlight flooded into the room, accentuating each color and making everything all the more unbearable. With a mournful groan, Aodhn fixed the curtains and resigned himself to an hour of torture. He rushed through the whole thing, not wanting to stay within the room more than necessary. Despite his increased speed in drawing runes, it still took him about two hours to finish drawing the runes. He didnt even bother waiting for the rune to finish activating before racing out of the room. As soon as he stepped out, he sighed deeply in relief, leaning against the wall. The glowing runes had only worsened the room''s already chaotic aesthetic, but Aodhn had a hunch that Synov would adore it. Shaking his head in disgust, he headed to Daruks room and knocked. He could sense Daruks core, but when no one answered, he pushed the door openand immediately let out an undignified yell at the sight of a seven-foot ice arachnid standing in the center of the room. Chapter 103: Sappy is the new chic Aodhns eyes widened as he took in the seven-foot monster of ice standing in his brother''s bedroom, and his instincts took over. In a blink, a crackling spear of red electricity shot out of his palms and would have shattered the arachnid to pieces if not for the thick wall of ice that sprang up to block the attack at the last second. The spear smashed into the ice wall and exploded, causing it to shudder violently from the force of the attack. It shattered a moment later to reveal Daruk standing beside the creature with a look of astonishment. By all the dead stars, Aodhn! How many strands of willpower did you imbue into that skill? Aodhn frowned in confusion, his gaze darting from Daruk to the monstrosity standing beside him. What the fuck is going on here? Daruk grinned and patted the arachnid affectionately. Meet the physical manifestation of my newest skill. His name is Sentinel. Aodhn blinked, still trying to understand what he had walked into. It seemed he had misjudged the situation. Daruk wasnt in any danger, and the house hadnt been invaded by a horde of beasts. Rather, the ice arachnid was Daruks new skill? I see that youll be needing some explanation. Daruk grinned and patted the arachnid once more. This is a construct, albeit a very complex one. Aodhn glanced at the Ice Arachnid again and asked. This is a construct? Thats what I said. Yes. Daruk replied smugly and shrugged. This is an animated construct. Its almost no different from a familiar. Aodhn relaxed slightly and moved closer to inspect the construct. The arachnid stood about 75 feet in height, with its circular head nearly scraping the roof. The construct had a circular body, which was held up by eight blade-like appendages, four on each side. Asides the blade-like limbs, half a dozen more appendages protruded from its back, whirring and moving in a sort of mechanical manner. The construct had no eyes, yet its head followed Aodhns movement, and when Aodhn moved to touch one of its limbs, one of the bladed protrusions on its back shot forward threateningly. Daruk chuckled and shook his head. Sentinel doesnt like being touched by strangers. Aodhn opened his mouth to speak but shook his head instead, choosing to keep his comments to himself for now. The arachnids body was transparent, and Aodhn realized that its insides were empty. It was also much larger than the arachnid protector theyd encountered in the inheritors trial, and despite how similar it looked to the protector, it was vastly different. After close observation, it became obvious that the arachnid wasnt a living creature; however, Aodhn could only imagine just how complex it was to create. It must have taken Daruk hours to create as well as a large portion of his willpower. Daruk confirmed his thoughts a moment later when he leaned against the wall and sighed. Creating this masterpiece was definitely not easy. I can imagine. Aodhn replied as he took a few steps back from the construct and asked. I take it this is the skill youve been working on. Actually, no. Daruk leaned away from the wall and moved closer. For the past three weeks, Ive been refining my control over {Forge}; this is the result of that. My new skill is {Animate construct}, and it simply grants my constructs a very basic sort of sentience. How basic? Very basic. Daruk grimaced and squeezed a fist, reducing the seven-foot construct to a size only slightly larger than his palms. The construct has no intelligence of its own and requires constant input just to move a couple feet. Watch this. Daruk placed the palm-sized arachnid on the floor and closed his eyes. The next instant, the construct began to move. At first, its movements were erratic and mechanical, but it soon smoothed out into a sort of cat-like walk, fluid and graceful. The arachnid climbed up the wall, leaving behind a small trail of snow in its wake. When Daruk opened his eyes, though, the arachnids movement regressed until it came to a sudden stop. Well, thats how basic it is. Daruk commented with a frown before picking up the construct and placing it on his reading table. Perhaps, with a little more luck and control, I can get it to function without my direct input. Its still a great skill regardless of its restrictions. Aodhn replied as he thought of several ways he could utilize the skill. Oh definitely. Daruk agreed. I had to use my crude enhancement technique to create it, so I probably wont be able to see it hear right for the next few hours, but its definitely worth it. Aodhn nodded, fascinated by the construct. What other restrictions does the skill have? Thinking of creating the skill? Daruk chided, and Aodhn shrugged. Actually yes. I can already think of a dozen ways to utilize this. Daruk chuckled but shook his head. As great as the skill sounds, it has quite a number of limitations. The most annoying being the fact that I cant animate more than one construct at a time. Do you think theres room for growth? Aodhn asked and grimaced when Daruk shook his head. I doubt it. Of course the skill gets stronger with each advancement, but its growth is more linear, leaning more towards increasing the power of a single construct rather than creating an army of constructs. Bummer. Aodhn shook his head in disappointment, and Daruk laughed. I also cant animate any construct that isnt in the form of an animal or human. For instance, he created an ice chair and snapped his fingersI cant animate a chair or table or anything that isnt actually living-like. Now thats just terrible. Aodhn scowled as he cancelled out another potential utilization of the skill from his mental list. Please tell me theres an upside to this skill.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Actually, there is. Daruk grinned. At the advanced class, its possible to divide the mind into two and allocate each one to a separate task. This means its possible to allocate one part of your mind to controlling the construct; that way, you dont have to close your eyes every time you use the skill... Thus gaining a pseudo-familiar. Aodhn finished in amazement, and he turned to stare at the construct with new eyes. Did you come up with this yourself? Hardly. Daruk snorted. There are several variations of the skill out there. I only borrowed their ideas and tried to make it better. No one has been able to get over the restrictions. Not that I know of. Daruk shrugged. I doubt it''s possible, though. I mean, if you simply animate a construct, what''s the use of a familiar? Besides, the skill isnt exactly easy to create, and I doubt I could have done it without my enhancement technique and the buffs of my architect title. Still Aodhn muttered as his mind raced with possibilities. If he could create the skill for himself, then it was only a matter of time before he had two familiars, or more appropriately, one familiar and a facsimile. He could already imagine ittwo Furies, spewing lightning from the sky while he watched smugly from above. Haq! He needed to get this skill as soon as possible. He turned back to Daruk and said, When we return to the academy, youve got to teach me that enhancement technique of yours. You will hate it. Daruk grinned. But I would love to teach you. After that, Daruk created another construct, this time a bird, and Aodhn soon forgot the reason hed come into Daruks room in the first place. Before long, Aodhn soon found himself surrounded by a ton of dormant constructs. Birds, hamsters, ifrits, rizzels, and even fish. Daruk could only animate each construct one at a time, but it was still fun playing with the constructs. As Daruk refined his control over the skill, with Aodhn watching intently, they soon noticed that sometimes more than one construct would respond to Daruk''s commands simultaneously. It seemed like a glitch, but Aodhn speculated that at the Mythic tier, it might be possible to animate and control a dozen constructs at once. The idea that, if such a feat were possible, they surely would have heard of it before never crossed his mind. With childlike determination, Aodhn began practicing {Create construct}, trying to create something as complex as a bird or an arachnid, but it turned out it was much more complex than Daruk made it seem, more so because his affinity didnt really lend itself to stability or solidity. Lightning was erratic, and the storm was, well, cloudy. Ice, on the other hand, was stable, solid, and eager to take on a shape. Aodhn didnt let that dissuade him though; instead, he focused more of his attention on the skill. After an hour of trying, he realized he probably wouldnt be getting the skill anytime soon. Even Daruk, with all his buffs, advantages, and titles, had spent almost a month before getting the skill. That didnt mean that he wouldnt continue trying, but he lowered his expectations. Synov and Unrid soon returned with dinner, and while Daruk went to receive them, Aodhn rushed to begin drawing the runes in Daruks room. He was only about half way through the first window rune when Synov suddenly screamed in excitement and Aodhn grinned. Now, thats how you say thank you, Aldric. Fuck you! Aldric replied from the living room, and Aodhn chuckled. He then dropped his inscriber and moved to his parents room to find Synov and Unrid staring at the room in awe. I hope you like it? he asked, trying not to grimace from the explosion of colors, and Synov turned to him with wide eyes. Like it? I love it! It adds so much color to the entire room that Im now thinking of painting the walls green or brown to make the shimmer pop more. Aodhn couldnt help but grimace at the mental image and quickly suggested. Perhaps you should leave it like this. Its already socolorful. Rather than support him as he''d expected, Unrid shook his head and hugged Synov from behind. Extra color couldnt hurt. In fact, I was thinking a deep purple or bright pink would contrast well with the curtains. What do you think, Aodhn? Aodhn heaved. II mean, its great. While youre at it, why dont you add algae green to really bring the whole thing together? Rather than get offended by his words, Synov frowned, seeming to really contemplate the idea. Seeing that there was no more hope for his parents, Aodhn gave up and returned to Daruks room to continue his work. Time flew, and surprisingly, Aodhn managed to finish Daruks room in only a few hours. He had not only gotten better at drawing the runes; hed gotten faster too. After testing the runes, he made his way to the dining room to join his family for dinner. Dinner was a happy affair, with Unrid and Synov narrating funny stories from their workplace that had them all roaring with laughter. There was an undercurrent of sadness, though, that none of them could hide. He, Aldric, and Daruk would be leaving the next day to their respective academies, or in Aldrics case, back to his pirate crew, and from the way Synov clung tightly to Daruk, it was obvious she didnt want them to go. Aodhn would miss them too, but he couldnt wait for tomorrow. Daruk had bought a chip for Unrid as Synov couldnt use one, but Synov wasnt sad at all. According to her, it was even better that way, as she didnt have to worry about sharing the paper space with Unrid anymore. The dinner lasted until late evening before they all returned to their rooms. Aodhn let Varc out for his nightly hunts and spent the rest of the night reading the textbook on Awakened Advancement Theory. As usual, it was as enlightening as it was confusing, yet Aodhn didnt put it down in favor of the text on runic theory. Awakened Advancement Theory was one of the hardest courses he was taking, if not the hardest, and if the mock test theyd taken had taught him anything, it was that he would most likely fail the course if he didnt devote more time to it. Aldric came into his room about an hour before midnight, and after a few minutes of light conversation, Aodhn asked. So, youre going back to being a full-time pirate then? Aldric snorted. Im always a full-time pirate; Im just not always at sea. He grinned and ruffled Aodhns hair. You dont have to worry about me; I know I dont have all your advantages, but I can take care of myself, trust me. I do trust you. Aodhn smiled sadly. And I know you can take care of yourself; I just... I cant help but worry. I understand. You do? Aldric scoffed. Of course, I understand your emotions even better than you do. Ah, right. I dont know why I keep forgetting that. Aodhn chuckled and gestured to Aldrics chip. Just let me know in case youre in any trouble. Ha, are you going to use your influence to save my ass? Aodhn grinned. I might as well use it for something. Well, in that case, how about I give you some advice?" Aldric leaned forward and grinned. You love Lupin Aodhn bolted immediately, but he couldnt escape the rest of Aldrics words. But you crave Meredith. Aodhn loosened his grip on the door handle and sighed. I did not... I didnt want to know that. But you needed to. Aldric smiled at him. Take it as a gift. At least now you know exactly how you feel, so you can start working on a solution to solve this sordid mess. Aodhn scoffed and shook his head. We just fooled around for a few minutes, and now I cant get her out of my head. Merediths a witch. No, shes not. Aldric laughed and patted his shoulders. Emotions are just complex things. Even the old and wise have trouble discerning it. Aodhn smiled and shook his head. Now youre being sappy and philosophical. Sappy is the new chic. Aldric grinned. Also, you still havent told me what happened between you and Mered Aodhn threw Aldric out before he could complete the statement and quickly shut the door, vowing to learn the noise cancellation rune the moment he got the chance to. Aldric huffed and pushed himself up to his feet before shouting. This is not how to say thank you either, Aodhn! I literally just gave you a gift! Chapter 104: War Echoes—SEO-YEON, TYRUS HADJEN Due to the ongoing war, Sunstone and Ragnarok had both tightened their security predictably. The power of their aerial runic barriers had increased to completely shut down inter-kingdom teleportation. Port security and patrol had tripled. The number of security checkpoints had increased, and their identity verification had become so thorough that it was nearly invasive. Despite these improved security measures, safety still wasnt fully guaranteed, as is usually the case when dealing with awakened individuals. There was always one skill, bloodline, or ability that pierced through any sort of protection, however tight they might be. There was always a loophole, and this time, it was Seo-yeon. While others relied on petty tricks and bloodlines to escape or avoid detection, Seo-yeon simply walked through any and every security measure without worry. She had passed right under the nose of the port security and aerial patrol without detection, and now, as the sun glided down the horizon, she stood within a long queue of people heading into Conquestia, the border city of sector 7. She shuffled along with the crowd, wearing the face of an old widow whose life shed taken barely an hour ago. With a snort of impatience, she clutched the widows ID card tightly to her chest and yelled at the person in front of her. Why is this line so slow? My feet are killing me. The man, an evolved awakened, turned to glare at her. If you touch me again, woman, I swear, Ill cut off your head. He raised a threatening finger wreathed in darkness and spat. Fucking sleeper! Seo-yeon pretended to feel threatened as any sleeper would undoubtedly be and quickly switched places with the person behind her. It set her back a few minutes, but it was a necessary act to maintain and solidify her cover. Seo-yeon, or Faceless, as she was more popularly known, was a changeling, wielding an underestimated aspect of the concept of change. Many of her kind were barely considered dangerous due to their lack of offensive skills, but Seo-yeon had pushed her understanding of the concept over the edge, shaping her skills in a direction so bizarre that the war council had had no choice but to label her as a champion of Sunstone. The queue moved swiftly, and before long, Seo-yeon found herself standing before the city gate, surrounded by half a dozen advanced-class soldiers. The lead soldier, a stern-faced man with wavy silver hair and eyes, glared at her and extended a hand in request for her ID. Seo-yeon smiled kindly, playing the role of an old widow perfectly as she handed the card to the soldier, who inspected her gray speckled hair and wrinkled face for a moment before accepting the card. The soldier placed the card under a runic scanner for verification before requesting a finger print and pupil scan, both of which Seo-yeon performed without fuss. While the lead soldier scanned her pupils, another soldier scanned her body for anything suspicious. Seo-yeon didnt bother asking if there was a problem; after all, this was all standard procedure. It would have been surprising if security was lax, especially in the 7th sector, which housed Ragnaroks military. When they asked to search her spatial ring, Seo-yeon grumbled the way shed seen others do before handing over the spatial ring shed swiped from the old woman. There was barely anything within itonly some old clothes, food, a few pictures of her supposedly dead husband, and the military uniform of her second victim. The soldier scanned the ring for a moment and asked. Whose uniform is this? Seo-yeons expression crumbled into that of sorrow, and she sighed. It belonged to my late husband. He died a month ago; this is all I have to remember him. The soldier exchanged glances with his comrades before turning back to her with a somber expression. Im sorry for your loss, maam. I hope your husband finds rest. Thank you. The soldier scanned the ring for a moment longer before returning it along with the ID card. All clear, youre free to go in, maam. The soldier smiled, and Seo-yeon returned the expression in that bizzare way old people usually did. Say hi to your wife and children for me. Of course that last part hadn''t been necessary, but being a changeling wasnt just about what was needed or not; it was about completely embodying the character of the face she was wearing at any given moment. She stepped through the gates and began making her way into the city. This wasnt the first time shed entered Ragnarok ever since the escalation of the war, but unlike her usual jaunts around the continent, this was no mere vacation; this time, she had a mission. It wasnt a realm-altering mission. By the sun! It wasnt even a kingdom-shattering mission; however, it was an essential one, and as much as she would have loved to dispose of the king and take his place, she wasnt capable of that yet, at least not until she entered the Mythic class and gained her aspects. Finding her way around the orderly sector was quite easy, and a few minutes later, she reached a merchant stall where she bought a stack of papers and a cooking knife. The knife was useless against any awakened person of sufficient ability, but Seo-yeon didnt like moving around without a weapon. It made her feel naked. After that, she dove into a darkened alley and immediately activated {MorphAnimate} and then {Rapid Transformation}. Her features changed to those of her second victim, shedding the visage of the kind old widow to adopt a much younger and fairer visage. Her hair shortened into a buzz cut, her limbs lengthened, and a small scar ran from her left ear down to her chin. Being a changeling meant being able to transform into anything, regardless of whether it was living or nonliving. Fortunately, many tended to ignore or forget the last part, categorizing them into the same vein as shapeshifters, and at this point, Seo-yeon had lost count of the amount of times shed been mistaken for a random chair or rock. After the physical transformation was completed, a change that only took a couple seconds, Seo-yeon then activated a series of buff skills to strengthen the change. First, she activated {Gene morph}, an extremely potent skill that granted her the ability to manipulate and control the key defining factors for most Awakeneds: bloodline manifestations and the pupil rings. With the skill, she eliminated the two rings around her sky blue pupils and instead replaced them with the single black ring her victim had bore. To the world, Seo-yeon was now an evolved male in his mid-thirties, with no bloodline manifestation. Im sorry, Captain Rivvet. She chuckled quietly as she put on the uniform shed taken from her second victim. Its not personal; I needed a face, and you were it. With the transformation now complete, Seo-yeon discarded the widow''s clothes and made her way out of the alley. Immediately she stepped out of the alley though; she almost collided with the cart of a newspaper merchant and had to hastily shift aside to avoid the disaster. Apologies sir. The merchant called out as he shifted his cart out of the way. Nearly a dozen people stood around the cart, reading the headlines of the displayed newspapers, and with a curious expression, Seo-yeon moved to join them. The headlines of nearly half of the newspapers were covered with updates on the war, most of which were just border skirmishes. She scanned the newspapers, smiling faintly as she read the tensed headlines and worried columns. If only they knew that Sunstone really didnt have anything planned. Her people were just as worried and tensed as the people of Ragnarok. The plague wraiths had been brutally effective, and her people feared what fate would befall them if the Ragnarians created a weapon that attacked humans rather than plants in their next confrontation. It was the sole reason for her mission in the seventh sector. As her eyes scanned the newspapers though, her gaze landed on the headlines of one called the Arcane Observer, and she frowned when she saw the picture of a white-haired youth printed on the front page. The boy was unnaturally dark, obviously the effect of a severe bloodline manifestation, but what really caught Seo-yeons attention were the words boldly printed under the boy''s picture. Aodhn Brystion: The evolved awakened who accidentally bonded with a familiar. At first, Seo-yeon thought it was a joke, but after reading the first line of the column, her eye widened, and she immediately snatched the newspaper out of the hands of the man reading them. Hey! I was reading that. The man shouted, but Seo-yeon ignored him. Her eyes roamed the paper with a mixture of confusion and disbelief. How was it possible that an evolved Awakened had done what she hasnt been able to? The man snatched the paper away from her, but Seo-yeon was done with it anyway. She walked away from the cart with her mind in turmoil. As if it wasnt enough that the youth had done the impossible, he had a unique bloodline too. The requirements for such a soul seed were not lost on Seo-yeon, and her expression darkened. How do these buffoons just keep getting stronger? she asked herself and made a mental note to relay the information to her general whenever she returned to Sunstone. With a little effort, Seo-yeon pushed the thought of the white-haired youth out of her mind and turned her focus back to her mission. With determined strides, she moved forward, effortlessly weaving through a crowd of people who made way for her the instant they saw the uniform and badge she was putting on. As Seo-yeon walked deeper into the city, she encountered more soldiers, some of whom recognized her, or more appropriately, the face of the man she was wearing. Some waved in greeting, and Seo-yeon returned the gesture. Just as the sun disappeared below the horizon, she passed by a group of weary-looking soldiers who looked to be drowning their sorrows in an unhealthy amount of alcohol. They waved her over, but Seo-yeon declined politely. Sorry fellas, this blokes still working. Work, work, work. One of the soldiers complained, already inebriated. You have to rest one of these days, Captain Rivvet. Realizing that this was someone who knew her victim well, Seo-yeon focused on his name tag and smiled. What can I say, Edmund? Sunstonian dogs need to die. Yes! the soldiers cheered, and Edmund waved him off. Go on, captain, well save you a keg for when you return. Absolutely. Seo-yeon grinned and left. She walked for another ten minutes before boarding a military shuttle that was headed towards the Sigma 15-25 war camp, where her mission was to take place. Considering how orderly the sector was, it only took a few minutes for the shuttle to arrive at the camp. After tipping the driver, Seo-yeon walked towards the camp entrance, which was surrounded by a very tall wall and guarded by another half dozen soldiers. Im here to deliver something to the commander. Seo-yeon said to the lead soldier as she went through another round of identity verification. A war update? The soldier asked, and Seo-yeon nodded. Yes, fortunately weve managed to push the Sunstonians back in Chalis-Argent and Raelys, so things are looking really good. I just wish those Sunstonian dogs will just surrender already so we can be rid of all this constant scrutiny. The soldier grinned. You and me both, sir, Im very eager to see my family again. Seo-yeon frankly didnt care about the soldier, but captain Rivvet most likely would have, so instead of simply leaving, she glanced at the soldier''s name tag and said, Keep up the good work, lieutenant Thomas; Im sure youll get to see your family very soon. Thank you, captain. Lieutenant Thomas smiled and waved for the soldiers to let Seo-yeon through. Seo-yeon nodded and walked into the camp. Despite how extensive Sunstonian intelligence was, Seo-yeon hadnt been given the layout of the camp, so she''d had to find her way around using her instincts. It would have been easier if she could harvest the memories of those she transformed into, but that was not a skill she could get now. However, it still only took her a few minutes to make her way towards the center of the camp, where the commanders tent stood. Seo-yeon dallied until darkness fell before stepping into the commanders tent. Commander Hadjen looked up to glare at her, along with the ominous eyes of his familiar, a back raven. Had Seo-yeon been a weaker person, she definitely would have shriveled under their combined gazes; instead, she walked forward and bowed in greeting. Commander Hadjen, I bring good news from Chalis-Argent and Raelys. Commander Hadjen let out a sigh of relief and smiled. Quick, let me see the file. Yes sir. Seo-yeon grinned and took out the stack of papers shed bought earlier. The commander leaned forward, and in that moment Seo-yeon acted. Her fingers transformed into long black claws, and with the speed of her actual tier, Seo-yeon slashed his exposed throat. Her claws sliced into the commanders neck, cleanly cutting through the tissues, veins, and arteries within it. It wasnt nearly enough to kill him, but the shock and pain rendered both the commander and his familiar paralyzed. It was only for a moment, but that was all Seo-yeon required. She punched into the commanders chest, her claws savagely tearing through bone and flesh to grasp the commanders heart. The familiar acted then, opening its beak to let out an accursed sound, but a slap from her left hand sent it flying backwards. It slammed against one of the wooden cabinets within the tent, the force of which caused the cabinet to tumble and spill its contents loudly to the floor.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. With the familiar now dealt with, Seo-yeon gripped the commanders heart and ripped it out without hesitation. The entire fight had barely taken a minute, but before blood could spread unto the tent floor, Seo-yeon removed the commanders spatial ring and threw his body into her spatial storage. Seo-yeons mission was simple. Kill the commander of the Sigma 15-25 war front, and then make her way down or up the chain of command. It was an attempt to chip away at their military power and create even more tension within the camp. In essence, Seo-yeon had been sent to act as a distraction while Sunstone worked on bigger plans. In a blink, she dashed forward and grabbed the familiar by its neck before it could fly away. Unlike normal creatures, familiars were very hard to kill as they werent exactly living beings, but with the commander now dead, it was only a matter of time before the familiar followed suit. She raised her chip to her lips, configured it to a secure line, and said. One dead. She got no response, but that wasnt necessary. After arranging the tent, Seo-yeon transformed again, this time taking on the stern features of commander Hadjen. She took out a clean uniform from his spatial ring and put it on. After that, she looked around the tent to make sure everything was in order, and in one quick movement, she snapped the ravens neck. *** In a small, forgotten corner of the war camp in Conquestia, sat a woman with her legs popped up on a stand, and her head bent sideways as she snored gently. An array of life chips surrounded her, each glowing with the life signals of all majors, colonels, and lieutenant colonels within the military. The sleeping woman was named Geene Janak and was pompously titled the Life-Watcher. She was a woman who was already past her prime, as indicated by her salt and pepper hair, which hung in a halo around her head. Geene had encountered a spiritual limit at the advanced class eleven years ago. Rather than continue in active military, she had chosen to resign and had thus taken up the position of the Life-watcher. One might wonder why shed been the only one assigned to such an important task, but the reality was that Geene didnt need anyone aside from herself to complete her task; in fact, while she slept, hundreds of her mind clones filled the entire space, each ghostly specter watching a section of life chips diligently. They were all eerily silent, floating slightly above ground and leaving a trail of ghostly smoke behind them. Despite their numbers, they were one, or more appropriately, they shared one mindhers. The specters were physical manifestations of her mind. Awakened with a mind affinity, Geene was popularly known for her innate ability to project segments of her mind into reality. However, the clones had little to no impact on reality itself. They couldnt touch, feel, or even fight. If they could, her proposal for the position of lifeguard would have been rejected. So, they just watched instead, relaying several streams of information into her mind simultaneously. The information came into her mind in fragmented pieces, but even while asleep, it was no issue parsing through and sorting through the information. She mostly just deleted everything from her memory since it was the same information every day, every month, and every year. The last time a life chip had dimmed had been three years ago, and that had been a cause for relief rather than alarm. Old Malaritrex, the previous commander of the Sigma 26-50 war camp in Conquestia, had been pushing three hundred and fifty, which was extremely long lived for someone in the advanced class. Geene, in particular, had been much relieved when that life chip had finally gone out, as it had been sputtering for weeks and cutting into her sleep time. However, life had returned to its usually boring monotony after that, and Geene had returned to sleeping her time away, just waiting for the time of her own death. This was the reason why, when one of her mind specters gasped inaudibly and began sending alarming thoughts to her mind, Geene jerked awake, her abrupt movement causing her chair to topple backwards. She landed on the tiled floor with a thud, but she barely even registered the impact, her gaze going directly to the manically waving specter. With her heart thudding in excitement, Geene rushed forward. It didnt matter that someone had probably just died; Geene was just glad for some fucking excitement. A break from the monotony of glowing life chips. Her gaze landed on the darkened chip an instant later, and she snorted. Ha, this pompous jerk finally passed on to the embrace of the ascendants. I hope they reject him. Ideally, she was supposed to wait for a minute or two to confirm the death before notifying the appropriate authorities, but Geene couldnt wait. This was an opportunity for excitement, and she would be damned to let it pass her by. Without hesitation, she slammed the red panic button on her console. The button refused to budge, stiff from lack of use, but Geene wouldnt be bested by a simple button. She slammed the button again and again until it gave, after which it flashed red and an alarm blared all through the camp. With a grin, she raised her chip and placed a call to Fort Dominion, where the general for the seventh sector stayed. It was highly inappropriate as she had gone over the heads of multiple officers, all of whom would be livid by the time all this was over, but Geene didnt care. The generals secretary picked up the call an instant later. Youve reached General Deatons office, Life-Watcher; what is the emergency? Commander Hadjens life chip just died. My instincts tell me he has been murdered and that camp Conquestia has been breached! Your instincts? The secretary asked in confusion. "Please, can you tell me why youve skipped over the appropriate authorities to report this to the general? Geene, however, was no longer listening. She had dropped her chip the moment after she delivered her message and was now rushing out of the watch center to activate another alarm. *** Multiple alarms blared throughout the camp just as Seo-yeon stepped out of the commanders tent, and chaos broke out immediately. Panicked, she dove back into the tent and cursed. Fuck! I should have had at least a minute or two before this happened. They havent even verified the body. Thinking quickly, she threw out the commanders body from her spatial space and then transformed her features into those of an unremarkable soldier shed seen on her way here. Without hesitation, she ripped off the decorations on the uniform as well as the name tag until the uniform could barely be differentiated from that of a lowly private. The uniform hung off her much slender frame, but a quick activation of {MorphAnimate} soon solved that problem, and the next instant, the uniform fit snugly as if it were made for her. Seo-yeon had expected to have at least a minute or two to leave the vicinity before the alarm went out, but it seemed the camp was even more on edge than shed previously thought. Another alarm blared, adding to the cacophony of noise and chaos, and after allowing herself a second to panic, Seo-yeon rushed out of the tent and joined the mass of confused and panicked soldiers. Captains rushed about, trying to bring about a semblance of order to the chaos, but Seo-yeon wished they wouldnt. The last thing she needed right now was order. She ducked behind a large tent, and in that split second where no one was watching, she activated {Rapid Transformation} and then {Animate Morph}. The transformation began with a sharp, cracking noise as her bones snapped. Her spine contorted, the vertebrae compressing as her body began to shrink. Her ribs contorted, each bone bending and repositioning itself to accommodate her new form. Seo-yeon gasped both in pain and pleasure as her arms began to elongate, the bones within them hollowing out to become lightweight yet strong. Her legs bent and twisted, the bones rearranging themselves into slender, avian limbs. Her feet elongated, toes merging and transforming into sharp, curved talons capable of slicing a person in two if aimed right. Her fingers fused together, stretching and sprouting black feathers that pushed through her skin like new buds in spring. Each feather unfurled, sleek and glossy, covering her growing wings in blue, purple, and black hues. Without hesitation, she flew, flapping her still-growing wings in a bid to get as far away from the vicinity as possible. Her body had shrunk until it was only about a foot, both in height and width. Anyone who saw right now would see a raven almost no different from the familiar she had just killed. She flew until she was nearly a mile away from the commanders tent before settling on the roof of a large tent to watch what was going on below. Shed barely had time to adjust to her new senses when reality warbled and a dense wave of spatial essence engulfed the area. The spatial wave heralded the appearance of a champion she knew well, and had it been possible in her new form, Seo-yeon would have sneered as the familiar features of Artemis Valerion came into view. He appeared directly above the commands tent, his gaze intent on the semi-orderly mass of soldiers now gathered around the tent. Seo-yeon cocked her head, focusing her hearing on the conversation of the soldiers to understand the situation. A breach! One of the soldiers spat, a shadow sword tightly clenched in his fist. Fucking Sunstonian dogs. Show yourself if you would dare! How did they even get into the camp? another asked. It doesnt matter. The shadow affinity soldier glared at his comrade. Whomever they are, they couldnt have gone far. We should spread out and search for them. The soldiers cheered, eager to shed her blood, but Artemis raised a hand to quiet them, the smile on his face not reassuring Seo-yeon one bit. That will not be necessary. Artemis spoke, his voice reaching her ears easily despite the space between them. I have found our culprit. Seo-yeon tensed and raised her wings, prepared to fly off at an instant notice. Not that she believed she could escape Artemiss grasp if he was really out to catch her, but she could damn well try. In a flash of silver and purple, Artemis teleported from above the commanders tent and reappeared above the tent she had morphed. With the use of a spatial construct, he raised the commanders uniform from where she had discarded ita foolish mistake on her part, dusted off a smattering of feathers, and after giving it a sniff, Artemis grimaced and turned back to the soldiers. I believe were dealing with a changeling, and if Im right then weve got a very big problem on our hands. Chaos broke out within the camp once more as soldiers shifted away from one another, watching their comrades and partners suspiciously. Seo-yeon cawed in amusement as she realized that despite what happened, her mission was still a success. With this announcement, she had succeeded in sowing distrust among the soldiers. They couldnt trust their brothers and comrades anymore. By the sun! They couldnt even trust their own beds. It was even much better than shed anticipated, and with another caw of amusement, she settled to watch the Ragnarok military crumble. Perhaps she could pick them off daily, chip away at their defenses, and wear them down until they simply imploded from within. Ha, so much to gain for so little effort. As Seo-yeon watched the soldiers scramble and glare at each other in mistrust, she wondered what military officer to take out next. *** Tyrus Hadjen stood before the corpse of his father, his face devoid of any expression as he stared at the body of the man he had feared all his life. His father had loomed so largely in his mind, his image so strong and powerful that Tyrus had never dared to argue or speak up against him, but now he looked so frail and small. Tyrus wondered just how he''d died. His father had been strong, and Tyrus expected that a fight for his life should have been loud and prolonged, yet from all indications, it had barely lasted a minute. His supposedly strong father had failed to even put up a decent fight for his life, which meant Artemis Valerion was right. They werent dealing with just any advanced-class assassin here; they were dealing with a champion who had the ability to change into anything. Anything at all! In fact, it was possible that the assassin was in this very room with him, pretending to be a book or perhaps a quill or even this blood-stained rug he was standing on. It was stressful. Barely an hour after the incident, and already Tyrus was stressed from constantly looking over his shoulders in fear. Tyrus sighed. His emotions were a complex mesh of fear, anger, pain, and even regret, but mostly relief. Tyrus was so relieved that the emotion nearly felt overwhelming. All his life he had lived in fear and subservience to his father, wary of doing anything that might in any way anger him, but now with his father dead, he finally felt free. With the death of his father, Tyrus felt like half his problems had simply evaporated, and if the assassin hadnt been Sunstonian, Tyrus might not have been able to resist the urge to thank them. Another soldier peeked into the tent to offer their ''sincerest condolences, which was funny since half the soldiers detested his father anyway. Tyrus nodded though, understanding that they were only being polite. It grated on his nerves; he wished someone would just say, Fuck! Im so glad the commander is dead, or perhaps that he deserved a fate worse than the quick death he had been offered. He stared at the body for a few more minutes before turning to leave the tent, only to come face to face with Colonel Fortuna Willowood. Tyrus took several steps back, and a ball of flame appeared in his hands. Dont come any closer. He glared at her and raised the fireball threateningly. Tell me one thing that only Colonel Fortuna would know about me. The Colonel frowned but didnt seem at all surprised or offended by his words or actions. She gazed at him intensely before speaking. I do not know much about you, Lieutenant Hadjen, but I do know that youre glad hes dead. Her voice was calm, unaccusing, and frankly unthreatened, making Tyrus feel foolish for his actions. What could he do against her even if she was the changeling? He wasnt even yet in the advanced class, and if his father had stood no chance against the assassin, then what hope did he have? Still, Tyrus refused to lower his hand. He took another step back and said, Thats not a sufficient answer. "No, it is not. Colonel Fortuna conceded with a nod. I am not the changeling; youll just have to take my word for it. Tyrus stared at her for a moment, trying to ascertain whether she was lying or not, but it was a futile measure, and he soon gave up. Fuck! he cursed. Were so fucking screwed. How long are we supposed to go on like this? For as long as is necessary. Colonel Fortuna responded, her tone taking on a bit of heat, either from anger or frustration. Weve already begun measures to flush them out, but I fear that without a telepath or some sort of mind reader, we might as well be running in circles. Unfortunately, telepaths are rare, and the only known one within the advanced class is otherwise occupied. Occupied? Tyrus questioned in annoyance. What could be more important than sorting this mess as soon as possible? Colonel Fortuna smiled for the first time since she came into the room. Alas, Im not at liberty to discuss that with you. What I can tell you though is that well find the assassin soon enough. Till then, well just have to watch and wait. Tyrus snorted, but the colonel ignored him and took out a stack of documents from her spatial space. While we wait, Ive got good news for you. She handed the documents over and said. I would have sent a messenger to deliver this, but when I heard of your fathers passing, I decided to come here myself and offer my condolences. Thank you. Tyrus replied instinctively and accepted the document. He opened the first document, and when he saw its content, a jolt of excitement shot through him. The Frostbourne noble had come through after all. Those are transfer documents for you and a few of your squad members. If you accept, youll be transferred to the war camp in sector 8. It''s smaller compared to the one here, and youll experience less of the war, but youll be much safer and happier, I think. Although, now that your father is dead, I wonder if thats what you would want anymore. Tyrus sighed and clutched the documents tighter. Thank you, Colonel. If I could take a few days to think about this, I would greatly appreciate it. Colonel Fortuna shrugged. Take as long as you like. After all, youre mourning. Tyrus let out a small smile and saluted. Thank you, colonel. Colonel Fortuna left a few minutes later, and Tyrus walked back to his tent in a daze. Soldiers watched each other warily, yet when they saw him, they came closer to offer their condolences, although Tyrus noticed that they stood just far enough from each other that they could still easily draw their weapons in case someone attacked suddenly. The entire camp was so tense that Tyrus could almost feel it. It fed off each other, and from the look of things, it was only a matter of time before brawls broke out with the camp when tension rose too high. When he arrived at his tent, he found Boyd laying shirtless on the bed. His first instinct was to crawl into his lovers arms, but Tyrus resisted the urge and asked. Tell me something about myself that only you would know. Boyd replied with a nasty smirk. You have a crescent-shaped birthmark just below your abdomen. You think it was a gift from your mother. Tyrus nodded, and when Boyd reached out for a hug, Tyrus fell into his lovers arms. He squeezed tightly, but Boyd didnt mind. They stayed like that for several minutes until Tyrus finally pulled away to show him the transfer documents. What are you going to do now? Boyd asked after reading through the documents. I dont know. Tyrus sighed wearily. On one hand, this is all I''ve ever wanted, but with my father no longer in the picture, I... I dont know if I want to leave anymore. Boyd nodded in understanding and placed the document down. It doesnt matter which option you end up choosing as long as Im with you. He grinned and ruffled Tyruss hair. We still have a lot of Sunstonian blood to spill after all, and with your father now out of the picture, theres nothing holding you back. Chapter 105: Returning To The Academy The war rages on, unrelenting, despite the radio silence from Sunstone. Every day, we fight, kill, and die in a ceaseless cycle of violence that brings nothing but pain and loss. We are exhausted, our spirits worn thin, yet whenever the war bells toll, we arm ourselves and draw our swords, driven to spill more blood. Its maddening and draining, but we cant stopI cant stopbecause the price of surrender is death, and I am not yet ready to meet my end. Second Lieutenant Boyd Sevanthum Sector 7, Ragnarok.
The next morning brought with it a fluttering of nerves and sadness. Breakfast was a somber affair, with Synov looking to be on the verge of tears as she frantically filled up their plates with food until Aodhn finally asked her to stop. "Thanks, mom, but that''s enough. He said to her and gently grabbed her hand. This is my fifth helping, and my belly feels like it''s about to explode. But you need to eat. She insisted and looked to Unrid for assistance. When none came, she scowled. They don''t feed you boys enough in that academy of yours. We literally eat twice a day, Synov, and we can eat more if we want. The academy feeds us enough. Why then are you so skinny? Synov pressed, trying to add more food to his plate, but Aodhn resisted her efforts. "Really, mom, it''s fine. I''m fine. Are you sure? Synov asked, relenting, and Aodhn nodded in relief. "Yes, mom, Im sure. Thank you. Synov nodded and moved towards Aldric. One would have thought that his nonchalant brother would have been the one to stop Synovs excesses this morning, but he seemed even more affected by the somber mood and kept wiping his eyes. When Synov asked if he wanted more food, he just sighed, wiped his eyes again, and handed his plate to her. Aodhn glanced at Aldrics bulging stomach and shook his head. He could only imagine how hard this moment was for Aldric, who could sense everyones emotions. Dealing with his own alone was hard. Daruk looked to be the most put together, but that was simply because he was tapping into his seal to keep up a cold exterior. When Synov asked if he wanted more, he pointed at his stomach and said, Mom, if I eat any more food, my stomach is going to explode and drench this entire table in blood and viscera. Daruks tone was flat, yet the imagery it produced couldnt have been any more sickening. Synov, however, wasnt bothered by the imagery and simply frowned. If you dont like my food, young man, just tell me straight. Now do you want more or not? I think the children are okay, Syn. Unrid finally stepped in and gestured to her own half-eaten plate. Why not sit down and eat your own food? Synov sighed but complied, and everyone let out a sigh of relief. Aodhn forced himself to finish the food left on his plate lest Synov get the idea that he hated her food. After he was done, he tried to escape the somber atmosphere, but Synov spoke up. Sit down, young man; I have a few things to say. Aodhn sighed and sat back down, mentally preparing himself for the outpouring of emotions that was sure to come. My little boys, Synov began. You guys have absolutely no idea how proud I am of you all. How happy I am to see you all thriving and growing stronger. Perhaps Aldric understands, but I want to make sure that the rest of you do. She smiled at them, her eyes watery and filled with emotion. Your father and I are very proud of you and all your achievements, but I cannot let you all go back without promising me that you will be careful and safe and that you will all return to me by the end of the semester without issue. Aodhn wanted to mention that they couldn''t exactly promise the second, but Daruk beat him to it. Synov didn''t care though, and she glared at Daruk. You will either promise me or stay back home. I will not let you go. Aodhn exchanged glances with his brothers, and a moment later, he made his promise. He definitely intended to keep the promise, but then his definition of safety was vastly different from Synov''s, and what she would consider dangerous would most likely be a walk in the park for him at his tier. Aldric went next, and after Daruk made his own promise, Unrid spoke. Okay, that''s enough sentimentality for one day. Synov, stop pestering the kids before they all start crying.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. Synov let them go after that, and Aodhn quickly moved to the living room, took out his inscriber and began filling it with runes. He wanted to cover the entire house in as many runes as he could before they left for the academy in a few hours. If for nothing else than the fact that he would feel more relaxed knowing that Unrid and Synov were a little more protected than they were before. When he finished with the living room, he moved to the dressing room and then the kitchen. He considered placing anti-inflammatory runes in the kitchen, but he hadnt quite learned how to do that yet, and he didn''t have the time to start researching or learning it now. Hours passed in this manner, and by the time he finished with the kitchen, it was already noon, and it was finally time to return to the academy. Aodhn went up to his room, packed his things, and placed them all in his spatial storage. He had barely spent a week here in this house, but it already felt more like home to him than their house in The Warren ever did. His touch was all over this one with the runes hed drawn, and Aodhn couldnt wait for the end of the semester when he could come back to draw more runes. After a very long and emotional goodbye at their front door, Aodhn pulled away from Synov arms and released Varc from his spatial space. Varc, as usual, emerged with a roar that drew the attention of their neighbors, but Aodhn didnt mind at all; in fact, he grinned when he heard the familiar rattling of shutters as they were hurriedly pushed open. He created a saddle construct large enough to fit him and Daruk, but when Daruk approached, Varc growled threateningly, and Aodhn sighed. Varc still hadnt forgiven Daruk for almost freezing them to death all those weeks ago, and although he played nice around everyone, he adamantly refused to let Daruk anywhere near him. It took several minutes of petting and cajoling before Varc reluctantly agreed, but Daruk suddenly changed his mind and sneered. You know what, nevermind. Ill just create my own Fury. I wouldnt want Varc to feel as if hes doing me some grand favor by letting me ride on him. Varc huffed in condensation, but fifteen minutes later, when the ice construct Daruk had been working on suddenly jerked awake and spread its translucent wings, Varc roared in anger. No, no, do not destroy it. Aodhn shouted, but it was too late, and the next instant, a torrent of red lightning smashed into Daruks construct and simply eviscerated it. Oh boy," Aodhn muttered as Daruk gaped at the scorched patch where his construct had been just moments before. His shock quickly twisted into fury as he turned to Varc, growling, "Ive had enough of your antics, Varc. I swear, the next time you pull something like this, Ill freeze you to death. I seriously doubt thats going to endear him to you, Daruk; I mean, you almost killed him. Aldric grinned from the doorway and shook his head. Varec wants you to apologize. I have apologized! Daruk spat and turned to glare at Varc, who was staring down at him with an arrogant expression. I will not apologize again. Im sorry, Daruk. Aodhn sighed, both in amusement and understanding. I promise that Varc wont destroy the next construct you create. Daruk glared at both of them before turning to recreate the ice Fury. This time, it was even larger than the last, nearly 12 feet in length, which was almost Varcs size. The fury was completely translucent, although its eyes shimmered with a slight blue hue. Rather than two, it had four wings. The extra wings served no obvious functions other than to piss Varc off even more, but Aodhn restrained Varc when he reared his neck back in anger. Varc paused when he noticed Aodhns expression and instead sniffed, as if saying he couldnt care less about the construct anyway. Synov and Unrid spent the next few minutes gushing over the construct while Aldric cursed his fate for not having awakened an elemental concept or gained the construct skill. After a few more minutes of gushing, Daruk was finally ready to go. He climbed unto his construct and smirked at Varc. Let''s see how superior youll feel when you get bested by a simple construct. Aodhns competitive spirit reared its head at Daruks words, and Varc growled in annoyance at being compared to a mere construct. Their emotions fed off each other, and Aldric shook his head. You have no idea what youve done, Daruk. Aodhn ignored his elder brother and narrowed his eyes at Daruk. Prepare to eat the dust of my victory, brother! Daruk tightened the reins on his construct and turned to Aldric. Start the count. One. Two. Thr Varc shot into the sky faster than hed ever done before, and the force of his movement turned the wind against Daruks construct, causing it to spin out of control. The construct fell out of the sky, and Daruk closed his eyes tightly as he shouted commands to the construct. Fortunately, he managed to exert full control over the construct before it crashed to the ground, even if such a fall wouldnt have injured him in the least. Aodhn hooted, and Varc roared in excitement as they soared into the clouds, leaving Daruk struggling to catch up. However, as they progressed towards the academy, the gap between them began to lessen as Daruk got used to controlling the construct. Laughing, Aodhn slowed Varc down until Daruk caught up and said. I did say you would eat the dust of my victory, didnt I? Ah, it feels good to be right. Doesnt it, Varc? Varc growled in amusement, and Daruk muttered. As much as I want to banter and reply to you right now, Im using all of my brain cells to control this thing. If I lose concentration, Ill literally fall out of the sky and eat dust. Varc let out a roar of amusement, which caused Daruks construct to wobble slightly. Daruk gritted his teeth and pleaded. Fine, Varc, Im sorry for challenging you. Now please, stop trying to make me fall to my death. Varc snorted, and after one last prank that caused Daruk to tumble and spin uncontrollably, he forgave Daruk, and they finally flew together in peace. They arrived at the academy about an hour later, and with grins of excitement, they both descended to the courtyard outside the walls of the academy, filled with several other returning students, their guardians, and, of course, reporters. Chapter 106: Retuning to the academy II Just as expected, Aodhn and Daruk were nearly blinded by a flurry of camera flashes the moment they descended. However, for some reason, the reporters were hesitant to approach with their microphones and recorders, which was perfectly fine with Aodhn. He was used to the attention of the press at this point, and even Varc had come to enjoy the attention. Daruk, on the other hand, wasnt quite sure how to react to the flurry of flashes. Usually, Aodhn was the one taking center stage while he stood in the background, but this time Daruk found more than a dozen cameras trained on him as he descended from his construct. I think theyre wary of offending principal Zatya by approaching us this close to the academy. Aodhn muttered with a sly grin. Daruk glanced around the courtyard, noting the gazes of almost 100 people. Subconsciously, he straightened his shoulders, tapped into the chill of his willpower, and adopted a blank expression. Is this what it feels like to be the center of attention? he asked flatly, and Aodhn shrugged. More or less. Although there are usually a lot more cameras and microphones present. While they discussed, one of the reporters finally grew enough balls to approach them, and once he did, many others followed, their gazes intent on Daruks translucent construct. Before they could ask, Daruk spoke up. Before you all get your underwear in a twist, this is not a familiar. Unlike my brother here, Im not gifted with the ability to do the impossible. This is simply an animated construct. Her name is Cistron. Aodhn shook his head in amusement as many of the reporters scowled and quickly lost interest in Cistron. Apparently, the ability to animate constructs wasnt exactly a new thing, and despite its uniqueness, it still wasnt comparable to a familiar. Varc perked up as the attention of the reporters fell on him, but before they could start asking any question, Aodhn stepped forward and smiled. "Apologies, ladies and gentlemen, but we wont be taking any questions today. Principal Zatya wouldnt approve. Immediately he mentioned the principals name; Aodhn instantly felt her attention on him. It was only fleeting, as if she had only taken a glance, but the spiritual pressure of her attention caused the reporters to scatter, and the next instant, the area surrounding them was completely empty. Even the students and their guardians had retreated, leaving a space about five meters in diameter empty. Perks of being the principals pet. Daruk muttered as he made a fist, and Citron shrank until she was only a little larger than his palms. Now that Daruk had withdrawn his mind from the construct, Citron had reverted to being an ordinary construct. Daruks actions seemed to have troubled Varc greatly, and the next moment, he disappeared into Aodhns spirit. Daruk placed Citron in his spatial storage and whispered to Aodhn. Why didnt you tell me this was a bad idea? Aodhn chuckled and patted Daruks back. Welcome to my everyday life, Buddy. Now square up those shoulders and stop cowering behind me. Itll ruin the image of power we just created. I do not cower! Daruk snapped; however, he straightened his shoulders and stared coldly at the crowd. It wasnt that Aodhn wasnt nervous also, but hiding from the press had done him no good so far, so he might as well embrace his status. With their heads held high, they walked towards the school gate. Anyone staring at them now would see two boys filled with pride and arrogance, but that was the image Aodhn was going for this time around. He was done being humble, calm, and kind. For the rest of the semester, he wanted to be a jerk. A full-blown egomaniac with an ego the size of a planet. Well, maybe not that big, but he definitely intended to be more like Daruk. Cold, unfeeling, and calculating. They had almost arrived at the gate when Aodhn noticed someone hiding in the crowd, and just like that, his budding egomaniac persona shattered. Grinning widely, he blinked forward and grabbed her hand before she could disappear from view. Not so fast, Ayisha, how was your break? Ayisha glared at him. Once again, Aodhn Brystion, youre calling attention to me. Ah, Aodhn turned around to find more than a few people staring at them. He dropped her hand and shuffled awkwardly. I was just excited to see you. Ayishas gaze softened, and she sighed. Fine, I cannot begrudge you your excitement. She glanced at the crowd, most of whom were still staring, and shook her head. How did you even see me? I had a temporal veil activated. Aodhn frowned, and it was only then he realized that he hadnt exactly seen Ayisha; rather, he had sensed her core within the crowd. It was an interesting development he hadnt realized before, but his core sense ability seemed to have grown broader, granting him the ability to sense a person just by sensing their core. It was as if hed gained her energy signatures, an imprint that was peculiar only to her. The fact that it had granted him the ability to see through Ayishas veil was astounding, as unlike illusions, her temporal veil tampered with time. Before Aodhn could respond, Daruk came to join them and glared coldly at Ayisha. Hello Ayisha, I hope your break was torturous. Ayisha plastered on a fake smile and extended a hand to him. On the contrary, dear loser, it was actually quite fun. I visited the cathedral of Raol and even visited the capital with my parents. Daruk scowled and accepted her handshake coldly. I see that my prayers went unanswered. I cant believe you guys are still fighting. Aodhn shook his head. Its been two weeks since the simulation exercise. That is too long to keep a grudge. Daruk scowled. On the contrary, its not long enough, and you would agree with me if youd been the one to die by an explosion of fire and debris. Aodhns mind went back to the explosion that had occurred at the core bank in sector 3, and he sighed. Fair enough. Ayisha simply shook her head and said. We won fair and square. We will do the same in the next exercise and the one after that, because, face it, were just so much better than you guys. Oh, well see. Daruk grinned evilly. But by the end of the next exercise, I assure you that youll be choking on those words. Okay, thats enough. Aodhn quickly stepped in. Why dont we all head to the cafeteria and have some drinks?If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. They walked into the academy compound, and Aodhn let out a small smile. Despite how stressful the academy was, he was glad to be back. They found Yurin discussing with a trio of students, and when he saw them, he rushed forward and exclaimed. Whos excited for another six weeks of torturous gym exercises and boring textbooks? No hands? Guess Im not the only one dreading it. Youre not. Aodhn snorted. Thinking about all the work gives me a headache. Daruk nodded in agreement. I dont mind the boring texts; its the gym exercises that I detest. Yurins face lit up, and he fished out a note from his spatial storage. Speaking of boring texts, guess who finally perfected the rune of strength. He opened the note to reveal a glowing rune surrounded by a mess of squiggles and runic amalgamations. Aodhns eyes widened, and he let out a whoop of excitement, genuinely happy for Yurin. You finally did it, man; professor Caldwell will be shocked. I know, right? Yurin sighed blissfully and closed the note. I worked on it all week. Trust me when I say it wasnt easy. Its just a mess of lines and squiggles. Ayisha snorted. How hard can it be? Aodhn and Yurin exchanged incredulous glances at Ayisha''s dismissive words, and Aodhn laughed. Perhaps you should give it a try, Ayisha; see how easy it is. Perhaps I will. Ayisha shrugged. With {Foresight}, I could even correct my mistakes before making them. That way I wouldnt even need to waste so much paper on practice. Thats Aodhn exchanged a glance with Yurin, confused as to whether her idea would truly work. It seemed very plausible. If she could correct her mistakes before even making them, then wouldnt it be impossible for her to create an imperfect rune? Resolving to ask Professor Caldwell during their next class, he muttered. Im positive it can''t be that easy, but feel free to try your hand. Daruk shook his head and congratulated Yurin. Im happy for you, truly. Thats one down, twenty-three more to go. Yurin sighed, his expression shifting from blissful pride to annoyance, and Aodhn laughed. It gets easier, trust me. Right, its only a matter of time. Yurin nodded, his determination returning. He returned his note to his spatial storage and asked. So wheres Lupin? I havent seen her today. Aodhn replied and turned to scan the crowd, although it was only for show. In truth, hed been scanning the crowd for her ever since theyd arrived, but it was a futile endeavor. Im sure shes on her Hey! A loud voice suddenly cut him off, and they all turned to see Andrew rushing towards them. He was still a distance away, which explained why Aodhn hadnt sensed his core, but with the speed at which Andrew was running, it was only a matter of time before he crashed into them. His intentions were obvious, and in a swift movement, Aodhn shifted his legs, enforcing his stance so he wouldnt be easily thrown off. Thank the heavens he did so, because Andrew crashed into him an instant later, hugging him as if he hadnt seen him in decades. The force of Andrews attack would have sent them tumbling to the floor had he not taken precaution; instead, he only took a single step back. Only Ayisha didnt seem surprised that he was still standing, although she raised an eyebrow and smiled. Color me impressed. Aodhn just grunted and patted Andrews back. Hello to you too, Andrew. Andrew pulled back and went to hug Daruk. Oh, damn, Ive missed you guys. Why? Home wasnt as fun as you thought it would be. Yurin snorted. I thought I was the only one. I thought you were with your grandparents. Aodhn asked, and Yurin shrugged. I was, and if I wasnt so busy studying runes, I would have died of boredom. Well, my break was actually fun. I attended the capital and the cathedral We heard you the first time. Daruk cut her off. We get it. Your weekend was fun. It bears repeating. Ayisha scowled and turned to Andrew. Perhaps ease up on the cursing for the rest of the semester. It grates on my ears. Andrew frowned. How am I supposed to express myself without cursing? You can pretend youre in front of the king or something. Aodhn offered teasingly, but Andrews eyes widened, and he immediately took several steps back from Aodhn. He wasnt the only one; Yurin and a few other students that had been conversing around them did the same thing. Ayisha scowled at them. Its an unfounded rumor. Aodhn exchanged a confused glance with Daruk and asked. Im not quite sure I understand whats going on. Dont mind them. Ayisha waved a hand dismissively, still glaring at Yurin and Andrew. The king wont smite you down just for saying his title. Stop saying that word. Yurin hissed as he glared at the sky as if expecting the king to drop down from the sky at any moment. He wasnt listening when Aodhn said it, but he could be listening now. Do you even hear yourself? Ayisha asked incredulously. It doesnt matter whether the rumor is true or not. Andrew muttered awkwardly. The man is scary. The man is our king. Another voice cut in, and they all turned to Alesh, who had been standing behind them for a few seconds now. Aodhn had of course sensed him the same way hed sensed Ayisha, but hed learned that keeping the extents of his abilities secret was essential for staying alive. Alesh draped a hand on Andrews shoulders and smiled. You should address him properly; he can probably hear us. Yurin winced again, and Aodhn frowned. Granted, he hadnt read much about King Ragnar III, but the fact that no one was contesting the idea that the king could hear them all the way from the capital troubled him. How was that even possible? They were thousands of miles away from the capital, and even calamities didnt have such an extensive hearing range. He would have asked how it was possible, but such a question would only reveal his ignorance, which, considering the kings abilities were widespread knowledge, would seem weird and absurd. Daruks spoke up next. Although Ive never heard of the rumors circulating, I believe Ayisha. I doubt the king will smite me down just for stating his title. Despite his brave words, Daruk watched the sky for a moment before proceeding. See, Im still alive. For now. Yurin snorted, and Alesh chuckled. The king''s peculiar abilities for self-enhancement are potent, but I doubt they cover the entire realm. Besides, Im sure a thousand people call the kings name each minute; surely, if the rumors were true, thousands would be dying daily. Thank you. Ayisha grinned and glared at Andrew and Yurin. Thats what Ive been saying. Daruk snorted. Unfortunately, you arent smart enough to put it together so articulately. Ayisha sneered at Daruk. You think yourself so smart, dont you? I dont think, I know. Yet you failed, woefully, I might add, the last simulation exercise. So much for being smart. Daruk and Yurin gasped in outrage, but before the argument could devolve further, Andrew suddenly pointed at the gate and shouted. Look, Lupins here. Aodhn turned immediately, his gaze narrowing as he sifted through the crowd of blazing cores until he found Lupins. She was dressed in a black gown more elaborate than what she usually preferred, and her white hair, which once fell in lush waves past her waist, now fell just below her shoulders, jagged and uneven. It was obvious that she had cut it, and Aodhns mind sank as he realized what it meant. Her eyes were red and swollen, and it was obvious that she''d been crying. As if she could sense his gaze, she turned to stare directly at him but jerked her gaze away the moment her gaze met his. Aodhn wouldn''t let her do that. Without a second thought, he moved, his heart pounding in his chest, and the next instant, he stood in front of her, his arms reaching out in an instinctive offer of comfort. Lupin tried to resist his offer of comfort, but her knees wobbled, and she collapsed into his arms. She soaked in the warmth of his body, the primal strength he exuded, and just like that, her meticulously created fa?ade of strength and composure cracked, and then the tears came. Like a flood, they poured out, and Lupin finally gave voice to the pain that had been eating her for the past week. She sobbed uncontrollably, uncaring of the attention she was drawing or the effect her actions might have on her new status. Aodhn held her tightly, his own heart aching at the sight of her pain. What happened, Lupin? he asked softly, his voice gentle and soothing. Talk to me. Lupin clung to him as if he were a lifeline, and in between disgraceful sobs, she choked out. My father... my father is dead. Aodhns arms tightened around her, his own eyes stinging as her words echoed in his mind. He tried to find the right words to comfort her, but when he found none, he simply held her tighter, offering what little comfort he could in the face of such a profound loss. Im sorry, Lupin... Im so very sorry." Chapter 107: Break-up As the golden light of the nexus of sunsets took over the fifth sector, Aodhn closed his eyes and stroked Lupins hair gently. She made no sound, seemingly content to lay her head on his chest and soak in the essence of serenity that surrounded her. After Lupin had broken down on the front lawn of the academy, Aodhn had created a storm platform and brought her here to the serenity garden, where theyd had most of their dates. Now, even after several hours, Lupin still shuddered with grief, her sadness so overwhelming that Aodhn could almost taste it. He wrapped his arms around her, determined to lend her all the comfort she might need. It broke his heart to see her this distraught, and he dearly wished shed informed him earlier so he could have been there for her, but now that ship had sailed, and all he could do was hold her. Lupin had explained that she had been very busy with the paperwork and meetings required to assume her new position as well as the arrangements for her fathers burial. However, Aodhn still felt bad to have been left out. Now that her father was dead, Lupin had inherited his noble title, which meant she was technically a baroness, an unattached baroness. Even without her saying a word, Aodhn already knew what was coming. Of course, he could fight and beg, rage against the political system perhaps, but that wouldnt achieve anything save for prolonging the inevitable. They dwelled in the silence and serenity of the garden for another hour before Lupin lifted her head off his chest, sniffed, and stood to her feet. I should go. Its gotten late. Whatever you need. Aodhn responded and pushed himself to his feet, dusting off blue Salingers and dandelions from his trousers. Let me know if you cant attend the class tomorrow. Im fine. Lupin sighed and shook her head. I cant afford to miss any classes. You just lost your father, Lupin; no one would begrudge you a few more days of rest. I know that. She tried to smile, but her lips wobbled and her eyes watered. She turned her face away, trying to hide her tears, but he gently clutched her chin and turned her face back to his. What is it again? Lupin shook her head and stared at him for a moment before speaking. Im sorry, Aodhn, I... I had no choice. I spent days searching for a loophole, but I couldn''t. What are you talking about? Aodhn asked, his heart thudding heavily in his chest as he hoped against hope that he was just overthinking things. Perhaps if he pretended not to know, then this problem would disappear like smoke in the wind. Lupin, however, was not one to push things away or shy away from hard emotions or discussions, and in that moment, Aodhn almost hated her for it. She stepped away from him, the small motion seeming to take her hundreds of miles away rather than a single step. Im a baroness now, Aodhn. You know what that means for us; please dont make me spell it out. Aodhn closed his eyes as pain stabbed into him like a knife. He had seen this coming from a mile away, but he hadn''t been prepared to hear it. The words felt wrong coming from her lips, and although he''d made up his mind not to prolong the inevitable, he couldn''t help but beg. We can fight this. We can still be together. We could run away. To where, Aodhn? She asked quietly, still not looking at him. She had prepared for this. I can''t leave my new responsibilities, she continued. My mother, my siblings. I can''t leave them and run; besides, where would we even run to? Aodhn wanted to blurt out that he didn''t care, but he stopped himself just in time. She was right. Where could they run to? Even if they left the continent, Aodhn was certain they''d found within the hour with a few divination skills. Fuck! He cursed and squeezed his chest as pain lanced through him again. His eyes burned, his throat clogged up, and all of a sudden, it became hard to breathe. He stumbled back and pushed back tears. Why does this hurt so much? Why does it feel like my heart is being ripped to shreds? I''m so sorry, Aodhn. Lupin said a moment later, her words choked by silent sobs. I tried to find a way out, but I couldn''t. I wish the world could have been different, but its not. Im a noble, and youre a commoner. This is not a fight we can fight. Aodhn shut his eyes tightly and clenched his jaws to keep the tears that threatened him from falling. Don''t cry, don''t cry, Aodhn. You have to be strong. His efforts to keep the tears at bay though were futile, and soon they poured down his face in torrents. He wiped at them hastily, trying to clean them off, yet more just kept coming. It was frustrating and annoying, and Aodhn just wanted to shout until the pain left his chest. Lupin tried to comfort him, but Aodhn stepped back and waved her off. You can go; Im fine. She hesitated for a moment before nodding, and without looking back, she left Aodhn standing alone in the serenity garden, with nothing but his turbulent emotions for company. Aodhn stood there for nearly an hour, wishing he was anywhere else other than this sector of perpetual day where he could at least have the cover and comfort of night. He contemplated summoning Varc and going for a ride amongst the real clouds, but he soon discarded that idea. As much as he craved the comfort of night, he really just wanted to curl up in one corner of his room and sulk. Perhaps that was immature of him, but he really didnt have the strength for anything else at the moment. A chilly breeze blew, and after another fifteen minutes of just standing and staring aimlessly at his surroundings, Aodhn finally created a storm platform and stepped on it. He floated slowly into the sky, too emotionally tired to do anything more than simply glide forward. When he reached the first-year residential area, he dismissed the storm platform and began trudging forward. Like a zombie, he moved towards house 14, ignoring the concerned gazes of some of the other first-year students who had yet to resign for the night. He was only a few paces away from house 14 when his chip suddenly pinged with a notification. He ignored it and kept moving forward, but the chip didn''t stop pinging. After he ignored the fourth message though, he suddenly felt the spiritual attention of the principal on him, and this time when his chip pinged the fifth time, the sounds were nearly as loud as that of an explosion.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. Aodhn was instantly hit with a migraine so severe that he staggered. He turned to glare at the sky, not in the mood to deal with the principal, but the spiritual attention still hanging around him assured him that he had very little choice in the matter. Left with no other option, Aodhn opened the messages, and after reading through them, he let out a muffled curse. Just fucking great. Barely a full day into this blasted academy, and I already hate my life. He took a few more minutes to wallow in his misery before heading towards the principals office, which was located within the admin building. Unwilling to trudge back out of the residential area, he created another storm platform and zoomed off. It might be a stretch to say he sped off, considering a trip that should''ve taken only fifteen minutes on foot ended up dragging out for nearly an hour. Principal Zatyas spiritual focus stayed on him the entire way, and Aodhn had to admire her patienceif their roles were switched, he was sure he wouldve already obliterated himself. When he finally arrived at principal Zatyas office, he found her seated on her desk reviewing a stack of documents. She looked up and glared at him. When I took you on as a project, Aodhn, I didnt realize you would be such a delight to work with. Aodhn shut the door behind him and leaned against it. What do you want? Principal Zatya glared at him for a moment longer before she sighed and moved to her seat. Im sorry about Lupin. It was never going to work out anyway. How she knew of his relationship with Lupin, Aodhn couldnt even fathom, but then he wasnt even surprised she knew. In fact, Aodhn didnt think there were any major happenings within the confines of the academy that escaped her attention. However, he wondered just how much she knew and how much she deduced. When he didnt respond, principal Zatya asked. How are you doing? Not too well. Aodhn responded. Actually, I would love Thats good. Principal Zatya cut him off and stood up again. Thats not why I called you here. Aodhn scowled. Why am I here then? Because I wanted to congratulate you on a mission well done. Principal Zatya waved a hand, and a small box containing Makebas earrings appeared on the table. The earrings glinted beautifully in the light of dusk, and when she picked them up, they left a small shimmer of red dust in their wake. She raised the earrings up for him to see and asked. What do you think? Aodhn blinked, not really knowing whether this was a sort of test or an actual honest question. In the end, he gave a one-handed shrug and replied. Its beautiful, I guess. Zatya snorted and discarded the earrings carelessly. They are garish, cheap, and quite frankly not my color. Aodhn let out a deep breath and asked again. Why am I here? Principal Zatya stared at him for a long moment before sighing. I didnt just ask you to steal these items for nothing. As much as it was a test, one which you passed by the way, although it would have been better if you hadnt gotten involved with that Castalon girl who I imagine will most likely disclose your rendezvous to Imani. She shook her head and continued while Aodhn watched warily. I sense a lot of complications in your future, Aodhn, but I digress. The reason why I wanted you to steal these particular earrings is because they should have belonged to me, or perhaps, a version of me that would have married Allister Blackwell had I not joined the war instead. Makeba married him in my stead, and he gave her the same betrothal gift he had promised me. Men are such jerks sometimes. Aodhn frowned when he saw a hint of vulnerability flash across principal Zatyas features. It was an emotion hed never associated with her before, but in that moment, the principal became even more real to him. Less Mythic psychopath and more human. She picked up the earrings and placed them back in the chest before smiling at him. Now that weve gotten all that emotional business out of the way, lets dive into the main reason I called you here. She gestured for Aodhn to take a seat, and when he did, she began. In the history of the academy tournaments, the participants have always been nobles, mostly because of the prestige and the added buffs that our bloodlines provide. This year will be different. For the first time in years, the participant slots will be open to anyone regardless of social status; do you know why? Aodhn shook his head. I assume youre about to enlighten me. Indeed. Principal Zatya nodded and handed him the document she had been reading before he came in. What do you see?
Leaderboards. Tower of Ascension (1st year) ?Cyrus Valerion, Level 241st [01:17] ?Lilith Bloodmoon, Level 242nd [01:42] ?Aodhn Brystion, Level 243rd [01:47] ?Alesh Vilaris, Level 234th [03:27] ?Grendar Bladewynn, Level 235th [03:09] ?Daruk Brystion, Level 236th [02: 56] ?Yurin Lahey, Level 237th [02: 43] ?Azul Fetherson, Level 238th [01:02] ?Isis Anvindr, Level 239th [00:42] ? It was a hard copy of the updated Tower leaderboards, taken just a week before theyd gone on the mid-semester break, and when Aodhn went through the list, he made a single deduction. Half of the rankers are commoners. Exactly. Principal Zatya grinned. However, except Arede, all the other commoners have bloodlines, which makes them no different from nobles except for their social status; hence, the decision to open up the slots to everyone. Aodhn frowned at the list in his hands and sighed. The nobles wont like this. "No, they will not. Principal Zatya grinned. In fact, I fully expect the braver ones among them to try and bully you into withdrawing from the tournament. Aodhn snorted. None of them can bully me. Good, because the other commoners will be looking up to you. If you pull out of the tournament, they''ll have no choice but to do the same. I don''t want that. Principal Zatya shook her head. Weve been set in our ways for too long, and now its time to evolve. Aodhn nodded in agreement, but then he frowned. Why are you telling me though? Principal Zatya paused, and then her expression turned serious. Because you have to be among the participants. Ascendant candidate Lightus is very interested in you, and he will be present on that day. Youve grown stronger during the break, but your classmates have done the same. A selection process will be carried out over the next few weeks to select the participants, and Ill be very disappointed if you do not make it. Aodhn scanned the list and nodded. Ill do my best. He exited principal Zatyas office a minute later and returned to house 14. When he stepped into the living room, he found Imani seated on one of the couches and surrounded by half a dozen textbooks. She looked up immediately, and from her expression, Aodhn could tell that shed been waiting for him to arrive. We need to talk, she glared at him. However, her voice quivered with nerves. Aodhn massaged his temples and turned to look at her. He was in no mood for conversation, but he doubted he could put it aside for much longer, so he sighed. Go on, Im listening. As much as he tried to control his tone, he was frustrated and tired, so the words came out harsh. Aodhn didnt apologize for it though and instead waited for her to speak. Imani took in several deep breaths, seemingly gathering her courage, and when she did, she said. I want to know what happened at my fathers party the other night. One minute we were dancing and having a good time, and the next, you disappear and start avoiding me. Im sorry, I wasnt in the best place mentally. It was a trashy excuse, of course, but it was the best Aodhn could come up with at the moment. His response didnt pacify Imani though, because she walked closer and frowned. I thought we had something good going. We were dancing; I thought you had feelings for" "Well, you thought wrong. Aodhn cut her off, too weary to continue the conversation. We have nothing going on, Imani. We have no connection or chemistry, and Im sorry if I led you to believe otherwise; I truly am. Now if youll excuse me, I need some alone time to wallow in my misery. Chapter 108: Information Ban. Aodhn woke up very early the next morning; however, despite his best efforts to meditate and calm his mind the previous day, his emotions still sat heavy in his chest like a block of concrete. It made him feel depressed and claustrophobic. With a weary sigh, he pushed himself from the bed, wanting to be free from the restrictive sheets, and opened the window. A cool breeze rushed into the room, but it did nothing to alleviate his mood. Wanting to feel something else aside from the dull ache in his chest, Aodhn opened his status screen and began to review it. He needed to note where he was now so he could plan his progress for the next few weeks. There was a lot to do before the end of the semester, from the forge matches, to the simulation exercises, and from the tower challenges, to the academy tournament, which was coming up very soon. He couldnt afford to slack off, not that he wasnt already doing his best, but still... Despite the break, or perhaps because of it, Aodhn noticed that many of the other students had begun lagging in their advancement. More than half of them were at the 20th tier and above, but many were still below that. Yesterday, before Lupin arrived, Aodhn had sensed nothing less than a dozen students still below tier 20, and a couple others even below that. It was bizarre, but not too surprising. Just before they had gone on the break, professor Jorendil had explained the intricacies and importance of spirit cultivation, as well as the temporary restrictions placed on the core until a person meets the requirements for further advancement. This restriction was most common at milestone tiers, but could also occur at random tiers for different people. In essence, it was extremely hard for one to advance past milestone tiers without some form of spiritual growth or the other. Evolution was outright impossible, and now, he understood why advancing to the 25th tier was a requirement for graduation. Fortunately, Aodhn didnt have to worry about this problem, as he had already experienced more than enough spiritual growth to qualify for evolution at the 25th tier. Pushing the thought of spiritual restrictions to the back of his mind, Aodhn focused on his status screen and began reading. *** [STATUS] Name: Aodhn Ashoka-Brystion. Title: Neophyte, Storm spirit, Bronze, Origin marked, silver, Seal bearer. Class: Evolved storm awakened: 99.9% (PENDING) Tier: 2113% Glimpse--> Opening: Increases elemental affinity and abilities by 2.5% Techniques: Perfect will imbuement (8). Skills {Innate}: [Storm creation and manipulation] [Lightning creation and manipulation] {Other}: [Lightning surge] [Lightning beam] [Lightning descent] [Create constructs] [Absorb lightning] [Spear rainLightning] [Spear rainStorm] [Vortex of Storm] [Vortex of Lightning][Elemental lightningStage 1] Bloodline: Origin Storm supremacy. {Unique} ?Amplifies storm abilities by 3% ?Grants major resistance to lightning ?Aura of Origin supremacy. FamiliarDragonkin (Fury) Perks: psychic bond, merge. *** There weren''t much changes since the last time Aodhn had reviewed his status screen, but rather than the usual cursory glance, Aodhn decided to do a more in-depth review. He was getting very close to his second evolution, which would occur when he reached the 25th tier, and although he felt tempted to begin absorbing cores and push himself to the 25th tier this very moment, he restrained himself. Rushing up tiers was dangerous. Asides the fact that it damaged the magical foundations of individuals, most people miss out on so much power by simply rushing through the tiers. This was obvious in Daruks advancement, and although the side effects had been a little offset by his spiritual growth, Daruk had missed out on a lot of power within the early tiers. Realistically, taking into account Daruks many advantages, most prominent of which was his status as a double inheritor, Daruk had the potential to be one of the strongest in the entire kingdom; however, he had rushed through his early tiers and had failed to properly consolidate his strength and control. Daruk wasnt too far from the peak though, thanks to the immense amount of willpower at his disposal as well as his spiritual growth, but he could have been much stronger. After a brief glance at his tier, which remained unchanged, Aodhn tuned his attention to the next line: his buffs, or as it was referenced in his AAT textbook, Affinity Boons. The affinity boons progressed or scaled with class, and at the moment, Aodhn had reached the cap for the evolved class. Until he reached the Advanced class, he couldnt expand his opening into an intent or a channel; however, it was only a matter of time, and frankly, he couldnt wait. While he studied the white-gold screen, he wondered just how much a channel or intent would increase his control and in what manner it might affect his techniques. At the moment, he only had one technique, although if he could learn Daruks enhancement technique, then that would make it two. Aodhn contemplated waiting for Daruk to refine the technique before learning it, but soon discarded the idea. It was better if he refined the technique himself, as that would make it much easier to adapt it to his own affinity. His skills took his attention next, and Aodhn had to admit that he was doing well. With almost a dozen skills in his possession, he was doing much better than the average awakened. However, he could still do better. He wasnt too eager to gain new skills, though, and was more interested in refining his control and mastery over the ones he already had. Besides, he would unlock three lightning hues with his next evolution, and he couldnt wait to see what colors he got or what their effects would be. He glanced at his bloodline next and grinned. He couldnt exactly evolve a unique bloodline as it grew alongside the spirit, but if things worked out right, Aodhn intended to push his bloodline much farther than should be possible; after all, he had the willpower to spare. His perks with Varc were next, but there wasnt really much to analyze there, although he hoped the next perk he gained was a size-adjustment perk as Varc was growing at a truly astounding rate. Aodhn feared that sooner rather than later, Varc would be so large that this room wouldnt contain him anymore. He chuckled at the mental image and sighed before dismissing his status screen. The golden clouds of the nexus had disappeared, replaced by the dim light of dawn, and when Aodhn checked the time, he realized he only had about an hour before the assembly was to commence. Not wanting to be late, Aodhn made his way to the bathroom, and half an hour later, he was dressed and ready to leave. With a flick of his right hand, he created his signature scarf, wrapped it around his neck, and without hesitation, he jumped out of the window, not in any mood to deal with Imani, Meredith, or any of his other housemates. When he arrived at the front lawn of house 1, he found Daruk and Andrew already waiting for him, although they seemed only to have arrived. Do you guys never sleep? He asked as he descended to the ground, and Andrew scowled. Why are you here so early? We were just betting on how long it would take you to arrive this time. Youre betting on my behavior? Aodhn asked, slightly offended, and Daruk shrugged as he flipped a gold coin between his fingers. You didnt think weve been waiting for you all these weeks just because we like you, did you? Andrew snorted. That would have been foolish. Right? Who would ever think such a thing? Aodhn frowned, not exactly sure if he was being mocked or not. Of course, hed thought Daruk and Andrew had been waiting for him out of the goodness of their hearts. He should have known better.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Daruk chuckled and shook his head. You just made me lose a gold coin, brother; I suppose you can take comfort in that. Before Aodhn could respond that he was in no need of comforting, Andrew cut in with a glare at Daruk. Just because youve won every bet for the last four weeks doesnt mean you would have won this one. Daruk scowled as if he were being scolded by a child. Thats exactly what it means. Youre not smart enough to win. Andrew took the insult personally and scowled back at Daruk. Your face isnt smart. Your nose is just stupid. While Daruk pondered the deep meaning behind Andrews words, Aodhn expanded the storm platform he was standing on and gestured for them to join him. We better get going if we intend to sit at todays assembly. They joined him on the construct, and as they flew towards the assembly hall, Andrew said. Im sorry about Lupin. Hows she faring? Aodhn shrugged and turned his face away to prevent them from seeing his expression. Shes coping, I guess. Daruk shook his head. It explains her lack of communication now. To think she was dealing with the death of her father while the rest of us were out partying. Just sad. Right. Aodhn nodded, not bothering to say anything else. Soon, he would have to tell them about their break-up, but for now, Aodhn just wanted to ignore the matter and enjoy his day. Not that ignoring his problems ever solved them, but Aodhn believed some problems were for his future self, and until the time came that he couldnt ignore them anymore, he was very content to pretend they didnt exist. He channeled more energy into the platform, and a minute later, they arrived at the assembly hall. Unsurprisingly, it was already filled with students, but they managed to snag a trio of seats only a second before a group of second-year students did. There were still a few seats scattered around, so students spent the next few minutes squeezing themselves together, just to make sure a maximum number of people found a seat. Aodhn even noticed a hint of spatial magic being employed a few rows behind him, but it was so faint that it was barely noticeable. Just like the first assembly, professors stood on the stage, along with several other academic staff. Even professor Faelar Dubois was in attendance, seated on an ornate construct made from lunar essence and discussing quietly with principal Zatya. The hall filled up quickly, and after what felt like an hour, principal Zatya finally stood up to address them. She stared at them, her stance the image of strength and military discipline. She looked powerful, strict, and unapproachable, but Aodhn knew better. Under the fa?ade she bore was a woman on the verge of insanity, driven by an inexhaustible urge to make his life hell. Welcome to the second half of the first semester. She began and then let out a small smile. I know it feels like we should be in the second semester by now, but time sadly doesnt run that fast. I wont be deducting any forge points today, but I have a few things Id like to address, the first of which is the tension that afflicted you all before the break as a result of the ongoing war. She paused, letting her words sink in before proceeding. The reports Ive received have been troubling. There has been a noticeable decline in academic engagement, with many among the later years struggling to focus due to stress and anxiety. Some of you are underperforming, while others have taken their performances to the extreme.There have been conflicts among students; disagreements that would have been minor have escalated into serious confrontations. The war has divided loyalties, and that division has seeped into the relationships within these walls. For some reason, Aodhn felt personally attacked by her last statement, sure that she was referring to the disagreement between him and Cyrus. However, he wasnt the only one shifting awkwardly. The weeks leading up to the break had been brutal, with fights breaking out left and right. The principals gaze swept across the assembly, and she continued. Because of the above reasons, we have placed a temporary ban on all information concerning the war. Aodhn frowned as murmurs of discontent rose among the students, but principal Zatya spoke above them. This ban will affect every student except the 4th years. Every letter or text sent out or coming into the academy will be monitored, and any news concerning the war will be deleted. That is outrageous! Andrew exclaimed, his voice barely audible in the din of confusion and exclamations that erupted from the assembly. How are we supposed to keep up with what is going on? The ban is for your own good. Principal Zatya continued firmly, speaking over the crowd. Of course, certain important messages will be passed across to you if deemed necessary, but there is nothing to be gained from having you all tensed and ready to explode at any moment, most especially those in the second and third years; this ban was placed primarily because of you. If youre so eager to join the war, then you might as well drop out and go now; the military will accept you with open arms! The hall quieted after that, although a few people still grumbled and murmured in discontent. Aodhn, on the other hand, wasnt quite sure how to feel. On one hand, he was disappointed that he wouldnt be getting any information as to the response of Sunstone in a few weeks or how Ragnarok might respond in the instance that Sunstone fails to surrender before the due date. On the other hand, he was relieved. All hed ever wanted was to explore this new world and grow stronger, and hed only begun developing interest in the war when hed realized he would have no choice but to join it eventually. From the smile on Daruks face, it was obvious that he was utterly in support of the principals decision, and a moment later, Aodhn decided to get on board. On the bright side, he wouldnt have to worry about defending his position so manically on the forge list anymore; perhaps he could start ascending again. However, many werent happy with the principals decision, and a third-year student, a boy with red-tinted black hair, stood up to contest it. With all due respect, principal Zatya, this academy is training us to be better soldiers. It is counterintuitive to shield us from the brutalities of war, regardless of how much it might affect us. If anything, those who react badly to it should be expelled out of the academy as theyre unfit to be soldiers. At first, many of the students had been shouting in support, but as soon as hed mentioned the word expelled, theyd all deserted him. No one wanted to be expelled, especially those from noble families whose prestige and reputation were on the line. Another flurry of exclamations rang out as the students shouted in opposition, and this time principal Zatya let it play out. The noise rose steadily until it was almost deafening, but whenever Andrew or Daruk moved to join the argument, Aodhn held them back, urging them to remain quiet. He wouldnt say he knew principal Zatya well, but he knew her well enough to know that she was pissed. He scanned the crowd, and when his gaze landed on Eldrith, who was glaring cautiously at the principal several rows in front of him, he knew he had done the right thing. When the noise reached a zenith, principal Zatya suddenly raised a hand and snapped her fingers. Instantly, sound diedripped out of the throats of every speaking individual. The silence that descended after was so deafening that Aodhn was certain he could hear a feather drop. Principal Zatya glared at them, and in a tone that brooked no argument, she said. Minus hundred points to every single person who spoke against my decision today. Hundreds of chips flared, even Andrew''s, despite Aodhns best effort, yet not a single person spoke up in protest. How principal Zatya managed to identify every single person who had spoken up against her decision, Aodhn couldnt fathom. In the silence that followed, principal Zatya continued. Do you think this is a democracy? Do you think that I require the opinion of children to make my decisions? Let me make one thing clear since your uniforms have failed to do so. This is a military academy. I make the decision; you obey. She turned her gaze to the boy who had spoken earlier and sneered. Perhaps you should be expelled, Dravynor. Obedience is a core attribute of any soldier, and youve failed in that regard. The boy shrunk into his seat, and principal Zatya continued. I have made my decision. Information will be passed along as I deem fit. Youre here to learn how to become better soldiers; we might as well start from your manners. Aodhn shook his head and sighed. He had expected some sort of punishment from principal Zatya, but 100 points? That was several weeks worth of forge points lost, and from the look on Andrews face, he seemed to be on the verge of either bawling or exploding with anger. He placed a hand on Andrews shoulders to comfort him, but his effort was useless. Andrew wasnt alone in his pain, though; many were red-faced with silent anger, and others like Imani were outright bawling. Aodhn imagined Imani would be taking her reading to the next level in the coming weeks. After a moment of tense silence, Principal Zatya sighed and said. The second order of business today is the academy tournaments, which will be held in the capital in the next three months. Since the 5th academy joined the competition seventy-five years ago, weve only won a total of 29 times. I intend for this year to be the thirtieth win, and to facilitate that, Ive come up with a selection process to pick out the top five students of each year who will be representing the academy at the tournament. That being said, this isnt a do-or-die affair. You may choose not to participate in the selection process; however, Ill be awarding the top ten students of each year 200 forge points as well as a Mythic core. Each. It was as if lightning struck the room. The students perked up, their eyes going wide as the implications of principal Zatyas statement overtook their minds. Aodhn gripped the edge of his seat tightly as his mind spun rapidly. The energy within a Mythic core was so dense that absorbing it could push him up more than a dozen tiers without damaging his foundations, although it was just as likely to rip his core to pieces if inappropriately absorbed, but Aodhn wasnt thinking about that at the moment. Of course, even if he won, he couldnt absorb the core until after the tournament was over, as doing so would push him into the Advanced class, and he couldnt let that happen as that would disqualify him from fighting in the first-year bracket, and he was vastly unprepared to fight against second-years. While his mind spun, his eyes burned brightly with greed. The forge points, however important, barely registered in his mind, and with a manic grin, Aodhn began plotting. He was already among the top ten students in his year; he just needed to make sure things remained that way. Principal Zatya let out a predatory grin as she took in the reactions of the students, even the fourth-year students, and asked. Now, who would like to withdraw from the selection process? she glanced around the hall, and when no one raised their hand, her grin widened. Thats more like it." Chapter 109: Confrontation After the assembly ended, those with spatial affinities teleported out, and those who could fly or use constructs did, leaving the others who could do neither to march out clumsily from the small exit. Aodhn, Daruk, and Andrew stood on a floating construct, a series of emotions playing out across their faces. As they exited the hall, Aodhns gaze landed on Meredith, who stood on a similar construct with Aida Simms and Imani, but his mind barely registered her presence as he was mentally reviewing his status screen, with principal Zatyas words still echoing in his mind. I call bullshit. Andrew hissed the moment they flew out of the building, forcefully pulling Aodhn''s mind away from his thoughts. He blinked, his mind slowly returning to the present. What did you say? Werent you listening? Andrew scowled and scanned the area to make sure none of the professors were within hearing range before repeating himself. I said, I call bullshit. Something terrible must have happened to require this ban. How are we supposed to figure out what is going on with the war if we cant even discuss the matter with those outside? Ah, right. Aodhn scratched his head awkwardly and muttered. Thats what youre worried about. Andrew frowned at him with a mixture of annoyance and confusion. What else am I supposed to be worried about? My family is a military family; what else are we supposed to talk about asides the war? The antithesis of affinities is a good topic. Daruk offered from behind them, wearing a grin that stood in contrast with the overall mood of the students around them. Im sure Aunty Mio and Uncle Roshan would have a lot more to contribute in the family group chat. Andrews expression shut down, and he turned away before muttering. We do not have a group chat. Too bad. Daruk patted Andrews shoulder sympathetically. Well, they say every disaster is an opportunity. This seems like a great opportunity to open one. Pay him no mind. Aodhn said to Andrew. Im sure you and your family will come up with new things to discuss. Thats the problem. Andrew grumbled as he pushed Daruks fingers away. I dont want to talk about something else. Im invested in the war. To have no access to any information regarding it feels suffocating. Aodhn sighed. He couldnt exactly relate to what Andrew was feeling, but he could imagine, and it definitely didnt feel good. However, there was nothing they could do about it any longer; complaining and grumbling wouldnt change the principals mind, so what need was there to dwell on it? Raising his chip to his lips, he decided to test things out. He searched through his contact list, which had grown considerably longer with the addition of Aldric and Unrid. He picked the latter and sent a message asking about the state of the war. Just as hed expected, the message got flagged immediately, and the next instant, an error message appeared before him. [RESTRICTED] Your message could not be sent! Well, that was fast. He muttered to himself before sending another text, this one simply asking Unrid how he and Synov were doing. There was a millisecond lag, as the message was probably scanned for restricted information before being sent. Unrid didnt reply immediately, so Aodhn closed the message menu and shook his head. The ban is already in effect. Any information regarding the war is being restricted. Perhaps Andrew was right. Maybe something terrible had happened and this ban was being placed to prevent panic, but Aodhn couldnt deny the fact that a part of him was happy about this ban; at least, this way, he could simply grow stronger without constantly worrying about what was happening in the war. They proceeded to the cafeteria for breakfast, after which they made their way to the lecture hall for the class on Awakened Advancement Theory (AAT). When they arrived at the hall, they found a ton of people already seated, along with professor Dubois, who stood on the circular stage, discussing intently with Lilith Bloodmoon. There were still a few minutes before the class began, and so in their usual manner, they made their way to the middle row. One would have thought that Professor Duboiss presence would deter any sort of altercation, but as they made their way towards their preferred seats, they were suddenly blocked by a trio of nobles, two of whom Aodhn wasnt exactly surprised to see, but the third person surprised him somewhat. Ever since hed begun to incur the wrath of some of the major nobles for being ''disrespectful, Aodhn had been approached and challenged by a varying number of them, including Grendar and Kellan Dravenor, which was why he wasnt too surprised to find them staring daggers at him. However, despite their silent feud'', this was the first time Cyrus had walked up to him to challenge him. It was somewhat exciting to know that he warranted such attention from the dukes son, but mostly it just made Cyrus less of an opponent in his eyes. It made him feel like he had the upper hand despite bearing the lower rank. Grendar stood on the left, manipulating a mesh of metallic wires in a way that he assumed she thought threatening, while Kellan just seemed uncomfortable. Cyrus was his usual proud self, but this time his shoulders were raised slightly higher as if to intimidate him. Aodhn tried to suppress a smile but failed. Sometimes, because of how powerful they were, he forgot that they were only just sixteen years old. Granted, he wasnt that much older than them, but he definitely felt older. Cyruss scowl deepened when he saw Aodhns smile, and he took a step forward. Is something funny, commoner? Yes. Aodhn answered without hesitation. The fact that youre here right now, trying and failing to intimidate me. I find it hilarious. I told you he was too proud. Grendar hissed, her sneer shaping up into something more sinister. We should have thought him the error of his ways since the first moment he began pulling this nonchalant superiority shit. I assure you that you would have regret that. Aodhn responded, letting out a hint of his aura from his voice. It gave his voice a rougher, more dangerous texture that caused Grendar and Kellan to take a subconscious step backward. Cyrus, though, was unfazed. He stared Aodhn down and took a step forward. I only came here to instruct you, and itll be in your best interest to heed me. Withdraw from the selection process. The tournament is an event meant for nobles, and regardless of your many tricks, youre not one. Aodhn tamped down on a surge of irritation and glanced at professor Dubois, who was staring impassively at them. It was obvious that she could hear them, and the fact that she made no move to put a stop to this proved that she either wanted to see how he handled the matter or was in agreement with Cyrus as she herself was noble. The latter seemed more plausible, but Aodhn decided to give her the benefit of the doubt and assume the first. He would be glad to put Cyrus Valerion in his place anyway. Rather than shrink back or burst into sobs as Cyrus had probably expected, Aodhn laughed, a sound so mirthful and infectious that a few students found themselves unconsciously joining in. When he was done, he shook his head and said, I would heed your instructions, Cyrus, but unfortunately, you do not make the rules around here, and the one who does doesnt seem to share your distaste for commoners like me. I suggest you take your grievances to the principal; Im sure shell give you a satisfactory answer.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. The matter should have died there, but Cyrus wasnt satisfied. He sneered and pointed a finger crackling with spatial essence at him. You think youre better than us, dont you? Walking around the halls with your head and shoulders held higher than that of freaking royals all because youve got a familiar? I dont think Im better than you, but it''s obvious you think so. Aodhn replied honestly. Tell me, Cyrus, do you feel threatened by me? His question caused a gasp to echo across the hall, a reaction that only served to make Cyrus even more furious. His face turned almost purple with anger; however, Kellan must have done something because his expression went blank an instant later and his composure returned. He straightened his shoulders, and in an exceedingly pompous manner, Cyrus declared. I am the first trueborn son of Duke Solaris Valerion, a being subservient only to the royals. I do not fear you, Aodhn Brystion, nor am I threatened by you. If anything, I pity you. I''m merely concerned for your reputation, or perhaps what would be left of it by the time your strength is revealed for the sham that it is. Do yourself a favor and drop out of the selection process while you still can, or I assure you that you wont even make it into the top twenty. Daruk, who had been silently stewing from behind Aodhn, suddenly spoke up, his voice cutting and cold. Why dont you do yourself a favor, Cyrus, and walk away with whatever shred of dignity you have left? Aodhn grinned and wiggled his fingers in a run along motion. He could fight his battles alone, but it was extremely satisfying to know that he didnt have to. Cyrus eyed Daruk contemplatively and said, Ive got no beef with you, Daruk. Daruk scoffed and shook his head. Do you even hear yourself? Aodhn is my brother, which means if you have a problem with him, you have a problem with me too. So, like I said, do yourself a favor and walk away. Cyrus narrowed his gaze at them, glanced at Andrew, and sniffed. Andrew Willowood, you better talk some sense into your friends. Andrew clenched his fist and glared at Cyrus but didnt respond. Aodhn couldnt blame him; his family was after all a barony. Unlike commoners who had nothing to lose, the case was different for lower nobles. Cyrus turned around and walked away, spatial essence still crackling faintly around his finger. Kellan followed dutifully, while Grendar clucked her tongue in disappointment before leaving. Im sorry I didnt speak up to defend you. Andrew muttered quietly as they watched the retreating figures before turning to stare directly at Aodhn. However, I want you to know that if it comes down to it, you can always count on me to side with you. Ill never betray my friends. But you have your familys reputation to consider too. Aodhn finished and nodded. I understand; dont worry about it. Well, its just as we thought, Aodhn. Daruk quipped to lighten the mood. Cyrus is definitely as insane as his half brothers. Aodhn laughed, and when Andrew asked what they meant, he shrugged. "Sorry, Andrew, but weve sighed too many NDAs to speak. Nonsense. Theres still a lot we can tell you without breaking the NDAs. Daruk scoffed and draped an arm across Andrews shoulders. So you remember that time Aodhn bottomed out his willpower? Well, what really happened was that... They walked to their seats, and fifteen minutes passed before Professor Dubois spoke up to address the class. Good morning students. She began as she walked to the front of the stage and tapped the large screen hanging from the ceiling. It came on with a flash of blue light, and she continued. Im very glad to be here with you once again. Juggling my responsibilities as a member of the Awakened Council and a teacher hasnt been the easiest, but Im glad I could make this work. I''ve spoken with professor Jorendil, and I must say Im quite impressed with how far youve all progressed. Today, well be discussing a topic that is just as simple as it is technical. She tapped the screen again, and the word Bloodlines appeared on the screen in bold red letters. Aodhn didn''t bother jotting anything down as professor Dubois began explaining the meaning of bloodlines. He had read so much on the topic, especially in the days after hed absorbed the unique bloodline principal Zatya had given him, that he could write a short note on it without issue. In simple terms, a bloodline was a soul seed that, when absorbed, not only transformed the genetic traits of an awakened individual but also subtly enhanced the inherent power within them, giving an overall boost to their control of specific affinities whilst creating aesthetic manifestations. Professor Dubois said almost the same thing, but then she paused and asked. We all know what the soul seeds are, but not many know of their origins. Who can tell us in express terms where these soul seeds are gotten from? Several hands shot into the air, practically begging to be called, and Aodhn couldnt help but snicker at their desperation. He couldn''t blame them for being so eager after losing hundred points each at the assembly; however, his little snicker must have caught professor Dubois''s attention because she pointed to him and said. Would you like to enlighten us, Mr. Brystion? I would love to hear your opinion on the matter. Aodhn cleared his throat and stood up. The soul seeds are produced by ?FLYM itself and are usually mined from the quintessential wellsprings that line the edges of Lutia. From what hed read, these quintessential wellsprings were basically caves dense with spirit or soul energy. There were many theories on the topic, with some scholars hypothesizing that the caves were nexus points for ley lines and the soul seeds solidified essences, while others theorized that it was foolish to consider the soul seeds as solidified essences considering their functions. Aodhn more or less agreed with the latter group; however, more information concerning the topic was restricted to the advanced class, and Aodhn wasnt ready to go up to the second floor just yet. Well put. Professor Dubois responded grimly. Ten points to you, Mr. Brystion. She turned back to the class and said, As Mr. Brystion has just explained, soul seeds have mysterious origins. What we do know is that they are produced and mined from the quintessential wellsprings that line the edges of Lutia. However, these wellsprings are few and far between, which means there is a shortage of soul seeds to go around for everyone. Asides their small numbers, these wellsprings require a long time to regenerate after being mined, making the seeds an extremely valuable yet finite resource. Is this why soul seeds are only given to nobles while commoners are forgotten and left to fend for themselves? A voice suddenly cut in, and Aodhn turned to see Marcellus glaring at the professor from the back row. The students around him shuffled awkwardly. Most of them were commoners, so the combined attention of several nobles made them uncomfortable. Marcellus of course remained unfazed, and in that moment, Aodhn felt a touch of admiration for his annoying housemate. Professor Dubois, however, didnt share his sentiment and instead glared at Marcellus. Nearly a millennia ago, when war first ravaged this kingdom, most people ran to the central kingdom for refuge. The nobles you see today are the descendants of the families who stayed behind to fix things and put this kingdom back together. They have bled and paid for their braggart rights, and if the king and his council, in their wisdom, decided to give these nobles the privilege or access to these soul seeds before commoners, then have they done wrong? Do you think you deserve what they do, or do you think you know more than the king and his council? Aodhn frowned, not liking the professors response one bit. Marcellus grimaced, but when he didnt respond, Professor Dubois smirked. I thought as much. The class continued after that, but for the next one hour, Aodhn was uncomfortable. Looking at things from the professor Duboiss point of view wasnt so bad, but surely there was a better way that accommodated everyone equally, or was he being idealistic? His mind continued to roam, and it wasnt until professor Dubois asked another question that Aodhns mind returned to the class. Now, having detailed the ranking system of bloodlines as the reasons behind their bizzare manifestations, can someone explain to me how bloodline inheritance works? This time, even more hands went up, but professor Dubois ignored them and instead turned her gaze to the far end of the hall. Miss Cavanaugh, perhaps youd like to shed some luminescence on the matter. Aodhn looked at Lupin along with the rest of the class. She was dressed in a much simpler black gown compared to the one she wore yesterday, and although her face was still pale, she seemed to be doing much better than yesterday. Lupins gaze darted across the hall, and she sighed heavily, as if mentally urging herself to care about the lecture. On second thought, maybe she wasnt doing as fine as hed thought. Lupin pushed herself to her feet, and in a tone similar to that of a drone, she responded. Bloodline inheritance works naturally as it is passed on from parent to offspring and is usually activated at the time of awakening. If a person does not awaken, the bloodline remains dormant, and if a person awakens an affinity different from the bloodline they already bear, the soul seed becomes recessive, and such a person is then able to absorb another soul seed. Thank you, Miss Cavanaugh. Very well said. Ten points. The class ended soon after that, and when they stepped out of the hall, Daruk asked. How would you guys like to mess up the tower leaderboard? Aodhn had been hoping to go up to his room and practice his runes, but Daruks words kindled a fire within him. His competitive spirit reared its head once again, and with a manic grin, Aodhn responded. Lets go make a ruckus. Chapter 110: Ascending the Tower It seemed they werent the only ones inspired to challenge the tower, as the arena was nearly filled to capacity when they arrived, with students from all years gathering. Even some professors and academy staff members were present, seated in their usual spots and discussing casually amongst themselves. A large holographic screen dominated the sky, displaying the names of more than a dozen third-year students who were already within the tower and fighting their way up the Advanced class. To see people easily ascending levels that he couldnt even reach humbled Aodhn slightly; however, it did nothing for the competitive fire burning within him. Without hesitation, they made their way to the arena stage to sign themselves up as challengers for the evolved class. They added their names to a growing list of challengers that were already numbered in the fifties, after which they were directed towards the tower entrance, which was a shimmering red portal almost no different from that of a dungeon. The physical manifestation of the entrance wasnt exactly in the form of a tower, but it towered over them nonetheless. They were each given an ejector, after which they joined a line of students waiting their turn to get into the tower. Unlike a dungeon, the tower was manually operated and calibrated, so the handlers preferred to send the challengers in all at once rather than make them go in one by one. While they waited for the third-year students to exit the tower, Aodhn, Daruk, and Andrew discussed with Alesh Vilaris and Azul Fetherson, who were also in the line. The last time theyd all challenged the tower like this, Aodhn had barely managed to spend more than three minutes within the 24th level, where hed faced a Tier 24 Kraken within a watery marsh. However, at the time, hed only been at the 20th tier. This time, he was comfortably sitting at the 21st tier. He had a seal, the {Elemental Lightning} skill, and a determination that he had lacked the last time. Was he challenging the tower to test himself? Yes, but he was also doing it to piss Cyrus off. In essence, he would be killing two birds with one stone. More people joined the line, including Cyrus and his followers. In less than thirty minutes, their numbers had entered the early seventies, which was surprising considering that there were only hundred students in the first year. This meant that more than half of the students had come out to challenge the tower today. Perhaps they all just wanted to test themselves after the break, or more likely, they were all just fired up because of principal Zatyas speech that morning. After nearly an hour of waiting, the last third-year student finally exited the tower at level 51. Surprisingly, it wasnt Eldrith whose name Aodhn hadnt even seen on the holographic screen; instead, it was a tall, muscled youth with jet black hair and skin, dressed in cultivation robes, and surrounded by a miasma of dark energy that Aodhn quickly identified as fear. The billowing essence surged immediately the youth appeared on the stage, and Aodhn felt like hed been dumped within a lake of ice-cold water. A shiver ran down his spine, and his heartbeat echoed loudly in his ears. The youth, whom the holographic screen identified as Edgar Veradis, glanced at the mute crowd for a moment before simply disappearing. As soon as the youth disappeared, though, Aodhn and countless other students let out a breath of relief as their instinctual fear subsided. Damn, thats overpowered. Andrew muttered quietly and shook his head. To hold the entire arena in abject terror even for a few seconds is goals, men. I wouldnt exactly say he held the entire arena, because the fourth-year students look pretty comfortable to me. Aodhn gestured to the section of the arena where the fourth-year students sat, their pose almost nonchalant. Its still crazy. Azul shuddered. He definitely held me down. Me too. Daruk confessed and asked. Do you think hes the strongest student in the third year? Most likely. Aodhn shrugged. The only other person I know in the third year is Eldrith, and Im not sure hes strong enough to take out a Tier 50 monster and come out looking so fresh. First-year students had a requirement to reach Tier 25 before being allowed to graduate. The required tier for second years was tier 45, and for third years, tier 60. Knowing this, one could assume that the average third-year student had an advancement level between 45 and 50, since the higher one advanced, the harder it was to ascend; besides, it was still only the first semester. Aodhn didnt know what tier this Edgar Veradis was, but from the reaction of the crowd and knowing the average tier of third-year students, he presumed that the boy had probably fought nothing less than four or five tiers up. How he had never seen the boy in the assembly hall was bizarre. Perhaps it was because hed never really had the chance to sit at the front during the assembly. They waited a few more minutes for the handlers to calibrate the tower to the evolved class, after which they were given the standard entry speech concerning safety and ejection. Once that was over, the tower entrance pulsed with green light, and the next instant, they were all teleported into the tower. The teleportation was seamless, and when Aodhn opened his eyes, he found himself alone within a white room identified as the start room. Before he began, Aodhn made a small rope constructed from storm essence and hooked it into the ejector to form a sort of necklace that he hung around his neck so it wouldnt get lost during a battle. Ready, he took a deep breath and stepped into the portal of the first level. The first level was a cavern filled with stalactites and large crystaline protrusions. The moment Aodhn appeared within the space, a shrill cry rang out, and a bundle of brown fur launched itself at him. With a careless wave, Aodhn reduced the {Earth Ifrit} to a pile of ash and stepped into the next portal without delay. He arrived within the second level barely a second after he stepped into the first, and the third an instant after that. Effortlessly, he climbed through the lower levels, and when he arrived at level 16, where the silver Mamacore resided, he only spared it a glance before reducing it to ash with a crackling ball of black electricity. With single-minded focus, Aodhn continued forward. He had only two goals: to push himself to the absolute limit and use up all his strength just to see how far he could really go if he gave it his all. The second and more interesting goal was to beat Cyrus and knock him off his pedestal. Someone had to do it at this point, and Aodhn was more than willing to volunteer himself. As his focus narrowed further, the world blurred away, and the creatures of each level barely registered in his mind as Aodhn simply tore through anything and everything that stood in his way. Even the {Fire Drake} that had almost exposed his transmigrant tattoo to the world during the tournament only managed to let out a torrent of blue flames before an empowered {Lightning BeamRed} drilled a fist-sized hole into its skull. In just twenty-five minutes, Aodhn had raced through nineteen levels, but as the swirling portal to the 20th level appeared, a slight shiver ran through him. The memory of the {Cursed Ravager} was still vivid in his mind. However, unlike the last time he challenged the tower, Aodhn was much more prepared to handle the shadowy. The last time he challenged the tower, Aodhn had relied on the same tactics that helped him defeat the Ravager the first time, but this time, he was eager to try something new. He wasnt entirely certain it would work, but he was willing to take the riskafter all, if it failed, he could always escape into the moonlight and drag the Ravager along for the ride. He stepped through the portal, and appeared within a familiar forest cloaked in darkness. There wasnt a single trace of light in sight, and although, that little titbit should have clued him to the fact that his plan would fail woefully, Aodhn wasnt exactly thinking straight at the moment. It took a few seconds for his eyes to adjust to the darkness, and when it did, Aodhn saw the {Cursed Ravager} creeping forward soundlessly. It was just as he remembered, with dark fangs that couldnt fit into its mouth and instead jutted out of the sides, glinting with a green paralytic liquid. With a wave of his hand, Aodhn created several balls of white gold electricity that burst into existence with a bright flash and began to revolve around him. The light they emitted spread out to cover an area about four meters in diameter, and the {Cursed Ravager} hissed in pain as it leaped away and into the underbrush, leaving the faint smell of burnt flesh hanging in the air. Just like the last time, the intensity of his pseudo-lamps began to decrease as darkness sapped their essence, but at a much slower pace, and Aodhn estimated that he had about twenty to thirty minutes before the revolving balls of electricity winked out. The {Cursed Ravager} growled, lurking around the edge of the light zone, but Aodhn didnt pay it any mind, instead, he walked towards the closest tree and used his {Merge} perk for the first time. The sensation of transformation was a weird one. Varcs consciousness, which usually lurked at the back of his mind, came forward, not to take over, but to work together. Despite the fact that Aodhn had never actually tested the perk before, he had instinctual knowledge on how to use it, and with a single thought, the skin on his right arm was replaced by black scales. His fingers lengthened into black claws, sharp enough to slice a man in two, and with a grin, Aodhn began carving LUMUSthe rune of light unto the tree bark. The bark was rough and jagged, so it took him much longer to inscribe the rune perfectly. When he finally finished, he infused the rune with willpower to jumpstart its activation,and moved on to the next tree to repeat the process. The light zone shrank steadily, but Aodhn wasnt too worried, as he fully expected the runes to activate any minute now and engulf the entire area in light. However, it wasnt until he jump-started the fifth LUMUS rune, that he realized that none of the runes hed jump-started earlier were even close to activation. A quick reassessment of his surroundings pointed out the obvious problem, and Aodhn cursed himself for being so stupid. The area was so dense with darkness essence that there was barely enough light essence to activate a single rune talk less of five. In essence, he had wasted the last fifteen minutes, and a glance at the shrinking light zone showed that the darkness had consumed his light faster than hed anticipated. His light zone barely covered more than two meters in diameter, which meant he only had a few more minutes to Oh crap! The {Cursed Ravager} pounced, not willing to give him a chance to come up with another plane. Instinctively, Aodhn activated {Lightning SurgeRed} and empowered it with all eight strands of willpower that his technique allowed. Willpower rushed into the skill at the speed of light, and in an overwhelming cascade of destruction, a river of red lightning exploded out of Aodhn and engulfed the entire clearing. Thunder boomed, and the world exploded in a shower of wood, leaves, and sap.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. The {Cursed Ravager} let out a shriek of utter agony, but Aodhn didnt stop channeling the skill until the Ravager was completely obliterated. When he finally deactivated the skill and the explosions subsided, Aodhn found himself at the center of utter destruction. An area about a dozen meters in diameter had been completely destroyed, and was filled with potholes and ash. A little overkill. Aodhn chuckled as he took in the destruction he had wrought. On the downside, though, his clothes were shredded as they werent resistant to lightning. This exposed his body to the handlers who were most likely watching, but Aodhn wasnt too worried as Varcs tattoo covered the transmigrant one. With a flick of his fingers, he manipulated his storm scarf, and with a bit of effort, he transformed it into a sort of armor that fit him perfectly, and covered his body from neck to toe. With one last look at the destruction hed caused with a single skill, Aodhn grinned and stepped into the swirling portal of the 21st level. This time he arrived in a grassy plain filled with flowers and the scent of spring. However, in the distance, not too far from him stood a bull-like creature identified as a {Wild Bonnacon}. The creature had four large horns and glowing red eyes, and when it saw him, black smoke puffed out of its nose and mouth. With a roar, the {Wild Bonnacon} rushed forward, but Aodhn just grinned and whispered. Come out, Varc, its time for your favorite snack. The {Wild Bonnacon} had been the first ever creature Varc had fought, and without hesitation, Varc rushed out of his spirit, wings and claws extended in predatory excitement. The {Wild Bonnacon} barely stood a chance as Varc shredded it to pieces and destroyed the stripes of flesh and bone with a condensed ball of crackling black electricity. Aodhn grinned and massaged Varcs bloodstained snout, while the Bonnacon''s ashes scattered in the wind. Whos the best familiar in the world? Varc growled in excitement, and Aodhn chuckled. Yes, you are Varc, but the world doesnt know it yet. How about we show the world just how magnificent you really are? Varc growled again, rearing his sinuous neck back in determination, and Aodhn grinned as he felt their emotions start to bleed into each other. If uncontrolled, their psychic link was more of a handicap than a perk at times, but this time, Aodhn would make sure it worked in his favor. Varcs determination and excitement bled into his own, feeding his emotions and causing them to surge. Hesitation flew out the window as his determination soared. His focus narrowed to a pinpoint clarity, and with only the thought of victory left in his mind, Aodhn climbed unto Varc and whispered. Come on, partner, we have a leaderboard to shatter. *** Rahim stood within Principal Zatyas office, watching the holographic screen along with professor Dubois, professor Alaric, and a few other first-year professors who had decided to watch the screen from the office rather than from the arena. There were over a dozen professors present, and they had all raced to the office when they heard the number of students challenging the tower this time. It was obvious that the principal had succeeded in riling up the students, and injecting a healthy dose of competition into them. However, Rahim was concerned that the healthy competition would quickly devolve into something...unhealthy. The ban on information regarding the war was a bandage patch to avoid the spread of panic within the academy. It wasnt only the fifth academy that had enforced the ban, in fact, almost all the academies, with the exception of the 1st and 2nd, had enforced it to prevent the recent occurrence in the war camp of Conquestia from spreading and causing panic. Hopefully, the champions would resolve the changing situation quickly before things devolved further. His gloomy musings were interrupted when professor Alaric, who was seated on a construct of air at the far end of the office, suddenly let out a bark of laughter and said, Ah, simply astounding! He pointed to a name on the holographic screen that had sparked several arguments and contention among the staff ever since his affinity reveal a few weeks ago. I knew he could do it. Twenty-two levels in and he isnt showing any signs of stopping. Professor Aleran snorted in annoyance. His strength and abilities have never been my point of contention, Alaric. It is its possible usage and the fact that it has almost no counters. The student they were referring to was obviously Cameron Lorde, a commoner with a very sketchy background who had posed as an {Invisibility} awakened for the first few weeks of the semester. Of course, some of the professors had known the truth from the beginning, but the fact that the boy had been able to fool even a few of the professors was the problem. Camerons mothers bloody reputation didnt help matters either, and if principal Zatya hadnt put her foot down, many of the staff had been ready to expel the boy immediately. The boys affinity for intangibility was so rare, that although principal Zatya hadnt taken him on as a project, she had claimed him anyway. Rahim shook his head and let out a small smile. Cameron Lorde was one of those students who half-assed everything, content to remain average and irrelevant, but for some reason, during the simulation exercise, he had revealed his actual affinity. Rahim wasnt sure if it was stupidity or a mistake on Camerons part, but if he were the boy, he would have continued with the farce until he graduated. Despite being a commoner with no bloodline, the boy had begun attracting the attention of several high ranking nobles and officials who no doubt had a long list of illicit and illegal activities they wanted to use the boy for. Professor Alaric let out another roar of laughter as the boy ascended to the 23rd level, three whole tiers above his current tier, and Rahim smiled. If things continued this way, it was only a matter of time before the boy was named a champion candidate along with the other more promising members of his year who had already been named, either officially or unofficially. Overall, Rahim had to admit that his students were making decent progress. They had grown from the simpering whelps that had come into the academy a few months ago, and although, there was still room for improvement, Rahim was satisfied with their progress so far. His gaze roamed the gathered professors until they landed on professor Dubois, who was seated beside the principal, her gaze serene as she gazed at the name of one of his best students; Cyrus Valerion, who, despite his rash and pompous disposition, was a genius of spatial affinity just like his elder brother, with control even more advanced than that of Aodhn Brystion. Aside from his immense control, Cyrus had already gained two seals, a truly astounding feat, although not quite as astounding or as rare as a familiar, and during the break, it was rumored that he''d almost gained a third. That would have been truly exceptional. It was no great surprise that he had managed to consecutively keep his rank of first on the tower leaderboard, although, at the rate the other students were growing, Rahim wondered just how long he would be able to keep the rank. When Cyrus ascended to the 23rd level, a little slower than Cameron, professor Dubois snorted and muttered. Hes faltering. Principal Zatya nodded in agreement, although her gaze remained fixed on Aodhns name, which was climbing the tower as if his life depended on it. A quick check on the time Cyrus had spent in the 22nd level showed that hed spent three minutes more than the handlers had estimated. It wasnt exactly a bad thing, as it simply meant the creature guarding that level required a little more time to take out, but the problem with lagging was that it usually spiraled downwards. You lag three minutes in the 22nd level, and before one knew it, you were lagging ten minutes in the 24th. It wasn''t exactly a hard rule, as seen in Aodhns case, who had spent almost fifteen minutes in the 20th level, but barely thirty seconds in the 21st. What Aodhn had been doing in the 20th level, Rahim didnt understand, but the lag had almost given the principal a heart attack, or at least a semblance of one, as she was too advanced to experience such a mundane sickness. Rahim returned his gaze to the holographic screen, and as he scanned the list of ascending students, Professor Vyris Caldwell who was also seated beside the principal spoke up. Im particularly fascinated with the Astral awakened, Lysirel Cosmind. Shes not in my class, but I could definitely use her help in some of my recent experiments. I guess its not too surprising that she didnt apply for your course given her familys snobbish reputation. Professor Alaric mused. Although, I see how she might be useful to your runic experimentations. I like her. Professor Aleran chimed in. The fact that shes one of the handful of students who can counter Lorde grants her several points in my book. If that boy goes rogue, well definitely need her to put a halt to his activities. Hes not going to go rogue. Professor Alaric scowled, but professor Aleran just shrugged. whether he does or not, its better to have her around. She''s not the only one. Professor Jorendil spoke up for the first time. He probably hadn''t meant to speak out loud, but when the professor''s turned to stare at him,he cleared his throat and said. She''s not the only one who can counter Lorde. Kellan Dravynor, if he can improve his control should be able to counter him too. A silence descended on the room as the professor''s mulled jorendil''s words, and a moment later, professor Caldwell added. Even Lyra Davenport, the force awakened. I gather she was one of the few who sensed Lorde in the simulation exercise. Yes, professor Alaric replied with a frown. Although, her control is severely lacking, where as Lorde can be considered a genius Then we need to improve their control. Principal Zatya cut in. As useful as Lorde is, we can''t have him roaming around unchecked. Lysirel will not always be available to check him, but with Kellan and Lyra now in the picture, I''d say you have nothing more to worry about, Aleran. Professor Aleran scoffed, but he settled down and glanced at Rahim. Speak to master Lamarr, and ask her to give more attention to those two during control training exercises. Rahim nodded and added the task to an unending list of things he had to do before the end of the day. With that settled, the professors lapsed back into silence, and Rahim turned his gaze back to the screen. He scanned the screen for Lysirels name and when he found it he smiled. She was currently in the 24th level, three levels above her current tier. It wasnt exactly champion level, but it was definitely peak elite. As astounding as they all are for their tier, I cant help but be concerned that some of our students have yet to even challenge the tower. Principal Zatya spoke up suddenly, her voice cutting into his thoughts like a knife. She flicked her fingers, and a smaller holographic screen containing about a dozen names appeared beside the large one. At the top of the list stood a name written in bold letters, Ayisha Helsarin, and underneath it were the names of the three Calodan siblings, Scarlett, Ankaz and Ursaz Urdania. What are your thoughts on the matter Rahim? Principal Zatya asked quietly and shrugged. After all, you are their mentor. Despite how casually the question was phrased, Rahim knew that the principal was serious, so he cleared his throat and laid out his thoughts as succinctly as he could. Just yesterday, Cameron Lordes names was at the top of that list, along with Dihlon Heshborn and a few others who have finally challenged the tower today. Lordes hesitance to reveal his abilities is understandable because of his origins and the attention his affinities will inadvertently draw, but the others dont seem to have anything in particular to hide. The Calodans are usually secretive with their abilities, so their case isn''t too surprising. For this reason, I can only assume that if given a little more time, theyll come out of their shells without us prodding them. Principal Zatya nodded and pointed at Ayishas name. A time Awakened who likes to keep to herself and hide from others. What are her capabilities? She has two seals and an Epic+ grade bloodline. Rahim responded smoothly. As for her affinity buffs, shes estimated to already have a Grasp of her origin plane. So shes just as strong as Cyruss Valerion then? Professor Caldwell asked curiously, but professor Dubois responded with a snort. She wishes. Cyrus Valerion is a genius of spatial cultivation, just like his half-brother Artemis. To compare him to the heiress of an upstart noble house is insulting There was a barely noticeable pause in the room before everyone simply continued their conversations as if professor Dubois words hadnt been both derogatory and discriminating especially to the members of minor noble houses within their midst. Rahim brushed off the sting of the insult and continued. The Helsarin family hasnt said a word about Ayishas prowess or capabilities, which could mean one of two things. Either Ayisha is so strong that her family wants to keep her strength under wraps for now, or that she is so weak that it would be truly shameful if she were to engage in any public activities, but considering her bloodline skill, {Foresight}, Im more inclined to believe the former. Principal Zatya smiled. So, in other words, we might have another champion candidate on our hands or a total dunce. Im in agreement with Rahim. Professor Alaric chimed in. Ayishas performance in the simulation exercise was excellent, especially when she combined her abilities with that of baroness Cavanaugh. In fact I saved a clip. Professor Alaric waved a hand, and another holographic screen appeared, displaying Lupin in the war camp of the black order as she easily cut down tier 18 soldiers left and right. Her attacks were swift, precise and on time. Sometimes, she stabbed seemingly into empty air, yet without fail, her daggers pierced flesh. When the clip ended, professor Alaric shrugged. Lupin did all this with Ayishas help. I think that alone is proof that she isnt dense. Principal Zatya grinned and steepled her fingers. Champion candidate it is then. It seems weve got an exceptional batch of Awakened students this year. She glanced at Rahim and winked. Whatever youre doing, dont stop. Thank you, principal Zatya. Rahim grinned and turned his gaze back to the holographic screen, his expression a mixture of satisfaction and pride. Who would have thought that after cursing then out so much during the tournament, hed ever feel proud of them? Ah, Rahim couldnt wait to show off his students in the academy tournaments and rub Geralds face in the mud when his students did better than the second-years and brought glory to his name. Chapter 111: Competition Craze With a brutal swipe of an unusually long lightning sword, Aodhn cleaved an already decapitated Tier 22 Gremlin in two. Blood and viscera poured out, staining the muddy ground with acid and bile, but Aodhn and Varc were already on the move towards the next portal. Aodhn had always considered Varc a partner, but as they flew into the swirling portal for the 23rd Level, he came to the understanding that they were much more than that. They were one, like two sides of a coin or like an extra limb, one which acted with its own mind, yet remained an integral part of him. Their minds were fully in sync despite their unmerged form, and, their emotions were one and the same; a raging pool of determination and focus, that threw Aodhns natural reaction to being covered in blood and viscera out of the window. There was no room for disgust or hesitance, only a singular desire to ascend and skewer those who would dare stand in their way. They arrived within a lush forest that was the 23rd level an instant later, but unlike the last time when Aodhn had fallen prey to the relaxing atmosphere, this time, he was prepared. Varc swerved rightwithout his direct inputjust as a mass of thorny vines erupted out of the dense canopy of trees. Growling, Aodhn and Varc turned around, both activating {Lightning BeamBlack} at the same time, and in an overwhelming cascade of decay and disintegration, black lightning was unleashed on the spot the thorny vines had erupted from. Trees withered immediately, and in only a few seconds, a large area of the forest decayed to ash. However, the Kanima guarding this level seemed to have escaped the attack. With a glance at each other, a new plan was hatched. Aodhn jumped off Varc and let himself fall. A lightning construct caught him just before he crossed the canopy line, and he only managed to dodge another mass of vines by sheer luck. One of the vines grazed his arms though, easily tearing through the armor he had built out of his storm scarf to inject poison into his veins. Aodhn didnt bother wasting willpower to fight off the toxins, instead he created a bolt of green lightning, and injected it directly into the wound. A hiss of pain escaped his lips as the green lightning rushed into his veins, but Aodhn pushed his pain aside and searched for his prey. The last time he had injected himself with {Elemental LightningGreen}, he had seen no side effects, so he figured that if used in small amounts, he could avoid any possible mutations. While the vitality lightning battled the toxins in his body, Aodhn dodged another eruption of vines, and opened his spirit to the origin plane of storm. Chaos rushed in, inadvertently activating the rage that lay dormant within him and he groaned as his spirit strained to contain the infusion. The sensation was agony and ecstasy mixed together, and Aodhn''s gaze turned red with bloodlust as his crazed determination mingled with the blazing rage that fed off the chaos rushing into his spirit. With a nigh feral grin, Aodhn dove into the forest and channeled all eight strands of willpower his technique allowed into {Lightning SurgeBlack}. Like lightning, silver strands of willpower rushed into the skill, and the next instant, a river of black lightning exploded out of him. It expanded in an ever flowing wave of disintegration and decay. Trees withered and died. Fruits fell to the ground and burst in a shower of pus and maggots before disintegrating to ash. Aodhn didnt stop channeling the skill though, not only because he was yet to wipe this forest away from the map, but also because his spirit was straining with so much chaos essence and he wanted to reduce it to a manageable extent before cutting the skill off. Hundreds of vines attacked him from every angle, however they decayed before they even reached him.On the other side of the forest, Varc roared and unleashed a torrent of red lightning that bathed the forest in fire and explosions. Trees collapsed by the dozens, and the earth shuddered with each explosion. Slowly, destruction overtook the forest, shrinking it as decay and fire swept towards the center, and a few minutes later, when only a strip of greenery remained, the Kanima shrieked; Its cry so piecing that it threatened to shatter Aodhns mind. Aodhn gritted his teeth in pain, and bolted forward, an overwhelming amount of decay essence swirling in his wake. The Kanima''s shriek heightened the closer he got, but the piercing sound was suddenly cut off when Varc released another torrent of red lightning in its direction. Taking advantage of the temporary lull, Aodhn hastily closed the distance between himself and the Kanima, and willed a storm cloud into existence. He neednt have bothered though because Varcs claws sliced the Kanimas head off just a second before he reached it. The Kanima wasnt dead yet though, so Aodhn raised a hand to it and released a fully empowered {Lightning SpearRed} at the neck stump. The spear exploded on contact, spraying blood, tissue, and viscera everywhere. The bloody spray drenched him, coating his body in pieces of bloody tissue, guts and an eviscerated liver, but Aodhn barely noticed, his gaze trained on the portal for the 24th level that appeared in the distance. He climbed unto Varcs back, and with an expression brimming with determined rage, they shot towards the next portal. The 24th level was a turbulent sea, and immediately they arrived within it, Varc dove towards the center where they knew the colossal octopus-like creature identified as a [Juvenile Kraken] would emerge from. This monstrous creature had been the one to halt Aodhns advance the last time hed challenged the tower, but this time, Aodhn was more than prepared to deal with it. As they neared the center of the turbulent sea, the kraken emerged out of the depths, its tentacles waving in annoyance, as the sea began to gather into a whirlpool around it. Aodhn was unmoved by the terrifying display, instead, he watched until they reached a satisfactory distance before opening his spirit to the origin plane once more. Chaos rushed in, and since there was already a sinister convergence of dark clouds above him, he raised his hands to the sky and activated {Storm Manipulation} The dark clouds moved, converging faster than was normal until they merged into a single colossal cloud that covered an area hundreds of meters wide in darkness. To manipulate the natural other of things in such manner drained an immense amount of willpower from him, but Aodhn barely registered it. With furious determination, Aodhn activated {Lightning Descent} and channeled all the chaos essence from his spirit into it. Immediately, the giant storm cloud above exploded with a river of electricity that descended with enough power to wipe out a small village. However, as the kraken raised its head, Aodhn realized that his attack wouldnt be enough. Unwilling to let the Kraken survive or even worse, escape, Aodhn harnessed his seal and pulled. Heat engulfed him as a tiny strand of gold lightning, barely the size of his pinkie, emerged out of his seal and into his spirit. It shot into his pathways, and despite its small size, Aodhn almost had a seizure as the tiny bolt rushed through his spirit and into the still descending skill. It felt like hed plugged a bolt of electricity right into his brain, and although the pain was immense, the pleasure was unfathomable. Shuddering, Aodhn kept his eyes fixed on the skill, not wanting to miss out on the effect his seal would have on his most powerful skill, and it was absolutely wondrous. Thunder boomed so loud it was like the earth itself cracked, and the once colossal storm cloud tripled in size. Lightning gathered around it, swirling in an amazing cascade reminiscent of a collosal wave. Water rushed up from the sea, to form a sort of shield to protect the now frightened kraken, but it was a futile effort. What descended from the cloud this time could hardly be called a river. It was an entire sea of lightning and when it descended, it passed through the water shield without resistance and struck the kraken right on its bulbous head. The kraken let out a short-lived cry of agony as it was simply eviscerated from existence and a moment later the sea stilled. There was not a single evidence of the kraken, not even a tentacle was in sight, and the heavy scent of ozone filled the air. Aodhn sagged and closed off his spirit, too strained to keep the opening open. Aside from that, more than half his energy was spent, his pathways were strained, and his body felt weak, but it was his seal that concerned him the most. The seal had dimmed, and Aodhn estimated that he could only get another thread of gold lightning from it before he lost access to it until whatever time it recharged. As worrisome as that sounded, Aodhn wasnt too worried. With the chaos essence now expelled from his spirit, Aodhn was finally able to think, and he realized that perhaps it would have been better for him to have kept the seal as the last card that it was. However, his plan had been to go all out during this challenge, and he definitely wasnt out of gas yet. He turned his gaze to the swirling portal of the 25th level, and without hesitation, he and Varc zoomed torwards it. The moment they stepped into the swirling portal for the 25th level though, the warmth of the tower faded and an icy gust hit Aodhn''s face. Before them was an icy wasteland that spread out as far as their eyes could see, illuminated by the cold, pale light of an unseen moon. At the center of the wasteland, a tall mountain made entirely of ice jutted out of the frozen earth, and at its top, lay a massive blue creature, identified as a [Silverwing IceDrake]. The creature was easily twice the size of Varc, but when it stretched its wings, covered in frosty scales that gleamed like frosted diamonds, Aodhn amended that size to three times.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. Naturally, at tier 25, the IceDrake should have been an advanced class creature, however the handlers of the tower had calibrated and limited it to the evolved class. Despite its limitations, the IceDrake wasnt to be taken lightly as it still had the power boost that came with crossing a milestone. It wouldnt be as unbeatable as an advanced beast, but Aodhn was fully prepared to take some serious damage this time. His uninjured ascension through the tower had come to an abrupt halt, and despite the determination blazing within him, Aodhn still felt a thread of concern. The IceDrake raised its massive head to glare at them, but rather than attack like every other creature theyd come across, the drake scrutinized them, its blue eyes gleaming with an intelligence that almost seemed human. If Aodhn had been merely concerned before, now he was very wary. Intelligent monsters were the worst kind of opponents, as they had the innate instincts for skill creation and cultivation as well as the cunning to fight. The IceDrake stared at them for a moment later, and in a bizzare turn of events, it dismissed them as insignificant. Aodhn was shocked, but he felt another emotion for Varc. Fury! Varc was furious that hed been casually dismissed by a kin of his even though they bore different affinities, and before Aodhn could take control of the situation, Varc dove forward and unleashed a condensed beam of red lightning. The drake blocked the attack with an ice armored wing, and the entire mountain shook as it let out a thunderous roar. Its eyes glowed an eerie blue, and with a powerful beat of its wings, it surged forward, sending a wave of ice and snow cascading downwards. Since Varc had already begun the battle, Aodhn had no choice but to join in. While Varc unleashed another torrent of red lightning, Aodhn jumped off his back, raised his hands to the cloudy sky above him and activated {Vortex of storm}. The clouds descended and began to revolve into a cyclone of cutting winds and water. It wasnt his most dangerous skill, but it was extremely useful when he needed to be a nuisance. The vortex surrounded the drake, impeding its sight and flight. Aodhn gathered more clouds with {Storm manipulation}, merging them into one colossal cloud, and when he was finished with that, he activated {Lightning Spear Rain Red}. Usually, Aodhn worked with storm clouds hed created himself which were usually small if he were to be honest, or more appropriately, they were tiny compared to the mammoth of a cloud hed just put together. So when he activated {Lightning Spear RainRed} through the colossal cloud, he felt the energy drain like a punch to the gut. The effect of the skill however was much more spectacular than he was used to. Hundreds of lightning spears as thick as his arms rained down and struck the still struggling IceDrake. They smashed into its armored wings with terrible force, cracking ice and exploding erratically. However, unlike how the skill usually worked, the lightning spears didnt fizzle out after explosion, instead they stuck to the body of the drake, causing minor damages over time. It wasn''t nearly enough to be a bother to the IceDrake though, as the next moment, Varc was sent flying out of the storm vortex with so much force that he caused a large crater when he crashed onto the frozen ground. Aodhn let loose a condensed beam of black lightning in the interim, but Varc was already halfway back into the sky before he could blink, and with another roar of anger, Varc unleashed a torrent of black lightning which merged seamlessly with his own beam and the vortex of cutting winds to form a cyclone of wind and necrotic electricity. They were making headway, but it wasn''t nearly enough and as much as Aodhn wanted to delve head first into the battle and pull out his biggest guns, he hadnt fully recovered from his battle with the kraken, and he would rather attack from afar than engage in close combat. He bombarded the IceDrake with lightning spears and beams, even intensifying the swirling vortex of storm and black electricity by adding a red lightning vortex. Despite the significant damage they were doing to the Drake, it seemed to be more of an annoyance than a real threat to the drake, and eventually it broke free. With a roar, the IceDrake tore its way out of the swirling vortexes and let out a blast of freezing energy that spread out in a shockwave and smashed both Aodhn and Varc to the ground. Varc got back up quickly, only a little affected by the blast, but Aodhns entire left side was frozen over. Aodhn was still struggling with his frozen side when Varc came crashing down once again, but when the IceDrake opened its mouth to unleash another blast of freezing energy, Aodhn knew he had only one option. His seal. He harnessed the glowing imprint for the second time in less than an hour, and heat engulfed him as another tiny strand of golden electricity emerged from the seal and into his pathways, freeing him from the clutches of cold just as another blast hit and sent him tumbling back several meters. Fortunately, he managed to keep himself from freezing this time with a hastily created construct, and with a snarl, he launched himself towards the IceDrake while Varc battled it from the rear. When he closed the distance with the Drake''s head, Aodhn took hold of the golden lightning, tore off a part of it, and channeled it into his bloodline. He released his aura the next instant, and a massive pressure descended, the force of which sent the IceDrake crumpling to the ground in a sudden and violent motion. Bones cracked audibly, and without hesitation, Aodhn and Varc took advantage of the opportunity. While Varc dove forward to tear the drake to pieces, Aodhn raised his hands to the cloud, activated {Lightning DescentRed} for the second time in less than an hour, and channeled the rest of the golden lightning into the skill. The IceDrake managed to erect an ice shield to protect itself, but the construct shattered as soon as the river of red lightning struck it. The armor around the drakes body was next to go, and when the skill eventually lost its strength, Aodhn sagged in exhaustion. Unfortunately, the drake was nowhere near dead yet. One of its wings was broken and its entire right side was riddled with deep wounds, however, from the drakes expression alone, Aodhn could tell that it wasnt anywhere close to giving up yet. Aodhn on the other hand was running on fumes. The only thing he still had in abundance was willpower. His energy was severely low, his seal was completely dead, and his spirit ached at the thought of opening it to more chaos. He was on his last legs, and if he didnt deal with this drake in the next five minutes, Aodhn was certain, he would be progressing no further. Tightening his resolve, Aodhn rushed forward once more, this time, aiming for the drakes injured side while Varc distracted it. Pulling on the energy he had left, Aodhn activated {Lightning Beam Red} and fully empowered it with willpower. The beam of electricity burst out of his palms and punched through the drakes side, drilling a hole the size of his head through its stomach. The drake roared in pain, and Varc released a condensed beam of red electricity into its mouth at point blank range. The beam exploded within the drakes throat, punching several fist sized holes into its neck yet the drake refused to die. Angered, Aodhn squeezed his core and unleashed another beam of red lightning at the drakes injured side. The beam exploded on impact, blasting the drake backwards and tearing off its second wing, but the drake was unyielding, and with sheer force of will, it pivoted to the side just as Varc dove to attack again, and snapped it jaws around Varcs neck. With a brutal twist, it pulled and tore out Varcs neck. Varc of course couldnt die while Aodhn was still alive, however, the pain Varc felt in that moment was so intense that Aodhn staggered. The drake flung Varc''s body carelessly to the side, and the sight of Varc''s limp body caused a sudden explosion of rage within Aodhn. This wasnt the dormant rage that resided within him as a result of the twisted effect. No, this was something much more primal, raw and hot. It blazed within him with an unquenchable intensity, and in that moment, Aodhn discarded any fear of pain or worry for his own safety. He had no energy left, and all of his boons were used up, but he had willpower. He had an abundance of willpower. With a fury void of conscious thought, Aodhn rushed forward, activated his {Merge} perkwhich forcefully drew Varc back into his spiritand attacked. Long black claws replaced his fingers, and he used them to literally tear the drake apart. The drake retaliated, slashing at Aodhn with ice claws that ripped his skin, leaving deep, jagged wounds that caused a deep chill to seep into his bones. Each wound caused Aodhn to feel stiff, but he pressed on, overcome with a need to inflict the worse amount of pain on this creature for what it did to Varc. Each strike from the drake was met with a savage retaliatory force, his claws tearing through scales and flesh with abandon. Aodhns vision blurred with rage and pain as he sank his claws into the drakes belly, ripping through the thick hide and the tough muscle beneath. He widened the Drake''s wounds, and when he created a whole wide enough, he clawed into the beasts innards, the stench of blood and bile filling the nostrils. The drake thrashed in agony as it attacked itself to rip Aodhn out of its stomach, but it was to no avail. Aodhn had clawed his way too deep inside its body. He carved his way through tissue and viscera, the gore splattering his face and body, mingling with his own blood, but Aodhn was past caring. He just wanted to tear the drake to pieces, to rip it to shreds from the inside out. He cut, sliced and carved his way through the drakes belly, tearing through bone and tissue until he emerged out of the other side, completely drenched in blood. He shuddered as the reality of what hed done came crashing down on him, and when the adrenaline subsided, Aodhn collapsed to the frozen ground and simply lay there, gasping for breath as he returned to his human form. He was completely spent, his entire body ached and he was bleeding from too many cuts, but he was covered in so much blood that he couldnt exactly tell where his own ended and the drakes began. He lay there for almost an hour, just trying to regain his strength again, and when he recovered enough to stand, Aodhn pushed himself to his feet and slowly turned around to glance at the next portal. He was completely spent and at this point, he just wanted to exit the tower, but hed already beaten the 25th level. He needed to at least enter the 26th even if it was only for a second If not this entire fight would be in vain. Slowly, warily, he trudged towards the portal, and a few minutes later, he stepped through it. He appeared within a shadowy cavern thick with the metallic scent of blood. Blood covered the walls, and to the left, a small stream of blood flowed. Aodhn heaved at the pungent scent of stale blood and turned his gaze to the far end of the room, where a blood core blazed with absolute purity. A growl echoed through the entire cavern, followed by heavy footsteps, and a few seconds later, the guardian for this level revealed itself. [Blood OrcTier 26] The towering figure wore a dirty rag around its waist that served as a loincloth, but that was the only piece of clothing on it. The rest of its body was covered in blood, and a large rusted axe was strapped to its back. Beneath all the blood, its skin was ashen. Its eyes glowed crimson, and when its gaze landed on him, Aodhn felt his blood begin to boil. Not willing to risk fighting this thing in his weakened state, Aodhn immediately clicked the ejector on his neck and sighed in relief when the world blurred away and reality returned. Aodhn found himself on the stage of the arena the next instant, and a roar of excitement exploded from the crowd, A flurry of system messages followed, but the first one was the only one he could read before collapsing to the floor, too weak and energy drained to even open his eyes. Congratulations! New familiar perk gained. Berserk: Harness a bestial rage that provides strength in exchange for willpower. Leaderboard updated. Chapter 112: Updated Leaderboard 🎉 Leaderboards. Tower of Ascension (1st year)
? Aodhn Brystion, Level 261st [01:37] ? Cyrus Valerion, Level 252nd [17:45] ? Lilith Bloodmoon, Level 253rd [10:14] ? Lysirel Cosmind, Level 254th [08:17] ? Daruk Brystion, Level 255th [00:22] ? Cameron Lorde, Level 246th [30: 52] ? Alesh Vilaris, Level 247th [12:14] ? Grendar Bladewynn, Level 248th [09:10] ? Azul Fetherson, Level 249th [04:36] ? Isis Anvindr, Level 2410th [02:12]
Yurin grimaced as he looked through the newly updated leaderboard, regretting his decision to postpone his tower challenge to a later date. He had made that decision because he felt like he hadnt made any real progress during the break (advancement wise) to cause any serious changes in the tower rankings. Hed been so busy helping out his grandparents and working on his runic inscriptions that he hadn''t gained any new skills or progressed in his spirit cultivation. It was bad, but considering the fact that he hadnt really put in much effort to progress, it wasnt too concerning. In fact, to some people, it was a good thing. Yurin was already doing so well for his age. At age sixteen, he was already at Tier 20, and although he hadnt gained a seal, grasp, or opening yet, he didnt think he was in any danger of a spiritual limit just yet. Honestly, if it wasnt for the academy, which was more interested in churning out champions and elites as fast as possible, Yurin would have preferred to spend at least a year in each tier, just like his uncle Kiko had. Uncle Kiko wasnt a champion despite his solid foundation, but Yurin didnt think he was far from being one either. Nevertheless, Yurin wasnt too bothered with ascending to the next tier; instead, he was more frustrated with his spiritual cultivation. With the tournament looming on the horizon and the principals promise still swimming in his mind, Yurin wanted nothing more than to shut himself within his training room and begin meditation immediately. Despite his lacking spirit cultivation, Yurin still considered himself a high-ranker among the first-year students. He was steadily being pushed downward, though. If he could just gain a seal, a grasp, or an opening before the selection process began, then he wouldnt even have to worry about making it into the top ten, as that would have been guaranteed. The updated leaderboard wasnt encouraging through, as the bar had been raised once again. Yurin, along with the rest of the arena, had been shocked, to say the least, when Aodhn appeared on the stage, completely drenched in blood and gore. It was a sight Yurin didnt think he could ever forget; however, Aodhns bloody appearance hadnt been as shocking as the level he''d broken into as well as his new rank. To put things in perspective, the tier 25 guardian was nearly twice as strong as the tier 24 guardian because it had reached a milestone tier, even though it hadnt evolved to the advanced class. So in essence, battling a tier 25 creature was like battling two tier 24 creatures at the same time, and Aodhn had done it despite still being at the 21st tier. It was completely insane. At first, Yurin had thought Aodhn was dead because of all the blood, but after the healers had cleaned him up and declared him alive and well, Yurin had breathed a sigh of relief. He wouldnt say he was surprised at the extent to which Aodhn had gone to come first; after all, he wasnt even the most injured person to exit the tower today, just the bloodiest. It was all the principals fault. A Mythic Core was no joke, but unlike the rest of the students, Yurin wasnt aiming for first; he just wanted to get into the top ten and claim his prize. While the fire of competition burned within him like an infectious plague, Yurin contemplated going up to the handlers and demanding they let in another group of students into the tower; after all, there was a wide array of students that hadnt been willing to challenge the tower at first and had now changed their minds; however, he discarded the idea because it was futile. Once all the students currently within the tower exited, the tower would be shut down until tomorrow. While he sat there, amongst the cheering crowd, gloomily watching the healers as they rushed around to heal Aodhn and a few others, Marcellus, Derek, and Imani came to sit with him. The Tower will be closed after this, so well have to wait till tomorrow. Derek grumbled and shook his head dejectedly. I should have just challenged the tower when I had the chance. Marcellus grinned and mussed Dereks hair. Dont beat yourself too much about it. Youre stupid. These things happen. Yurin glared at him, slightly offended and slightly amused at his statement. Was he stupid for not challenging the tower with everyone else? Absolutely not. Hed simply been hesitant. Dont give me that look. Marcellus scowled and shifted away from him. "Besides, shouldnt you be with Aodhn, fussing over him along with the others and celebrating his victory? The others Marcellus was referring to were obviously Daruk and Andrew, who seemed more worried that celebratory if he were honest, although they did seem to be fussing. Yurin should have been with them too, but he was too envious to celebrate or fuss over Aodhn right now. In fact, Yurin was certain that if an empath analyzed his emotions right now, they would find a lot of anger directed at Aodhn because, why did he have to raise the bar that high? It was obviously an irrational emotion, which was why Yurin thought it best to just stay away for now. Aodhns victory made him feel like a failure because, once upon a time, he and Aodhn had been in the same shoes, lowly commoners competing for a chance at a bloodline. Even then, Aodhn had been stronger than him, but the gap had certainly not been this wide. His hurt musings were cut short when Imani muttered. Sometimes, I look at all these people in the top ten and I ask myself, What am I doing here? Yeah, me too. Dylan agreed, and Yurin nodded in understanding. Perhaps his case wasnt quite as bad as theirs, but he understood their plight regardless. Whats your rank? He asked Imani after a moment of silence, and she shrugged. 57th. I might as well throw myself off a cliff and die with a rank that low. Marcellus chuckled. At least youll make the rankings memorable. Imani just snorted, used to Marcelluss brand of rudeness at this point, and Yurin shook his head. 57th was low, considering he hadnt even challenged the tower today and he was still in the top twenty. Perhaps he wasnt doing so badly after all. How are they even so strong? Dylan grumbled, glaring daggers at the stage as another student exited the tower without making it into the top ten. Its crazy how theyre all just so strong. I work and cultivate all the time. If Im not meditating, Im training. Its bizarre! No one responded, not even Imani, who seemed like she had something to say, and after a moment of silence, Dylan muttered. I need a drink. This day has been total shit. Yurin chuckled and stood up too. Ill join you. I too could use a drink. After they left, Imani lay head on the arena seat and sighed, watching as Aodhn finally stood to his feet and grinned at the crowd. He was no longer injured, but he looked so weary that she couldn''t help but sympathize with him. Imani frowned, not quite sure how to feel when it came to Aodhn. On one hand, he had shown her times without number that he was basically a user who had no feelings whatsoever for her. However, her dastardly feelings, which had erupted out of nowhere, wouldnt let her be. Okay, so maybe they hadnt exactly sprung out from nowhere and had slowly been building ever since that night they''d spoken after his nightmare. But that wasnt the point.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Aodhn wasnt a good person, and the fact that he was out there succeeding while she was getting ranked 57th irked her something fierce. Imani knew that her control over her affinity was lacking; in fact, it was one of the things her family was known for. They werent strong magically, but Imani had hoped to break that yoke and prove to the world that she could be just as strong as the Abyssal Terror herself. Looking back now, the dream seemed so foolish and childish. All she had gotten for her troubles was betrayal and heartbreak. Perhaps it was time to let it all go. Magical power wasnt the only in the world, and like her father used to say, Why strive for power when you can pay those who have it to work for you? She had thought the saying was stupid before, but now it makes so much sense. Still frowning, Imani pushed down all the bad emotions she was feeling and glanced at Marcellus, who was carelessly picking his teeth with a dagger. It was horrid, improper, and exactly what she needed right now. Making a decision that she might come to regret later, Imani leaned towards him and whispered in his ears. How would you like to see my room? *** Grendar Bladewynn stood on one end of the arena stage, nursing her wounds and waiting for the healers to eventually get to her. However, that didnt seem like it would be happening any time soon, as they were all still fussing over the commoner who had somehow managed to surpass Cyrus Valerion in rank. Turning her gaze back to the holographic screen above, Grendar stared at the infernal name and scowled. How is this even possible? Lilith, who was standing next to her, clenched her bloodied fists and sneered. The sight of it absolutely sickens me. Grendar shook her head, still trying to process the change. She had fallen all the way from the 5th rank to the 8th. It was bizarre and shocking because for the past six weeks, aside from little changes here and there, the tower leaderboard had never been this altered. The whole thing had been turned upside down; however, as painful as her drop in rank was, what surprised her the most was Cyruss loss. Cyrus was a genius. Her father had even referred to him as a beast of spatial cultivation like his half brother Artemis, and Grendar knew it was true. She had seen him train and fight. His control was unnatural. There shouldnt have been anyone strong enough to outrank him in the academy, yet here it was. A commoner standing at the top of the leaderboards; standing above her. It was a disgrace more than any other. As the daughter of a small noble family, Grendar had been bullied and talked down to by high-ranking nobles all her life. It was seemingly the way of things, but Grendar hated it, and when shed gained admission into the academy, she had plotted her way into Cyruss inner circle to avoid being bullied by nobles like Lilith and Lysirel Cosmind. For the most part, it had worked. As a friend to Cyrus, even the sons and daughters of Viscounts were cautious around her; however, she had gotten to Cyrus too late, and rather than the prestigious position of lover that shed wanted for herselfone which Lilith now enjoyedGrendar had been relegated to the role of a sidekick. It was still better than being the daughter of a former merchant; however, Grendar wasnt satisfied. Her dreams and plans for her future hinged on luring Cyrus into her web, or, in more metallic terms, hooking him unto her blades. She turned her gaze to Cyrus, who was seated in between them, almost as purple with anger as the aura of spatial essence that undulated around him. Grendar moved closer to him and placed her hand on his shoulders to comfort him, despite the intense burn of spatial energies that made her fingers feel like they were corroding in real time. It has to be a glitch, Cyrus; clearly, something went wrong within the tower. Lilith glared at her fingers and scowled before placing a hand on Cyruss other shoulder. Perhaps if you spent more time training instead of prancing around like a fleacock, you might have kept your spot. Grendar sneered at her, using anger to mask the pain she was feeling. Youve got some nerve, Lilith. Maybe if you let your head out of the cloud every once in a while, youd be more than just a footnote on the board. Im still better than you. Lilith sniffed derisively, her tone dripping with venom. If anything, youre the footnote. Just as unimportant and useless as that family you hail from. Grendars silver eyes flashed dangerously, and her fingers hardened into metallic claws, but before she could slice Liliths head off just as she had fantasized a dozen times, Cyrus grabbed her arms and held it. He didnt look up, nor did he say a word, but the single motion caused Grendar to come to an immediate halt. However, if she couldnt cut Lilith with her blades, she would cut her with her words. Youre a vile and disgusting human being. Its no wonder your mother left you. Had she cut a little too deep? Perhaps, but Grendar was done taking crap from the blood scion. Liliths eyes flashed dangerously, and she took a threatening step forward. Watch your tongue, Grendar. It is not my fault your precious blades are as dull as your wits. Cyrus finally looked up, and his hands tightened around her arms, but Grendar was no longer in any mood to play nice. She took a threatening step forward, and her hand drifted to the hilt of her sword. Say that again, Lilith. I dare you. Lilith smirked, her fingers glowing with sinister red light that caused the scent of blood around the arena to spike. You can do nothing to me, Grendar. I wouldnt just wipe this floor with you; I would eradicate you completely. Before things could get completely out of hand, Kellan placed himself between them. Ladies, I know you guys hate each other, but perhaps thats an emotion we should direct to the arrogant commoner instead. Grendar scowled at him, knowing he was right, but something about her emotions being so easily accessible to the empath rubbed her the wrong way. Unfortunately for Kellan, that was a sentiment she and Lilith shared, and they both whipped around to face him, glares of disgust and annoyance evident on their faces. Kellan barely reacted, used to their hatred by now; however, he raised his hands in surrender and muttered. I came in peace; now I shall leave the same way. Grendar snorted and turned her gaze to the other side of the arena, where an unnecessary number of healers were still fussing over Aodhn. Look at them fussing over him like some prized pet while nobles have to wait in line to get healed. Judging from a perfectly logical point here, none of us were as injured or bloodied as the commoner was. Kellan responded with a shrug, and Lilith glared at him. Shut up, buffoon. Are you trying to diminish our hard work? Im just stating the obvious, Lilith, and stop trying to shut me up all the damn time. Lilith hissed and turned back to glare at Aodhn. Sometimes, I wish I could make him bleed to death without anyone noticing. Grendar let out a small smile at the mental image that Liliths words conjured. Alas, it was impossible. As unbelievable as it seemed, Grendar didnt actually want the boy dead. She certainly hated him, but not to that extent. Her issue with the commoner wasnt just his pride. It wasnt the kind of pride seen in Marcellus, who was blunt, rebellious, and chafing under the weight of his ranka behavior nobles almost expected from commoners. They grumbled, complained, and pushed back against their lowly status. But Aodhns pride was different. It wasnt even really pride; it was more like indifference. A quiet refusal to accept his place, something far beyond the typical resentment of commoners. Whether it was purposeful or not, Grendar couldnt tell, but Aodhn acted as if he was above them all. He had no respect for their station, and if there was one thing Grendar hated, it was being looked down on by commoners. Dealing with higher-ranking nobles like Lilith was already bad enough, and she would be damned if she let commoners treat her like crap too. One of the healers finally came over to heal them, but when she grabbed Cyruss arms, he pushed her away and stood up. Im in no need of your services. His gaze swiveled to the other side of the arena, and he glared. This is just a temporary setback, and Ill be damned if I let him reign over me for more than a day. *** Cameron Lorde watched from the sidelines, staring at the other students while they either celebrated or mourned their ranks. After the last student exited the tower, most of the students had headed towards the cafeteria for dinner, and the prevailing topic was unsurprisingly the updated leaderboard, as well as the name that now occupied the top position on it. However, despite not even being among the top five, Cameron had no less than half a dozen people staring at him at any given moment. They murmured amongst themselves, and although Cameron couldnt exactly tell what they were saying, he could imagine. This was one of the reasons why hed wanted to remain inconspicuous. Even his actions in the simulation exercise hadnt drawn this much attention, but professor Alaric had threatened him with expulsion if he didnt challenge the tower, and damn, he had done even better than hed thought he would. The 24th level had been his limit, though. Hed been unable to hurt the Kraken, but the Kraken couldnt hurt him either, so after half an hour of futilely trying to stab the Krakens head with an uncommon-ranked dagger, hed finally given up and exited the tower. Now that hed finally challenged the tower, though, Cameron just wanted to fade into the background, although, from the looks he was getting, he doubted that would be possible. Unlike the other students, Cameron wasnt moved by the principals promise of a mythic core, although he understood the allure of it. However, most of the other students were focusing solely on the advantages of such an abundant source of energy, not the risks, of which there were many. Cameron, on the other hand, was all about the risks. To hand a mythic core to evolved and advanced-class individuals was like giving a volatile bomb to a child and asking them not to move. It was a disaster waiting to happen, and Cameron couldnt help but think it was intentional. The density and ferocity of the energy within a mythic core alone was enough to send a mundane awakened to their ancestors and severely injure evolved awakeneds. It was a little more manageable for advanced-class individuals, but still dangerous if absorbed carelessly. Perhaps some sort of safety measure would be employed to prevent the students from blowing themselves up; however, for some bizarre reason, Cameron couldnt share in the excitement and eagerness of his peers. He glanced around the cafeteria again and sighed when he found Ayisha Helsarin walking towards him, her smile wider than should have been possible. Ayisha was his housemate and one of those nice nobles that still existed. In some way, they had built a sort of friendship, but Cameron didnt really consider them friends. He continued to glare at her, and as she walked closer, Cameron couldnt help but wonder why she hadnt been threatened with expulsion like he had; after all, she was one of those students who still hadnt challenged the tower yet. Was she perhaps hiding her real strength like he had attempted to, or was she just not interested in the glory of victory? Mhm, curious. He thought to himself, and before she could arrive at his table to disturb his peace, Cameron raised his teacup to his lips and activated {Physical intangibilityFull}. Ayisha tried to stop him by doing something with time, but Cameron had already phased out of the tangible realm before she could catch him. Chapter 113: Awkward Morning Aodhn awoke the next morning with a gasp, his heart pounding as his mind relived a familiar scene of lightning, broken bodies, and blood. It had been a while since hed had the Raventhorn nightmare last; however, it seemed his mind was determined to remind him whenever he began forgetting. He closed his eyes and sighed. He wasnt quite sure what had triggered it this time; perhaps it was all the blood from the tower yesterday, or bottoming out his energy core, or as a result of his new perk. There were a number of things that could have triggered the nightmare, but Aodhn suspected there was a much simpler reason: his mind just wanted to torture him. With a sigh, he stood up from his sweat-soaked sheets, giving the self-cleaning enchantments a chance to function, and moved to the window. It was only a few hours past midnight, barely four a.m., which was perhaps the perfect time to wake for some, but Aodhn usually preferred to get more sleep. Honestly, at this point he could go at least two or three days without sleeping. He would barely be functional on the third day, but Aodhn felt like he could do it. Perhaps if he stopped sleeping entirely, he could rid himself of this nightmare permanently. Anyway, despite the early morning chill and the quiet night, Aodhn didnt think he could go back to sleep. The thought of sleep wasnt even enticing, so Aodhn just sat at the window and observed the golden clouds of the sunset nexus. This time he had nothing to distract himself with, so he began practicing the creation of complex storm and lightning constructs in a bid to sharpen his control. At first, he tried to create a bird and then a giraffe, but those proved to be much more complex than he imagined. Creating 3-dimensiomal shapes and figures was much harder than Daruk made them seem; in fact, on his fifth attempt at creating a rabbit, Aodhn concluded that it was nigh impossible without the architect''s skill. There were just so many moving parts to account for, unlike in 2- or 1-dimensional figures. He didnt give up though; instead, he decided to start on a much smaller level and build up from there. He began with a relatively easy spider. It had a somewhat spherical body with three limbs on each side. The spherical abdomen was quite easy to create. It was the movable joints attached to the limbs that was the problem. While Aodhn worked quietly on the spider, his thoughts drifted to the events of the previous day, and he let out a small smile. The events that came after he exited the tower had been surreal. Despite finally taking the top spot on the tower after almost two months, Aodhn had been too weary to actually celebrate it. He had exhausted all of his buffs, boons, and tricks to reach the 26th level, and when he exited, hed felt as wrung out as a squeezed rag. Speaking of buffs, Aodhn looked down at his chest to see his seal now glowing faintly. It was nowhere near fully regenerated, but it filled him with relief to see that it was almost halfway there. His spirit, on the other hand, felt sore from all the chaos essence hed channeled through it, and Aodhn doubted hed be opening himself up to the origin plane any time soon. Nevertheless, it felt nice to knock down Cyruss ego in this manner. Cyrus''s distaste and hatred of him would probably skyrocket after this, but Aodhn didnt care. When the light of dawn finally appeared in the sky, Aodhn sighed once more and released Varc from his spirit. Varc rushed out in a burst of chaos and storm essence before settling down on the bed with his tail dangling off the edge. Varc had grown again; it was subtle, but when he arched his sinuous neck, his horns now scraped against the roof. It wasnt quite cramped just yet, but Aodhn suspected things would be different in the next few months. Varc shuffled awkwardly, his claws easily tearing his bedsheets to pieces as he shifted to find a comfortable position. When he finally settled, Aodhn raised an eyebrow and said, This is the last time Im letting you sleep on that bed. Varc growled dismissively, and Aodhn glared at him. Fine, you can keep sleeping on the bed; however, when we return home, youll either have to remain in my spirit or sleep on the floor until I learn how to create those self-repair runes, which I doubt will be anytime soon. Varc growled again and tucked his wings, obviously constricted by the limited space. This caused him to shuffle again, tearing another dozen furrows into the now-tattered mattress. When he finally found a comfortable position, Varc looked at him, sensing his somber mood, and growled in concern. Im fine, Varc. Aodhn responded with a sad chuckle and a shrug. Im just mentally paying for my sins. Varc cocked his head, and a grating screech rang out as his horns scraped against the roof. Aodhn grimaced at the offensive sound and glared at Varc. Get off the goddamned bed and stop ruining my house. Varc growled in annoyance before complying, and Aodhn sighed. Thank you. This wasnt the first time Varc was ruining his room, and although he usually just ignored it, it was particularly irksome today. Feeling a pang of guilt, Aodhn sighed and apologized. Im sorry. Im a little on edge. You would be too if you had a hand in the deaths of over a dozen people, and your mind won''t stop torturing you for it. Rather than the understanding hed expected, Varc let out a throaty growl that caused Aodhns eyes to widen in alarm, and he quickly cautioned the enthusiastic familiar. "No, Varc, killing people is bad, whether accidentally or intentionally. Unless theyre bad people, which is still bad, but less bad if you understand what I mean. Varc growled in confusion, and Aodhn chuckled. How do I explain this? Okay, people have families and relatives. When you kill someone, you cause their families to feel bad. Besides, the life of a person is very important, and taking it is a crime or should be if it isnt already. It was perhaps not the best way to explain why killing humans was a bad idea to a chaos-born creature, but it was the best way Aodhn could think of at the moment. Varc, however, only seemed to get more confused. He growled again, his snout scrunched up in an expression Aodhn only recognized as confusion because of their telepathic link. Aodhn frowned, trying to come up with a response that would ease Varcs confusion, and after a moment, he replied. Im not quite sure what laws are in place for sentient creatures, Varc. What I know is that humans killing monsters isnt considered a crime, so I guess its a matter of perspective. For humans, monsters are cultivation resources, and I imagine that might be the case for sentient creatures too. However, because Im human, I tend to feel bad when a fellow human being dies, so I guess that''s why I think its bad for monsters to kill humans. It was a pretty shitty explanation, but it was the best Aodhn could come up with at the moment. Varc growled again, and Aodhn shrugged. It doesnt matter to you anyway. Youre not a monster; youre a familiar, which means youre supposed to like humans. Varc snorted and arched his shoulders as if to say humans were lesser beings, and he was supreme and magnificent. Silence descended after that, and Aodhn frowned, pondering the conversation for a moment longer. Hed heard that in the Advanced class, creatures usually developed a hint of intelligence, some much earlier than the others, which was apparent in the IceDrake hed fought in the tower yesterday as well as the fire drake in level 19. Now that he thought about it, was it possible that Dragonkin developed their intelligence faster than other creatures? If so, was that a sort of racial perk or system boon? Pushing that thought to the back of his mind, Aodhn continued his ruminations on the intelligence of monsters. Mythic-class creatures were said to possess the intelligence of a child, while calamity-class creatures were said to be capable of speech, which was weird. Was a creature who was capable of speech and emotional conversations even still a monster? After a few more minutes of thought dedicated to the intelligence levels of monsters, Aodhn finally pushed the thought aside. It didnt matter anyway. Whether a creature was intelligent or not, Aodhn wouldnt hesitate to kill it the moment it tried to attack him. It was still a little early, but with nothing else to do and no more foolish thoughts to distract himself, Aodhn finally made his way to the bathroom to freshen up and begin his day. When he exited the bathroom half an hour later, the day had brightened considerably, and so had his mood. He still wasnt in an excitable mood, so he texted Daruk and Andrew and told them not to wait up for him this time as he wanted a quiet walk without their usual bickering. Daruk replied almost instantly: It''s alright. Well meet at the gymnasium. With that out of the way, Aodhn moved to his wardrobe and pulled on a black vest and trouser. It wasnt the official uniform for gym and extracurricular activities, but Aodhn doubted anyone would make too much of a fuss about it. With the outfit now reflecting his mood, Aodhn wrapped his storm scarf around his neck and downed a large cup of water to, well, hydrate himself before this depressing day began. Varc returned to his spirit after that, and after making sure he had everything he needed for the day, Aodhn was ready to head to the gym. However, as soon as he began walking towards the door, he sensed Merediths water core blazing behind it and hesitated. He contemplated whether to face her now or jump out the window instead. He truly wasnt in the mood for a conversation with her this morning, but he had to admit that she had at least given him the space of two whole days before finally initiating this conversation. Also, it was only right, necessary even, to address what had happened between them in Makebas room, however hesitant he was to discuss the matter. Taking a deep breath, Aodhn banished Aldrics voice from his head and opened his door to find Meredith dressed in a flimsy nightgown, with her hands poised to knock. Her black hair was still wet from what seemed to be a recent bath, and the runic tattoos on her skin seemed to glow with pale light. She let out a surprised eek when the door opened before letting out a coy smile. Hi, Aodhn. Hi Meredith. Aodhn responded calmly, trying not to remember how her body had felt in his arms. What do you want? So broody. Meredith rolled her eyes and gestured to her dress. Arent you going to invite me in? Im still wet from my shower, and the weathers cold. Aodhn blinked, clenched his fist, and began counting back from hundred. Dallying with Meredith was a bad idea for several reasons, a few of which were the fact that she was Imanis friend and Marcelluss ex-whatever, not to mention that she was a noble. He didnt want to get involved in that mess when it eventually broke out. Hed barely counted to ninety when Meredith teased again. Wont you help me, sir? Im soaked and shivering; I have no where else to go. Ascendants help me. Aodhn cursed and fixed Meredith with a glare. You dont need my help, Meredith. Youre your own shining knight. Meredith grimaced, disappointed he wasnt playing along. Glad to see youre still your gloomy, dark, and broody self. After the Blackwell event, I was beginning to think that perhaps underneath all that doom and gloom, there was a part of you that understood the word fun. Aodhn glared at her and sighed, not at all in the mood to exchange words with her. What do you want, Meredith? I want to come in. No. Aodhn hastily blocked the entrance with his body. As you can see, I was just about to head out. Meredith observed him for a moment before sighing. With a flick of her fingers, she manipulated all the water on her hair and skin into a ball the size of her fist before dumping it into the flower pot beside the door. Youre avoiding me. She stated without doubt. If this is about my fainting spell the other day, I assure you that I am fine. Im glad youre okay. Aodhn replied and sighed. "Look, Meredith, Im attracted to you. I wont deny that, but I just ended things with Lupin, and Im certainly not in the mood for... for whatever this is.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. I hear you. Meredith nodded and folded her arms. You need time to nurse your broken heart. However, I hope that by the time you understand the extent of what I''m offering you, it won''t be too late. She turned around and marched to her room, leaving Aodhn just staring into space at the awkward conversation. Pushing it to the back of his mind (which was already full of incomplete thoughts at this point), Aodhn headed down to the living room, where he found Eren seated by the kitchen counter, eating a bowl of cereal, while Marcellus had his legs propped up on the center table, filing his nails noisily. They both looked up, and although Eren nodded in greeting, Marcellus scowled at him. Is it not too early to be going to the gym, or are there extra points for arriving early? Aodhn ignored Marcellus, but as he walked towards the exit, Eren called out. We can go together if you''d like; I''m almost done with my meal. His relationship with Eren had softened ever since that day hed subdued his housemates with his aura. It had gotten even better after the simulation exercise, and although Aodhn wouldnt exactly call them friends, they were definitely civil to each other. On a good day, Aodhn might have accepted Erens offer, but today was definitely not that day. Thanks for offering, but Id rather walk alone. Aodhn responded, and Eren shrugged before fixing himself another bowl of cereal. When Aodhn stepped out of the house, he glanced up at the clear blue sky and shook his head. It had been approximately four months since the dry season began, which meant that in a month or two, the raining season would begin. Aodhn couldnt wait because the raining season translated into natural storms/cloudy skies, which he still hadnt seen since his transmigration into this world. He arrived at the gym fifteen minutes later, despite his slow walk, and wasnt too surprised to see coach Harvey and his assistant already present. Coach Harvey smiled at him as he marked his usual register. Couldnt sleep? Rough night. Aodhn admitted, and coach Harvey nodded somberly before waving him into the gymnasium. Do you want me to get you started on an exercise to chase those thoughts away? Aodhn shook his head quickly. No, thanks, coach. Ill just do some light exercise to warm myself up. Suit yourself. Coach Harvey shrugged, and Aodhn moved towards a rack on the wall near some exercise equipment and pulled out a padded mat, which he spread on the floor before lying on it. He started with something light, a few push-ups, sit-ups, and plank stands. He ramped up the difficulty over time; however, even after twenty minutes of constant exercising, Aodhn was yet to break out a single bead of sweat. His muscles werent burning, and his breathing was even. It was severely unsatisfying, and Aodhn wondered if he should have accepted coach Harveys offer after all. More people had come into the gym by then, and although it was still early, it seemed that about half the students were already present. Aodhn was carrying out his 172nd pushup when a shadow suddenly fell over him. He already knew who it was, so he looked up and grinned. Hi Scarlett, how are you doing? She smiled sweetly and bent down. I should be asking you that, Mochi. Whats Mochi? he deflected, and Scarlett shrugged. It means sweet man in Calodan. Aodhn chuckled and shook his head. Im not sure anyone who really knows me would call me that. Calodan was a bizarre kingdom, which rather than being divided into twelve sectors like all the other kingdoms, was divided into what they called tribes instead. To make things more complicated, each tribe had their own unique language aside from the general Lutian language that they all spoke. Aodhn thought it was cozy and familiar in a way that the sectors werent. Scarlett smiled and asked. So, how are you holding up? Im fine. Aodhn shrugged. Did I cry myself to sleep last night when I realized I couldnt share my victory with Lupin? No, but I nearly did. Scarletts expression softened, and Aodhn sighed. I get it truly. Its just disheartening. Scarlett frowned and shook her head. I dont get it. Things are a lot looser in Calodan, even for nobles. Aodhn wasnt too familiar with Calodan customs and traditions, so he simply shrugged and let out a small smile. Lifes a cruel mistress. She is. Scarlett agreed sagely and turned her gaze to the swarm of students warming up or just standing around the hall. After a moment, she added. Not quite as cruel as the thoughts running through Grendar Bladewynns mind right now, though. Its giving murder. Aodhn glanced towards his left, following the sense of metal affinity in close proximity to blood and space, but when his gaze landed on her, she looked away. Lilith however didnt. Instead, she smirked, the expression seeming much more dangerous than it had any right to be. Cyrus stood by her side, his face scrunched up in pain as he benched a null-weight like his life depended on it. It was then Aodhn noticed that despite how they tried to hide it, the rest of the students were staring at them, their faces a mix of anticipation and excitement. It seems they do not appreciate your little stunt yesterday. Scarlett giggled, and Aodhns gaze narrowed as he glared back at Lilith, and in a voice loud enough for them to hear, he responded. Well, they can cry blood for all I care, but Ill be damned if I let anyone take my new spot. Cyrus paused, his entire body straining from the null-weight, but in a rare display of restraint, he ignored Aodhn and continued his exercise. Grendar had a more violent reaction to his words, and a black blade suddenly appeared in her hands, but before she could attack him, an action Aodhn wished shed taken as that would have given him the opportunity to bash her head against the reinforced walls to ease up some of his tension, Lilith dragged her back and hissed something unintelligible. Sheesh. Scarlett sighed. The next few weeks are going to be so dramatic, and you, Mochi, are at the center of it. Aodhn grimaced. I hate drama. Oh, but youll love this one. Scarlett giggled. Rumor has it; Cyrus intends to challenge the tower nonstop until he regains his previous rank. Aodhn snorted. Ambitious much. Honestly, it wouldnt be impossible for Cyrus to regain the top spot, but that would only happen if Aodhn didnt challenge the tower again. However, unlike the first half of the term, Aodhn wasnt willing to take things easy this time. Not only to knock some humility into Cyruss spatial brain, but because now that hed claimed the top spot, his very nature was against the thought of letting it go so easily. Aodhn frowned and turned to stare at Scarlett. Speaking of tower ranks, how are you not on the leaderboard? Scarlett shrugged casually. Its not my style. Im more of a supporter than a direct fighter, and I prefer to fight in groups where I can enhance the skills and power of those around me. Aodhn nodded in understanding, not really thinking too much about her words. Well, I wish you the best. Thanks. Daruk and Andrew arrived a few minutes later, but before they got the chance to speak, coach Harvey bellowed. Listen up. Im aware that many of you have let yourself go during the break, drinking, partying, and putting your body parts in places where they frankly dont belong yet. Aodhn laughed along with the rest of the class, but coach Harveys next words shut them up. Not to worry, because Ive devised the perfect method to beat your bodies back into shape. He waved a hand, and a jet black helmet appeared in his hands. New gear. He roared and put it on his head. Since you already have a cuirass and gauntlets, I thought to myself, how about we complete the set with a helmet? *** Professor Zatya sat in her office, reviewing a list of champion candidates among the 4th year students. They would graduate in a few months and go into the world to become weapons aimed at the enemies of Ragnarok. Principal Zatya smiled, extremely satisfied with this batch of students. Out of the hundred students the academy had admitted, only sixty seven of them remained; however, out of those sixty seven, eight of them were considered champion candidates, which was more than 10% of their total number. This was definitely something she could brag about in the next principals meeting. With a self-satisfied smirk, she flipped the document to review some of the most promising students in the third year. While she scanned through the list, a knock sounded at her door, and she looked up with a frown. Come in, Rahim. Rahim walked in, his brows creased in worry, and said. Principal, there is something urgent that you must see. His tone was unsteady, even slightly fearful, so Zatya arched her brows and quickly waved him forward. What is it? Rahim hurried towards her, which was weird because Rahim never hurried. Not to say that he was slow or sluggish; he just never hurried anywhere, and Zatya felt her stomach twist as she wondered what terrible thing had happened to make him so flustered. What is it? She asked again when he reached her, but instead of responding, Rahim took out a tablet from his spatial storage and placed it on the table for her to see. This is a clip of Aodhns level 25 battle. Zatya let out a sigh of relief and asked curiously. The one he spent almost two hours in? indeed. Rahim nodded. I was confused when the tower handlers worriedly presented the clip to me, but after reviewing it, I definitely understand their concerns. More curious than ever, Zatya grabbed the tablet and played the supposedly worrisome video. It began right from the moment Aodhn entered the tower; however, she didnt have three and a half hours to waste watching a single clip, so she pulled on her aspect of time and sped up the flow of time within her office, shortening the entire clip to a few minutes in relative time. Principal Zatya observed the video closely, scrutinizing every detail; however, as impressive as the first few levels were, Aodhn didnt use any skills or tricks she didnt already know he was capable of. She soon began to grow bored, but that only lasted until Aodhn entered the 24th level and obliterated the Kraken with a single move. Okay, that was impressive. It was a little disappointing that hed had to use his seal to defeat such a weak creature, but it was still impressive. She pouted, mentally noting a few places she thought Aodhn was lacking, which was almost in every department if she were being honest. Von Amyl Argent would have obliterated that Kraken with a single glance. She watched as Aodhn ascended to the next level and began battling the IceDrake. At first, the battle seemed extremely disappointing; however, just as she began growing weary of the battle, things suddenly escalated. Her eyes widened slightly as he watched the drake tear out Varcs neck and discard the familiar as if it were a rag doll. In that moment, Aodhns expression changed so drastically that, for the first time in years, Zatya felt genuine surprise. The only word that perfectly described Aodhns expression in that moment was bloodthirsty, and Zatya felt excitement lance through her like a bolt of lightning. Aodhn turned absolutely feral, and the ferocity with which he launched himself at the drake was simply astounding. Zatya watched as her dear pet, now overcome with rage, tore his way into the drakes belly without care or hesitation. It was violent, utterly sadistic, and extremely exciting. Zatya couldnt help but grin as Aodhn hacked his way through tissue, bone, and viscera to emerge at the other side of the drakes stomach, completely drenched in blood and bile. She rewinded the clip, replaying it again and again from different angles. Ever since she''d taken up the role of principal, she had never seen such raw, primal brutality in a young person before. If she could harness even an iota of that bestiality and keep Aodhn permanently within that state... Ah! Ideas flowed into her head, and she began altering the plans she had made for Aodhns private sessions with Eldrith. The mastery of pain was important, but with such pure, unadulterated rage made manifest within Aodhn, it would be foolish of her not to harness it. To keep Aodhn in a persistent state of rage would have severe downsides on his emotional and mental state, but if she could slowly chip away all the other pesky emotions and bring the rage closer to the surface, then the advantages that would bring would definitely outweigh the disadvantages. If she could Principal Zatya? Rahim called out, interrupting her train of thought. Principal Zatya blinked and quickly morphed her expression into something other than deranged excitement. I dont seem to understand the problem, Rahim; whats so worrisome about this video? Rahim stared at her as if she had gone insane and gestured towards the video still playing in her hands. Principal Zatya... he tore his way into and through a creature several tiers above him. Thats not normal. principal Zatya scoffed. Maybe not for elites like you, Rahim, but Id say every champion out there has crawled their way through the guts of a monster once or twice in their adventurous careers. Rahim bristled at the slight insult and replied. I do not understand the mental structure of champions, but I dont need to to realize that crawling through the guts of monsters suggests a concerning emotional and mental state. More so, when its coupled with the utter rage he displayed in this video. Principal Zatya watched the clip again and sighed, conceding hesitantly. Fine! It might be a tad concerning, but what champion isnt a little unhinged? Its nothing for you to worry about, truly. But principal Let it go, Rahim. Aodhn is perfectly fine. Principal Zatya responded firmly, shutting down the conversation, and although Rahim was still concerned, it was obvious that the principal was done with the conversation. He took back the tablet and was about to leave the office when principal Zatya added. Oh, and please find me, Professor Ender. I find myself in sudden need of one of his 3rd year students, the empath. Whats his name? Helzavauth? Rahim replied, suddenly confused. Didnt principal Zatya just say everything was totally fine with Aodhn? What then did she need an empath for? Yes, the creepy one. Zatya nodded. I need his abilities immediately. Rahim sighed and left the office, not knowing what the principal was thinking. The ruthlessness and brutality Aodhn had displayed in the video had been unusually excessive, a contrast to his kind nature, which was very concerning, yet it was obvious that principal Zatya didnt share his concerns. Rahim wished Aodhn would speak to him about the deal he had with the principal; perhaps then he could help. Alas, Aodhn wasnt keen on sharing. How could Rahim help him before principal Zatya pushed him to the verge of insanity like all of her previous pets? When Rahim left the office, principal Zatya finally let her excitement show. This was good news. For a long time now, she had worried that Aodhn was too kind for the future she had planned for him, and although she had formulated a plan to harden up and inject him with a healthy dose of cruelty, it had involved cold murder, which was unethical at best. This was more ethical and even better than what she had originally planned. Now she wouldnt have to create the rage from scratch. It was already there, ready to be manipulated, and when Aodhn gained another seal, a feat she suspected would happen very soon, the twisted effect would have a base material to amplify and warp Aodhns spirit with. At this rate, she didnt even need to do anything; however, Helzavauth''s skills would make the whole thing a little less unpleasant for Aodhn. After all, she wanted to mold him into the perfect weapon, not break him. With a grin, she continued her perusal of the 3rd year list of champion candidatesa less impressive list compared to that of the 4th years, but a good one nonetheless. Finally, things were falling into place, and it was only a matter of time now before Lutia finally banded together to attack their real enemies. Chapter 114: Understanding Elemental Affinities II Aodhn fell onto the gymnasium floor, gasping desperately for air as Coach Harvey removed the set of null armor from his body. "By all the stars, I feel like Im dying," he groaned, his body convulsing with exhaustion. Daruk collapsed beside him, his limbs seemingly limp like overcooked noodles. "I...I just want it to end," Daruk wheezed as he turned onto his back, closing his eyes. "I doubt there''s a single bone left intact after this ordeal. Aodhn tried to laugh, but it turned into a wheeze, so he just smiled instead. He, Daruk, and Andrew had linked up after the race began, but theyd only had a few minutes to talk before they began feeling the increasing weight of their null armors, and after that, they had ditched their conversation in favor of reaching the end of the race with their lives still intact. Unfortunately, Andrew had fallen somewhat behind, just like nearly 70% of the class. However, this time, Aodhn noticed something different. Eren, Bakhtin, and the other metal Awakened students had completed the exercise much faster than usual. Though they still looked exhausted and strained, they werent anywhere near the brink of collapse that Aodhn felt. Coach Harvey glared at them as they removed their null armors on their own, sweating and panting but still standing strong. It was strange, and the only explanation Aodhn could think of was that, as metal awakened, they had developed some resistance to the null metal''s effects. As the last metal Awakened handed in their armor, Coach Harvey sighed and muttered to his assistant, Miss Greene, Well have to find another way to torture these demons before they build up a full immunity. The fact that hed been right felt wrong to Aodhn. He had thought that null metal completely shut down the effect of every other affinity, but it seems he had been wrong. A sudden eruption of groans shook him out of his musings, and he turned his head to see a pile of groaning students on the floor next to him. He let out a soft chuckle and closed his eyes as he tried to calm his still racing heart. He had barely rested for a minute when someone kicked his legs and wheezed, "Please move." Aodhn felt like ignoring them, but after a moment, he opened one eye and glared at Alesh. "Do I look like I can move right now?" "I don''t know, Aodhn, but you''re definitely in a more comfortable position than I am, Alesh grumbled, trembling under the weight of his null armor. Aodhn shot him another glare and muttered, "I fail to see how thats my problem, Alesh. Just switch lanes and leave me alone." As he was about to close his eyes again, Alesh threatened, "If you dont move, Aodhn, I swear by the Ascendants, I''ll collapse on you and trap us both with my ridiculous weight." Arrgh! Aodhn grumbled, and with a glare that promised certain vengeance, he rolled unto the next lane to allow Alesh to pass. He spent only a few minutes on that lane before he was forced to move again, but when a third person kicked his legs and asked him to move again, Aodhn raised a threatening finger and glared daggers at Scarlett. I swear to the Ascendants, the next person that kicks me is going to get a bolt of lightning in the face. He moved again, brimming with irritation and annoyance, and although one would have thought his threat would have kept his friends away, it seemed only to encourage them. He barely spent a minute in the new lane when someone kicked his legs again, and this time Aodhn exploded. He shot to his feet, a bolt of red lightning crackling in his hand as he prepared to blast the annoying individual to oblivion. However, Yurin shouted. Please, oh Lord of thunder and lightning, do not smite this lowly mortal, for I only seek a passage to free myself of my heavy burdens. As amusing as Yurins statement was, he was obviously in pain. His knees buckled constantly under the weight of his armor, and he struggled to keep himself upright. Aodhn sighed as his annoyance faded and asked. What have I done to deserve such cruelty, Yurin? Theres literally a ton of empty He paused and glanced to the side, where he expected to see a ton of empty spaces. However, the pile of students hed seen earlier had grown to occupy the entire space, blocking others from reaching the finish line. In fact there was nowhere for anyone to pass, except by kicking him, and when Aodhn realized there were still about a dozen people who were still crawling their way towards the finish line, he gave up on resting and muttered to himself. I might as well leave since I cant seem to get any rest. Thank you, oh benevolent lord. Your mercy shall surely go down in history. Oh piss off, Yurin. Aodhn gave him the finger and glanced at the pile of students. Wheres Daruk? He found Daruk a moment later, buried under a pile of carelessly thrown limbs and bodies. Surprisingly, Daruk didnt seem too bothered by the number of limbs draped across his body, and with a tired sigh, Aodhn leaned down to drag his brother out of the unpleasant pile. No, leave me alone. I want to die. Daruk groaned. No time for that buddy; weve got a class to attend in approximately forty-five minutes, and Id like to eat breakfast first. Daruk grumbled for a moment before pushing himself up to his feet, and together they headed towards the bathroom. Aodhn entered one of the stalls and immediately soaked himself in a tub of steaming hot water. The water soothed his sore muscles, and before long, Aodhn began to feel much better. He stepped out of the tub a few minutes later, when the water became tepid, and promptly put on his uniform. When he finally stepped out of the stall, he found Daruk and Yurin waiting at the entrance of the gym. He draped his arms across their shoulders and apologized. Sorry, the water was gloriously warm. Daruk looked up at him and snorted. I see youre in a much better mood. Aodhn shrugged. I had a rough night. However, it turns out all I needed was thorough physical stimulation and a warm bath to get myself out of my depressive funk. Well, good for you. Yurin muttered dryly and sighed. Why did I have to suffer for a sin I did not commit? I attended no parties, drank no booze, nor did I put any body parts in inappropriate places, yet I had to suffer with the rest of you cretins. Daruk snorted. I might be guilty of the first two, but Im innocent of the last. Sadly, I cannot speak for Aodhn. Hey! Aodhn glared at Daruk and pushed him forward. Im innocent too! Daruk laughed and wiggled his eyebrow. Are you, Aodhn? Are you truly innocent? Aodhn sputtered, and they all laughed. Andrew joined them a minute later, after which they headed down to the cafeteria for breakfast. The cafeteria was nearly filled up when they arrived, and there was a slight din of conversation in the air, coupled with the clinks of cutlery scraping against ceramic plates. The noise within the cafeteria increased the moment the other students noticed them, but after the last seven weeks, Aodhn barely noticed the extra attention. They picked up their meals and moved to one of the empty tables at one corner of the cafeteria to sit. Eyes followed their movement, and Aodhn caught more than a few murmurs about the new leaderboard ranking. As they finally sat down to eat, Yurin asked, "How can you guys eat under all this scrutiny?" Daruk shrugged and pointed at Aodhn. To be fair, youre not exactly the one theyre staring at. Its him. Aodhn shoved a piece of bacon into his mouth and grimaced. Itll all fade away in a day or two. Theyre just hyped up about the updated leaderboard and the tension between me and Cyrus. Theyll get bored eventually. Yurin scoffed. "I doubt it this time, not with Cyrus planning to challenge the tower every day until he takes back first place."The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Aodhn snorted but had to admit Yurin might have a point. Daruk sighed and changed the topic. "Speaking of the tower, are you planning to challenge it today?" Yurin grimaced and nodded. "Yeah, though I doubt Ill shake up the leaderboard much. I havent really gained any new skills since my last attempt." "You could always wait," Andrew suggested. "Give it a week or two." No. Yurin shook his head. Im the only privileged commoner not within the top ten ranks, and people are starting to notice. Ive heard some students gossiping about it, and I hate it. Aodhn nodded in understanding. Whatever you decide, Yurin. I wish you the best. Just as he finished speaking though, the cafeteria door burst open, and although Aodhn refused to turn around, the others turned their heads to see Cyrus and his group stride into the cafeteria, their expressions grim. A hush fell over the cafeteria as the gazes of several students darted excitedly between Cyrus and Aodhn as if waiting for a confrontation, but Aodhn refused to give them the drama they craved. Instead, he shoved a piece of toast into his mouth and ignored them. However, it seemed Cyrus had other ideas, because instead of moving to a different table, Aodhn felt Cyruss blazing core begin to draw closer to him. He grinded his jaw in annoyance and shoved another piece of bacon into his mouth. Okay, maybe he had been in the mood to be petty, competitive, and a little egotistical yesterday, but he didn''t have the strength, nor was he in the mood for any of that today. Daruk leaned in closer and whispered. Keep your cool, Aodhn; hes looking for an excuse to stir up trouble. Aodhn didn''t respond, but even when he felt Cyruss core blazing behind him, he refused to turn around. The tension in the air skyrocketed and became nearly oppressive as the rest of the cafeteria seemed to hold their collective breaths. Students stared at them on edge as they waited for the inevitable clash. Andrew leaned back in his chair, silent and tense as he glared at Cyrus, while Daruk wore his usual cold expression. Yurin, however, seemed nervous, his eyes darting from one person to another before whispering to himself. "Id pay good money to not be here right now." The silence within the cafeteria stretched for almost a minute before Cyrus suddenly spoke up, seemingly annoyed that he had been forced to initiate the conversation. You truly are disrespectful, arent you? Aodhn finally turned around and grinned. Hey Cyrus, to what do I owe the pleasure? Cyrus scowled. I hope you realize that I am the son of a duke, a representative of my father in this academy. An insult to me is an insult to the duke himself. Aodhn grimaced, not liking where this conversation was leading one bit. Turning to face Cyrus fully, he replied. Ive never insulted you, your station, or spoken ill about you where you could hear me. A vein on Cyruss forehead bulged as his anger flared. So youve spoken ill about me. Aodhn shrugged. I will only admit to such a crime if you admit that youve done the same. Cyrus glared at him for a moment before letting out a tight-lipped smile. Enjoy your moment, Aodhn. In fact, savor it, because this will be the last time you have it. His tone was sharp and cutting, a contrast to the smile he wore. Aodhn reciprocated with a similar expression. Ill make sure to do so, Cyrus. Thanks for caring. Cyrus bristled at his tone, his hands clenching into a fist, but Lilith held him back before he could do anything drastic. Hes not worth it. She said as she massaged his fist and smiled sweetly at Aodhn. After all, his manners are just as poor as his station. They left after that, and Aodhn sighed. What hed done to make them suddenly hate him this muchhe didnt know. Right from the beginning, there had always been a sort of tension and distaste between them, but it had never been this bad. Perhaps something had happened to them during the break that had somehow involved him? It seemed a logical conclusion, since this intense hatred they felt for him had only begun after the break. Aodhn returned his attention to his food, but he had lost his appetite, and although Yurin tried to bring up exciting conversations, Aodhn''s mood had soured. He was pushing his food around his plate when he suddenly felt a flare of anger and irritation bubbling up within him, but he quickly realized the emotion was from Varc and shut down the psychic link. The red haze that had begun covering his vision subsided, and Aodhn shuddered. He had almost lost control of himself right nowsomething that hadnt happened in weeks. He really needed to get to the advanced library and read up on better ways to exercise control over Varc. Their bond had deepened significantly after their battle with the IceDrake, and Aodhn worried that his control had weakened. When they finished their breakfast, they split off, with Yurin moving to whatever class he had that morning while they moved to the lecture hall for the class on understanding elemental affinities. Valerie Potts was already present when they arrived, standing before a large screen that displayed the name of the course in stylish, elemental texts. A few students were already seated, but more than half of the available chairs were still empty, so in their usual manner, they walked towards the middle row and sat down. The lecture began a few minutes later with Valerie Potts loudly clearing her throat and tapping the screen to reveal a sort of affinity tree that grew downward instead of up. Valerie smiled warmly and addressed them. I see that coach Harvey has been working you all to the bone. Groans echoed out of the gathered students, and Valerie chuckled. Dont despair. However terrible the exercises might seem, I assure you that they are for your own good. I and the other fourth-year students are a testament to his training. Aodhn smiled wryly, wanting to believe that this daily torture was for his own good, but his body felt otherwise. Anyway, she continued, her voice clear and resonant, Today, we delve into the fascinating world of elemental affinities, their origins, spiritual attunements, and a fascinating term called affinity inheritance. Starting with the latter, it is a widely known fact that affinities can be passed down from generation to generation, with entire family members all bearing the same affinity and bloodline. However, in most instances, there are outliers, children, who, for a myriad of reasons, take on an affinity different from that of the rest of their families. Can anyone list a few of these reasons? Hands shot up in a flurry as this was a well-known topic, one theyd discussed weeks ago under AAT. Valerie glanced around and eventually picked Lilith, who stood up and responded proudly. There are a ton of reasons, but Ill only mention three. Astral or cosmic interventions, recessive affinity traits, and environmental influences. She sat down with a flourish, not even bothering to wait for Valerie to declare her answer correct or allocate forge points. It was rude, but Valerie didnt seem to mind too much and simply nodded. Thank you, Miss Bloodmoon. Ten points. She turned to the screen, which shifted to display a list of potential causes for what was commonly referred to as an affinity inheritance glitch before proceeding. There are over a dozen probable causes of an inheritance glitch, some of which include affinity crossbreeding, exposure to rare magical artifacts, genetic mutations, and lastly, chance. In todays class, well discuss them all before moving on to the topic of spiritual attunements. The foremost cause of an affinity inheritance glitch is, as Lilith said, astral or cosmic events that happen during or before the awakening of an individual. These events could range from the moon festival, which occurs in a few months, the star festival, the festival of convergence, the solstice of the northern lights, and the festival of absence. All of these events have been proven to have a major impact on the awakening of individuals, and statistics have shown that most people who awaken during these cosmic periods are mostly outliers, including myself. There was a smattering of laughter before Valerie continued. The second major reason for an affinity inheritance glitch is our environment. The nature of our environment affects us all, physically, socially, emotionally, mentally, and most of all magically. Individuals who awaken near an active volcano or during a volcanic eruption usually awaken one of five affinities: fire, ash, magma, earth, or explosion, and individuals who awaken during a flood are most likely to be hydromancers. A prime example of this is Unoros, the kingdom of snow and ice, which boasts a whopping 60% of ice, cold, and winter affinities. Nevertheless, even in Unoros, there are fire awakeneds, heat awakeneds, and a current champion of theirs, Niyeli Alcatraz, who cultivates the concept of seasons and is quite famous for her fondness of spring. This proves that the impact of the environment on the affinity of an individual isnt exactly concrete, although it exerts an influence that is not negligible. The third major reason is a recessive affinity that may come about as a result of chance, exposure to powerful magical artifacts or areas dense with a particular affinity, genetic mutations, or various unexplainable events. One such event is the ingestion of an extremely powerful spiritual fruit or alchemical pill before awakening. Without a core to utilize the essence of these energy-dense resources, the energy soaks into the body and eventually mutates the genetics or natural dispensation of said person. If such a person awakens, it is most likely that theyll awaken an affinity closely tied to the essence of the pill or fruit they ingested and, in some much rarer cases, a merge of two separate affinities to form something entirely different. A good example is Champion Reiner Rivaldi, from the 3rd Sector, who is an exceptional steam awakened, born from a long line of fire awakeneds. The class continued in this manner, and although Aodhn didnt jot down much as the topic had already been discussed in Awakened Advancement Theory, he thoroughly enjoyed the class and Valeries take on it. After discussing the inheritance-glitch, Valerie moved on to spiritual attunements, which involved exposing oneself to an area dense with a particular essence for a long duration of time. It was based on the idea of environmental influences, and although it was considered extremely dangerous, many believed that by exposing themselves to harsh, energy-dense environments before awakening, they could attune their spirits to a particular element or concept. The reason it was considered so dangerous was because unawakened individuals lacked the innate resistance that came with gaining an affinity and were more likely to damage their spirit in the process rather than gain any advantages. The class ended nearly two hours later, and after giving them an assignment on the disadvantages of spiritual attunement, Valerie left the class. Daruk and Andrew decided to go to one of the training halls for a training session, but Aodhn had other plans. With the rest of his day now free, Aodhn headed up to his room and took out his inscriber, ready to cover every available space in runic scripts. There were already a ton of runes all over his room, but they werent his, and Aodhn didnt want to spend another night within this room without marking it with his runes. With a grin born of excitement, Aodhn took out his practice note and began jotting down a list of step-by-step scripts he wanted to inscribe. Chapter 115: Brain itch! Aodhn spent an entire hour deciding on which runic circuits to inscribe. At first, he had listed out a dozen, but he had finally settled on five, two of which he was already familiar with from his experiments back at home. Three of these circuits though were relatively new, and Aodhn had spent the later part of the afore mentioned hour simply reading about the new scripts; after all, he was teaching himself, so he had to be extra careful to avoid blowing himself up, or more realisticallysince he was within the academy wallsseverely injuring himself. When he was done reading and was certain he could inscribe the runes without any issues, he grabbed his inscriber and moved to the window to begin drawing, but he had soon noticed a flaw in his plans. The pre-existing runes. It wasnt like there was no space to draw the new runes, it was just that the available spaces were too narrow to contain an entire circuit, and it was more than likely that if he drew the runes anyway, they would affect the already existing runes. Aodhn didn''t know much about the interactions between two different runic circuits, so he spent another fifteen minutes reading, and the results were far from favorable. Unwilling to give up so easily, he dropped his Runic theory textbook and began flipping through the pages of a textbook hed procured from the Norbuik mall titled; A Beginners Guide to Runic Mechanics. Although the book was titled a beginners guide, it was far from simple, and Aodhn barely understood half the terms used in the book. Fortunately, he quickly found the section dedicated to the consequences of runic overlaps and settled down to begin reading. What would happen if he placed a new runic circuit on top of an old one? The answer he received was the same as that of the first book, only just written in a much more complex manner. Basically, it was a terrible idea. It wasnt impossible though, but it was considered far too advanced for anyone below the Mythic class to attempt without risking a massive explosion of energy and essence. Overlaying a new runic circuit on an existing one had the potential to disrupt the flow of energy in both circuits or cause their energies to mix up, which was a guaranteed recipe for disaster. Well, at least, I now know a quick way to create bombs. Aodhn muttered to himself, extremely dissatisfied. Silver linings, I guess. He grimaced and looked around his room, now feeling very useless. His plans for today were now dead ends; however, Aodhn refused to be so easily discouraged. He focused on his core sense and began moving around the room, searching for an empty space large enough to inscribe even a small script. He noticed nothing at first, but the longer he focused, the clearer the swirling energies of the runic circuits became until he was able to sense them in the whole room. Aodhn hadnt quite realized just how abundant the runic circuits were before, but now, with his eyes firmly shut and his core sense on high alert, he realized just how mind-boggling the runes were. They surrounded him completely, their energies overwhelming, and even the spaces hed once thought were empty were covered in runes, although they were a more subtle kind, slipping away from his senses before he could grasp their nature or function. The most abundant runes he sensed were FEHU and URDA, the runes of strength and durability, followed closely with THIRUSAZ, the rune of defense and protection. Another rune that felt abundant to his senses was one he couldnt quite recognize, although he suspected it was either the self-repair runes or the cloaking rune, which hid all the others from view. Channeling his willpower, Aodhn tried to deepen his focus; however, a tickling sensation suddenly erupted in his mind. The sensation increased the deeper he focused, and a minute later, it became an itch. Seconds passed, and before long, Aodhn was filled with an indescribable urge to scratch his own brain. The sensation was so foreign and uncomfortable that Aodhn had to pull his senses back. The itch subsided almost immediately, but Aodhn wasnt satisfied. The itching sensation was obviously a defense mechanism to prevent anyone from uncovering the runes, which was weird. There was no need to hide the runes in the first place, except for aesthetic purposes, but if that was the case, what was the need of the defense then? Aodhn narrowed his eyes in suspicion. Colonel Fortuna had called Lutia the continent of secrets. Was it such a far-fetched idea that the academies were hiding secrets of their own? Determined to uncover at least one truth within the labyrinth of lies that was this blasted continent, Aodhn focused his core sense on the house again and began searching. The itching sensation returned almost immediately, but Aodhn resisted it, his jaws grinding painfully as the itching intensified. Like layers unraveling themselves, Aodhn sensed what he suspected to be serenity runes next. He wasnt sure exactly what those runes did, but he suspected they might be part of a mood-altering circuit. Aodhn wasnt sure how he felt about the presence of such runes, but he didnt have the time to dwell much on it as the spatial runes revealed themselves next. The itch spiked, and Aodhn winced as he felt a jolt of pain stab into his brain. It was like a knife stab, and Aodhns legs crumpled from underneath him, but he was determined to see this through. However, when the sound runes revealed themselves, Aodhn was already bleeding profusely from his orifices, and despite his determination, he eventually had to pull back, gasping in relief as the pain subsided immediately. He lay on the ground, panting as he fought to steady his racing heartbeat. After a few minutes of rest, Aodhn finally pushed himself to his feet and poured himself a cup of water. His plans for the day had been completely destroyed, and with nothing else to do, Aodhn moved to his training room and released Varc, who had been grumbling within his spirit for the past few hours at being cooped up. Varc emerged from his spirit with a burst of chaos and storm essence, hovering for a moment before settling down at the center of the hall and asking to be let out for his usual hunt, but Aodhn shook his head. Its still midday, Varc. Youll cause a ruckus if you go out now. Varc grudgingly accepted and snorted, occasionally spitting out bolts of lightning on the floor and walls just to see the runes flare up in response. Aodhn moved to the other side of the room and settled into a meditative pose. He closed his eyes and focused on himself while his minor regeneration slowly healed him. His seal glowed much brighter than it did that morning; however, it was still nowhere near full. His spirit, on the other hand, was almost fully recovered; at least it was recovered enough that the thought of opening up his spirit to the origin plane didnt fill his mind with visions of pain and despair. Aodhn turned his focus to his core, which was blazing with storm essence, but it was the silver ball of burning willpower that occupied his attention. The ball floated densely within his core space, radiating not only a sense of weight but also an immense feeling of depth. It felt so deep that Aodhn doubted he could refer to it as a mere ball anymore. At this point, it was a river of willpower that he doubted he could ever use up unless he bathed his body in willpower like hed done to combat Eldrith in the beginning. Nevertheless, he could never have too much willpower, and without further ado, he began taming the blazing flames of wild willpower that surrounded his tamed will. He spent the next few hours on the process, simultaneously training his control with the creation of energized willpower strands. When night came, Varc left for his hunt, while Aodhn took out the textbook on AAT and began reading. As usual, Varc arrived with his usual bribe, two Tier 19 fire cores that Aodhn graciously placed within his spatial storage before shutting the textbook and heading to bed.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. He awoke relatively early the next morning, and after another torturous gym session, Aodhn and Yurin moved to the runic lab, their joints creaking and protesting each movement. Yurin hadnt done well in his challenge of the tower yesterday, although he had climbed up more than a couple ranks and was now firmly in the early tens. Despite his relative poor performance, Yurin wasnt depressed in the slightest, only energized to do better in his next run. When they arrived at the runic lab, they found professor Caldwell speaking to Ankaz Urdania, Lyra Davenport, and Alesh towards the end of the lab. Lupin was also present; however, she was seated in one corner of the lab, her gaze bearing a faraway look that suggested that her mind was far from present. Her silver hair clung to her scalp, still a little damp, and Aodhn felt a tightness in his chest to see her so sad. When Yurin saw her, he grabbed Aodhns arm and hissed. What did you do to your girlfriend to make her so sad? Women should be happy always. I didnt do anything. Aodhn glared at him and pulled his arm from Yurins uncomfortable grip. Yurin frowned, obviously not buying his response despite it being the truth. He shook his head a moment later and sighed. Well, come on. Lets go sit with her and cheer her up. No. Aodhn blurted out. You can go on. I want to listen to what Professor Caldwell is saying. Yurin glared at him as if he were foolish. Your girlfriend is grieving, Aodhn. This is not the time to be nerdy about runes. Right now, she should be your priority. Aodhn sighed and shook his head, just wishing Yurin would leave him the fuck alone and drop the topic. When he didnt respond, Yurin grabbed his arm again and pulled him. Come on, lets go. No, Yurin. Frustrated, Aodhn pulled his arms away again and sighed. If you want to go and comfort her, go. Youre free. Yurin stared at him for a moment, realizing that the situation was a little more serious than Aodhn portrayed, and in a somber tone he asked. Whats up with you? Aodhn opened his mouth, about to say nothing, but for some reason he caved and sighed. Were not together anymore. Not like we were in the first place, but You guys broke up!? Yurin hissed in alarm and punched Aodhn in the chest. How could you do such a thing to her while shes mourning? I didnt do it to her. Aodhn scowled and massaged his chest. She was the one who broke up with me. The whole commoner-noble relationship thing. Oh. Yurin eyebrows climbed up to his hairline, and he winced. Thats got to be tough on her. Her? What about me, dude? Yurin frowned and scrutinized him. You seem fine to me. I''m most definitely not fine. Im just hiding it better. Mhm. Yurin nodded distractedly, still staring sympathetically at Lupin. Do Daruk and Andrew know about this? Aodhn sighed. I havent told them yet. Im waiting for the right time. Yurin shook his head in disappointment. Dude, theres no such thing as the right time. What are they going to do if they find out, Eat you? No? Aodhn responded, not quite sure what Daruk would do. Look, I just want to be in a better place mentally and emotionally before telling them. Nope. Youve got it all wrong. Yurin shook his head. Your brother and Andrew are there to help you, lift you up when youre down, and comfort you when youre sad. You dont need to be in a better place before you tell them things. Theyre your closest buddies; you can tell them things even if your life is a cesspool of bile and shit. Thanks for the imagery. Aodhn grimaced and sighed. Fine, Ill tell them after the class. Good. You need a hug? No. Come on, bring it in. I dont mind. I said no, Yurin. Im fine. Thank you so much. No, youre not fine. Yurin insisted. A hug is like medicine. Itll do you a lot of good. Aodhn ducked, trying to escape Yurins approaching arms, but his efforts were futile, and he soon found himself wrapped in Yurins arms. He stood stiffly, not bothering to return the gesture, but Yurin didnt mind; instead, he patted Aodhn gently on his back and asked. How do you feel now? Worse than I felt five seconds ago. Mhm. Dont worry, things have to get worse first before they get better, Aodhn. Im not sure that applies to hugs. Sure it does. Yurin snorted. In fact, it is a theory that applies Mr Brystion. Mr Lahey. Can you explain to the class what is going on here? Aodhn pushed Yurin away and jumped back. Its not what it looks like. What? Yurin asked, confused. Its definitely what it looks like. Professor Caldwell frowned at them and folded her arms. What does it look like? Because from where Im standing, you both looked really cozy. Nope. Aodhn shook his head hastily. It was anything but cozy. Its a hug. Yurin frowned, still confused. It''s nothing but cozy. Are you guys in a relationship? Ankaz asked, and this time, it was Yurin who jumped away and scowled. No, not with this fucking cement. Why would you even think that? You looked really cozy. Ankaz pointed out, and Aodhn scowled. Okay, maybe hed leaned into the hug a little bit, but cozy? That was far too extreme a word to use for what theyd just shared. "Well, it wasnt, and we arent in a relationship. Aodhn clarified, and Yurin nodded in agreement. That is correct. Aodhn was depressed. It was a comfort hug. I wasnt Im not depressed. Aodhn glared at Yurin and looked at Professor Caldwell. Can I go to my seat? Professor Caldwell shrugged, and Aodhn let out an uncomfortable breath. When he passed Yurin, he whispered. Youre definitely depressed. Aodhn ignored him, and when he reached his bench, he put on his labsuits and sat down, purposefully not looking in anyones direction. The class began a few minutes after that as Professor Caldwell moved to the front of the lab to address them. I guess I should welcome you all from the break. I hope you all had a good one, but more importantly, I hope you all took advantage of the free time to progress your runic scripting. Murmurs, groans, and grumbles filled the hall, but Aodhn barely managed to suppress a smile. Of course he couldnt tell Professor Caldwell that he had begun to create runic circuits and activate runes, as that was considered too dangerous and way above their level for now. You have no excuses. Professor Caldwell said, chuckling. If Mr. Lahey had the time to work on and finally perfect one rune, then what is your excuse? Parties. Someone shouted from the back, and the whole class burst into laughter. Very funny, miss Haldren. Professor Caldwell smiled and shook her head. Anyways, in todays lecture well be discussing materials and conductors most suitable for runic inscriptions. This topic is fundamental to runic engineering, as knowing the best materials for a particular rune is essential for the production of strong runic products. Todays class will be an interactive one, so Ill be asking a lot of questions. She grinned and winked. Lets see if I can help you all recover some of those forge points you lost in the assembly yesterday. The entire class sat up immediately, even Aodhn, who hadnt lost any forge points, but no one knew that, besides, there was no harm in gaining more. Professor Caldwell nodded, satisfied with their reaction, and asked. Can anyone list at least three important qualities to search for when picking out a suitable base material for runic inscriptions? Hands shot up in a flurry, and surprisingly, professor Caldwell called Yurin, who seemed surprised to have been chosen. I cant believe you chose me. Aodhn shook his head in disappointment while the rest of the class laughed. Professor Caldwell raised an eyebrow and asked. Is that your answer, Mr. Lahey? No, no, of course not. Three major qualities include durability, conductivity, and affinity. Well, that was surprising. Professor Caldwell muttered. Ten points to you, Mr. Lahey. She left the stage and began walking between the work benches. To buttress Mr. Laheys points, the three major qualities to look out for when buying or choosing a suitable material for runic inscriptions are durability, conductivity, and affinity. Durability is quite easy to understand, as it is the ability of a material to withstand pressure, whether physical or magical. Conductivity, on the other hand, refers to the ability of a material to conduct essence and magical energy, while the last quality, which is affinity, is the most important. The affinity of the base material plays an important role in runic scripting, as an aligned affinity grants a minor boost to the power of a rune and aids its overall performance. Wood, for instance, is a material geared primarily towards life and nature affinity, so any runes geared towards vitality, healing, nature, and life will obviously work more efficiently and effectively if inscribed on a wooden base. Wood is also very easy to carve; however, it has a major drawback. What is it? Hands shot up again, and professor Caldwell pointed to Lyra. Yes, Miss Davenport? It lacks durability and is susceptible to fire. Lyra replied calmly, and after allocating her point, Professor Caldwell continued. Just as Miss Davenport said, wood is more susceptible to damage and decay than other base materials, which include metals, treated animal hide, scales, and crystals, to mention a few. She grinned and walked back to the stage. Now this is where the notes begin. The most common base material is metal, followed by animal hides or scales. However, the best base material is crystals or gems, which have the ability to store and amplify magical energy. Now lets discuss the advantages and disadvantages of these base materials... The class continued for the next hour, and when it ended, Aodhn joined Daruk and Andrew for another training session in the training hall. They took turns battling each other, and at one point Andrew and Daruk ganged up against Aodhn to beat him. In the excitement of the training, Aodhn forgot to tell them about his split with Lupin, or perhaps he remembered, but didnt quite know how to bring it up. Aodhn looked at his happy friends and decided it was better if they didn''t know yet. There was no need to taint their joy with his own sorrows after all. Chapter 116: Choosing weapons. On the fourth day, when the class on Awakened Combat finally came around, Aodhn along with all the other first-year students had their hopes crushed when, instead of announcing another simulation exercise, professor Alaric gathered them within their usual training arena, looked everyone of them in the eye, and declared that there wouldnt be another simulation exercise for the next two weeks. To say that the students were disappointed was an understatement. Dejected was a more appropriate term, and each one of them let out groans, curses, and cries to express their disappointment. Aodhn shook his head sadly, feeling both betrayed and annoyed at the fact that this action was most definitely intentional. Regardless of how bloody and disgusting the last exercise had been, Aodhn had been looking forward to this one. I cant believe theyre doing this to us. Andrew muttered sadly and sniffed as if to prevent himself from crying. First, they ban information concerning the war, and now this? They might as well stab me in the skull and let my intestines bleed out. Intestines don''t spill out from skulls." Daruk replied with a weary sigh, but he soon shook his head and said. You know what? Who cares? This is terrible news. Yurin hummed in agreement. There is no longer any good in the world to look forward to. Aodhn didnt quite agree with Andrew and Yurin; however, he understood how they felt. Ever since the introduction of the ASR pods, Awakened combat has become his third favorite class. Professor Alaric had given them a taste of the simulation and then snatched it away. It was evil, and from the self-satisfied smirk professor Alaric currently wore, it was obvious he knew it too. What are we going to do then? someone asked from the front, and professor Alaric grinned as if hed been expecting that particular question and was fully prepared to answer it. We shall write notes and study. He answered with a slight flourish, and the class erupted in another round of groans and shouts. Even Aodhn couldnt hold himself back. To take away an interesting exercise and replace it with more books? Surely, the world couldnt be that cruel. Despite their obvious distaste for the idea, professor Alarics grin only widened, and when they calmed down a little, he said to them. We may not have as many texts and theories to memorize compared to AAT; however, we still have to study and memorize the little that we have. Noooo. Aodhn and Andrew booed along with the other students, firmly in rejection of Professor Alarics words. They were already reading too many books from Awakened Advancement Theory and understanding elemental affinities combined. The study of awakened plants also had more than its own fair share of textbooks, and although runic theory was more of a practical course, there was still a lot to read and memorize. Awakened combat was the only course that hadnt required the study of any textbooks or theories, and frankly, what did they even need to read about on the subject? This is not what I signed up for. Aodhn groaned while the other students complained loudly. Yurin shook his head again, distressed by the whole thing, and although Daruk gave no outward expression, it was obvious that he was just as disappointed as they were. Professor Alaric laughed at their predicament, shook his head, and raised his hands to placate them. Okay, I was kidding about the textbooks. This is after all a practical class, so I wont torture you with theory; however, there are a few books Ill recommend by the end of the class that I believe will aid your understanding of combat to a great degree. Also, the reason I cancelled the simulation for this week and the next is because there are other essential aspects of combat that we have to cover aside from simulation combat. One of such aspects is weapon mastery, and that is what we shall be practicing today. His grin faded and was replaced by a glare that conveyed a distaste for his next words. There are some among you who dislike weapons and have chosen to rely solely on their skills. As foolish as I think that is, I will not counter it. However, for those who fight melee or have no qualms using weapons, be it a sword or a hairpin, this class is for you. Those who arent interested in the use of weapons can move to the back of the hall. At first no one moved, but a moment later, Telula Ziegler stepped out of the circle of students, followed by half a dozen others, most of whom were commoners. Professor Alaric raised an eyebrow, seemingly surprised at their small number. He repeated himself again, as if expecting more people to leave, but when no other person stepped out, he frowned. Weird. Usually, there are a bunch of goody two shoes scrambling away at the chance, but I''m glad you lot have chosen to stay. I must inform you though that using a weapon requires you to get more intimate with your target. Slashing a mans throat is a lot more personal than blowing him up with a fireball, so Ill repeat myself for the last time; if you do not want that, this is a chance for you to leave and stick to your beliefs and long-range attacks. Aodhn grimaced at the mental image the slashing of a mans throat conjured. His eyes twitched as he imagined the spraying blood, which in turn caused the images from a certain nightmare to flash across his mind. He banished the images with a thorough shake of his head and focused on Professor Alaric''s words. Considering the nature of his affinity, Aodhn considered himself a long-range fighter. With sufficient strength, he could destroy an army from the sky like Azmarthon had done in the first vision. In fact, almost all of his skills were long-range except for {Lightning Surge} and {Create Construct}, which, now that he thought about it, was more of a mid-range skill than short-range. However, in nearly every battle he had been in, Aodhn had found himself in melee range, with the IceDrake being the most recent example. The memory of his time within the Drakes stomach flashed across his mind, and Aodhn grimaced. It would be an understatement to call his battle with the IceDrake a melee battle, as he''d literally been inside the creature. The point was that a battle was never predictable. Remaining a long-range fighter with no knowledge of short-range or close combat tactics was a terrible idea to him. When no one else stepped out of the circle, professor Alaric grinned and began moving towards the exit of the training hall. Come on then. Since you are so eager to start spilling the blood of your enemies, you might as well start learning the best way how to. Professor Alaric led them out of the training hall and down the hallway towards a hall they hadnt used before. It was simply labeled [uncommon], but professor Alaric had to provide about three means of identification to access it. Aodhn had passed by the hall a dozen times before, but for some reason he hadnt really paid much attention to it. Aodhn thought it was weird as he usually was very perceptive of his surroundings, especially with core sense constantly activated; however, when he realized that he wasnt the only one who had casually dismissed the hall as uninteresting, it became obvious that their minds had been manipulated to ignore the building. That alone made it obvious that the hall was an important one, so Aodhn subconsciously prepared himself to be impressed. When the massive doors finally swung open, though, Aodhn was unprepared for the sight that greeted him. The hall was vast, much larger than the exterior suggested, and filled with a dense haze of silver metallic essence that both electrified his senses and filled him with a slight sense of danger. The walls were made of solid stone adorned with ancient-looking runes, and shafts of sunlight filtered through the windows, casting vibrant hues of crimson and gold on the polished marble floor. The hall was beautiful, but what captured Aodhns attention wasnt the ancient runes or the vibrant hues, but the grand array of uncommon-ranked weapons that covered the walls. Every single weapon he could think of was present, and even some hed never seen or heard of before. Swords of various sizes, colors, lengths, and even weights filled one section of the wall. The second section was covered in bows and arrows, the third was filled with daggers, knives, and darts, the fourth with round disc-like weapons that he vaguely identified as a chakram, the fifth with hammers of various sizes, the sixth with spears, and the seventh with what seemed to be metallic ropes. It just kept going and going without end, and the fact that it was only uncommon-ranked weapons didnt detract from the awe-inspiring scene one bit. The sheer amount of weapons in this room alone was enough to equip an army. Aodhn turned around, mouth agape, as he walked slowly into the hall, each step forward reveling more and more weapons in a never-ending cascade of shock and awe. Holy smokes. What is this place? Someone finally broke the silence, and the professor grinned. This is a repository of uncommon-ranked weapons. Every single weapon in this hall was forged by past students from the very first year the academy was created. You will find many weapons with names on them, even mine. This hall houses the legacy of so many powerful individuals, and I hope you realize what a privilege it is for you to even set foot on this ground. Aodhn was barely listening. In fact, he had stopped listening the moment professor Alaric had said these weapons had been forged by students. It was astounding that students had created weapons this beautiful and for so many years.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Aodhn walked around, moving from one section to the other as he took in each weapon. A part of him regretted not having stayed in the forge mastery class, but he knew he wouldnt have survived the course had he stayed. Professor Alaric gave them a few minutes to admire the weapons before asking them to gather in a semicircle around a large dueling ring at the center of the hall, after which he began teaching. Ill start by asking a very simple question. What is a weapon? Aodhn had definitely not been expecting that question, and although the answer seemed so simple at first, Aodhn soon found himself frowning in confusion. What was a weapon, truly? If this had been a random question from a random person, Aodhn would have simply replied that a weapon was an instrument of attack or defense used in combat. However, this was professor Alaric asking, and the way the question was phrased made Aodhn suspect that there was perhaps more to the question. Aodhns frown deepened as he ruminated on the question. Perhaps, to the unawakened, a weapon referred to a sword, knife, an arrow, or even a staff, and although it wasnt the wrong definition, it seemed insufficient. Most Awakeneds went to battle without a single weapon in hand, and yet they attacked, defended, and fought without trouble. With that in mind, it was only appropriate to say that awakeneds were their own weapons. Their bodies, skills, and cores were all weapons they could utilize to attack and defend. Aodhn was still organizing his thoughts when Cyrus raised a hand and answered the question, saying. I am my own weapon. His response was short and without flair, yet it summed up Aodhns thought nicely. Professor Alaric nodded sagely, and after allocating ten points to Cyrus, he turned his gaze to the rest of the class and continued. As awakeneds, our skills are our weapons. We do not need swords, arrows, daggers, or spears to win battles. However, these weapons are not entirely useless to us, as they lend combat a particular ferocity that magic just cannot replicate. This is not to say that our skills lack ferocity; in fact, our skills are far more deadly; however, there is something to be said for the feel of a weapon in one''s hands as you cut, stab, or smash a persons head to pieces. Aodhn blinked as gory images flashed across his mind again and Daruk muttered quietly. Were those gory visuals necessary? Andrew, on the other hand, seemed to be enjoying the visuals Professor Alaric created with his words and was even taking notes. What he was jotting down, Aodhn didnt understand, but it sure seemed important. Today, we will discuss our choice of weapons, fighting style, and techniques that best complement your affinity. This is a practical class, so Ill be dividing you all into pairs so we can gain the most from this exercise. Before that though, Id like to do a demonstration on weapon choice. He scanned the group of gathered students and eventually pointed at Lupin. Miss Cavanaugh, please come forward. Lupin didnt even seem surprised that shed been called, just disappointed that she hadnt been left to brood in peace. She walked forward lazily, her black dress making a slight shuffling noise with each movement. She moved to stand beside Professor Alaric and turned around to face them, her gaze sliding past Aodhn without pause. It hurt. Aodhn wanted to pretend like he was fine, or like the fact that Lupin had cut him off from her life so thoroughly didnt rip his heart to pieces. Knowing her, she was probably doing it for his sake or some other noble reason, but it still hurt. Would it kill her to actually look at him? His thoughts were cut off when Professor Alaric moved to stand behind Lupin and asked. Miss Cavanaugh is a cloak awakened, an affinity most suited to infiltration, espionage, and assassination tactics. Knowing that? What sort of weapon would you consider most suitable for her fighting style and why? This time, Marcellus professor Alaric first called. Daggers, I suppose. Marcellus responded. It fits the whole assassin image, and its light weight, which fits her small stature. Professor Alaric scrunched his face in thought for a moment before shaking his head. Not quite as eloquent as Id like, so Ill give you five points. Anyone else? A few more people responded, their answers varying between short swords, actual swords, and daggers. The reasons for their choices hinged mostly on Lupins supposed fighting style and stature. Aodhn agreed with most of them, and even the ones he didnt agree with, he could still understand the logic behind their reasoning. However, when he imagined himself with Lupins affinity, he frowned. With the ability to conceal and cloak himself from the senses of people, the dagger seemed the most appropriate. Light, quick, and efficient. However, against someone with the ability to sense the cores of those around him, the dagger was severely inefficient. Aodhn would sense the assassins core long before they got within striking range. That rendered the daggers as ineffective, but after a few seconds, a solution soon presented itself: distance. Aodhn raised his hand after Aida Simms finished highlighting the advantages of a short blade, and when professor Alaric gestured for him to speak, he stood up and answered. I would suggest throwing knives or darts. Daggers are great and would probably take care of most situations in which the assassin might find themselves; however, there are special situations that render such short-ranged weapons useless. In such cases, a throwing knife or dart would be more effective. His response was a little cryptic, and although most of his classmates didnt seem to understand, professor Alaric grinned. Very good, Aodhn. Ten points. He nudged Lupin gently and gestured for her to return to her seat before he continued speaking. From that little demonstration, the importance of an appropriate weapon is conveyed. Now if Miss Cavanaugh was a spear or hammer wielder, her effectiveness in a battle will definitely drop as she wouldnt be fighting in alignment with the nature of her affinity. This brings up an important question that helps when choosing a weapon. How would your affinity fight? Studying and knowing the nature of your affinity is very important to increase your effectiveness in a battle. Those with seals must have begun noticing some subtle alterations to their fighting style, an aid of sorts as their minds are subtly twisted to match the nature of their affinities. He pointed to Gwendolyn Tideborn, and smiled. Miss Tideborn, for instance, is a water awakened, which means if shes fighting according to the nature of her element, she would be adaptable, fluid, hard to pin down, and deceptive. An earth awakened , on the other hand, would be more rooted, hard to move, seemingly unshakeable and unbothered. Fighting according to the nature of your affinity might make you more predictable to some, but it comes with a massive advantage, which is a power boost. Fighting according to the nature of affinity lends your skills an impact they would otherwise lack, as you''re, in essence, pleasing the origin plane of your affinity. Aodhn frowned, seeing some sense in Professor Alarics words. He couldnt say he had been fighting according to the nature of his affinity, but on rare occasions, Aodhn had felt like his skills had done more damage than usual. One of those times was when hed launched himself at the IceDrake with nothing else but his willpower. He hadnt even used his skills, but Aodhn had definitely felt the approval of his affinity. He imagined that the next time he was eligible for another seal, the consciousness of his origin plane would definitely approve of that memory. Professor Alaric gave them a few minutes to ruminate on his words and determine their fighting styles while he worked on creating pairs for their exercise. Aodhn looked down at his hands and wondered just what sort of combat style would suit him. Perhaps a better question was the one professor Alaric asked earlier. How would a storm fight? The memory that came to his mind was the origin plane breach that attacked the Raventhorn all those months ago. The clouds had appeared with a boom of thunder, heavy rainfall, and then finally, beams of lightning. The storm had been loud and terrifying to say the least, attacking the earth and sea with an unmatched ferocity and superiority. That breach had shaped the idea of a storm in Aodhns mind, and now as he replayed the memory, the words that came to mind were fierce, raging, relentless, unforgiving, and violent. Aodhn shifted his perspective, imagining the storm from within it rather than from underneath, but that was even worse. There was no calm within the storm he imagined, only violence and chaos. Storm clouds rumbled all around him, dark and menacing, their eeriness constantly punctuated by the flashes of lightning and claps of thunder. One thing Aodhn noticed though was that the storm didnt just appear out of nowhere; instead, it gathered steadily and surely, gathering momentum with each cloud it added to itself until it covered the entire sky in roiling black clouds. Was this his fighting style? Aodhn asked himself as he replayed the memory. Could he fight like this? To continuously build momentum? To be relentless, loud, and unforgiving? If that was the case, then what weapon embodied that idea the most? He turned his gaze towards the array of weapons that lined the walls and began scrutinizing them. He discarded the sword almost immediately, as he felt no resonance with the weapon at all. He discarded the glaive next, and then the daggers, as none of those weapons resonated with him at all. However, when he reached the spears, Aodhn felt a trickle of approval from his spirit. The feeling disappeared almost as soon as it came, and Aodhn suspected he knew why. The spear definitely embodied a part of the storm; however, it focused more on precision than untamed or chaotic force and overwhelming power. He moved on from the spear, discarding the whips, bows, arrows, and chakram until his gaze settled on the axe section. This time he felt what he could call a torrent of approval from his seal, and he could definitely see the appeal. The axe was brutal and savage, but the harsh-looking weapon intimidated Aodhn, to be honest. Be tried to imagine himself swinging an axe about a battle field, spraying blood, and relentlessly chopping off head with abandon. The image formed quickly, but despite how much it resonated with his seal, Aodhn didn''t think the axe matched his personality well. He stared at the brutal-looking weapon for a moment before moving on to the next weapon. He skipped the gauntlets, tridents, claws, and knuckle rings, not even pausing to sense for a resonance before moving on to the next. One by one, Aodhn discarded the weapons, searching for one that fully embodied the idea of the storm he had in his mind. He needed something that screamed rage, fury, turbulence, relentless, torrential, savage... There were so many words that described his idea of a storm to him, and finding a weapon that encapsulated all those words seemed impossible until his gaze fell on the hammer section, more precisely a brutal looking silver hammer more than half his height. This time, Aodhn didnt even need to feel the flood of approval from his seal to know that hed found the weapon he was looking for. He tried to imagine what the effect of a skill called {Storm Hammer Rain}, would be, and it was truly devastating. Thunder boomed in his mind as hundreds of large hammerheads smashed to the ground, creating a massive crater in the earth. There was no denying that the effect of this skill would be much greater than that of {Storm SpearRain}, and without conscious thought, Aodhn began working on creating the skill. Aodhn was grinning stupidly at the hammer when professor Alaric suddenly spoke up. Now that youve had some time to think about your weapon of choice and fighting style, how about we test out those ideas youve come up with. He cleared his throat and flipped his note open. The moment I call your name, please pick a weapon and gather towards the right of the hall. Alesh Vilaris vs. Eren Thornhill, Ankaz Urdania vs Cyrus Valerion, Aodhn Brystion vs. Lilith Bloodmoon Chapter 117: Combat exercise I Aodhn Brystion vs. Lilith Bloodmoon... After professor Alaric called out their names, Aodhn turned his gaze to the left to find Lilith smirking evilly at him. He glanced away and muttered. Fucking blood bitch cant wait to rip out my innards and eat it. Daruk grimaced in disgust while Andrew grinned. Im sure youll be fine. Now go get your weapon and come give us a show. Aodhn chuckled, and without hesitation, he moved towards the large hammer that had elicited the most approval from his seal. When he got to the hammer section, he picked the large hammer and scrutinized it. The hammer was long, much longer than would be considered wieldable, and Aodhn frowned in distaste. However, his frown soon vanished when he glanced at the hammerhead, which was crafted from what seemed to be ragnar steel, and saw that it was completely etched with runic inscriptions. There were a total of four runes on the hammerhead, one on each side, and on its top was an elaborate activation circle that was more complicated than any Aodhn had seen before. The activation circle was connected to all four runes in a much more elaborate manner than Aodhn felt was necessary. However, closer study of the inscriptions soon revealed that each rune was directly connected to the activation circle, which meant that instead of activating all the runes at the same time, one could activate a single rune and turn it off without affecting the others. It was an ingenious concept, one Aodhn had yet to come across in any of his books, and Aodhn quickly took out his practice note to sketch it out for further study. It was surprisingly easy to draw the activation circle despite how complex it looked, and after confirming that he got everything right, Aodhn returned the note to his spatial space and turned his gaze to the four runes. The first rune was one he easily recognized: URDAthe rune of durability. It was inscribed with a lot more finesse and style than Aodhn currently possessed though, and he snorted, mentally noting that whomever inscribed this hammer definitely took a lesson in calligraphy or other such decorative writing. The second rune was one that, although he recognized, was nowhere near ready to learn or perfect as it was an advanced rune. It was a size-adjustment rune, and although it was inscribed in a more elaborate and complex fashion than the pictures Aodhn had seen in books, it still carried the same fundamental structure and pattern. The third rune, however, wasnt one he recognized, although he suspected it had something to do with sound. Impact perhaps? The rune was obviously an advanced rune, which put it firmly out of Aodhns reach for now. The last rune was weird, and although Aodhn suspected it was still an advanced rune, he wasnt so sure. The rune looked both complex and simple at the same time, but what surprised him the most was the fact that he could easily tell the function of the rune, which he shouldnt have been able to as hed never seen the rune before. Essentially, it was an affinity rune, which, when activated, allowed a person to imbue the hammer with the energy of whichever affinity they bore. It was such a wide concept, meaning the hammer could have different affinities depending on the energy imbued within it. Aodhn gazed at the rune with wide eyes, and although he itched to take out his practice note and begin learning the rune, Aodhn contented himself with simply sketching it instead. He didnt bother making sure he got the runic proportions right; he just wanted to make sure it was recognizable so he could research about it later. When he was done observing the runes, Aodhn swung the hammer awkwardly, trying to get himself used to its weight, size, and balance. While he practiced, Andrew walked up to him, a slightly curved sword held confidently in his hands. The blade was crafted from tempered steel, but along its spine and edge, it was embedded with sharp thorn-like barbs that resembled the natural defenses of certain plants. Aodhn glanced at Andrew, who looked a touch too excited for the exercise, and asked. What in all the realms is that weapon? Andrew grinned and raised the blade for him to see it clearly. Its a Thornblade, and despite my lack of a seal, I can just feel the approval of my affinity roaring around me. It calls for blood and body parts. It wants me to hack, slash, cut Okay, that''s enough. I get it. Aodhn quickly cut him off as gory images flashed across his mind again. Seriously, what was wrong with his mind today? Andrew shrugged and swung the blade, his familiarity with the weapon evident. Ah, it feels even better than I imagined. Did you know it was inscribed by a nature awakened? Andrew raised the hilt of the blade and squinted his eyes to see the name of the person who had crafted the blade. SyvelisCrockster? What sort of name is Crockster? I dont know. Aodhn muttered as he searched for a name on his own weapon but found none. Perhaps the stylish runic engineer who had inscribed this weapon was a hermit too. Its obviously a commoner name. He continued and swung the hammer again. Ive never heard of a noble family named Crockster. Andrew frowned. It could also be a foreign noble name. Perhaps from Unoros or Calodan, although I doubt their nobles bear such lewd-sounding names. Aodhn chuckled and swung the hammer again, getting more used to its weight. Who are you paired against? Andrews grin widened. Harnoth Darkwater. Ive been itching to fight the fucker ever since the simulation exercise. It seems Lady Luck is finally on my side. Aodhn laughed, already sympathizing with Harnoth. Not that Harnoth wasnt powerful, but Andrew was much stronger, so Aodhn had no worries on that front. He swung the hammer again, but this time he nearly lost his balance and had to create a construct to keep himself from falling. Thats got to be heavy. Andrew noted curiously, and Aodhn snorted. It weighs a fucking ton. If I smash it against the head of anyone below tier 15, itll definitely kill them. He wasnt even exaggerating. The hammer was heavy, and Aodhn wondered why it didnt have a weight displacement rune to help alleviate that particular issue. I guess thats one reason why constructs are considered better than metallic weapons. Andrew mused, and Aodhn was just about to nod in agreement when he suddenly paused, coming to the realization that hed been making his constructs wrong all this time. The creation of constructs was so simple and intuitive that Aodhn had failed to actually learn and research how to create these weapons. The hammers hed been creating were nowhere as heavy or as dense as the one he currently held, but with a little time and effort, Aodhn was certain he could add a bit more complexity to his constructs. Perhaps that was what he needed to work on first before attempting to create anything more complex.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Daruks relative ease in the creation of constructs made more sense now as he was taking a course on forge mastery. Most likely, hed applied the knowledge he got from the course to refining {Forge}. When he shared his realization with Andrew, Andrew scowled. I blame the system. How is this its fault? Aodhn asked confused, but rather than explain, Andrew simply shrugged and muttered. Id rather blame the system than blame myself for my failures. Aodhn chuckled. Im not sure the system would take kindly to that. What will it do to me? Andrew snorted. Award me a useless skill? They laughed, and a moment later, Daruk and Yurin joined them. Daruk held a double-edged, mid-sized dagger he called the frostfang in his right hand. The dagger gleamed with a cold metallic sheen and had a slight taper towards its needle-sharp point, but what set it apart was the fine razor-sharp teeth that lined its edges. Daruk swung the dagger slowly, looking a little more familiar with the weapon than Aodhn felt with his hammer. Yurin, on the other hand, held a sword called a Jian in his hand, although from the way he held the weapon, Aodhn doubted he was familiar with the use at all. A glance across the room revealed that most of the other students were in a similar situation. Some held their weapons at arms length as if afraid of injuring themselves with them, while others, like Imani, still hadnt found their weapons of choice. Aodhn thought it was a disaster waiting to happen, but even he didnt realize just how true his thoughts were until Yurin swung his sword and almost cut Andrews head off had the latter not ducked just in time. Are you fucking crazy? Andrew yelled, patting his head in shock as if to make sure it was still intact. Yurin sputtered. By ascendants, Im so sorry, Andrew. The balance of this weapon is off and so unfamiliar. I thought you were good with the sword. Aodhn asked, now a lot more careful with his swings to avoid smashing someones head to pieces. Yurin scowled and glared at the Jian. Im used to my sword construct, not this metallic bullshit. Before any of them could respond, professor Alaric, who had been moving around the hall, helping students pick out their weapons, suddenly appeared before them and glared at Yurin. I didnt realize I had to remind you guys to be careful with the weapons. They are uncommon ranked, which means they arent toys for you to carelessly swing around. Im sorry, professor Alaric. Yurin responded. Professor Alaric glared at him for a moment longer before sighing. There are protection runes all over the hall, Mr. Willowood; I assure you that you werent in the least bit of danger. Still, let''s not test them. Those runes are ancient. Andrew, who was still patting his hands, frowned and glared at the arm. "Well, that takes all of the fun out of it. I was looking forward to telling my offspring how I almost lost my head during a combat exercise. Very funny, Mr. Willowood. Professor Alaric muttered dryly. Lets see if you can still keep that head during the duel. Unlike the rest of the hall, the dueling ring is not protected in the least. Andrew grinned and shot a look at Harnoth, who was standing with his usual group. It''s Harnoth you should be worried about, sir. Professor Alaric sighed and shook his head, but as he turned to leave, Yurin asked. Can we use our constructs instead of these metallic weapons? No, you cannot. Professor Alaric shook his head and raised his voice so everyone could hear him. Todays exercise is weapons training, which means were only dealing with actual, metallic weapons. Not all of you can make constructs, so I structured the class this way to make it fair for everyone. Also, youre only allowed to use your innate skills. The use of any other skills aside from those will result in the immediate loss of forge points. Groans erupted from the whole class, and Aodhn grimaced. To fight using only his innate skills was severely limiting, more especially since it cut {Create Construct} and {Lightning Beam} out of the picture. They were arguably his most utilized skills because of their versatility, and Aodhn soon found that most of his strategies and tactics might prove ineffective without them. Aodhn glanced at the hammer in his hand, but before they could ask any further questions, Professor Alaric flashed towards the center of the hall and said. Theres so much more work to be done on you guys than I anticipated, and for that reason, Ill be scheduling an extracurricular class dedicated to weapons training during the weekend, so I can help you all get more familiar with your chosen weapons. The better you get at wielding these weapons, the more you align with the nature of your affinities, which in turn pleases your origin plane and increases your chances at gaining a seal or another, if youve already gained one, so please, pay close attention. In todays exercise, each pair will step into the dueling ring and fight for a maximum of ten minutes. This exercise isnt about victory or revenge, but to help you test your new weapons and fighting styles in a battle scenario. Im not asking you to hold back, but Im asking you to refrain from causing serious injuries. Like I said earlier, the ring is not inscribed to minimize damage, so please, be careful. Professor Alarics eyes narrowed into a glare, and he continued. I shouldnt have to repeat myself, but I will for the overeager ones among you. This is a simple, friendly exercise, and I expect you to treat it as that. Take your individual grievances to the arena. If anyone takes this exercise too far, I will be very cross. Bummer. Andrew muttered unsatisfactorily. I guess Ill have to wait till next week before enacting my wrath on Harnoth. Daruk snorted. You dont know the meaning of wrath. Andrew scowled. I wasnt even talking to you. While Andrew and Daruk bickered, Aodhn patted Yurin on the back and said, Youll be fine. Its just a simple exercise. Yeah Yurin sighed. I know. Im just concerned. Azul Fetherson isnt exactly an easy opponent. Aodhn chuckled and shook his head. At worst, youll lose. Its not so shameful to lose to the goddess of imagination. Yurin snorted and glared at his Jian. I wouldnt lose if I had a decent weapon. This thing is unwieldy. Aodhn frowned and glanced at his own hammer. Yurin was right; the weapons were unwieldy, but there was a solution to that. Aodhn glanced to the side to find Ankaz Urdania staring at him, both of them seemingly thinking the same thing. They only stared at each other for a minute, but a whole conversation passed between them in that minute, and after it was done, they both grinned. Aodhn raised his hands, and when professor Alaric gestured for him to speak, he asked. Can we activate the runes? His question caused multiple heads to turn in his direction, and professor Alaric raised a surprised eyebrow. Can you activate the runes, Mr. Brystion? Yes sir. Professor Alaric stared at him for a moment before nodding. Then go ahead. The runes are a part of your weapon. If you cannot activate them, then that is your problem. Professor Alarics response caused the other students to begin scrambling, searching for anyone who was taking the course on runic theory, and as one, Yurin, Daruk, and Andrew turned towards him with pleading expressions. Aodhn grinned and stretched out a palm to them. Activation will cost you a single gold each. Daruk gasped in surprise. Im your brother. Do I look like I care? Aodhn frowned at Daruk and turned his gaze to the others. No money, no activation. As he spoke, more students gathered, and while his friends hesitated, Ayisha and Gwendolyn each took out a single gold coin and stretched out their weapons. Activate our weapon douchebag and take the blasted money. Ayisha scowled, and soon the others followed. Daruk, Andrew, and Yurin glared at him, but since others had already begun to pay, they finally relented and produced their gold coins. Isnt there some sort of discount for family and friends? Yurin scowled. What sort of business are you running here? Its a scam. Andrew muttered as he added his coin to the growing pile on Aodhns palms. Commoners like him will do anything to get rich. Aodhn ignored his friends, his grin widening as more people came to him with shiny coins and their weapons. It soon became obvious that only him, Ankaz, and Celeste Reginald were advanced enough to activate the runes, and two minutes later, Aodhn placed a total of 41 gold coins into his spatial storage and cracked his fingers. Alright, whos first? Chapter 118: Activating Runes! Daruk went first, of course. Aodhn scrutinized the frostfang dagger, trying to identify the sort of runes inscribed on it. His core sense helped with the process, and after about half a minute, Aodhn felt certain he knew the functions of each rune. Just like on his hammer, there were four runes inscribed on the dagger. The first was a size-adjustment rune, the second was a durability rune, and the third was the affinity rune, although unlike his own, this one was keyed only to accept cold energies, hence the name frost. What this meant in essence was that unlike Aodhns hammer, which could be infused by any type of affinity, Daruks dagger was limited only to cold affinities. The final rune, however, was unlike his own. Instead of an impact rune, the fourth symbol was a piercing or sharpness rune, which Aodhn thought suited the daggers more appropriately. Confident that he had deciphered the runic inscriptions on the dagger, Aodhn activated the first three runes with a subtle strand of willpower. Essence swirled through the air and funneled into the runes, causing them to glow with a golden light. The daggers extended by about an inch to better suit Daruk''s needs, though Aodhn couldnt tell if their weight had changed. The blades width, however, narrowed by an inch or two, giving them a more needle-like appearance. Pretty. Ayisha muttered, and several other students nodded in agreement, even Yurin, who seemed to be just as lost as the rest of the other students. Aodhn chuckled and pointed to a slot just below the activation circle near the hilt of the dagger where a core could be placed to activate the affinity rune and said to Daruk. Place your hands here. Daruk fumbled for a moment, confused, so Aodhn had to direct his hands to the empty slot, after which he explained. In a second or two, youll feel a sort of draining sensation. Dont fight it. What are we draining here? Lifeblood? Andrew asked, and Aodhn chuckled. Nothing that sinister. Just energy. Daruk breathed a sigh of relief, which showed that hed been just as worried. Seriously, what did his friends think they did in the runic lab? Ready. He asked, and Daruk scrunched his face in caution and anticipation. Aodhn grinned, and after pretending to do a few unnecessary things that only served to confuse his customers, he jumpstarted the affinity rune, which activated with a flash of white light and began draining energy from Daruks fingers to power itself. Daruk winced slightly, most likely from surprise rather than any sort of pain, but he soon gasped as bluish-white energy engulfed the entire blade and covered it in frost. After the swirling essence died down, everyone stretched their necks to view the blade''s new aesthetics. The blade glowed with an icy blue light, its edges shimmering with a jagged frost-like texture. Aside from these aesthetic changes, there were no other noticeable differences, which wasnt surprising since the weapon was already impressive for an uncommon-ranked item. Daruk spun the blade effortlessly, handling it with far more ease than just a few minutes earlier. But as the group watched with excitement and curiosity, Professor Alarics voice rang out, Hurry up, people! We dont have all day! Aodhn refocused on his other customers, activating the runes on each weapon one by one. Most had the same set of runes, though there were occasional variations. Dylan''s shield, for example, had only three runestwo for defense and one affinity rune. Meanwhile, Yurin''s blade featured four runes, three of which were focused on speed, with the final rune being an affinity rune. It was an unbalanced weapon emphasizing speed without any defense or durability, but Yurin seemed somewhat content with the new upgrades. Aodhn moved hastily from one weapon to another and fifteen minutes later, he had attended to all his customers except one who shyly held out a pair of daggers to him. Aodhn raised an eyebrow and asked. Shouldnt you be able to do this yourself? Lupin shrugged and pushed the daggers forward. Ive not exactly had the time to practice. Sighing, Aodhn collected the daggers, but instead of activating the runes for her, he guided her through the process, which took another few minutes, but in the end, the daggers took on a translucent appearance, which made it hard to track their movements. Done with that, Aodhn jumpstarted the first three runes on his own hammer and channeled energy into the required spot below the activation circle. The moment storm energy rushed into the hammer, it hummed and began vibrating gently, most probably the effect of the impact rune. The hammers shaft reduced until it fit his palms perfectly, but it was its aesthetic changes that surprised Aodhn the most. The hammerhead turned almost completely black, which contrasted perfectly with the golden runes on it. Tiny arcs of red, black, and gold electricity fizzled around the hammerhead, and with a smirk of satisfaction, Aodhn turned around to see Ankaz finishing with his group too. Only Celine was still busy, but when she noticed that she was the only one delaying the class, she groaned and pushed the other students away. You guys will just have to fight without the runes. Derek, Imani, and Meredith were among those who hadnt activated their runes yet, and Meredith offered. Well pay you double if you help us. Celine scowled. Do I look like I need the money, Meredith? I''m not a commoner. Aodhn ignored the jab and instead offered to help them, for a price, of course. Both girls ignored him, which was better than he deserved frankly, so he turned around and ignored Daruks teasing look. Ankaz helped them instead, and after everyone had their weapons activated, professor Alaric called out the first duo into the dueling ring. Alesh Vilaris vs. Bakhtin Arede. Alesh was one of the top ten students on the forge list, and because of this, Aodhn hadn''t really seen him fight before, which was why he was looking forward to this exercise even if they could only use their innate skills. Alesh wielded a dark, obsidian-like scimitar with fiery orange veins tracing along its edges. Unlike most of the class, Alesh seemed already well-acquainted with his weapon, casually twirling the scimitar as he stepped into the ring. Bakhtin, on the other hand, didnt appear as comfortable with his weapon, which was odd considering his metal affinity. As a metal awakened, nearly any metallic weapon should have suited him, yet he had chosen a disjointed silver glaive as his weapon of choice. As both combatants entered the ring, Professor Alaric reminded them of the rule to use only innate skills before signaling for the duel to begin. Bakhtin dashed forward immediately, and his glaive transformed into a flexible metallic whip made from multiple disjointed sections, connected by thin straps of metal links. The whip curved forward, moving through the air with a sharp whistle, but Alesh easily sidestepped the weapon''s trajectory and launched a counterattack. With a quick slash of his scimitar, he created a huge wave of smoldering ash that surged towards Bakhtin. Bakhtin tried to defend by creating a shield, but he wasnt fast enough. The walls of smoldering ash collided with the inadequate shield Bakhtin was still building, and it exploded into a cloud of cinders that obscured the ring for a few moments. Alesh and Bakhtin disappeared from view. Ash swirled ominously, red hot and choking in intensity, and no matter how much Aodhn strained, he couldnt see what was going on inside the ring; however, the constant sound of clashing metal indicated that the duel was still ongoing. Aodhn could still sense their blazing cores, but aside from the irregular fluctuations that indicated the pull of energy, Aodhn couldnt sense anything else.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. A glance at Professor Alaric showed that the man didnt have any problem viewing the duel at all. He hummed, tsked, and scowled as he took down notes, all while shaking his head in disappointment. The entire duel barely lasted five minutes, and when the ash cloud finally settled, Aodhn found Bakhtin leaning against his blade in surrender. He coughed out ash, his clothes were burned, and his eyes watered from the heat. Alesh, on the other hand, was almost pristine, save for a gruesome slash that covered his right arm. Very good. Professor Alaric commented without elaborating, and after Alesh and Bakhtin descended from the ring, he called out the next names. Ankaz Urdania vs. Cyrus Valerion. Ankaz Urdania was among those who seemed to have no idea how to use the weapon hed chosen for himself. Daruk, who was standing beside him, leaned in and asked. Whats his affinity again? Aodhn frowned. Solar or fire. Im not sure. Scarlett had mentioned it once before, but he hadnt been paying attention. Just like Alesh, the Urdanias had somehow escaped any public duels; hence, their abilities were shrouded in mystery. However, Aodhn was more intrigued by the weapons Ankaz carried. He wielded a set of chakrams that radiated golden light, their bladed edges emitting such intense heat that the air seemed to warp. He wore four of them on his belt and held two in his hands. Cyrus, on the other hand, held twin obsidian daggers that, aside from the faint purple veins that lined their edges, appeared rather ordinary. He walked into the dueling ring with confidence, his steps relaxed, almost lazy. Ankaz, on the other hand, gripped his chakrams nervously, his fists glowing faintly as he prepared to activate a skill. Professor Alaric waited until both students were prepared before signaling the start of the fight. It ended almost as soon as it began. In fact, Aodhn would argue that Ankaz never stood a chance in the first place. Perhaps if hed been allowed to use more of his abilities, he could have held out longer, but with only what Aodhn assumed to be {Solar Energy Absorption} and {Solar Energy Manipulation} at his disposal, Ankaz was hopelessly outmatched. In a flash, Cyrus had lunged forward, his daggers closing the gap in an instant to appear behind Ankazs neck. Aodhn wondered how he might have fared against Cyrus given the current limitations. His raw attack power might be higher than that of Cyrus, but in a limited duel such as this, Aodhn wasnt sure of victory. Professor Alaric snorted at the quick duel, wrote something down on his notepad, and called out the next pair. Aodhn Brystion vs. Lilith Bloodmoon. Go and demolish her. Daruk muttered while Andrew gave him a thumbs up. It was funny and encouraging, and Aodhn was a little ashamed to admit that he was a little nervous. Lilith Bloodmoon controlled blood; her innate skills alone could cause the blood within his body to explode if he didnt react fast enough. Was she stronger than him? No, but that didnt mean she wasnt dangerous. He climbed into the ring, and Lilith arrived a moment later, holding a blood-red scythe a few inches taller than she was. Black runes glowed ominously on the weapon, and she grinned. We meet in a ring for the first time, Aodhn Brystion; are you ready? The question was spoken so innocently that if it wasnt for the malicious expression on her face, one might have assumed that she meant no harm. Aodhn didnt let his nerves show though; instead, he gripped the hammer tighter and readied his willpower strands, bringing them as close to his pathways as he could without activating any skills. Professor Alaric muttered, writing something in his notebook for a while before looking up. Begin! Aodhn employed the same trick hed used with Eldrith, flooding his body with enough willpower to disrupt Lilith''s skills. He smirked when she frowned in confusion, her abilities failing to take hold, and in that split second of surprise, Aodhn exploded forward. Gathering all his strength, he swung the hammer straight at his head, fully expecting her to block. But she didnt. The hammer connected with a deafening crash, launching Lilith several feet into the air. Her jaw shattered. Her skull caved in, and blood sputtered out of her face, which was now seared with the burning imprint of the hammer''s runes. At the sight of so much blood, thunder roared in Aodhns ears as Varc''s emotions surged into his own and took over, inadvertently harnessing the simmering rage within him that caused his gaze to darken. With a malicious grin, Aodhn dashed forward, ready to finish his prey off and tear her from limb to limb, but a hand suddenly slapped his chest, launching him several feet backwards and knocking the living daylight out of him. Aodhn coughed out blood, and all at once, the bloodlust that had overtaken his mind receded. He blinked and saw Professor Alaric glaring at him from the center of the dueling ring. I warned you against this, Aodhn Brystion! This is an exercise, not a death match! Aodhns mind cleared, and he realized that somehow, someway, hed lost control of his emotions and had allowed Varcs baser instincts to take control. Aodhn couldnt quite piece together when Varcs emotions had begun bleeding into his own, but he suspected it had probably been all morning. How had he not noticed? The flashes of gore and blood should have clued him in. Lilith staggered to her feet, blood gushing from her head, and with a feral snarl, she waved a hand, and Aodhns world went black. The blood in his body changed directions so suddenly and violently that Aodhn collapsed to the floor. Blood surged upwards, threatening to explode out of his skull, but before any of that could happen, Professor Alaric pushed both of them apart and shouted. ENOUGH! His voice boomed with an authority that neither of them could deny, and despite his swimming vision, Aodhn quickly pushed himself to his feet. Professor Alaric glared at them and pronounced. Minus thirty points to the both of you. I want you both out of my class immediately. Aodhn glanced at the rest of his classmates, taking in the horror, disgust, and shock on their faces before stepping out of the ring. He returned the hammer, and feeling extremely ashamed of himself, Aodhn walked out of the hall. He didnt stop walking until he reached the bathroom at the end of the hallway, where he picked a random stall and shut himself within it. He rested his head against the wall and let out a weary sigh. Hed been foolish to think his control over Varc was concrete; even Mythics struggled with their familiars, talk less of him, a mere evolved class student. Honestly, he didnt even blame Varc; no, he blamed himself. It was Varcs nature to be chaotic and to have several unexplainable reactions to events. It was up to him to keep Varc under control, yet here he was, succumbing to the very chaos he was supposed to keep leashed. Perhaps the papers were right. Maybe he was more of a danger to the world than any kind of savior. What would have happened if Professor Alaric hadnt been there to stop him? Would he have torn Lilith to pieces, or would the other students have stopped him? This wasnt the first or second time he was in this exact situation, and frankly, it was getting tiring. One day his luck would run out, and there would be no one to stop him in time. An image of the Liliths broken and bloody form flashed across his mind, and Aodhn waited for the expected regret, disgust, or revulsion, but nothing came. He tried to manufacture the emotion, but even that failed, and Aodhn began to worry for himself. If the image of a dead person no longer revolted him, what did that say about his current mental state? Aodhn didnt understand when this mental shift had occurred, but he hated it. He wanted to care, to be disgusted, if only to prove to himself that he wasnt turning into the slaughterer, but nothing came. He banged his head against the wall again and let out another weary sigh. He stayed that way for the next half hour, until he finally came up with a probable cause for the sudden shift. There were a few possible reasons, but the major one was his new perk, {Berserk}. It made sense that his closer bond with Varc was affecting his mind, one, because his puny evolved mind wasnt strong enough to resist the stimulus of his familiar, and two, he no longer wore his lightning pendant. The original one, not this facsimile he was currently putting on. The necklace had helped him gain a familiar, but he hadnt realized just how much of a struggle it would be to control Varc without it. Come to think of it, hed only begun having these violent reactions after he took off the chain; perhaps that was the root of the problem. Aodhn felt a sudden urge to go and take back the necklace from where he kept it, but he soon suppressed the urge. The necklace was a crutch. What he needed was to train his mind and strengthen it so he could resist the lure of chaos when next it came. A quick scrutiny of his mind and spirit revealed that the dormant rage within him was no longer... dormant. It wasnt as bad as it had been on the days following his seal imprinting, but it felt much closer to the surface of his mind than he was comfortable with. He tried to suppress the infernal emotion, but it was to no avail. With another weary sigh, Aodhn banged his head again. When nothing changed, he banged the head again and again. Surprisingly, when he banged his head the fifth time, a memory resurfaced in his mind. It was a vision of Azmarthon quietly sipping tea from his cup. The ascendant smiled at him, and in that fatherly tone of his, he said, Little seed, youll break your skull. Aodhn banished the vision from his mind and sighed. He spent the next hour in the bathroom just thinking, and it wasnt until noon that he finally stepped out of the bathroom. He had come to a single conclusion: he needed more control, not over his affinity this time but over Varc and his emotions. This realization naturally meant he needed to go to the second floor of the library once more. He wouldnt find any useful information regarding familiars on the lower floors. He washed his face, letting the water flow over his head for almost a minute before shutting the water off. He turned, intending to make his way directly to the library, only to come face to face with a gloved fist, glowing erratically with spatial energies. The punch launched him backwards several feet, and his jaw cracked with an audible sound. This time when Varcs emotions surged into his own, Aodhn was well aware. With a snarl of fury, he activated {MergeFull}. His fingers morphed into long black claws, his teeth into fangs, and black scales raced across his skin. Aodhns gaze turned red as he tapped into the simmering rage within him, and without hesitation, he launched himself at Cyrus Valerion, claws first! Chapter 119: Aodhán Brystion vs Cyrus Valerion Cyrus Valerion was terrible at controlling his temper. His mother, the duchess, had always said so; however, the past few days had been a true test of restraint for him. He had only managed to keep himself somewhat under control with Kellans help, but when Aodhn had smashed his girlfriends head almost to a pulp, Cyrus had lost what little control he had left. He had teleported forward, intent on smashing the commoner''s head just the way he had smashed Liliths, but Professor Alaric had stopped him. Seething with rage, Cyrus had returned to his position beside Kellan and watched as professor Alaric scolded Aodhn and Lilith before sending them out of the hall. Lilith glanced at him, despite the urgings of the healer, and Cyrus could read the pain on her face. It stoked his own already overwhelming fury, but before he could do anything stupid, Kellan placed a hand on his wrist and forcefully suppressed his emotions. Cyrus wanted to fight against the emotional suppression; he could even push through it; instead, he let it be. He let his emotions simmer and roil beneath the suppression, doing absolutely nothing to control or channel it. For the rest of the exercise, Cyrus glared at everything and anything, thinking of ways to finally put the commoner in his place once and for all. During the first half of the semester, Cyrus had barely noticed the upstart, but during the break, the commoner had somehow managed to impress his father. For the life of him, Cyrus couldnt fathom what Aodhn could have done to earn his fathers attention and approval when he, the rightful heir of his father''s dukedom, was yet to despite all his genius. For the first half of the break, Cyrus had mentally tortured himself, wondering whether it was because of Aodhns affinity or the fact that he had gained a familiar, a feat that by all rights should have been impossible. He was the genius! If anyone should be doing the impossible or gaining his father''s approval, it should be him. He was his fucking heir for ascendant sake! After several days of futilely torturing himself, Cyrus finally summoned the courage to confront his father. However, when he''d stepped into his fathers study, guess who his father had wanted to talk about? The blasted commoner. You should make friends with him. His father had said with a dismissive wave. Hes obviously going places, and the council has already put his name forward as a champion candidate. Im also a candidate. Cyrus had responded. Im more powerful than he is and top of my class on the forge list. Would it kill you to see my achievements and applaud them the way you do others? His father glared at him. Your candidacy is unofficial at best. You were only considered because your brother is a champion. Champions do extraordinary things. Tell me, Nine, what extraordinary things have you done. There it was. A fucking number. His father didnt even know his name, and if he did, he never bothered to use it. All he knew was a fucking number, and Cyrus hated him for it. He could do nothing against his father though, so instead, he directed all that hate at the commoner instead. He was the best student in the first-year bracket of the 5th academy, yet where was his honor and respect? His memories only served to heighten his rage despite Kellans best efforts, and when the class finally ended, Cyrus was on the verge of exploding. He jerked his wrist away from Kellan and rushed out of the hall, his fury burning hot as he activated {Spatial scan}a skill Artemis had taught himto search for the commoner. Cyrus, think this through. Kellan shouted as he rushed after him. You could get suspended or expelled for this. His father is the Duke idiot. He couldnt get expelled from the academy even if he tried. Grendar replied vapidly as she followed along. Youre not helping matters, Grendar! Kellan shouted. Were supposed to calm him down. Calm him down? Grendar spat. Ascendants! I want in on the action too. Didnt you see the way he shattered Liliths skull? You dont even like Lilith! Kellan spat back, but Cyrus was barely listening, his entire focus on {Spatial scan}, which he pushed to the absolute limit, and when he finally found the commoner, his rage exploded. He teleported forward, his entire body blazing with spatial energy as he tore a hole through space and punched. His attack sent Aodhn flying back, but Cyrus was just getting started. With a wave of his hands, he shattered the space between them, grabbed the longest shard of jagged space he could find, and slashed forward, cutting through space and draconic scales until he touched bone. Aodhn roared in pain, his claws raking past Cyruss skin, but a quick activation of {Spatial Manipulation} prevented the claws from touching him. Despite his impressive control, the skill did little against the condensed beam of red electricity that Aodhn unleashed next. The explosive beam struck him at point blank range and threatened to erase him from existence. *** Aodhn launched himself through a wall of shattered space, gritting his teeth in pain as jagged spatial shards tore through his scales. The pain wasnt nearly enough to give him pause though, and with all the fury and speed of a storm unleashed, Aodhn lunged forward, his claws aiming for Cyruss throat, but space stretched weirdly and his attack missed its mark. Aodhn was unfazed. With a furious roar, he activated {Lightning BeamRed} at point-blank range, channeling eight strands of energized willpower into the attack. A concentrated beam of red lightning erupted from his hands, tearing through the air with blinding speed. The beam struck Cyrus with tremendous force, hurling him backward until he crashed into a full-length mirror, shattering it into shards. Cyrus howled in pain but teleported out of the beam an instant before it exploded, engulfing the entire back wall in electricity. The sound of shattering glass and cracking tiles barely registered in their minds as they rushed towards each other again. This time, Aodhn attacked with a beam of black lightning, but Cyrus dodged easily, twisting space in a way that should not have been possible to stab at him with a jagged shard of space. The dagger cut through Aodhns scales almost too easily, but before it could do too much damage, Aodhn unleashed his aura.Stolen novel; please report. The pressure that descended was so sudden and intense that Cyrus collapsed to the floor and smashed his jaw! Seizing the moment, Aodhn rushed forward, determined to tear Cyrus apart while his defenses were down. However, by some bizzare twist of fate, Cyrus pushed past the crushing pressure of his aura and teleported, an instant before he struck! The sudden emptiness where Cyrus had stood only fueled Aodhns rage. He twisted his body and brought his tail around in a vicious arc, sweeping through the space where Cyrus had appeared. But again, Cyrus blinked out of reach. He reappeared just behind Aodhn and lashed out, slicing a sharp blade of compressed space into Aodhns exposed back. The blade sunk in to the hilt, and Aodhn coughed out blood as Cyrus twisted the blade violently. Gritting his teeth against the pain, Aodhn activated {Lightning SurgeRed}, unleashing a floor of red lightning that surged outwards in an unstoppable wave that caught Cyrus off guard. In the brief moment of reprieve, Aodhn reached behind and ripped the infernal blade from his back, crying out in agony as tears welled in his eyes. Without hesitation, he grabbed Cyrus by the neck, and before the noble could teleport away, Aodhn plunged the spatial blade into his chest. He followed up with another beam of red lightning, a devastating strike that Cyrus attempted but failed to avoid. The beam smashed Cyrus into the wall and exploded, engulfing the entire lobby in lightning. Cyrus collapsed to the floor, bleeding from countless wounds, but just as Aodhn prepared to finish him off, an overpowering aura suddenly descended, and Aodhn was smashed forcefully to the floor. Rahim stood above them, his expression filled with fury and disappointment. He looked as if he wanted to speak, but instead he just opened a portal and growled. Explain yourselves to the principal. Rahim threw both of them into the portal, and this time, the ride was even more turbulent than the last time. They arrived at principal Zatyas office much in the same way theyd arrived the last time, although this time, Aodhn was able to keep his breakfast down. The world stopped spinning after a few seconds, and Aodhn finally looked up to find principal Zatya surrounded by a group of professors, all of whom were glaring at them. Among them were professor Caldwell, professor Alaric, professor Aleran, and lastly, professor Dubois. Aodhn shrunk, his anger subsiding under their collective gazes, and he quickly pushed himself up to his feet. Cyrus, who was already on his feet, more resistant to the turbulence of spatial travel, stood stone-faced, his anger still evident and barely restrained. Principal Zatya glared at the both of them for a moment before speaking. Professor Alaric has appraised me of the situation, so I wont be deducting any more forge points. However, the unsanctioned fighting of students within the academy walls is a crime worthy of suspension, and I cannot let this slide. Not only have you broken the academy rules, you have damaged the academy''s properties. I am severely disappointed in the both of you, and I find this competitive hatred you both have against each other nauseating. For these reasons, I have decided to send you both to the sink for five days, until you come to understand the error of your ways. Aodhn had no idea what the sink was, but from the expressions on the faces of the professors, especially professor Dubois, who looked severely perplexed, Aodhn imagined it was far from good. Perhaps you would like to reconsider, principal Zatya. The sink isprofessor Dubois began, but principal Zatya cut her off with a wave of her hand. I have made my decision, Faelar. She turned her gaze to Rahim and ordered. Take them away. Rahim obeyed hesitantly, and although the spatial transfer this time was much gentler, Aodhn vomited his breakfast onto the cold, hard floor theyd arrived at. Shuddering, he looked around to find himself in a literal prison. It looked no different from the pictures he had seen back on earth, except for the fact that the entire building was crafted out of null metal. Already, he could feel his strength waning as the dense amount of null essence in the air converged around him. A guard, an advanced-class woman who looked no different from the null metal itself, stood by a counter, and when she saw them, she walked towards them and mutely stretched a tray forward. What are we supposed to do? Cyrus began, but she silenced him with a sharp glare. No talking in the sink! She looked at Rahim and said, You may go; Ill take it from here. Rahim nodded, and with a sad expression, he teleported out. The guard turned back to them and said, Submit every awakened item on your person. This includes your chip, spatial items, and any other items. They did as ordered, and after that, the woman led them deeper into the sink. The deeper they got, the more choking the converging null essence became. They swirled around Aodhn, as thick as smoke, and after about a minute or two of walking, Aodhns breaths grew ragged, his core dimmed, and everything remotely magical within him winked out. The guard shoved him into a small room surrounded by tall walls covered in black runes. The door shut behind him with a clang, and Aodhn shuddered. Ever since he had arrived in this world, he had never felt this powerless. His core was inaccessible. His energy was unresponsive, and his willpower was absent, but most of all, his connection to Varc was gone. His seal had dimmed, and the thought of opening his spirit to the origin plane promised indescribable pain. He was well and truly neutered. All he could do was stare at his status screen and watch the minutes slowly tick by. *** After the class ended, Daruk and Andrew began texting Aodhn to know where he was and what he was doing. This was obviously not the first time Aodhn was losing control of his emotions like this, but this was the first time it happened with a lot more witnesses. A part of Daruk felt bad that he hadnt taken any actions to help Aodhn more, as he seemed to be getting worse with each lapse of control. However, what could he even do to help? The first time Daruk had seen Aodhn lose control like this was when hed almost attacked him for almost freezing him and Andrew to death. The second time was when he had almost skewered Aldric, although at the time, hed still been suffering from the twisted effect. The third time was when hed almost crushed the head of that nosy reporter to paste, and now this? Andrew and Daruk kept sending him messages, and although he didnt respond, he was at least receiving them. However, it was when the messages stopped going through that they realized that something much more serious was going on. They rushed towards Rahims office, where they found him watching a muted clip on his table while he wearily massaged his temples. Rahim waved them in, and when they explained the situation to him, Rahim sighed. Tell me, Daruk, has your brother been acting strange lately? Daruk frowned and shook his head. No more than normal. He gets a little depressed from time to time, but I havent noticed any extremely strange behaviors. It wasnt the total truth, but Daruk wasnt going to admit that his brother might be a nut case. Rahim glanced at Andrew, who shrugged. None that Ive noticed. Is he in trouble? Yes. Rahim replied curtly. He and Cyrus got into a fight that destroyed the entire male bathroom on the 4th floor. For that, the principal has suspended them for five days. Daruk couldnt say he was shocked. Cyrus and Aodhn had been circling each other ever since they returned from the break, and after that stunt in the class earlier today, it had only been a matter of time before they finally came to a head. Still, he hadnt expected it to go this fardestruction of academy properties? Aodhn was usually much more in control than that. Rahim leaned forward and asked. How do you think hes dealing with the whole breakup thing? Perhaps this is as a result of that? Breakup? Andrew echoed in confusion, and Daruk sighed in disappointment. Oh, this was such an Aodhn thing to do. To be dying inside and keep it to himself. Why hadnt he told them? Rahim soon realized that they werent even aware of the breakup thing and shook his head. That boy needs to learn how to open up more. Hes keeping too many unnecessary things bottled up. Daruk let out a deep breath and asked. Where is he now? In suspension. Rahim replied simply, and Daruk shook his head. No, I mean, can we see him? Rahim shook his head. Unfortunately not. Hell be suspended for almost a week, so I fear youll both have to go about your daily activities without him. What about classes? Andrew asked. Rahim shrugged. I cant help him, but perhaps you can when he comes out in the next five days. Speak some sense into him before the professors label him a danger to society. Already, theyre worried that if these sudden flares of anger continue, one day, he might unleash Varc on a host of students or outright kill someone, and Ascendants help him if its a noble heir or heiress; even the principal wont be able to help him then. Chapter 120: Mythic Confrontation—Principal Zatya After Rahim teleported out of the office with Aodhn and Cyrus, professor Dubois spoke up once more. Principal Malakov, Im not trying to contest your authority here, but dont you think your decision to place students within the sink is a little excessive? I mean, its a place for criminals and degenerates. Regardless of their offense, these students are not criminals. Zatya looked up and glared at Faelar Dubois. Unlike most people, Faelar didnt flinch when their gazes connected; however, Zatya didnt miss the slight clenching of her hands in tension. Principal Zatya smiled at the unintentional motion and leaned back in her chair. She might be a simple academy principal right now, but she had been a glorious champion long before Faelar awakened, and her reputation could only be considered clean when compared to that of Mordok, or Az''marthon Ranok. Chuckling at her own brutality, Zatya responded. Im sure theyll survive. Besides, its only for five days. Theyll certainly gain much from the solitude. Professor Dubois grimaced and stepped forward. Im not referring to their physical or mental health, but the effect the spread of such news will have on their reputations. Zatya''s grin widened. Then well just have to keep things quiet, wont we? Faelar took in a sharp breath, but before she could respond, Professor Caldwell hastily spoke up. If youll excuse us, principal, professor Aleran and I have got some experiments we need to attend to. Ill come with you. Alaric quickly added, already marching towards the door and dragging a slightly hesitant Aleran along with him. They shut the door behind them the next instant, and Zatya suppressed another chuckle. The three professors had practically run out of the office, but she couldnt blame them. In spite of all their strength and knowledge, none of them were former champions or champion candidates. Besides, they were all still in the advanced class. The moment the office door shut with a faint click, Faelar dropped the facade of faux politeness she usually wore and sneered. Youve gone insane, Zatya. To put the son of Duke Solaris in the sink! Do you even realize the potential repercussions of such a decision? Zatya laughed and steeled her fingers. Glad to see the real you, Faelar. Like I always tell you, kindness never did suit you. Faelar didnt respond; instead, she arched an eyebrow, and Zatya sighed. She did in fact realize the repercussions of placing Cyrus Valerion within the sink, but she hadnt exactly been left with much choice. She couldnt expel him from the school as his father was the duke; suspension would have destroyed his reputation, and expelling him would have caused a literal war. She could have fined him, but that would have required that she do the same to Aodhn, and her pet was in no way ready for such a debt. The damage theyd wrought wasnt cheap. The tiles and mirrors they''d destroyed alone would buy the house the Brystions were currently living in, and she couldnt do that to them. Shed had no other option but to sentence them to the sink. Would she ever admit that shed been left with no choice? Absolutely not. Instead, she crossed her feet and fixed her mythic gaze on Faelar. They destroyed several platinum worth of properties and almost killed themselves under my watch. Both of these crimes are enough grounds to suspend them for a whole semester. Five days in the sink, no matter how terrible, is hardly comparable. If anything, I did them a favor. A favor? Faelar scowled. Youre treating the son of a duke like a petty criminal. What would you have had me do then? Let them go without punishment. Thats unwise. Faelar snorted. However, something a little less disgraceful would have been more appropriate. Why? Is it because hes noble or because hes your lovers son? Faelar stilled, and Zatya really had to admire the womans courage. Duke Solaris was a man whore who had a problem keeping his privy in his pants. The commoners knew it; the nobles knew it. Ascendants! The entire continent of Lutia knew it, which was why Zatya had been surprised when shed found out that Faelar had become his latest plaything. Their clandestine relationship was still pretty new, which was why the Duchess hadnt found out yet, but Zatya knew it was only a matter of time before she did. When Faelar didn''t respond, Zatya smiled. Youre playing with fire, Faelar. My relationship with the Duke is none of your business. Faelar replied curtly, her lips pursed in caution. And neither is my reason for pointing out the potential repercussions for your decisions. However, I have never hidden my sentiments. You know my stance on the topic of nobles and commoners. Zatya grimaced, and Faelar continued. The sink is a place for degenerates and criminals. It''s no place for a noble regardless of their offense. Zatya scowled. So what do you suggest then? That I fine Cyrus and throw Aodhn in the sink? Usually, people hesitated when it came to topics such as this, ashamed or embarrassed of their blatant aristocratism, but Faelar didnt even blink. Yes, she stated matter-of-factly. The boy is a commoner; he cannot afford a fine; besides, his nascent reputation can handle the hit. Zatya stared at her fellow mythic, scorn written clearly on her face, and a moment later, she shook her head. Well, Ive made my decision already. Ill just have to face whatever consequences come from it. Faelar grimaced, looking like she wanted to press the matter, but before she could, a knock sounded on the door, and her faux mask of politeness slid back into place with practiced ease. She stood up and smiled thinly. Have a nice day, Zatya. I assure you there are only a few of those left. She teleported out of the office the next instant, and Zatya grimaced, not liking the threat in Faelars statement. With a sigh, she cleared the files from her table and called out. Come in, Daruk. I''ve been expecting you. Daruk walked into her office, his expression cold and detached. He didnt meet her gaze, but very few people could. Zatya smiled, impressed by Daruks confidence. She knew how walking into her office felt for most individuals in the lower classes. More than a dozen times, it had been compared to walking into a dragons den, and out of the hundreds of students that had stepped into this office ever since she assumed the position of principal, Zatya could count on one hand how many of them had walked into the office without fear. Aodhn wasnt part of them. It soon became obvious that Daruk was channeling a lot of willpower just to maintain his detached emotional state, but the fact that he could do that alone was impressive. What can I do for you, Daruk? She asked when Daruk took the seat opposite her without prompting. It was rude and insulting, but Zatya was more amused and curious than offended.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. From her conversations with Aodhn, it was apparent that Daruk knew of their agreement and his status as a transmigrant. She had always wondered what Daruk''s opinions were on the matter. Not that his opinions would change anything; Zatya was merely curious. Daruk met her gaze (a feat that caused Zatya to frown in fascination), and when he spoke, his tone was flat and inflectionless. I want to know where my brother is. It was downright impossible to tell what the boy was feeling from his expression or tone alone, and the longer Zatya stared at him, the more fascinated she became. The boy was an oddity, to say the least. It had cost the academy several golds to falsify his documents in order to protect his identityone of the many good things the academy did that the students were unaware of. Compared to transmigrants, inheritors could be considered common. In fact, there were three other Inheritors within the other year brackets, making Daruk the fourth Inheritor currently within the academy walls. However, despite being widely accepted and even beloved by the people of Lutia, inheritors preferred to keep their identities secret for security reasons and just to avoid awkward interactions with certain religious bodies. Zatya hadn''t minded Daruk''s status before. Inheritors weren''t that big of a deal unless one bought into all that mystical crap the church of Raol preached. However, the moment she found out Aodhn''s identity, things had become complicated, and her interest in Daruk had spiked. It wasn''t just the fact that both a transmigrant and an inheritor had emerged from a random commoner family in a backwater sector like sector 12, but also the fact that they were almost the same age and were connected to two of the most controversial ascendants of all time. Zatya usually didn''t believe in fate, but this was a coincidence she couldn''t take lightly. Because of this, Zatya had kept an eye on Daruk for the past few months. However, this was the first time she had him so close to herself that he was practically begging to be scanned. Unable to help her curiosity, Zatya cranked up her perception to mythic speeds and focused on Daruks spirit. She didnt have the gift of core sense like Aodhnan ability reserved for those who had undergone a tribulation before full awakeningbut considering the class and tier difference between her and Daruk, Daruk''s spirit might as well have been see through. That wasn''t completely true, though. Despite the tier disparity, it still took Zatya almost a minute in mythic speeds to pierce through the spirits natural defenses. Daruk''s spirit revealed itself to her as a lattice work of ice blue pathways that seemed unnaturally large for their tierthe effect of some crude technique, Zatya presumed. At the center of the boys spirit, just above a surprisingly pure core, was a small spiritual tear that seemed to be the building blocks of a nascent opening. It wasnt fully opened, but it was much larger than a grasp should have been. The boys seal blazed around his heart region, almost painful to look at, but what caught Zatyas attention was the huge amount of willpower coursing through the boy''s spirit. Zatya had scanned a lot of young Inheritors before, and although the amount of willpower they had at their disposal was simply astounding, Zatya couldn''t help but be amazed by Daruk''s. His spirit was almost completely flooded with willpower, a feat that not even some advanced class awakeneds could replicate. It was unnatural for any awakened below the advanced class to have this amount of willpower. Not even inheritors should be able to boast of such. It was simply astounding, and the idea that Daruk might also be a transmigrant crossed Zatya''s mind. However, transmigration couldn''t explain the excess amount of willpower, so Zatya dismissed it. Besides, what were the probabilities that two brothers from the same village and family were transmigrants? It was impossible. Transmigrants were too rare for that. The only possible explanation was something she didnt want to think about, but if that was the case, then had she not struck gold? Inheritors were rare, but an inheritor twice over? Was that even possible? Zatya observed Daruk''s spirit for what seemed like an hour but was only a couple seconds in real time before blinking back her shock. Perhaps she needed to do a more thorough investigation on the Brystion family. To have both a transmigrant and an inheritor in one family was beyond bewildering. What about the oldest son? What secret was he hiding? What secret was the father hiding? Resolving to do her investigation first, before confronting Daruk, Zatya cranked down her perception to normal speeds and replied to Daruks question. Your brother and Cyrus Valerion got into a fight that damaged the entire male bathroom on the 4th floor. For this reason, I have sent them to a place where theyll have no choice but to think deeply about their actions. Where is this place? Daruk asked, his tone still flat, and principal Zatya shook her head. Unfortunately, youre not qualified to know that. However, I can promise that they arent being tortured or used for unethical experiments. Her words elicited an emotional reaction, or perhaps a facsimile of it. Daruk raised an eyebrow and frowned. I do not believe you. Zatya grinned. Thats the beauty of the situation, Mr. Brystion. You dont have to. Daruk observed her mutely for a long moment, and Zatya wondered just what the boy was thinking. She imagined it was something about how evil and unfair she was, which was why Daruk''s next words surprised her. How much damage are we talking about here? Zatya blinked, not having expected that question at all. She took a moment to make a rough estimate and shrugged. It doesnt matter how much it is. You cannot afford it. Perhaps not, but Id still like to know what range were talking about. Zatya folded her arms and sighed. About 100 platinum coins per person. Daruks blank expression cracked then, and Zatya savored the feeling of intense satisfaction that coursed through her because of that. Of course the damage was nowhere near that price range, but Zatya hadnt been able to resist the temptation. What did they break? Daruk shouted. The freaking nexus? Rather than admit that shed been lying, Zatya simply shrugged. I told you. You cannot afford it. Daruk scowled, and after a short moment, he placed a pouch of coins on the table and said, Im not sure what this will do, but will it get my brother out of your prison faster? Zatya wasnt sure whether to be amused or insulted, but when she saw the meager amount of coins within the pouch, she decided on the latter. What am I supposed to do with 200 gold coins? Daruk shrugged helplessly. I dont know. Cut his sentence down from 5 days to three. Are you asking me or are you telling me? Zatya scowled and looked back at the contents of the pouch. Is this a bribe? What sort of child are you? Its not a bribe. Daruk replied coldly. Im simply paying for a reduction in his prison sentence, which is a perfectly reasonable thing to pay for, unless perhaps youve got ulterior motives for sentencing my brother to this prison. First, Zatya corrected. Its not a prison, but a correctional facility, and I have no ulterior motives for placing him within it. Daruk snorted. Tell that to some naive idiot who will believe that crap. Im sorry if I come off as cynical, but you strike me as someone who never does anything without an ulterior motive. Zatya frowned and leaned forward. Tell me then, what is my motive for keeping this insulting conversation going? Daruk didnt even hesitate. To study me. By now I expect youve scanned my spirit, sensed the depth of my willpower, and youre already cooking up ways to ensnare me the way youve done, my brother. Unfortunately for you, Ive got no deep, dark secret to keep hidden, except my identity, of course, but that isn''t something I can be blackmailed with. Zatyas playful smirk vanished and she grimaced. I do not blackmail children. And I''m not a child. Daruk shot back, his tone returning to its inflectionless state. Zatya leaned back to observe him for a moment before saying, Youre too smart for your own good. Daruk nodded. Its both a blessing and a curse. He stood up and glanced at the coin pouch. I guess this means I can have my money back Zatya glared at the coin pouch and pushed it towards Daruk. Perhaps youd like to visit some other time. There are a ton of things Id like to discuss with you. No, thank you. Daruk grinned and placed the pouch in his spatial storage. Im not much of a talker. Im just glad to know that my brother is... is still alive. I cant promise not to torture him. Zatya teased, and Daruk glared at her for a moment before muttering. Now, I know why my mother doesnt like you. He marched out of the office after that, leaving Zatya glaring at his vacated seat in dissatisfaction. She pulled out a tablet from her spatial space, and it came on to display Aodhn and Cyrus in their individual null cells. Predictably, Cyrus was exercising, channeling all that unbridled rage and anger into the null walls by ceaselessly punching them. Zatya clucked her tongue in disappointment. That boy really needed to get a handle on his emotions. Aodhn, on the other hand, was staring curiously at the rune-covered walls of the room, a hint of regret etched on his face. Zatya wondered what effect this isolation would have on his emotions. Perhaps time away would grant him more control over Varc, at least until Helzavauth was able to help him. Zatya had lied when she said shed had no ulterior motives for placing Cyrus and Aodhn within the sink, and although her motives werent nefarious in nature, they were still slightly unethical. However, when had unethical ever stopped her? She watched the screen for a few more minutes before putting it away, curious to know what effect 5 days of isolation would have on Aodhn and Cyrus. Would they go insane with rage, or will they grow stronger from it? Chapter 121: Terrible Friends—Andrew willowood Andrew and Yurin sat in the cafeteria, worriedly eating their lunch, while Daruk spoke to principal Zatya. They had both elected to stay behind while Daruk faced the principal alone. It was very cowardly of them, Andrew knew, but he''d rather be called a coward than enter the principal''s office of his own violation. Unfortunately, Yurin also shared his sentiments, which was why they now sat here, worriedly biting their nails whilst ignoring the curious looks of their classmates. Andrew stuffed his mouth with fries, but when he caught Aida Simms staring at him in disgust, he paused, cleared his throat, and wiped his mouth carefully, embarrassed to be caught eating like a barbarian. Andrew knew he wasnt a model noble; in fact, he had been mistaken for a privileged commoner more times than he could count; however, Andrew preferred it that way. The life of commoners was much freer, less uptight, and just generally happier than that of nobles. Andrew couldnt exactly say he was living the commoner experience though, as his spatial ring currently held more money than most commoner households had in a year. Whys your face scrunched up like that? Yurin asked, cutting off his train of thought, and it was only then that Andrew realized he had been frowning. He sighed and waved dismissively. Im just a little worried for Aodhn, and these stares arent helping matters either. Yurin looked around and grimaced. Yeah, they make me uncomfortable too. Andrew couldnt say he was surprised. Aodhn was popular, and ever since they became friends, Andrew had become popular by extension. So, naturally, after what had happened in Professor Alarics class, Aodhn and Cyrus were once again the topic of the day. However, since neither of Aodhn, Cyrus, or Daruk were around for the rest of the class to feast their eyes on, Andrew and Yurin had become their victims instead. Over the last few weeks, Andrew had become accustomed to the stares, and sometimes he barely even noticed them, but for some reason today, he just couldn''t help himself. He glanced around again, stubbornly avoiding the gazes of several students turned in their direction until his gaze landed on Grendar and Kellan, who were seated alone on Cyruss usual table. He wasnt sure when it became Cyruss table or when this table became theirs, but it was just one of those unspoken rules. No one sat on their table. Grendar sneered at him, but Andrew just smirked in return. Wood against metal, which Affinity would win? One might think Metal had the advantage here, but Andrew was sure he would come out victorious, if only for the fact that his sisters would never let him live it down if he let a girl like Grendar beat him in a duel. Grendars scowl deepened, and it looked like she was contemplating getting up to attack him, but before she made a decision, the cafeteria doors swung open and Daruk walked in, his face an expressionless mask that sucked all the heat out of the room. Daruk barely acknowledged the gazes or greetings of their fellow students, although he gave a small nod when he passed by Lupins, Gwendolyn''s, and Scarletts tables. When he reached their table and sat down, Andrew asked. So, what did principal Zatya say? Daruk sighed and narrated his meeting with principal Zatya, obviously leaving out some unnecessary details. Basically, Daruk concluded. Theyre in a correctional facility within the academy. I tried to get her to tell me more, but she said I wasnt qualified to know. I even tried to get her to shorten Aodhn''s punishment, but she refused. Yurin shook his head sadly. Well, I guess we should be grateful they havent been suspended or, worse, expelled. Or dead. Daruk added with a scowl as he dug into his meal with as much poise and etiquette as that of a high noble. Yurin shook his head. Thats too extreme. Surely, the principal won''t kill students just for destroying academy property, would she? Andrew shrugged. I doubt she would, but people have been killed for less. Much less. Daruk nodded in agreement, and Yurin''s eyes widened. Are you guys serious? No, Daruk scowled. I''m just saying... Oh, Yurin sighed. I get it. A little dark, but I get it. Andrew shoved a handful of fries into his mouth and shook his head. I just cant believe Aodhn was going through the whole breakup thing without telling us. I mean, we are his friends for ascendants sake. Daruks expression soured further, and Yurin hastily responded, trying to defend Aodhn. I mean, technically, they didnt break up because they were never really dating in the first... okay, I''ll stop now. Don''t crucify me. Daruk sighed. I''m so angry, but for some reason I feel like I can''t be mad at him. I''m mad. Andrew shrugged. If I were the one going through a breakup, I''d tell Aodhn. That''s the kind of friendship I thought we had. Yurin shrugged awkwardly. Maybe he was just waiting for the right time to tell us, or maybe he forgot... Stop trying to defend him, Yurin. Daruk scowled. I know my brother well, and he always does this. He wants to help everyone, but he won''t let himself be helped. The mini-argument continued for a while longer, with Andrew and Daruk lamenting the whole situation while Yurin futilely tried to defend Aodhn. Despite what he had said earlier, Andrew couldn''t help but sympathize with Aodhn. He knew how excited Aodhn was to finally pop the question and how giddy he became whenever talks of Lupin came up during random training sessions, but mostly, what hurt the most was the fact that he had helped Aodhn plan out a few of their dates. He had invested both his time and brain cells into this not-a-relationship, and he at least deserved to be notified when things went fucking south. After nearly ten minutes of arguing, they finally agreed to disagree, and Yurin muttered. Well, at least we know hes fine. Well just have to start counting down the days till he returns. Daruk sighed again, and their conversation turned towards other academy-related matters. They spoke for a few more minutes, after which they made their way towards the training hall in preparation for the upcoming selection process. Daruk and Yurin moved to one corner of the hall, with the former helping the latter in his attempt to gain a seal. Andrew didnt need the help, or at least he didnt think he did. He was working on something Aunt Fortuna had explained to him after the party, and by the time he finished, Andrew was sure he would have met the minimum requirements for a seal if not exceeded it. Until that day came though, Andrew had other important things to do. He moved to the other side of the hall and activated {Create Plants}.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. For someone who didnt much like reading, his skills were so knowledge-dependent that it was grating most times. The plant he created was a mundane plant called a plushvine, a light green, cushy vine covered in soft thorns and budding white flowers. Since there was no earth for the plushvine to anchor its roots, Andrew simply placed it on the floor and released wisps of his aura to keep the plant from dying. A quick activation of {Plant Manipulation} transformed the vine into a sort of cushion, and with a sigh, Andrew sat down on it. Unlike Aodhn, Daruk, and Yurin, Andrew wasnt so fortunate to be awarded the {Create construct} skill at the 5th tier, and although he had spent the first six weeks of resumption working to get the skill, he had made very little progress so far. At first hed thought he could accomplish the construct skill by refining his manipulation skills, but that idea had died a gruesome death after the fourth week. He could still create crude constructs such as chairs and tables, but it was more of manipulating plants into these basic shapes rather than creating them. With a sigh, he took out a large textbook and began reading. Yep, it was a weird sight; even Andrew himself knew it was weird, but after hed almost defeated Daruk using the knowledge he gained about wintervines, hed begun reading a lot more. His studies centered mostly around plants, their compositions, nature, environment, affinity, and growth factors. For the past few weeks, hed been reading up on the natural environment and composition of various mundane plants, as he couldnt create them without having a basic understanding of their nature first. He had learned so much since then, one of which was the fact that all plants, even unawakened ones, had affinities. Most of them simply bore the nature affinity, but some, like the wintervine hed referenced earlier, and a host of other plants who just barely escaped being magical bore other affinities. A good example of one such plant, and his current headache was the Silver Render, a rare plant mostly found in metal-rich regions and mountainous areas. The plant was weird, to say the least. It was shaped like an octopus, if the head was the root instead, and its tentacles were vines. The silver render had the ability to burrow easily through concrete to anchor itself and grow, and although this was not a particularly special ability among plants that grew in mountainous regions, the silver render had one prominent feature. Its vines were covered in sharp, metallic thorns shaped like barbs, and its growth rate was just through the roof. These two key features had fascinated Andrew ever since he found out about the plant, and for nearly a week now, he had been reading up on the silver render, amassing knowledge about its nature, composition, and even its reproductive cycle so he could create it. Unfortunately, he wasnt as smart as Daruk, who could probably memorize the whole textbook without issue, so that meant slowly bashing his head against the concrete walls of the training room until he could recite all important information concerning the render offhand. Sometimes, Andrew cursed his fate for creating such knowledge-dependent skills, but he definitely couldnt deny the advantages. Already, he was confident in passing the class on awakened plants without much issue, although he sadly couldnt say the same for AAT or UEA (understanding elemental affinities). UEA was still a bit manageable, but AAT was just a curse, honestly. Pushing the thoughts of the impending examinations out of his mind, Andrew focused on his textbook and continued reading. This continued until evening, after which they headed to the cafeteria for dinner before leaving for their respective residences. When Andrew got to his house, he stayed awhile in the living room to chat with his housemates, Aida, Luthir, Telula, and Derek, who unsurprisingly wanted to talk about the incident earlier. Are they being expelled? Aida asked the moment he stepped into the living room, and Andrew shook his head. Fortunately not. Just a five-day suspension. Thank the ascendants! Luthir, the only other noble resident in the house aside from him, sighed and shook his head. What would have become of us in the academy tournaments if we lost our two strongest rankers? Telula nodded in agreement, and Derek rolled his eyes from the corner where he sat, his hair alternating colors in a dizzying manner. As weird as his friends were, Andrew had a relatively good relationship with them, although he was much closer to Luthir and Aida. Telula offered him a box of chocolates, and Andrew sat down with his housemates, just talking until it was midnight. He left for his room then, and without taking off his clothes or shoes, he fell on his bed and began snoring, his mind filled with the chemical and hormonal composition of the silver render. He woke up an hour before dawn the next morning, stumbled out of his vine-covered bed, and petted the budding flowers by his window sill before kicking off his boots and letting his aura envelope the entire room. Verdant energy rushed out of him, and all the plants in his room unfurled their leaves, filling the room with the unmistakable scent of nature. Vines slithered excitedly, branches shuddered, and the fruit tree growing in one corner of the room creaked merrily as its tiny branches drank in his aura. Andrews room was a literal garden, and although his plants had very little access to sunlight, his aura more than made up for the necessity. Andrew moved from one plant to the other, watering them because his aura might have made up for sunlight, but it was no replacement for water. After tending to each plant, Andrew made his way to his bathroom, where he replied to half a dozen texts from his family members who kept expressing concern for his mental health now that he no longer had access to information about the war. Andrew constantly repeated that he was coping as best as he could, but Diendre and his mother didnt buy it. Fortuna simply asked him to send her regards to Aodhn, and although he tried to subtly ask about the war, his message was deleted before it even had the chance to send. It was infuriating to say the least, and Andrew spent an extra ten minutes in the bathroom to calm his mind before walking out of the bathroom. Fifteen minutes later, he walked out of the house to find Daruk and Yurin already waiting for him. It was a surprise to see Yurin, as he didnt usually fly with them in the mornings. He looked a little dimmer than usual, and his eyes were halfway closed as if he were asleep on his feet. I woke him up earlier than usual. Daruk explained with a small smile, and Andrew grinned. Not a morning person I see. I hate mornings. Yurin muttered sleepily. Andrew laughed and then turned to gaze at Daruk. Aodhn wasnt around today, so obviously transportation duty fell on Daruk because he couldnt make constructs and he wouldnt trust his life to Yurin in this moment. Daruk grimaced, not too keen on the prospect, but he soon came to the same conclusion as Andrew, and his expression grew even sour. Muttering in annoyance, Daruk created an ice platform that wasnt nearly as firm or sturdy as Aodhns and asked both Yurin and Andrew to hop on. Yurin sleepwalked onto the platform, somehow managing the task even in his drowsy state, but Andrew eyed the platform suspiciously and asked. Cant you make it a little wider? Daruk scowled, but the construct expanded to a more accommodating size. The thickness of the construct, however, decreased, seeming almost blade-like, and Andrew seriously doubted it would take their combined weights without cracking. He glanced at Daruk, whose expression was innocently blank, and shook his head wearily. He might not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but even he could see that Daruk was setting him up for a disaster. He scanned the construct for a moment longer before he got an idea and smiled. I wonder what Gwendolyn Tideborn would say if she found out that you lied about being busy yesterday night, when in fact, you were with Maddie Cronox doing ascendants know what. Yurin perked up immediately, and Daruk''s scowl deepened. Im doing you a favor here. Youre not doing it well. What is this about Maddie Cronox? Yurin asked. Nothing. Daruk replied hastily. Too hastily. He glared at Andrew and muttered. Where''s Aodhn when you need him most? Andrew ignored Daruk''s words and simply smiled. Id also like to request footholds. I do not want to slip to my injury. Daruk glared at him for a moment longer before acquiescing. Fine, Andrew. You win this time. Daruk thickened the construct and even created footholds that kept Andrew from sliding off the construct when he eventually climbed unto it. They zoomed off immediately, and Yurin asked again. What is this I hear about Maddie Cronox? I said nothing! Hes cheating! Daruk and Andrew replied at the same time, and despite his best efforts, Andrew found himself falling from ascendants knew what height. He screamed, certain that he would sustain a hideous bruise just because Daruk couldn''t take a fucking joke. Fortunately, a rope of light caught him just before he hit the floor, and Yurin shouted. Okay, maybe that was a little excessive. Tell me about it. Andrew shouted back, having been fully prepared to create a crater on the concrete walkway. He raised his head and glared at Daruk. Ill still tell him. Yurin, Daruk, and Maddie areahhh! A lance of ice shot towards him, and Andrew had to bend over backwards to dodge it. Realizing just what length Daruk was willing to go to keep his clandestine activities a secret, Andrew shouted. "Yurin, create your own construct and fly away if you want to hear the full gist! Yurin didnt even hesitate, and with a burst of speed, he created his own construct and zipped forward while Daruk chased them from behind, trying not to laugh as he watched Andrew dangling from beneath Yurins construct. The wind howled around him as they zoomed forward, and Andrew cursed his lack of a construct skill for the umpteenth time that week alone. The wind stole his voice though, and as Yurin swerved carelessly, smashing Andrew into the gymnasium wall, Andrew muttered. Aodhn is my only true friend. Chapter 122: The Sink Within the darkened depths of the administrative building, Aodhn lay curled in a fetal position, surrounded by thick black walls of null metal, etched with gray nullification runes that gleamed faintly. His hair, usually alive with electricity, now hung limp and dull around his head. Every so often, he opened his eyes to scan the room in a futile hope of finding something new. Every time, he was met with disappointment, and each time he released a deep sigh that stirred the air momentarily before dissipating into the oppressive silence. Oh, the silence! It was not just oppressive; it was maddening. But the absolute lack of activity was even worse. The sounds of Cyrus pounding against the null walls had ended hours ago, plunging Aodhn into a silence so absolute that it threatened to shatter his sanity. Time dragged unbearably, and once again, Aodhn opened his eyes, hoping for somethinganythingto change. Nothing did. Another deep breath of frustration escaped him, though he hadn''t truly expected anything different. It had only been seven hours, thirty-five minutes, and twenty-seven seconds since he had been placed within the sink, but he had already run out of things to do. Initially, hed been fascinated by the nullification runes, which were far more complicated than any runes hed seen so far. They filled the entire room, pulsing subtly, and despite how suffocated they made him feel, Aodhn had spent the first three hours studying them before giving up. The runes were so far above his level that even staring at them gave him a headache. He regretted that he didnt have his practice note though, as he could at least spend the time practicing, perhaps even finish the whole runic alphabet since he had so much time on his hands. Alas, life wasnt so nice. After tearing his gaze away from the nullification runes, Aodhn had shifted his attention to the walls themselves. He had seen and studied null metal before; after all, it was the instrument coach Harvey tortured them with. However, these walls were slightly different in that they glowed. Not the runes this time; the walls themselves glowed with the same grayish light as the runes. Aodhn wasnt quite sure whether it was the walls or the runes that were suppressing him, but he figured it was a collaborative effect. He wondered, however, why the null armor they wore for gym exercises each morning didnt have the same suppressive effects as this one did. He had spent the next half hour contemplating that, just because he could and because there was nothing else to do. In the end, though, he had discarded the matter as a mystery far above his meager knowledge and then began building scenarios in his mind. It was interesting at first, but he soon ran out of imaginative juice, and his mental characters grew stale. Now, nearly eight hours since he''d been placed within the sink, Aodhn had nothing else to do. To while away time, he stared at his status screen for hours, reading through his skills and titles aimlessly while counting down the seconds on the clock displayed on the corner of his status screen. Another five hours passed, and Aodhn was just about to fall into a black hole of depression when the door suddenly clanged open and moonlight streamed into the room, followed by the silhouette of the guard theyd met earlier. She pushed a tray of food towards him and growled out. Wake up stormy. Its time for dinner. Aodhn glanced at the tray of food but didnt get up to eat the surprisingly appetizing dish. The guard stared at him for a moment before dropping the tray on his bed, muttering, Ill come back for the tray in the morning. That was all she said before the door clanged shut again, plunging Aodhn back into a darkness only illuminated by the faint shimmer of runes. Aodhn sighed and turned his gaze away from the savory meal. He hadnt realized just how much hed needed the constant hustle and bustle hed experienced for the past few months. There was always so much to do with so little time that Aodhn barely had the time to dwell on his emotions. The constant activity had kept him centered and focused, but now, with nothing to do and with nothing to occupy his mind, Aodhn felt that he now understood the meaning of mental torture. After his imaginative juice had run out, his mind had shifted to less imaginative things. Bloodier things. Perhaps he should have been over the Raventhorn incident by now, but for some reason, his mind won''t just let the matter go. History always repeats itself. The words of the eagle-eyed librarian echoed in his mind, but Aodhn banished them with a violent shake of his head. Im nothing like him. Aodhn muttered to himself, his voice echoing in the silent room. He didnt want to end up like Azmarthon had, but with the way things were going, it seemed fate truly was the one pulling the strings. I could really use your advice right now. He whispered into the silence several minutes later, hoping to hear Azmarthons fatherly voice again, if only to end the torture his mind was inflicting on him, but nothing came, and Aodhn wondered if the voice was gone forever. He hadnt heard the voice since that day in the tournament, when hed desperately needed to push forward. Was that the trigger? He whispered again, but when he still didn''t receive a response, he shut his eyes in frustration and resisted the urge to bang his head against the metallic floor. He was angry. But this time, the emotion stemmed from him alone. It wasnt the searing rage he was used to, but it still simmered, enough to make his chest tighten uncomfortably. He was angry at principal Zatya, and he was angry at Cyrus, but most of all, he was angry with himself for losing sight of his initial objectives, which were to escape the war, explore his new abilities in peace, and not end up like Azmarthon. He had failed at the first, but the second and third were still attainable, and to do that, he needed to get rid of this rage simmering within him, master his bond with Varc, and get rid of his growing apathy towards death.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. The latter was something he had noticed recently. At first, hed blamed it on the twisted effect, but when that had passed and the numbness still remained, Aodhn had realized that he was cooked. It wasnt very serious yet. He still got sick at the sight of blood or a terribly mutilated body, but he wasnt as affected as he used to be, and Aodhn was very concerned. He needed to get rid of it before he became the very thing he was trying to avoid The second was also doable. He just needed to speak with someone who had a familiar to know how they handled the intermingling emotions. As he thought of whom to speak to, he remembered that Principal Zatya had a familiar, and although he didnt see it frequently, he had seen the bizarre creature before. Perhaps when he got out of here, he would speak with her. That left him with the rage, which he believed would be a lot more manageable if his control over Varc increased. The simmering rage was a boon if he was being honest, and Aodhn just wanted it to return to its dormant state rather than be rid of it entirely. He needed to be able to harness it anytime he wanted but be free of it whenever he didnt. Was that too much to ask? He contemplated the matter for hours before finally standing up to eat his food. After eating, he discarded the plate and returned to his bed, where he did nothing more than stare at the glowing walls and beg the ascendants for sleep. Aodhn wasnt sure when he eventually drifted off to sleep, but when he woke up the next day, he found out that the tray from last night had been swapped with a tray of steaming pancakes and a pile of textbooks. The fact that someone had walked in on him while he was asleep bugged him terribly, and for the umpteenth time, Aodhn cursed the nullification runes for dampening his senses. He picked up the textbooks and scanned them. None of them were relevant to his courses or particularly interesting topics; nevertheless, Aodhn was happy to have something to occupy his time with. He sent a mental thanks to the guard before picking up the tray and settling down on the bed to read the entire day away. The first book was a hefty tome titled An in-depth study of dungeons and Rifts. It was an old book, written almost a century ago; nevertheless, Aodhn was interested to see what it contained and how different things had been compared to now. With a grin, he picked up a slice of pancake and began reading. Dungeons and Rifts are chaotic anomalies that spawn throughout the world, threatening the balance of life; if not, well monitored. Though they share similarities, they differ greatly in composition and nature. Dungeons are stable, structured environments, typically underground or within spatial pockets. They resemble vast caverns or labyrinthine networks filled with traps, treasures, and powerful monsters. They are semi-permanent, with a distinct core that sustains their existence. Destroying the core collapses the dungeon. Rifts, on the other hand, are volatile, tear-like distortions in reality that serve as portals to alternate planes of existence or dimensions. Unlike dungeons, rifts are unstable and prone to rapidly growing or shrinking. They often involve untamed and unpredictable environmental conditions only suitable for a particular class of awakeneds and birth creatures specifically tailored to said class... Aodhn kept reading, actually enjoying the quietness of his mind as he soaked in knowledge he was already aware of. This quiet read continued until he reached a paragraph discussing corruption within the adventurers guild, which was at the time using its monopoly over public dungeons and rifts for profit. Aodhn had always suspected the adventurers guild of corruption, but it seemed it had been even more obvious centuries ago. During their travels for several events around the kingdom a week ago, Aodhn had seen a few public dungeons that he would have loved to at least visit had they not been on such a tight schedule, but hopefully he would be able to do so after the examination. After a few hours of reading, Aodhn suddenly came across a theory that stated that stable rifts were crafted from an intricate mesh of spatial and planer runes. The theory was simply referenced, but it piqued Aodhns interest so much that he made up his mind to find out more when he was released from this hideous place. It made sense to Aodhn. However, he doubted even the lowest of rifts could be created with anything other than grand or elder runes. To affect and manipulate reality on such a level couldnt be easy. But then that begged the question: if even evolved rifts were made of elder runes or grand runes, how intricate would such runes have to be to create a calamity rift? He contemplated the matter for a long moment, but eventually had to file it among the growing list of things he wanted to look up when he eventually got out of the sink. Despite the voluminous text, it only took Aodhn a few hours to completely finish the text, after which he took up the second textbook, which was a study on the anatomy of certain creatures most commonly found in low-level dungeons. He spent the next few hours looking at pictures of several creatures, from goblins to drakes and even dragons. He read about their weaknesses and strengths, the chinks in their natural armor, and their common attack patterns. It was an interesting read, to say the least, and by the time he finished with the book, evening had descended. He picked up the last book and grimaced when he realized it was an extensive study of cartography and the Lutian map. Aodhn had never liked geography, and he just couldnt bring himself to read the book. Discarding the book, he laid down on his bed and closed his eyes, choosing to meditate on what hed read in the first two books instead. Time passed quickly this time, and before he knew it, night had fallen. The door creaked a few minutes later, and Aodhn opened his eyes to see the guard holding his dinner. This time, Aodhn sat up and rushed towards the door in gratitude. Thanks for the books. I really enjoyed them. The guard handed the tray to him and nodded. Ill return with more books tomorrow. Thank you so much once again. The text on dungeons and rifts was interesting as well as the The door shut in his face with a loud clang, and Aodhn sighed. He just wanted to talk, goddamit. He hadnt spoken to a single soul in almost two days now. With a frustrated sigh, he grabbed the tray and moved back to the bed. The third day passed in almost the same manner, although this time he spent it reading about aspects and icons, a spiritual achievement that was still way above his pay grade. He slept peacefully that night, his mind filled with all the new knowledge hed gained, and he began to think that perhaps this wasnt a punishment after all, but a gift. Aodhn woke up the next morning to the clanging of bolts and smiled as the delicious smell of roasted meat wafted to his nose. However, when he opened his eyes, an undignified scream ripped itself out of his throat, and he immediately jumped to his feet. Hed been expecting to find a tray of sizzling meat before him; instead, looking up at him was a scarred child standing about a foot away from him. The child stared up at him curiously, but close observation soon revealed that this was no child; rather, it was a man in a childs body. The man-child had dull black hair with two long scars running down the length of his chin on either side of his face. The scars were jagged as if they hadn''t been properly treated, and his facial structure was weird. The man-child wore an anti-nullification band around his wrist and sat cross-legged on a small wooden chair, eating a meal that was supposed to be his. Fear, shock, surprise. The man-child stated as he licked his fingers and then proceeded to wipe those hands on his chest. Not quite as unique as I''d been led to believe. I was expecting you to lead with anger or fear instead. He held out a piece of chicken to Aodhn and asked. Would you like some? Aodhn, who had been staring open-mouthed at the circus freak wannabe, finally found his voice and asked. Who the fuck are you? The man-child smiled and licked his fingers again. "Hi, big human. My name is Helzarvauth, your new therapist. Chapter 123: Magical Therapy Aodhn stared at the man-child in confusion. Now, this was no normal confusion. His brain wasn''t just taking a coffee break; it had literally resigned, packed its box, and left the scenario without looking back. Never in the last three months since hed appeared on ?FYMN had he ever expected to hear the word therapy, and he certainly hadnt expected it to be offered by a guy who looked like the physical manifestation of trauma itself. Therapy was for Earthlings, not for awakened beings who could level a city without a second thought. Then again, maybe awakeneds needed therapy even more than Earthlings because of the twisted effect and all. Aodhn imagined Azmarthon would have greatly benefited from it. That didn''t detract from the fact that it was a bizarre concept to encounter in a world like this, and Aodhn was completely at a loss on how to handle it. Ascendants and calamities like Azmarthon might need therapy, but not him. He hated the thing. Therapists were like snakes, always manipulating and wanting to discuss matters best left unsaid. This was obviously not his first time seeing a therapist. After hed been brought to the monastery by those travelers, the monks had tried to help him mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. They had failed on all accounts except the second, and after his 11th birthday, they had eventually relented and sent him to see a therapist, even though according to master Gyatso, therapists were heathens who would burn in hell for all the good they pretended to do with peoples minds. Aodhn had thought master Gyatso probably needed the therapy more than he did at the time. For all of Aodhn''s hesitance and insistence that he really was fine and didn''t need a therapist, the monks were adamant, and in the end, Aodhn had been led to see a sketchy-looking therapist in the city who had been able to poke at his trauma with alarming ease. Perhaps if he had kept an open mind, he might have liked it, or maybe even enjoyed it, but hed hated it. The sketchy old woman was a demon. All shed ever wanted to talk about were Aodhns parents and the events surrounding his life before he''d gotten into the forest. Those were memories Aodhn had a hard time even remembering, talk less of discussing. The memories were easier to talk about now, but at eleven, they had hurt like a knife to his heart. The pain might have become easier to bear, but Aodhn still wasnt comfortable talking about his life with people, much less with sketchy-looking man-children who ate other people''s meals while they were asleep. He had even had trouble discussing the matter with Daruk, who was the person he trusted most in this world, and that was saying something. Maybe he did need the man-childs therapy after all, but Aodhn didnt want it. He glared at the scarred man and replied. I think youve got the wrong prison cell, Helzarvauth. I have no need for your services. Helzarvauth stared at him silently for a moment before letting out an eerie smile. Thats a lot of emotions you just cycled through in the last few seconds. Confusion, anger, fear, distaste, nostalgia, sadness, regret, and finally denial. He picked up another piece of roasted meat and continued. Even if I thought I was in the wrong cell, the rage simmering beneath the surface of your emotions definitely identifies you as my client. Aodhn''s eyes widened, and he realized the situation was even more dire than hed imagined earlier. He staggered backwards and cursed. Fuck! Youre a freaking empath. You shouldn''t be here. This is a private cell! And here I thought you were smart. Helzarvauth tsked, sniffed the air theatrically, then clicked his tongue. It seems I was mistaken. What? "Never meet your heroes, I suppose," Helzarvauth muttered with a strained grin, viciously tearing into a chicken leg. Aodhn, on the other hand, was caught up on a single word: hero. Hold on, Im your hero?" Ascendants help us, no! Helzarvauth laughed, pacing the room as though inspecting it for hidden emotions. Youre far too weak to earn that title. Aodhn frowned, offended by the offhand statement. He had nothing against Empaths; after all, Aldric was one himself; however, Aldric was a respecter of boundaries when it came to family. He never delved too deeply into their emotions, and even if he did, he''d never teased or probed them about it. Aodhn had no problem being friends with an Empath, but Helzarvauth was the exact kind of Empath he feared. The nosy, always in your business kind, that was always prying for secrets, and since Helzarvauth was so much stronger than Aldric, it was to be expected that he could sense Aodhns emotions even better or perhaps even read people''s minds like Aldric could. Aodhn couldnt have that. Making up his mind, he glared at Helzarvauth and said. I appreciate your concern, but I do not need a therapist. I am perfectly fine, both physically and mentally. Helzavauth waved a dismissive hand and laughed. Nonsense! Everyone needs a therapist. Especially someone with your colorful emotional palate. He sniffed again. Ah, yes... so much guilt and anger. And theres something deeper, isn''t there? Ah, pain. But well get there later. Aodhn scowled and began moving towards the entrance. Im not interested. Oh, but you are, Helzavauth grinned, casually crossing his legs on an invisible stool. Youre just not ready to admit it to yourself. That tight knot in your chest? The one that gets worse whenever you think of herLupin, wasnt it? Aodhn flinched, his anger flashing briefly. Thatsstay out of my business. Ah, so it is Lupin, Helzavauth grinned, his eyes twinkling. I cant believe I nailed that on the first try. And that simmering rage? Oh, youre more frustrated with yourself than anyone else. Still feeling guilty about the whole Raventhorn situation, arent you? And that lust! Whos Meredith? He closed his eyes, inhaling deeply, as if savoring the cocktail of guilt and desire swirling around Aodhn''s gut. Mmm, the sharpness of it. Absolutely delightful! Aodhns face flushed crimson as Helzarvauth spoke, but his emotions flatlined the moment he mentioned the Raventhorn event. Barely thirty minutes in, and this man-child had already unearthed half his secrets. He couldnt let him dig deeperthe Raventhorn incident was bad enough. How can I bribe you to stay out of my business? He asked, his voice tight. What do you want? Money? A discussion about my familiar Helzarvauth waved a hand dismissively. I already know all I need to know about your business, and you cant bribe me to keep out of your business. Im here to help. I dont want your help! Aodhn growled. Im fine. Do you see me spiraling out of control? Ive got it handled. Principal Zatya shouldnt have called you. What the fuck was she thinking? Rather than respond directly, Helzarvauth sniffed the air and muttered. Fear, caution, fear, fear again. Thats a lot of fear. Did you not hear me? "Oh, I did, Aodhn. As you well know, in the Advanced class, awakeneds are no longer prone to such mundane deformities. Aodhn wanted to blurt out that the man-child was the exact definition of deformity, but he held his tongue. He wasnt that cruel. Helzarvauth, however, picked up on his emotion and scowled. And here I thought you were a kind little boy.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. Well, Im not. You should leave. Helzarvauth clicked his tongue, and his grin widened. Oh, but I cant, Aodhn. Our session is yet to begin, and we still have a lot to discuss. Like your loss of control three days ago and your fight with Cyrus. You were ready to kill him. You would have done it if Rahim hadn''t shown up. Am I wrong? Aodhn looked away. You dont know anything about me. Dont I? Helzavauth countered, now pacing leisurely. Youre a seventeen-year-old storm awakened who bears a lot of guilt for the deaths of a few sleepers and unimportant awakeneds. You are also quite famous for bonding with a familiar at the evolved tier, and you are so good at pretending you are handling it all so well, arent you? Youve got so many unresolved emotions that I cant literally see them clinging to you like dead weights. Not to mention the added emotions that bleed in from your familiar and then the new perk... He sighed and shook his head. You need my help, kid. Now sit down and let me help you. Aodhn closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose, unable to deny the truth in Helzarvauths words, and for the first time since the man-child came in, Aodhn let himself be a little less guarded. My anger at Cyrus was justified. He had it coming. Helzarvauths playful smirk slowly vanished, replaced by a curious professional mask. He took out a notepad from his spatial space and said, Lets discuss that. Perhaps before the end of todays session, we can untangle all these emotions tied to Cyrus. Aodhn still felt a little anxious, but he trudged back to his bed and sat down. What now? Lets talk about Cyrus. What was your first interaction with him like? Aodhn frowned and tried to remember the first time he and Cyrus had ever spoken a word to each other. He grimaced when he realized that his first conversation with Cyrus had literally been his first fight with that spatial mage. He narrated the whole limit confrontation to Helzarvauth, and when he was done, Helzarvauth nodded. So Cyrus was aggressive, condescending, and violent. I take it your interactions devolved from there. Yeah. Aodhn shrugged. But it got worse recently. I mean, hes never liked me, but after the break, its like he hates me. And how did you handle that? Aodhn scowled. How was I supposed to handle it? I ignored him until... "You lost control? Helzarvauth finished uncertainly, but Aodhn shook his head. I was perfectly in control when we fought. I was just sick of the whole thing. You mean after you almost smashed his girlfriends skull to dust? That that was a mistake. So you did lose control? Yes. Aodhn replied through gritted teeth. After the tower challenge, my bond with Varc deepened, and I didnt realize it until it was too late. It no longer matters. Ive found a solution to it. All I need to do is gain more control over Varc''s emotions, and Ill be fine. Helzarvauth nodded and wrote something in his notebook. I suggest you do that as fast as possible. Dealing with one emotional pool is hard enough, let alone two. He pursed his lips and continued. With the bleeding emotions sorted, lets talk about that tight knot of emotions in your chest. Tell me about Lupin. Aodhn scowled. I dont want to. Helzarvauth sighed. Thats exactly your problem. You have so many emotions buried within you that require attention, but youd rather push them to the back of your mind rather than deal with them. Aodhns scowl deepened. Emotions are hard for me. Helzavauths gaze softened. They are hard for everyone, Aodhn. But if you never deal with them, theyll never go away. Aodhn sighed and leaned against the wall. Fine. Where do I start from? Your recent breakup would be a good place to start. Aodhn sighed again and took a moment to gather his thoughts before responding. I feel sad Hurt and heartbroken is more like it. Helzarvauth cut him off. Youre so good at pushing aside your emotions that even now you belittle them. Id prefer if you were more honest. Aodhn stuttered. I Im hurt and depressed. I thought we were going to get together during the break, but that didnt work out, and then when we resumed She broke your heart. Ah, young love. Helzarvauth teased, struggling to keep a smile suppressed. Aodhn scowled at him, Are you mocking me? Helzarvauth shrugged unapologetically. This would be a terribly boring session if I took everything you said too seriously. Aodhn shook his head in mild annoyance and the session continued. They discussed his breakup with Lupin extensively, after which they discussed his interactions with Cyrus and then his new perk, as well as the effect of his deepened bond with Varc. The entire session stretched for almost two hours, and when Aodhn thought Helzarvauth would ask about the whole Raventhorn thing, the man-child smirked at him and closed his notepad. This has been a very interesting session, Mr. Brystion. Well pick it up next week. I wont be here next week. He replied, although he was very relieved that the whole thing was over for now. Helzarvauth chuckled. I know that dummy. Ill just have to wait until Eldrith is done manhandling you before taking over. Aodhn grimaced at the thought, but before Helzarvauth left the cell, he asked. Can you actually see my emotions? Helzarvauth paused, his expression turning somber for a moment before returning to the professional mask he had worn for most of the session. I can. I see them in layers. The biggest knots of traumatizing emotions are way down at the bottom, while the other pesky yet important knots stay on top. The unimportant ones swirl around you like a cloud, while trauma scars wrap around you like chains, dragging you down with each breath. Aodhn was speechless. He certainly hadn''t expected the visuals Helzarvauth''s words painted, yet it made him feel so seen that it was scary. If Helzarvauth could see all he said he could, then what about his trauma revolving around his parents? Why hadnt he mentioned it? Ill see you next week. Helzarvauth smiled sadly and walked out of the room before Aodhn could say anything. The guard shut the door a moment later, and Aodhn sighed as an uncomfortable silence descended. The image Helzarvauth had described scared him, and as he sat in the room thinking, he wondered, perhaps if he needed to take therapy more seriously this time. YURIN Yurin stood within an empty training room after the class on Awakened Advancement Theory (AAT), clutching a sword construct tightly in his hand. After ten breaths, he dashed forward and slashed with a speed only a few in his tier bracket could replicate or surpass. The sword cut through the air with a whistle, but Yurin barely registered it, too caught up in his own thoughts. He had to be better, to be stronger and faster. He couldnt ever afford to give up. Those words had been seared into his heart ever since the day his younger brother was killed by bandits right in front of him. He had tried to fight them off, but there were too many. In the end, Yurin had done the unthinkablehe ran, abandoning his brother to bleed out on a nameless road in Sector 8. Hed never forgiven himself for giving up, and that incident had scarred him for life. He couldnt ever give up again. He couldnt ever relent or succumb. He had to be unyielding, relentless, and persistent. The sword sliced through the air again, and with each movement, it moved faster and faster until it was practically a blur to his senses. With each breath, Yurin pushed himself to be faster and brighter. Those were the properties of light, and he intended to emulate them in hopes that he would catch the attention of his origin plane and finally gain a seal. He had been training nonstop ever since the class on awakened combat last week, and although his sword welding had vastly improved, he didnt seem to be getting anywhere near his actual goal. Sweat dripped from his golden locks, but he paid it no mind even as his arms ached and his muscles spasmed. You cant give up! He muttered to himself. You cant give up, Yurin. You must be relentless. Anyone watching him now would recognize the tenacity and persistence they had seen and admired in him during the first tournament. It was beautiful and inspiring, but it sadly wasnt enough to gain the attention of the origin plane. After almost an hour of constant training, Yurin finally collapsed to the concrete floor, heaving and gasping for breath as his body shuddered from stress. He spent the next few minutes on the floor before pushing himself to a sitting position. Okay, what am I doing wrong? He asked himself, his voice echoing in the empty room. To gain a seal required intimate knowledge and understanding of ones affinity, and Yurin had read all the books about the nature of light affinity that he could find in the library. Many books classified light as an element, closely related to sunlight and heat, while others classified it in a different category entirely, calling it a divine affinity along with darkness, which some considered an infernal affinity. Yurin wasnt concerned with the classifications though; he just wanted to understand the affinity. To do so, he had read every book he could find on past ascendants and ascendant candidates who wielded the light affinity. There were, unsurprisingly, very few, as light was a very complex affinity. Some, like the high priestess of Fourfey, used light in a divine sense; some, like Ascendant candidate Lightus, used it as an element, and others, like Champion Luminus of Sunstone, used it as a concept. Yurin was yet to decide how he wanted to use his affinity, though, but that wasn''t really important right now. What mattered to Yurin right now was to figure out what light meant to him, but even after several hours of study, the answer wasnt forthcoming. Yet he couldnt give up. He spent the next few hours meditating and thinking, after which he stood up again and continued practicing his sword. He had to get a seal before the selection process began, and he wouldnt give up until he did. Chapter 124: Released The days passed slowly, but on the morning of the sixth day, Aodhn woke up to find Rahim leaning casually against the walls of his cell, an anti-nullification ring glinting on his fingers. Rise and shine, stormy. Rahim greeted with a wide smile. Aodhn scowled at his mentor even though he was happy to see him. Were not on speaking terms. He muttered as he adjusted his rumpled self and stood up from the bed. Rahim simply chuckled and asked. How are you feeling? Much better. Aodhn admitted. He wasnt sure if it was something Helzarvauth had done or just the consequences of talking about his emotions with someone, but he felt better and lighter. A part of him was even looking forward to his next meeting with Helzarvauth, even though he was still apprehensive around the nosy empath. Im glad. Rahim replied sincerely, and when Aodhn stepped out of the cell, he said. Youve missed a few classes and exercises, but not enough to terribly affect your grades. I really hope youve learned to stop fighting within the schools premises. He had it coming. Aodhn insisted and rolled his eyes. But yeah, next time someone attacks me, Ill come running to the principal for help like a scared little baby. Rahim sighed. The rules are there for a reason, Aodhn. We will not have you students kill yourselves all because you want to defend your petty egos. Aodhn didnt respond. He understood Rahims point; it just felt weird. While they walked to Cyruss cell, Aodhns mind drifted to the number of classes he had missed. Awakened Plants and Herbology on Friday, AAT on Monday, and Understanding Elemental Affinities on Tuesday. Aside from the classes, though, he had also missed training with Eldrith and the rift delving session hed planned with Andrew and Daruk. A cough from Rahim drew his mind back to the present, and Aodhn found the guard standing beside Cyruss cell with a tray containing all their items in hand. She opened the door to reveal Cyrus surrounded by half a dozen exercise equipment. Even now he was lifting high-density null weights the size of a trucks tire, and Aodhn mentally kicked himself for not having thought of doing the same. Youre free to go, Mr. Valerion. The guard muttered when Cyrus finally deigned to acknowledge their presence. Aodhn tried not to take offense at the rude gesture, but he just couldnt help it. He did manage to contain a scowl though and simply shook his head as he reached into the extended tray and took out his chain and chip. Is it finally time, Jackross? Cyrus asked, still lifting the weights as if they weighed nothing at all. "Yes, it is. Rahim responded with a faint scowl, irritated by Cyruss actions. When Cyrus still didnt respond, Rahim flared his aura, infused his voice with willpower, and glared at him. Put down the weights, Cyrus. Impudence isnt a good color on you. Cyrus scowled but finally heeded Rahims words, and fifteen minutes later, the three of them finally stepped out of the sink. Aodhn and Cyrus both breathed a sigh of relief as their cores sprang back to life and energy surged through their pathways once more. Aodhns chain tingled slightly, and multiple notification pings sounded in his mind as more than a dozen messages made themselves known. The first thing he did was create a new storm scarf that he wrapped around his neck lovingly before taking the time to scrutinize his spirit. His connection to Varc had returned, and he spent the next few minutes assuring Varc that he was fine and no, they didnt need to kill anyone for caging him for the last five days. After assuring Varc, Aodhn turned his attention to his core, then his pathways, and finally the opening within his spirit. He scrutinized each one until he was certain they were all in working order and hadnt been mutated or affected by the nullification runes before finally turning his attention to his seal. Do you want me to create a portal to your residence? Rahim asked, breaking Aodhns concentration, and when he turned, he realized that Cyrus had left them already. No, thank you. Im good. Aodhn replied, and Rahim nodded, saying. Be careful, Aodhn; Id rather not have to drag you out of the sink again. Rahim teleported away the next instant, leaving Aodhn standing in front of the admin building with nothing but the chilly morning air for company. Not wanting to be alone after five days of loneliness, Aodhn summoned Varc from his spirit and smiled when the Fury appeared with a rumble of thunder and chaos essence. Varc tackled him to the ground, and Aodhn laughed, glad there was no one here to see him. Im fine, Varc, I promise. Do I look injured? Varc growled worriedly, and Aodhn nodded. Yeah, we have to work on that Varc. We cant keep losing control and attacking people with an intent to kill them. Varc growled again, and Aodhn petted his snout. Dont worry, well figure something out. Maybe we should talk with the principal. Varc growled again, this time in annoyance, and Aodhn chuckled. Youre absolutely right. Shes a terrible person. As he spoke, he suddenly felt the attention of the principal and a few other advanced-class individuals on him, but Aodhn ignored them. He was angry with Principal Zatya, and the next time she summoned him to her office, he was definitely going to give her a piece of his mind. After a few more minutes of reassuring discussions, Aodhn mounted Varc, and a couple minutes later, they descended onto the roof of house 14. Fortunately, no one was home. No doubt, they were all at the gym undergoing another one of Coach Harveys torturous routines. He definitely didnt miss that part of school. Varc returned to Aodhns spirit, but when Aodhn entered his room, he came out again and settled on the pristine bed while Aodhn went to the bathroom for his first bath in five days. His tier of advancement didnt require him to bathe as frequently as he used to, but the last five days had been a true test of his limits. While he washed himself, he went through the messages on his chip. Most of them were from Daruk, Yurin, and Andrew, who had been worried about him, while others were from some of his other friends, such as Aida, Scarlett, Ayisha, and even Lupin. Unrid had also texted, urging Aodhn to write a letter so Synov would stop prowling around the house worriedly like a deranged cat. Aodhn replied to Unrids message, promising to send a letter as soon as he could before closing the message menu and switching to the leaderboards. Even with him and Cyrus gone for the past five days, there was barely any real change on the leaderboards except a few names that had been shuffled around. Leaderboards. Tower of Ascension (1st year) Aodhn Brystion, Level 261st [01:37] Cyrus Valerion, Level 252nd [17:45] Lilith Bloodmoon, Level 253rd [10:14] [14:37] Lysirel Cosmind, Level 254th [08:17] [13:12] Daruk Brystion, Level 255th [00:22] [13:07] Cameron Lorde, Level 25 Level 256th [00:00] Alesh Vilaris, Level 247th [12:14] [19:45] Azul Fetherson, Level 248th [04:36] [15:32] Isis Anvindr, Level 249th [02:12] [10:11] Grendar Bladewynn, Level 2410th [09:10] [08:12]
Cameron had somehow weaseled his way into the 25th level even though it was obvious hed barely spent a second within it, and somehow Grendars second run was much worse than the first, which had pushed her to the tenth rank, just below Isis and Azul. Aodhn couldnt deny the fact that he took more than a little pleasure in seeing Grendar fall. It would have been so much better if it had fallen below the top ten. Apart from those changes, though, the leaderboard had barely changed, but now that Cyrus was out of the sink, Aodhn expected the competition to resume. After bathing, Aodhn put on his uniform, laced his boots, cajoled Varc back into his spirit, and without further ado, headed towards the runic lab. The lab was unsurprisingly empty when he arrived, so Aodhn moved to his usual workbench, donned his lab suit, and took out his practice note. He wanted to try and draw the nullification runes hed seen within the sink, but they were much more complex than they had seemed, and his memory wasnt so accurate. He battled with the rune for the next fifteen minutes before giving up and moving on to the 10th runic alphabet, THALVIND, the rune of darkness and shadows. The rune seemed to be the inverse of LUMUS, and although it was a lot more complex, Aodhn was unfazed. While the other first-year students wheezed and gasped for breath in the gymnasium, Aodhn worked diligently on the tenth rune. He was still working on the rune when the small door at the front of the lab suddenly opened, and Professor Caldwell poked her head out of it with a curious expression. Her hair was messed up from what seemed to be an experiment gone wrong, and when she saw him, she raised an eyebrow and smiled. Welcome to the land of the living, Mr. Brystion. I hope your stay in the sink wasnt too unpleasant. Aodhn smiled awkwardly. Its not an experience I want to repeat any time soon. Good morning, Professor Caldwell. Professor Caldwell chuckled. I can understand that. Good morning to you too, Aodhn. Can you help me with something? Absolutely. What do you need? Aodhn quickly closed his book and rushed forward. Ever since hed started taking this course, hed been curious to know what was behind that small door, and now that he was finally being offered the opportunity, how could he possibly say no? Professor Caldwell waved him through the small entrance, and Aodhns expression collapsed in mild disappointment. Hed been expecting a grand display of machinery, runes, and... Aodhn wasnt sure what exactly he had been expecting, but he definitely hadnt expected to see a simple workshop littered with scraps of metal, animal fur, bones, and some crystals. The only impressive structure within the workshop was a sleek forge that emitted vibrant blue flames from what seemed to be advanced plasma jets, surrounded by smooth, metallic surfaces. Suspended above the blue flames was a black, hiltless sword crafted from bone.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Despite the burning forge, the workshop was surprisingly cool, and a quick glance around the workshop revealed large chimneys on the roof as well as an array of ISA runes that pumped chilly air into the small space. Professor Caldwell walked towards the forge and motioned for him to follow her. When they reached the forge, Aodhn scrutinized the bone sword and asked. What do you need my help with, Professor? Professor Caldwell looked at the bone sword and sighed. This is the femur of a tier 27 Mamacore. It has been crudely shaped into a sword, which I intend to inscribe and present to my grandson by evening for his awakening ceremony. She chuckled and shook her head. Some grandmother I am. I should have done this weeks ago, but this is the best base material I can find on such short notice. Aodhn was surprised to hear that Professor Caldwell was a grandmother. She didnt look a day over thirty. He shouldnt have been surprised since she wasnt the first such kind of person hed met in his life. Principal Zatya was definitely over a century old, although she didnt appear to be a day above thirty either. He glanced at the floating sword, which seemed almost resistant to the flames, and asked. What was the affinity of the Mamacore? Professor Caldwell snorted. Earth. Its entirely unimpressive, and its only noteworthy ability is its resistance to fire. Its not exactly the best material for a sword, but theres nothing I can do about that. Ill just have to make it work. Aodhn scrunched his face and shook his head in disappointment. An earth sword doesnt seem so useful. It isnt. Professor Caldwell nodded in agreement. Thats why I need to scrape the bone clean of its previous affinity and add a new one. I would have simply used my affinity, fire, but my grandson is averse to the element. Lightning though, thats something he definitely likes. She scowled and shook her head. Children these days, always picking and choosing. Aodhn chuckled, not really understanding why people hated one affinity and loved another. He would be perfectly content with any affinity, although, to be honest, if he had been given a chance to choose, he definitely saw himself going either with nature or something nature-related. I wasnt exactly expecting you to be available, Professor Caldwell continued with a chuckle. I was hoping to find either Lyra, Yurin, or Ankaz, but Im glad I found you because then I can take the rarity of the weapon up a notch. Aodhn grinned, excited to witness and take part in his first ever forgemastery experiment. How do you intend to increase the rarity? He asked, and Professor Caldwell winked conspiratorially. Chaos infusion. Aodhn understood immediately and focused his attention on the sword. What do you want me to do? Not yet. Professor Caldwell grinned, enjoying his enthusiasm. First, I need to erase the affinity and energy residues within this bone, and for that Ill need a VoidEraser. You can watch for now, but what I really need you for is to open your spirit to the origin plane and channel that chaos energy directly into the bone so we can attune the blade to your affinity instead. Aodhn barely understood half of what Professor Caldwell had just said; however, he was too eager to ask questions and just nodded instead. Professor took the VoidEraser, a torus-shaped metallic instrument, inlaid with what seemed to be solid void essence. She passed the blade into the eraser, and slowly, the natural affinity of the bone began to fade, its black color paling to a whitish-gray color as earth essence trailed off the bone like smoke. The process was slow going, but Aodhn noticed that as more of the bones natural affinity was erased, it became less resistant to the flames, and at one point, when the eraser was nearly halfway through the bone, it began to darken again, this time from the char of flames. Professor Caldwell reduced the intensity of the flames after each round, trying to maintain a balance, but more often than not, the bone suffered damage. Professor Caldwell didnt seem too concerned, though, simply continuing the erasing process until the unburnt part of the bone was as white as snow. Aodhn watched with rapt attention for about fifteen minutes until Professor Caldwell finally dropped the VoidEraser and sighed. There, the hardest part is over. Now Ill just have to inscribe an Affinity rune and an Attuned-Aspect rune on the bone whilst preventing it from crumbling to pieces. Aodhn frowned at the mention of an unfamiliar rune and asked, What is an Attuned-Aspect rune? Professor Caldwell picked up her inscriber and replied to his question with a question of her own. You know what aspects are right? Aodhn nodded. He wouldnt say he knew exactly what they were, but he had a vague idea of what they were about. In his understanding, aspects could be referred to as the branches of an element or other affinities closely intertwined with another. Basically, aspects made up an affinity. For instance, the aspects of a storm were wind, water, sound, light, darkness, and so on. Light and darkness werent as closely intertwined with storms as wind and water, but they were still important building blocks in the formation of a storm. He explained as much to Professor Caldwell, and she smiled. Very good. I see that youve been taking your AAT studies seriously. Aodhn grinned at the praise and she continued. Well, when you channel your energy into an item, you channel all of these aspects at once even though you naturally cannot access them until the mythic tier, where you slowly gain the ability to control and manipulate each aspect, but I digress. What an Attuned-Aspect rune does is filter all these other aspects in favor of one. In this case well be discarding the other aspects in favor of lightning, although in the case of Storm Awakeneds, lightning isnt really considered an aspect. Anyway, well discard the other aspects so only lightning essence gets into the blade. Aodhn frowned. What about chaos? Wont the filter hinder it? Professor Caldwell snorted and rolled her eyes. Chaos? Ill pay good money to see a rune that can hinder chaos. She began inscribing the blade a moment later, and Aodhn watched her closely. The Attuned-Aspect rune wasnt one he was familiar with, but as professor Caldwell drew the rune, he could immediately tell that it was nothing less than a grand rune. The rune was so complex and delicate that Aodhn just had to ask. What rank is this rune? Its a pseudo-elder rune. Professor Caldwell replied, chuckling at Aodhns frown of confusion before explaining. Okay, there are four major categories of runes, but there are some that fall into subcategories. For instance, this rune is too complex to be a grand rune but not complex enough to be an elder rune, so it falls into a subcategory. Nothing special about the subcategories. Aodhn nodded in understanding while Professor Caldwell explained. He had always wondered what rank a storm rune would be. Hed been leaning toward the advanced rank, but now he wondered if perhaps it was a pseudo-advanced rune. What rank is a storm rune? he asked, and Professor Caldwell smiled as if shed seen that question coming a mile away. You know, when professor Alaric told me you, Ankaz and Celeste had already begun activating runes, I knew you would eventually ask me this question. Let me advise you, kid, youre not ready yet. The more complex an affinity, the harder the rune, and when I say complex, I mean the number of aspects intertwined with such an affinity. The element of storm is not a simple one; it is a pseudo-grand rune, and until you can easily inscribe advanced runes, I suggest you take your mind off it. Aodhn sighed in disappointment. Hed been looking forward to perfecting the rune and start merging it with other runes, but it seemed he would have to push his expectations even further. One thing baffled him though: if the base rune for Storm was at the pseudo-grand rank, then didnt that mean that any merging he wanted to do would push the rune into the grand rank? Focus Aodhn. Professor Caldwells words drew him out of his thoughts, and Aodhn focused his attention on the blade, which threatened to crumble to pieces at the slightest touch. The erasing process had weakened the bone terribly, and as Professor Caldwell inscribed the Attuned-Aspect rune on its surface, it shuddered imperceptibly. As simple as Professor Caldwell made the inscriptions look, Aodhn knew it was far from easy; however, watching Professor Caldwell work granted him some insight into his own work. It usually took him about a minute or two to draw a single initiate rune, more if it was slightly complex, but Professor Caldwell drew a pseudo-grand rune in the same amount of time. Less even as shed added the affinity rune during the same duration. Her speed was still nowhere near that of the Witch of Selia, Geneva Ryntharion, who threw out elder runes like candy. Aodhn suspected that Champion Geneva had most likely created the rune ahead of time, a feat that wasnt too hard to believe considering the absurd amount of fur she wore to cover her body. Done. Professor Caldwell announced a minute later and dropped her inscriber. Its coming up nicely, isnt it? It is. Aodhn agreed as he stared at the half-charred bone, which seemed to be holding itself together by a thread. To be honest, it looked terrible, but Aodhn had the utmost faith in Professor Caldwell and was sure it would come out nicely. Now for the interesting part, wear this. Professor Caldwell handed him a pair of yellow gloves that exposed his finger tips. They looked like normal gloves at first, but when Aodhn put them on, he sensed the anti-inflammatory runes inscribed within them. He dipped his hand into the burning flames and grinned when all he felt was a cozy warmth that licked his fingers instead of burning it to crisp. Are you ready? Professor Caldwell asked, and when Aodhn nodded, she explained. Okay, I need you to open your spirit to the origin plane of storm, pull in all that chaos energy, and channel it directly into this blade. Aodhn breathed in deeply and prepared himself for the torrent of chaos, pain, and pleasure that was about to enter his spirit. He waited for a moment until Professor Caldwell gave him the go ahead, and with a slight shiver of anticipation, Aodhn opened up his spirit to the origin plane. The experience was much more exhilarating than hed expected. It felt like coming home after a long time spent away, and Aodhn nearly groaned from pleasure. He placed his hands gently on the blade and without hesitation channeled all that storm-chaos brimming within his spirit into the bone blade. Storm essentially burst out of his fingertips with the rumble of distant thunder and flashes of lightning. The forge flames rose higher as they intermingled with chaos essence and began to run rampant. Professor Caldwell muttered something under her breath, and suddenly a host of runes lit up, shimmering with all the colors of the rainbow as they fought to contain the outbreak of chaos. Energy undulated around him, but Aodhn soon noticed that most of all that energy was just being wasted. Only a fraction of what he poured into the blade entered it, just like Professor Caldwell had said, and before long the once feeble blade began to take on new life. It flashed with lightning of different colors, from red to black, from black to green, and then to a white gold that seemed much purer than the others. Aodhn pulled on more chaos energy and gasped as his spirit strained pleasurably. Had it always felt this good? This pleasurable? Or was it because hed just spent the last five days deprived of any energy? Whatever the reason, Aodhn didnt care; he just wanted to bask in this feeling for as long as he could. Youre doing great, Aodhn. Professor Caldwell encouraged him, but Aodhn barely heard her through the roaring of thunder in his own mind. Aodhn poured chaos energy into the blade for what seemed like hours, and by the time his spirit began to ache, the feeble-looking blade had transformed into a sleek black blade made almost entirely of electricity. Its edges were pure electricity, and even the part that remained bone glowed with so much power and lightning that Aodhn had a hard time looking away. He cut off the infusion of chaos a moment later and took in the magnificent blade they had created. I cant believe it. He muttered as the blade slowly floated upwardstowards him, as if asking him to brand it with his willpower, but before he could even entertain the idea, Professor Caldwell plucked the blade from the air and nodded at him. Whenever you want, come to me, and well make you a weapon together. Itll be payment for helping me craft this masterpiece. Aodhn nodded mutely, still awed by the item theyd just created. Professor Caldwell chuckled and sheathed the blade. You should see your face right now. Aodhn chuckled and shook his head in amazement. I just cant believe... I cant believe we created something so beautiful. Professor Caldwell smiled gently and patted his head. Well, believe it, because" A notification ping cut off the rest of Professor Caldwells words, and Aodhns eyes widened when he saw the message that appeared before him. Congratulations! You have been instrumental in the creation of an Epic-ranked item. New title gained! [STATUS] Name: Aodhn Ashoka-Brystion. Title: Neophyte, Storm Spirit, Origin-marked, Seal Bearer, Silver, Amateur Runesmith. Class: Evolved storm awakened: 99.9% (PENDING) Tier: 2113% Glimpse--->Opening: Increases elemental affinity and abilities by 2.5% Techniques: Perfect will imbuement (8). Skills {Innate}: [Storm creation and manipulation] [Lightning creation and manipulation] {Other}: [Lightning surge] [Lightning beam] [Lightning descent] [Create constructs] [Absorb lightning] [Spear rainLightning] [Spear rainStorm] [Vortex of lightning] [Vortex of Storm] [Elemental lightningStage 1] Bloodline: Origin Storm supremacy. {Unique} ?Amplifies storm abilities by 3% ?Grants major resistance to lightning ?Aura of Origin supremacy. FamiliarDragonkin (Fury) Perks: psychic bond, merge, Berserk. Amateur Runesmith: A title given to anyone who has taken the first step onto the path of rune smithing. Grants passive bonus to all runic activities. Drawing runes and activating them have just become a little bit easier. Chapter 125: Empathic Links Congratulations! You have been instrumental in the creation of an Epic-ranked item. New title gained! Aodhn stared at the message in shock. The new title was a nice boon, but that wasnt the shocking part of the message. The shocking part was the word Epic. Aodhn couldnt believe that theyd created an Epic-ranked item in less than an hour. Professor Caldwell noticed his expression and asked what was wrong, but when Aodhn explained his shock, she just laughed and said. Well, if you think about it, its not so surprising considering the materials we used. Aodhn glanced at the remnant of the Mamacore bone in disbelief, and Professor Caldwell laughed again. Not just the base material. The entire process of creation was taken into account. From the affinity erasure to the runes and finally the infusion of chaos. Common and uncommon ranked items certainly do not have such advanced runes, nor are they infused with chaos by someone who has evolved their willpower to the next stage and bears so much potential. If Yurin or someone else who hasnt made an opening in their spirit were the ones to infuse this blade, it would have been uncommon at best. Essence infusion plays a very important role when it comes to the rank of items. Aodhn nodded slowly as he processed her words, and after a while he asked. What is the difference between an uncommon and an epic-ranked item? You dont know? Professor Caldwell asked as she cleared the forge and placed the blade within her spatial storage. "No, no, I do; I just want to understand it better. Professor Caldwell looked at the clock at one corner to the workshop and sighed. Okay, we still have a few minutes before class starts. Basically, Epic-ranked items bear more complicated enchantments than uncommon ones; they are far stronger than uncommon ones and are the only items that can affect advanced-class individuals. An uncommon blade would barely nick their skin. Aodhn nodded, reassured in his knowledge. Hed thought Professor Caldwell would mention something he didnt already know, but it seemed the differences were pretty simple. They are also far more expensive and hard to come by compared to uncommon items. Professor Caldwell continued as she plucked a runic chart from the wall and then another. When she was done, she grinned and said. Dont forget, I owe you a favor. I wont. Aodhn replied. Good. Professor Caldwell chuckled. Now, lets get to class; we have a few things to discuss. When they exited the workshop, nearly every other student was already gathered, and as one, they all turned to stare. Aodhn noticed Ankazs eyes widen in shock while Yurins widened just a bit. The rest of the class looked either too stunned to see him or envious that hed entered Professor Caldwells workshop ahead of them. He grinned at Yurin and began making his way towards Yurins workbench, but Professor Caldwell stopped him. To your seat, Mr. Brystion, the class is about to begin. We have no time for small talk. Everyone still standing moved to their seat, and Aodhn moved to his, just as professor Caldwell began speaking. Last week we discussed the base materials for runic inscriptions and enchantments; today, we shall discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each one more extensively. Let''s begin with metal, starting with gold, then silver, platinum, copper, and lastly, ragnar steel. The class stretched for nearly two hours, and when it finally ended, Aodhn removed his lab suits and turned to grin at Yurin. Hey, buddy. Did you miss me? Yurin shrugged. Im not sure. On one hand, Im glad youre alright; on the other, I wish youd just go back to wherever youre coming from, and I mean the prison, not Professor Caldwells workshop. Aodhn frowned, not expecting Yurins reaction. Was it wrong of him to have expected hugs and happy kisses? Uhm, did I do something wrong? He asked. Because, in case youve forgotten, I was detained for the last five days. Yurin shrugged again. You promised to tell Andrew and Daruk about your breakup, but you didnt. Its not just that too; were your friends, yet youll never let us help you. Aodhn scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. I wanted to tell them, but I just... forgot? You forgot? Yurin chuckled sarcastically and shook his head. Yeah, thats totally believable. Okay, this was not the welcome back that I expected. Arent you guys happy to see me? Yurin shrugged. Im glad youre alright, butId have been happier if you were at least bruised. Aodhn grimaced, wanting to mention that he was scarred and bruised on the inside, but he shook his head instead and said. Look, Im sorry. Sharing emotional stuff is hard for me, but I cant believe youre mad about that. Yurin snorted. Thats not why Im mad. Im angry because youre carrying a lot of emotional baggage, and you cant be bothered to speak to us about it. Why then are we friends? If my grandparents died today, Id tell you. Aodhn sighed. Im not carrying any emotional baggage. Im fine. Of course you are. Yurin sighed. Shame we cant say the same for the 4th floor bathroom; its a complete wreck after what you and Cyrus did to it. Aodhn winced and grabbed Yurin. Okay, Im sorry. Ill open up more. Yurin chuckled. Im not the one you should be apologizing to. He gestured with his head, and Aodhn turned to see Andrew and Daruk standing at the end of the hallway, glaring daggers at him. To be honest, Daruk wasnt glaring; he was just staring with that blank expression that usually felt worse than glaring. Aodhn realized that he had truly fucked up this time, but it hadnt been easy for him either. First of all, he hadnt lost control because of the breakup. It had been a contributing factor, to be sure, but it definitely wasnt the sole reason. Neither was it all his other fucked-up emotions. He had lost control simply because of his deepened connection with Varc, his new perk, and his feeble control over their psychic bond. Once he solidified his control over the above three, he should be fine. He would be fine. Now, maybe his breakup had exaggerated the issue, but he was already working on that with Helzarvauth. Hi Daruk. Hi Andrew. Aodhn greeted, waving awkwardly, and although Andrew acknowledged his greeting with a snort, Daruk made no expression whatsoever. It grated on Aodhns nerves whenever Daruk did that. I see youre still alive. Daruk muttered simply. Welcome back. Yeah. Andrew added. We thought youd go insane in the principals prison since your emotions are all fucked up. My emotions arent fucked up. Aodhn replied with a sigh. You know what? Lets go to the cafeteria so we can talk. They headed to the cafeteria and took a seat at the farthest table so they could have some semblance of privacy. When everyone settled down, Aodhn began his explanation. Lupin broke up with me last week Sunday, and I was completely devastated...Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. He went on to narrate the whole thing as well as the reason for the breakup. I was heartbroken, and I know I should have told you guys, but I couldnt at the time, even when Yurin urged me to, and that was wrong of them. Im sorry, and Im working on opening up more, but all my life, Ive just never... He was about to say that all his life, hed never really had anyone to share his emotions with, but he quickly remembered that Andrew and Yurin didnt know that part of his life story, so he said instead. I promise to do better from now on. Thats all we ask. Andrew nodded somberly, but Aodhns gaze was on Daruk, making sure he understood. Daruks cold mask softened, and he gave an almost imperceptible nod before responding, So, tell us about your time in prison. Aodhn grimaced, not wanting to talk about the sink, but hed just promised to be more open and forthcoming, so he threw a bunch of potato fries into his mouth and began narrating the boring yet surprisingly beneficial experience that was the sink. When he was done, the table was silent. Yurin broke the silence a moment later. How are you still sane after that? I cant sit down for an hour without doing anything." I can. Andrew replied with a shrug. Its very therapeutic. Aodhn glared at Andrew and shook his head. It was absolute torture, and I definitely would have lost it if it werent for the books the guard gave me and Helzarvauth. Id definitely not wish it on anyone. Not even Lilith? Daruk teased just as the cafeteria door burst open and Cyrus and his little group strutted in. Cyrus was bruised, and a long red scar covered his left cheek. It was obvious that hed recently come back from a battle, most likely the tower, and with a smirk, Aodhn checked the leaderboards for any update. The reason for Cyruss frustration was immediately evident. Cyrus Valerion, Level 252nd [17:4521:30] He had lasted four extra minutes in the 25th level after five days of intense training. Even Aodhn would be frustrated if he were in Cyruss shoes. He dismissed the holographic screen and looked up to see Grendar and Lilith glaring daggers at him. Maybe just Grendar and Lilith. He muttered and turned away from them. They could definitely use a few days of isolation. They all laughed, and their conversation flowed into other topics, mostly revolving around his session with Helzarvauth and the exercise that Gwendolyn Blackwood had given in Awakened Plants and Herbology the previous week. They discussed the forge matches after that, and Aodhn quickly took the time to scan his list of potential opponents for this week, extremely grateful that no one had thought to challenge him yet. There were a lot of red names, signaling that a lot of people were excited for the Forge matches; chief among them was Andrew, who was glaring at Lyra Davenport, his opponent, as if he wanted to fight her right here and right now. Aodhn scanned the list of names, and after a few minutes of contemplation, he eventually settled on Isis Anvindr, who was only three ranks above him. As soon as he clicked on her name, it took on a red tint, and Aodhn saw her jerk from the other end of the room as she was most likely notified of his challenge. She had been laughing with Lysirel and Celeste, but all of a sudden, her laughter died, and she turned to stare at him with a neutral gaze. Was Aodhn confident of a victory against her? Sure. However, despite his confidence in victory, Aodhn was still a little nervous about the match. Sound was definitely a weakness for his element, and with the single-minded brutality with which Isis fought, Aodhn knew the match would definitely not be an easy one. He looked away from her, and his conversation with his friends shifted to the topic of the selection process, the mythic core principal Zatya had promised, and how to help Yurin and Andrew gain a seal before the selection process began. Aodhn let Daruk take the lead in the conversation as he had more understanding of the matter and instead leaned back to listen, hoping to gain a few more tips to help himself. Unfortunately, Aodhn didnt really gain much from the conversation, as he already understood all that Daruk was trying to pass across. Yurin and Andrew, on the other hand, were contemplative; their faces scrunched in thought, so Aodhn decided to give them a few minutes to digest Daruks words before making his request. Aodhn wanted to visit the Advanced Library, and although he could go alone, he would rather go with his friends. He waited until they were almost done with their food before speaking. So guys, during my stay in the sink, I realized that the major reason for my emotional flare-ups is a lack of control. My control over Varc is still very shaky, and his emotions keep bleeding into mine and messing things up. To solve this, I need to visit the Advanced Library and see if I can find any book that can help me, but I dont want to go alone. Why not? Yurin asked. Because the last time he went there, he was attacked. Daruk replied with a small smile. Aodhn rolled his eyes. Well, I wasnt attacked exactly; it was more of an ambush, but it doesnt matter. Im confident no one is going to try anything, but I would be much more comfortable with you guys around. Andrew frowned. Ive got a personal training scheduled for a few hours, but I guess I could push it back further. Aodhn grinned. I would really appreciate that. Daruk and Yurin also agreed, and after going to Rahim to collect their temporary passes, they made their way to the library. When they entered the quiet building, Aodhn led them towards the eagle-eyed librarian, named Aurelis Swifteye, and submitted their passes. Good afternoon, ma''am. We need a few books from the Advanced Library." These are our passes. The librarian looked up from the text shed been reading, glanced at the passes, and muttered in annoyance. Just great. More work, as if I dont have enough on my plate already. She scrutinized the passes for a moment before stepping out of her cubicle and gesturing for them to follow her. She led them up the stairs and to the large metallic door, where she pressed their passes to the blue screen before finally pushing it open. Be careful. She muttered as she waved them in. And stay away from the other students; youre not meant to be here in the first place. Great personality, that Librarian." Daruk began as they stepped into the library, but whatever he was about to say was cut short when his gaze landed on the rows and rows of books that surrounded them. Yurin was less impressed, but Andrews gaze widened, and he pushed past Aodhn to gawk at the spatially expanded library. Aodhn chuckled, wondering when Andrew had developed a respect and love for books. Before he could tease Andrew on the matter, the plant mage rushed forward, moving towards the section obviously dedicated to plant and nature Affinities, judging by the tangle of vines in that section. He was followed closely by Yurin, who moved in a slightly different direction, and a second later, Daruk shrugged in apology before rushing towards a section at the far left of the library dedicated to winter, cold, and ice affinities. In less than two seconds, Aodhn was completely deserted by his so-called friends and left to deal with the curious stares of the other advanced-class students on his own. Unconsciously, Aodhn straightened his shoulders and raised his head to project a feeling of confidence, half expecting to be ambushed by another set of third years or second years. When that didnt happen, Aodhn nodded to the students near him, some of whom acknowledged him with a smirk or smile while others simply ignored him. Quickly, he moved to a section of the library dedicated to familiars and began searching for a book that could help him out. He scanned each book carefully, but just like the last time, the books he found werent quite what he was looking for. After almost half an hour of fruitless searching, Aodhn was about to give up when his eyes caught a folded piece of paper jutting out of a small comic book. He picked the note curiously and opened it. Turn left. Aodhn turned his gaze to the left and let out a burst of laughter when he found Helzarvauth seated with his legs propped up on the table, hiding his face behind a stack of books. He moved towards the man-child and smiled. Nice to see you here. Helzarvauth shrugged. Im always here. I was here the last time you came in here, shuddering like a leaf in the rain from apprehension. Aodhn grimaced at the memory and decided not to focus on the fact that Helzarvauth hadnt deemed it fit to save him from Brittany and her posse of witches. Helzarvauth smiled. So, what are you searching for? Aodhn told him, and after a moment of thought, Helzarvauth pointed to a shelf in the empathic section and said. Search for the smallest book written by Elrond Griffin. Its a silver-rimmed leather tome. You cant miss it. Aodhn moved to the shelf Helzarvauth had pointed to and began scanning the books. He quickly found the section dedicated to Elrond Griffin and chuckled when he found that the smallest book wasnt actually a small book but a large tome, almost as large as his head.Compared to the other colossal tomes, though, it was indeed small. He pulled out the heavy tome and read its title, EMPATHIC LINKS: CONTROL AND MANIPULATION by Elrond Griffin. He opened the book and read the first sentence, which was written in a sort of unserious and playful way that brought a smile to Aodhns face. Familiars are a menace! This is true. In fact, if Id known they would be this much of a hassle, I wouldnt have bonded one at all. No, thats a lie, but you get my point. Familiars have the messiest and most chaotic emotions ever, and as their bonds, these emotions just bleed into our minds all day long. One would think that as an empath, I wouldnt have an issue with this, but I tell you, its even worse for me. Fear not, though, for I have devised a solution to this menace... Aodhn chuckled, and with a hopeful smile, he moved back to Helzarvauth''s table. Helzarvauth barely even looked up when he returned, too busy reading what seemed to be a comic book, so Aodhn just sat down and began reading. He was barely past the third paragraph when a shadow fell over the page, and he grimaced when he sensed the familiar core. He looked up and scowled at Eldrith. Get principal Zatya in here, and Ill have all my problems in one room. Chapter 126: A lesson in trust In Awakened Combat class the next day, Aodhn found himself within a dueling ring, his uncommon-ranked hammer clutched tightly in his hands. It was a repeat of last weeks exercise, and this time professor Alaric had repeated the instructions so many times that Aodhn was certain he would bleed if professor warned him to go easy one more time. Even now, as he waited for his opponent, professor Alaric watched him carefully, hovering around the ring like a hawk, and from how tense his shoulders seemed, Aodhn knew professor Alaric was ready to step into the ring at a moment''s notice. Fortunately, that wouldnt be necessary, because after spending the entirety of his afternoon with Eldrith and Helzarvauth in the library yesterday, Aodhn had finally gotten and perfected the mental technique that Elrond Griffin had written about. It was called empathic link manipulation, and it basically allowed Aodhn to treat his psychic link with Varc as a physical muscle. It had taken a lot of visualization and help from Helzarvauth, but Aodhn had finally gotten the technique. It wasnt a perfect fit as the technique was primarily tailored towards helping empaths, but it would work just fine for now until he got something better. With the empathic link technique, Aodhn clenched his mental link with Varc tightly and grimaced when the stream of emotions coming from the familiar was suddenly cut off. A few wisps of emotions still bled into his own, but it was more of a trickle compared to the torrent of foreign emotions he usually had to deal with. With the Empathic link in place, Aodhn felt more in control of his emotions than he had been in months, except for his time in the sink, of course. As much as Aodhn cherished the control, though, he detested the silence and distance the technique put between him and Varc. The scary thing was that he hadnt even noticed how muddy and turbulent his emotions had gotten since he exited the sink until he successfully closed off the psychic link yesterday. He had kept it shut all morning, trying to get used to the silence, and although it wasnt as bad as it had been in the sink, it still felt terrible. Everything felt slightly muted. Colors and sounds felt lacking, and even his core sense felt slightly weaker than usual. However, his mind was calm, and that was all that mattered. His opponent stepped into the ring, and with a small sigh, Aodhn turned his attention to her. Scarlett Urdania stood a few paces away from him, twirling a pair of short swords effectively. Her expression, though, was a mask of displeasure, and with a small smile, Aodhn said to her. Dont worry. Ill go easy on you. Scarlett scowled at him. And why would I want you to do that? Aodhn sighed. Scarlett, I know your skills arent really tailored towards direct combat. You told me so yourself. Scarletts brows creased as she tried to remember when exactly she had said such a thing, and when she did, she broke into laughter, her confusion giving way to sheer amusement. Whats so funny? Aodhn asked in confusion. Everything. Scarlett replied in-between hiccups and wiped tears from her eyes. "Oh, Mochi, she said when she finally regained herself. I cant believe you believed me. I was obviously lying. Aodhn frowned, and Scarlett continued. If there is one thing Calodan''s hate more than showing off their skills, its talking about them. However, despite my best effortsshe gave professor Alaric the side eye and continuedI cant avoid the former forever, it seems. What I can avoid is the latter, and if youd given my words even a single minute of thought, youd have realized that it was stupid to believe me. Aodhn was already feeling very stupid, and perhaps Scarlett thought it was funny, but Aodhn had genuinely believed her without scrutinizing her words too deeply. Scarletts affinity for enhancement was a peculiar concept that, unlike others, couldnt exactly be created or manipulated. This meant her innate skills were vastly different from the norm and would go in a different direction compared to what he had originally assumed. He didnt have to think too long before coming up with a more appropriate innate skill set. Considering her affinity, her innate skills were most likely to be [EnhanceSelf] and [EnhanceExternal]. He wasnt 100 percent sure, but it definitely makes more sense than {Enhancement Creation} and {Enhancement Manipulation}. It made sense now why she hadnt expected him to believe her, but Aodhn had trusted her. This was a lesson though, one Aodhn intended to start taking seriously. Sometimes, people lie, and at this stage, he couldnt afford to trust people blindly. If he was right about Scarletts innate skills, though, then he was vastly unprepared for this fight, and her threat level was much higher than he had initially estimated. High enough to present a challenge. Scarlett grinned and shook her head. I may not like showcasing my skills, but I definitely do savor the moments when people realize that theyd severely underestimated me. But dont worry, Mochi, Ill go easy on you. Professor Alaric glared at the both of them and said, Remember, only innate skills and your auras are allowed. Anything other than that is not allowed. When they both nodded, he grunted something inaudible, and with a final warning glare in Aodhns direction, he called out. Begin! Aodhn dodged to the side immediately, electricity crackling in his wake, and thank the ascendants he did because if hed been even a microsecond late, he would have been impaled by an epic-ranked short sword engulfed in flames so hot they burned the very air.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Are you fucking kidding me? He shouted as he observed the space he had been barely a second ago go up in flames. This wasnt the first time hed seen Scarlett enhance an item, but he hadnt known that she could enhance a weapon to the next rank! Without hesitation, he raised her threat level again, barely dodging another flaming sword as it sliced toward his legs. He rushed forward, his hammer poised to attack, and the moment he got within striking distance, he swung the hammer with all his strength and stumbled. The hammer passed a hairbreadth away from Scarletts face as she dodged the attack with a sudden bout of enhanced reflexes. Before Aodhn could regain his balance, Scarlett lunged, driving a punch towards his stomach. Aodhn twisted painfully even as he activated {Storm Creation} and covered himself with a thick layer of storm clouds. Unfortunately, his hasty defense was nothing before Scarletts might. Her fist tore through the clouds without resistance, and Aodhn let out a sharp gasp of air as he was violently thrown backwards. He stumbled back to his feet immediately, but in that brief moment, Scarlett had retrieved her swords, and before Aodhn could dodge, she stabbed a liquid coated blade into his legs. Aodhn sucked in a hiss of pain as what seemed to be poison entered into his bloodstream and began wrecking havoc. The poison rushed through his bloodstream, and Aodhn knew he would be incapacitated if he didnt act quickly. Without hesitation, he activated his aura and empowered it with all eight willpower strands that he was allowed. The sudden pressure pushed Scarlett to her knees so violently that he heard her knee cap crack. Aodhn barely spared her a glance though, too busy injecting a finger width bolt of green lightning into his veins. Scarlett managed to gather her willpower and push herself to her feet while he dealt with the poison problem, and before he could react, she punched him again, this time with so much force that his ribs cracked and he was sent flying backwards. Still channeling green lightning into his veins, Aodhn summoned a thick storm cloud to keep himself from flying out of the ring. The cloud cushioned him, and he fell to the floor, coughing out blood as the poison ran rampant within his bloodstream. For ascendants sake, was this lightning working at all? Scarlett dashed forward, aiming to finish him off while he was down, but Aodhn was unprepared for the match, not weak, and he had gained an adequate assessment of her strength in the past few minutes since the battle began. With a hiss of pain, he waved a hand, and the storm cloud behind him expanded to engulf the entire ring. Lightning arced around, striking incessantly from every angle, and thunder boomed loud enough to deafen anyone below the 15th tier. Aodhn grinned from within the roiling storm as a howling wind joined the fray. It no longer mattered that Scarlett could enhance her perceptions or her weapons because he had effectively blinded and deafened her. Aodhn poured more energy into the cloud, enhancing it to the point that even he was blinded and deafened. It didnt matter though, because Aodhn didnt need his physical senses to see. The dueling ring shuddered with each boom of thunder, and while Scarlett stumbled around to find her bearing, Aodhn dashed forward, relying on his core sense to guide his movement. He found her almost immediately, and with a feral shout, he swung his hammer. Scarletts eyes widened the moment she noticed him, and although she tried, she couldnt dodge his attack. The hammer smashed into her face, and she choked on her own scream as the force of his attack sent her sprawling backwards. Aodhn was on her before she could take her next breath, and a second later, Scarlett choked out. Miyotshiri Vhager! I surrender, dammit! Aodhn stopped mid-swing and painfully gritted out. I accept your surrender, you little shit! He dispersed the roiling storms and stumbled, coughing out more blood as the poison coursed through him unimpeded, despite the lightning still coursing through his veins. One of the healers on standby rushed towards him, and the next moment, Aodhn sighed in relief as the poison was finally obliterated from his body. Well, Ill be damned. The healer muttered with a frown as she stared at the slowly closing stab wound. Im not sure whether to applaud or scold you, kid. That lightning you were channeling slowed down the effect of the poison but also corrupted it somehow, making it even more dangerous. If I hadnt been on hand, things could have seriously gotten out of hand. Aodhn sputtered and looked down at the closing wound. Thank you, healer. I dont know much about the lightning, but it has healed me before, or at least I think it has. Why was it different this time? The healer shrugged. Most likely because it was an epic-grade poison applied with an epic-ranked weapon. Your evolved skill couldnt stop it. However, that doesnt explain why it was also helping the poison. Aodhn sighed. He really needed to understand this skill. The healer scrutinized him for a moment longer before patting him gently. Be careful with that skill. In fact, I would advise not using it until you understand it better. Yes, thank you. He moved to stand with his friends who gathered around him worriedly, but after explaining all that happened, they calmed down, and Andrew said. You really need to understand that skill. Perhaps I could set up a meeting with Gwendolyn Blackwood after the class to see if the nature lab is open. Aodhn just nodded absently while Aida and Derek climbed up to the ring for their own duel. Despite the healing, he still felt extremely tired. That poison had drained a lot from him, but Aodhn was actually glad for the duel as it had forced him to be more creative with his innate skills, and now he realized that perhaps he had been neglecting his innate skills a little too much. There was a lot he could do with the storm itself, and perhaps rather than focusing on creating constructs, he should focus more on mastering his Innate abilities. He was still thinking about the different ways he could utilize his innate skills better when Professor Alaric suddenly called out. Marcellus Edgarin vs. Yurin Lahey. Aodhns blinked and realized that he had missed the entirety of Aidas match, although from the scowl on her face, it seemed that Derek had somehow won. Yurin let out a deep breath as he hefted his sword and muttered. Wish me luck, guys. Good luck. Aodhn patted his back. Youll do great. Yurin nodded and stepped into the ring with Marcellus, who was wielding a mirror dagger, one Aodhn identified as a focus item even from afar. The dagger had a curved hilt and only a single rune, but Aodhn couldnt identify the rune with how fast Marcellus was twirling the dagger. I know Yurins our friend and all, but Im betting on Marcellus. Ayisha whispered, and Daruk frowned, unable to contest her claim. Aodhn hadnt witnessed Marcelluss last duel, but from everyones expression, it seemed Marcellus might have stepped up his game drastically. Aodhn, on the other hand, just wanted to see Ayisha fight for the, well, not for the first time. Daruk said shed been awesome in the last duel, but there had been very little detail concerning the battle, so little that it almost felt underwhelming. That alone made Aodhn even more curious as to why she was hiding her abilities so seriously. Did she have ulterior motives? Resolving to deal with the matter later, Aodhn turned his gaze to the dueling ring just as professor Alaric called out. Fight! Chapter 127: Origin plane of Light— Yurin Lahey Yurin stepped into the dueling ring, fingers tight around the metallic hilt of his blade. He detested the sword, though. He much preferred the warmth and brilliance of his constructs to the cold and lifeless feel of steel. However, without a seal, he couldnt exactly feel the approval or disapproval of his affinity, and the sword was the only weapon he had any sort of training with, so he had chosen it. Across from him, Marcellus Edgarin stood with a smirk, twirling his dagger elaborately like a hunter weaving traps. Good luck, Sunshine, Marcellus taunted with a sly grin. Youll definitely need a lot of luck if you intend to take me down with a few beams of sunlight. Yurin rolled his eyes. Im not a solar-awakened idiot. This wasnt the first time his affinity had been mistaken for that of sunlight, but light was a much broader concept compared to sunlight. Light was the absence of darkness; it was illumination; it was visible radiation; it was much more than just sunlight. Marcellus shrugged in a manner that declared that he couldnt careless what Yurins affinity was. Light, sunlight, moonlight. I dont care. Ill fucking win anyway. Yurin twirled the sword, grimacing at how slowly the weapon moved compared to his constructs. and with a sigh, he muttered. Let the best man win. Marcellus grinned, obviously preparing to say something witty and insensitive, but before he could, Professor Alaric raised a hand to halt their conversation and called out. Begin! Yurin attacked immediately. He moved so fast that he was almost a blur, and with more power than was perhaps necessary, he slashed forward, fully expecting Marcellus to dodge or defend himself, but Marcellus did neither. Instead, he laughed and waved his hands comically even as the blade split him in two. Yurin cursed as the illusion exploded in a shower of sparkling lights and confetti, his body already curving to slash at another illusion as it emerged from behind him. This time, the illusion dodged and aimed the dagger at his neck. Yurin tried to dodge, but Marcelluss movements were so bizarre and unimaginable that Yurin was more in shock than in pain when the dagger pierced his neck. The pain caught up to him an instant later, and he quickly grabbed his neck to prevent blood loss only to find himself uninjured. Laughter echoed from everywhere and nowhere all at once as the dagger shattered into sparkling dust. Yurin sputtered, wondering what in Raol''s name had just happened, but he didnt have time to dwell on the matter as another illusion appeared behind him and lunged. Yurin dodged and slashed at the illusion, but then another illusion appeared and then another until he was utterly and completely surrounded. The illusions lunged at him with Marcelluss laughter echoing in the background like an ominous music, but as he moved to defend himself, his perception of reality suddenly warped. The dueling ring distorted, his perception stretching and collapsing on itself as the world itself became slippery. Surreal. Fake. The illusions merged and multiplied, collapsing on each other as the dueling ring distorted further. Yurins gaze swam, and he stumbled, struggling to hold up his weapon even as a dozen illusions lunged at him. Initially, Yurin had thought Marcelluss illusions were light-based, a nifty trick based on light manipulation, but it seemed hed been wrong. Rather than a subtle manipulation of light to create illusions, Marcellus manipulated perception itself, twisting the mind to create the images he desired. Yurin staggered even as the roof blurred into the ground and the concrete floor turned into water. With unsteady feet, he lashed out, slicing a trio of illusions apart even as another stabbed at him from behind. The mirror dagger pierced something within Yurins stomach, eliciting a cry of pain from him even as he lashed out once again and sliced the offending illusion in two. Panicked, he pressed a hand to his back, expecting to find it sleek with blood this time; instead, his hands came back clean, just like before. Laughter echoed again, and Yurin growled. Marcellus was playing with him, and Yurin hated that. He felt helpless, and it was obvious that Marcellus could have incapacitated him at anytime. He had no idea why Marcellus was dragging this out, but it made him feel weak. Whats the problem, Sunshine? Marcellus taunted again, his voice tinged with an emotion Yurin couldnt recognize. Feeling woozy? Marcellus laughed, and the world warped again. The earth disappeared from beneath him, and Yurin fell just as another illusion appeared and stabbed at him. Yurin screamed as painreal pain lanced through his knees, and this time, blood poured out. The illusion grinned, and Yurin realized it wasnt an illusion after all. He reacted immediately, swinging his sword with as much force as he could muster, but the world shuddered again and Yurin lost his bearing. Pulling on his well of willpower, he staggered, fighting the perceptions of his own mind even as half a dozen Marcelluss lunged at him. Cursing the cold blade, Yurin activated {Light Emanation}, and his hands exploded with a flash of high-intensity light, bright enough to temporarily blind anyone who looked directly at it. In essence, the skill allowed him to emanate light from his body, temporarily making him a small sun, but aside from a chorus of curses that echoed all through the dueling ring, the skill did nothing to reveal or harm Marcellus. Useless. Yurin muttered as he began weaving light rays into poorly formed constructs and using it as a defense instead of attacking all the time. However, for every illusion he cut down, more popped up. They appeared by the dozen, attacking relentlessly, and Yurin cursed again as he fought a losing battle against his own mind. It was annoying and frustrating in a way Yurin had no words for. He loved his affinity, but his innate skills, {Light Emanation} and {Light Manipulation}, just werent suitable for combat, or as much combat as he would have loved without his other skills to augment them. Without {Solid light}, he couldnt create a hurricane of light blades to slaughter this ruffian to pieces, and without {Scorch}, he couldnt utilize {Light Emanation} to its fullest potential.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Marcelluss illusions moved fast, lunching attacks from every angle, and although Yurin blocked and parried as much as he could, the air felt thick, his movements sluggish, and his grip on the cold sword was unsteady. It was like fighting in a dream that he couldnt wake up from, yet Yurin refused to give up. He pulled on more of his willpower, struggling to stay upright and maintain his senses. His heart pounded loudly in his ears, each breath heavy as he slashed and cut the illusions to pieces. This isnt real. Its all in my head. He muttered to himself, holding onto the thought like a beacon of hope. He focused on the truth behind the illusions, behind the twisted world and the distorted soundsthey were all fabrications, a twisted product of his perceptions not bound by any law of nature. But light Light was the essence of his spirit. It revealed all truth, piercing through all falsehoods like a knife. It was illumination and insightthe revealer of flaws. It was transparency and hopethe nemesis of darkness. It was freedom and triumph all wrapped into one, but above all, it was clarity. The words echoed in his mind like the tolling of bells, and as his understanding formed into a whole, the world grinded to a halt. Heat rose from within him, bubbling up to the surface like a river of lava, and Yurin shuddered as his perception of the world crumbled away like a castle built of paper, replaced by a realm of infinite light and breathtaking brilliance. The Origin Plane of Light revealed itself to Yurin, a realm of pure, radiant energy, where light of all wavelengthsvisible and etherealflowed in harmony. There were no solid forms, yet a boundless expanse of color and light filled his vision. Streams of vibrant, shifting light stretched endlessly above him, creating a dazzling display of radiance that bathed him in their iridescent glow. Yurin stared at the realm in absolute wonder, but his awed expression faded when chaos surged into his mind, feeding him with whispers of insanity. The voices started small, but soon they grew to become so loud that they were nearly overwhelming. Yurin cried out when the probing sensation of an all-encompassing consciousness added itself to the cacophony of chaos. Despite the fact that Daruk had somewhat prepared him for this, Yurin was still very terrified, so he failed to open up his mind as he should have done. The plane''s consciousness didnt wait for his permission though; instead, it lanced through his mind, as sharp and as clinical as a steel blade. The consciousness dove into his memories like a laser and began reviewing them. The pain was acute, not unlike the continuous stab of a knife into his frontal lobe. The searching process lasted for what seemed like hours, but when it was finally done, Yurin felt a surge of approval from the consciousness, and his chest suddenly burned with the seal of light. Chaos energy surged into his core, and Yurin let out a sharp gasp as he advanced into the 21st tier. Energy raced through his pathways at the speed of light, and before the whispers of chaos could overwhelm his mind, the world reappeared around Yurin, seeming much duller and flaw-ridden than before. Yurins mind shone with clarity, and he could suddenly see through the lies Marcellus was weaving. He moved, intent on ending this duel once and for all, but that was the moment the twisted effect struck, plunging his emotions into an abyss of negative emotions. I will never give up. I will kill you all before I falter! Yurins gaze turned black, and this time when he moved forward, it was with the intent to kill in the fastest and cleanest way possible. He lashed forward, slicing through a throng of illusions without care as he made for Marcellus, whose eyes were wide with fear. Before Aodhn could fulfill the whispers of chaos, though, he was suddenly grabbed by professor Alaric, who held him like a man holding an ant. Yurin struggled, lashing out with all the skills he had, but they had absolutely no effect. Yet Yurin didnt give upnot when he was flung into a portal that appeared out of nowhere, nor when he found himself trapped within a glass box surrounded by other glass boxes. No, Yurin would never give up, not if he were wounded or taking his last breath. To give up was to let people down, and Yurin had let more than enough people down for a lifetime. Activating {Radiant Clarity} his newest skill, Yurin searched the chamber for flaws and found none. But that didnt deter him either. Heedless for his own safety, he activated {Solid Light} and created a cyclone of light blades, all of which he directed at the glass walls, intent on shattering it to pieces, but when nothing happened, he screamed. I wont give up! I wont give up! I wont do it! *** The entire class stared at the dueling ring in shock even as professor Alaric threw Yurin into a portal created by someone they couldnt see. It was eerie seeing someone else undergo the twisted effect in this manner. Half the class didnt have seals, so they couldnt really understand what had just happened, but those who had seals understood. Aodhn, for instance, was happy for Yurin as hed finally gained what hed been working so hard for, but he also felt slightly embarrassed that it had happened so publicly. No one could blame Yurin though, as the twisted effect wasnt something a person could control. Still, Aodhn imagined more than a few students would be fearful of Yurin in the coming weeks. Ayisha shook her head in amazement. Well, I guess I bet wrong. Aodhn chuckled. Technically, you didnt, because no one won in the end. Yeah. Daruk replied. Its crazy that he would have lost, though, had it not been for the seal and twisted effect. Im sure he gained some awesome skills from it. They continued talking casually, not realizing that Andrew was unusually silent. He wasnt the only one either; many of those who hadnt gained a seal were also silent, still shocked by the sight theyd just witnessed while professor Alaric discussed with the Rahim in hushed tones. When Aodhn finally noticed Andrews silence, it was already too late as Professor Alaric returned his attention to the class and called the next duel as if nothing had happened, Alan Kasirel vs. Telula Ziegler. As the duel began, Aodhn turned his attention to Andrew and whispered. Are you alright? Andrew nodded seriously and then chuckled. One would think that after seeing my sisters experience this exact same thing countless times, Id be more comfortable with it, but seeing Yurin just flip like that... it was disturbing. Aodhn shrugged, understanding Andrews point. It was, even for those of us who have experienced it; thats why we were so eager to talk about something else. The twisted effect is not a very nice experience, but Ive heard its different for every affinity. Remember Daruks experience; he had almost no rage but was just as cold as ice, and well, you didnt witness mine, but it was definitely brutal, far more than what we saw from Yurin. He shook his head and laughed. Rahim described me as feral. Andrew nodded. I can imagine. Light isnt quite as brutal as a storm." Aodhn shrugged, not particularly convinced. Im not sure. I think it depends more on a persons understanding. Take the storm, for instance; my understanding of it isnt exactly calm, cool, and friendly, so that influences the twisted effect too. Nevertheless, regardless of what your understanding is, the twisted effect will flip it and make you violent. The degree of violence is what differs. Andrew nodded and turned his attention back to the ring just as Alan knocked Telula out of the ring with a flash bang of solar energy. Professor Alaric nodded and jotted something down on his note, all without looking up, and a few seconds later, he called out. The next matchup. Ayisha Helsarin vs. Grendar Bladewynn. Chapter 128: Ayisha Helsarin vs Grendar Bladewynn Good luck. Aodhn wished Ayisha as she moved to the dueling ring, but she just ignored him. In fact, she seemed to be rejecting the luck hed so willingly wished her, going so far as to slouch and snap her fingers in rejection. Daruk shook his head and muttered. That girl is suspicious. I get not wanting to show off your skills, but were only using innate skills here. I dont even need to think to know what it is. Aodhn did have to think, but it was very obviously {Time manipulation} and, okay, what? Hed never really thought of it, but could Ayisha create time? It would be scary if she really could, but after nearly a minute of thinking and coming up with nothing else, he cleared his throat and said. Oh, of course. Her innate skills are so easy to guess. What are they though? Daruk frowned at him. You just said you know. Correction, I said they were easy to guess. Im only asking you so that you can share your wisdom with Andrew here, who Im sure is struggling. Andrew frowned at him. Im not struggling. Ayishas innate skills are most likely {Time manipulation} and {Temporal Resonance}. Havent you noticed how exact with time and date she usually is? Aodhn hadnt noticed, and ascendants knew what kind of friend that made him. Shrugging, he replied. Oh yeah, that makes sense. Daruk shook his head in amusement, and Aodhn turned his attention back to the dueling ring, still berating himself for not seeing what others had seen. He pushed the matter to the back of his mind just as Ayisha and Grendar climbed into the ring, resolving to deal with it later. Ayisha stood unwillingly to the left, twirling a blade whip with what was obviously feigned ignorance. Despite how awkward she swung the weapon, Aodhn could tell that she was familiar with it. The weapon was so obviously jerky that even Imani wouldnt wield it that way. No offense to Imani whatsoever. Aodhn wondered what relationship a blade whip had with time, but Ayisha was the one with two time seals. Surely she wouldnt intentionally pick out a weapon her affinity disproved off, right? Grendar, on the other hand, wielded a great sword made up of a dozen smaller swords, all welded together to form a whole. The weapon was large, much larger than Grendars 57 should have been able to manage, yet she wielded it effectively. Professor Alaric looked between the two girls, his eyes narrowing slightly on Ayisha before calling out. Fight! Grendar attacked immediately, her great sword splitting into a dozen smaller pieces that began to revolve around her with increasing speed. Ayisha barely reacted, looking almost bored even when the blades suddenly shot towards her, their edges gleaming with a sharp light. Aodhn focused his core sense on Ayisha and frowned, expecting to see the yellowish tint of time essence the moment she activated a skill or even just a temporal ripple that would signify the use of an ability. However, none of that happened; instead, Ayisha sighed and began walking forward as if her entire body were burdened by the weight of the blade whip. Aodhn scowled, wondering why Ayisha was so adamant about keeping her skills secret. What was the point if even Andrew could guess it? Aodhn was mentally making a list of things he would say to Ayisha if she lost this match when, at the last minute, she dodged. No, dodged wasnt the right term; it was more appropriate to say she flowed. Her movements were leisurely, almost lazy, as she seamlessly moved between each blade as if she could sense their destination ahead of time. {Foresight} Aodhn breathed, unable to resist the awe Ayishas bloodline skill always invoked within him. The mental list he had been building evaporated as Ayisha walked forward almost without care. She didnt seem to be making any serious movements, but when Aodhn cranked up his perception to the maximum, he noticed that Ayishas entire body was moving subtly, even her fingers, hidden and enhanced with {Time manipulation}. Ayisha was doing so much just to seem like she was doing nothing at all, and Grendar fell for it. When professor Alaric had said, Know your enemies, and youll know just how to defeat them, he hadnt been wrong. Grendar was rash and impulsive, and her hatred or fear of being treated in a depreciating manner by other nobles was her undoing. You bitch! Grendar growled, her face turning red with anger. Do not mistake me for Eren Thornhill or Bakhtin Arede that you treat this duel as a game. I am a more dangerous for! Hey! Bakhtin, who had lost his match against Gwendolyn Tideborn earlier, cried out. Leave my name out of your mouth. I havent offended you before. Aodhn chuckled, but his mirth was cut short when a massive block of gray metal suddenly appeared before Grendar and then shattered into hundreds of tiny shards sharp enough to slice bone. The shards rose into the air slowly, their sharp ends turning to point straight at Ayisha. Without {Create Constructs}, Aodhn didnt see how he could come out of this unscathed, so he expected it to at least give Ayisha pause; rather, he found her still walking forward, her expression still bored. Grendar grinned, glad that Ayisha was underestimating her, and the next moment, hundreds of metal shards shot forward like bullets intent on skewering Ayisha to pieces. While Aodhn and half the class wondered how Ayisha could possibly escape this, Ayisha was wondering if shed displayed enough of her abilities to give up yet, but a glance at professor Alaric assured her that there would be terrible consequences for giving up now. Sighing, she cut out the time flow within the dueling ring and activated {Time manipulationDecelerate}. Instantly, the flying shards slowed to a crawl, suspended in midair as if trapped in a wall of thick molasses. Even Grendars grin was slowly forming into one of confusion. Just like she had done for the entirety of the duel, Ayisha continued walking forward, walking through the mass of metal shards as if she were walking through a garden. When she reached Grendar, she hesitantly placed the blade whip against Grendars neck and muttered in a tone that suggested that she was in no way glad about the outcome of this event. I win. Surrender. Grendar assented with a slow nod, and time reverted back to normal. The metal shards fell to the concrete floor with a resounding clatter, and Grendar stalked out of the ring before professor Alaric could even call the match. Winner, Ayisha Helsarin. Ayisha glared at professor Alaric before walking out of the ring, and although she looked completely put together, Aodhn noticed that her core had dimmed drastically. It wasnt in the sense of the core being tainted by the limit, but the fact that she had lost an immense amount of willpower and energy in a short amount of time. When Ayisha returned to the group, Aodhn grinned and was about to congratulate her when she glared at him. Aodhn Brystion, always ruining my life. Why did you have to add that extra bit of luck? Andrew chuckled. To be honest, he could have wished you bad luck and you would have still won. You looked bored the entire time. Andrews statement seemed to confuse Ayisha greatly, and she touched her face gently. Bored? I thought I looked scared. I mean I was scared. Scared for my life. Right. Aodhn wouldnt believe that even if Azmarthon appeared to him right now and told him she wasnt lying. He had no idea why she was so fixated on hiding her strength, but he would get to the bottom of it just as soon as he got the time to hang out with her. Professor Alaric looked up from his note and called out the next pair of students for their match. Kellan Dravenor versus Meredith Castalon. *** The rest of the class went just as expected except for Cameron Lorde stealing a win from Lysirel and Imani somehow demolishing Lupin in their duel.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. When the class ended, Professor Alaric moved to the dueling ring and announced. Okay, thats a wrap for weapons training. Next week were returning to the simulation chamber for fun exercises. A cheer rose up from the students, and Aodhn sighed blissfully. Finally, they would be allowed into the simulation chamber once again. Daruk shot Ayisha a competitive grin, and she snorted, although even she couldnt keep the excitement off her features. Professor Alaric laughed and spoke above the chorus of cheers. Please be warned. Do not eat before coming. Id rather not have to pull you out of a puke filled pod after youve been brutally killed by the opposing team and are too busy contemplating your own mortality. Aodhn grimaced at the mental image, but it was good advice. After the terrible death, many of the students had died in the last exercise; many of them had puked out their guts. Professor Alaric dismissed the class after that, but before he could exit the hall, Aodhn, Andrew, and Daruk rushed to meet him concerning Yurin. Before they could even speak, Professor Alaric spoke. Yurin is fine. I sent him to the academys holding chambers. We used the chambers all the time for situations like this, so you have absolutely nothing to worry about. Is it a time chamber? Aodhn asked, but professor Alaric shook his head. Unfortunately not. The academy doesnt have the resources to keep a time chamber running for each student. I doubt your friend will be released anytime before Monday next week. You can meet the principal or your mentor for more information. Now if youll excuse me, I have something very urgent to attend to. When professor Alaric left, Daruk asked. What do you think is his problem? Aodhn shrugged. Who knows, maybe he has a bad relationship with the twisted effect, but then again, who doesnt? Whatever it is, its weird. Daruk commented and turned to stare at them fully. But Yurin requiring nearly four days to overcome the twisted effect is crazy. Mine was like two day tops, and why was I not thrown within a holding cell? Aodhn shrugged. Because you werent violent, I guess. Also, I know Rahim was watching you like a hawk. True. Daruk agreed. Still, Yurins case is weird. It is. Andrew frowned in concern. But even that is still considered average. Fortuna was confined nearly a week after gaining her first seal. It was terrible. And I used about three days. Aodhn added with a shrug. It wasnt too obvious because I used a time chamber in Rahims family home. Also, dont forget that I still suffered the effect for days even after exiting the chamber. Thats the side effect of a time chamber. Andrew responded, unsurprisingly knowledgeable concerning the matter. With such a large family and four siblings who must have undergone nothing less than two twisted effects in the last ten years, it was only natural that Andrew knew so much. The mind is usually confused after as it tries to sync up to reality. Andrew continued. Thats why undergoing the effect without the use of a time chamber is usually better to avoid a relapse or something like you experienced with Varc at my house. Their discussion continued until they exited the lecture building, and Daruk asked. So, do you guys have any plans today? Ive got a ton of books to read, Andrew responded, his face scrunched up in disgust. But I dont mind training after. Also, my control is getting sloppy; I need to work on that, as well as taming my willpower. Aodhn sighed. Ive got a ton of things to do too, but first, lets work on that enhancement technique of yours. They made their way towards the training center after that, and when they entered their usual training hall, Andrew took out a note that probably contained the life history of a new plant hed found in the Advanced Library and moved to one corner to begin reading. While Andrew busied himself with reading, Aodhn and Daruk moved to the other side of the hall and settled into a meditative pose. Are you sure you want to do this now? Daruk asked as they faced each other. The technique is tagged crude for a reason. Wont you like to wait till Ive refined it and have a better understanding of it? No, I want to do this now. Aodhn refused. I can refine it to suit me better this way. Suit yourself. Daruk shrugged, and with a wave of his hand, he withdrew a stack of notes and textbooks from his spatial storage and placed them in the space between them. Like I said earlier, the enhancement technique is a very crude one, and if it wasnt for the fact that I gained it roughly through inspiration, it probably would have crippled me. He shifted uncomfortably and grimaced. I was so desperate for power that day that I would have done anything... He trailed off, yet Aodhn didnt probe him. Daruk got like this sometimes, and every time it happened, it was a reminder that he was just as human and imperfect as the rest of them. Daruk wasnt proud or arrogant; it was just that sometimes he behaved so cold and mature that Aodhn found himself depending more on his younger brother than being his rock. Anyway, Daruk continued a second later, I dont want you to make the same mistake I did, so I bought these books from the bookstore for that exact reason. Aodhn picked up the first book and glanced at the title, Guide to Pathway Visualization. It was a very slim book, barely more than the width of his thumb, yet it felt heavy in his palms. He scanned through the other books, all of which were about pathways, while Daruk continued speaking. The problem is that, unlike your technique, in which you remember exactly how you created it, I dont remember mine perfectly. All I remember is channeling energy into my eyes. How it had happened so fast, Im not sure, but Ive developed an alternative, much slower method to do the same thing. Aodhn grimaced; he hated slower. No wonder the technique was still considered crude by the system. However, one thing Daruk said struck him as weird, so he asked. You said you channeled energy into your eyes. What about willpower? Daruk shook his head. Not the first time, but now I use the energized willpower strands instead. They flow through the pathways better than pure energy and are much easier to work with. Aodhn nodded, and Daruk continued. The first thing you need to do is to visualize your pathways on a much deeper level, not just the ones flowing with energy, but the dormant ones, which are harder to see. Aodhn frowned, and Daruk nodded. Yeah, I learned that from the first book. Apparently those dormant ones are the ones connected directly to the physical bodies. They''re much tinier and can be likened to capillaries, while the major pathways are like veins. Aodhn closed his eyes to begin, but Daruk quickly stopped him. You may want to open yourself up to the origin plane before you begin. It supposedly helps speed up the process. Aodhn nodded, and with a bit of caution, he opened his spirit up to the origin plane of storm. Chaos essence rushed into his spirit, and the mental grip he had on his psychic link with Varc slackened. Varcs emotions rushed into his own, and Aodhn gasped as everything became brighter and better. It was like hed been living in the dark all day and had finally stepped into the sunlight. He spent a few more seconds savoring the feeling of vibrancy before turning his attention to his pathways. The golden circuit appeared in his mind like veins brimming with white-gold energy. They emerged from his core and wound around his entire body, carrying the essence of his affinity all through his spirit. The movements of energy through his pathways tried to arrest his attention, but Aodhn focused deeper, much deeper than he had ever tried to do before. At first, he didnt see anything else because of the brightness of his pathways, but after a few seconds, Aodhn began to notice several thread like pathways reminiscent of capillaries. They emerged from the pathways like branches and were much more abundant. Despite being dormant, the micropathways (a name Aodhn decided to call them until he read one of the texts Daruk had provided) held a bluish tint that gave them a very subtle glow. The moment Aodhn noticed the glow, he began seeing it everywhere. The micropathways revealed themselves to him slowly, and Aodhn was surprised at their numbers. Unlike normal pathways, which simply carried energy to and from his core, the micropathways carried energy directly into the body. Can you see them now? Daruk asked a few minutes later, his tone dripping with sarcasm, and Aodhn grinned. Yes, theyre fascinating, really. Theyre so abundant that I would have mistaken them for normal tissues and stuff if not for their subtle glow. What are they called anyway? Essence threads. Daruk replied. Now that youre able to visualize them, the next thing is to begin expanding them. What? Yes. Daruk replied, a grin evident in his tone. You see, the enhancement technique is very different from your technique, and thats the real reason its still considered crude to the system, because I am yet to even expand a hundred threads, and if my estimation is right, there are thousands of those essence threads running through our body. Wait, you mean Ill have to expand every single essence thread before the technique is considered complete? How do I even expand it anyway? Yes to the first question. Daruk chuckled. Also, when you successfully expand the threads connected to your eyes, youll be able to enhance your eye sight to a really high degree, even though itll leave you temporarily blind because of how crude the technique still is, but let''s not think about that for now. Daruk, Im not sure As for your second question, Daruk cut him off hurriedly. You can expand the threads by channeling energized willpower strands through those dormant pathways to widen them. Of course they cant be infinitely widened, so when you reach a thread limit, you should stop so you dont rupture the thread and blind yourself permanently. What! Im kidding, Im kidding. Daruk laughed. Not permanent blindness, maybe just a permanent defect, but Im sure youll still be able to see, I think. Anyway, forget about that; do you want to start now? What! No, Daruk. I certainly do not want to start now. In fact, I do not want to start at all. Daruk scoffed. Youre being dramatic. Of course its a little risky. Advancement is risky. What you should do is focus on the gains and not the possible risks. That doesnt seem like good advice. Daruk sighed. No, its not, but youre not thinking about the gains here. Think about the gains, Aodhn! Aodhn thought about the gains of enhancing every single part of his body. It was basically an alternative form of Scarletts innate skill {EnhanceSelf}, and Aodhn could already see how useful this technique would end up being if he ever managed to perfect it, and yes, it was risky, but runes were risky too. He couldnt let that stop him. Aodhn glanced at the book on pathways, and after a moment of contemplation, he sighed. I need to study these books thoroughly first before I start expanding anything. Advancements might be risky, and the gains of perfecting this technique might be large, but it would be foolish of him to dive into this without having a much better understanding of the technique. He was just about to pick up the pile of books Daruk had dropped when Andrew suddenly shouted, and a river of verdant essence suddenly exploded from him. At first, Aodhn feared that Andrew had gained an adequate understanding of his affinity and was now gaining a seal, but that wasnt the case; instead, Andrew cackled almost maniacally and shouted. I just gained a skill, and you guys wont believe the fucking goldmine Ive just stumbled into. Chapter 129: Nature Laboratory {Mycelium Network}. That was the name of Andrews new skill, and from what he explained, the skill basically allowed him to tap into existing underground fungal networks of mycelium, allowing him to form a hive-like communication system with a vast network of plants at the same time. It was a great skill; however, it didnt explain the utterly maniacal grin Andrew was wearing. You dont get it, do you? Andrew asked, still grinning, and Daruk hazarded a guess. You can, uhm, teleport through this network? Well, no. Andrew frowned. Although that would have been nice. So, what is it? Aodhn asked, growing a little impatient. Andrew laughed again, utterly giddy with excitement. You guys are missing the key word here. Hive-like communication! Imagine me in a forest full of trees and connected to all of them at the same time. Imagine the flow of information! Aodhns eyes widened as the image unfolded in his mind. He focused on the word communication and imagined hundreds of streams of information flowing between Andrew and the trees. He came to the realization a little later than Daruk, but he echoed it nonetheless. Enlightenment! Andrew laughed again, this time even falling on his back as he echoed their words. Astounding Enlightenment! How many seals do you think I can gain if I do this in a large forest filled with awakened plants of every rank? Aodhn sputtered as his mind raced. That much influx of information was bound to expand Andrews mind and yield an enlightenment so large that Aodhn doubted a single seal would be able to contain it. He processed the thought for a moment before responding. Youll gain more than one seal at the very least, but can we just talk about the fact that you no longer have to search for awakened plants anymore; you can just connect to a forest and tell where they are! Andrew took a moment to process that before bursting out with laughter once again. His laughter was so infectious that Aodhn and Daruk soon found themselves joining in. The skill was an amazing skill. It was essentially the perfect skill, in Aodhns opinion. It was combat-effective, informative, and most of all, lucrative. What could top that? Daruk suggested they test the skill out, but Andrew refused. I dont want to use it yet. I want the first time I use the skill to be in a large forest; that way the overwhelming influx of information and sensation will probably shock me into gaining a dozen seals all at once. It was highly unlikely that Andrew would gain that much, but the fact that he would even gain more than one at all was astounding. They spent the next half hour discussing the other possible uses of Andrews new skill, after which Aodhn remembered that he still had a skill to experiment with. Andrew suggested they go to the nature laboratory before the sun dipped behind the horizon, and a few minutes later, Aodhn and Andrew exited the training hall, leaving Daruk to work on his cultivation with a promise to meet at the cafeteria after an hour. Without wasting much time, Aodhn and Andrew made their way to the nature laboratory, which was a tall, oval building located not too far from the runic laboratory. It was essentially a green house the size of a mansion, crafted from rune scripted, clear glass walls, and as they walked towards it, Aodhn was reminded of the city of Willowsburgh in the 8th sector. The air was dense with verdant energy, a phenomenon that only increased the closer they got to the laboratory. When they got to the entrance, Andrew pushed the door open, and Aodhns eyes widened as he took in the expansive laboratory for the first time. Sunlight streamed in from above, bathing a mind-boggling amount of plants in vibrant beams of color and light. The air was thick with the scent of exotic plants, more than half of which were awakened, and if he had thought the verdant energy outside the building was dense, then he was practically drowning in this one. Aodhns legs buckled as an intense feeling of peace and contentment overwhelmed him. Memories of his time within the unknown forest back on earth flashed across his mind, urging him to make a storm cloud right this instant and sleep. The feeling of peace was so strong that it took Aodhn a moment to push through it and focus on staying awake. White tiled tables lined the edges of the laboratory, and students, mostly second yearsalmost all of them, plant or nature awakeneds ambled about, tending to plants in various stages of growth. Some hovered over glowing specimens, hurriedly writing out their observations, while others carefully stirred concoctions from awakened herbs. A few students glanced at them when they came in, and Aodhn greeted them with a nod. Some acknowledged his greeting with a nod of their own, while others simply glanced away, either uninterested in his presence or too busy to care. Before Aodhn could delve too deeply into the reasons why some of the students hadnt returned his courtesy, Andrew nudged him gently and pointed to the front of the lab where Gwendolyn Blackwood stood, surrounded by a group of second-year students. They waited until she was done speaking before moving forward. When she saw them, she smiled. Mr. Willowood, Mr. Brystion. How can I help you? Andrew shrugged and gestured towards Aodhn. Hes the one who needs your assistance. Ill just busy myself with an experiment. Gwendolyn nodded, and when Andrew left, she said to Aodhn. You werent in my last class. Aodhn scratched his neck awkwardly. Yes, I was sort of paying for my crimes. Gwendolyn smirked, obviously aware of what crimes he had been paying for. Well, were glad to have you back. What do you need my assistance with? A skill. Aodhn replied and then referred her to the text he had sent during the break. Gwendolyn frowned, and her eyes glazed over as she went through her messages. A few seconds later, her eyes widened slightly in surprise, and she apologized. Im sorry, Mr. Brystion. I get a lot of messages, and sometimes a message can get lost in the mess. Can you give me a brief summary of the skill and what you know about it? Aodhn told her the name of the skill and continued. Im not exactly sure what the skill does nor whether it is life, vitality, or nature aspected, but Im leaning towards vitality because it not only worked on plants but on my parents too. Gwendolyns gaze widened, but before she could speak, Aodhn shook his head. "No, I did not experiment on my parents, but they were present when I created the mutated plants and inhaled the essence cloud that formed as a result. Also, Ive channeled it into myself at times, and although I havent exactly noticed increased healing or regeneration, it seems to be working. Gwendolyn frowned in thought and asked. Is it a class-scaling skill? Aodhn had avoided mentioning that little titbit so she didnt tell him the same thing Fortuna had done, but now that she had asked him directly, he didnt want to lie to lie, so he nodded. It is. Its only in its first stage, though. Gwendolyn sighed and led him to a series of flowerpots at one corner of the laboratory. Teaching people about class scaling skills is doing them a disservice, so I really cant tell you anything about this skill. What I can do, however, is create situations for you to draw your own conclusions from. Aodhn nodded in acceptance, and with a flick of her wrists, Gwendolyn produced a trio of ornately decorated flower pots from her spatial storage. The three pots were filled with what seemed to be the purest of soil and were even inscribed with soil-enhancing runes. When Aodhn raised an eyebrow in question, Gwendolyn smiled and said. Perks of dating an earth awakened, I guess. Infinite amount of good soil. Aodhn chuckled, and with another small wave, Gwendolyn created a trio of perfectly identical seeds and placed one into each pot. She infused threads of verdant energy into each pot, and a few seconds later, three identical rose stalks, only a few inches in height, grew out of each pot. Gwendolyn pointed to the first pot and said, Let''s see what you can do.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. Aodhn nodded and raised his hands; however, just as he was about to activate the skill, he suddenly noticed the attention of several students on him. Many of those who had been busy with their experiments now stood with their gazes turned in his direction, blatantly studying him. Even Andrew, who had been observing a sentient fungus at one corner of the laboratory, now had his attention trained squarely on Aodhn. Aodhn took a deep breath, ignored their curious stares, and activated {Lightning BeamGreen}. He controlled the intensity of the beam, reducing it from a raging beam to a mild torrent of lightning, barely two fingers wide. The small beam of green lightning flowed into the soil, and two seconds later, the rose began to grow rapidly. After so many days of practice in his mothers garden, Aodhn could somewhat tell when a seed was reaching the point of oversaturation, so he tried to cut the skill off before reaching that point; however, Gwendolyn shook her head and said. Keep going. So Aodhn did, and a minute later, he crossed the oversaturation point. The rose, which had been growing steadily before, suddenly jerked and began flickering with green lightning. The stalk expanded, growing much wider than should have been possible, and the once bright red flowers turned a vivid green. The thorns on its stalk turned into thorny branches, each one as wide as his thumb, and a few seconds later, hundreds of tiny green roses began to appear on them. Aodhn glanced at Gwendolyn, but she shook her head again and said, Continue. Lets see where this will lead to. Aodhn complied with a nod, incredibly curious himself. The rose stalk expanded until it strained against the pot, and although Aodhn expected the pot to shatter, the runic inscriptions must have prevented that, so the rose shot upwards instead. Its branches curved sharply as if reaching for the sun shining above, and in less than a minute, the rose stalk grew to over 4 feet in height. It had transformed into its own rose bush, which more resembled a very deformed banana plant with a lot of thorns than an actual rose bush. Its leaves crackled erratically with green electricity, and its stem began leaking vivid green pus as it split open in multiple areas. At this point, Aodhn had crossed the point of oversaturation hundred times over, and already he could tell that the plant''s entire molecular structure had crumbled. The moment the infusion of lightning stopped, Aodhn was certain that it would explode. However, the rose didnt bother waiting till he stopped; instead, the moment it crossed the 6 ft mark, it exploded in a shower of energy, thick green sap, and soggy stem tissues. Aodhn stopped channeling and hastily wiped his face in disgust. He was about to make a funny joke when he suddenly noticed that more than a few students were crying. Those who werent crying stared at him in contempt, even Andrew, who cradled the sentient fungus tightly as if to protect the plant from him. Gwendolyn, on the other hand, remained unaffected by the plants gruesome death and asked. So, what did you learn? Err, Im not quite sure. He replied awkwardly, trying to ignore the judgmental looks that bored into him from every angle. Okay, maybe he had accidentally killed the plant, but it wasnt his fault. Gwendolyn had been the one urging him to continue! Gwendolyn raised an eyebrow in dissatisfaction, and Aodhn turned his gaze to the disgusting remains of the plant. Ive never pushed this far before, so this whole thing is a first for me. Whether his words calmed the students, Aodhn couldnt be sure, but at least he had cleared himself of being a serial plant killer. He cleared his throat and continued, Id say the main thing Ive learned is that the plant will explode after a certain point, which rules out vitality as a likely aspect. Gwendolyn chuckled. Good, what else did you learn? Aodhn glanced back at the plants carcass and frowned. All plants had energy nodes, even unawakened plants, and after this little experiment, hed definitely gained more insight into the whole oversaturation thing. Even after oversaturation, the plant had kept growing, although with so many bizarre mutations, until it couldnt take the influx of energy any more. A good analogy to explain the oversaturation thing was a cup. Take, for instance, that the energy nodes of a plant were a cup and his green lightning was water. Oversaturation was the point where the cup now filled with energy began to overflow and spill all that excess energy out into the physical and genetic make-up of the plant, which led to the formation of mutations. The more energy spilled into the gene pool, the more corrupted or twisted it became, and hence the more mutations manifested. This was Aodhns theory, and although it seemed to make perfect sense at first, it had a lot of holes, one of which was the fact that it didnt explain why the plant had suddenly exploded. He shared his theory with Gwendolyn, and she nodded, neither approving nor disproving his ideas; instead, she waved a hand, and the second rose grew to an height of almost 3 feet in an instant. She glanced at him and ordered. Do it again. A girl burst into tears at the promise of more plant torture, and Aodhn grimaced, not particularly enjoying it either, but it was definitely better than practicing on human beings, so yeah, he chose the lesser evil. An orange-haired boy, whose bloodline manifestation reminded Aodhn of a sunflower, came forward and gently scooped the corpse of the first plant from the table, all while glaring dagger at him. When the boy left, Aodhn sighed and focused on the second plant before activating {Lightning BeamGreen} again. The entire process repeated itself, although, this time, much slowly. It took a much longer time for the plant to reach oversaturation and even longer before it exploded, having gone through a much more bizarre mutation than the previous plant. This time it was Andrew that choked back a cry, and even Gwendolyn looked uncomfortable when the rose exploded with so much force that it drenched the entire table and closest wall in green blood sap. Aodhn felt like a huge douchebag, and before Gwendolyn even asked, he quickly offered what hed learned to make sure to make sure the students knew that this was purely academic and that he wasnt in any way taking any pleasure in torturing and killing these plants. The second plant, aptly named #rose2, took a much longer time than #rose1 to reach oversaturation and eventual explosion. This observation aligns with my previous theory, and Ive learned that the energy nodes of plants grow larger with time. #rose2 had a much larger cup compared to #rose1 and thus took much longer to reach oversaturation. From the intensity of the mutations observed in #rose2, it can be concluded that the older the plant, the more room it allows for genetic and physiological manipulations, which is weird because I expected it to be the other way around. Lastly, we can finally eliminate life, nature, and vitality as the possible aspects because none of those beautiful affinities would have led to such a gruesome death. I sympathize deeply with this plant. Yes, he was buttering the students up, but to be fair, he was in a greenhouse filled with nearly a dozen advanced-class individuals. If anyone were to attack him right here and now, his chances of survival were less than 0, and hed rather not have to fight a losing battle for his life. When he finished speaking, Gwendolyn nodded, and after the corpse of the second plant was packed away, she waved to the third plant. This time, she didnt ask Aodhn to activate his skill; instead, she channeled verdant energy directly into the plant. The verdant energy bathed the last rose lovingly, and in only a few minutes, the rose stalk grew to nearly 6 feet in height. The rose itself had a vibrant red color, and the stalk was covered in a host of lush leaves. No mutations appeared, and when it reached 10 feet, Gwendolyn finally cut off the infusion of energy and said. I just channeled more verdant energy into this plant than what you channeled into the previous two, yet there are no mutations in sight. This plant will, however, not survive for long as its natural growth cycle has been severely altered. It has grown months ahead in the span of a few minutes and is unaccustomed to depending on sunlight, soil, and water for its nutrients; therefore, it cannot survive for long without verdant energy to nurture it. What did you learn from this? Aodhn frowned, and any lingering hope hed had that the skill was a healing skill evaporated. The third rose somehow avoided oversaturation despite the insane amount of energy that had been infused into it; instead, it just continued to grow and grow without mutations. That meant that the plant''s energy nodes had either continuously expanded to avoid the spill of energy, thereby eliminating the formation of any mutations, or Gwendolyns energy had blended seamlessly with the plants genetic make-up, a feat that his green lightning was just incapable of. In essence, {Elemental LightningGreen} was good and harmless as long as it remained within the energy nodes of plants, but the moment it exited the nodes and spilled into the body, it became devastating. He shared his thoughts with Gwendolyn, and when he was done, he added. Its like corrupted vitality. Good in small doses, but terrible in any serious amount. Gwendolyn nodded again, and Aodhn leaned back to think. There were still a few unexplained things about the skill, like how it had basically made Unrid and Synov multiple years younger or how it had relaxed his and Daruks muscles when inhaled. Those could be explained away by the fact that theyd only inhaled the energy in small doses, but until he carried out experiments on an animal, he couldnt be sure. After a few minutes of contemplation, he asked. So, if its not vitality or life-aspected lightning, what is it? Sylvael energy. It was the orange-haired boy who responded, his hands still stained with green sap. He glared at Aodhn for a moment before proceeding. Sylvael is the energy formed from the corruption of verdant energy with lightning. In a lower tone, he muttered. It should be an abomination. Aodhn took that as his cue to leave, and after thanking Gwendolyn for her time and help, he walked out of the laboratory, wondering just what effect direct infusion of this Sylvael energy into a person would have. From what the healer had said earlier, it seemed if used in small quantities, it might heal him like it had been doing before, but when something else like the poison was introduced, the lightning became confused, unsure whether to fight the toxin or strengthen it. It was an intriguing concept, and Aodhn began making plans on how to experiment with animals. If he channeled a torrent of this Sylvael lightning into an animal, would the animal erupt with bizarre plant-like mutations and eventually explode, or would the energy be completely harmless to humans like the energy from the plague wraiths had been? For more reasons than one, Aodhn doubted the latter. Chapter 130: A Finished Man! It was late evening when Aodhn exited the nature laboratory, and the golden clouds of the nexus of sunsets had already filled the sky. He was walking alone because, apparently, his torture of plants had been such a terrible deed that Andrew didnt even want to be seen with him. In Andrews words, Aodhn needed to pray to Raol and beg for his forgiveness after his terrible actions. Aodhn hadnt even bothered to argue; instead, he had raced out of the laboratory, chased by the judgmental gazes of more than a dozen plants awakened. He made his way to the cafeteria, and after dinner with Daruk, a much quiet affair due to Yurins and Andrews absence, they went to the post office to drop off their letters to Synov, after which they returned to their individual residences. Their little stop at the post office had taken a lot of time though, and it was practically night when Aodhn finally got home. Sighing, he pushed the door open, and for the first time in a while, he took out his AAT textbook and sat down in the living room to read. He rarely sat down here because he preferred to avoid his housemates on most days, but as he settled into the plush blue couch, he realized that the living room was cozier and warmer than his room. It wasnt just the aesthetics that were brighter, but the overall feel of the room reminded him of Magha Puja or Christmas evenings back on earth. Feeling slightly melancholic, Aodhns gaze swept across the living room, and he smiled when his gaze landed on Imanis favorite chair. The chair was marred with several splotches of ink as well as a few tears on the armrest that Aodhn figured were a result of Imanis nervous scratching. A pile of textbooks lay on a small stool next to the chair, the topmost one dog-haired to mark the page shed stopped reading. It was nice to see that Imani was still an avid reader, although the rate with which she seemed to be reading lately seemed to have reduced. On the kitchen counter, a half-eaten bowl of cereal lay covered, its contents soggy, and Aodhn didnt have to think too long to recognize Marcelluss handwork. Honestly, that boy needed to be spanked. A memory from his time as the Northwing coordinator surfaced in his mind, and Aodhn shook his head in amusement. It was funny that all the dislike hed initially held for his housemates had sort of evaporated. Sure, he still wasnt close friends with any of them, but he at least no longer wanted to see them kill each other, not even Marcellus, who was the douchiest of douchebags. Smiling, Aodhn returned his attention to his textbook, opened to the chapter on bloodline inheritance, and began reading. However, hed barely read more than a few lines when he suddenly noticed an oddity in his surroundings. Usually, his core sense worked passively, so he was always subconsciously aware of everything in his immediate surroundings, but more often than not, he had to focus on something to sense it in detail. This time, though, Aodhn hadnt even needed to focus. The oddity was just so bizarre that it broke through the noise of his subconscious and blared in his mind like a fire alarm. Curious, he focused his senses on the oddity but quickly withdrew his senses the moment he realized what was going on. Two cores in one room! That was the oddity that had stood out to his senses, but that wasnt what alarmed him. No, what alarmed him was the affinity of these cores and what these cores were doing. Well, not the cores, but what the owners of said cores were doing. Aodhn blushed in embarrassment, feeling naughty for even sensing the oddity. He shuffled awkwardly, not quite sure how to feel about this new development as a series of emotions erupted within him. First came disgust, then jealousy and finally annoyance. Aodhn wasnt sure he could help the first emotion, because what the fuck! He understood the concept of sex, and he was no saint either, but the image of Imani and Marcellus together was just ick! The second emotion, though? Yeah, even he wasnt that much of a hypocrite. He had no right to be jealous, even if he thought Imani was making a very terrible mistake seeking comfort in Marcelluss arms. Aodhn tried to push the pesky emotion away, but it refused to budge, so, after nearly a minute of mental struggle, he resigned himself to facing it. He closed his eyes and tried to think of a valid reason to justify his jealousy, but when nothing came, Aodhn realized he truly was a hypocrite. He didnt like Imani that way and hadnt even thought of her in a sexual manner, not to mention that he had done her dirty too many times, both intentionally and unintentionally. He had absolutely no right or reason to feel jealous. He spent the next few minutes thinking, trying not to imagine what was going on in the next room. It was impossible though, and before long his mind began to torture him with images that he most definitely didnt need or want. Deciding that hed had enough of the living room for one day, Aodhn grabbed his textbook and ran up to his room, wanting to be away from the whole lustful stuff that was going on downstairs. However, when he got to his room, he raised his hands to the doorknob and paused as a different kind of lustful thought entered his mind. He shook his head forcefully, trying to banish the images with sheer determination, but it was a losing battle, and before long, Aodhn found himself heading towards the next room. He tried to redirect his legs and force them to turn back, but the traitorous limbs refused to heed him, and a moment later he found himself standing before Merediths bedroom door. His hands reached up to knock, but Aodhn forced it down and prayed to all the gods that would hear him to give him back control of his own body. He prayed that Eren would come out of his own room and save him from this burst of madness. He prayed that principal Zatya would text him and ask him to come to her office immediately, but none of his prayers were answered, and slowly, even the meager control he had over his hands began to slacken. He tried and tried, but his hands reached up to the door anyway and knocked. Immediately, Merediths core began to move in his direction, and the next moment, she pushed the door open and peeked out, raising an eyebrow in surprise when she saw him. A coy expression soon replaced her surprise, and she smirked. Humph, look what the cat dragged in. What do you want, player? Aodhn just stared at her, not knowing what to say. What could he possibly say? Ive come here to sin? By the stars, he was a hypocrite! Merediths brows furrowed in confusion as the silence lengthened, and she asked again. Look, Aodhn, the fact that I like you doesnt mean you can do whatever this is that youre doing right now. Im very busy at the moment, so if you dont mind leaving I dont want to leave. Aodhn blurted out and cursed himself for being so stupid. UhmI dont want to leave. I want to stay andand hang out.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. Hangout? Meredith scowled as if the words tasted bitter on her lips, causing Aodhn to quickly correct himself. Maybe more than hangout; you know, we could do somethingfun! Meredith stared at him in confusion for a moment before her eyes suddenly widened and she leaned closer. Are you trying to do what I think youre trying to do? What!? No. Yes. No, no! Why would you think that? Aodhn cringed as the words tumbled out of his mouth, and he cursed himself. It was official. His own body was betraying him. Meredith smiled, her eyes dancing with amusement. You dont seem to know what you want, do you? II do. I What do you want? You. The words tumbled out of his mouth, and Aodhn sighed, resigning himself to the emotion burning in his chest. He closed his eyes and leaned his head against Merediths doorframe. Right now, I want you. Merediths eyes widened, and she stared at him for a long moment before shifting away from the entrance and gesturing for him to come in. Aodhn hesitated for a moment before stepping in, and the moment the door shut behind him, Meredith pounced. Aodhn gasped as her lips captured his, and his mind went completely blank. Heat engulfed him as his body burned with desire, and five minutes later, the both of them were a tangle of bodies on the soft bed. Aodhn lost himself to the sound of her voice and to the feel of her body grinding against him with a ferocity that would have greatly inspired Varc. Tiny arcs of lightning rippled around them, each one causing Meredith to shudder in pleasure as the heat of their bodies rose and their needs peaked. It was euphoria. Plain and simple, and by the time they were done, Aodhn collapsed to the bed, shuddering and breathing heavily as his heart raced in excitement. Meredith, on the other hand, was almost catatonic, as she stared wide-eyed at the ceiling with a stupid smile on her face. With a giggle, she looked at Aodhn and said, Were definitely doing that again. Aodhn woke up in his bed the next morning, only a little conscious. He had extricated himself from Meredith only a few hours ago after she had suggested they commit the sin for the dozenth time in a row. As tired as he felt though, a smile played across his lips. He couldnt help it. Yesterday night had been one hell of a night, and he just wanted to bottle up the feeling and dose himself with it whenever he felt down. The more he thought about it, the more his grin widened, and it wasnt until his alarm blared that he stumbled out of bed, cursing, when he accidentally knocked his bedside lamp to the floor in his rush. Fuck! he muttered when he picked his uniform from the floor and scowled when Varc let out a growl of amusement. Oh, laugh all you want, Varc. Im on fucking cloud nine, baby. Varc was pissed that he hadnt been let out for his usual hunt yesterday night. He had tried to have a conversation with Aodhn about it, but Aodhn had been so tired when he snuck out of Merediths room a few hours ago that he had fallen asleep almost immediately his head hit the pillows. This had annoyed Varc even more, hence his lack of sympathy this morning. Varc growled again, and Aodhn chuckled. I mean, you could try to eat her, but Im sure Merediths strong enough to handle you without assistance. Varc growled again and scoffed in derision, his wings puffing out and tearing through the curtains with ease. Aodhn raised an eyebrow at the damage and sighed. Its just one day, Varc. Stop being so dramatic. Ill let you out tomorrow. Varc huffed in dissatisfaction, but Aodhn didnt have the time to argue any further. He only had a few more minutes to spare before he had to meet Daruk and Andrew at their meeting spot, so he quickly rushed to the bathroom and took a quick bath. Somehow, he managed to avoid thinking too deeply about the consequences of his actions with Meredith yesterday. Actions that he intended to repeat today. Haq! He rushed through his bathroom routine, and five minutes later, he was completely dressed, albeit a little rumpled. Varc hesitantly returned to his spirit, and after taking one last look around the room to make sure the room was in order, he stepped out and almost collided with Eren. Hed been so distracted by his thoughts and in such a hurry that he hadnt noticed Erens core blazing from behind his door. Sloppy! Scolding himself mentally, Aodhn asked. Hey, Eren, whats up? What he really wanted to ask was, Where were you yesterday when I needed you? But that was a bad idea, so Aodhn decided to keep his thoughts to himself. Eren shrugged somberly and said. Im fine, I guess. I just figured we could walk to the gym together. Oh. Aodhn let the words hang in the air for a moment, wondering what Erens motive was. This wasnt the first time he had suggested they walk together, and Aodhn would be lying if he said he wasnt very curious. The silence stretched for only a few seconds before Aodhn replied. Apologies, Eren, but I usually go with Daruk and Andrew, and theyre kind of waiting for me. Erens expression fell, and he nodded. Its fine, I understand. Aodhn frowned, and despite being in a hurry, he asked. Is there a problem? Are you alright? Yes, Im fine. Its justCan we talk in private? Aodhn scanned the empty hallway and sighed. Sure, come on in. Eren hesitated for a moment before stepping in, his gaze taking in Aodhns gray-black decorations without comment, although he couldnt help himself when his gaze landed on the variety of damaged stuff scattered across the room. Whats happened to your roof? Aodhn glanced at the damaged ceiling, which was slowly putting itself back together and blushed. Varcs horns. He replied curtly and quickly used his body to block the burning curtains. So what did you want to talk about? Eren turned his gaze back to Aodhn and cleared his throat uncomfortably. I need your help. My control over my element is lacking, and I was wondering if you could help me. Give me some tips, perhaps. Aodhn arched an eyebrow in confusion. Wait. Youre having difficulties controlling your element, and you came to me for help. Eren scowled. Im not on good terms with Grendar Bladewynn and her posse of metal awakened lackeys; besides, I see how well you do in Master Lamarrs control exercises. All Im asking for is advice. Aodhn wasnt quite sure how to react, to be honest. He wanted to help Eren, but he had no understanding of the metal element, not to mention giving someone else advice on how to control it. Eren noticed his hesitation and grimaced. Youre the strongest student in the academy, and despite our initial differences, I respect you for that and consider you an acquaintance. Youre the best option I have, really. Aodhn highly doubted that, but he let Eren continue. Ive got a match tomorrow, and from the look of things, Im going to lose again. After tomorrows match, if I lose another, Im going to find myself at the bottom of the class. I dont want that. Im not asking for your technique; I just need advice. Aodhn contemplated the matter for a while, and against his better judgment, he replied. Im not sure that I can help you at all, but Daruk, Andrew, and I will be diving a dungeon today after class. Perhaps you could join us, and if I find anything to help you with, Ill just tell you. Eren mulled the idea over for a moment, not seeming too enthusiastic about it, but after a while he replied. Okay, Ill join you guys for the dungeon delve after class. Great, Ill see you then. After Eren left, Aodhn locked his door, jumped out of his window, and zoomed off towards their meeting point at full speed. When he arrived, he found Daruk and Andrew glaring at him in annoyance. Not wanting to waste any more time apologizing, he shouted, Hop on guys, were going to be late. Thats our fucking line. Andrew shouted back as he and Daruk hurriedly scrambled onto his platform. While they did that, Aodhn presented his excuses. I know, I didnt mean to; I had a busy night. His response drew Daruks ire, and he scowled. I do not blame you. I blame myself and Andrew for convincing me to wait a minute longer. Aodhn chuckled and eventually apologized, narrating his meeting with Eren and his eventual decision while they zoomed off to the gymnasium. They didnt really get to talk much about it as they arrived at the gymnasium a minute later with only a few minutes to spare. Coach Harvey tsked sadly as they rushed up the stairs towards the entrance of the gymnasium. He shook his head as he marked their names on his attendance, muttering something under his breath in annoyance. When he finished, he glared at them and said, One of these days, Ill catch you three again. Eren stumbled into the gymnasium a few seconds later, and coach Harvey shut his book, shouting. Move your arses, you lazy twigs! I want everyone up and running immediately. An extra lap for anyone who isnt geared up in the next one minute! Chapter 131: Dungeon Diving After a torturous gym session, Aodhn, Andrew, and Daruk gathered in the cafeteria for breakfast and to discuss the matter of Eren Thornhill joining them for their dungeon diving session later in the day. They were understandably confused, and Daruk asked. Wouldnt Grendar Bladewynn be a better option for a tutor? Or even Bakhtin. Andrew added. They are the strongest metal awakeneds in the class. Aodhn shrugged. I said the same thing, but hes supposedly not on good terms with either of them. Im not sure what Im supposed to advise him about, though. His movements? His form? Daruk glanced at Aodhn and frowned. Those arent terrible places to start, but its not like you have the best form either. Haha, very funny, Daruk. Very funny. Aodhn scowled at his brother. Andrew chuckled. You know hes right, though. The metal affinity is all about speed and precision, whereas the storm is Chaotic. Daruk finished and nodded at Andrew in approval. This is the first time youve made an intelligent statement all week. Andrew glared at Daruk and threw a piece of bacon at him. Fuck you. Aodhn just learned back in his chair and shook his head. Andrew was right, but he had committed himself to helping Eren, and it would be rude to pull out now. While he thought of a way to help Eren during the dungeon delve, Andrew threw another piece of bacon into his mouth like a barbarian and said. Speaking of friends, have you ever seen Eren with anyone lately? I think at one point he was always walking with Tobias Menzies, but I havent seen those two together in weeks. Aodhn thought about that for a moment before shrugging. Erens relationship with the other students was none of his business. They rushed through their breakfast, and when they finished eating, they split off to their respective classes. Aodhn and Andrew to Awakened Plants and Herbology, while Daruk made his way to one of his etiquette whatever classes. The next two hours of class passed by in a blur of notes, plant images, and an exercise on soil quality, but as soon as the clast ended, Aodhn texted Eren and Daruk to organize their meeting at the dungeon. If they were going to be a party, then they had to go in together. There wasnt really anything to gain or benefit from doing so, but it just seemed right; besides, they werent really delving the dungeon loot but for cores. Honestly, it had been a real bummer to find out that dungeons in ?FLYM were very different from what he had imagined or read in books back on Earth. Their layout was basically the same: labyrinths, caverns, and the like, but there was no loot drop or boss rooms like hed expected. That didnt make them any less interesting though, and Aodhn was really looking forward to the whole adventurer experience he had always dreamed about. After texting Daruk and Eren, Aodhn and Andrew began making their way to the dungeon area, a barricaded district set in the north-easternmost part of the academy, discussing how Yurin would have made the delve a little more lively if he were around. Aodhn had texted Rahim at the cafeteria that morning to inquire about Yurins mental state, but Rahims response hadnt been promising. Yurins inspiration had been a very strong one, so the duration of the twisted effect was prolonged because of that. According to Rahim, Yurin most likely wouldnt be returning to his senses until Sunday at least. It was a sad situation, but it was just one of those things that came with advancement. As long as Yurin was safe, Aodhn wasnt too worried about him. However, he was incredibly curious to know what kind of inspiration Yurin had gotten to suffer the twisted effect so thoroughly. Perhaps he could gain some insight from it. They met up with Daruk and Eren a few minutes later, and together they made their way to the dungeon area. Unlike the academy rifts, which were artificial and completely under the control of the academy, dungeons were wild and unpredictable in the sense that they couldnt be controlled or managed like the artificial rifts. For this reason, the academy had restricted first-year students from accessing them until last week, when an elaborate commission ceremony had supposedly taken place while he and Cyrus had been rotting away within the sink. Daruk, Andrew, and Yurin had delved into one of the dungeons last week, and Daruk had a ton of metal affinity cores to show for it. Andrew, on the other hand, had traded almost all the cores hed gained for evolved cores, which he had absorbed into his class. That was another disadvantage of dungeons, as unlike rifts, the cores of creatures within them werent fixed to a particular class and could range all the way from the mundane class to the calamity class depending on the color of the dungeon, of course. The walk to the dungeon district lasted nearly half an hour, and when they finally arrived, Aodhn took in the array of colorful dungeon entrances and sighed in wonder. There were over a dozen dungeon entrances clustered in this area alone, and Aodhn couldnt even fathom how the academy had managed to gather them all in one place. The dungeon entrances ranged all the way from a lowly white to a deep blue entrance, which was very daring considering the average tier of students in the academy. However, Aodhn suspected that the blue dungeon was delved so regularly that a dungeon break would be a literal miracle. The white dungeon was the lowest of dungeons, consisting mainly of mundane creatures from tier 0 to 5. The green dungeon came next, consisting mainly of evolved creatures from tier 5 to 15, while the blue dungeon was a high level dungeon consisting mainly of advanced creatures all the way from tier 40 to tier 99. Out of the array of dungeon entrances, though, only five were available for evolved class students. Out of these five dungeons, two of them were white, two were green, and the last was yellow. The white dungeons werent even considering, while the green dungeons would have been a mild challenge for Aodhn ten tiers ago. The yellow dungeon was more his speed, consisting mainly of creatures from tier 15 to 39. It probably wouldnt be a decent challenge until they were halfway through the dungeon, but it was definitely better than the other dungeons. Aodhn looked at his party and grinned. Are you guys ready for the real adventurers experience? Daruk snorted. We experienced it last week Sheesh. Dont ruin my excitement. Aodhn glared at his brother and turned to Andrew instead. Are you ready, Plant Adventurer? Is that even a question? Andrew asked, and Aodhn cursed himself for having such party poopers as friends. In a deadpan tone, Aodhn asked. It had a question mark, didnt it? Daruk snickered while Andrew shrugged and said. I didnt hear any question mark in the question. Did you hear a question mark, Eren? Please dont involve me in thisidiocy. Eren replied uncomfortably, his expression slightly puzzled as his gaze darted from one person to another. Killjoy. Andrew muttered with a roll of his eyes as Aodhn gave up on the question and began moving towards the yellow entrance. Andrew and Daruk kept cracking jokes behind him, while Eren wordlessly followed. When they reached the guards stationed by the yellow entrance, both of whom were advanced class individuals at the limit of their advancement, Aodhn presented his ID card, and the others did the same. The first guard, a slightly potbellied middle aged man, was a metal awakened, while the second guard, a dark haired old man, was a telekinetic, the first of his kind Aodhn had met ever since his arrival within this world. The telekinetic scrutinized their IDs for a moment before waving them forward, Yall be careful in there. Delving is fun and all until you come across an advanced creature you cant defeat. The other guard nodded. Judging by your information, I suggest you turn back immediately you start encountering the Rithclaws. Things devolve quickly from there. Aodhn thanked them, grateful for the advice, and a minute later, they walked into the swirling yellow portal. They appeared within a sprawling cavern with walls made of dark iron and steel veins that pulsed faintly with metallic essence. Focusing his core sense, Aodhn marveled at the abundant amount of metallic essence in the air. What made it so surprising was the fact that this was just the entrance; how dense would the energy be when they got to the halfway point or to the end? Eren let out a blissful sigh as he took in a deep breath and grinned, his hands moving slowly through the air, most likely feeling a deep kinship with the energy around him. To Aodhn, it felt like having a hundred cold blades pressed against his person. It was a little scary, but the energy carried no harmful intent, so Aodhn let the vague threat roll off his back without dwelling too much on it. Daruk and Andrew had a much harder time adapting to the sensation, although from their expressions, it was obvious they had expected it. Andrew grimaced and released a wisp of his aura to envelope him tightly, pushing away the metallic essence in his immediate area and replacing it with a thin haze of verdant essence. Thats one way to go about it. Aodhn quipped, a little impressed, and without hesitation he quickly copied Andrews actions, cloaking himself tightly with a thin layer of storm essence. Daruk did the same, and as a small amount of frost began to gather around him, Aodhn turned his gaze back to Eren, whose face bore an expression of complete contentment. Aodhn shook his head, wishing he could feel what Eren was feeling; alas, the academy didnt have a storm dungeon or rift, and the raining season was still a few months away at least. When Daruk finished, they began making their way deeper into the dungeon, and Aodhn looked around to take in the beautiful space. The ground was uneven and deformed by a series of thick metallic veins that jutted out of the ground, some with dull edges and others with edges as sharp as a knife. You think those are useful? Andrew asked, pointing to a clump of metallic protrusions at the far end of the hall they had appeared in. Not really. Eren responded, looking almost jovial for a change. Those are tin ores. They are terrible for runic inscriptions or armor creation, but I guess you could sell them for a couple coppers. Andrew grimaced at the sad price Eren had mentioned. Even Aodhn was unimpressed, as he couldnt remember the last time he had spent anything less than silver on anything. Nevertheless, he moved towards the clump and said. Since theres no loot, it would be a grave crime to let these ores pass us by regardless of their prices. Do you guys want a share? Eren and Andrew shook their heads, while Daruk shrugged. Sure, why not? A few drops of water make an ocean after all. Mhm, wise words. Aodhn nodded in approval and proceeded to direct a precise beam of lightning at the tin ore to weaken the rock around it, inadvertently causing the tin ore to crack. I could have done that for you. Eren muttered with a slight look of annoyance, and Aodhn shrugged. Ill keep that in mind if we come across some gold or platinum ores lying around. Daruk snorted. If that were the case, this dungeon would be filled to the brim with students hoping to strike it rich. Chuckling, Aodhn handed one half of the tin ore to Daruk and placed the other half in his spatial storage before turning around to search the area in hopes to find a mystical clump of platinum ore. Alas, his luck wasnt that heavenly, because the only thing he found was a huge clump of lead. According to professor Caldwell, lead was a pretty good base material for creating jamming or scrying runes, so even though it wasnt gold, it wasnt useless either. He was moving towards the lead ore when he suddenly sensed the blazing core of an approaching creature. A grating screech rang out next, and they all turned to the left entrance where the sound had come from, watching as a sleek, doglike creature made purely of bronze metal walked into the cavern. The creatures body was slightly disjointed, held together by what seemed to be small screws, and its insides were empty save for the Tier 15 core blazing within it. Above its head was a small text. [BronzeArmor Stalker, tier 15] The BronzeArmor Stalker screeched again when it saw them, its metallic body creaking as it crouched in preparation to attack, but a single flick of Erens fingers turned the Stalker into a ball of scrap bronze metal that scattered to the floor with a loud crash. Aodhn watched the creatures carcass sink into the earth with fascination, leaving behind a sliver gleaming core as loot. Eren grabbed the core with a grin and threw it into his spatial storage, saying. Are you guys ready to hunt, or are you still so fascinated by cheap metal? Cheap to you, decent to commoners. Aodhn snorted, and with a prideful sniff, he moved towards the clump of lead and made sure to cut out a large chunk before dusting his palms and gesturing for them to go forward. The moment they stepped out of the cavern, they were attacked by a trio of BronzeArmor Stalkers, two of whom Eren killed, while Andrew killed the last with a whip-like vine plant with silver thorns. The sound of their battle must have called the attention of the other BronzeArmor Stalkers, because barely a minute later, they were nearly completely surrounded by more than a dozen stalkers, none of whom were above the 18th tier.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. Aodhn released a condensed beam of red lightning that smashed into six of the stalkers and caused them to explode violently. Daruk released a beam of frosta new skill hed created after facing the Silverwing IceDrakethat took out another five and encased them in ice. Eren took out the last three stalkers by pulling all their screws apart and leaving them to shudder and twitch erratically before crashing to the floor in a chorus of clinks, clangs, and tinks. The entire fight had barely taken a second, and when it was done, Andrew glared at them. Great, Im completely useless. No, youre not. Aodhn replied reassuringly. Youre just slow. Andrew rolled his eyes. That makes me feel so much better. They all chuckled, and while they picked up the fallen cores, Aodhn wondered if they would come across any creature that wasnt made solely of metal. He needed to test out his {Elemental LightningGreen} skill, and he needed a fleshy creature for that. When they finished picking and equally distributing the cores, they began moving from one cavern to the next. As they moved deeper into the cavern, they came across other groups of students who were also delving the dungeon, but aside from acknowledging each other, they didnt break their delve. Good adventurers were focused, except when it came to gains like tin and lead ores! Aodhn found several clumps of tin and lead on the way, and he made sure to take as much as possible without ruining the fun for others. One time, while the others battled a dozen Tier 20 BronzeArmor Stalkers, Aodhn was crouched in one corner of the cavern, mining a large chunk of copper that hed almost missed had it not been for Eren. Copper was unsuitable for runic inscriptions, but its value was certainly higher than that of tin. Get over here and come and help us. Andrew shouted as he transformed his arm into a thorny branch and stabbed it into the mouth of one of the stalkers before pulling it out violently, scattering a ton of screws with the motion. You are doing great. Aodhn shouted back as he pulled out a large chunk of copper from its vein and threw it inside his spatial storage. When he turned around, all that was left were his portion of cores that Andrew hesitantly handed over, muttering. You do not deserve this. They moved on to the next cavern, but rather than a stronger group of stalkers like Aodhn had thought, they were attacked by a group of creatures identified as [steel-scaled Slytherins], ranging from the 19th to the 22nd tier. They were basically snakes, but rather than scales, their bodies were made of flexible steel. There were over a dozen of them in the cavern, and the moment they entered the cavern, the Slytherins lunged, fangs bared. Aodhn reacted instinctively, channeling five strands of willpower into his bloodline before releasing his aura. Instead of simply spreading out his aura, he focused it on the Slytherins. Pressure descended, and it was apparently too much for their reptilian bodies. All the Slytherins smashed to the floor, and more than half of them simply crumpled. The ones who survived the pressure fell to the beam of cold Daruk released a moment later, and those who survived that fell to Erens and Andrews combined efforts. The next cavern had an even larger number of Slytherins, but they dealt with them the same way. Casually, they made their way deeper into the dungeon, mining metal ores and grabbing cores left and right. Time passed by in a blink, and before they knew it, they came across their first humanoid creature, an ironclad golem at the 22nd tier. The golem was clad entirely in steel, save for its head, which was a spherical ball of silver. The golem attacked immediately; they stepped into the cavern, and they reacted accordingly. Daruk encased its limbs in ice, Andrew held it down with half a dozen vines that sprouted out of the metallic floor, and Eren shattered its armor. Aodhn Aodhn went for its head and even protected it from a lance of metal just before slicing it off with a serrated lightning blade. Before the silver head could be absorbed by the dungeon, Aodhn threw it into his spatial storage and whooped in excitement when it didnt disappear. Daruk shook his head, and Andrew said. At most, youll get a few pieces of silver when that gets melted down. Its not a great haul or something. But Aodhn wasnt listening. A haul was a haul, no matter how little. That was the fun in adventuring, and he intended to make as much money as he could from this delve. They continued on their delve through the dungeon, and Aodhn had to admit that this was probably the least challenging delve hed ever done. They trashed every creature they came across, and sometimes Aodhn didnt even bother participating, too busy mining one metal or the other. They came across a variety of metal-themed creatures as they delved deeper, none of which were a problem, especially when all of them ganged up against a single creature. A good example was a tier 24 Steelthorn Raven that might have been a decent challenge had any of them been facing it alone, but after Eren practically crippled its wings and Andrew squeezed it to death with a series of thorny vines, Aodhn and Daruk had just proceeded to hack it to pieces. The battle had only lasted a minute, and even Daruk, the least battle-crazed individual in their midst, was brimming with dissatisfaction. Why are they so weak? he asked as he hacked the fleshy underbelly of the raven with an ice spear. Is anyone enjoying this? Andrew scowled. You guys should have just let me solo it. I would have pumped it full with enough toxins to kill it in five minutes maximum. Eren sighed and turned his gaze to Aodhn. Ill just come out and say it, since none of you seem to want to. This party is too strong for the early stages of this dungeon. Weve spent nearly two hours in this dungeon, and I dont think we are anywhere near the middle yet. Things are looking up though. Andrew pointed out. The tiers of the creatures are increasing, and I bet well come across our first tier 25 creature soon. Andrews comment was followed by a beat of silence as the others processed his words, and a moment later, Aodhn asked. What if its an advanced creature? The truth was that humans werent the only ones who missed evolution stages, and it was possible to find evolved creatures at the late 20th tier and even early thirties, just like in the Tower of Ascension. It was even more common in dungeons like this, but there was always a possibility that the first tier 25 creature they encountered was Advanced. If that was the case, then the best solution was to run. If it was a single creature, then they might stand a chance, but advanced awakeneds and creatures possessed an innate resistance to evolved skills, making them a menace to kill except someone had an epic-ranked weapon or item. Just to be safe, I would suggest we run as fast as we can if that happens. Daruk replied after another moment of silence. Im not trying to underestimate our strength, but we cant afford to underestimate an advanced creature either. Im in agreement. Aodhn replied, and after a few seconds, Andrew nodded. I hate it, but I see the logic. Eren agreed too, and they continued on their way into the next cavern, but they had barely taken more than a few steps forward when a sudden roar echoed through the thick walls. Aodhn paused, straining his core sense to the maximum to get a feel of this new creature, but then more roars echoed out. They all tensed, and Aodhn asked. How many do you guys hear? Five. Daruk and Eren replied quietly, but Andrew muttered. Fourteen. Those are the echoes, idiot. Eren muttered, but Aodhn ignored them, pushing his core sense to the limit until one of the creatures entered into his range. A memory of a metallic wolf-like creature flashed across his mind, and he quickly called out. Rithclaws, six of them, but its possible there are more of them hanging around. Tier range? Daruk asked, and Eren gasped in shock. You can sense them? Aodhn ignored him and replied, Daruk. Between Tier 23 and 24, but theres a Tier 25 evolved creature among them. Daruk, you and I will have to take that one out first while Andrew and Eren deal with the others. You want us to deal with five-tier 24 creatures on our own? Eren asked, alarmed, but Andrew just pulled out a pouch of seeds and grinned. Finally, some challenge. This is not a game! Eren shouted in panic, but Aodhn didnt have the time to calm him down. Instead, he quickly took charge of the situation and began giving out commands. Andrew, take the left; two Rithclaws are coming that way. Eren, take the right; two Rithclaws are coming from there. What! I cant fight two tier 24 Rithclaws on my own. Will you calm down? Aodhn glared at him. First, only one of them is at the 24th tier. Secondly, Im not asking you to kill them. All Im asking is for you to do your best. That is the best time to improve your control. You His speech was cut shut when two more Rithclaws entered his core sense range, and Aodhn cursed. Okay, fuck. New plan. Andrew, take the right; Daruk, take the two coming from behind; Eren, take the two from the left. What will you do? Eren asked, still panicking, and Aodhn muttered. Varc and I will take the two coming from the front. Another chorus of roars echoed again, and Eren muttered an inaudible prayer to Raol, while Andrew shuffled from feet to feet, praying for the Rithclaws to come faster. He didnt have to wait long, as a few seconds later, the first Rithclaws, a Tier 23 juvenile, burst into the cavern from behind them and rushed at Daruk. Daruk attacked with a concentrated beam of frost, but Aodhn was unable to witness the effect of the skill as the tier 25 Rithclaw burst out of the front entrance. Varc immediately rushed out of his spirit, letting out a torrent of black lightning before he was even fully summoned. The torrent smashed into the Rithclaw at point blank range, but Aodhn knew it wouldnt have any major effect. Without hesitation, he pulled deeply from his seal and gasped, both in pain and pleasure, as the golden bolt of lightning shot through his pathways and into {Lightning BeamRed}. Heat engulfed him as the skill activated, and a large beam of red electricity shot out of his two palms. The beam shot forward with astounding intensity and punched straight through the Rithclaw, shattering its skull and slicing it completely in half. Fortunately, the second Rithclaw was directly behind the first, so it fell to the same fate, its body twitching and spasming from the shock and power of the attack. Varc had gone over to help Andrew, so Aodhn directed the lightning beam to one of the Rithclaws Eren was fighting. The skill managed to punch a hole through the first Rithclaw before it lost the essence of the seal, but it had done enough already. A quick reactivation of {Lightning BeamRed} finished off the stumbling Rithclaw, and Aodhn turned around to help Daruk, only to see him running towards Andrew to help him. It was an understatement to say that Aodhn felt proud that Daruk hadnt needed his help. Daruk had come a long way in only a few months, transforming from the unimaginative and inexperienced awakened he had been, and Aodhn couldnt have been more proud of his growth. Eren finished off his Rithclaw a moment later, and Aodhn turned to see Andrews remaining opponent, a tier 23 Rithclaw frozen solid in a block of ice. The block of ice shot towards him a moment later, and Daruk muttered. You said you needed a guinea pig to experiment on. Aodhn wrapped the frozen block with a storm construct and grinned. Well, its not exactly a pig, but itll do. Daruk chuckled, and Andrew went to gather the cores. It was then Aodhn noticed Erens silence, and he turned to stare at him. I can only hope youve learned something to improve your control from this whole experience, because Ive got nothing. Eren stared at him for a moment before stating. You have core sense. Aodhn grimaced but nodded. To be honest, his core sense ability wasnt a secret; in fact, he hadnt even known it was a special ability until Ahmet had unknowingly pointed it out. The principal was aware of his skill, and so were half his professors, along with anyone who had spent enough time with him to put two and two together. Eren shook his head in amazement. It makes so much sense now. How you feel so completely unthreatened by Marcellus even though he could be in the same room with you and youll not even know. Aodhn shrugged and changed the subject. Are you injured? Eren blinked, surprised by the sudden change of topic, before shaking his head. No, no, Im fine. Aodhn nodded and said. I think we should leave now. I used a lot of energy from my seal, and I doubt we can deal with another group like that without taking any serious injuries. What do you guys say? Im all for leaving. Daruk sighed. I had to use my seal too so I could quickly finish off the Rithclaws and come help Andrew. Andrew rolled his eyes. Im sure Ill never live that down. Just so you know, youre not my knight in shining armor, Daruk. Daruk grinned. No, Im your knight in icy armor. Andrew scowled at Daruk and slapped him in the face with a soft vine before turning to look at Aodhn. Im down for leaving too. Ive got a ton of experiments to run in the nature lab anyway. Aodhn nodded and turned to look at Eren. So, ready to go? Eren nodded, but when he took a step forward, Aodhn noticed a limp in his steps even though he was trying his best to hide it well. Are you sure youre alright? Aodhn asked again, and Erens eyes widened like that of a dear caught in headlights. He stuttered. Yeah, yeah, its fine. Its just a smallpull. Pull? Aodhn frowned and moved closer. Is it a cut, sprain, or dislocation? I said its fine. Eren replied brusquely and limped back. My regeneration will take care of it. Not if its a dislocation. Andrew pointed out. You have to pop the bone back to trigger your regeneration. Its not dislocated. Eren replied hurriedly, eyes wide, and Daruk frowned. You know, youre doing a terrible job convincing us to believe that. I Eren began, but then his shoulders sagged and he sighed. Okay, its dislocated, but its fine. You guys dont have to worry about it. Aodhn bent down to scrutinize Erens ankle, but the moment he moved to fix it though, Eren jumped out of the way and shouted. DontIll go to the healers tent, and theyll fix it. But its just a dislocated joint. Andrew stated in confusion. Pop it back in and you wouldnt even need to see the healers. No, Eren shook his head. I dont want to bother you guys. Lets just get out of the dungeon and go our separate ways. Aodhn frowned and exchanged confused glances with Andrew and Daruk before shrugging. Fine, if thats how you want it. They began walking to the exit of the dungeon, joking and discussing about all the cores and metal theyd gained from this delve alone. Eren struggled to keep up, and before long he began falling behind. Aodhn watched him subtly, confused by his insistence on having something so mundane treated by the healers, but just as they neared the exit, Aodhn suddenly realized what the problem was. You are scared of pain. He blurted out, and Erens eyes widened again. No, no, why would you say such a thing? Eren denied it, but when he saw their disbelieving gazes, he sighed and muttered. Im not scared of pain; Id just rather avoid it. Thats technically the same thing. Daruk commented, but Eren shook his head hastily as if denying something. Im not scared of pain; Im not a weakling. Aodhn exchanged another glance with Andrew and Daruk, not really sure how to address the situation, but after a moment of hesitance, Daruk stepped forward, and in a soft tone, he said. Im scared of pain, but that doesnt make me weak. Every time I fight, Im scared itll be the last time, that itll be Aodhns last time, or that something terrible will happen. We dont really talk about it much, but the academy is not an easy place, and its completely okay to be scared. A fear of pain doesnt make you weak. Eren, failing to push past that fear is what does, and if you do not let me fix that dislocated ankle, then you truly are a weakling. Aodhn shook his head in disappointment. Daruk had started so well, but he just had to ruin it with that last statement. It seemed to be working on Eren though, because his expression hardened and he looked down at the dislocated joint with determination. Breathing in deeply, Eren glared at them and muttered. Ill do it myself. Gritting his teeth in annoyance, he bent down and stayed that way for a few seconds, as if mentally preparing himself to jam the bone back into its socket, but after a few seconds, he sagged and muttered. I cant do it; its too painful. Aodhn stepped forward, and this time when he moved to grab the dislocated foot, Eren didnt resist, although he tensed so hard the metals around them rattled. With a quick, sharp movement, Aodhn jammed the bone back into its socket, and Eren screamed. Gah! His pained shout soon turned into sobs of relief as the pain subsided and Daruk encased the foot in ice to prevent it from swelling. Aodhn didnt think the ice was necessary as he could already see the swelling reducing, but Eren appreciated the gesture. They sat down for a few minutes, just chilling and discussing pain while they waited for Erens ankle to completely heal. Aodhn didnt share his experience with pain even though he was the one most intimate with the sensation; instead, he listened to the Daruk, Andrew, and Eren describe their most painful injuries and experiences, none of which even came close to the horrors he experienced under Eldriths training. When Erens leg completely healed, they stood up and continued on their way to the exit, still discussing merrily, while Aodhn nursed his fear for the pain that was sure to come in the next few days. Chapter 132: Essence Threads?っ???з The golden clouds of the nexus had begun congregating in the sky by the time they eventually exited the dungeon, courtesy of Daruk and Aodhn, who had taken the opportunity of their leisurely walk to harvest more metal ores. After exiting the dungeon, they made their way to the cafeteria, and after a nice dinner, they all headed to their individual preoccupations. Aodhn went to the pavilion and exchanged almost all of his share of cores for coins. He didnt really need them, courtesy of Varc, whose nightly bribes were nearly enough to push him to the advanced class as it was. He also sold off all of the tin, copper, and lead ores hed harvested, leaving only a few ounces of steel hed managed to harvest on their way back and the silver head of the Ironclad golem. The sale of ores only earned him a couple silver coins and some coppers, but Aodhn was happy with his earnings. Leaving the pavilion, he made his way back home and took out the stack of textbooks on essence threads that Daruk had given him the day before. He summoned Varc out of his spirit and took a seat by the window, content to just read while Varc did his own thing in the corner. He spent the next few hours reading, soaking in the experience of several people who have tried the technique or at least a semblance of it. Essence threads werent a new thing; in fact, from what he read, they were the baseline or inspiration behind the use of ancient Runic tattoos by the Calodans. The widening of essence threads was a common practice amongst the ancient people of Calodan, but the technique had been relegated to the side because of how slow and bulky the entire task was. There were millions of essence threads, all connected to various parts of the body, and widening each one was a task that would supposedly take hundreds of years just to complete. Many people didnt have the patience for it, and frankly, Aodhn didnt either; however, a sentence he read at the end of the first textbook gave him hope. Slightly. The essence enhancement technique is a long and arduous one because the older a person becomes, the more essence threads their spirit produces. It is therefore advisable to begin the thread-widening process at the very moment of one''s awakening if there is to be any hope of ever completing the technique before death or ascension. The technique is, however, a slow one, and the only known way to even out the wideningproduction process of essence threadsis to employ the infusion of chaos through an opening, a feat only a few people might be able to accomplish during the early stages. Daruk had mentioned this the day before, and Aodhn smiled when he realized that once again, fate had granted him a head start. It wasnt an assurance of success by any means, but it was something, and he could work with that. After a few more hours of reading, Aodhn tentatively decided to practice what hed learned. He made his way to the training room and pulled out a trio of tier 23 evolved cores, ready to absorb them and heal himself with an advancement in case things went south. After that, he settled into a meditation position and closed his eyes. Perhaps because hed sensed them before the essence threads revealed themselves more readily to his mind''s eye, their bluish glow seemingly brighter than before. Two of the textbooks hed read had referred to the essence threads as a sort of micro-cellular network connecting all pathways to the body, and the more Aodhn observed the mass of winding blue threads, the more he compared it to the idea behind Andrews new skill. The mycelium network of fungus consisted of a vast network of branching, threadlike hyphae that connects trees and other plants through a symbiotic relationship to enable communication, resource sharing, and even defense coordination. Using that some analogy, essence threads were basically a mycelium network connecting the body to the pathways in the spirit. The word vast was almost an understatement, and Aodhn wondered how he was supposed to find the essence thread or threads leading to his eyes, and more importantly, how had Daruk done it? Aodhn mulled over the matter for a few minutes before shrugging and putting it aside. There was only one way to find out, and that was by trying. Letting out a deep breath, Aodhn focused on the mass of branching threads, his mind eye following each one to detect where they started from and where they ended. Needless to say, it was a hard and frustrating task, because half an hour later, Aodhn was completely lost. He had found the threads connected to his eyes easily; there were a bunch of threads, about a dozen for each eye, but the problem lay in not losing track of the threads when they inevitably became tangled up with other threads. Aodhn was frustrated, and after another half hour he was more than ready to give up. He traced the threads for what he assured himself was the last time, mentally straining to follow their winding path despite the vast number of distracting threads. He even harnessed his willpower when he noticed himself faltering, and when that wasnt enough, he reached towards his seal for assistance. All he did was pull out a very tiny amount of the golden lightning, but the moment heat engulfed his entire body, the threads shone in his mind''s eye, and when he refocused his attention on the bunch of threads, the others seemingly scattered to make them more obvious. The moment the heat subsided, the threads dimmed and their complexity returned, but Aodhn had already gotten what he needed. Not knowing what he could use the tiny bolt of golden energy hed extracted from his seal for, Aodhn raised a hand and activated {Lightning BeamGreen}, letting out a beam of green electricity at the opposite wall. Not willing to risk losing sight of the essence threads, Aodhn kept his eyes closed even as the room thundered and creaked around him. Whatever had happened, he would check it out later. With the essence threads connected to his eyes still firmly fixed in his mind, Aodhn traced them to their root, a large pathway that curled around his neck. Why the threads had to be so long, despite its roots being so close, Aodhn couldnt understand, but he didnt bother questioning it; instead, he let out another deep breath and opened up his spirit to the origin plane. The infusion of chaos threatened his focus, but Aodhn refused to let all his hard work be undone. He focused on the root of the essence threads, and with a muttered prayer to all the gods listening, Aodhn channeled several strands of chaos-energized willpower into the essence threads. The feeling was weird and nice at the same time. It felt like twitching a limb for the first time after decades of inactivity. The feeling increased as more energy burrowed into the threads, spinning like a drill to open and expand them. An hour passed by, but Aodhn barely noticed as all his attention was focused on not losing sight of the threads and enhancing the new sensations he was feeling. An hour turned into two and two into four. By the time Aodhn opened his eyes next, it was only a few minutes from dawn. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! He had done it though; he had widened the bunch of essence threads connected to his right eye considerably, and now they glowed a bright blue. Aodhn had closed off his spirit to the origin plane hours ago, unable to take the strain for more than an hour straight, and that was when he realized just how much faster he was at widening the threads with chaos compared to the use of pure energy. He was approximately three times faster, which was scary because according to the textbook, this speed would only even out the process. Now he understood why the technique had been relegated to the side. Wanting to test out the technique, Aodhn directed energy from his pathways and into the widened threads, expecting the usual movements of energy within his normal pathways; instead, energy zipped through the thread almost as fast as he could think, and the next instant, his right eye practically exploded with clarity. Aodhn hissed in pain as the world exploded with color and his sight sharpened. He quickly reversed the flow of energy, but the damage had been done. His eye burned and watered from the pain, and Aodhn realized he must have burned every single nerve ending in the eye, because the next moment, his vision darkened, and he completely lost his sight. Well, not completely. His left eye was working just fine, and Aodhn would have panicked if Daruk didnt go through this exact same thing almost all the time. Aodhn hadnt expected the speed of energy within the threads to be so fast, although, in retrospect, he should have considering the size of the threads. Because of that, he channeled much more energy into the threads than his evolved eye could manage and had thus blinded himself. Sighing, Aodhn leaned against the wall, waiting for his minor regeneration to kick in, and that was when he remembered the seal-infused beam he had shot at the opposite wall earlier. Unsurprisingly, there was no sign of any damage on the wall or floor, but there was one fascinating titbit. During his last training session, Aodhn had brought in a few stools to aid himself and had forgotten to take them out. Well, it turned out that two of those stools were the victims of his lightning beam, as evidenced by the mesh of vines and leaves now jutting out of them. The stools had been converted into an amalgamation of wood and vinesone that wasnt entirely unpleasing to the eyes. Fascinated, Aodhn moved closer to observe the stool with his one good eye, and when he reached it, he tried to raise it up. The stool resisted, and he frowned when he noticed several threadlike roots sticking to the floor. He applied a little more force, and the whole chair shattered, scattering into several pieces of wood and vines. Aodhn sighed and muttered to himself. I must have ruined the self-repair enchantments. It was a little confusing, because without the seal, the Sylvael lightning couldnt give life to a dead wood. The seal usually added fascinating additions to the effects of a skill, but Aodhn had never expected this. It made him question what extra effects the other lightning hues might have when unfused with the seals quintessence. He shook his head and discarded the amalgamation of wood and vines to the wooden floor. The green lightning was still a mystery despite the experiments hed conducted with Gwendolyn, and now a new question had been added to the whole puzzle. Could green lightning destroy enchantments, or was this just a coincidence? Aodhn was more inclined to go with the former option. Perhaps, naturally, the green lightning wasnt capable of such a feat, but with the power of the seal added to it, it had surpassed its initial limits. Aodhn wasnt really excited by the new addition, as decay was something he could already do with black lightning; however, the Sylvael lightning was proving to be much more versatile and dangerous than hed first imagined. The frozen Rithclaw Daruk had given him the previous day was still in his spatial storage, but as much as he would have liked to begin experimenting on it, he couldnt do it alone. He studied the effects of the skill for a moment longer before standing up to pick out the cores he had set aside earlier. His sight was still impaired, but gym exercises would be starting soon, and he couldnt afford to arrive late. Mentally cataloging a series of experiments to perform after the forge matches today, Aodhn walked out of the training room and made his way to the bathroom, tiptoeing when he found Varc still sleeping in his living room. He needed to have a conversation with Varc very soon, concerning his nightly hunts, but that time was definitely not now, not when he was half blind and sleep deprived. Varc could be a handful sometimes, especially when it came to his nightly hunts, and Aodhn knew he would lose the eventual argument if he tackled it right now. He couldnt escape it though, because the moment he finished from the bathroom, he found Varc glaring at him with a majestic pose from his bed and sighed. I was busy blinding myself and completely lost track of time. Im sorry. Varc growled in annoyance, tiny bolts of lightning arcing out of his snout, and Aodhn cringed as he felt a pang of guilt. Through gritted teeth, he lied, aware that Varc could sense his emotions just as easily as he could. I swear, I was too focused on my task to hear your thoughts and growls to be let out for your hunt. You know, we really should talk about where you go for these hunts. Its not as if the sector is crawling with evolved creatures. Varc snorted, not at all tricked by his attempt to change the topic. He still went along with it though, detailing his adventures to a particular sky dungeon housing a host of high-tiered creatures. Aodhn listened, fascinated by this particular dungeon guarded by a group of advanced-class soldiers. Unfortunately, Varcs story quickly came to an end, and he returned to their previous conversation. Deciding to find out more on the matter when next he visited the library, Aodhn decided to simply apologize and be done with the damned conversation. Okay, fine, Im sorry. I was busy; I heard you calling, but I was working on something so delicate I couldnt leave it to attend to you. He glared at Varc and wagged a finger. You know, we really need to discuss your hunting timetable. Its clashing with my sleep and ruining all the best things in life. Varc growled in outrage, his horns bumping into the roof and tearing furrows within it. Its not my fault youre big and cant get out of the window on your own." Aodhn growled back and yanked his uniform from his wardrobe. Besides, if you do not hunt one night, it wont kill you. Varc growled again, and Aodhn shook his head in resignation. Look, I enjoy all your bribes, but you have to be considerate too. Were a team, Varc, which means we have to do things that work for the both of us. Their discussion continued for a few more minutes, after which Varc, thankfully, returned into his spirit with an agreement to shift his hunting hours to a more agreeable time. Aodhns right eye was already healing, although he still couldnt see shit with it, and at this rate, Aodhn suspected that it would take nothing less than five hours to get his sight back. He needed to be more careful with these threads. With that settled, Aodhn made his way out of the house and joined Daruk and Andrew, who were already waiting for him. He scowled when he saw Daruk collect a gold coin from Andrew and muttered. Betting against one''s own family. That has to be illegal somewhere. Daruk laughed. Oh, Im sure it is, but better to be a criminal than a loser all for the sake of family. Aodhn snorted and then launched into the result of his experiments with the threads as they made their way to the gymnasium. Andrew couldnt learn the technique because he hadnt gained a seal yet, but he was definitely taking notes for when he finally did. They arrived at the gym with a few minutes to spare, only to gasp in shock when they found that the difficulty of the exercises had been increased once again. Before them stood an entire suit of null armor, and Aodhn just knew that he wouldnt survive this exercise without his soul leaving his body. Chapter 133: Forge Matches Il To say the gym exercise was torture was an understatement. It was hell in all forms despite the fact that coach Harvey had reduced the number of laps from two to one. The null armor just accumulated so much weight that by the halfway point, half the class had already collapsed from exhaustion, choosing to instead lie on the floor and let the earth bear their weight till the exercise ended. Even the metal awakeneds who had been taking things leisurely before were now sweating profusely as they dragged themselves to the finish line by sheer force of will. Aodhn practically crawled behind them, hastily channeling willpower through his pathways just to remain standing. When he finally got to the finish lineAscendants knew how many hours laterAodhn collapsed to the floor and simply prayed for death. He wasnt the only one, as gasps, groans, and cries echoed all through the gymnasium. While Aodhn wheezed and coughed as he tried to catch his breath, Coach Harvey and Miss Greene rushed around, pulling collapsed students out of their armors, and when they finally pulled his armor off him, Aodhn almost cried in relief even as someone cursed Coach Harvey from the back. Daruk collapsed beside him a few minutes later and gasped. Wheres the Ascendant of death when you need him? Aodhn tried to laugh, but it came out as a wheeze that led to a coughing fit. When it finally subsided, Aodhn called out to Coach Harvey. What have we done to deserve such evil? If youre trying to kill us slowly, you are definitely succeeding. Cries of agreement echoed from the rest of the class, and Coach Harvey grinned from where he was pulling an unconscious Derek from his null armor. Im not trying to kill you, although I very much intend to push you all to the edge of death so you can break free from the bondage of your bodies and begin to surpass them. All I hear is torture, torture, death, kill, break, and death. Just kill us and be done with it. Lilith cried out from where shed collapsed on the floor, unable to lift herself up anymore. Coach Harvey chuckled. I assure you, Miss Bloodmoon, that these exercises are for your own good. So you say, but thats what every villain says too. Alesh groaned from where he lay sprawled on the floor. Coach Harvey chuckled again, and they all just kept venting out their frustrations and crying out in pain until they finally regained the strength to stand up, after which they made their way to the bathroom and eventually the cafeteria. Thankfully, they had no classes today, so they spent more than necessary in the cafeteria, just talking, resting, and discussing the Forge matches that would be starting in the next few hours. Another hour passed, and by the time they left the cafeteria, Aodhns sight had been partly restored. Despite the fact that he didnt really need both eyes to see, his perception was weird with just one eye, and he constantly felt like he was missing out on the things happening on the right side of his vision even though Daruk and Andrew assured him that the only interesting thing to have happened all day was Meredith and her friends eyeing him like hungry sharks at the scent of blood. Aodhn was tempted to tell them about his rendezvous with Meredith, and after a lot of contemplation, he finally did. But despite his many warnings to keep their reactions subtle, Andrew and Daruk had sharply turned their gazes in Merediths direction before turning back to look at him in shock, disbelief, and excitement. I thought you didnt like her? Andrew asked, and Aodhn groaned. I dontlike her. I just... we are just having fun. Were not going to fall in love or anything. What if she falls in love with you? Daruk asked teasingly as he gently tapped his jug and turned the water within it to ice. Aodhn scowled, truly considering the prospect before responding. Then shell have made a grave mistake. What I have with her is different from what I had with Lupin, and I dont want it to become more than that. Im perfectly content with the way it is at the moment. Andrew snorted and threw a chunk of meat at him. Here I am, a guy who wants to give them flowers and treat them right, yet they go for you two whores. I cant believe it. Im not a whore. Aodhn corrected with a grin. Ive literally only had sex with one person which makes me better than Daruk whos cold exterior seems to be doing the most when it comes to pulling the heartstrings of women. Daruk just grinned and crossed his arms. Perhaps, if you both pay me, I can give you a lesson on how to woo women. I dont need the class. Aodhn laughed and pointed at Andrew. You, on the other hand, need to pay for the premium package. Their banter continued for a few more minutes until they finally got up from the cafeteria and made their way to the arena. It wasnt time for the match yet, but it was nice to arrive early this time and have a pick of the best seats. They sat with Ayisha, Scarlett, and Lupin, discussing the current happenings within the academy and their individual classes. The arena filled up slowly, and Aodhn asked Ayisha. So, will you be challenging anyone today? Ayisha scowled and directed a glare at Professor Alaric, who was seated on the opposite end of the arena, discussing merrily with some of the other professors and academy staff. It doesnt seem like I have much of a choice in the matter. She responded loud enough for the whole arena to hear, but if Professor Alaric did, he gave no reaction whatsoever. Ugh, he threatened you too? Scarlett exclaimed. I cant believe the nerve of that man. Cavarash Kiromochi! What does that mean? Andrew asked, and Aodhn eyed Scarlett curiously, wondering if she was telling the truth this time or not. Scarlett glared at Professor Alaric and snorted. It means hes not a sweet man at all. Thats a lie. Ankaz popped in from behind them and tapped Scarletts head lightly with a scolding expression. It means Professor Alaric is an eldritch pile of shit. Mochi means Eldritch horror. Aodhn glared at Scarlett and shook his head. I should have known you were lying about that too. You told me Mochi means sweet guy! How do you know its not my brother whos lying? Scarlett replied with a careless wave of her hand. Besides, Eldritch horrors can also be cute. Aodhn turned his gaze to Ankaz, who shook his head and said, I swear on my love for runes that I speak the truth. Aodhn grinned and pointed a finger at Scarlett. You are the liar. Fuck me if I ever believe a word that comes out of your mouth ever again. Their banter continued for the next hour while other students slowly trickled in, and the familiar holographic screen displaying the forge rankings list appeared in the sky. This time it was Professor Alaric who was anchoring the games, but for some reason he looked less than pleased with his task. When the forge matches finally began, Professor Alaric floated out of the professors booth and rose into the air with a scowl on his face. Settle down, everyone. The arena quieted, and Professor Alaric continued. We are gathered here today to watch first-year students fight like children. Seriously He turned his gaze to a section of the arena filled with third-year and fourth-year students. I dont know why you all bother to attend these burdensome events, because every time I do, I feel like I lose a couple brain cells. Raucous laughter echoed from the section and the staff booths; even some of the second years laughed, and Scarlett scowled. Oh, the nerve of this man. First he threatens us to fight publicly and then mocks us in front of the entire academy. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Ayishas scowl deepened, and even Aodhn felt offended. He understood that the disparity in perception made their fights seem slow and childish compared to that of other years, but to mock them like this wasnt necessary. Professor Alaric turned his gaze back to the first-year section and continued. Please note that I will not be saving anyone. If you cant surrender on your own, then you might as well die and save us all the trouble. Aodhn sighed. Usually, Professor Alaric was flippant and rude but never mean, so Aodhn assumed he was pretty frustrated by something. Professor Alaric spent the next few minutes listing out the forge rules, and when he was done, he gestured to the holographic screen to reveal the forge list. Unsurprisingly, there was barely any change in the top five ranks. Cyrus was still 1st, Lilith was second, Alesh was third, Lysirel was fourth, and Grendar was fifth. It didnt seem like any of them were ready or willing to change the status quo, but Aodhn knew it was only a matter of time. The bottom five had been fluctuating like crazy, and it was only a matter of time before they set their sights higher. Yurin had done very well for himself and now stood at rank 16, a prestigious rank, as the top twenty was no joke. Andrew had also done well for himself and had pushed himself into the upper forties. He would have been higher, but his luck just wasnt that great when it came to the forge matches. Daruk was at the 22nd rank while Aodhn was at the 26th. If he won his match against Isis, he would ascend to the 23rd rank. His ascension through the ranks was nowhere near as fast as he had hoped, but Aodhn was quite content with his overall progress. The forge matches began the way they usually did, from the bottom, but because of Professor Alarics insulting words, the matches became a lot more visceral than usual. People actually fought right this time rather than running around the ring and lobbing attacks at each other in a desperate attempt to score a lucky hit. It was exciting, and Aodhn cheered when Temiya Haldren buried Derek in a block of concrete, effectively ending the match in less than a minute. That wasnt to say there werent still a ton of disappointing matches, and at one point, Professor Alaric even zoned out dramatically, refusing to call the next match, just because, according to him, he had lost a few too many brain cells for one day and was unwilling to continue until he regenerated them back. Things changed for the better when they broke into the top 50 ranks. The duels got a lot more intense, and the benefits of higher spiritual cultivation became evident. Bloodline auras and abilities were unleashed with abandon, and as they climbed into the top forty, even seals came into play. Before long, Professor Alaric called on Andrew and Lyra Davenport for their match, and when Andrew got up, they all wished him good luck; however, Aodhn couldnt help but worry. Lyra was the Force Awakened he had almost killed during the tournament, but in the last few weeks, it seemed she had managed to push herself up to the top forty ranks. Her control might be lacking, but from the way she walked into the ring, shed obviously gotten some sort of upgrade during the break. That was the main reason why Aodhn was concerned. Lyras affinity was a terribly useful one, effective against both conceptual and elemental affinities, and Aodhn could just imagine how strong she would be if she had his or Cyruss control. As Andrew and Lyra walked to the duel, Aodhn and the others began speculating on the outcome of the match and possible counters for Lyras and Andrews skills. Aodhn didnt know Lyras skills, but he imagined she would be able to apply, drain, and upset the force/momentum behind a persons attack, perhaps even absorb it and amplify herself with it. If she was particularly adept, Aodhn expected that she would be able to create constructs of force, redirect the kinetic energy within projectiles or even living beings, or create concentrated bursts of force and pressure that affected gravity in a localized area. There were a ton of skills Aodhn expected her to have or imaginative ways in which he could have used the force affinity had he awakened it, but unfortunately, Lyra wasnt him, and her control over her affinity was average at best. That didnt mean she wasnt a threat, but if he had to pick a winner, Aodhn would go with Andrew, mostly because he knew Andrews skills better and because from what hed seen, Andrew had a lot more control over his affinity than she did, not to mention that Andrew had a bloodline and she didnt. Professor Alaric recited the rules once again, and after Andrew and Lyra both voiced their understanding, Professor Alaric waved a lazy hand and called out. Begin! Andrew reacted first, releasing his verdant aura to engulf the entire ring whilst throwing out over a dozen black seeds onto the concrete. However, before the seeds even touched the ground, half of them were blown apart and scattered by a force blast that tore through Andrews aura like a knife and caused him to stagger. Lyra attacked incessantly with dozens of force blasts, trying to either lock Andrew down or knock him out, but her control and precision were lacking, and she failed to hit her target multiple times. This continued long enough for Andrew to turn the arena in his favor. Just as the first few vines erupted out of the ground, a force blast slammed into Andrew and almost knocked him out of the arena, if not for a bunch of black vines that hastily wound themselves around his feet and pulled him back into the ring. A force blast destroyed the vines an instant later, but more vines took their place, and before long, the ring was practically crawling with black vines, their serpentine bodies moving like predators towards Lyra. Lyra reacted immediately. She raised both hands to the sky as if to claw at the heavens, and the next instant, a wave of intense pressure exploded from her, shattering the first wave of vines and cracking the concrete beneath her. The force pushed Andrew, who was still scrambling to his feet, back to the floor, and Aodhn winced when he saw Andrews head hit the floor with a sickening thud. She has grown stronger. Scarlett muttered, and Aodhn nodded in agreement. Daruk sighed and shook his head, saying, Hes only going to get dumber after this. Andrew managed to push himself back to his feet and shield himself in a ball of black vines just before the second wave of pressure hit. The second wave destroyed the shield, but Andrew attacked with a dozen metallic vines that Aodhn recognized as the render vines. Dodging, Lyra attacked the vines with concentrated explosions of force, but the vines were unrelenting. When one died, two took its place, and before long Lyra found herself dealing with over two dozen render vines whose bladed tips glistened with what was obviously poison. While Lyra battled the vines, Andrew planted more seeds, this time, a red plant that jutted out of the ground with sharp, blood-red crystals for thorns. Its a bloody chrysalis! Ankaz exclaimed, and when they asked what its significance was, he explained. Its a plant native to Calodan that leaks blood-red sap, which eventually hardens into a sort of crystal used in our birthing ceremonies. Is it an awakened plant? Aodhn asked, confused, as he was certain Andrew couldnt create Awakened plants. Ankaz hesitated before responding. Not really, but there are ways toor its better to say it has several awakened uses even though its considered a mundane plant. Aodhn nodded, understanding that the topic was a delicate one for Ankaz, before turning his gaze back to the ongoing match. In the few seconds in which theyd been distracted by Ankazs explanation, Andrew had activated {Forest of Thorns}, and the blood chrysalises had elongated, their vines wrapping around each other until they became a mass of bladed vines and crystals, coated in poison. Lyras eyes widened as the mass of poison crystals and metallic vines surged toward her, their tips as sharp as spears, and Aodhn finally grinned. Now, shes in trouble. She staggered backwards, and when the wriggling mass descended sharply, she panicked, raised both hands to the sky, and screamed. {Force barrier}. It was rare for people to call out their skill, as most people preferred to keep that information secret, but Aodhn understood Lyras desperation at the moment. In the face of the monster Andrew had created, even he might have called out a skill just to make sure. A blue dome of force shimmered into existence around her, but it shattered the moment the mass of crystals, metals, and vines smashed into it. Lyra stumbled, dodging to the side as she let out a concentrated force blast just before the mass of vines attacked again. The blast tore a huge hole into the mass of vines, but it wasnt enough to destroy the monster Andrew had created. With a wave of his hands, Andrew caused the mass of wriggling vines to descend forcefully, and Aodhn saw the exact moment Lyra made a foolish decision. Aodhn wasnt sure how Lyra could get herself out of this situation, but it definitely wasnt by attempting to drain the force from something so large with her average control. She raised a hand to the descending mass of vines, and although Aodhn had expected her to fail woefully, the mass of vines surprisingly slowed to a crawl. That amazing feat must have taken a lot out of her because she collapsed to one knee and missed the moment when a red chrysalis vine detached itself from the whole and attacked from the rear. It shot forward like a spear, its crystal tip gleaming crimson in the sunlight, and stabbed into her back. Lyra managed to choke out a surrender before things got worse, and cheers erupted from the audience as Professor Alaric proclaimed Andrew the winner while Lyra was quickly attended to by a healer. Aodhn was impressed, honestly, and when Andrew returned to his seat, high from the adrenaline rush of the match, Aodhn congratulated him with a hug and thought to himself, If Andrew was this powerful without a seal and the limitations of the arena, then how much stronger would he be in a forest, surrounded by the physical manifestation of his element? The forge matches continued after that, growing progressively violent and brutal as they ascended through the thirties and finally into the twenties. Ayisha lost her match against Harnoth Darkwater, to everyones annoyance, falling even lower on the forge rankings, while Cameron seemed to have been possessed as he easily cut through his opponent and ascended into the early thirties. At this point, the weaker members of the forge list had been weeded out, and nearly everyone within the top thirty was deserving of their rank. Hence, when they got into the twenties, there were no more easy victories, and the battles became much more exciting. After a particularly brutal match between Halima Sahiri, a dark-haired air awakened, and Gwendolyn Tideborn, Professor Alaric finally called out the next match. Aodhn Ashoka-Brystion vs. Isis Anvindr. Chapter 134: Forge Match II The moment Professor Alaric called their names, Aodhn stood up from his seat, laughing as his friends wished him good luck. Most of them said it as a courtesy, not because they thought he needed it, but Ayisha looked him in the eye and smiled. Dont be nervous. You can do it. In that moment, Aodhn forgot that he was still mad at her for throwing the match with Harnoth. He needed to have a conversation with her about the whole thing, but for now he had a match to win, and yes, he was nervous. Breathing deeply, he walked down the stands and onto the stage, tiny arcs of electricity crackling around his fingers. As he stepped into the ring, he released his mental hold on {Empathic Link}, letting Varcs emotions flow into him unimpeded. Determination, wariness, and all manner of chaotic emotions flowed into his own, but Aodhn managed to stay in control of himself. He took a moment to affirm his control before proceeding into the ring to face Isis, who was staring at him with an expression almost as cold as that of Daruk when he harnessed the power of his seal. Unlike he and Yurin, Isiss bloodline manifestation was barely noticeable. Her black hair was sleeked back, yet it moved subtly as if underwater, and the only other noticeable part of her bloodline manifestation was the change in the color of her irises. It shone a subtle purple color and was ringed by a band of black as dark as her hair. Her core, however, blazed just as brightly as Daruks, pure and unblemished by the absorption of unaligned cores. She was at the 21st tier, the same as him, and when Aodhn focused deeper, he found the beginnings of an opening as well as the golden quintessence of her seal. He had always known Isis was strong, but this just proved it, hence his nervousness. Aodhn, of course, believed in himself, but this was the first time he would be facing a decent opponent within the arena, and he couldnt afford to mess up. Isis inclined her head slightly to acknowledge him, and Aodhn returned the courtesy before turning to stare at Professor Alaric, who glared at both of them before reciting the rules of the match just like he had done many times before. When he finished speaking, Aodhn and Isis voiced their assent and prepared themselves for the match. Aodhn inhaled deeply and prepared himself to activate {Create construct} at a millisecond''s notice. Isis was a menace in a fight, and it would be extremely foolish of him to underestimate her at all. Professor Alaric looked at them, his gaze lingering on Aodhn for an extra second before calling out. Begin! Isis attacked first, snapping a finger to create an undulation of sound waves that surged forward almost too fast for him to react. Aodhn managed to create a storm shield in time, but the construct shattered into a thousand tiny shards of storm essence the moment the undulation of sound waves smashed against it. Aodhn grimaced, and without hesitation, he constructed an armor of white-gold lightning that covered his body from head to toe, leaving only his eyes exposed. The armor crackled and fizzled as it solidified, resplendent and bright, but it wasnt beauty Aodhn was going for; it was durability. Hed never actually needed armor in a fight before, but Isis was a different breed of beast, and with how easily she had shattered his construct, Aodhn definitely felt much safer with the armor in place. Isis smiled coldly at his preparation as if she found it amusing, and suddenly, a cascade of musical notes sprang forth from her as she let out her aura. The notes wove themselves into a cyclone of sound waves that encased her in a protective bubble. Harmonious tunes echoed throughout the arena, beating to the natural rhythm of the earth, and even with all of Aodhns protections, the sound reverberated in his skull. A nervous shiver raced down his spine, but Aodhn pushed it aside, firmed his resolve, and attacked, unleashing a condensed beam of fiery red electricity from both palms. The beams surged forward, accompanied by a clap of thunder, but a sudden explosion of discordant tunes sent the lightning beam scattering in every direction. Aodhn lost control of the beam, and when the lightning arcs smashed against the sound barrier Isis had erected, she turned the sound of the resulting explosion against him, amplifying it to such a degree that Aodhn was hit with an intense wave of vertigo and disorientation, despite the padding of constructs he had placed over his ears to prevent this exact situation. With his ribcage still vibrating painfully, Aodhn retaliated with another beam of electricity that Isis barely managed to dodge. Unwilling to let her go so easily, Aodhn layered his armor once more and created a storm hammer for himself. He felt his seal hum in approval, but he barely paid it any mind as he dashed forward, intent on bringing this duel to a close without revealing all of his skills. Dodging another wave of discordant sounds, Aodhn appeared behind Isis and swung his hammer with all his might. Unfortunately, she dodged again, gracefully leaping into the air on motes of golden musical notes. A condensed beam of black electricity brought the light show to an abrupt halt, and Isis tumbled back to the concrete floor hard enough to break something. In that little moment of disorientation, Aodhn flashed forward, his hammer poised for a swing, but Isis suddenly screamed, and a sonic shockwave blasted out of her mouth, ripping through the air with visible undulations. The wave shattered both his armor and weapon, threw him into the air, and sent him tumbling backwards so violently that his bones shuddered. Now unprotected, the sonic wave rippled through his body painfully, threatening to rip off his skin, but before such a thing could happen, Aodhn quickly flooded his body with willpower. The amount of willpower he channeled was astounding, but Aodhn barely noticed a dent in the swirling ball that resided within his core. The flood of silver willpower served as a layer of protection, but it wasnt enough, and Aodhn knew he would be the first to fall if he didnt take serious action soon. With the fear of loss now added to the swirling mess that was his emotional pool, Aodhn finally released his aura and empowered it with as much willpower as he could. What happened next was nothing short of horrifying. Perhaps it was because Aodhn only used the full extent of his aura against extremely strong individuals; he was unprepared for the damage it would do to a person on the weaker side. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Isis smashed to the concrete floor so violently that her jaw cracked! The sound wave cut off abruptly, and if it had been a different opponent, Aodhn might have hesitated, but this was Isis, and Aodhn knew a broken jaw was barely enough to hobble her. Reconstructing his armor, Aodhn rushed forward and smashed a newly constructed hammer at Isis''s head. Concrete cracked, and perhaps her skull did too, but Aodhn couldnt tell as he was violently thrown back by a concussive blast of sound that shattered an entire half of his newly constructed armor and almost sent him flying out of the ring. Aodhn arrested his momentum with a storm cloud and looked up to find a concentrated beam of pure sound shooting towards him. Eyes widening in surprise, Aodhn created multiple shield constructs of storm and lightning to protect himself, but the beam tore through them like a bullet through cardboard until it smashed into him and exploded right on his chest. The force of the attack threw him to the edge of the ring, and Aodhn cried out in pain as his body smashed against and shattered the hastily constructed storm shield he had placed behind himself to arrest his momentum. What was left of his armor crumbled away, and his skin burned from the heat of the attack. His bones protested loudly, and his eyes watered, but Aodhn was undeterred. Dodging the next beam of concentrated sound, Aodhn willed a storm cloud into existence and activated {Lightning Spear Rain}, carelessly dumping a ton of willpower into the skill. Spheres the length of his arms descended from the cloud, each one a different hue, and with unwavering focus, he directed all that lightning at Isis. She staggered backwards, eyes wide in panic and jaws hanging limply as she hastily summoned an array of harmonically charged constructs to protect herself. The constructs began revolving around her, but a flex of Aodhns aura shattered the constructs to pieces. Isis stumbled, but she must have greatly fortified herself with willpower because rather than collapse to the floor, she dodged a hail of lightning spears and sent another beam of pure sound in his direction. While Aodhn dodged the beam, Isis created another array of constructs, but the lightning spears struck them down before she could complete them. Aodhn poured more energy into the skill, and with a clap of thunder, a fresh volley of lightning spears descended. The spears struck the sound shield Isis had hastily erected and completely smashed it to pieces. Isis defended herself with another explosion of sound waves that sent the lightning spears scattering in every direction, but now that she was unprotected, Aodhn dashed forward again and swung his hammer at her head. The force of his attack lifted Isis into the air, shattering her left cheekbone, and whatever trick shed been employing to disrupt the lightning spears ceased. One slammed into her right hand and practically nailed her to the concrete, the second pierced her shoulders, and the third skewered her thigh. She screamed in agony, and Aodhn quickly cut the skill off, not wanting to go too far, but that was a foolish mistake. Before he knew it, multiple balls of compressed sound the size of a fist materialized around him and exploded. Aodhn managed to erect a storm construct to protect himself, but it was too little too late. The sound balls exploded with so much force that the concrete cracked, and Aodhn lost the ability to think for more than a few seconds. Sound lanced through his mind with a high-pitched whine, and Aodhn groaned as he felt pain stab into his mind like knives. Unable to come up with a single coherent thought, Aodhn collapsed to the floor beside a terribly bleeding Isis and grabbed his hammer. Sursurrender! he gasped out, but when she refused, he swung his hammer at her face once more. The hammer impacted with a loud crack, but rather than give up, Isis screamed again, the sound seemingly tearing itself out of her mangled face. Rather than the pure sound waves shed released earlier, this time, the sound that erupted out of her mouth was an abhorrent tone. It was a high-pitched screech not unlike the grating of nail against metal. The abhorrent sound sliced through the air, leaving an almost tangible echo that set his teeth on edge and sent an involuntary shiver down his spine. The shrill scraping sound was amplified to such a degree that Aodhn lost control of his body, completely overcome by an urge to plunge his claws into his own head and scratch his fucking brain. While Aodhn battled the urge that was practically a death sentence, Isis freed herself from the lightning spears, blood dripping all over her body. She staggered forward, amplifying the abhorrent sound until Aodhn screamed in agony and his body convulsed from the pain and sound waves wreaking havoc on his body. At this rate, he was going to lose, and although he still had a few more skills that could drastically alter the trajectory of this match, Aodhn refused to use them, wanting to end this match only with the skills he had displayed so far. Determined, he harnessed his willpower again. He didnt weave it or control it; instead, he just let it pour out of his body like water from a broken dam. This was vastly different from what he had done earlier. Aodhn wasnt just flooding his body with willpower; he was flooding the entire ring. Shock rippled through the audience, and Aodhn smiled when he realized the repercussions of his actions. He had just given out a vital clue to deciphering his identity, and with the astounding amount of willpower he was channeling, there were only three logical conclusions. He either had a willpower-based bloodlinean extremely rare and royal bloodline, was an inheritor, or, the most dangerous option, he was a transmigrant. The first option would be discarded immediately considering his affinity, but the second and third had to be addressed immediately. Being so impulsive, Aodhn hadnt really planned for the repercussions of his actions, but given his limited options, Aodhn didnt waste too much time on thinking. He pushed through the confusion of the abhorrent tune and forced himself to his feet, growling as Isis staggered back in fear. With an intentional motion, he ripped off his uniform and could almost feel the heat of hundreds of eyes on his back, each one searching for a transmigrant mark, and when they found none due to Varcs tattoo, they made a wrong assumption. Aodhn breathed a sigh of relief, basking in the rush of emotions that came from deceiving the entire arena. To the world, he was now an inheritor. With a grin born from that very major victory, Aodhn activated {Lightning BeamRed} and empowered it with all the strands of energized willpower his technique allowed. A condensed beam of red electricity punched forward with so much speed that Aodhns body jerked from the recoil. Isis was unable to defend against it, and she let out a piercing scream as lightning struck her and sent her careening backwards. This wasnt a death match, and Aodhns emotions were already on a short leash, so he cut off the skill, suppressing the urge to explode the arcs of electricity that had already made it into her body. Instead, he discarded his hammer, created a serrated lightning blade, and pressed it against Isiss dented skull. Lets not take it any further, Isis. His voice was weary and barely a whisper, yet it rumbled with the sound of distant thunder. Isis stilled, and a moment later, she whispered. I surrender. Cheers rang out from the audience, and Aodhn nearly collapsed in relief. Aside from his fight with the Silverwing IceDrake, this fight was the most brutal match hed ever been involved in. Aodhn could have summoned Varc or even opened his spirit to the origin plane at any point, but it felt good to have beaten Isis without any of those boons. It felt like he had passed a test he set for himself, and he was more than glad. He turned his gaze to the applauding crowd and grinned when he saw Rahim smiling at him from beside a mute but less disinterested Professor Alaric, who for the first seemed to have been paying attention. As the applause reached a crescendo, Professor Alaric announced. Winner. Aodhn Ashoka-Brystion! Chapter 135: Inheritor Inheritors are held as the beloved of ?FLYM, or so the belief doth go. They are deemed folks of destiny, chosen to bear the legacies of the Ascendants of old and to restore their strength and glory. They are respected by their peers, some even to the point of veneration. Yet their kindred, the transmigrants, are despised, cast into chains, and cruelly dissected, that the mark upon their necks might be harvested from them. The reason is simple. Transmigrants are otherworlders, thieves in a sense, and if there is one thing the rulers of this world abhor, it is outsiders who have inherited powers that rightfully belong to their own kind. Duke Arethia Corvius, High Member of the Council of Lords, Central Kingdom (Lutia).
The persecution of transmigrants was a great wickedness in Aodhns opinion, yet he had learned that it was most disturbingly lauded. It was a rare thing to find someone who didnt want to put transmigrants in chainsAodhn had done a subtle survey. Inheritors on the other hand were respected and considered people with bright destinies. Between being a transmigrant and an inheritor, Aodhn had obviously chosen to present himself as the latter. It also helped that Inheritors came in different forms, some with bloodlines and some without. The vast majority did come with bloodlines, though, like Daruk, but not all of them. A bloodline impartation forged a deeper bond between an ascendant and inheritor, creating a more familial link between them compared to the disciple/legacy relationship most Inheritors and transmigrants had with their Patrons. That isnt to say that Inheritors or transmigrants with bloodlines had a closer relationship with their Patrons than others, because, despite never granting him a bloodline, Aodhn still had a deeper connection with Azmarthon than Daruk did with his patron. Unsurprisingly, Aodhns new status came with a few changes, one of which was the gazes of the other students. Aodhn was no stranger to their awed or envious looks, but now it was worse. People stared at him almost as if they could see the strings of fate tied to him and wanted to grab onto them. It was disturbing, and Aodhn got the sense that doing the impossible was now on par for him as if being an Inheritor explained every oddity that surrounded him. Those who had hated him before now questioned their emotions, and some wondered if theyd been cheated by fate. It didnt take away their hatred and even amplified the emotion for others, but it was the reaction of his friends that bothered Aodhn the most as he walked back to his seat. Scarlett and Ankaz stared at him with a curious expression that carried a slight tinge of envy. Lupin looked shocked, but her thoughts were indecipherable, and Aodhn wondered what she was thinking. Andrew was shocked, and Aodhn sensed a bit of betrayal in his gaze. Daruk was, of course, looking as calm as ever, although Aodhn sensed that he was a little disturbed by the unplanned turn of events. Others like Eren and Alesh didnt have much of a reaction, obviously not caring one way or the other, but AyishaAyishas eyes were as wide as saucers, and her grip on the arena seat was so tight that her knuckles were white. She stared at him with an uncomfortable mix of shock and veneration, and although her expression wasnt exactly worshipping, it wasnt too far from it either. Immediately, he reached his seat, and she got up and nearly kowtowed. Im sorry for all the times Ive been so informal with you, fated. Forgive this one, for she knew not what she was doing. The instant switch in character was jarring, and Aodhn grimaced as his discomfort increased. He wasnt exactly regretting his actions to deceive the arena and lie about his identity, but he hadnt exactly planned ahead either, nor was he prepared to deal with all the intricacies that came with his status. He really needed to stop making impulsive decisions like this, although if he were being honest, could he truly say this was an impulsive decision? Aodhn had fantasized about this beforecountless times ever since he got Varc and his tattoo, and although he hadnt consciously made any plans to bring his thoughts to fruition, his subconscious seemed to have been working overtime, and he had seized the opportunity the moment it presented itself. Frankly, Aodhn hadnt exactly come out to say he was an inheritor, so technically he hadnt lied, but he had created an avenue to foster that assumption, and regardless of the repercussions or consequences that may arise from it, Aodhn was more than ready to bear the weight of his new status. After all, it was far better than being a transmigrant. Nevertheless, he couldnt have his friends bowing and scraping before him like servants, so he placed a hand on Ayishas shoulders and said, There is a reason why I kept my identity secret for so long, Ayisha; Id rather you simply address me the way you did before. Fated Aodhn. Aodhn insisted with a tight grimace. Call me Aodhn, please. And that goes for the rest of you. None of this fated stuff. Ayisha swallowed nervously but eventually nodded and sat back down. I will try my best to treat you as normal. I am normal. Aodhn replied as he sat down, feeling the eyes of upon him, and surprisingly, Scarlett agreed, saying, In Calodan, inheritors are just people who got lucky. They die just like normal people, and not all of them grow to become champions. Hell, Im stronger than some of them and Im an elite at best. Ankaz nodded in agreement, but Ayisha disagreed. The fateInheritors bear the willpower of Ascendants. They may not all grow to be champions, but the fact that one is fated is a thing of honor. No doubt about it. Ankaz nodded. But Scarletts point is that Inheritors are just as human as we are. I doubt Aodhn is the only inheritor in the entire academy, and perhaps, if we treated them more casually, maybe they would be more inclined to reveal themselves. Daruk grimaced subtly, but otherwise said nothing. While Scarlett, Ankaz, and Ayisha discussed his identity and its potential repercussions, Aodhn turned his gaze to Andrew and Daruk, but before he said anything, Andrew spoke. I get it. Your identity isnt something you have to share with everyone Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. Yet, you feel that I should have told you because of how close we are. Aodhn finished quietly, ignoring the dozens of gazes still trained on him. Daruk turned to stare at him, curious to know how he would deal with this situation, and Aodhn sighed. With the attention of several people on him at this moment, he couldnt afford to mess up. After giving the matter a moment of thought, Aodhn managed to come up with a decent response. Im sorry that you feel that way. He said and leaned forward slightly. But my identity is personal. A few people know of it, of course, but I just want to be treated like a normal person. I love our friendship, and I dont ever want it to change. The words came out smoothly, but Aodhn couldnt help but feel a pang of shame. Had he not been weary of lies and deception just a few weeks ago, yet here he was again, repeating the same cycle of lies and deception he so detested. Andrew searched his eyes for a moment before glancing at Daruk. You knew and yet you compared yourself to him? Daruk scrunched his nose and shrugged. Inheritors arent special people, Andrew. They struggle just like we do, and the only thing they have more than us is willpower. Theres no reason a normal awakened cant have more control than an inheritor. So yes, I did compare myself to my brother in the beginning, but not anymore. Ive realized that he has his own story, and Ive got mine. Aodhn nodded, knowing he couldnt have said it better, although it was a little weird knowing that Daruk was speaking from experience here. Inheritors might be considered the beloved of the planet and children of fate, but really, they had no special abilities except the extra pool of willpower. Daruks statement seemed to ease the mind of many who were listening, and although he didnt seem particularly enthusiastic to be drawn into Aodhns web of lies and deception, he went along with it anyway, shooting Aodhn a look to indicate that they would be having a conversation on the matter as soon as they could. Before long, the attention on Aodhn reduced as the novelty of the whole Inheritor thing faded. Many students still stared at him with awe and envy, but Aodhn imagined the whole thing would die down in a few more weeks. It always did. His fake identity revelation wasnt enough to stop the forge matches, which was a relief, to be honest, and after two more matches, Daruk was called for his match against Indiana Remus, one of the strongest air awakeneds within the first year. The match wasnt as brutal as his and Isis''s had been, but it was even more violent, and Daruk nearly lost. While Daruk and Indiana fought, Aodhn finally considered the implications of his actions. Coming out to the world as an Inheritor was definitely better than being a transmigrant, but it also had its own struggles, which was the reason why both Inheritors and transmigrants preferred to keep their identities secret. Aodhn was no time walker, but he could already foresee a lot of challenges down this road that hed so spontaneously taken. That was the problem. Aodhn didnt regret his actions, but he could at least admit that he hadnt exactly thought it through. He had made the decision in a snap, and although it had seemed like he hadnt really had much of a choice, Aodhn was certain there were easier paths he could have taken. He wondered what would happen when Principal Zatya found out about thisif she hadnt alreadyor how Unrid and Synov would deal with this whole thing. The thought of reporters harassing Unrid and Synov unlocked a new fear in him, and Aodhn quickly texted Rahim, asking to speak to his parents in person. Rahims reply was immediate. Principal Zatya is already dealing with it. Aodhn was ashamed to say he felt relief in that moment. Principal Zatya had once more stepped in to save his ass, even though his new status probably caused more problems for her and her plans. She had thought ahead of him, and Aodhn imagined she was probably thinking up ways to shackle him tighter to herself. He let out a deep sigh and applauded with the others when Daruk was proclaimed the winner of the match and the next match was called. The rest of the match passed by smoothly, and when it finally ended, Aodhn stood at the prestigious rank of 23, Daruk at 17, and Andrew at 41. As the crowd exited the arena, Aodhn and his friends stayed back for a while, choosing to leave after the rush for the exit had reduced significantly. They said their goodbyes and headed to their individual destinations. Lupins gaze lingered on him for a moment before she turned away, and although Andrew nodded and patted him on the shoulder, he too left to do his own thing. In the end, only two people remained with him, Daruk and Ayisha. Will you be fine on your own? Ayisha asked, and Aodhn nodded. You dont have to worry about me. She hesitated for a moment before leaving, looking back constantly as if to make sure nothing had happened to him in the few seconds since she left his side. Aodhn wasnt sure how to deal with Ayisha, but he hoped this veneration she felt towards him would fade quickly. After she left, Daruk said. Well, lets hope that doesnt continue for too long. Aodhn sighed and shook his head. I really hope so too. In a tone barely above a whisper, he added. Im sorry for dragging you into all this. Daruk pursed his lips and sighed, emitting a puff of chill breeze from his nose. It would have been better if I had at least gotten a heads up. Aodhn shook his head. It was a spontaneous decision. Of course it was. Daruk shook his head. Nearly every decision you make is impulsive, but this one, the least you could have done is to have given it a bit more thought. Silence descended between them, but after a while, Daruk asked. Do you regret it? No. Aodhns response was immediate. Its still better than the alternative. Daruk nodded slowly and said, It is, but theres a reason inheritors keep to themselves despite being widely accepted, and that is to avoid this exact situation. Technically, I never announced myself as anything. You never disproved the assumption, though. Yeah. Thats true. Aodhn nodded and stared at the golden clouds as they walked towards the residential area. It was evening already, and for the first time in a while, Aodhn craved the darkness of the real sky. He needed to think! After a few minutes of silence, Daruk asked. What do you know about the children of the watch? Not much. Aodhn admitted and quirked an eyebrow. What is this about? Daruk frowned and reduced his tone to a whisper. They are becoming very active lately; perhaps its because the year is slowly coming to an end. The festivals? Aodhn asked, already realizing what Daruk was trying to say. Daruk nodded. Exactly. Do you know what they do? Aodhn clenched his jaw as another worry was added to his list. When he didnt respond, Daruk said. They kidnap exceptional Awakened from all over the Kingdom in a bid to find their supposed messiah, and if you had a target on your back before, it has just become a billboard. Aodhn fought the urge to massage his temples as it began to throb. I didnt think of that. Of course. But Ill dip myself into a volcano if they dont already have their sights set on you, the first ever evolved awakened to bond with a familiar. An awakened who is also an inheritor with obvious potential. What could be more promising than that? A shiver of nerves raced down Aodhns spine as the temperature in the arena suddenly dropped. Aodhn swallowed and said. Im safe in the academy. Yeah. Daruk looked up at him, his expression tinged with fear. But for how long? People have been disappearing, Aodhn, and even with the protection of Ascendant candidate Lightus and the principal, I worry for your safety. Aodhn looked away, unable to help the thread of fear that was coiling in his gut. The children of the watch were well known, a force of cultists who managed to thrive despite being wiped out by the kingdom countless times. Their mission wasnt exactly clear, but Aodhn knew it had something to do with fulfilling a prophesy their maniac founder had made centuries ago. How they kept managing to survive and continue their dirty work after so many attacks was a mystery yet unraveled. However, despite the fear curling in his gut, Aodhns heart was firm. He had chosen a new path, and he had no other choice but to see it through. A new chapter of his life had begun. Chapter 136: Eldrith and Helzarvauth I Aodhn and Daruk soon parted ways, each one heading to their individual residences in silence. Aodhns heart was heavy as he made his way to house 14, and his mind swirled with troubling thoughts. When he got to the house, though, he decided to fly up to his window rather than go through the living room, where he would most likely be drawn into one conversation or the other. He floated up to his window and crawled into the cramped opening, accidentally denting the windows metallic edge as he forced his way through. He didnt bother adjusting it, leaving it for the self-repair runes to take care of. Instead, he made his way to his training room and settled into one corner of it. He stared at the wooden walls for a moment, letting his swirling thoughts calm before closing his eyes to visualize his spirit. The essence threads revealed themselves almost immediately, and Aodhn smiled when he saw the bundle of threads connected to his eyes shining brightly. They stood out from the others like a beacon, and with only a hint of caution, Aodhn infused them with a burst of energized willpower. He was careful this time, keeping a firm hold on the energy and forcing it to move slowly. The energy crawled through the thread, and when it finally reached his eye, Aodhn gasped as the world sharpened. This time, it wasnt the overwhelming burst of clarity hed felt earlier; rather, it seemed as if his sight had been cleared of a fog. The world appeared brighter and more colorful, a disparity that became very clear when he closed his now enhanced eye and stared at the world out of his left eye. Aodhn spent the next few minutes testing out the difference and degree of enhancement the essence threads afforded. It was impressive, and Aodhn estimated that the infusion of energy into the essence threads had advanced his sight about two or three tiers. Not only was the world brighter and sharper, Aodhn could see slightly farther too. He experimented with the threads for a few more minutes before harnessing his seal once more to begin searching for the bundle of threads connected to his left eye. He let out the seals quintessence by unleashing a beam of red electricity at the opposite wall, ignoring the intense flare of runes and crackling electricity as the skill was forcibly drained and torn apart. Instead, he focused on his spirit, tracing the highlighted bunch of essence threads in search of its starting point. He found it pretty quickly, and without wasting time, he began the widening process. He continued the process for hours, opening and closing his spirit to the origin plane until he no longer could. In five hours, he had widened the essence threads more than halfway through, and already, it glowed brightly enough that Aodhn could easily identify it without the help of his seal. With that sorted, Aodhn left the training room and returned to his room, hoping to have a good night''s sleep. However, despite how worn out his spirit felt, his mind and body refused to rest. He had made his peace with his new status as an Inheritor and the dangers that came with it, so that was currently the farthest thing from his mind in that moment. Instead, it was the thought of soft, warm skin that clouded his mind and the coy smiles of a certain water awakened. Its nearly midnight. He muttered, trying to shake some sense into himself, but it was ultimately futile, and before he knew it, his feet were already moving. He soon found himself standing face to face with Meredith, who was dressed in a piece of fabric so sheer it could barely be called clothing. Youre awake. He stated dumbly, and Meredith smiled. I was training... but Im not in the mood to train anymore. Before Aodhn could even utter a word, she pulled him in, shut the door, and pressed her lips against his with a ferocity that drove all thoughts out of his mind. Aodhn reciprocated. With feverish fingers, he pulled her close and severed the thin dress from her body, eliciting a choked gasp from her as tiny arcs of lightning licked her skin. The sound excited Aodhn greatly, and that was when he lost all reason, abandoning any urge to be gentle whilst allowing his baser instincts to take over. It was many hours before Aodhn finally stepped out of Merediths room and walked back to his, collapsing onto his bed almost immediately as sleep forcefully took him. *** He woke up early the next morning, feeling very well rested despite running on only a few hours of sleep. He lay on his bed for a long moment, dreading what would come if he stood up. First, he attempted to count the amount of damage Varc had wrought in his room that was yet to be repaired, but he soon found the number to be innumerable. Frustrated, he directed his gaze to his curtains and began counting the number of creases. Unfortunately, that number wasnt infinite, and before long, Aodhn was done counting, bringing him back to where hed started from in the beginning. Aodhn groaned and draped his arms across his eyes in annoyance. Of all the days of the week, Sundays were the days he hated most, and it was all because of Principal Zatya and Eldrith. Peeking between his fingers, Aodhn stared at the clock on the bedside table, watching it tick down until only about fifteen minutes remained until his training session before finally standing up. First, he made his way to the roof to find Varc sleeping peacefully, curled around a sparkling tier 17 emerald core that shone with nature essence. He had let the familiar out after his training session yesterday and was quite glad Varc had chosen to sleep on the roof rather than wake him after he had returned. After accepting his bribe and taking Varc back into his spirit, he returned to his room and began making his way to the bathroom. A quarter hour later, he stepped into Principal Zatyas office, fully expecting her to scold him on his tardiness (not like he particularly cared at this point); however, it didnt seem like she particularly cared or even noticed. She was reading a letter with Agent Kaelith, who stood slightly behind her, face creased in worry. Principal Zatya glanced up from the letter when he walked in and waved a hand subtly at Agent Kaelith. You may go, Kaelith. Thank you for the news. Agent Kaelith bowed, his dark robes fluttering in an invisible breeze, but before he could teleport out, Aodhn asked. How did my parents take it? Principal Zatya scowled, but when agent Kaelith stared at her, she gestured for him to speak, muttering something about vexatious students under her breath. Your parents are fine, Mr. Brystion. Agent Kaelith replied after a slight pause. They have been briefed on the situation and encouraged to avoid the press at all costs. Unsurprisingly, the news of your identity has spread through the kingdom like wildfire, which puts a target on your back, as Im sure youre well aware. Some of the other academies are concerned about your participation in the tournament, while others are calling out for your prompt removal, citing inheritors as a breach to the spirit of the tournament. The bigger academies are even more willing to poach you than ever, and even the royals I think thats quite enough, Kaelith. Principal Zatya cut him off and waved him off again. You may go. A portal appeared, and Aodhn watched Kaelith go through it without a word, his mind overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information Kaelith had just dumped in him. Of course, he hadnt expected the news to be kept secret, but he hadnt expected it to spread so fast. After Kaelith left, Principal Zatya placed the letter she had been reading in her storage ring and turned to glare at him. Youre the most rebellious and irksome project Ive ever taken. Then let me go. Aodhn smirked, knowing exactly what she was referring to. In case youve forgotten, Im not exactly doing any of this willingly. Principal Zatya scowled and shook her head. You dont know the gravity of what youve done. You dont know the extent to which I and ascendant candidate Lightus have gone to protect you. What weve had to do to keep you safe! What youve painted on your back with this announcement isnt just a target but an entire billboard, and Ive been running helter skelter since yesterday to put out the fires that you have created. Aodhn shuffled uncomfortably and said, Im sorry that my decision has inconvenienced you, but I really didnt have much of a choice. You had all the choices, Aodhn! Principal Zatya gritted out and pushed herself to her feet, her mythical eyes glowing with anger. You had all the fucking choices! You could have chosen to open your spirit up to the origin plane of storm, harnessed your seal, or even released Varc to deal with that pesky girl, yet You Chose to brawl it out with her like a common elite. You put yourself in this mess! Aodhn grimaced. I wanted to prove something to myself. Well, congratulations! Youve certainly proven your faux status to the entire kingdom while Im here cleaning up the mess youve made. Its still a good decision. Aodhn scowled. No matter how bad things turn out, being an inheritor is still safer than... than the other option. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Principal Zatya paused and nodded. You know what? Youre right. It is a good idea, but youve executed it so terribly and at such bad timing that it might as well be trash. Theres so much going on with the war right now that literally any other time would have been better timing. Aodhn sighed and lifted his hands to placate her. Look, Im sorry. I seized an opportunity. I wasnt really thinking about the execution or the timing at the time. Im just surprised youre not, like, angry about it. Principal Zatya scoffed. Youre not the first pet Ive ever taken, and although most of them knew the value of what I was trying to offer them, there were a few like you who usually required a few months to come to terms with it. If I said I didnt see this foolishness coming, Id be lying, but I had planned on deceiving the world the right way and at the right time. Youre so strong that people would have questioned your strength one way or the other. She sat back down, her face still creased with worry, and Aodhn asked. Are the children after me now? Certainly. Principal Zatya responded without hesitation. Even if they havent started planning ways to start hunting you down, its safe to assume youre definitely on their radar. Aodhn squeezed the bridge of his nose in frustration. What can I do? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. You will continue with your studies and training as if this never happened because anything you say or do now will be swept up in this whole mess. She eyed the necklace around his neck and asked. I hope the original is well secured. Aodhn reached up to finger the lightning pendant and nodded. It is well secured. Principal Zatya nodded, sighed, and created another portal, this one leading to a room he was intimately familiar with. Go on, she said. Your training is even more important now. Ill deal with the other academies, and remember: do not do anything. Do not text anyone about this to prevent anything from leaking out. I already have too many problems as it is. Aodhn eyed the swirling portal with distaste before squaring up his shoulders and stepping into the portal. Immediately he arrived within the training hall, Aodhn sucked in a deep breath as the environmental energy density suddenly tripled. The training room looked just like it did the first time hed walked into it, all magically treated wood and dangerous energy crystals. The hall was beautiful, but it was tainted by so many memories of pain that he just couldnt help but hate it. Toward the left of the hall, Eldrith stood with his hands clasped behind his back as he discussed with a not-so-surprising individual, Helzarvauth. They both turned to stare at him as he stepped out of the portal, and although Helzarvauth gave him a friendly smile, Eldrith just looked at him blankly as if he was unsure how to react in this situation. If anyone had suspected his identity, it would be Eldrith, as Aodhn had used the most amount of willpower in his presence, going so far as to bottom himself out once. Granted, his pool of willpower had more than doubled since then. Eldrith finally settled on a scowl and folded his arms in annoyance. Youre late. Aodhn rolled his eyes. Well, pardon me for not being so eager to have myself tortured incessantly with pain after almost two weeks of break. Eldrith smiled at that, but Aodhn had learned not to trust the pain awakened, and this time, his mistrust paid off. In an instant, Eldrith blinked forward, his hands glowing with ominous light, but Aodhn had been on guard, and he quickly dodged. Eldriths fist soared a hairsbreadth from his cheeks, and Aodhn immediately launched himself backwards, a bolt of red electricity crackling in his fingers. Mr. Inheritor, Eldriths grin widened, and he stared at his still glowing fist with a raised eyebrow. Youve gotten faster. Good. I was tired of limiting myself to the 20th tier anyway. With that very threatening statement, Eldrith rushed forward, and this time, Aodhn couldnt have dodged even if he tried. The punch connected with his jaw and sent him flying backwards, smashing him against the wall faster than he could blink. Pain exploded on his jaw, and he swallowed a cry of pain as his body shuddered and runes flared behind him. He collapsed to the floor, his entire body groaning and creaking in pain. While Aodhn lay on the floor, trying to get his body back up, Eldrith shouted to Helzarvauth. Are you sure about this? Certainly. Physical pain should create an eruption of emotional trauma too deep for me to access. After that happens, Ill take it up from there. Aodhn pushed himself to his feet and glared at the two maniacs Principal Zatya asked to train him. He cursed himself for thinking Helzarvauths intentions were anything less than crazy and gritted out. You are both insane if you think Ill go along with this. Eldrith looked back at him and grinned. Unfortunately for you, you do not have a choice. Before Aodhn could respond, Eldriths hands darted to his side, a move Aodhn had seen a hundred times before and had learned to dread. Eldrith launched himself forward, and Aodhn ran. He barely made it more than a few steps before he was flying through the air again, his back exploding with pain. Gritting his teeth, he immediately flooded his body with willpower, but it was all for naught, because Eldrith switched from attacking his body to attacking his mind, dredging every painful experience and memory to the surface. Aodhn collapsed to the floor, coughing out blood as his willpower drained away like water in a sieve. Eldrith tsked as he walked closer. I really do not like to do this, but Helzarvauth says this will help you. Were trying to help you. Fuck you. Aodhn wiped his lips and glanced at Helzarvauth, who was now seated on a wooden chair jotting something down in a small note. When he noticed Aodhns gaze, he waved cheerfully as if he couldnt feel the pure malice radiating off Aodhn. Fighting the demons Eldrith had dredged up from the recesses of his mind, Aodhn cursed and forcefully harnessed his willpower again. He might not be able to beat these two lunatics, but if he could just injure them, stab each one of them in the brain, and give them a lobotomy, perhaps he could cure them of their insanity. With a cry of growing rage and malice, Aodhn willed a storm cloud into existence and activated {Lightning Spear RainRed}. He empowered the skill with willpower but didnt stop there even as memories of broken bodies flashed across his mind. One skill wasnt enough. No, if he was to have even a remote chance at injuring these two, he needed to utilize all of his power. Tapping into the rage simmering within him, Aodhn proceeded to activate every single skill he had, draining more than half his energy in an instant. Thunder roared as storm clouds took over the entire hall and lightning bathed his vision. Varcs emotions bled into his own, and as the rage he was feeling climbed higher, Aodhn opened his spirit to the origin plane of storm and invited chaos. Skills and attacks flew in every direction, explosions rocked every corner, and Aodhn almost burst out laughing when Helzarvauth suddenly jerked to his feet, eyes wide in alarm as he was forced to dodge a host of lightning spears that slammed against his chair and exploded with a boom of thunder. Eldrith tried to amplify his emotional pain, but rather than break him, the pain only fed into his rage. Aodhn attacked relentlessly, wasting energy like it was water, but he wasnt worried about his energy at the moment. In fact, he wasnt worried about anything; he had only one goal, and that was to stab a spear into Eldriths and Helzarvauths brains. Multiple times. He didnt care about his energy, his willpower, or the effect of chaos on his spirit. He didnt care about anything; all he wanted was to hurt them the way they had hurt him. Rushing forward, Aodhn unleashed a devastating amount of electricity with {Lightning Surge}, aiming for Helzarvauths head, but when that failed, he spun around, transforming the surge into a vortex of red lightning that exploded with so much force that the runes flared. Pain, both physical and emotional, erupted within him, and although Aodhn felt every attack keenly, he refused to give up without teaching these two a lesson. He dodged a punch from Eldrith (barely) and retaliated with a condensed beam of black electricity. The beam barely even caused Eldrith to stagger, and that was when Aodhn absolutely lost it. Without hesitation, he dug into his spirit, harnessed his seal, and channeled its power into the beam. It blasted Eldrith back this time, turning his clothes to ash and revealing a host of scars, some old, others recent, on Eldrith''s chest. The sight barely even slowed Aodhn down. He was past caring. Dashing forward, he raised his hands to the sky and activated {Lightning Descent}, pouring all that he had into the finisher skill. Thunder rumbled ominously as the storm cloud was suddenly bathed in a river of red lightning. The river condensed into a point above Eldriths head, and Aodhn felt a spark of utmost joy when, for the first time since he had been training with Eldrith, he saw the maniac hesitate and then dodge. Dodge! It wasnt just the fact that Eldrith dodged his attack; it was the fact that he dodged in fear. Well, maybe not fear exactly, but caution. Utmost caution. Aodhn laughed, and for the first time since gaining his first seal, he stopped fighting against the simmering rage. He made no attempt to suppress it or to hold on to his logic; instead, he let it grow unchecked, surrendered himself to it, and let the emotion engulf him. Thunder boomed as his rage rose to the absolute peak. It consumed his senses and broke his logic, but rather than the explosion of berserking violence Aodhn had expected, the world suddenly stilled. The burning rage that had engulfed his senses calmed, and for the first time in a while, Aodhns mind was completely silent. The billowing rage still surrounded his mind, but somehow he had erected a bastion of peace, or perhaps it was more appropriate to say he had found it. Rage and chaos surrounded his mind, yet Aodhn felt calm. Serene. Peaceful. It didnt take him long to figure out what he had found in this storm of rage and chaos. He had found the eye of the storm, a bastion of calm and control in the midst of turmoil. The world had frozen around him, but Aodhn didnt notice, too busy relishing the peace and quiet he had suddenly found. He felt calm and detached even as chaos rampaged all around him. He hadnt understood it before when he had been thinking about his affinity in Awakened combat class. He had thought the storm was anything but calm. In fact, the words he had used at the time were tumultuous, turbulent, and chaotic. But now, for the first time, Aodhn felt like he truly understood his affinity. He could be surrounded by chaos and still be at peace. The storm was a herald of violence and chaos, yet it held a bastion of calm in its center. It was an irony, yet it made perfect sense. The storm was both calm and violent at the same time. It was tranquility and turmoil, peace and chaos. The words resounded in his mind like the tolling of church bells, and Aodhn suddenly felt his mind explode with understanding. An understanding of his element that he hadnt possessed when hed gained his first seal. Something opened up within him like a yawning chasm, and suddenly the world crumbled away, replaced by the origin plane of storm. Chaos whispers exploded in his mind, and at the same time, the all-encompassing consciousness that was the origin plane dove into his mind. It barely probed his mind for more than a few seconds before Aodhn felt an intense wave of approval and acceptance erupt from the consciousness. Heat flared on his chest as another seal was added to the first, this one seeming much more real and genuine than the last. Energy surged into his core, filling it to the limit and eventually pushing past that into the next tier. The overflow of chaos surged out of his core and into his body, diffusing into his muscles and bones and soothing away every injury. Aodhn gasped in euphoria as the energy rushed through him, but the moment his advancement ended, reality rushed back in, and Aodhn found himself standing in a room drenched in lightning and chaos energy. Thunder boomed, and storm clouds roiled all around him, forming a dense haze that still failed to hinder his senses. He only had a moment to stumble backwards in caution before the twisted effect took over his mind, and this time, it was so much worse. Chapter 137: Eldrith and Helzarvauth II Usually when the twisted effect took over the mind of a person, it took hold of their emotions and perverted these emotions into the negative spectrum. In a case where the existing emotions were already negative, the twisted effect almost always amplified it, transforming the individual into a being of such extreme destruction that many never really recovered from it. Helzarvauth had seen a countless number of people undergo the twisted effect in his lifetime, and his scars were a testament to a few. However, the moment he saw the new seal appear on Aodhns chest through the tatters of his shirt, Helzarvauth knew that shit had finally hit the fan. Only seconds before the seal imprint, Aodhn had been utterly and completely engulfed by a sea of rage and determination. With the twisted effect now in control, the first emotion had been greatly amplified, while the second had been warped to such a degree that Helzarvauth could almost taste the killing intent billowing out of Aodhn as he slowly turned his gaze to them, gold-rimmed irises glittering almost like gems. He wants to kill us. Helzarvauth muttered to Eldrith, not particularly scared but definitely uncomfortable. I can see that. Eldrith scowled. Isnt there something you can do? Call the principal? Helzarvauth suggested, but when Eldriths scowl deepened, he glared at the pain awakened and hissed. Are you crazy? Surely, you do not expect me to battle the twisted effect for the control of his emotions. We might as well stab him in the heart. So youre useless then. Eldrith scoffed and readied himself to protect both of them, because lets face it, Helzarvauth was a shit ass fighter, and with Aodhns emotions now off limits, he might as well be helpless against him. No, that wasnt exactly right. Helzarvauth was nearly at the middle of the advanced class, which meant he was far out of Aodhns reach. Aodhn couldnt hurt him, not really, but he could definitely be a menace, especially now that he was jacked up on chaos energy and puppeteered by the twisted effect. Immediately Aodhns gaze connected with theirs, Helzarvauth took a step back and muttered. Ill text the principal. However, before he could do so, he and Eldrith were forced to scatter as a dozen spears of red electricity suddenly pierced the area they had been barely a second ago. The spears explodeda phenomenon Helzarvauth was still trying to wrap his head aroundand the force of the explosion threw him backwards, smashing him against the wall and causing a host of runes to flare in defiance. By ascendants! When did lightning become bombs? He shouted, staggering back to his feet, but before he could even regain his balance, he was forced to dodge again as a lightning spear pierced through the space his head had been a millisecond ago. The spear exploded, throwing Helzarvauth off again, and he let out a strained curse. Whats with all the fucking explosions! Stop shouting and text the principal! Eldrith shouted back from the other side of the hall as he dodged a hail of lightning spears. I cant possibly do that while Im dodging explosive spears, now can I? Helzarvauth shouted back as he barely dodged another bout of lightning spears, one of which nearly skewered his throat. Eldrith, do something! My skills arent affecting him, and a punch to his gut will do more harm than good. Helzarvauth cursed again and attempted to dodge a wide beam of condensed black electricity. Unfortunately, he was too slow, and the entire backside of his uniform was eviscerated for it. The beam smashed against his skin, and although I didnt burn him, it tickled unpleasantly, like a host of maggots squirming around his back. Fuck! Eldrith, protect me. Helzarvauth screamed, and Eldrith scowled. Im not your fucking guard, Hel. In case you didnt notice, Im kind of busy at the moment. Helzarvauth dodged another beam of electricity and grimaced, ducking as a dozen spears of storm and lightning suddenly shot in his direction and exploded violently. Helzarvauth staggered, his short legs not quite helping matters, and shouted at Aodhn. Im trying to fucking help you! Of course it was no use. Aodhn was too far gone for anything besides cold-blooded murder to appeal to him. With a burst of determination, Helzarvauth rolled up his sleeves and growled. You want to go? Let''s fucking go! With those brilliant words of chivalry, he dove forward, tearing his way through a chaos of lightning and storm clouds in a bid to reach Aodhn and knock him out without accidentally killing him or leaving him with a permanent mental disorder. Unlike Eldrith, who still had a modicum of physical attack power, Helzarvauth was basically a sleeper since he couldnt manipulate Aodhns emotions without severely injuring him. All that he had now was his physical strength (which wasnt all that much, to be honest) and his innate resistance to evolved attacks as a result of his advanced class. He dodged multiple attacks of storm and lightning, his little legs propelling him forward as fast as they could, butunsurprisinglyEldrith got to Aodhn before him, and in one smooth motion, he slapped Aodhn so hard that Helzarvauth was certain something broke. Aodhn was thrown backwards violently, but he managed to arrest his momentum with a storm cloud and use it as a platform to launch himself forward. Despite the overwhelming rage Helzarvauth could feel blazing within Aodhn, his expression was surprisingly calm, controlled even, which made this whole scenario a lot scarier. Eldrith blinked forward and met Aodhn with a punch that slammed Aodhn into the wooden walls, their runes flaring brightly from the force of the attack. It was too violent, and despite having the mind to do exactly that a few seconds ago, Helzarvauth shouted. Are you trying to kill him or just make him brain dead? Neither. Eldrith replied and scowled at him. Arent you supposed to call the principal? Helzarvauth scowled and raised his chip to his mouth to do just that, but before he could say anything, a surge of electricity suddenly engulfed the entire hall, shining a bright gold that threatened to blind him if he stared too long. The surge of electricity arced out in every direction, and although Helzarvauth tried to dodge, there was nowhere to dodge to. Gah! he shouted, not in fear, mind you, just serious concern as the seal-empowered surge of red electricity suddenly exploded and set the entire hall ablaze. Helzarvauth found himself flying through the air like a rag doll, and he gritted his teeth in shame, shouting, Why does this have to happen to me, today of all days! A roar of thunder resounded, and Helzarvauth looked up to see Aodhn in his bestial form, black wings crackling with electricity and claws outstretched as he and Eldrith fought in a swirling vortex of red, black, and even green electricity. The moment he looked up, though, Aodhns eyes connected with his, and Helzarvauths eyes widened as Aodhn suddenly changed targets and darted for him instead, leaving Eldrith to deal with a slowly expanding vortex of swirling storm blades and lightning. Helzarvauth by nature wasnt built for speed; however, his small legs were still fast enough to save him from the claws that would have cleaved him from brain to feet had it connected. (not true, but it certainly gave off that impression). While Helzarvauth (didnt run for his dear life), Eldrith broke free from the vortex and shouted in annoyance. Hes an evolved class awakened Helzarvauth. Why are you running like a fool? I am not running! Helzarvauth shouted back while dodging a beam of condensed red electricity. I can literally see you fuck! Stop fucking running. He cant hurt you! Helzarvauth glanced back at Eldrith and shouted, I dare you to take one of those seal-empowered attacks head-on if youre so sure of that. Eldrith grimaced, and Helzarvauth knew what he was thinking. They couldnt take that risk. Advanced class individuals gained a passive resistance to evolved skills the moment they crossed into the 25th tier; however, this resistance wasnt a complete one. Evolved individuals, given the right circumstances, could still hurt or maybe even kill advanced class Awakened, and this exact circumstance was skirting dangerously close to the right circumstances, not to mention that Aodhn was no normal Awakened but an inheritor. A beloved of ?FLYM, Helzarvauth would be insane to take any one of those attacks head-on. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. His words didnt stop Eldrith from attacking, though, and as Helzarvauth dodged another swipe of claws aimed at his head, Eldrith slammed into Aodhn, dragging him by the crackling wings before smashing him against the floor. Runes flared from the force of Eldriths attack, but Aodhn was up again before Helzarvauth could so much as blink. Surprisingly, he grabbed Eldrith by the neck, opened his mouth, and unleashed a seal-infused beam of red electricity at point-blank range. Helzarvauths eyes widened when he saw the glow of the first seal go dark as its quintessence was completely drained and funneled into the skill. The resulting beam of electricity was so large that it completely engulfed Eldrith and slammed him into the opposite wall with so much force that the training hall shuddered violently and a host of energy suction runes suddenly blazed into existence. As frightening as that was, it wasnt quite as terrible as what happened next. The beam exploded, and Helzarvauths gaze went completely white as thunder filled his ears. Runes blazed and sputtered as their power ran out, but more took their place, blazing into existence as if appearing from under water. The whole thing lasted for only a few seconds, but when it finally subsided, Helzarvauth saw Eldrith staring wild-eyed in shock, his entire body riddled with tiny wounds and burns. A jagged wound, nearly a fingers width, ran across his chest, dripping blood to the floor. One attack had inflicted so many injuries, and that was after nearly all its power had been drained by the runes. It was frightening and very humbling, but they barely had a second to take in the extensive damage a single skill had caused before Aodhn was on top of them once again. This time, even Eldrith dodged, tearing away the tatters that were left of his uniform and pulling out another from his spatial storage, shouting, Fuck, fuck, fuck. Why havent you called the principal yet? My chip is not functioning as it should! Helzarvauth shouted, running to hide behind Eldrith so as to avoid the fate that had befallen him. I think its because of all the electricity Aodhn is throwing around. Doesnt he ever run out of energy?! Hes a freaking Inheritor. How will I know? They dodged another hail of lightning spears, but when Aodhn came too close, Eldrith grabbed his wings again and slammed him to the floor with so much force that the wood cracked. Youre going to give him a seizure. Helzarvauth shouted as Aodhn rushed back to his feet, but another punch from Eldrith sent it back down. Hes obviously not as delicate as you think he is. Eldrith shouted back. Its not about delicate I dont care, man! Call the fucking principal. Eldrith shouted as he clipped Aodhns wings with a knee and held him down. Thunder rumbled and boomed as Aodhn struggled, his whole body jerking like that of a rabid animal as lightning spears descended from the clouds and smashed against Eldriths naked body without effect now that it wasnt infused with a seal. Seeing that Aodhn was now perfectly contained, Helzarvauth raised his chips to his lips once more, but he neednt have bothered, because a portal suddenly shimmered into existence and Principal Zatya stalked into the training hall. She took one look at them and shouted. What is all this ruckus, Eldrith? And why are you half naked? Eldrith blushed, and Helzarvauth tried futilely to ignore the emotion that lanced through his usually detached partner. Eldrith let go of Aodhn immediately, and Aodhn flashed across the hall, his aim now on the principal. Principal Zatya raised a curious brow and grabbed Aodhn by the neck. She turned him left and right to scrutinize his new seal and search his body for damages even as he kicked, clawed, and attacked in madness. When she found no major damage, she grinned, Absolutely genius. I knew placing you both to train him would yield results, although I definitely wasnt expecting a seal so soon. Ignoring the rain of lightning spears that bounced off her skin and exploded without effect, she created another portal, and with a careless wave, she threw Aodhn into the portal. Through the portal, Helzarvauth saw Aodhn land within a reinforced glass chamber before it shut, and only then did he straighten his shoulders and comport himself, trying his best to forget how he had literally cowered the entire fight. That was not easy. He muttered, dusting his palms, as if hed just finished hard labor. Principal Zatya smirked and nodded. Yeah, that was a very intense twist. I imagine it might take nearly a week to recover his sanity and get a hold of himself. Helzarvauth frowned, musing on the duration of this twist. Usually, the longer the duration of the twisted effect, the more intense the psychological and behavioral warp that came after. Eldrith, who was now fully clothed, picked himself up from the floor, his bearing becoming almost submissive as he inched closer to the principal and stared at the damage they had caused. Sometimes Helzarvauth hated his passive ability to sense emotions, and this moment was certainly one of those moments. His gaze followed Eldrith, and he had to force his lips not to curl in disgust as the smell of Eldriths need for approval wafted towards him. Principal Zatya fulfilled that need by smiling at Eldrith and patting him gently on the head. You did well. Perhaps you could visit my office this evening and help me sort out some files. It was in no way a reward, but Eldrith accepted readily. Uncomfortable with the whole scene, Helzarvauth cleared his throat loudly and muttered. Can we go now? Ive got a ton of things to do. Principal Zatya glanced at him knowingly and smirked. I trust our deal is still on, Mr. Graveburn; Aodhn still has so much emotional baggage after all. Helzarvauth grimaced at the use of his surname but nodded nonetheless. Our deal is on. Good. Youre both free to go. Ill take care of things from here. Helzarvauth bowed slightly and began making his way to the exit. Eldrith followed hesitantly and muttered when they were a distance away from the principal. This whole thing could have been easily avoided if you had simply texted the principal earlier. I was under attack. Helzarvauth defended himself with a glare. I thought my life was in danger. Let me remind you that this was your idea. You were the one who suggested I stoke his rage with pain. Helzarvauth grimaced. Yeah, that plan backfired. However, he gained another seal. Thats a silver lining. Let''s focus on that. Pfft. Eldrith scoffed and replied. Kill me if I ever listen to your advice again. *** Principal Zatya waited until the boys left before turning to glare at a patch of wall that had surprisingly remained intact despite the extensive damage that Aodhn had wrought in the hall. You know, I always knew you were unhinged, but I never imagined that you would stoop so low as to spy on my student. What did you hope to achieve? The air shimmered with a dusting of lunar energies, and Professor Dubois revealed herself, a faint smirk playing on her lips. I wasnt spying. If I had been, I would have left the moment I sensed your arrival. Principal Zatya scowled. That still doesnt explain what youre doing here, watching my pet train like a creep. Like I said, I wasnt I know what you said, and I dont care. Principal Zatya cut her off. Now answer the question. Zatya was pissed because she should have expected this. Faelar Dubois was a member of the Awakened Council, and after Aodhns announcement of his faux status yesterday, she should have seen this coming. Aodhns strength or skills wasnt something she wanted to keep secret, but the fact that Faelar had snuck into one of her private training chambers just to watch Aodhn train pissed her off big time. Faelar, on the other hand, was unfazed. She stared back at Zatya with an expression devoid of remorse or embarrassment and shrugged. I took an academic interest in the commoner and decided to take a closer look at him. Bullshit. Zatya laughed out of the sheer absurdity of Faelars response and asked. Did the council put you up to this? Or is this Duke Solaris doing? Did he send you to do his dirty biddings like a common mercenary? Faelar reddened at the insult, and Zatya knew she had hit a nerve. Faelar clenched her fists and took a step forward. The duke is interested in the commoner, and rightfully so. He heard about their imprisonment within the sink and is less than impressed. Principal Zatya shook her head. Unlike you, Faelar, I couldnt care less what the duke thinks about the way I run my academy or the students within it. However, I doubt thats the reason youre here, snooping around to gain more intel on my personal student. Faelar glared at her for a moment before speaking. Youre creating a monster, Zatya, and people are becoming worried. First it was familiar, and as if that wasnt surprising enough, the boy is an inheritor, able to fight several tiers up and even scratch Eldrith, whos at the middle of the advanced class. She gestured to the damage in the room and continued. What are you training him for? It obviously has something to do with emotions because you How and why I help my personal student is none of your business. This isnt help, though. Faelar countered bravely. Help is willingly accepted. The commoner looked like he was preparing to face a death sentence when he walked in here. Im trying to help him. Zatya shouted. In a lower tone, she added. He doesnt just see it yet. She glared at Faelar and raised a threatening finger. Stay away from my student. I dont care who sent you, whether it be the council or the duke. Remember, the boy is under my protection and that of Ascendant candidate Lightus. We will not take lightly to the council butting their head into this. Faelar grimaced and shook her head. You cant keep him hidden forever. The boy is a curiosity, and hiding him like this just surrounds him with more mystery than is necessary. One day, when the curiosity of the people has grown enough, someone will grow enough balls to act on it. That is if the Awakened Council doesnt get a calamity-class Ascendant candidate to side with us before then. Zatya grinned, knowing how disinterested calamities usually are in kingdom politics. The fact that ascendant candidate Lightus was even taking an interest in this was highly unusual. Before she could speak, though, another portal shimmered into existence, and Xena, one of her assistants, stumbled into the hall, panting. I was trying to get to you, principal, but the entire space was locked down, and I just couldnt Spit it out, Xena. What do you want? Principal Zatya cut her off, not willing to let the poor girl get into a rant and forget the entire reason she had forced her way here in the first place. You put them in the same box. Xena gasped, taking a lungful of air even as a thread of worry began to grow within Zatya. You put Aodhn in the same box with Yurin, and we cant get into the box. Aodhn is going to kill him. Chapter 138: Costly Mistake—Zatya Malakov. Ascendants, despite the propaganda of the church, arent gods, and neither are Calamities nor Mythics. They are humans, and just like us, they are flawed. They make mistakes, and despite their outward appearance of control and power, they are just as imperfect as the rest of us sleepers. Ajin Bellion-Arrigham Bishop of the collective. The central kingdom. (Lutia)
Zatya Malakov prided herself on being intelligent, powerful, and impossible to manipulate. This was why she was so confused and surprised when Xena announced that she had made such a grave mistake, and in front of Faelar Dubois no less. Without a doubt, the lunar witch would find a way to use this against her, but Zatya couldnt worry about that now; she had a student to save. Tearing open a portal, Zatya practically ran into the seclusion chamber and immediately halted time. She was just in time too. Had she arrived even a second later, Aodhn would have sliced Yurins head to pieces with his claws. She swallowed nervously when she saw the physical state of both students, but whereas Aodhn was only covered in dozens of burns and bleeding cuts, Yurin was completely mangled, barely recognizable from all the injuries hed sustained. His body was completely ridden with holes, most likely caused by lightning beams, and the left part of his body was almost completely decayed. His skin hung off his bones like wet paper, and he was covered in blood from head to toe. Yet, Yurins grip on his weapon was firm and unyielding. The skin around his fingers was almost completely gone, but that didnt stop him from gripping the sword construct as if his life depended on it. In this case maybe it did. To be honest, Zatya had completely forgotten about the light awakened she had placed within the seclusion chamber three days ago. His twisted effect had been unusually strong, and although it would have been better to place him within a time chamber, time essence was a precious resource, and she hadnt been willing to spend it on a mere elite. Even if he was a pinnacle elite who might soon break past that with his new achievement. Besides, a time chamber was a terrible option when it came to weathering the twisted effect for obvious reasons. A nascent icon. Faelar whispered in surprise, giving voice to Zatyas thought, and Zatya sighed. In her haste to deal with Faelar, she had placed Aodhn within the same chamber as Yurin. Two evolved awakeneds undergoing the twisted effect, one who had already developed the phrase of his Icon to never give up, and the other with enough power to crush the will of the other to pieces, both in one chamber. It wasnt just a recipe for disaster; it was a masterpiece of ruin and catastrophe, crafted by misfortune itself. One that would have unleashed chaos in the kingdom had she not arrived in the nick of time. Releasing the spatial lock on the seclusion area, she gestured for the healer who had been standing outside the room to come in. Leia hustled in, her plump stature not seeming to give her any problems as she rushed into the chamber and hastily placed a hand on Yurins head. Zatya manipulated the flow of time to allow Leia to work before turning to glare at Xena. Not a word of this to anyone, Xena. We cannot afford to let this get out. The kingdom has enough issues already. Xena bobbed her head eagerly, seemingly glad to be in on a secret, but Zatya knew the talkative girl couldnt keep a secret even if her life depended on it. The first thought that crossed her mind was to simply take the girl''s life this moment, but then she glanced at Faelar and sighed, choosing to take a less bloody approach. Wipe her memory. Surprisingly, Faelar didnt argue or ask her for anything in return. She simply smiled at Xena and snapped a finger, silver light wafting from her fingers like smoke. That was all; there was no exaggerated light show or motions, and with that simple action, Faelar stole the memory of the past hour from Xena, a mid-advanced class awakened. While Xena dealt with the confusion of sudden memory loss, Zatya teleported her out of the chamber and turned her gaze to Leia. Hows he faring? Badly. Leia replied as she activated another skill that engulfed Yurin in golden light. He was at deaths door when I came in, and only his phrase to never give up is what kept him alive. If you had been any slower, hed be dead, and you would have a whole other problem on your hands. Zatya nodded in agreement. For awakened ones, death like this wasnt always the end. A death cultivator could still revive the dead as an unliving, which was a less-than-favorable option. A spirit awakened was more acceptable as they could, in theory, force the spirit of the recently deceased back into the body. Unfortunately, the only spirit awakened she knew who was strong enough to carry out such a feat was far away in Unoros, which meant she might have had to settle for the first option, but the reputation hit and waves of disgust such news would cause in the sector would be unimaginable. Do you think he knows? Faelar asked, dragging Zatyas mind away from her thoughts. The Icon phrase, I mean. I doubt it. Leia shook her head. Its very recent, and I imagine his battle with Aodhn might have been the catalyst. Zatya turned her attention back to the boy and frowned. It seemed she had underestimated him. Getting an icon''s phrase before the advanced class wasnt a groundbreaking achievement, but it was rare, as only a few people understood themselves enough to achieve such a feat at the evolved class. The fact that Yurin had done it spoke of a deep understanding of himself and also gave Zatya clues as to his character and motives. The shutter of a camera reminded her that she was still surrounded by enemies who wanted to see her fall. If Zatya was a petty woman, she would have jammed a fist into Faelars guts and crushed the fucking camera to dust before she could react. Instead, she composed herself and turned to look at Faelar. What do you want? Faelar smiled. Before I begin listing out the things that I want, let me first of all discuss the repercussions of giving this picture to the press Aodhn wasnt in control of his actions. Zatya cut her off, dismissing what seemed to be Faelars major point. He cant be held accountable for it even if Yurin had died. Of course. Faelars smile stretched into a grin. He didnt place himself in the chamber. You, however, she tsked. You put the lives of two students in danger. Surely, you know the repercussions of that, and lets not forget your other sins. Youre proud, rude, and dismissive of the Awakened Council. You rebuke our requests without a second thought, and when we lay down laws, you find ways to circumvent them. Just so you know, your friends in the council are barely a handful, and I assure you that there are more than enough council members who are willing to have your status as an academy principal revoked. This will be a perfect excuse. Zatya gritted her teeth in annoyance because Faelar was right. She had pissed off too many members of the Awakened council to count on any of them for support. Ever since she refused to hand Aodhn over to them to do as they pleased, those surly bastards had been searching for ways to evict her from the position of principal. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Zatya didnt really care about the position, yet in her own twisted way she cared about the students. She cared about her pet and ex-pets. If she resigned now, many of them would be in danger, and their secrets would be exposed to the world. She couldnt allow herself to be evicted, not when Aodhn was doing so well. If she was replaced by someone else, all her hard work would be undone. No, she couldnt have that, and despite how much she wanted to knock Faelar into the ground, she smiled and said, I understand you perfectly. What is it you want? Faelar sighed blissfully, obviously enjoying the moment. The duke and the council have a few requests.. Zatya gritted her teeth so hard she nearly crushed them. Of course they had more than one request. Ever since Aodhn had gained his familiar, they had pestered her with requests to the point that ascendant candidate Lightus had eventually been forced to place a protective mark on Aodhn in addition to the one shed placed there in the beginning as well as reveal himself as Aodhns supporter and protector. His actions had cautioned the council, but like vultures, they kept circling, waiting for the moment when their backs were turned to strike. Now that they finally had blackmail material because of her foolish mistake, Zatya was sure they would try to milk her for it. If that was their plan, though, then they had another thing coming because Zatya could only give so much before lashing out. Faelar grinned, watching Zatya in amusement as she tried to contain her anger before finally speaking. The council would like to interview the boy. No! Zatya instantly shut down the request. She knew what interview meant with the council, and she had no intentions of breaking Aodhn to pieces just to pry out his secrets. The boy was already broken, and she didnt need the council messing up all the work she had done to get Aodhn to this point. Faelar scowled. You seem to think youre the one with power here. Let me assure you that you are not. Arent I though? Zatya let out a Cheshire grin. Child, if you think Im never the one holding the strings, then youre incredibly stupid. Ive got dirt to spill about you too, dirt that Im sure the council wouldnt take kindly to, not to mention a certain duchess whos particularly famous for the way she tortures her husbands mistresses. Zatya faked a sad sigh and shook her head. Oh, poor duchess. Shell be absolutely livid. Faelars grin disappeared, and Zatya chuckled, folding her arms demurely as she created stools for herself and Faelar to sit on. When Faelar reluctantly sat down, Zatya began. Now lets negotiate, mythic to mythic. In the spirit of keeping the status quo, Ill accede to some of your requests, and youll keep your knowledge of this occurrence forever out of your lips. Ill also be taking the camera just in case you get second thoughts. Faelar scowled, watching her with utmost contempt before responding. The artifact the boy used No, next request. Faelars scowl deepened, and she fumed for a moment before speaking again. They need him in the war. No, try again. Zatya shut down the request just as fast as she shut down the first, but Faelar refused. There is no next request, Zatya. The changeling situation is getting out of hand, and with all those able to help otherwise preoccupied with several undercover or delicate matters, we have no one else to call. Trust me, the council deliberated this issue for days before coming to an agreement. We need his core sensing ability to find the changeling, and if you have any shred of patriotism left in you after the last war, youll grant us this request. Her tone softened, and she continued. The military chain of command in Conquestia is slowly crumbling, and if we dont act now, well lose this war faster than we lost the Attilan war. We cannot let that happen. The other kingdoms are watching. Our enemies are watching. Zatya hesitated for a moment before speaking. Surely, there must be others who can help. If there was, I wouldnt be here negotiating for the help of a child. Cosmind is undercover, and Ramiel, the only other known person with core sense, is too advanced to participate in the war. The telepaths of Calodan have refused to help. There are no others who can help. Zatya shuffled awkwardly, still hesitating. She could hear the truth in Faelars words, but she just wasnt ready to release Aodhn to the military yet, even though it was to help the kingdom. The actions of the awakened council were never innocent; she knew that firsthand. There was an ulterior motive hidden somewhere, and releasing Aodhn to the military was like releasing him to the wolves. The fact that he would be working under General Lucas Deatons jurisdiction calmed her somewhat, but she still took a few seconds to think. The mission was too dangerous; it was the main reason she had decided to ban war information within the academy, and now the council wanted her to send a mere student into active military grounds with a champion-ranked changeling on the loose. Ascendants knew how long this search might take, and say Aodhn even found the changeling, what then? She battled with her thoughts for a few more seconds before asking. Do you not have any other requests? Something less doltish. There is none. Faelar sighed. When she noticed that Zatya still wasnt convinced, she added. The council isnt taking this decision alone, nor do we intend to put the boys life in danger, but this is the only solution we have at the moment. Well even throw in a substantial reward if he succeeds. What sort of reward? Zatya asked, quirking an eyebrow in curiosity and suspicion, but Faelars next words shocked her. The Black Forest. The black forest was both an artifact and a pocket dimension created by hundreds of calamity class awakeneds a few hundred years ago. In essence, these calamities had channeled their Supremacies over their individual origin planes into the artifact, creating a mini world that contained nearly all affinity or concept one could think of. It was the best place to evolve ones class, and if Aodhn succeeded, it would be the best place for him to ascend to the advanced class. The thought of such a reward caused Zatya to falter, and she soon found herself considering the mission in a more favorable light. Would it be so bad? If nothing else, it would be an experience for Aodhn. She didnt lose sight of the danger that was involved in the mission, though, and after a few more seconds of thought, she nodded. Alright, but Ive got a few conditions. I want a written parchment from the council that no harm would happen to my student; whether intentionally or not, there will be no interviews, tests, or side deals done without my consent, and lastly, a budget increase. Many of our staff in the academy will be advancing to the mythic class very soon, and thats a lot of credits. Credits Im unwilling to foot myself, especially not on this meager salary. Faelar wrote down her requests and asked sarcastically. Is that all? No. Ill shift the first-year selection process to the eleventh week to accommodate this mission, but Aodhn cant afford to miss his tests or the exam. Regardless of the situation of the war, he must be brought back here, else Ill come and pull him out myself, and trust me when I say the council doesnt want that. Faelar grimaced, and after jotting down Zatyas words, she muttered. Do you have any more requests to add? Do we have to take you to the moon too? Zatya ignored her and grabbed the camera from her before crushing it to powder. There, now we have a deal. Faelar glanced at the glass chamber and muttered. Ill get back to you in three days with the councils response. I imagine that by then, Aodhn would have returned to his senses. Zatya shrugged, and Faelar disappeared, most likely to the council headquarters to give her report, leaving only a slight trail of lunar essence hanging in the air. Zatya turned back to Leia, who had finished healing Yurin and now held his sleeping form cradled in her hands like a baby. Hes asleep for now. That fight must have purged the last of the chaos from his mind, so I believe hell be in his right senses when next he wakes up. Zatya nodded gratefully, and Leia continued. He should probably see a counselor or therapista real one this timeto speak to about this traumatic experience. Ill get him a real therapist. Zatya agreed, and with that, Leia took Yurin to another chamber to sleep. Zatya watched them go with a grimace before turning her gaze back to her pet. He was still frozen in time, an unhealthy amount by now, but nowhere near damaging. With a sigh, she resumed the flow of time, and Aodhn smashed into the glass wall, roaring in confusion when his claws cut through empty air rather than flesh. Zatya expected him to continue his rampage, but she was pleasantly surprised when he paused instead, and turned to stare at her calmly. Rage was still evident in his expression, but it wasnt the blazing rage she had witnessed the last time; instead, it was cold, almost glacial. As weird as that was, Zatya noticed something even more bizarre. The thin silver bands around Aodhns black irises had widened slightly, and his gaze followed her every movement, missing nothing. Wanting to test out a hunch, she flicked her fingers and grinned when Aodhns gaze honed in on the movement like that of an eagle. Enhanced perception! Zatya wondered what skill he had gained to grant him such high perception, but mostly she was just excited that very soon, she would have her own Azmarthon. One who was firmly under her control and would kill to do her bidding! Soon, she would have created herself the perfect weapon. Chapter 139: Another Mission— Andrew, Daruk. Andrew was working on a project in the nature lab when Rahim texted him, asking to see him and Daruk in his office. Andrew was a little worried to receive such a message because, lets face it, he wasnt among the high rankers of his class, and regardless of how Rahim might spin it, Rahim definitely played favorites. He put aside his experiment and texted Daruk, wanting to know if hed received the same message, and when Daruk confirmed that he had, Andrew left the nature labs and began making his way to the lower floor of the administration building where Rahims office was located. He met Daruk on the way there and, for the first time, found his cold friend sweating. Are you alright? he asked. No. Daruk scowled. Forgemastery is killing me. I just wish the forgemaster would just take our advice and install cold runes within the forge, but he says itll mess with the forge. Hes against any idea that isnt his, isnt he? Yeah. Daruk sighed and wiped sweat from his brow. His forging techniques are good but archaic, yet he refuses to employ more effective methods. They spent the rest of the walk discussing the class on forgemastery, and perhaps it was the lingering heat Daruk was feeling, but he was more talkative than usual. His stance was also slightly loose, compared to the rigid and detached posture he usually adopted. When they reached Rahims office, Daruk pushed the door open, and Rahim gestured for them to sit down before speaking. It seems to me that every time I have the both of you in my office like this, its always because I want to share bad news. Hopefully, that will change in the near future. Andrew frowned, wondering what in the Raols name had happened this time. Daruk, however, didnt need to wonder. He just asked. What calamity has my brother wrought this time? Rahim smiled proudly. He gained another seal. Andrews eyes widened, and he was just about to jubilate when he remembered the repercussions of gaining a seal. Rahim put his mind to rest before his imaginations could run too wild. Fortunately, he was with Eldrith and Helzarvauth when this happened, so hes safe. Thats not the bad news, though. The bad news is, he cleared his throat awkwardly, and Andrew had to fight the urge to tell him to spit it out. Well, he continued. The bad news is that he almost killed Yurin while the both of them were under the control of the twisted effect. Andrew blanched. What! Hows that even Fortunately, we managed to save Yurin on time, Rahim hastily cut him off. However, we imagine hell be traumatized for a while, maybe even have some problems relating with you guys as a result of this. Andrew was too shocked to speak. The fact that one went ballistic while undergoing the twisted effect wasnt something that was new to him, but it usually happened in a contained environment. Never had he seen a rampaging awakened, despite the fact that every member of his family had experienced the twisted effect at least once in his lifetime, even Aunty Mio. How did this even happen? Daruk asked the question they were all wondering, and Rahim responded. It was a terrible, terrible accident, one that we can only thank the ascendants didnt devolve into something else. Thats not an answer. Andrew scowled. Even if he wasnt smart, he could at least tell that much. Rahim sighed. Thats all I can tell you; Im sorry. I was told to inform you just so you know hell be in seclusion for the next few days. Yurin should be released tomorrow, and if not then, the day after. Lets be thankful that they are both alright. Andrew was not appeased, but he nodded regardless. If Rahim couldnt tell them, then it must be something the academy wanted to keep confidential. Daruk, however, wasnt satisfied with Rahims response and asked a few more questions, none of which Rahim gave a straight answer to. When it became obvious that Daruk wouldnt be getting the response he wanted from Rahim, Andrew suggested they leave, and Daruk reluctantly agreed. The rest of the weekend passed by in a blur, and when Monday came, they attended their classes like usual. Aodhns absence was noticeable, though, and more than a few people, even Meredith, came up to them asking about Aodhn. There was no need to keep the fact that he had gained a new seal secret, as there was no other logical reason for his absence, not to mention the fact that it would probably be a few days before he was released from seclusion. The rumor mill must have been slow-going because they were eating dinner in the cafeteria when Cyrus eventually found out, and his expression was absolutely priceless. Andrew couldnt blame him, though; if hed been competing against Aodhn, hed be flabbergasted too. Aodhn had set a record Cyrus was yet to break when hed had only one seal. How much more powerful would he become with two seals and most likely another powerful skill? Even Daruk was a little jealous, but hed overcome his demons a long time ago. He was happy for his brother, and although he couldnt wait to catch up, he wasnt in a dying, desperate need to do so. The first day went without a hitch, but after gym exercises the next day, Yurin returned, looking almost completely worn out with dark circles under his eyes and sunken cheeks. His usual jovial nature was absent, and instead of sitting with them in the cafeteria for breakfast, he sat alone in one corner, muttering to himself like a crazed person. Andrew contemplated reaching out to him, but Daruk insisted they give him time to come to terms with what had happened. They still didnt know what had happened within the seclusion chambers between Aodhn and Yurin, but it wasnt hard to deduce some things. Yurin bore no scars, but the fear in his eyes every time their gazes met told a story of its own, and they soon decided to give him time to process the experience on his own before confronting him. Sometimes people needed time to process traumatic experiences, and on a scale of one to ten, Andrew would rate this particular experience at the peak. From what hed heard from other people, the twisted effect was a state where one''s consciousness took the passenger seat while chaos took over a persons mind. For most people, they retained the memory of their actions and experiences during the twisted effect, while others completely forgot about them. From the way Yurin kept stealing fearful glances at them, Andrew suspected it was the former. Andrew shook his head and returned his attention back to his meal while Daruk read softly from a textbook Master Lamarr had recommended last week. Andrew glanced at the book, noting that Daruk was almost done with the voluminous text when he hadnt even begun. The fact that he was lagging behind Daruk in his studies just reminded him of the fact that he was also lagging behind in other aspects, such as the forge rankings, the leaderboards, and even seals. Aodhn now had two; Daruk and Yurin had one each while he still had zero. But Andrew was confident it wouldnt be for too long. The moment he found a large forest, he would definitely soar. The day passed without much drama aside from Cyrus''s futile attempts to break Aodhns record on the tower leaderboards, and the next day after gym, Andrew asked Daruk if hed spoken to Yurin since they were housemates, but Daruk shook his head and sighed. Im not sure he wants to talk to us yet. Did you ask him? No. Daruk hesitated before confessing. I did not, but I think hes having a bout of OCD. Whats that? Andrew asked in confusion, familiar with the term but unfamiliar with its meaning. Its a compulsive disorder that involves a lot of obsessive, repetitive behaviors and causes mental anxiety. Andrew glanced back at Yurin, who was once again seated alone in one corner of the cafeteria, and whispered. Is he mad? Did Aodhn break him? No, no. Its just I think hes working through a new skill and its giving him issues. Andrews expression softened, and he sighed. We should help him. Daruk shook his head hastily. No, we should let him work through his emotions on his own. Andrew frowned, his eyes narrowing in suspicion as he watched Daruk squirm subtly. Needless to say, the gesture was odd, especially for Daruk, who was almost always as cold as ice. His suspicions led to a confusing conclusion, and he asked, Are you scared of approaching Yurin? No. Daruk replied too quickly, confirming Andrews suspicions, but after a while he sighed and said, Look, Im not scared; Im just embarrassed to face him. My brother nearly killed him; surely, hes harboring some resentment. Andrew contemplated the matter for a moment and admitted. I would if it were me. See? But weve given him a day already, Daruk. We have to talk to him. Daruk hesitated for a moment, but in the end he just shook his head and sighed. Let''s go talk to him. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. They made their way to Yurins table, and when he saw them, his eyes widened and he croaked. I dont feel like talking. I understand, but were your friends, and we want to talk, so you can just listen. Andrew replied and forced Daruk, who was still hovering behind him, to sit down. After Daruk sat down, Andrew continued. Im very sorry for what happened to you, but I know its nowhere near enough. Daruks too embarrassed to even look at you, and I wont make excuses for Aodhn and say he didnt know what he was doing even though he didnt, but I digress. My point is were really sorry about what happened to you, but I want to let you know that were still friends. We care about you, and we absolutely hate watching you eat alone from across the cafeteria. Yurin watched them for a moment before shaking his head. I dont blame Aodhn, not really. What happened wasnt his fault. Was it the principal then? Daruk asked, his gaze taking on a chilling quality that caused the temperature to drop subtly. Yurin nodded. I am not supposed to talk about it. Im getting bribed. He smiled then, an expression so radiant that it lit the entire table in gold. Whatever the principal had done, she was obviously paying for it already, so Andrew and Daruk decided not to dig too deeply into it; instead, Andrew asked. Do you want to talk about your twisted effect? Yurin sighed and shook his head. I dont want to, but I probably should. He glanced to the side and said. Undergoing the twisted effect was like taking a back seat in my own mind. It took my emotions, twisted them, and merged them with my ideals. Never giving up became all that mattered to me, and although I wasnt exactly in control, I wasnt fighting for control either. He shook his head again. Ive never felt so in tune with myself, even though I dont want to repeat the experience. I couldnt give up even when I was tired. It was glorious in its own way. Daruk nodded in understanding. Its like surrendering, and even though its against your will, you cant be bothered at that moment. Yurin nodded and continued. With nothing and no one to attack, the twisted effect made me spend the entire time training. Nonstop. For two days, I trained tirelessly, and although it was torture, I enjoyed it up until Aodhn arrived, and by ascendants, I know his understanding of the storm is violent, but Ive never seen such controlled rage and violence before. I remember attacking him the moment he arrived, but I also remember regretting it almost immediately. Aodhn Aodhn was brutal and fast. Ive seen him fight before, but under the influence of chaos, he became another being entirely, and even with my new skill, I barely managed to last more than a few minutes. If the principal hadnt stopped him in time, Id be dead right now, and thats an uncomfortable knowledge to deal with. Thats why youve been avoiding us. Andrew stated, and Yurin nodded. I just wanted time to process stuff. We understand. Daruk replied with a small smile. At least now we know how Lyra Davenport must have felt after she nearly died to Aodhn during the tournament. That caused Yurin to crack a small smile, and their conversation shifted to much lighter topics. By the time they finished speaking, though, Yurin felt more comfortable around them and had even begun laughing. They went to their individual classes after that, and after control training that evening, they gathered once more in the cafeteria for dinner. Just as they began eating, though, Daruk and Andrew received another text from Rahim that caused silence to descend on their gathering like a wet blanket. Hes out. Andrew muttered, breaking the tense silence, and Yurin took in a sharp breath. You dont have to go. Daruk quickly added, but Yurin shook his head and said, I want to. Itll help me to see him as normal instead of the agent of death and lightning. If you say so. Daruk replied, and without wasting time, they made their way to Rahims office. It only took them a few minutes to reach the small office, and when they reached the entrance, Daruk asked again. Are you sure you want to do this? Lets just get it over with before I change my mind. Yurin replied, and with a nod, Daruk pushed the door open to find Aodhn seated cross-legged in a plush leather chair with a steaming cup of tea in his hands. Aodhn looked up, his gold-rimmed irises seemingly more piercing than usual, but that wasnt the only aesthetic change he had undergone. Aodhns hair had lengthened nearly into a mane, throwing slight arcs of electricity every which way whenever he moved. He had also grown a slight scruff, which lent him a wild and untamed look; however, his gaze emanated a deep sense of calm and control that was just unnatural. Usually, people didnt gain new bloodline aesthetics with each advancement, but unique bloodlines were odd, so it wasnt too alarming. However, with the extent to which Aodhn was going, Daruk was certain hed hardly be able to recognize his own brother in a couple more years. Aodhns lips curled up into a small smile that should have been harmless but instead seemed predatory and said. Hey guys, how have you been? When none of them responded immediately, Rahim said, I think they might need a minute to come to terms with things. Daruk didnt need a minute; he was just too shocked with Aodhns sudden change. The sense of calm and control Aodhn emanated was too unsettling, and Daruk had to resist the urge to kowtow and call Aodhn master. Andrew seemed to be going through the same thing, but Yurin was much worse. He was as white as a sheet, and his hands had tightened into a fist so tight his knuckles were white. Surprisingly, he was the one who spoke first. Its good to have you back in your right senses, Aodhn. Aodhns gaze shifted to Yurin, and Daruk thought he saw a flash of guilt in his eyes, but the emotion was gone before he could be certain. Aodhn stood up from the chair and nodded somberly. I am glad to be back in my right senses, and I am deeply sorry for what happened to us. He shot a glare in Rahims direction and added. I hear the principal is already paying for her mistake. Yes, she is. Yurin smiled then and added. Ill also be seeing a counselor, so I hope we can get past any awkwardness very soon. Aodhn nodded. I would like that. He then turned his attention back to Daruk and Andrew, the unnatural calmness of his gaze cracking a little as he grinned and said, I have missed you guys. Finally finding his voice, Andrew grinned. We missed you too. I''m so glad youre alright. The last few days have been boring without you. Daruk couldnt help but agree. Nothing really interesting had happened in the last few days, and when Aodhn reached out to hug him, he rolled his eyes and hugged him back. He took in the lingering scent of chaos and storm essence that hung around Aodhn and sighed as a thread of worry returned. Aodhn was the legacy of the slaughterer, a man so brutal that it had taken the systems intervention to control him. Daruk knew that not all legacies turned out just like their Patrons, but a vast majority did, and that worried him, especially with the war going on and the part Aodhn would eventually have to play in it. Im glad youre okay. He said when he pulled back. Mum and Dad have been worried sick. Make sure you text them as soon as you can. Uhm Aodhn grimaced and glanced back at Rahim, who sighed. That is the other reason I called you all here. He paused, letting the silence stretch for a moment before adding. Aodhn is going on a mission very soon, one he cant tell anyone about, not even your parents. What? Daruk exclaimed, but Aodhn quickly explained. I can still call Mum and Dad; I just cant tell them about the mission. What mission is this? Andrew asked, and they all turned to glare at him until Yurin jabbed him in the side and muttered. I think its classified information. Yes, it is. Rahim replied and looked at Daruk. But to put your mind at rest, I will give you a bit more information. Both the awakened council and the military have requested Aodhn and his expertise for a particular mission, and after much deliberation, the principal has agreed. I was just briefing him on the mission as well as what is required of him before you came in. Of course it wont be easy Hold up! Did you just say both the Awakened council and the military asked for him? Andrew blurted out, echoing the question that was on their minds because what the fuck! Daruk knew his brother was destined for greatness, but it seemed he had been thinking too small. Aodhn smiled at their expressions and said, I know this is surprising, but Im actually looking forward to this mission. Aodhns words only confirmed Daruks suspicions, and he realized that something was definitely not right. Aodhn had accepted his fate concerning the war; however, that didnt detract from the fact that he hated the war and everything that had to do with it. The only reason he could think of for Aodhns excitement was that the mission was extremely lucrative. How much is the mission paying you? Daruk asked, and Aodhns grin widened. I dont know yet, but my reward for success is not something I can say no to. Daruk nodded in understanding. Aodhns excitement made sense now, and he could only imagine what Aodhn had been promised. His thoughts were interrupted when Rahim said, Aodhn will be well protected. You dont have to worry about him. Hes an asset to the academy, and we would very much like to keep him alive. Ill be fine. Aodhn added in a reassuring tone, but Daruk was still a little worried for him. He was doing so much of that these daysa habit that was in no way helping his efforts in gaining another seal, but Daruk just couldnt help himself. You should text Mom and Dad and tell them about this. He said after a moment of thought and smirked at Rahim. Im sure theyll have no issue with it, since according to Rahim its so safe. Rahim grimaced, and Aodhns smile vanished. He shuffled awkwardly, revealing a bit more of his old self with that motion. You know Synov wont approve. Aodhn murmured. I doubt she would even approve it if I simply wanted to take a walk around the borders of Conquestia. Conquestia is a death trap these days. Andrew interjected, his expression sagely as if he held all the wisdom concerning war. Aodhn shook his head and sighed. My point is she wouldnt understand, and neither would Unrid. Ill be well protected, though. Besides, this mission will grant me some experience with the military, experience that might just save my life in the future. Daruk scowled. So in one word, youre too scared to text them, and you want me to do it. Aodhn shrugged. We can always make Rahim do it. Im your mentor, not your fucking scapegoat. Rahim scowled and fixed them with a warning glare. Sort this out amongst yourselves. I dont need to give your mother any more reasons to hate me. They argued for a few more minutes until Rahim finally agreed to send agent Kaelith to inform their parents. It was most inappropriate, but Daruk would rather be rude than be the one to inform his mother that Aodhn would be going on a mission where his return wasnt a hundred and ten percent guaranteed. After that, Aodhn, Andrew, and Yurin left the office, but Daruk stayed behind, and when the door shut behind them, he turned his gaze to Rahim and asked. Tell me the truth: How is he really? Hes fine. Rahim sighed. He gained a new skill, but he refused to share either the name or function of the skill with anyone. Im aware you guys share your status screen, and I was wondering if perhaps you would have an idea. Daruk shook his head. Aodhn must have deactivated the sharing feature, because he had been unable to access Aodhns skill ever since Rahim had informed them of his seal impairment. Rahim shrugged. Well, whatever it is, it definitely enhances his perception and emotional control. We suspect its a passive skill, but until he makes it known, we cant be sure of anything. Daruk nodded in understanding and sighed. How dangerous is this mission? Rahim paused, his own concern and doubt now apparent. I cannot say, but I know hes going to one of the most protected locations in the entire kingdom. He should be completely safe, and the academy is doing all that it can to ensure that, but I cant guarantee anything. Daruk closed his eyes and let out a deep breath. There was only so much he could do to protect Aodhn, and right now, there was nothing he could do. All he could do was hope his chaos-marked brother would make it back alive. Besides, advancement was a risk, and there was a thin line between trying to protect a person and smothering them. He and Rahim spoke for a few more minutes before Daruk finally left the office. Wanting to speak to Aodhn more, Daruk made his way to house 14, expecting to find Aodhn, Andrew, and Yurin there; instead, he found Andrew and Yurin on the lawn, both staring up at the sky with their hands shading their eyes. Wheres Aodhn? He asked when he reached the lawn, and Andrew raised a hand to the sky. He just took off to ascendants knows where, and he didnt even say goodbye. Daruk turned his gaze to the sky and sighed, wondering what exactly Aodhn was up to now. A distant rumble of thunder answered his question, and Daruk chuckled when he saw the clouds begin to gather and darken with the promise of rain. Finally! Aodhn was using his {Storm Creation} skill for something useful. Chapter 140: Miracle Rain? Nearly six months had passed since the dry season began, so naturally, everyone expected it to come to an end pretty soon. What they did not expect, however, was a turbulent storm that suddenly appeared out of nowhere. The storm cloud wasnt too large, stretching only a few kilometers past the Academy walls. But what it lacked in size, it made up for in violence and chaos. Yue had been leading another set of tourists around the sector just like she usually did to get lodgers for the Phoenixs nest when the anomaly had occurred, but this time around she was leading a newly married couple from sector nine to sightsee around the Academy. She hadnt even noticed the gathering clouds until the husband, a mundane class water awakened, had pointed it out. At first, Yue had considered it a natural anomaly, a simple gathering of clouds. However, that idea died on her lips at the first boom of thunder. Thats most definitely not natural. She murmured, staring at the gathering clouds in confusion. The city of everlasting daylight, as the 5th sector was popularly nicknamed, was one that had never known night, and ever since the dry season began, the sky had been consistently blue. The gathering of dark clouds wasnt just an oddity; it was a bizarre phenomenon that drew the attention of many. Yue and her clients drew closer to the academy, watching as the dark clouds roiled and merged together, slowly expanding into a colossal cloud that blocked out the sun and cast the entire area in darkness. Thunder rumbled continuously as the storm cloud grew, but rather than panic, people paused to watch the obvious show. Those with snappers raised them to the sky and began clicking away to capture the moment, and Yue cursed herself for gambling away all her savings. Perhaps she too might have been able to capture this had she not joined her best friend, Uly, in his sketchy game of cards. The booms of thunder grew louder as the storm clouds slowly expanded, but it wasnt until it erupted with a web of crackling electricity that the crowd let out a cheer. Red, black, and green lightning flashed and arced around the cloud, growing steadily, and before long, it engulfed the entire cloud like a web of rippling snakes. Thunder boomed again, and this time people jumped in shock and excitement, watching the growing storm in awe. Yue felt a shiver race down her spine, but this wasnt the first time an academy student had shown off their abilities to the public, so she wasnt too worried. Letting go of her fear, she returned her attention to the colossal cloud even as people began to speculate which academy student was responsible for the show this time. They didnt need to speculate for long, as a thunderous sound suddenly pierced through the sky, ascertaining the identity of the student to anyone who might still be confused. Varc the storm fury was a popular sight around the academy, especially at night, and as far as Yue knew, there was only one Storm awakened with a familiar currently within the 5th academy. An awakened whose path had crossed with hers only a few months ago when she had shown him and his brother around the sector on their very first arrival. Had she known what she knew of him now, she would have made sure to charge him more for the tour. Alas, she couldnt turn back time. People cheered as the storm grew even more beautiful and terrifying, but their cheers died when the storm suddenly broke and began pouring down rain. That was when security officials began shouting, trying to stop people from rushing towards the rain, but it was a futile endeavor. Yue was still too far from the academy to get any rain, but she would be damned if she didnt at least try to get the rain from the skill of an Inheritor. Perhaps, she could sell it for a decent price if she marketed it well enough. Fortunately, her clients were just as eager as she was, so she didnt have to leave them behind as she raced towards the Academy, her sleeper legs carrying her as fast as they could, which wasnt very fast considering the fact that her clients were awakened individuals, albeit unevolved awakeneds. More challenges arose when it became obvious that she wasnt the only one with the grand idea to gain money from this opportunity, and in the end, Yue had to drop her pride as a tour guide and let her clients carry her. Faster! she shouted as they dodged security officers and raced past several people, most of whom were carrying buckets, while others simply fingered their rosaries, muttering fanatical nonsense about being baptized by the skill of an inheritor, a child of fate. Yue didnt care about any of that religious stuff; all she cared about was making enough money to get through the week on something other than stale bread and broth. Her clients must have noticed her disappointment at their speed because they picked up the pace, giggling excitedly as they dodged and pushed past exasperated security officers. However, when they eventually reached the academy, Yue found an entire mob of people encircled around the academy along with more reporters than shed ever seen in one place before, all struggling with their pails and snappers to get a taste or picture of the inheritors rain. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Unsurprisingly, nearly all of the gathered civilians were sleepers, with only a few mundane and evolved awakeneds scattered among them. Yue, however, didnt care if she was making a fool of herself. She pushed herself off of her client, grabbed a pail from a struggling woman, and raced towards the mob. Ignoring the shouts of the poor woman, Yue ducked and raced into the mob, pushing and shoving to force her way towards the rain. Water pooled beneath her feet, but she barely spared it a glance as it was already tainted and brown. Selling this rainwater would be hard enough as it was; she didnt need the extra headache that was explaining why her supposed miracle water was muddy brown. Thunder boomed again, and the person in front of her stumbled. Yue ducked forward, using that opportunity to edge past them and take their place. The storm cloud was still a distance away, but Yue didnt see it as a hindrance. She saw it as a challenge. *** Principal Zatya stood by her office window glaring at the colossal cloud in annoyance. She had told Aodhn not to do anything to draw attention to himself after the whole inheritor business last week, but the boy was just too rebellious. If it werent for his extraordinary potential and original status as a transmigrant, she would have discarded him long ago in favor of a new pet. Alas, Aodhn was too perfect to throw away. Aside from the immense well of willpower he had at his disposal and his extraordinary advancement potential, the boy was a link to another world. A world yet unclaimed and unintegrated into the collective. No, she couldnt discard him. She simply had to put up with his excesses and try to mold him into the weapon she wanted as best as she could. Pushing the infuriating thought to the back of her mind, Zatya cranked up her perception to the peak of the advanced class and glared at the mob of people standing around the academy. More than half of them were sleepers who were just excited to see magic being done on such a large scale; the rest were either low-tiered awakeneds, limited individuals, or the group she disliked the most, reporters. They pushed through the crowd, using their superior advancement tiers to make their way to the front or clear out strategic areas to take the best pictures. Do you think he will make it rain? Agent Kaelith, who was standing behind her, asked, and Zatya sighed. No, we cant have that. The Awakened Council would freak out. Pfft. Kaelith hissed and shook his head. There are speculations that his rain might have special properties, a rumor no doubt linked to recent pictures of his parents and how much younger they look despite being in their forties. Zatya had heard of those rumors but had deemed them baseless, especially after she found out that the youthful look of his parents was a result of his class scaling skill, {Elemental Lightning}. She was still a little curious, though, as she had no idea what skills or buffs Aodhn had gained after his seal imprint. Making a mental note to get a report of Aodhns experiments from Gwendolyn Blackwood, Zatya muttered. I should get him down from there. Hes feeding the press, and we all know how good they are at spinning stories. Kaelith observed the gathering cloud for a moment before responding. Do you want me to bring him down? Zatya knew she should have said yes, yet she hesitated, her curiosity growing each second even as her imaginations began growing wild. Aodhn was still, for the most part, untested; he hadnt had the chance to really use or explore his abilities to the fullest, and would a little rain even hurt? Sure, it was against the law, but the council needed him anyway, and if no one got hurt, then would it really be bad to let him explore this part of his abilities this one time? It would also let her gather more data regarding his overall strength and control as well as prove the veracity of the rain rumors and test it for any special properties. She observed the gathering clouds for a while before making her decision. Leave him alone. Let him explore his abilities. As long as he doesnt hurt anyone, his fine will be manageable. Kaelith chuckled and shook his head in amusement. I dont think thats the kind of decision the Awakened Council wants you to make, principal. Too bad they cant simply fire me then. Principal Zatya snorted smugly and turned her attention back to the growing crowd below, whose numbers seemed to have doubled in the last few minutes. Kaelith shook his head and said, I cant believe people are really buying into this miracle water propaganda. I wish he had just listened to me. Zatya cursed and began pacing. This is bad timing. The whole kingdom is watching, and with his status as an Inheritor getting out, hes not safe. We have to do something. She glanced at her table, thinking furiously until she got an idea. Snapping her fingers, she grabbed a blank paper and handed it to Kaelith, saying, We have to get ahead of this somehow and release a press statement before the reporters get a chance to print their own stories. Without wasting time, Kaelith began drafting a statement. Aside from delivering news to distraught parents, this was his job, and it was the part he loved most. He had barely written more than a few lines when the storm suddenly broke, unleashing a torrent of rain on the earth below. Kaelith glanced at Principal Zatya, but she shook her head, saying, Let it fall. Aleran should be here any moment with a sample. Just as she finished speaking, a knock sounded on the door, and Professor Aleran walked in, holding a beaker of crystal-clear liquid. It was a sample of the rain falling outside, and Kaelith had to admit that it definitely looked unnatural. Principal Zatya raised an eyebrow and asked. So, is it as miraculous as they say? Professor Aleran shook his head. "No, it is not. It has no healing nor rejuvenating abilities. In fact, aside from its amazing purity, the rain is quite, eh, ordinary." "So there''s no need to worry then?" Principal Zatya asked, relaxing a little, but Professor Aleran''s next words chased that idea from her mind. "I wouldn''t say that." He raised the water samples to the light and said. "The rain might not be magical, but it is certainly very weird." "In what way?" Professor Aleran looked at her, a hint of worry on his face and said. "The rain has a conductivity value that puts that of seawater to shame. It is not just a magical conductor, it''s a carrier." Chapter 141: Miracle Rain II Aodhn sat in a meditative pose high in the sky, calm and at peace even as a storm raged all around him. Clouds roiled, and lightning flashed incessantly, followed closely by deafening booms of thunder, so loud that they drowned out Varcs roars of excitement as he soared through the colossal clouds and added his own special brand of chaos to it. Winds blew strongly, and rain poured down to drench the ground in heavy torrents. However, amidst all this chaos, Aodhn felt completely at peace. He felt more at peace than he had ever been before, and in that moment, he finally understood Master Gyatsos religious words of finding peace even within a storm. He had found that peace, literally, and it was all thanks to his new skill, {Eye of The Storm}. Before checking out the skill, though, Aodhn decided to scrutinize his core and spirit first. Focusing inward, he turned his attention to his core and the blazing ball of willpower floating within it. His core shone brightly to his senses, and after verifying that all was right with his core, Aodhn shifted his attention to his pathways, which had enlarged slightly since the last time hed checked on them. Surprisingly, they werent the only things that had widened; the essence threads connected to his eyes had also widened, albeit by a negligible degree. It was certainly not enough to make any major difference yet. Satisfied with the general state of his core and pathways, Aodhn shifted his attention to his spirit, specifically his opening. The spiritual rift had also grown larger, not enough to evolve into something else, but enough to be more than halfway there. He mentally probed the opening for a moment before turning his attention to his seals, both of which glowed with an enchanting luminescence. Finally, he turned his attention to the last and most drastic change within his spirit. The simmering rage wasnt gone; instead, it had transformed into a vortex of storm that completely surrounded his mind. The vortex raged and roared, lashing out chaotically, but it made no move to invade his mind. It was like his mind was impenetrable; however, Aodhn suspected he could harness the raging vortex at will, perhaps even invite all that rage into his mind if he wanted. This change was one he was most thankful for at the moment, as it practically placed his destiny back in his hands where it should have been in the first place. He was at the eye of the storm, a state of perfect calm, control, and tranquility. Nothing could touch him here unless he allowed it, and he couldnt wait to test out the limit of his new abilities. With a small smile, Aodhn pulled up his status screen and reviewed its contents, starting from the bottom where the details of his new skill were outlined. [STATUS] Name: Aodhn Ashoka-Brystion. Title: Neophyte, Storm Spirit, Bronze, Origin Marked, Seal Bearer (2), Silver. Class: Evolved storm awakened: 99.9% (PENDING) Tier: 22C27% Glimpse>Opening: Increases elemental affinity and abilities by 2.5%. Techniques: Perfect will imbuement (9), Energy Enhancement (crude), Empathic Link. Skills {Innate}: [Storm creation and manipulation] [Lightning creation and manipulation] {Other}: [Lightning Surge] [Lightning Beam] [Lightning Descent] [Create Constructs] [Absorb Lightning] [Spear RainLightning] [Spear RainStorm] [Vortex of Lightning] [Vortex of Storm] [Elemental LightningStage 1] [Eye of the StormPassive] Bloodline: Origin storm supremacy. {Unique} ? Amplifies storm abilities by 3% + {Eye of the Stormpassive} ? Grants major resistance to Lightning ? Aura of Origin supremacy. FamiliarDragonkin (Fury) Perks: Psychic bond, Merge, Berserk. Congratulations! You have gained the approval of your origin plane. New seal gained. Congratulations! You have gained a new skill. {Eye of the Stormpassive}: You have entered a heightened state of awareness and perception that can be tweaked as you wish, enabling you to see clearly through chaotic weather and magical disruptions. A deeper sense of tranquility can be achieved by immersing your mind deeply into the effects of the skill. Extra effects: ? Grants a minor ability to identify enemy weak points. ? Effect can be imbued into some skills. Even at a glance it was obvious that the skill didnt have a single function; rather, it had a vast number of functions that complemented each other well. Aodhn wondered if perhaps high spiritual cultivation also aided in getting high-grade skills, because this was certainly not normal. Aodhn hadnt met any other storm awakened yet, but he doubted their skills would all be this powerful. One thing that made the skill even more valuable was the passive tag, which meant he couldnt ever turn it off if he wanted. In a sense, the skill seemed almost like his core sense ability, and although there were similarities between the two, they were vastly different. The heightened awareness his new skill granted was the first thing Aodhn noticed, realizing that despite the chaotic weather around him, he could still see the academy as if through a slight film of fog. His lips tugged up when he saw students running through the rain, cursing up at him in annoyance. Just for fun, he increased the intensity of the rain and laughed when the spiritual attention of several people landed on him all at once. Aodhn could feel Principal Zatyas attention on him, but he ignored her too. The woman deserved every wrench he threw into her plans after the foolish mistake she had made by placing him and Yurin within the same chamber. He wasnt trying to undermine or belittle Yurins traumatic experience within the chamber, but Aodhn could beat his chest that he had come out even more mentally scarred than Yurin. After all, he had watched himself almost rip one of his closest friends to shreds, and had the principal not arrived on time, it would have been too late. Her churning with a rebellious need to cause trouble, Aodhn turned his gaze away from the academy and looked towards the growing number of people gathered underneath his storm cloud, most of whom held pails and buckets to the sky, shouting and shoving each other in excitement. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. He couldnt hear their voices from his position in the sky, but he didnt need to to know what they were talking about. It was the Warren all over again. Somehow, rumor must have spread from the Warren about his supposed miraculous rain, but had Calrin, the farmer, not disproved that rumor? How had it managed to rear its head up again? It made work wonder if perhaps there was some truth to it. Rain was one aspect of his skill set that had been severely underexplored and underutilized, mostly because he hadnt created or gotten any useful rain skills yet. Frankly, Aodhn didnt think rain bore any real usefulness aside from the watering of plants and other such mundane activities, but perhaps he was mistaken. Focusing on the colossal cloud he had created, a feat that had drained a large chunk of willpower from him, Aodhn began to manipulate it. He couldnt expand the cloud anymore as he had already reached his limit, but he could definitely amplify some parts of the storm and reduce others. With a quick activation of {Storm Manipulation}, Aodhn reduced the booms of thunder to a distant rumble and even the flashes of lightning to the minimum. This caused the energy fueling those aspects to diverge into others, and the cloud darkened even further. The swirling wind increased drastically, and all that excess energy began to leak into the atmosphere. Eyeing his status screen, Aodhn began looking for anything he could divert the energy to, and his gaze soon landed on the last function of his newest skill. Effect can be imbued into other skills! He eyed the clause for a moment, wondering if it meant exactly what he was thinking it did. He didnt bother wondering for too long, as this was a perfect opportunity to experiment. Grinning, Aodhn diverted the excess energy into the rain, and the storm cloud practically exploded with water. His intention wasnt to increase the intensity of the rain, lest he began killing sleepers with the force of each droplet. No, his intention was to test out the last effect of his new skill, and without hesitation, he did so. Sinking his mind deeper into the effects of {Eye of the Storm}, Aodhn tried to imbue the peace and tranquility he was feeling into the storm around him. The result was nearly instantaneous. A wave of calm spread out of him like ripples on a lake, and the roiling storm stilled. The howling winds died, lightning winked out, and the distant rumbling of thunder grew comforting like the promise of rain after a hot day. Aodhn felt his muscles relax even further, and he sighed in utmost bliss, unaware of a tiny aspect of the storm that he had overlooked. Peace and quiet seeped into the rain, carrying with it a grain of enhanced perception, and as these droplets fell to the ground, drenching hundreds of sleepers to the bone, something was awoken in them. *** It had taken an absurd amount of jabbing, shoving, and screaming, but Yue had finally made it beneath the cloud, leaving her clients far behind, but her job was the farthest thing from her mind in that moment. Quickly, she raised the pail she had stolen to the sky and began to fetch the miracle rainwater, already calculating how much she might sell it for and how much money she could make if she marketed it right. Regardless of how well she marketed it, though, the amount of money she would make was certainly not enough to sustain her for life. That brought her to a single conclusion. One pail wasnt enough. Eyeing the bucket of the old man beside her, Yue wondered if she could steal it without getting caught. Her feet shifted, and she felt the temptation rise. Just one quick grab. She could snatch the bucket and flee before the man even noticed. It wouldnt even take long. Her grip on her own bucket tightened, but before she could act on the temptations, the storm suddenly stilled. The wind, once howling through the streets, dropped into silence, and a ripple of calm spread through the roiling clouds above. This caused another wave of cheers, but Yue wasnt happy at all. Her bucket was barely full, and from the look of things, the show was about to end. Growling, she raised her face to the sky, and the rain touched her. It hit her skin like a soft tap to the forehead, causing Yue to shiver, but not from cold. Rather, heat spread out from the point of contact and flowed into her mind like a whisper. She stumbled, hand going to her chest, eyes wide as the world... shifted. Gasps of confusion rose from the crowd, but Yue could barely focus on them as her vision swam for a moment before snapping to clarity. A clarity so resounding that it was jarring. The once dull sounds around herthe chatter of several individuals, the horns of shuttles, the patter of rainbecame vivid, layered, and crystal clear. Sounds of amazement and confusion rang in her ears. Footsteps echoed like distant thunder, and the scentYues nose twitched as new smells revealed themselves. She smelled the rain, but beyond that, the earth. Damp soil beneath cobblestones. The metallic tang of rust The rush of newness overwhelmed her, but Yue could help but laugh out loud. This rainit was sacred. Holy. Miraculous. It was more than just water. It was magic! She glanced around, noticing that almost everyone seemed to be going through the same thing while a few simply stared at others in confusion. Yue turned her head, catching a flutter of wingsa bird, hidden in the shadows of a rooftop several meters away. Shed never noticed anything like that before. Tears blurred her vision as she stared at her hands, feeling the world open to her senses. She was no longer just Yue, the tour guide struggling to survive. She could feel everything, sense everything. And for the first time in her life, she felt powerful and importantuntil she didnt A minute. That was how long the feeling of power lasted. The first thing that diminished was her hearingthe sharp clarity of sound started to dull, like someone slowly wrapping the world in wool. The footsteps she had once heard so clearly turned into dull thuds. The distant rustle of leaves lost its distinctness, fading into a blur of background sounds, and her grip on the details, on that heightened state of being, slackened. No, Yue whispered, her voice trembling as her vision dimmed, returning to how it had been formerly. She wasnt the only one too. People staggered as their senses dimmed, falling from the high the rain had given them. Yue hastily turned her face to the little droplets of rain that were still falling, but they did nothing, and with a desperate cry to hold onto this feeling of power for a while longer, Yue dunked her head in her bucket of water, seeking the magic she had just tasted. When nothing happened, she downed the entire bucket, drenching herself in crystal clear water, but once again, nothing happened. Slowly, the clarity in her mind dulled, and her senses lost their edge, turning soft. Vague Her chest tightened in panic, and Yue gazed up at the sky with pleading eyes, but the storm that had had so much potential a while ago was already dispersing. No, please. She cried out, but no one heard her cries, and before long the golden clouds of the nexus reappeared, smiling down on her as if to mock her with a beauty she could not fully comprehend. People cursed around her, and reporters ran around, interviewing people with their snappers clutched tightly as they took pictures left and right. One rushed towards her, but Yue couldnt even reply to his questions, too busy feeling empty and ordinary. She had known that awakening enhanced a persons perception, but she hadnt exactly understood what she was missing. Now she did, and Yue was more than certain she would kill herself if she didnt awaken. What was the point of living life if she didnt get to feel that every moment? The world soon returned to its usual dullness, leaving Yue feeling hollow and weak. She stared at her hands, once so alive, so connected. Now they were just hands againcold, wet, and trembling. Sighing, she dusted her dull hands and turned to walk away only to come face to face with her clients, both of whom were glaring at her, seemingly not having been affected by the rain''s effects. I cant believe you just left us here and disappeared, The man shouted. We could have gotten lost, or something terrible could have happened to us while you went ahead to gallivant in the rain without us. Im sorry she began, but the woman cut her off. We demand a refund or at least half our money back. Now, that was a problem, because Yue had spent their money already to settle her debts. She was wrong, though; she had been so carried away by how much she could gain from selling the miracle water that she had left her clients behind in a city they knew very little about. It was unprofessional, and the womans request for half their payment wasnt entirely unreasonable. She couldnt do that, though, because, as she said earlier, she had spent the money. However, she was still a worker of the Phoenixs nest, and they had a reputation to keep. So, rather than cry as she really wanted to right now, Yue plastered on a smile and replied in the same tone her mother had used to scam people before her death. Apologies, sir and madam. Let me make up for my inexcusable behavior. Have you seen the famous church of the collective? Its just by the corner, not too far from the statue of Raol, which is an irony because the collective church does not pray to Raol or any other Ascendants for that matter. A shame really. What is a religion without a god? She rambled on, drawing the couple''s interest with each word, and before long, she had persuaded them to see the Church of the Collective and the Statue of Raol, hoping that they might forget her transgressions and perhaps tip her, as she would be unable to afford dinner otherwise. Chapter 142: Dealing with the Awakened Council A Storm of Controversy: Aodhn Brystion''s Rain is a MiracleBut at What Cost? The recent storm conjured by renowned student and champion candidate Aodhn Ashoka-Brystion has left many in the kingdom reeling in shock, awe, and alarm. This was no ordinary display of storm magic. Infused with a strange tranquility and heightened perception, the rainfall granted temporary, yet unprecedented abilities to sleepers who found themselves under the colossal storm cloud, which was indeed very large for an awakened who is still at the evolved class. However, while some hail this event as miraculous, others warn of its potentially dangerous consequences for the kingdom Fennir Aldwright, The Arcane Observer
Principal Zatya sat in her office with her head in her hands, fuming silently. She should have ripped Aodhn from the cloud when she had the chance, but she had simply wanted to give him a chance to explore this part of his abilities and, of course, gain some insights into his potential as well. She hadn''t been too concerned about the rain until Aleran mentioned its conductivity value and declared it a carrier. Still, it hadn''t really seemed to be much cause for concern at the time, and she had simply settled down to watch things play out, but now, by the ascendants, she regretted it. She had drilled Aleran immediately after Kaelith pulled Aodhn out of the storm, and now, twelve hours after the whole incident, Zatya was completely swarmed with messages and missives from all over the kingdom, all requesting to speak with Aodhn. Her table was a mess, filled with a huge pile of envelopes, most of which were from a thousand prominent nobles within the Kingdom, and even as she glared at the pile, Kaelith added another, muttering, This one is from the Duke Solaris. Of course it is. Zatya scowled and massaged her temples. I let him explore one time. Just one time, and he creates a fucking alchemical disaster. For the past twelve hours, Zatya had been running helter-skelter, declining interview requests and ignoring another urgent request from the Awakened Council. All for this ungrateful wench of a project that she wished she could discard. Sighing, Zatya glanced at the architect of the disaster, and despite looking the other way, Aodhn tensed, sensing her attention, which was nothing short of amazing for someone still in the evolved class. Slowly, he turned to glance back at her, but her scathing glare sent his gaze away immediately. She wasnt buying his excuse that he had had no idea what he had been doing either, because she would be a fool to buy such crap. It was high time she reminded Aodhn who really held the strings in their arrangement, but that could wait for another twelve hours. Right now, she had a pile of paperwork to deal with. Glancing to the side where Professor Aleran stood with two beakers, each filled nearly to the brim with crystal-clear water, Zatya asked. Explain to me againno, summarize it, Aleran. I dont have time to listen to you drone on for hours on the properties of each beaker''s content. Professor Aleran grimaced and replied. These beakers contain samples of Aodhnsrain, one from before the calming effect and the other from after. We do not know exactly which skill Aodhn used, as he has refused to disclose Get to the point, Aleran. How does this tie into the conductivity thing. Zatya cut him off, and Professor Aleran scowled. The point is that from the test we ran on the first water sample, it is relatively ordinary aside from its excellent purity and conductivity. However, due to its high conductivity value, I informed you that it was a carrier, which means exactly what the word is. It can carry and conduct things from one point to another. In the case of the second sample, the rainwater served as a medium, carrying magical properties from the cloud to the people below." What are these magical properties? Zatya asked impatiently, glaring at Aodhn, who stood silently in one corner of the office, entwining a bolt of lightning in between his fingers. He didnt look up this time, and Zatya returned her attention to Aleran, who responded, The rain was infused with clarity and heightened perception, granting whomever it touches a high sense of perception and mental clarity. The effect is, however, very weak, and from the reports we have gotten so far, only effective on sleepers and awakeneds below the first milestone. Zatya massaged her temples again and sighed. This is a disaster. It is. Agent Kaelith nodded. It might not seem like much now, but people are already thinking ahead. What Aodhn did was a mere experiment. From his account, he didnt even use his willpower, yet he transformed sleepers, albeit briefly, into something more. What happens when he employs his willpower, his seals, or even opens himself up to the origin plane? What effect would his rain have if he employed all three at once? Stop giving the boy ideas, Kaelith! Zatya shouted, before turning to glare at Rahim. Take him out of here. I want him far away. Rahim nodded silently, and the next moment, he and Aodhn disappeared from the office. As soon as they did, principal Zatya got up and began pacing. How potent is this ability? she asked. Less than worrisome. Professor Aleran replied. The sleepers who were affected had their perceptions increased to tier 2 or 3 at most, while some didnt even notice any difference in their usual perception. Principal Zatya frowned. That was lower than she had thought, but still very worrisome. Just like Kaelith had said, Aodhn hadnt used any of his buffs to do that. If he did, could he increase the perception of sleepers to tier 10? Tier 15? And how much more powerful would the skill become when he steps into the advanced class? Oh, this is bad. She muttered to herself. The potential of that skill alone sealed Aodhns participation in the war, and their enemies definitely wouldnt want that. The skill painted an even larger target on Aodhn, and Zatya just knew she couldnt protect him alone. She had to get Ascendant candidate Lightus involved once again. As frustrated as she was, though, a part of her was proud of Aodhn for continuously growing stronger with each hurdle he overcame. He had exceeded all her expectations at this point. However, Zatya would have preferred he gained all these skills in secret, far away from prying eyes, so she could mold him perfectly. It was frustrating that her plans for him kept getting derailed, and she nearly broke something when her chip beeped for the umpteenth time with another message from the Awakened Council. She nearly dismissed it, thinking it was another interview request, but when she noticed the urgent tag attached to the message, she opened it, and her scowl deepened. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Section 18, Article 5: The Awakened Accountability and Public Safety Act (AAPSA) 18.5.1Unlawful dissemination of magic into public domain. No awakened, regardless of rank or status, shall willfully or negligently infuse their magical abilities in such a way that affects the natural order of things without express permission from the awakened council. Even if accidental, any wide-scale dissemination of magical abilities through naturally occurring forces (e.g., floods, weather patterns, and environmental shifts that affect the general public in any manner is considered a breach of magical safety regulations. The involved awakened shall be subject to investigation, and if found guilty, shall be punished according to the law. Zatya let out a deep breath after reading the message and sagged. Its out of my hands now; theres nothing I can do. If the council is pulling the law into this, then they definitely mean business. She trudged back to her seat and chuckled snidely. They only remember the laws whenever it favors them. Kaelith, who had been drafting yet another press statement, looked up and asked. What are you going to do? I mean, this is partly our fault for not pulling him from the sky immediately he began. I know that, but at this point, theres nothing we can do. Zatya took a moment to think before shaking her head. Hell just have to face the consequences. Fines and magical restrictions are the most common punishments for these kinds of offenses. We might share in the blame, but this wouldnt even have been an issue if the rain had remained ordinary, and that is not my fault. Professor Aleran sighed and dropped the beakers. Is there nothing the academy can do? If Aodhn goes into the councils custody, then it paints a picture that we are incapable of controlling him, a mere student. We cant allow that to happen. Zatya blew out a breath in frustration and said, There are a few things we can do, but I dont want to. I dont believe this was unintentional, and if Aodhn doesnt want to be my project anymore, then he doesnt get to have my help either. Whatever the consequences of his actions are, they will not be deadly. Besides, the council would still tread carefully considering mine and Ascendant candidate Lightuss interest in the boy. Professor Aleran glanced at Kaelith before speaking. Cant we just tell the council that you gave Aodhn permission To do what? Kaelith snorted. To commit a crime? They wont even believe us, and that will affect our reputation even more. We cant risk it. But its true. Professor Aleran argued. This could have all been avoided had you Kaeliths right. Principal Zatya cut him off with a warning glare. We cant afford to do that. We cant afford to make any mistakes this close to the tournament. But youre right too, Aleran. I should have pulled that boy out of the sky immediately he summoned that storm cloud. She closed her eyes to think for a moment before proceeding. Theres not much we can do now that the council has dragged the law into the matter, but we can try to appease them before they slap us with another infraction because Im sure theres another in this sordid mess. In the meantime, I need to speak to Professor Dubois about something very important if you gentlemen will excuse me. Professor Aleran and Kaelith left the office, and a moment later, Faelar Dubois teleported in, looking so smug that it took almost all of Zatyas willpower not to bash the womans skull in. Faelar grinned evilly and tsked, gesturing to the pile of paperwork on Zatyas desk. My, my, thats a lot of paperwork for a minor infraction. What has our favorite troublemaker done this time? Dont pretend to be ignorant. Zatya scowled. As much as I detest you, I cannot deny that youre a smart, intelligent Oh, save the compliments, Zatya. Professor Dubois cut her off with a snide smile. We both know youll have to grovel if you want me to intervene and save your pet. Zatya leaned back in her chair and smiled. On the contrary, I didnt call you here to beg and grovel on Aodhn''s behalf. He committed a crime; he will pay for it. However, I would like to warn the council that the boy is not just any random awakened. He is an inheritor, one who has piqued the interest of several powerful benefactors, the most prominent of whom is Ascendant candidate Lightus. They would do well to tread carefully. Faelar scowled, not enjoying the reminder one bit. The awakened council was a body of Mythics and although that was enough to put the fear of the ascendants in 90% of the population, calamities were technically above the law. Sure, they had their own governing body, but it was more in name than any serious activity. To anger a calamity was to invite, well, a calamity upon oneself, and even the awakened council wasnt exempt from their wrath. The fear of angering Ascendant Candidate Lightus wouldnt exactly stop the council from carrying out their sentence, but it would definitely prevent them from taking things too far. That was all Zatya could do for Aodhn, excluding asking the calamity to intervene in the matter, and that would only exacerbate things, inviting more attention on Aodhn than she was willing to allow. Couldnt Aodhn see that she was doing all this to protect him? If not for her, he probably would be dead by now... Pushing aside the thought, Zatya took a moment to enjoy Faelars annoyed expression before gesturing to the seat Kaelith had vacated. Sit down, professor. I believe you have news for me concerning the mission. Faelar gritted her teeth and grudgingly sat down. In light of the new circumstances, the council wishes to amend our deal. We will deliver on our promise of the Black Forest if he does succeed, but the council has refused to fund the advancement of your professors. There will be a written agreement stating that no undue harm will come to Aodhn from us. He will be interviewed and interrogated just like any other awakened" I said no interrogations. Principal Zatya began, shaking her head, but Professor Dubois spoke over her. In return, the awakened council will be much more lenient with his sentence. Professor Dubois leaned back and folded her arms. We both understand how disastrous Aodhns action was as well as its potential ramifications. Forceful conscription wouldnt be absurd in this scenario. It would be in your best interest to take our deal. Zatya gritted her teeth in annoyance. She had seen this coming a mile away, but at this point, there was nothing she could do about it, or at least, she couldnt think of a way out of this. If the council interviewed Aodhn, it was only a matter of time before they found out his true identity, and she couldnt let that happen. However, whether she agreed to it or not, the council would find a way to interrogate him. It was the way of things. The fact that they were even offering something in return was a sign of goodwill, one she suspected would be the last. Zatya leaned forward and asked, Correct me if Im wrong, but from my understanding of the law, I believe this is a very minor crime, especially since it was done without any malicious intentions and no one got hurt. However, since this happened under my jurisdiction, arent I the one whos supposed to be held accountable? Faelar shrugged. That would be the case if you were the one who gave Aodhn the permission to do what he did. But we both know he was acting of his own volition. How do you know that? Faelar laughed mockingly, Im in this school for a reason, Zatya. I would think you would have figured that out by now. Zatya scowled and shook her head. Its my fault for thinking you can be redeemed. If anyone needs redemption, it is you and your filthy obsession with creating weapons for a war still far in the future. Faelar replied snidely, but Zatya ignored it and asked instead. When you say more lenient with his sentence, what exactly do you mean? A fine. Faelar replied immediately. A large fine, but its better than the alternatives. Also, he has to be the one to pay it himself. No one will be allowed to pay it for him. Zatya sighed and pondered the idea for a while, trying to come up with an alternative that would favor her, but after an entire minute of contemplation, she finally agreed and replied. Fine, hell be released into the councils custody first thing tomorrow morning. Faelar grinned, enjoying the blissful taste of victory, but as she prepared to teleport to her quarters, Zatya added. If any harm comes to my pet, I assure you that the council will regret crossing me. I wasnt called the Bloody Season for nothing. Faelar shuddered, once more reminded that this woman she so casually needled was one of the bloodiest and deadliest champions of all time before her advancement to the Mythic class. Despite being in the same class, Faelar knew that Zatya could kill her before she even had a chance to blink. Refusing to let her fear show, Faelar gave a mocking courtesy and teleported out before her trembling fingers could give her away, and it was only when she got into her quarters that she calmed down and muttered. Fuck! Im getting too old for this shit. Chapter 143: Veil of Shrouded Mind There is a common misconception that techniques are less powerful or weaker than skills, and perhaps in some way that is true, but what many fail to realize is that techniques are not meant to destroy enemies or to blow up armies. No, techniques are a subtle, yet dangerous, aspect of advancement that, if utilized appropriately, can rival even the greatest of skills. Scholar Jos Narosky Calodan kingdom, year 2273.
While the academy slept and the golden clouds of sunset roiled lazily above, Aodhn sat in his training room, wide awake. His legs were crossed in a meditative position as he exercised his control and tamed his willpower just to calm his nerves. He would be traveling to the Councils headquarters in a few hours, and he was literally a sneeze away from a full-blown panic. Apparently, there was only so much {Eye of the storm} could do when faced with a situation like this. Needless to say, Aodhn hadnt planned for any of this to happen and would gladly turn back time if he could. He had simply wanted to test out the infusion effect of the skill, and in his excitement, he had simply done so, not really giving much thought to the consequences of his actions as per usual. Aodhn was no stranger to the laws against using awakened abilities against sleepers and common citizens, but the problem here was that he hadnt known what effect the infusion of {Eye of The Storm} into {Storm manipulation} would have. He hadnt anticipated such a wild and drastic effect. However, despite how amazing the results were, Aodhn could barely muster any excitement for it. Sighing, he returned his attention to his mental task, taming and imbuing willpower with energy. The process was practically instinctual at this point, and it wasnt long before his mind drifted back to his imminent meeting with the Awakened Council. The last twelve hours had been a roller coaster of emotions, and right now, the predominant emotion Aodhn was feeling was fear. Never in his life had he ever been to court or even worse, jail, except that time principal Zatya had thrown him and Cyrus in the sink, but with the way things were going, Aodhn suspected it was going to end badly. A meeting with the Awakened Council would inevitably lead to an interrogation, and Rahim had briefed him on the Councils definition of the word interrogation. It was more appropriate to call it a total invasion of ones mental privacy, and Aodhn couldnt help but worry that his days of freedom were nearing a brutal end. His mind flitted from one troubling scenario to the other, nearly all of them ending with his neck on a noose, but while Aodhn battled with his mind and emotions, Principal Zatya had ransacked the topmost floor of the library for a forbidden technique, and the moment midnight struck, a hooded figure scurried out of the library, moving towards the residential area of the first-years with a speed that was impossible to follow for anyone below the evolved class. The figure was dressed in a black coat that shimmered subtly with cloaking and obfuscation runes, both of which made the figure''s movements even harder to track. The figure skipped across small puddles of water left over from Aodhns rain earlier and cursed herself for ever thinking that working for the Bloody Season was a good idea at all. This hooded figure was none other than Aurelis Swifteye, the eagle-eyed librarian of the 5th academy, and as she dodged another puddle of rainwater, she cursed Principal Zatya for assigning such a dangerous and illicit task to her of all people. Why couldnt she have sent Kaelith? Or better still, one of her professors? Why in Raols name had the principal decided to drag her into this mess? Aurelis soon reached the first-year residential quadrant. She slipped through the gate, waving dismissively at the guard, who only jerked awake after she released a slight pulse of energy to wake him up. Not bothering to present her ID or even introduce herself, Aurelis tightened her cloak and practically flew towards house 14. When she reached house 14, she snuck in quietly (not that the students would even notice her presence had they been wide awake) and hastily made her way up the stairs to Aodhns room. The subtle movement of air currents deep within the room revealed to her that Aodhn was still awake, just as shed expected, and without wasting precious time, she disabled the lock, slipped into the room, and bolted the door firmly behind her. Muttering another curse, she made her way to the training room and immediately dodged as a spear of crackling red electricity shot through the area she had been a second ago. The boy formed another with impressive speed, but at the level of perception she was currently working with, Aodhn could have been a snail for how slow he seemed. Scowling, Aurelis smacked the next attack from the air and snapped. Sit down, boy. Im here to help you, albeit against my will. Let that be clear. I am only here because the principal asked me to. Aodhns expression lit up with hope, and he asked. How can you help me? Aurelis waved a finger angrily at him and scowled. You know, ever since I saw you reading Azmarthons biography, I just knew you would be trouble. Are you trying to follow in his footsteps? Because if you are, Ill have you know that the law has changed drastically in the last 500 years, and we will not have another slaughterer running rampant and fucking things up for everyone. She folded her arms at him and continued angrily. Do you fancy yourself his student because you have the same affinity? I should have known. She shook her head in resignation, gray hair peeking out slightly from her hood. Its the bloody cult all over again. Kids these days. No one wants to be Von-Amyl Argent or the Peacemaker, but theyll jump at the slightest chance to be the slaughterer and follow his bloody path. I am not trying to follow in his path. Aodhn replied with a scowl, more to himself than to the librarian. Im trying to avoid it. Well, youre doing a bloody terrible job. Aodhn sighed and rubbed his temples in frustration. It was a mistake. I didnt expect any of this to happen. Of course you didnt. She scoffed, but her expression soon turned serious, and she raised a finger in warning. Thats what you should say to the council tomorrow. Do not plead guilty, ever, even if you are guilty. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Guilty of what? Aodhn asked in confusion. Im not guilty of anything! Good, youre following. Aurelis replied and shut the door of the training room behind her before shifting her cloak to reveal a small, worn-looking scroll that shimmered faintly with golden runes. She cradled the scroll gently, hesitant to hand it over, but after taking a deep breath, she took out the worn scroll and scowled. I dont know what you and the principal are hiding, and I dont care to know, so you guys dont rope me any further into this mess. This is a permanent technique called the veil of shrouded mind. It works almost exactly as an oath, one that involves the willful binding of ones core to protect one''s secrets. Her scowl deepened, and she continued. This technique wont fortify or shield your mind from mental intrusions. However, it will create a veil within your mind where you can keep all your dirty little secrets without fear of them ever being found out. Aodhn gently collected the technique, eyes wide as he traced the complex runic script with a trembling finger. It was vastly different from the common techniques he knew, which could simply be passed from one person to another by simply sharing the functions and technicalities behind the technique. This one was a lot more complex than that, and from what he could see, Aodhn suspected it was a sacred technique or perhaps even a forbidden one. Aodhn traced the glowing runes on the script, mesmerized by their complexity. They pulsed faintly, yet hummed with so much power that holding the script felt like holding back a dam with nothing but a glass panel. Aodhn hesitated, knowing the value of what he was being offered, and weighing this option against the others he had come up with in the last few hours. After a moment, he looked up and asked. What is the cost of using this technique? Forbidden techniques usually came with a cost or a drawback that usually impacted the user significantly, affecting either their advancement or their physical state, and Aureliss response confirmed Aodhns suspicions as to the nature of the technique. The activation of this technique will drain an immense amount of your willpower, but itll also take something far more preciousthe emotions attached to whatever memory or thought you hide behind the veil. The veil wont prevent you from accessing your secrets or even thinking about them, but that is the limit of which it would allow. You will never truly connect with those memories anymore. You will never think fondly of them, nor will you ever fear them. Aodhn shuddered, studying the script and weighing his options delicately as fear curled tightly in his gut. He had two options: a complete emotional detachment from his memories and secrets or to be dissected and torn apart by the council when they eventually found out his identity as a transmigrant?. The decision should have been an easy one, but Aodhn hesitated as memories of his time in the monastery rose within his mind. The constant prayers and sermons the monks had forced him to take part in, the other boys who had later become his family, his real parents, and the brutal way in which they had died, the simplicity of life back on Earth The memories rose within his mind like a slide show, each one coming with its own bundle of emotions: pain, joy, indifference, anger, but most of all nostalgia. Using this technique would rid him of all these beautiful emotions. His memories of Earth would become nothing more than a footnote or a statistic in his mind. Aodhn didnt want that, but faced with the threat of death, did he really have a choice? Still hesitating, Aodhn asked. Is that all the drawbacks? Is there anything more that I should know? No. Aurelis replied, her expression a little somber. The Veil is one of the less demonic forbidden techniques out there. Okay, Aodhn nodded. So just how many memories can I fit into this veil? As many as you want. Theres just one catch, though, and that is the fact that the veil technique will only protect the secrets you place within it during the activation. Like I said earlier, it is permanent and can only be used once. Whatever memory you fail to place within the veil at the moment of activation can no longer be added into it. If that happens, you will need to create another veil within your mind, and that lets just say its not advisable. Glad that he had asked, Aodhn began making a list of memories he wanted to lock away forever. Everything about Earth had to go, obviously, as well as his conversations with Daruk and Principal Zatya about Earth and its inhabitants. His visions of Azmarthon had to go too, as well as every conversation about his tattoo. The list of things that needed to be locked up grew with each passing second, and by the time Aodhn finally became satisfied that he wasnt forgetting anything else, nearly an hour had passed. He scanned the list one last time before taking a deep breath. I think Im ready, but before I do it, I just have one more question. If a telepath scans my mind, will they find the veil, or is it hidden from their senses too.? Both. Aurelis replied with a shrug. Theyll certainly find the veil if they search hard enough, but the veil naturally tries to hide itself. It doesnt matter if they find it, though, because the only way they can get to its secrets is by killing you, shattering your core, and then harnessing what remnant of your mind lingers. The fact that his secrets would be safe forever gave him a bit of comfort, and ten minutes later, Aodhn felt ready to take the next step. With slightly trembling fingers he held out the scroll, took a deep breath, and without further hesitation, he recited the words of the technique. By shadowed veil, my mind I bind, In silent depths, no truth youll find. No will shall breach, no force break through, My thoughts are mine, hidden from view. The words echoed like thunder in his mind, and as he read out the activation words of the technique, they took on a life of their own. They dove into his mind, creating a vacuum of space surrounded by a shimmering red veil made from runes. The veil constructed itself slowly, draining an immense amount of willpower with each runic block it added to the growing vacuum within his mind. The drain caused Aodhns body to spasm uncontrollably, and he groaned as willpower drained from him like water through a sieve. Aodhn pushed every single memory in the list he had made inside the veil, not wanting to make the mistake of leaving anything behind; however, when he got to the memory of the Raventhorn, Aodhn hesitated. As painful as the memory was, it was a vital part of his identity. The memory had practically shaped his life here on ?FLYM, and throwing it behind the veil seemed like throwing another major part of his identity away forever. It was too much all at once, and after pushing all his memories of Earth away, never to be remembered fondly again, Aodhn was unwilling to let this one go even though it was filled with blood and pain. He spent more than a few seconds deliberating, but in the end, he decided to keep the memory. The veil disappeared from his mind''s eye an instant later, sealing a major part of his identity away forever. Aodhn would have loved to say he was relieved, but that was sadly not the case. He harnessed his memories of Master Gyatso and all the other boys, waiting for the familiar burst of nostalgia that usually accompanied those thoughts, but nothing came. It was like watching a movie without color or sound, and Aodhn sighed heavily, knowing he had done this to himself. He began searching through his mind, but before he could come up with a decent analysis, Aurelis snatched the scroll from his hand and scrutinized it for a moment before placing it back into a corner of her robe. After securing the scroll, she turned to him and scowled. I was never here, and I never gave you this forbidden scroll. After I step out of this room, do not even think of me, and just in case the Council finds this memory, let me just reiterate that I have no part in this, nor do I have any idea what youre hiding. I dont get paid enough for this, and I would much rather be left to my books than dragged to court as a witness. She tightened her cloak around herself, raised up her hood, and, faster than Aodhn could follow, Aurelis slipped out of the room and disappeared, leaving Aodhn to worry about the repercussions of the decision he had made. SYSTEM ALERT: MENTAL FORTIFICATION DETECTED! MENTAL FORTIFICATION FULL! Chapter 144: The Awakened Court (Sector 5) The Awakened Council serves as the highest governing body for all magical affairs within the kingdom, tasked with maintaining the balance between magic and mundane law. In every sector, city, or even village, the Awakened council stands as a judicial body, with the authority to punish all those who flaunt or misuse their abilities. Their primary role is to regulate the use of magic, ensuring that power is not abused or used to threaten the kingdoms stability as well as its weaker citizens. In essence, the Awakened council is an honest body whose decisions keep the Awakened populace in line and protect the well-being of the common people. Councilman Sirius Blackhill High member of the council of awakened Sector 5, Ragnarok SYSTEM ALERT: MENTAL FORTIFICATION DETECTED! MENTAL FORTIFICATION FULL! Congratulations! You have gained a forbidden mental fortification technique. Please note that this technique does not protect your mind from intrusions, only the secrets kept within it. Can only be broken by the highest of power or the niftiest of tricks. Would you like to access hidden memories?
Aodhn dismissed the system prompt with a sigh, his wild hair waving gently in the wind and scattering tiny arcs of electricity in the air. He was standing at the top of the library with Principal Zatya, Agent Kaelith, and Professor Dubois by his side while Rahim hastily drew a teleportation circle with what seemed to be molten silver. The silence reigned for a while until Professor Dubois ruined it with an unnecessary explanation. The awakened court cannot be accessed by normal spatial teleportation, so this might take a while. Aodhn didnt bother gracing her words with a response. He wasnt quite sure how he felt about the woman, but it definitely wasnt positive. Pushing his hair out of his eyes, Aodhn looked up at the golden sky as small rays of actual sunlight peeked in from the horizon. It was almost dawn, and Aodhn hadnt slept a wink in the last twenty-four hours, but he doubted he would have been able to sleep even if hed been given the chance. Despite the mental security of the veil, his meeting with the council had weighed heavily on his mind, and Aodhn had practically spent the rest of the night obsessing over what to say and do without making things worse. Now, with the meeting only a few minutes away, Aodhn felt a sense of calm wash over him. His mind quieted, and his fears subsided. His gaze grew serene, but if one looked closely, they might notice a hint of sadness in his eyes, one that made all that calm seem hollow. Principal Zatya stood to his right, her stance confident, and although they hadnt spoken of last nights events, Aodhn couldnt help but wonder if this was one of those situations she had planned ahead for; after all, things had fallen in her favor once again. His transmigrant status was safe, but then his emotional ties to Earth had been severed. His love for the monastery and even his love for his own parents were gone. His fragmented memories were nothing more than a jumble of events that meant nothing to him more than the fact that they had happened. It was sickening, but it was a price he had paid willingly. Turning his gaze to the left, his gaze connected with that of Professor Dubois, and she observed him for a moment before looking away. Aodhn turned his gaze back to Rahim and pretended to be completely enraptured by the complex runic circle Rahim was drawing. When he turned away from Professor Dubois, she shot Principal Zatya a scathing glare and mouthed. What have you done? Principal Zatya didnt respond, but Agent Kaelith eyed Professor Dubois and moved closer to Principal Zatya. Aodhn took all these in without turning, thanks to his newly enhanced perception. With the {Eye of the storm} passively running his emotions now, Aodhns natural perception had nearly doubled, and when he cranked it up to the maximum, Aodhn felt like he was working nearly at advanced speeds. This drastic enhancement of his perception wasnt only as a result of his new skill. There were several contributing factors, but the major contributor seemed to be the incredible resonance between the effects of {Eye of the Storm} and his core sense. The resonance had formed a sort of loop where both skill and ability empowered each other to form a greater whole. Aodhn still couldnt get a sense of principal Zatyas core nor professor Dubois, but Rahims core was now as clear to him as day. Rahim was exactly at the 87th tier, and although he couldnt sense more beyond that, that little tidbit of information was enough to confirm some things he had suspected about Rahim before. Professor Aleran, who had been in and out of Principal Zatyas office more times than he could count in the last twenty-four hours, was at tier 97, a truly prestigious tier since he was practically on the cusp of a mythic evolution. Kaeliths core was easiest to sense, at tier 82, but from the dim sense of his core, Aodhn doubted he would ever be evolving into the mythic class without some serious assistance. Aodhn glanced at the system clock at the corner of his vision and cursed his heightened perception when he realized that only a couple seconds had passed since he last checked it. He definitely loved the ability to react faster and just do everything faster, but the skill came with a pretty steep disadvantage. It was passive. This meant that he was always in a state of enhanced perception. He could, of course, reduce or enhance it, but even when he reduced the effects of {Eye of the Storm}, his perception was still much higher than he was used to or even comfortable with. Getting used to the sudden enhancement in perception had been a great chore, but Aodhn didnt exactly hate it. He just wished he could adapt faster and stop twisting his feet every time he took a single step. Sometimes, Aodhn felt like whenever he was given a great skill, a disadvantage quickly followed. First, it was the Sylvael lightning, then the berserk perk, and now the {Eye for the Storm}. Not wanting to dwell too much on the matter, Aodhn shifted his attention back to Rahim, who was placing minor finishing touches on the teleportation circle. The circle was basically a series of concentric circles inscribed around a lavishly detailed triangle whose center housed what seemed to be an activation circle. Rahim finally gave the signal that he was done a moment later, and Principal Zatya pulled out a purple mythic core from her spatial storage. The core shone and swirled with so much energy that it was dizzying. Rahim placed the core at the center of the teleportation circle and activated it with a burst of willpower. Energy surged upward in a brilliant cascade as the mythic core pulsed, releasing whip-like tendrils of spatial energy that twisted around like serpents. The concentric circles of the teleportation array lit up in sequence, starting from the outermost ring towards the center. The wind howled as the circle activated with a burst of purple light and energy, creating a swirling vortex of light and spatial essence that soon collapsed, leaving behind a large portal in the circles center. Its ready. Rahim announced, and a moment later, he and agent Kaelith stepped through the portal, gesturing for Aodhn to do the same. Steeling himself, Aodhn took the first step and was about to take the other when Principal Zatya placed a hand on his shoulders and said, I cannot go with you, but I think youll do just fine without me there to protect you this time. However, I hope youve realized by now that despite our differences, I really want the best for you. Aodhn didnt respond, not quite sure he fully agreed with that, but this was Principal Zatyas idea of a bonding moment, so he kept quiet and let her continue. She ruffled his hair in an awkward, yet motherly manner, and Aodhn resisted the urge to scowl. He must have failed because Zatyas smile disappeared and she took a step back. Youll understand soon enough. Her smile returned, and she added. I want you to know, however, that as powerful as the council is, they still need you to help them catch this changeling thats been wreaking havoc in Conquestia. Professor Dubois frowned, but Principal Zatya ignored her and continued. You need them to make a fair judgment, and they need you to catch this changeling. This means you have a bargaining chip; make sure to milk it for all its worth. Aodhn nodded, having already spent the entire night thinking of ways to milk that particular chip dry. However, he had a few concerns. Ill be leaving straight for Conquestia after the councils judgement. I dont know how long the changeling mission will take, but I hope it ends before the examinations start. However, if it extends beyond that, I would rather not miss the examination or the tournament selection if I dont have to. Its alright. Principal Zatya dismissed his concerns. The tournament selection can wait, and Im sure Rahim would be more than happy to ferry you back and forth for the exams if the mission tarries. Aodhn nodded gratefully, and Principal Zatyas gaze sobered as she gave out one last bit of advice. Be safe, and whatever you do, do not trust the Council. Professor Dubois snorted, but Aodhn took the words to heart. With an appreciative nod, he stepped into the teleportation circle alongside Professor Dubois. The world blurred a moment later, and the portal snapped shut with a flash of purple light and ash. Aodhn and Professor Dubois appeared at the top of an ornate tower with a similar teleportation circle glowing beneath them. They were standing on one of the spires of the Awakened Court, which was situated on such high ground that Aodhn could see the entire sector spread out before him. Half a dozen advanced-class soldiers stood just outside the circle, along with Rahim and Kaelith. The moment they arrived, the soldiers bowed and smashed a fist against their breastplates in greeting. Good morrow, high councilwoman. One of them, presumably the leader of this squad, greeted Professor Dubois and gestured downwards. The council awaits your arrival. Then we shall not keep them waiting. Professor Dubois, or rather, High Councilwoman Dubois, responded, and with a wave of her hand, she created a smaller portal that led directly to the entrance of the Awakened Court. The Awakened Court was a massive dome-shaped fortress, surrounded by dozens of tall towers like the one they had appeared on. The building was crafted from reinforced stone and ragnar steel, which gleamed brightly in the soft light of dawn. Tall, imposing pillars line the entrance, each inscribed with so many runes that the towers practically shone like beacons to his senses. Above the entrance waved a large flag displaying the image of a roaring Ragnarthe symbol of the Awakened councilin bright gold. The building was several times the size of the one theyd seen back at sector 3, and it wasnt until they stepped into the court that Aodhn realized why the council had needed so much free space. Standing at the front of the vast chamber were seven towering chairs, almost thrones, that shone so brightly with power and runes that they banished any hint of darkness from the entire space. On these seven thrones sat 7 individuals whose aura blanketed the entire court, which was already filled to the brim with so many people that Aodhns perception was struggling to keep up. However, as awe-inspiring and grandiose as the whole scene felt, it was the array of familiars who stood behind each throne that took Aodhns breath away. Creatures so large that Varc would be the size of an ant before them. On the right, behind a woman, dressed fully in a crimson gown that covered every inch of her body save for her eyes, stood a blood-red hawk more than 10 meters in height and with a wingspan that Aodhn couldnt fathom. Beside her was a man dressed in flowing white robes that also covered every inch of his body save his eyes. Behind him, though, was a two-headed snake seemingly made out of water, their serpentine gazes fixed on each other as if they were both having a conversation. Behind the third judge stood a translucent golem of ice with glittering blue gems for eyes and sharp icicles of teeth. The golem was even larger than the blood hawk; however, all the familiars were dwarfed by the creature who stood behind the fourth throne, a stone golem whose head nearly scraped against the dome roof. The creature stared down at Aodhn with an intelligence that seemed far above his own, but more surprising was the tenderness and gentleness it radiated, a contrast to what Aodhn would have expected from the evil-looking creature. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. Aodhn gawked, completely awestruck, and it was until Rahim jabbed him gently in the ribs that he regained his composure and began making his way to the circular platform at the center of the hall just like Kaelith had explained to him that morning. Despite the hundreds of people in the chamber, the court was completely silent, and despite the calming effect of {Eye of the Storm}, Aodhn couldnt help the shiver of nerves that raced down his spine. He was standing before some of the most powerful people in Ragnarok, and he couldnt afford to falter. Aodhn knew little about the Awakened Council, but what he did know gave him a rough understanding of the situation. The council was a judicial body composed of seven supreme members known as the Judges. Below them were the High Councilmen, who served as potential candidates for a judges position. The largest group consisted of advanced-class councilmen and councilwomen, whom Aodhn assumed were representatives from their districts in Sector 5or perhaps even other sectors. These individuals likely came not only to witness his judgment firsthand but also to avoid relying on secondhand news reports. When Aodhn reached the center stage, he took in a deep breath, sunk his mind deeply into the calm that {Eye of The Storm} provided, and bowed deeply. This young one greets the judges of the Awakened council. He stayed that way for nearly a minute before a voice thundered. Rise, Aodhn Ashoka, son of Unrid and Synov Brystion. We have much to discuss. Aodhn raised his head and looked to his left, where the voice had thundered from. His gaze landed on the 7th judge, a man dressed fully in black with a gigantic bear standing behind him. The man waved a hand, and a stack of documents appeared before each judge. There was a brief moment of silence as the judges looked through the documents, but it was broken when the 4th judge spoke. I may be a fool, but I am one of those who religiously believe that Inheritors are children of fate. However, being an Inheritor does not give you a license to break established laws without reason. The second judge, the man with the two-headed snake, nodded and said, Aodhn Ashoka-Brystion, you stand before this council to answer for your recent actions in using your abilities, whether intentionally or not, to disrupt the lives of common citizens. Are you prepared to defend yourself? Aodhn lifted his chin, his voice steady. Yes, I am. Very well. The fourth judge took over the conversation once more. Let the record state that this interrogation pertains to the events that happened a day ago concerning the mystical rain that fell over the 5th academy and its environs. A rain that temporarily granted sleepers a state of enhanced perception, in violation of section 18, subsection V, of the Awakened Accountability and Public Safety Act (AAPSA). Noted. The sixth judge, a fat woman dressed completely in green robes with a large deer-like familiar standing behind her, responded. Before we begin, however, she gestured towards a side of the chamber where another robed figure stood, dressed fully in a cascade of translucent clothes, I would like to remind the defendant that we have a truth seeker who will detect any falsehood that you utter. So, for your own good, be honest. Aodhn nodded again, and when the 4th judge gestured for him to begin, Aodhn took a deep breath to steady himself and launched into an explanation of what had happened and how it had happened. He told them about his seal and how he had been too excited to test out the effects of his new skill. I had absolutely no idea what effect the skill would have on the rain, he finished. In retrospect, I should have thought things through, and for that I am sincerely sorry. It was foolish, but it wasnt intentional. A murmur rose from the audience, but the sound died the moment the first judge, the woman in the blood-red robe, loudly cleared her throat. She glanced at the truth seeker and asked. Is that true? So far. The truth seeker replied, and another chorus of murmurs rose from the crowd. It didnt last long, though, as the second judge with the two-headed snakes spoke. Youre an intelligent young awakened, Mr. Brystion. Should you not have been aware of the ramifications of such large-area experiments? We are not just discussing your actions alone, but the consequences of that action and the chaos it has caused all over the kingdom and even Lutia at large. Just in case you do not understand, let me cite an example of what is currently going on. Over the past few hours, there has been a drastic spike in the sale of water as scammers peddle ordinary water to the citizens of Ragnarok, claiming it to be miracle water. This has not only increased the price of water everywhere but also the degree of criminal activities in the kingdom. Yes, the first judge agreed, her crimson robes flowing like blood. Also, you performed these actions without any spiritual boost or artifacts. The ramifications of that are concerning. What would have happened if you had employed your seal, willpower, or opening? I do not know as I have restrained myself from testing out the skill any further, but my principal has enlightened me on the potential ramifications of my actions. I truly am sorry for all the problems I might have caused, but like I said earlier, my actions were not intentional, and I do not intend to repeat them. The crowd erupted with another chorus of murmurs while the judges deliberated, and Aodhn wondered what action they would take next. He still had his bargaining chip, but hopefully he wouldnt have to use it. After a short moment of discussion, the fourth judge cleared his throat and spoke. We have heard your words and know that you are telling the truthas you know it. But the truth is layered, isnt it? This one isnt. Aodhn responded calmly even as a spike of caution lanced through him. That is for us to decide. The fourth judge responded, his voice taking on a dangerous edge as he turned towards the fifth judge, a small woman dressed in overflowing purplish-blue robes, and gestured for her to speak. Aodhn observed the woman for a moment before turning his gaze to the gigantic predator behind her. It looked so much like a Jaguar and was only a couple feet shorter than the gargoyle, but its eyes shone with a host of colors that reminded Aodhn of an affinity he had only read about in books: Infinity. The small woman picked out a file from the stack of documents on her table and spoke, her voice almost ethereal. Your words may be true, but your actions have already disrupted the social order of things in the kingdom. The question we must now ask is... what else do you hide, Aodhn? You speak of your actions as an accident, yet we wonder if perhaps there was someone or something deeper at play. After all, youre a child of fate Her words hung heavily in the air, and Aodhns breath hitched as he struggled to keep his calm. I have told you the truth about what happened that day. I had no ulterior motives, and my actions were wholly mine. Just like your familiar was? The sixth judge asked, and the chamber suddenly plunged into silence. When Aodhn failed to respond, she continued. We have cause to believe that considering your affiliations to Ascendant candidate Lightus, there might be more to these accidents than you claim. Are you accusing Calamity Lightus of something? Aodhn asked and was pleased to see the seven judges suddenly tense up. The chamber plunged into a silence, but it was broken a moment later when the fourth judge responded. No. We are not accusing the Calamity of anything. We merely wish to know if something else was at play when your actions took place. There wasnt. Aodhn responded, but it was obvious the council wouldnt be letting him go without getting what they wanted. From what Kaelith had explained, this lawsuit was a last-ditch effort to get him here, alone and away from principal Zatyas influence. The council wouldnt rest until they searched through his mind and gained all the knowledge they wanted, regardless of the truth seekers words. Aodhn had known this moment would come, but he had hoped to avoid it even with the veil in place. Sighing, he prepared to use his bargaining chip and asked. What do I have to do to convince the council that this was an innocent accident? The judges exchanged glances, and the fourth judge spoke up. To ensure the integrity of your testimony, we must verify the truth through your memories. Chaos rose within the court, and Aodhn shook his head. If he hadnt been certain before, now he was sure. The awakened council didnt care about the public safety act or the price of water in the kingdom. He was here for one thing alone, and that was so they could unearth every single piece of useful information about him. Aodhn was prepared for this, though. His secrets were safe behind the veil. Nevertheless, he couldnt seem too eager to have his mind read, so he shook his head and responded. Im afraid Im not okay with that. The first judge responded snidely. If it''s pain you''re afraid of, I can assure you that the search will be seamless. I advise you to cooperate with us to avoid unnecessary problems because we will reach the conclusion of this matter regardless of how you feel about it. Aodhn nodded and decided it was time to bargain. What happens to me if I refuse? Will the council forcefully breach my mind? The unconsented breach of a persons mind is a crime. The sixth judge blurted out in a tone laced with anger. The Awakened council upholds the law, not break it, so therefore, we will not forcefully breach your mind. However, if you remain uncooperative, we will have to judge you without full certainty of your innocence. The results of that may not end too well for you. What if you search my mind and find nothing? What will happen then? Then we will give you a fair judgment with full certainty of your innocence. The fourth judge responded. Aodhn frowned and pretended to contemplate the matter for a while before responding. Okay, I consent to having my memories concerning the rain incident and only the rain incident searched. Anything other than that will be a violation, and now, Im not trying to threaten this esteemed council, but the less violated I feel, the more inclined Ill be to assist in the mission you gave me. Noise erupted from the entire audience as the judges glared daggers at him. Even the familiars who had remained quiet this entire time moved, causing Varcs emotions to flare as he urged Aodhn to let him out. What Varc intended to do against creatures ten times his size, Aodhn had no idea, but he figured it was better to keep him in check. While the crowd argued his statement, and the judges silently debated, Aodhn spoke up again, genuinely hoping to appease the judges. I understand how it sounds, but it truly isnt a threat. Im just saying. You need my help, but Ill be less inclined to offer it if I feel violated. Perhaps he should have simply kept quiet, because his statement only seemed to aggravate the council further. Murmurs and shouts of outrage filled the chamber for a few minutes until the 4th judge spoke once more. I think we understand you perfectly, Mr. Brystion. He gestured to the truth seeker to come forward and said, Search his memories for anything connected to the rain incident. Anything at all, no matter how far-fetched, but make sure you do not exceed it. Aodhn frowned, cursing himself for not being more specific with his consent, but it didnt matter anyway. He had nothing to hide about the rain incident, and if the truth seeker dug too deep and then encountered the veil, then so be it. They couldnt breach it anyway. The truth seeker floated down from his corner of the chamber, his translucent robes flowing almost as if underwater, and when he reached Aodhn, he pulled off his gloves to reveal wizened hands that glowed with youthful energy despite the wrinkles and marks on them. The truth seeker reached forward and placed his hands on either side of Aodhns head. Dont resist. He muttered in a hoarse voice and added. Resistance only brings pain. Not bothering to analyze the seekers statement too closely, Aodhn nodded and prepared himself to be mind fucked. This wasnt his first time; after all, the origin plane did this all the time. However, the fact that it was another human doing this to him made it a completely different scenario, and despite having nothing to hide concerning the event, Aodhn was still a little nervous about what they might find. When the truth seeker closed his eyes, Aodhn did the same and cleared his thoughts, wanting to remove any clutter that might implicate him. The truth seeker wasnt exactly a telepath or a mentally awakened person; instead, he was something between an empath and a lie detector. He couldnt sense emotions, but he could detect lies and detect the meaning of certain inflections in a persons voice. He couldnt read minds from a distance either, like a telepath could, and had to have physical contact with a person in order to read their minds. In essence, the truth seeker affinity was a useless sub-concept of the mind affinity and not even a particularly lucrative one at that. The concept was so bad that it was easily replaced by the truth seeker talisman, and the only reason they werent using that now was because the talisman couldnt exactly search minds or scour peoples Nothing. The truth seeker spoke, his voice slicing through Aodhns thoughts like a knifethoughts that he shouldnt have been thinking in the first place. Aodhn blinked in confusion. He had expected to sense the truth seekers intrusion of his mind, but he hadnt felt a thing, and truth be told, he wouldnt even have known that the man had scoured his mind at all had his words not confirmed it. And all those terrible thoughts about truth seekers, where the hell had they come from??? While Aodhn battled with his confusion, the truth seeker turned his gaze to the judges and spoke. The boy speaks the truth. I have scoured all available memories on the matter, and Ive found nothing incriminating. Aodhn wasnt exactly sure whether to feel violated or not, because how could he even determine whether he had been violated or not if he hadnt even felt a single thing? The crowd erupted with murmurs, a mixture of shock and incredulity rippling through the audience. After a brief pause, the 4th judge raised his hand, silencing the whispers. He adjusted his brown robes and announced in a firm voice, In light of the circumstances, Aodhn Ashoka-Brystion, you are hereby ordered to pay restitution for your actions. A fine of five hundred platinum coins will suffice as compensation for the damages caused and is to be paid in full within the next six months. In addition, you are henceforth prohibited from using your miracle rain as a source of income for the next two years. Any violation of this decree, whether intentional or accidental, will be met with immediate punishment. He leaned forward slightly, his mythic eyes narrowing. Do not take this warning lightly. Should you fail to comply. You will terribly hate what comes next. Aodhn bowed in gratitude and replied. I understand the terms and accept the judges decision. I will pay the fine and adhere to the restrictions placed upon me. You have my word. It took a while for the chamber to clear out, but an hour later, after the last councilman stepped out of the chamber, the judges sealed themselves in, took off their masks, and turned towards the truth seeker with eager expressions. What else did you find? The fourth judge asked urgently, his dark brown mask clutched tightly in his fingers. Surely, you were able to circumvent whatever restrictions Zatya and Lightus have implemented. Sadly, no. The truth seeker responded with a shake of his head. The boy had a shrouded veil over his mind, and I couldnt see through it. However, I did find something interesting. What is it? The sixth judge snapped, her green robes crackling as she squeezed it. I found a memory fragment buried so deep within the boy''s memories I doubt even he is aware of its existence. The truth seeker smiled and stretched his hands to display the copied memory, which began with a massive explosion of lightning, accompanied by a river of blood and the cold-killer gaze of a well-known figure. Gasps echoed all through the room as the judges watched the memory play in shock, too stunned to speak. The memory played in a loop for almost five minutes before the 2nd judge spoke, his white robes rippling like water. I guess this is it then. Despite the councils best efforts, the slaughterer managed to leave a legacy here on ?FLYM. The first judge cradled her red mask and sighed. And so it begins. History will repeat itself. Not if we stop it first. The 4th judge said firmly and turned to look at the others. Zatya and Lightus must know of this, but we cant have them alone pulling his strings. We need to sink our claws into him now that hes still malleable, and the Black Forest would be a perfect opportunity. We need a weakness that we can exploit, and we need it fast. Chapter 145: Camp Conquestia—Sector 7 Aodhn stepped out of the Awakened Court with a frown, wondering where the hell he was supposed to find 500 platinum coins from. Doing a quick math, he realized that the amount equaled 5000 gold coins, which was more money than hed ever seen in his entire life, considering that even back on earth, hed been an orphan without a single penny to his name. He moved to one corner of the compound, carefully weaving through the crowd of councilmen and women whose gazes followed him, filled with curiosity and intrigue. When he reached a relatively quiet corner, he raised his chip and sent a message to Daruk, Andrew, and Yurin about the situation of things. He kept the narration brief, knowing that Kaelith and Rahim would soon start searching for him. Their responses were as expected, and after assuring them that he would provide more details later, Aodhn returned to the front of the court. While he waited for Kaelith and Rahim to exit the chamber, Aodhn texted Aldric and then Unrid to appraise them of the situation and put their minds at ease. As Aodhn sent the last text to Unrid, Rahim and Kaelith emerged from the chamber, and when they reached him, Rahim pulled Aodhn into a hug and said, I knew youd be okay. Im so glad youre okay. Kaelith was more formal in his greeting and simply patted Aodhns shoulders. Congratulations, kid. I thought you had blown it all to shit when you threatened the council like that. It truly wasnt a threat. Aodhn chuckled as he pulled away from Rahims embrace. I just wanted to nudge them into giving me a fair sentence. Im not sure it worked, though. What do you mean? Rahim snorted. A fine is the easiest punishment, and its just 500 platinum coins. True. Kaelith agreed. I think the fine is even cheap considering the potential ramifications of your actions. The case may have ended here, but that wont stop people from speaking about it and wondering what effect your rain will carry had it been infused with chaos, willpower, a seal, or all three together. Frankly, Im curious, and so are the press, so I might have to draft another press statement when I return to the academy. Aodhn sighed. All he heard was that hed simply called more attention to himself. At this point, even he couldnt help his curiosity on the matter, and if the unempowered infusion of {Eye of the Storm} into {Storm manipulation} was as wonderful as this, then he could already imagine the role he would be playing when he eventually joined the military. Perhaps a targeting skill or technique was in order. He had always hoped for a support skill, and perhaps he had finally found it. The problem, though, was the increasing attention he was attracting to himself. Even now as he spoke to Rahim and Kaelith, he could practically feel the eyes of hundreds drilling holes into him. Principal Zatyas and ascendant candidate Lightuss protection could only go so far, and Aodhn feared he was reaching its limit. Bringing his mind back to the present, Aodhn replied. 500 platinum coins may be a small amount of money to some, but in case you guys havent noticed, Im not exactly rich. Youre not poor, though. Kaelith pointed out with a wink. Isnt the academy owing you a few platinum coins? We did promise to give them to you after you turned down Ludacriss offer. Aodhn had completely forgotten about that, and his eyes widened. How much are we talking about here? Kaelith exchanged a glance with Rahim, who shrugged and replied. Im not sure exactly. Maybe a hundred or two. Ill have to confirm with the principal. Aodhn frowned as his thoughts went into overdrive. Hopefully, he would be able to get two hundred platinum coins from the academy, but to manage his expectations, Aodhn set the bar at a hundred platinum coins. That left 400 platinum coins or 4000 gold coins for him to find. That was still more money than hed ever seen before. When he voiced his worry, though, Kaelith shrugged. Youre headed for a military camp, arent you? I bet you could make half that in a month if you join the pit or get lucky with your bets. Aodhn didnt bother asking what the pit was. From Kaeliths statement, it was pretty obvious, but Aodhn was going to the military camp to hunt a changeling, not fight mob bosses. Also, he certainly hoped this mission lasted less than a month because he didnt want to miss the tournament or his examination for anything. They spoke for a few more minutes, after which they led him to another teleportation circle on one of the numerous towers that ringed the Awakened Court. This particular tower was guarded by almost a dozen advanced-class military men, each one alert and ready to fight at the first sign of danger. Rahim patted him on the shoulder and said, This is where we part ways. Kaelith and I need to return to the academy. Be careful out there. Kaelith added with a small smile and wagged a finger at him in caution. The war camp is not a place to be careless. Also, make sure you do not do anything too crazy. I would like to take a break from writing press statements for a while. Ill try my best. Aodhn chuckled, and after saying goodbye to his mentor and Kaelith, he made his way towards the tower entrance. The soldiers stopped him a few feet away from the entrance and began asking him questions in order to verify his identity. They searched his spatial ring, took several facial and bodily scans, and even went as far as doing a blood verification before finally letting him into the tower. The whole process made Aodhn realize just how seriously the kingdom was taking this changeling threat, but what was really surprising was how someone had managed to slip into the kingdom even with all these procedures in place. Without wasting time, Aodhn made his way to the top of the tower where the teleportation circle was located, flashing his academy ID card to anyone who questioned his presence within the tower. Still, soldiers watched him tensely, their hands straying to their weapons whenever he passed too close. It felt suffocating, and when he finally reached the top of the tower, Aodhn let out a breath of relief. It wasnt over, though, and Aodhn had to repeat the tests again before the soldiers stationed around the teleportation circle finally let him into it. It took only a few seconds to activate the circle, and for the second time that day, Aodhn walked into a swirling portal. The world blurred, replaced by a vortex of colors that seemed to stretch to infinity. It only lasted a moment, though, and an instant later, Aodhn found himself atop a similar teleportation tower surrounded by more than a dozen advanced-class guards with their weapons drawn. Stand down. One of the soldiers shouted, and the others hesitantly lowered their weapons. They didnt put the weapons away, though; neither did they soften their stance; instead, they watched him warily, their expressions cautious. Aodhn couldnt say he was shocked by the reception, but it was definitely unexpected. Slowly, he raised both hands to the air and said. My name is Aodhn Ashoka-Brystion. I am an Inheritor and a first-year student at the fifth academy. I was sent here on a mission, and Im to be led to Fort Dominion to speak to General Deaton. The soldiers exchanged wary glances, their fists subtly tightening on their individual weapons, so Aodhn added. Ive just been through two sets of intrusive identity verification procedures; I do not mind taking another. The soldiers relaxed slightly after that, and one of them, a middle-aged man with deep blue hair and fishlike scales on his jaw, stepped forward, clutching a blue spear in his right hand like his life depended on it. Aodhn let out his core sense to determine the average tier of the soldiers and grimaced when he realized that the weakest soldier present was in the early seventies. They were all so far above his advancement tier, yet Aodhn could almost taste their caution and fear. It was so potent that wisps of silver fear essence began to form in the air. The excessive identity verification hed undergone back at the tower had clued him to the fact that the changeling was indeed a concerning situation, but from the reaction of these soldiers, it seemed he had underestimated just how dangerous this mission was. The blue-haired soldier came to a halt at the edge of the teleportation circle and asked. Do you have anything to prove your statements? I do. Aodhn replied, cranking his perception to the maximum, and with a subtle flick of his fingers, he took out a signed copy of the deal principal Zatya had made with professor Dubois and handed it over. The man collected the document and scanned it for a moment before waving to one of the other soldiers to check it out. They pored over the document for nearly a minute, scanning it with so many runic devices to determine its authenticity that Aodhn soon began growing irritated. He maintained his silence, though, and a few minutes later, the blue-haired man finally requested his ID. Aodhn fixed the man with a dead stare that certainly conveyed his annoyance before handing his academy ID card over. How long is this going to take? Aodhn asked when the man accepted his card, but the soldier just shrugged. Itll take as long as it needs to. The changeling situation is no joke, and we cant afford to be careless with the people who go in or out of the camp. Aodhn sighed and resigned himself to a long afternoon; however, the sound of a scuffle soon drew his attention, and he turned his gaze to the only exit in the tower as a familiar fire core approached. It only took Aodhn a second to recognize the approaching soldier, and he smiled when Tyrus Hadjen burst into the scene. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. It had only been a few weeks since Aodhn had seen the nervous lieutenant; however, Tyrus had changed so much that he was nearly unrecognizable. He had let his hair grow into a mane, and from the decorations on his uniform, Aodhn could see that he had been promoted to the rank of captain. More than that, he no longer looked fearful or nervous and had even developed a commanding aura around himself. As impressive as those changes were, they were incomparable to the changes Aodhn could sense within his spirit. Tyrus was now in the advanced class, and although his core was a little dim, Aodhn estimated he would at least advance into the mythic tier before reaching his limit. Tyrus walked forward, and despite only being at the 26th tier, the blue-haired soldier whom Aodhn assumed was the leader of this squad sighed and saluted. Captain Hadjen. Good to see you here. This young man Is genuine. Tyrus replied almost wearily as if hed had to say those words a hundred times already. The 5th academy principal has sent several memos to inform us of his arrival; besides, I can see his soul fire, and it is nothing like that of a changeling. The blue-haired soldier frowned, but before he could say anything else, Tyrus raised a hand to halt him. Also, before you ask, the secret code is RAGNARFISHAMALGAMATION. Send the new one to me. Aodhn wasnt sure what was going on, but when Tyrus said the secret code, almost all the soldiers relaxed, their stance becoming almost casual. The blue-haired man nodded and finally gestured for Aodhn to step out of the teleportation circle. My sincerest apologies, inheritor. We can never be too thorough with a skilled changeling on the loose. Its fine. Aodhn nodded and collected both his ID card and the signed document back before turning his attention to Tyrus. Captain Hadjen, I thought youd been transferred from Conquestia. My friend Arnold isnt one who takes lightly of promises. Tyrus gave a small bow and responded. Lord Frostbourne did fulfill his promise, but after my father died to the changeling, I decided to stay back and try to avenge him. Aodhn hadnt known that, and despite what he had assumed of Tyruss father, he raised a hand to his head as was the tradition and whispered. May his soul rest peacefully in the arms of the ascendants. Tyrus echoed his words perfunctorily and began leading him towards the exit. A few of the soldiers followed behind them, but it wasnt until they began climbing down the stairs that Aodhn spoke again. Congratulations on your advancement and promotion, captain. Tyrus smiled. It took me a while to decide if I wanted to stay back in Conquestia, but the skill I gained after advancing into the advanced class kind of sealed the deal for me. What skill is it? Aodhn asked, and he could practically feel Tyruss excitement leaking through as he responded. Its called {Soul Flame}. He replied and created a small wisp of blue flames in his right hand. The flame looked like any other flame except rather than flickering, it warped and moved as if phasing in and out of reality. Asides conjuring my soul flames like this to burn the souls of others, I can also sense people''s soul flames. He shrugged and continued. Im not exactly sure how it works, but everyones soul fire is different, some even distinct. Long story short, I now work for General Deaton as an assistant of his assistant, but my major role around here is to verify the soul fire of anyone coming in or going out of the camp in order to find the changeling. Have you had any luck? Tyrus shook his head. Unfortunately. As great as my skill is, I can only sense the flames of one person at a time. It lacks reach. Aodhn reasoned, and Tyrus nodded. Thats why we need you. Your core sense ability should be able to sweep through a larger number of people than mine can. Add that to all the other sensing and seeking abilities we currently have within the camp, and we should be able to flush this changeling out in no time. Aodhn hoped Tyrus was right. The faster they could smoke out the changeling, the faster he could return to the academy and study his runes. He was tired of getting in trouble all the time and simply wanted to advance in peace. When they reached the base of the tower, Aodhn and Tyrus went through another round of tests, after which they made their way to Fort Dominion. On their way there, however, they came across another group of advanced class soldiers who introduced themselves as Aodhns escort. The leader of the group, a shady-looking shadow awakened, introduced himself as Captain Sarkodie Yeager, and he gave a small nod of acknowledgment when Tyrus declared them as trustworthy before speaking. We have been briefed as to the sensitivity of your mission here and have been tasked with leading you safely to Fort Dominion. Everyone here has been vetted, so you have nothing to fear. We are here to protect you. While Tyrus scanned the soul flame of each soldier, Aodhn scanned their cores instead, memorizing their energy signatures and patterns far more easily than he should have been able to. It was most likely as a result of the combined effect of {Eye of the Storm} and his core sense ability, and Aodhn was grateful that it had made his job easy. After verifying each soldier, Captain Sarkodie created a platform of shadow, and at a speed Aodhn could only dream of, the construct zipped forward. The world blurred, and Aodhn had to crank his perception to the highest before he could even take in his surroundings. At first, there was nothing special to see, just rows and rows of orderly gray tents and military weapons mounted nearly on every wall, but as they flew deeper into the sector, more lavish and elaborate structures began making their appearance. The square buildings slowly disappeared, replaced by towering structures of reinforced stone and architectural wonders that shone like beacons even in the daylight. It was beautiful, but compared to the technological advancement of sector 8, the magical beauty of sector 5, or the hustle and bustle of sector 3, sector 7 was found lacking. As they neared Fort Dominion, though, three black claw-like buildings revealed themselves. They were so tall that they seemed to touch the clouds, and the number of shimmering runic inscriptions on each claw was staggering. Thats the hub. Tyrus pointed at the building, just like he had done at several other landmarks on their way here. Its located exactly at the center of the sector, and they say the amount of Ragnar steel used in the construction of just one claw is enough to bankrupt a high noble and reduce him to penury. Thats a lot of money. Aodhn muttered, remembering his recently accrued debt of 400 platinum coins. Where the hell did the council expect him to get such money? The hub isnt just a decorative building. Tyrus replied with a small shrug. It is a monument dedicated to Ascendant candidate Syrnathis Valeborn, who gave his life to turn away the Children of the Watch when they stormed the sector nearly a millennia ago. It took a moment for Aodhn to place the name, but that was because, unlike ascendants, who were few in number, ascendant candidates numbered in the thousands. Aodhn only remembered Syrnathis because hed read about the man when hed been doing research on rare and gross affinities, like the flesh affinity of patchwork, the Sunstonian champion. Syrnathis was a bone awakened who had been particularly adept at the manipulation of bone to create and animate large skeletal creatures to fight for him. Aodhn hadnt read anything about how he had died, though hearing that hed been killed by members of the Children of the Watch was severely concerning. Aodhn observed the structure for a moment before asking. These children of the watch? Whats their deal really? Snorts of annoyance echoed from the other soldiers, and this time, it was Captain Sarkodie who responded. Lowlifes and rejects, the lot of them. They are insane lunatics is what they are. Aodhn frowned, not sure why Captain Sarkodie had used both insane and lunatics together, but perhaps it was to emphasize the extent of insanity the children of the watch possessed? Tyrus, fortunately, gave a much better response. The children of the watch are an insane religious body who worship Srn Beithir, an Ascendant from the central kingdom who was infamous for his ability to steal the innate skills and seals of other Awakened by pushing them to the brink of death. Before his ascendance, he prophesied that his inheritor would lead the children into an era of domination, fear, and despair that was worse than the one he caused. A thousand years have passed since then, and although one would think they would have died out by now, they are like cockroaches. They refuse to be wiped out. Captain Sarkodie snorted again. Once this war with Sunstone ends, I dont mind fighting the children next. Pests, the lot of them. One of the soldiers, a woman with sand affinity, nodded. They are a menace to society and the continent at large, but with the war taking so much of our resources, its up to the central kingdom, Calodan, and Unoros to deal with them. Tyrus scoffed. The central kingdom is pacifist, and Unoros would rather watch the world freeze to death than lend a helping hand. Those coldhearted bastards. Aye, the woman agreed. Calodan certainly cannot fight that fight alone. They wouldnt have to fight alone if Sunstone had just admitted defeat after the whole plague wraith business. Captain Sarkodie replied, and just like that, a political discussion ensued. Aodhn stayed quiet, choosing to listen rather than contribute as the soldiers discussed and lamented the state of the war as well as the other kingdoms. Aodhn filed away every tidbit of information in his mind, adding it to the labyrinth of secrets and half-truths that was the Lutian continent. The discussion lasted for nearly ten minutes until Tyrus finally changed the topic, much to Aodhns disappointment, and began discussing more mundane matters. While this went on, Aodhns mind drifted. He had known the children of the watch were a cult, but he hadnt known much about their backstory. What he knew, though, was that they went around kidnapping and trying to recruit promising Awakened into their ranks. Aodhn didnt believe much in prophecies, but the words of an ascendant, whether good or evil, were never ones to be taken lightly. However, the fact that the children had persisted for centuries was deeply concerning. What could possibly be keeping them together? He mulled over the matter for the rest of their journey, and it wasnt until Captain Sarkodie announced their arrival at the fort that Aodhn snapped back to reality. He glanced down at the massive fort, and his eyes widened when his brain finally picked up on the intense amount of runic energies blazing out of the fort. Fort Dominion shone with so much protection and defense runes that Aodhn doubted even a Mythic could destroy the building without using all of their power and energy. Aodhn didnt even bother trying to analyze the runes, as they were so complex and intricate that trying to do so would certainly be injurious to him. Despite how militaristic and rugged the fort was, Aodhn had to admit that it was absolutely beautiful. Someone with a good eye for design and decoration had definitely planned the place out, adding a lot of greenery to make up for the rugged and simplistic nature of the fort. Manicured gardens filled every inch of bare space, adding so much color to the drab building that it seemed almost out of a fairytale. Before Aodhn could take in any more of the Fort, though, a man with bright pink hair suddenly appeared before them in a burst of purple spatial essence. The mans hair floated behind him as if underwater, and although he wore a kind smile, Aodhn knew better than to believe any child of Solaris Valerion was sane. Artemis Valerion was an impressive-looking man with beautiful features and a charming persona, but underneath his gaudy, overly embellished robe was a body so hard, it would probably put rocks to shame. Beneath the body of a Greek god, though, blazed a spatial core of such intensity that Aodhn would have believed it was a mythic core if not for the fact that he couldnt sense those yet. Aside from Artemiss spatial affinity, Aodhn noticed nothing else, but it was obvious Artemis wasnt the changeling anyway. No matter what the changeling looked like or whatever affinity they were pretending to have, their core would definitely be blazing with change essence. Artemis must have noticed his spiritual probe, but if he took any offense, he made no show of it. Aodhn, however, wasnt willing to test the limits of another Valerion son. Bracing himself for whatever insanity was about to reveal itself, Aodhn stepped forward and bowed his head in greeting. Renowned Champion, Artemis Valerion, I am Aodhn Brystion, and it is a pleasure to meet you. Chapter 146: Meeting with Champions I Artemis Valerion stared down at the nervous groups of elite soldiers, his gaze fixed on the white-haired boy they had strategically placed in their middle. The formation was so subtle that Artemis doubted the boy even noticed, but to anyone with military experience, it was glaringly obvious. He had watched the group from a distance, waiting to make a spectacular entrance whilst caressing a prismatic emerald gem the size of his head, but the boys unusual bloodline manifestation had caught his attention, and Artemis had had to make his appearance earlier than he had planned. He had seen a lot of weird bloodline manifestations in his lifetime, especially considering his line of work, and although the boys manifestation wasnt the weirdest he had seen, it was very distinct and was certainly far more interesting than his emerald rock. The boys hair rippled in the wind, alive with arcs of colored electricity, too weak to do any damage to anyone of sufficient strength, but it was pretty, and Artemis was a sucker for shiny, pretty things. More than that, golden lines peeked out from his collar and traced the left side of his neck to cup his jaw. The lines arced in a motion reminiscent of lightning, and against the boy''s unnaturally dark skin, they almost glowed. It was fascinating, but what really piqued Artemiss curiosity was the expression of resignation on the boys face. Usually, when people came across him, their awe and admiration were always evident. However, the boys expression was blank, as if the fact that he was standing before one of the greatest champions ever to come out of Ragnarok meant absolutely nothing to him. On the other hand, Captain Tyrus, Captain Sarkodie, and the other soldiers were all smiles, their expressions welcoming and full of admiration, just as he had expected. In that moment, Artemis decided that he did not like this boy one bit. The boy stepped forward calmly, and in a tone dripping with sarcasm, he bowed and greeted. Renowned Champion Artemis Valerion, I am Aodhn Brystion, and it is a pleasure to meet you. Artemis grimaced and glared at the boy, not quite sure what was wrong with him. Rather than respond, though, he let out a pulse of {Invasive Spatial Scan}, but surprisingly, the skills effect was rebuked by a surge of willpower that emanated from the boy. This action elicited a grunt of surprise from Artemis, and his frown deepened when he found the boy glaring at him. He had underestimated the kid. For the boy to have even sensed his actions spoke volumes about his innate spiritual perception. When General Deaton had briefed them on the boys capabilities, Artemis had been mildly impressed. Core Sense and a familiar at the evolved tier was impressive work. However, neither of those things translated directly into strength, and call him shallow, but Artemis only respected strengthand shiny gems, of course. The boy wasnt projecting any of that strength, though. His aura was tightly contained, and he could have been mistaken for a simple schoolboy if not for his severe bloodline manifestation. His eyes seemed like they held power, though. However, would that power be enough to catch this changeling? Would his presence in this mission really change anything? I greeted you, champion Artemis. Youre yet to respond. The boy muttered from his bowed position, and Artemiss scowl deepened. Geneva would love you. He muttered to himself and gestured for the boy to rise before turning his attention to the soldiers. Good to see you, Captain Sarkodie and Captain Tyrus. I trust things have been going splendidly in the camp. Captain Sarkodie sighed and removed his cap. Not really, champion. Tension is high and growing daily, especially with the murder of Major Sarkovelly this morning. He gestured to Aodhn and continued. With his help, hopefully we can get this shitshow resolved soon. Artemis glanced back at the boy, wondering what his reaction would be to this information, but aside from the tiniest hint of curiosity, the boy seemed like he couldnt care less if they were discussing the weather. Artemis had heard much about the boy, including his recent activity with a storm cloud and mystical rain. What he hadnt heard, though, was that the boy was a cold-hearted freak with no emotions whatsoever. What Artemis failed to realize was that Aodhn wasnt coldhearted. His detachment stemmed from sinking his mind too deeply into the tranquil influence of {Eye of the Storm}. The skill naturally enhanced Aodhns perception, but the serenity it offered was a boon that was proving to be more and more useful by the day. Artemis turned his attention back to the captains and discussed with them for a moment before waving for them to depart. Thank you, Captains, but Ill take it from here. Captain Sarkodie and his soldiers saluted and turned to leave, but when Tyrus began to follow suit, the boy grabbed his hand and asked. I thought you worked for General Deaton? I do. Tyrus replied, his brows furrowed in confusion. Why do you ask? Are you not coming to the fort with us? Captain Tyruss frown deepened, but then he suddenly laughed and said, Unfortunately no. I am a soldier first and foremost, and regardless of the work I do for General Deaton, I still have a ton of things to do in that camp. He glanced at Artemis, inclined his head, and smiled. Have no fear, Lord Brystion; youre much safer with champion Artemis than with a dozen of us. Captain Sarkodie laughed, and the others hummed in agreement, their expressions reassuring, but this wasnt about fear for Aodhn. This was about trust, and he would rather fight a tier 25 advanced creature than enter a meeting room filled with political generals and sketchy champions alone. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. He didnt bother going into details and simply replied. Im not scared. Ill simply be more comfortable with you by my side, Captain Tyrus. Tyrus tried to refuse, but Aodhn cut him off with a smile. I insist, Captain. Im sure neither the general nor the other champions would have any problems with this. Tyrus stammered and exchanged a glance with Artemis, who simply shrugged. I dont care. Its not like well be discussing state secrets or something. He frowned then, and a moment later, he added. I guess well be discussing some state secrets after all. However, if the boy wants you there, then I have no problem with it. Tyrus took a moment to think about it, and with a shrug, he finally accepted. Well, I guess I could shift my appointment back an hour or two. I cant stay more than that, though. Great. Artemis replied before Tyrus even finished speaking. Now, shall we go? General Deaton and the other champions are waiting. He turned around with a wave of his hand; he created a small portal that led directly to the entrance of the fort. He could have teleported them directly into the meeting room, but that would have cost him a greater amount of energy and willpower as a result of the runes, and Artemis couldnt afford to waste even an iota of energy at the moment. He was on the brink of an advancement and was conserving his energy as much as he could. After the success of the whole plague wraith mission, most of the team had returned to their usual mercenary duties, only checking in once in a while to keep themselves abreast of the situation of things, and by the time the changeling attacks began, only he, Zero, Matharantha, and Geneva (whom hed gotten back together with) had remained within the Fort. Uduak had returned to the Coliseum intent on retaking her position as the reigning champion, while Ali Hassani was ascendants knew where doing ascendants knew what. Artemis could have left this drab sector any time he wished to, but the truth was that his presence here, along with that of the other champions, was the only thing keeping a full-blown panic at bay. Having one of the best teams of champions present in the sector did much for the morale of the soldiers who couldnt even trust their own weapons these days. Fortunately for them, the changeling hadnt been killing indiscriminately, only three dozen murders in the last six weeks, which more or less equaled a death a day at this point. To civilians, that might seem like a large number, but compared to the number of soldiers who died daily in border skirmishes or random attacks, that number was a blessing. At first the changeling had been biding their time, killing only every other day, but things had escalated after the first two weeks, and the murders had begun happening every day. The escalation had finally forced the awakened council into action as they predicted another escalation very soon. Artemis was unsatisfied, though. Honestly, he wished the changeling had become so high on the chaos and disorder they were causing that they resorted to killing half a dozen soldiers a day. Perhaps, then, the council would have been forced to drag Cosmind away from her secret undercover mission to clean up this mess faster than he could blink. Instead, they were stuck with this emotionless brat who wasnt even in the advanced class yet. Artemis believed that the boy was strong since General Deaton had a lot of good things to say about him. However, he couldnt help but wonder just what an evolved Storm awakened with emotional issues could do to sort this sordid mess. They stepped into the portal, and when they emerged in front of the large entrance, Artemis pushed the door open, and without wasting further time, he created another portal that led directly to the meeting room where the other champions were already seated. He merged both portals to the entrance in a way that when Tyrus and Aodhn stepped through the first portal, they were transported directly to the meeting room. Despite his enhanced perception, Aodhn barely even noticed the transition until the world blurred and he suddenly found himself standing within an oval white room that was almost completely bare save for the Ragnarok military flag on one wall, a large holographic screen on the opposite wall, and a round metallic table at the center. Beside the screen stood a tall, lean man dressed in a highly decorated military uniform. His skin was so pale that it almost seemed sickly, but his mythic eyes were the purest blue. His hair was a mess of colors, and his bearing seemed almost lackadaisical for a general, yet the faint sense of chaos and conflict that hung around him made it obvious he was not as harmless as he seemed. Apart from the man whom Aodhn assumed to be General Deaton, there were three other people in the room, and this time Aodhn couldnt have suppressed his admiration for them even if he tried. Seated on the left of the table was the Mirror, a champion whose backstory was just as fascinating and eerie as she looked, and seated just opposite her was Zero, a man whose gray skin nearly rivaled that of the general for how sickly it looked. As impressive as both champions were, though, Aodhns gaze was drawn to the woman who sat a few seats away from Zero. Geneva Ryntharion, popularly known as the witch of Selia. Ever since he had watched the plague battle, Aodhn had been fascinated with her, and he couldnt help but feel that she was even more impressive in person. She met his gaze with a raised eyebrow, and Aodhn suddenly realized that he had been gawking. Clearing his throat in embarrassment, he hastily bowed and greeted. I greet the esteemed general of the seventh sector and his renowned champions. It is truly an honor to meet you. Now, hes impressed. Artemis scowled as he moved to a seat at the head of the table, but Aodhn ignored him and didnt rise back up until General Deaton waved for him to do so. Thats a very enthusiastic greeting, kid; Im surprised Artemis got the cold shoulder. Zero replied with a smile and a teasing look in Artemiss direction. Boys a fucking freak. Artemis muttered and pointed a finger at Zero. Dont talk to me. Genevathe only person Aodhn had eyes for in the roomsmiled and gestured for him and Captain Tyrus to take a seat. Dont mind them, Aodhn. Its a pleasure to meet you. Weve heard so much about you already. Aodhn smiled and quickly moved to the seat beside Geneva, subtly pulling Tyrus along. When he finally sat down, he smiled and replied. Ive heard so much about you too, and I have so many questions Im struggling to remember them all. I saw the clip of your battle with the champions of Sunstone, the way you used those runes and conjured elder runes with the snap of your fingers. It was absolutely amazing and Cough! General Deaton cleared his throat loudly, cutting off Aodhns rant. Im sure you can catch up with Champion Geneva later. Right now, I suggest we focus on the reason why youre here. Aodhn blushed in embarrassment, and Geneva laughed, a sound as beautiful as rainbows. She winked and said. Its always nice to meet someone who appreciates the art of runes as much as I do. I like you. We should catch up after the meeting. Sweeter words had never been spoken, and with a grin that threatened to tear his face apart, Aodhn turned his attention to the general, impatient to get the politics over with so he could get back to talking about runes. Unfortunately for him, there was a lot to talk about. Chapter 147: Meeting with Champions II "Welcome to Fort Dominion, Aodhn Brystion. General Deaton began and smiled. You might need to choose a code name soon if these kinds of activities persist. Aodhn nodded, and he continued. Before we delve into the discussion, though, I would like to thank you for heeding the councils call and being here today. We I certainly hope youre getting something substantial out of this. Zero interjected, his gaze teasing yet searching as if trying to figure Aodhn out and determine his weaknesses. Leave the kid alone and stay out of his fucking business. Geneva scowled, but her gaze was just as questioning, and Aodhn realized that this was the moment that determined if he was a goody two shoes hero or a money-grabbing, have-no-care mercenary. Aodhn wasnt sure he was the latter, but he certainly wasnt the former either, so to be safe, he just nodded and said. Ill be getting something if I succeed. Rahim had briefed him on the deal principal Zatya had struck with the council on his behalf, and honestly, entering the black forest was a reward so great that Aodhn didnt have the heart to negotiate for another reward. The problem now was that his reward wasnt monetary. It hadnt been an issue before, but with a fine of 400 platinum coins now hanging heavy around his neck, Aodhn needed money, and he needed it urgently. It seemed quite shortsighted of him considering the vast benefits the Black Forest would offer him compared to a monetary reward, but Aodhn couldnt help but feel that this debt was another shackle that the council wanted to use to tie him down. He still had about six months, though, and perhaps now that he was here, maybe he could get one of the champions to hook him up with a well-paying gig for the duration of the mission. If he couldnt get that, though, then he should at least get their contact information just in case. He could probably get Genevas easily, but perhaps he should be nicer to Artemis; after all, he was the one who could travel across the entire kingdom in a blink of an eye, or so Aodhn had heard. What was more emergency response than that? Can we focus? General Deaton spoke, his voice cutting into Aodhns thoughts easily, and when they all turned their attention back to him, he sighed and continued. As I was saying. We really do need your help. There are several individuals who have been able to identify the changeling, but they are all above the advanced class and cant directly participate in the war. That is why we need you. There are several others like Captain Tyrus who have a skill or ability similar to your core sense, but they are either limited by range, tier, or just plain useless. We believe that with you working alongside these other individuals, we can identify the changeling soon and root them out before they can cause much more damage. I understand. Aodhn nodded, and General Deaton continued. Now, weve been given a brief analysis of your abilities, but I would like you to introduce yourself and give us a better understanding of what you can do. Aodhn frowned. Is that necessary for the purpose of the mission? Not exactly. Artemis responded with a curious expression. However, it will give us a broader understanding of your strengths and help us oversee this mission better. In case it wasnt obvious, well be watching you. Yeah, I got that. Aodhn responded dryly, and Artemis scowled again. Before he could respond, though, General Deaton spoke. I have a meeting with the supreme in two hours. If we could cease these distractions, I would be very grateful. Aodhn stood up and exchanged a glance with Tyrus before speaking. My name is Aodhn Ashoka-Brystion, and Im a first-year student of the 5th academy. I consider myself a mid-to-long-range soldier with most of my skills geared towards offense. I can also defend myself and my team members without problem, but Im terrible at support for now. He considered his next words for a moment before uttering them. As you all know, I have a spiritual opening, two seals, and a deep well of willpower as a result of my status as an inheritor. Lastly, Im currently able to fight up five or six tiers, four if they have crossed the 2nd milestone. Geneva whistled appreciatively. Thats quite a list. Impressive. Aodhn smiled, feeling a bit proud of himself, and it was obvious the other champions shared Genevas sentiment, even Artemis, who didnt like him, shrugged and muttered. Not bad. Not as good as me, but not bad. Tyrus, on the other hand, shifted awkwardly, burning in embarrassment. He could fight up two tiers, at most three if he was particularly enraged, so to hear that a boy half his age could fight 5-6 tiers up definitely made him feel inadequate. When Aodhn sat back down, General Deaton nodded and said, Thank you, Aodhn, that truly is an impressive list of feats. However, before giving you any details on the mission, we need to test your abilities first. What does that mean? Aodhn asked, and this time, it was Matharantha who responded, her voice raspy and ominous. It means your status, seals, and feats dont matter if you cant pass this test. You are a child after all, and we will not risk the life of a child just because the council says he is capable. Im not sure I understand. Aodhn frowned, still a little confused, but Zero explained. What Matharantha is trying to say is that the changeling is a champion-ranked advanced awakened who has managed to evade everything the military has thrown at them so far, and regardless of your impressive advancement, you are still only an evolved awakened. How do we know you can even sense her core? Rather than take offense at their doubt, Aodhn smiled and said, I can sense your core. Despite having expected this exact response, his words sent a ripple of shock across the whole table, except perhaps the general, who simply stared at him curiously. What exactly do you sense? Zero asked after a moment of silence, and Aodhn prepared to push his core sense to the absolute limit. Usually. He never channeled his willpower when using core sense, as the barrage of information would be overwhelming, but this time Aodhn wasnt trying to expand the range of his core sense but narrow it to a pinpoint focused on one person alone. Immediately, he did so; the world dimmed, but Zeros core blazed like a sun to his senses. The mans core brimmed brightly with null essence, and even with his perception cranked up to the absolute maximum, Aodhn only got a little more information aside from Zeros tier. The tier disparity was just too large for Aodhn to pick up anything of any particular importance, but he imagined all that would change when he eventually entered the advanced class. Pulling his senses back from Zeros core, Aodhn announced. You are currently at the 86th, and from the way your core brims with null essence, I imagine its still settling from a recent advancement. I couldnt gauge your willpower or sense your bloodline because of the disparity in class and tier, but from the brightness of your core, I can deduce that you have a sufficiently high spiritual cultivation. A spiritual force perhaps, and definitely more than a dozen seals. Your spiritual cultivation isnt as high as Artemiss, but I imagine youll have little to no problems ascending to the mythic tier. He paused and smiled. I may be wrong about that last part of course. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. Zero stuttered, his mouth opening and closing as he tried to come to terms with how correct Aodhn had been. Is he right? Artemis asked, unable to hide his pride at having a higher spiritual cultivation than Zero. He is. Zero responded, still in shock. I cant believe you got all that just from staring at me for about three seconds. Aodhn shrugged and was about to respond that he had pushed his core sense to the absolute limit for that, but Artemis suddenly blurted out. Do me next, posturing in a way that suggested that he doubted Aodhns ability would even work on him, and he was right because the moment Aodhn channeled his willpower and focused on Artemiss core, he was nearly blinded by its intensity. Artemiss core roiled turbulently with spatial essence. It was so dense and bright that the intensity of the spatial essence sent Aodhns head spinning. Sharp pain stabbed into his mind just like the time he had tried to see through the academy cloaking runes. Aodhn only managed to hold on for a second before gasping and holding his head in pain, a reaction that definitely gave Artemis immense joy. Aodhn waited until the pain subsided before speaking. You are at the 95th tier, and from how packed your core seems, you are very close to another advancement. From the intensity of your core, your spiritual cultivation is through the roof, much much more than is expected. An intent Thats enough. You can stop speaking now. Artemis cut him off with a glare, and before anyone could ask him to do them next, Aodhn turned his attention to General Deaton, who was still staring at him curiously. So, did I pass your test? he asked. General Deaton nodded. Excellently, Mr. Brystion. I take it your limit is the Mythic class? Aodhn nodded, and General Deaton continued. I think we can all agree that youre up to the task. Another bit of information I want to know, though, is your range. How wide can you expand your ability? How much area can it cover? Aodhn knew what General Deaton was doing. He was building a portfolio so as to better estimate his abilities in the future. It was standard procedure, but Aodhn would be foolish to not keep some part of his abilities secret. Im not sure. Aodhn responded. It was the truth too, because it had been a while since he had expanded his core sense to the absolute limit. I cannot give you an exact value, he continued, but I can assure you that as long as the changeling isnt above the advanced class, I can sense them. General Deaton seemed unsatisfied with his response, but rather than push the matter, he said, Fine. Now, lets discuss Check my core. Matharantha suddenly said, and General Deaton scowled at her. Will you children stop cutting me off! Matharantha inclined her head in respect and apologized. Im sorry, general, but before we move on, Id like to test something out. Fine, but make it quick. The earlier we get Aodhn on the mission, the faster we catch the changeling and the more lives we save. Aodhn noticed that except for Geneva and the general, none of the other champions seemed particularly pumped to save any lives. He turned his attention to Matharantha, and when she gave him the go-ahead, Aodhn focused on her core and instantly regretted it. There was no pain this time; instead, the world blurred, and rather than the reflection core Aodhn had expected to see, he found himself staring at his own core instead. Compared to that of the champions, his core almost seemed dull. It roiled with storm essence, but its center was calm, just like his understanding of {Eye of The Storm}. His willpower blazed brightly, no longer looking like a dense ball now that he was staring at it from a different angle; instead, it moved and roiled like a river of liquid flames surrounded by a host of wild and untamed flames. Aodhn had never seen his core from this perspective before, and despite knowing that he had failed to sense Matharanthas core, he took a moment to study his core from this angle before eventually pulling back his senses. He found the champions staring curiously at him, and Tyrus explained. You took an awfully long time this time around. Three minutes. Matharantha rasped. What did you see? My own core. Aodhn replied honestly. It seems I have found a limitation to my ability. Her reflection core somehow managed to reflect my ability, so instead of sensing her core, I sensed mine. Do we need to test your ability against a change core to know if youll encounter the same problem? General Deaton asked, but Aodhn shook his head. He had sensed Dylans core countless times. A change core shouldnt give him any problem even if it belonged to a champion. They discussed the matter for a few more minutes, but after assuring them that there truly was no need, General Deaton tapped the holographic screen beside him, and the image of a Sunstonian woman appeared on the screen. The woman had perfectly bland features, almost too bland that it was unnatural. Aodhn imagined he could walk past her without even noticing. She had no visible bloodline manifestations, and even the rings that should have been around her irises were absent. The woman could have been mistaken for a sleeper if not for the mark of a blazing sun tattooed on her forehead, which marked her as a person of status in the church of Aeloria, the ascendant Sunstone worshipped. This is Seo-yeon, code named: Faceless, and she is the kingdoms greatest headache at the moment. She isnt the first changeling to come out of any kingdom, but shes certainly the best. This champion has mastered the concept of change and twisted it so thoroughly that even the council of lords is concerned about what she might become after advancing into the mythic tier. Apart from her excellent shapeshifting abilities, though, Seo-yeon is pretty weak. She has adequate offense and defense, but most of these just come from whatever creature she changes into. She has proven herself adept at camouflage and deception, capable of recreating and simulating the characters of people just by studying them for a few moments. In the past six weeks, we have lost three colonels, half a dozen lieutenant colonels, and dozens of majors. Aodhn frowned at the blatant loss of life, and General Deaton nodded in understanding. It has been a terrible few weeks within the sector. We have tightened security, improved checkpoint protocols, and scanned each soldier, but theres only so much we can do when our target could either be the grain of sand beneath our feet, a random bird, a rock, or even a book. That is why we need you, someone who can sense her core no matter how well she hides or what form she inhabits. Captain Hadjens father was her first victim, and in less than a week, two colonels followed. At first, the changeling only took three victims a week, but now shes devolving, and her methods have become harsher as her actions take a toll on her. What toll? Aodhn asked. At the very least, she must have accumulated so much negative karma by now that she has lost a few screws. General Deaton replied with a small smile. Apart from that, though, the mental toll of her actions cannot be little, not to mention the constant hiding and stalking she must endure just to kill a single victim. Her nerves are fraying, and what should have been a methodical and calculative act has devolved into something pleasurably sinister. Aodhn nodded and stared at the image of the changeling for a moment before asking. What is the plan then? You will join the patrol. General Deaton responded. A group of soldiers with skills or abilities similar to yours. So far, we believe we have managed to contain the changeling within the sigma 15-25 sector after her last kill, but until the next one, which should be in a few hours, we cannot be sure. Wherever the next kill occurs, though, Artemis will transport you to the patrol squad there, and we will try our possible best to lock down the entire area. What happens if I find her? Aodhn asked a little nervously. Then you will notify us. General Deaton responded, and in a stern tone, he added. Under no circumstances should you try to capture her yourself regardless of what she might be masquerading as. To do so would mean instant death for you, and we cannot afford to lose you at this point. I understand. General Deaton took out a small device, the size of a bean, and inserted it into his chip. This will alert us to anything once you click on it. Please be discreet; Id rather not have to deal with Zatya Malakov if something untoward should happen to you. Ill be careful. Aodhn responded again, unable to hide the fluttering of nerves in his stomach. Youll be fine. Geneva said to him. Remember, we are watching, and we will all be there in a blink the moment you alert us. Her words gave Aodhn a much-needed courage boost, and he firmed his resolve. He could do this. All he needed to do was not die. He had barely finished thinking those words when an alarm suddenly blared, and a voice rang out. Major Valen Shadowspire is dead. Southwest area of the Sigma 25-50 camp. I repeat Get him to Shadowspires tent immediately. General Deaton shouted, and the next instant, Aodhn found himself high in the sky above a ton of military gray tents. Artemis held him in his hand like he weighed nothing, and with a voice that echoed with so much willpower, it manifested in reality, Artemis uttered: {MY SPACE, MY RULES: NO BEING SHALL MOVE WITHIN THIS SPACE.} Chapter 148: Catching the Changeling! Seo-yeon was in her right senses, at least for now. There were times when she hadnt been, but she would rather not think about that now. For the past six weeks, she had morphed into a myriad number of humans and creatures, changing character so regularly that she had nearly lost herself in between. Regardless of whether she had been in her right senses or not, she had stayed true to her mission, and in only six weeks, she had killed a total of 32 Ragnarok soldiers, a much larger number than she had initially planned to. She had planned to take things slow, and for the first two weeks, she had done just that, driving the camp to insanity with each slow kill. She had caused an untold amount of chaos with the murder of Lieutenant Colonel Hadjen, but it wasnt until she had killed two more lieutenants from different war camps that true panic had set in. Seo-yeon had felt so high on the feeling of chaos and power that her mental conditioning had cracked, but it wasnt until she killed her first Colonel, a tier 76 telekinetic, that she had really begun to lose control. Her military training and discipline helped to anchor her mind, but it wasnt enough. Seo-yeon was no prude when it came to murder. She had served actively in the war after all, but something about watching, waiting, and stalking her prey for hours before finally taking their life filled her with so much adrenaline and dopamine that it was a chore to keep herself in control. Seo-yeon knew she was spiraling and accumulating bad karma at a terribly fast rate, but her mission had been to destabilize Ragnaroks military, and she was succeeding on that front. Not as much success as she would have had had the leaders of Ragnarok valued the life of their citizens as much as Sunstone did, but certainly enough to put the fear of the Ascendants into their hearts. Beating her moth wings, Seo-yeon perched atop the pole of a small tent, following her latest prey, Major Velen Shadowspire, as he moved about his daily activities. She had been watching him for the past few hours now, and already Seo-yeon could feel the dopamine bubbling in her chest. This hunt, this cold planning and stalking! It was definitely bad for her mental health, but Seo-yeon just couldnt bring herself to care about that anymore. She wanted to kill and enjoy the chaos that came after. Initially, she had chosen her targets by how important a role they played in the military, but now now she just chose randomly, too impatient to sit down and plan when she could be stalking her prey for the day. It was becoming her favorite pastime, but that was a problem for another day. She beat her wings tirelessly, following the confident major as he moved about the camp, assuring his comrades and encouraging them to be strong. After nearly two hours of stalking the major, the role he played within the camp soon became obvious, and Seo-yeon decided she had made the right decision to kill him. The major was encouraging people and restoring order to the chaos her actions had created. He moved from checkpoint to checkpoint, those insidious machines, to get his job done. If there was one thing Seo-yeon had learned about the Ragnarians, it was that they depended too much on their filthy technology. Fortunately, Sunstone had managed to force the Council of Lords into banning the plague wraith, stating the use of a calamitys essence in its creation was against the rules of war. The ban of those terrible machines had brought relief to Sunstone, but from the rumors swirling around the camp, Seo-yeon knew it was only a matter of time before they came with another dangerous amalgamation of metal and magic. A squad of patrollers neared her perch spot, and Seo-yeon batted her wings in annoyance before flying away to hide beneath a waving flag. The patrol squad was an annoyance, one she would have gladly gotten rid of, but when she had found out that the champions were watching over each squad, she had decided that the best course of action was to avoid them. Even in her current state, Seo-yeon wasnt so delirious as to think she could take on the Mirror, or the Witch of Selia, or even worse, Artemis Valerion alone. She might have a fighting chance with Zero, but she would rather not risk it and draw attention to herself. After the patrol left, Seo-yeon crawled out of her hiding place and resumed her stalking, following the clueless major all over the camp until, finally, at the height of noon, she got him alone. *** Major Velen Shadowspire was a man of honor. He was also the 7th and last son of his father, Viscount Shadowspire, in the 6th sector, so aside from a few platinum coins in his trust fund, Velen had been considered an unimportant noble. A spare of the spare that was so far removed from the line of succession, he might as well not even exist. Fortunately for him, he had managed to carve a place of importance for himself in the military, working tirelessly to help fill the holes that kept opening up with each murder. Things were tense within the camp, and although he put up a brave face to encourage his comrades, he was just as scared and panicked as they were. He needed a break from being so confident and encouraging. He needed a break from smiling so he could panic in peace. So, when his clock struck noon, Velen made his way to his tent in the southwest area of the Sigma 25-50 war camp and shut the tent flap firmly behind him. The tent was bare, completely bereft of anything that the changeling could transform into except it turned into the very air, and Velen doubted that was possible. In the darkness of the tent, Velen Shadowspire let himself panic. His heartbeat thundered in his ears, and he let out a silent scream. The action calmed him greatly, and when his panic finally subsided, he let out a deep breath and closed his eyes, hoping for this nightmare to be over so he could see his wife and children again. Little did he know that the next dozen breaths he would be taking would be his last. While Major Velen took deep breaths to calm his nerves, an eight-legged ant crawled into the tent and began making its way towards him. It was unusually fast for an ant, but with his eyes closed, Velen didnt even notice, not that he would have cared even if he did. What was more inconspicuous than an ant crawling through sand? The ant crawled onwards, but when it reached Velen, it suddenly transformed into an amalgamation of teeth and sharp spikes, large enough to swallow him whole. The transformation was so quick that Velen barely had a moment to blink before the creature swallowed him and ripped him to shreds. He managed a small cry of pain before the creatures sharp canines crunched down on his rib cage, pierced his heart, and tore it to pieces. The world turned black, and as his life slowly winked out, an alarm blared loudly, causing another wave of chaos and panic to ripple across the camp. *** {MY SPACE; MY RULES: NO BEING SHALL MOVE WITHIN THIS SPACE} As soon as Artemis uttered those words, reality warped violently, and the natural laws of physics were overturned and replaced by another. A massive wave of spatial essence and willpower washed over the entire camp, and all of a sudden, Aodhn felt completely incapable of making any movement. The only part of him still capable of movement was his eyeballs, which darted from left to right as he witnessed firsthand the scale of Artemiss power. His awed observation was abruptly cut short when Artemis groaned. Do it now, kid. I cant hold this spatial lock forever. Shes fighting it. Aodhn snapped back to attention and immediately tapped into his seal. This was a one-shot opportunity to catch the changeling, and Aodhn couldnt afford to miss it. His reputation was on the line here, and he was certain that if he failed, the little respect the champions had accorded him would disappear in an instant. Maybe that shouldnt have been the fear driving him, but Aodhn would rather fry his pathways than let one stupid mistake taint his reputation and career forever. Throwing caution to the wind, Aodhn decided to go a step further and harness an entire seal instead. If he was going all out, then he better make it count. Pure, luminescent, golden electricity surged into his pathways, much more than hed ever channeled all at once before, and had he been able to move, Aodhn would have let out an agonized scream as burning, hot pain trailed after the golden lightning as it raced for his core. The instant the golden lightning surged into his core, Aodhn spread out his core sense, and the world instantly turned white. His core sense expanded so wide that Aodhn suspected that it engulfed half the entire sector. More information than he could handle bombarded his senses as a million cores suddenly blazed in his mind''s eye, ready to reveal all of their secrets if he so much as focused on them for more than a second. Aodhns mind shuddered from the overwhelming influx of information, and he knew his mind would most likely explode if this continued for much longer. Leveraging a shit ton of willpower, Aodhn narrowed his core sense until it was only about a mile in diameter. The influx of information was still too much, but it wasnt overwhelming, and without further delay, Aodhn began his search. Artemis groaned again, uttering something unintelligible and draining himself of another bout of willpower, but Aodhn barely heard him, completely lost in the thousands of cores that surrounded him. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. His senses swept the area, searching for any core that blazed with change essence, but with the seal amplifying his senses this much, everything was all that much clearer and muddied at the same time. Natural essence obstructed his search, so intertwined and mixed that it was like a dense bank of fog that muddied his senses. Aodhn wasnt deterred, though, and with a flex of willpower, he deepened his search, pushing his ability to the very limit. Be quick, Aodhn, I cant hold on for much longer. Her Affinity is literally the opposite of a stagnant space. You should have thought of that earlier. Aodhn shouted in his mind since he couldnt speak, and with a mental groan, he hastened his search, discarding cores one after the other and shrinking the range core sense accordingly. After nearly ten minutes of fruitless searching, Aodhn began to feel hints of panic. He had stopped shrinking his core sense to ensure he didnt lose the changeling; however, Artemis was nearing his limit, and Aodhn was no closer to finding the changeling than he was five minutes ago. Artemis groaned again as he fought both reality and the changeling to keep the lock in place, and Aodhn decided it was time to utilize his last card. If this didnt work, then there was nothing else he could do. Aodhn opened his spirit up to the origin plane of storm, and as chaos surged into his spirit, Aodhn pushed deeper on his ability than he had ever done before. Something shuddered within him, and the ding of a notification suddenly resounded in his mind as a line of golden text crawled across his vision. Core Sense >>>>> Evolved Core Sense. Aodhn was shocked. He hadnt realized he could evolve his innate ability at all. He would have jubilated for joy if he could move his body, but he couldnt, and from the way Artemis was groaning, Aodhn estimated he only had a few minutes left before Artemis gave up. An instinctual understanding of the evolution of core sense filled his mind, and without hesitation, Aodhn focused his senses on the thousands of cores surrounding him. Change. As soon as he thought of the affinity he was searching for, the world blurred, the blazing cores dimmed, and his senses honed in on two blazing cores of change essence. The first was far, located outside the camp itself, while the second blazed directly beneath him. Aodhn focused on the second core, hastily memorizing its energy signature, and the moment he did, Artemiss rule shattered. Reality forced its way back in, and Artemis nearly tumbled from the air as his rule was forcefully revoked, unleashing another wave of spatial essence that washed over the entire camp with a bang. The changeling ran, and Aodhn shouted. Catch that fucking white chicken! **** Geneva, Zero, and Matharanatha floated just outside the Artemis spatial lock, ready to spring into action the moment the forced reality was lifted. Geneva already had a complex array of pseud-elder runes swirling around her, while Zero twirled a dagger of null essence between his fingers. Matharantha had no visible preparation, yet despite the swirling wind, her reaper''s cape remained completely still. The moment Artemiss rule cracks, we attack. Geneva spoke, assuming the position of team leader in Artemiss absence. Zero and Matharantha nodded, and when the forced reality eventually shattered, they attacked. Catch that fucking white chicken! Geneva didnt hesitate. She dashed forward, and with a wave of her hand, the swirling runes fanned out. The runes didnt lock down space as Artemis had done; instead, they acted as a barrier that prevented anything from leaving the space, whether living or non-living. The chicken squawked in panic, and Geneva sneered. Theres no way out, you fucking changeling. You either fight us and die or you surrender and die! *** Seo-yeons chicken heart thudded loudly in panic. Things had gone south pretty fast. Too fast. Immediately after the alarm rang, Seo-yeon had transformed back into an ant, hoping to escape the murder scene as fast as possible. She had done this exact same thing for the last six weeks, albeit in different forms. However, she had barely crawled more than a few steps out of the tent when Artemis arrived in all his spatial glory and shut down space with a rule. Seo-yeons rules were all internal due to her affinity focusing more on her body than the laws of reality, so she had been forced to fight back against Artemiss spatial rule with her willpower alone, hoping that the clash between the essence of change and the stagnant space would be enough to overwhelm him. She pushed against the rule with all her determination, and when it finally shattered, Seo-yeon fled, morphing into a chickena pretty common sight within the campand hoping to exit the crime scene before the squad patrol arrived. She had thought she had escaped until someone shouted. Catch that fucking white chicken! Seo-yeon turned and squawked in outrage as she remembered the boy. He was the evolved awakened who had bonded a familiar only a few months ago. What was he doing in the camp? And more importantly, how had he identified her in her current form? She rushed forward, intent on leaving the boys line of sight, and as soon as she did, she morphed again, this time into a hawk. With panic driving her, she flew for her life, but all of a sudden, red runes appeared in the sky, and Seo-yeon found herself trapped within the space. She squawked, eyes wide in panic as the Witch of Selia rushed towards her, a cyclone of runes swirling around her. Theres no way out, you fucking changeling. You either fight us and die or you surrender and die! Seo-yeon weighed her options hastily and decided it was better to fight and die than surrender. Her decision gave her courage up until the moment that three other champions teleported into the barricaded space. Seo-yeon squawked in distress, wondering how she was going to get herself out of this mess. The witch alone was a threat, but all four of them together? Seo-yeon knew she didnt stand a chance. That didnt mean she was going down easy, though. She was a champion after all, a representative of the greatest kingdom in Lutia. If she was going down, then she would go honorably. With a squawk of determination, Seo-yeon activated her newest skill, {Chimera Morph}. The skill pulled from her memories and transformed each part of her body into that of a creature she had morphed into in that last month. The change was grotesque and ghastly, but this would be her last fight, and Seo-yeon was determined to go out in a blaze. Her legs disappeared, replaced by the wriggling body of a worm. Feathers sprouted from her stomach, and claws replaced her fingers. Serpentine scales covered her arms, and metallic Kanima horns jutted out of her head. Her eyes turned owlish, large mandibles jutted out of her jaws, and her mouth transformed into a large beak filled with rows of sharp teeth. Despite the many changes, the transformation had occurred in an instant, and with an eldritch wail, Seo-yeon opened her spirit to the origin plane of change, activated all of her boons, harnessed her seal, and gathered her willpower, all in one attack. It was the greatest attack she had ever mounted in her life, yet as her body prepared to move, Seo-yeon knew it wouldnt be enough. She was a single champion standing against four seasoned champions, two of whom were nearly half a dozen tiers above her. She was outmatched and overpowered in every way, but Seo-yeon refused to surrender. With panic, anger, and pain swirling violently in her gut, Seo-yeon charged forward, intent on at least taking one champion along with her. However, she was barely halfway across the space when Zero unleashed his aura, a much denser version than shed imagined him capable of. The cloud of null essence rushed forward, and when it tried to seal her core, Seo-yeon gathered her willpower to fight against it. She lost, and as soon as her core dimmed, her skill regressed. Seo-yeon screamed as panic and anger threatened to overwhelm her, and in a blind rage, she lunged towards the nearest person and punched. The attack connected with a boom and an explosion of air that should have sent her victim flying backwards; instead, the attack was reflected and amplified, throwing her back into the hands of one of her greatest fears. No, please! She wailed, but Geneva only grinned, and before Seo-yeon could do anything, Geneva pressed an array of null runes into her stomach. The runes burned their way into her spirit, and Seo-yeon screamed as null chains severed her pathways and wrapped themselves tightly around her core. They sapped her of her physical strength and extinguished the wild flames of willpower still burning within her. In an instant, Seo-yeon was reduced from a fearful champion to a pitiful sleeper. Her shoulders sank in despair, and when Geneva let her go, Seo-yeon prayed that she would fall to the ground and smash her skull against the concrete. That way, she would at least die with a little dignity. But Aeloria didnt hear her prayers, and Seo-yeon sobbed when someone caught her by the neck and raised her head up. Youve caused us so much trouble, little changeling. How can we possibly kill you without making a show out of it? No, please! Oh yes. Artemis grinned. I wonder how Sunstone will react to this. *** Aodhn watched the battle from below, eyes darting back and forth as flashes of colorful essence exploded within the barricaded space. Tyrus had come to stand beside him at one point, and together, they watched their champions completely subjugate the changeling in seconds. Aodhn watched the sky with a newfound respect for the champions, even Artemis, whom he didnt really like; however, Geneva Ryntharion was still the star of the battle in his opinion. By ascendants! He wanted her affinity so bad and would gladly trade his affinity for hers if it were possible. The battle had barely lasted a minute, but it had been exhilarating to watch, and standing amidst hundreds of other soldiers, Aodhn felt an emotion he couldnt describe. It bubbled in his chest, a mixture of admiration, awe, and longing, and when the soldiers started shouting and jubilating, Aodhn found himself shouting along with them. The champions emerged from the barricaded space a moment later, and hundreds of soldiers cheered. They shouted and jubilated even as some hurled curses at the changeling who hung limply in Artemiss hand. Artemis and the other champions smiled, soaking in the admiration of hundreds of soldiers. After a minute, though, Artemis waved his hand for calm, and when the camp quieted, he spoke. For the past six weeks we have lived in fear of this woman, this changeling, but no more! Today is the day that she dies! Another cheer rose from the soldiers, including Tyrus and Aodhn, who couldnt help but chuckle at their enthusiasm. Artemis waved a hand again, and when the camp quieted, he continued. We couldnt have done this without a certain someone, and we certainly cant take all the glory for it either. He looked down at Aodhn, locating him with ease, and with a voice infused with willpower, he gestured for Aodhn to fly up and announced. I present to you, Aodhn Ashoka-Brystion, first-year student of the fifth academy and future champion. Another cheer rose up, and Aodhn laughed. Without hesitation, he created a platform, pulled Tyrus onto it, and flew up to stand side by side with the champions. The soldiers roared his name, their admiration pouring into him almost like a physical thing, and Aodhn felt his chest ache with pride. Cheers and shouts erupted from every corner of the camp until Artemis waved his hand again and said. Let this be a warning to Sunstone that we will not give up and that we will triumph regardless of what they do. We will fight our way through blood and viscera if only to avenge the ones we have lost, the ones this changeling killed. Another roar erupted out from the gathered soldiers, but this time Artemis didnt ask them to quiet down. Instead, he raised the changeling up with his two hands and simply tore her in two, drenching the soldiers below in a spray of blood and viscera. He threw both halves of the changeling to the soldiers below and smiled. You can now rest easy, brothers; the changeling is dead. Aodhn puked. Chapter 149: A tour of camp Conquestia Aodhn sat within the forts meeting room, still shuddering from the memory of the Changelings brutal death. To say he had been disgusted was an understatement. No, the sight had traumatized him so thoroughly that Aodhn didnt ever think he could recover. He had seen death before, but none so revolting and wicked as the one Artemis had subjected the changeling to, tearing her in half and throwing her to the soldiers to hack to pieces. The complete disregard for death that the soldiers and the other champions had displayed only served to make it worse, and just like that, Aodhn was reminded about the darker side of war. War was glorious and exhilarating as long as one remained on the winning side, but that thrill faded quickly when faced with the horrors and cost of defeat. Tyrus sat by his side, seemingly unsure of how to deal with Aodhns reaction, but after a few minutes of silence, he asked. Isnt it better to have seen it from above rather than below? Aodhn imagined the latter and shuddered when he realized he most likely would have been splattered with blood and viscera had he been watching from below. Bile rose in his throat, and Tyrus hastily fetched a bowl for him to puke in. While Aodhn heaved his guts out, Tyrus patted him awkwardly on the back and said, You act so mature and confident that its so easy to forget that youre just a child. I am a child. Aodhn thought to himself and was just about to nod in agreement when he realized that Tyruss statement wasnt exactly a compliment. He heaved the last of his stomach contents and pushed the bowl away. Im sorry, Im acting childish. Tyrus shrugged. Its alright; you havent seen death before. But I have. Aodhn swallowed painfully as visions of the Raventhorn accident flashed across his mind. I have seen death before, just not like this. Tyrus smiled. Well, good for you that youve managed to keep your innocence in spite of all that is happening. Some of us arent so lucky. Tyruss words werent meant to be malicious, but Aodhn sensed a hint of resentment in his tone. With a sigh, he wiped his lips and pushed down his revulsion. As natural as his reaction was, perhaps it would be better to postpone his mental breakdown until he returned to the academy. Aodhn took a moment to compose himself, sinking his mind into the effects of {Eye of the Storm}, and a few seconds later, his mind settled. He turned to look at Tyrus and asked. So, what will happen now? Tyrus shrugged. I have no idea. The generals are in a meeting with Supreme General Daystar right now, along with a ton of champions from different sectors. Whatever plan they come up with, though, I doubt itll be small. There havent been any big battles since the battle for Conquestia, and I know I shouldnt wish for one, but But what? Tyrus shook his head and let out a shaky smile. It doesnt matter. Whatever plans the generals come up with, Im sure itll be in our best interest. Sunstone wont take this lying down, though. Honor is so very important to them, and lets just say the Changelings death was intentionally dishonorable. Intentionally? Aodhn asked in confusion, and Tyrus chuckled. Of course. Do you think Artemis killed the changeling on a whim? I... I see. So, we should expect Sunstones retaliation then? Certainly. Tyrus scowled. But then Im sure well be ready, whatever they do. Aodhn frowned. Do... do you ever think the war is being treated like a game? Does it matter? Tyrus asked instead and banished the puke bowl to oblivion with a quick explosion of red flames. It matters to me. I mean, what is the reason for this war? Why are we fighting? Tyrus sighed and massaged his temples before responding. I dont know the real reason for the war, but I know theres one or even multiple. I doubt many people know the real reason, but before my father died, he told me something. He said Sunstone had their honor and Ragnarok, our pride. His gaze grew distant for a moment before he shrugged. It made me wonder if we were truly enemies, but that doesnt matter much to me anymore, not after all the people Ive lost. Im sorry. Aodhn replied and leaned back in his chair, filing that tidbit of information in his mind for later. After nearly a minute of terse silence, Aodhn asked. Do you think the champions know why? I believe they do. Tyrus nodded. As well as all the colonels, majors, and generals. Even if they dont know the whole thing, Im certain they know more than we do. Aodhn smiled. Then I guess its only a matter of time before you find out, Captain. Im sure theres a binding oath involved, but Ill believe more in the war if you can assure me its for a good reason. Tyrus snorted. You and Sergeant Boyd wont be too disappointed. They lapsed into a contemplative silence after that, and Aodhn closed his eyes to process Tyruss words. They stayed that way for a while, each one lost in his own thought as they waited for the champions to return. Fortunately, they didnt have to wait too long, as half an hour later, Artemis teleported into the meeting room along with nearly two dozen other champions, including Geneva, Zero, Matharantha, Ali Hassani, and Uduak Goradon. They were the most popular champions at the moment, courtesy of the plague wraith battle, but there were still a few others Aodhn recognized either from books, the news, or hearsay. The first was Reiner Rivaldi, the steam awakened from sector 3 that Valerie Potts had cited as an example of an awakened whose Affinity had come as a result of the merge of two different affinities. The man was dressed neck to toe in a fog-like outfit that seemed almost see-through yet exposed nothing. What little of his skin was exposed around his eyes displayed a rugged, nearly industrial look, and his bronze skin was riddled with faint, copper-like veins that pulsed with warmth. His hair had a perpetual dampness, like it was infused with vapor, and thin wisps of steam escaped his skin with each breath. The man instilled a sense of awe within Aodhn, but it was nothing compared to the feeling Thalia Lightusthe granddaughter of Ascendant candidate Lightusinvoked. Aodhn had naturally read about Thalia during his research to understand Ascendant candidate Lightus better, and the fact that she was now standing only a few feet away from him threatened to send Aodhn into a fanboy spiral. Unlike her father, Thalia had a cosmic affinity, and her dark skin gave off an otherworldly glow that stood out even in the brightness of day. Tiny motes of light seemed to drift around her, and her irises were double-ringed pools of deep indigo carrying specks of starlight. Her bloodline manifestation wasnt as severe as that of Rivaldi, but it invoked a greater sense of awe in Aodhn, and he quickly bowed in greeting. The champions acknowledged his greeting with curious expressions, having most likely been briefed on his contribution to catching the changeling. A few of them nodded in return, including Thalia, who seemed even more curious than the others. Artemis, on the other hand, eyed him and asked. Are you still throwing up? Oh, leave the kid alone. One of the champions spoke up with a sly smile and looked at Aodhn with an expression of respect. I think any sane person would puke after such a horrid display of military violence. I dont think I agree, Cyridian. Artemis replied pompously. I didnt puke when I witnessed my first horrible death. Well, of course, Artemis. Youre certainly the picture of sanity. Geneva scowled, and Aodhn had to suppress a chuckle. The other champions didnt bother to do the same, and Artemis scowled. Very funny, Geneva. Very funny. When the laughter died down, Geneva turned her gaze to him and asked. I hope youre doing better, Aodhn. IYes, Ive gotten my revulsion under control. Good, Artemis interjected. Because I do not have the time to babysit you, nor do I have enough money to get you a certified counselor. Those people are expensive, and Zero has once again beggared me. Zero smiled as he moved to take a seat. I dont remember forcing you to invest all of your money into one game, Artemis. Reiner, who had been silent ever since they arrived, chuckled and shook his head. Serves you right for trusting Zero and gambling all your money away. Zero laughed. Now, dont blame me for his failures. I advised him not to bet against me. Because you knew I would do the exact opposite! Artemis glared at Zero, but before things could get out of hand, Thalia coughed, and in a soft, yet commanding tone, she said, I believe we have a meeting to start. The champions calmed down almost immediately, and like scolded children, they all moved to take their seats. Aodhn exchanged a surprised glance with Tyrus when he saw Artemis quiet down, and in a bid to satisfy his curiosity, he focused his evolved core sense on her core. After the recent advancement of core sense, Aodhns ability to sense peoples cores had increased drastically. He still couldnt sense mythic cores yet, but he certainly didnt need to try so hard to sense that of peak advanced class individuals. However, when he focused on Thalias core, Aodhn found that he couldnt sense anything except for her tier of advancement. Not even a hint of her spiritual cultivation was detectable, leaving Aodhn with only one way to measure her strengththe blazing intensity of her core. And by Ascendants, the core blazed! It blazed with such intensity that Aodhn felt his senses burn. He pulled back immediately, blinking away tears as he came to terms with what he had just seen. Thalia Lightus was at the 99th tier of advancement, and Aodhn would be shocked if she couldnt single-handedly take on an early-staged mythic and win. While the champions gathered for their meeting, Tyrus nudged Aodhn and asked. How would you like a tour of the camp? Aodhn wanted to stay, but he knew that wasnt proper. The champions had accorded him a courtesy by not sending him away; he would be doing himself a disservice if he didnt show them that he wasnt an idiot, regardless of how curious he was. He nodded, and together, he and Tyrus slipped out of the meeting room; however, as Aodhn turned to shut the door behind him, he found Thalias gaze on him once more, her head cocked in curiosity and fascination. She didnt say anything when their gazes locked. She just smiled and turned back to the other champions without fuss. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. Needless to say, Aodhn was curious to know what she thought of him. Her grandfather was his benefactor after all, and since he hadnt had a single conversation with the man, perhaps he could gain some insights into what ascendant candidate Lightus had seen in him from her. They stepped out of the fort a moment later, and Tyrus let out a breath of relief. So many champions in one place makes me nervous. Me too. Aodhn admitted, but Tyrus wasnt convinced. You didnt seem so nervous when you were gawking at The Celestial a few minutes ago. The celestial was Thalias code name, but the champions of Ragnarok rarely used their codenames and usually just went by their usual names. I wasnt gawking. Aodhn hissed, certain that Thalia could still hear them. I was just surprised to see her with her grandfather, being my benefactor and all. Oh, I didnt even remember that, Tyrus frowned but quickly shook his head. Anyway, where would you like to see first, the Sigma 15-25 camp, the Sigma 26-50 camp, or the Sigma 51-75 camp? What about the Sigma 76-99 camp? Aodhn asked, and Tyruss eyes widened. Are you trying to get me in trouble? Aodhn laughed and shook his head. No, no. I was just curious. We can start with the Sigma 15-25 camp first and maybe check out the other two if we have the time. Tyrus nodded, and together, they made their way out of the fort and towards the Sigma 15-25 camp, whose copper-colored gate stood out like a beacon in a sea of gray tents. The camp wasnt too far from the fort, and five minutes later, Aodhn and Tyrus stepped into the camp proper. With a small smile, Aodhn breathed in the scent of roasted meat, alcohol, and metal polish, all intertwined with the sense of excitement that filled the air. It had been two hours since the changelings death, and the soldiers were still rejoicing. They hustled about laughing and carrying out their duties with a fervor that had been lacking only a few hours ago. When they noticed Aodhn, they cheered, whistling and applauding in appreciation, some even going as far as patting him on the back or simply shouting his name in excitement. Aodhn smiled, infected by their enthusiasm, and before long, he found himself laughing and carrying on with them. Tyrus led him past rows and rows of gray tents, weaving past an army of saluting soldiers as they made their way deeper into the Sigma15-25 camp where the teleportation circle and healing tents were located. The tent spanned several acres, with military nurses moving about within. Just opposite it was the teleportation circle, a large runic platform large enough to fit a dozen men standing side by side. Aside from that, there was very little architecture to gawk at, so Aodhn took in the ambience instead, watching soldiers as they lovingly polished their armors and weapons. Music blasted from one corner of the camp, so loud that the earth vibrated; however, even with all the excitement and distractions, Aodhn noticed a few soldiers standing rigidly at several intersections within the camp. He didnt need any explanation to recognize them as the guards on duty, each one of them holding their weapons tightly. The guards saluted and smiled when Aodhn and Tyrus passed by them, but aside from that, they kept their minds on that task. Aodhn scrutinized them for a moment before asking. Should music be playing this loud? I thought military camps were usually about order and obedience. Tyrus laughed. You are right. The camps are about order and obedience, but the soldiers have been tense for weeks; it wouldnt hurt to let them have some fun. Also, military camps are about so much more than order. They are about camaraderie, family, love, whores Aodhn shook his head and chuckled as a bunch of Tier 16 soldiers passed by them, clumsily saluting when they saw Tyruss badge. Tyrus waved for them to carry on and snorted. Those are the newest batch of soldiers. They arrived about a month ago and have been placed in my company. He sighed and shook his head. Hopefully, we can whip them into shape before the next great battle begins. Aodhn nodded and turned to look back at the privates, wondering if he would recognize any one of them. He didnt, but that didnt stop him from searching and scrutinizing the other soldiers they came across, hoping to find someone he knew from the Warren. As they made their way deeper into the camp, Tyrus pointed out several tents, from officer tents to storage rooms and finally the command tent, which was a gigantic tent located only a slight distance away from the center of the camp. Aodhn took all of this in with a smile; however, as they moved deeper into the camp, he soon noticed a common feature amongst the soldiersthe limit. It was less common among the younger soldiers but was almost predominant in the higher tier bracket of the camp. Most of the soldiers between tier 20 and 24 had reached their limit, and the ones who hadn''t were well on their way towards that unfortunate fate. There were a few soldiers with reasonably pure cores, though, and even some others with cores purer than his, but they were a minority. It was sad. There was so much these soldiers could gain or avoid by learning the truth about the limit, but Aodhn had learned the hard way that the truth was being kept for a reason even if he didnt support said reason. In his opinion, knowledge should be freely shared and spread, but unfortunately, he wasnt at liberty to do so. As they progressed towards the Sigma 26-50 camp, though, Aodhn noticed that the number of limited soldiers was dropping significantly. It seemed the military was trying to manipulate the distribution and absorption of cores without expressly breaking the oath. Seeing the improvement made Aodhn happy, and the tension soon bled from his shoulders. Tyrus led him past a large training area, and Aodhn couldnt help but admire the sheer discipline and dedication of these soldiers. They were restless, even while celebrating. They trained and sparred with each other, sometimes one-on-one and other times in groups. A captain monitored them, and when the bulky man saw Tyrus, he asked the soldiers to take a minute and jogged towards them. The man had pale, almost translucent skin, and beneath his skin was a web of iridescent veins that shifted color as they refracted light. It was a very bizarre bloodline manifestation, and while Tyrus chatted with the captain who was called Theron Scraz, Aodhn focused on his core. The mans affinity was one Aodhn hadnt come across or heard about before, and although it seemed very similar to light, it gave off an impression very similar to glass too. It reminded Aodhn of Reiner Rivaldis affinity, and he wondered if perhaps the Captains affinity was also as a result of an experiment gone wrong. The fact the man was noble seemed to lend some credit to the idea, but Aodhn couldnt be sure. He spent the next few seconds scrutinizing the mans core and studying its signature, but in the end the only concept that perfectly encapsulated the mans affinity in Aodhns opinion was a prism, as it seemed closely connected to fractured light, spatial refraction, and dimensional echoes. Aodhn decided to find out more about it when he reached the academy, and when Tyrus finished his discussion with Captain Theron, they made their way to the captain''s quarters. Unsurprisingly, the captains had a special area dedicated to themselves, and as soon as they stepped through the demarcated wall, Aodhn was bombarded with another round of cheers. Tyrus introduced him to the other captains, and Aodhn was pleasantly surprised to see nearly two dozen captains present. They were all at the 25th tier, yet within this small group, there were distinctions made according to status. From Tyruss brief explanation, the Advanced class captains had the largest companies; the evolved captains, who had, for one reason or another, not evolved to the Advanced class before crossing the second milestone, had medium-sized companies; and then the last strata, mundane class captains like Tyrus, got the smallest companies. The strata really put into perspective the number of soldiers within the Sigma 15-25 camp of Conquestia, as the smallest company, according to Tyrus, consisted of 100 soldiers, and that was saying a lot since out of the dozen captains present, there were only four Mundane captains, including Tyrus himself. Aodhn wanted to ask how many soldiers the largest company consisted of, but soon decided that was a question for a later time. He introduced himself to the captains, saluting respectfully to each person as they thanked him for his contribution to eradicating the changeling problem. After that, a trio of captains asked him and Tyrus to join them in their courtyard to celebrate the return of peace to the camp. Not wanting to be impolite, Tyrus and Aodhn agreed and soon found themselves seated around a pit of fire, eating roasted meat and drinking merrily. One of the captains, a raven-haired woman, moved to hug Aodhn and said, Oh, you have no idea how happy I am to go back to sleeping with just one eye open. The last six weeks have been torture. Im glad I could help. Aodhn laughed and hugged her back. Tyrus rolled his eyes dramatically. Meet Captain Maxine Lesternoff, Captain of the Third Company and leader of the patrol squad. I can introduce myself, Hadjen, thank you very much. Captain Lesternoff smacked Tyruss hands and pulled back to shake Aodhn formally. I am Maxine Lesternoff, Captain of the third company and leader of the patrol squad in the Sigma 15-25 camp area. Thats exactly what I said. Tyrus grumbled, but Aodhn ignored him and smiled. Its very nice to meet the protectors of our kingdom. We owe you all our lives. That I can agree to. Another captain, a bald man with faint purple scars running down the length of his jaw, replied and downed another cup of beer. But were happy to serve and protect. Thats all that matters. Speak for yourself, Griffid. Captain Lesternoff snorted. I have a husband waiting for me back in sector 4. They all laughed, and just as Aodhns first drink finished, they passed him another, along with another portion of roasted meat. Aodhn accepted the second helping, only now realizing that he hadnt eaten anything of substance in the last forty-eight hours. The merry mood continued, and Aodhn soon found himself laughing and joking around with the captains. They were all so nice, sharing tips and advising him on what was best to do when he eventually joined the army. Aodhn found that he wasnt too averse to the idea any longer; in fact, he felt almost eager. Their discussion lasted for nearly an hour until Captain Griffid belched and rubbed his belly. Now, thats a good meal. First in six weeks too. Maxine concurred. Im so happy that changeling bitch is finally dead and we can all move on to the next calamitous event. The captains groaned, and the third captain, Nolan Riverstrong, scolded. Do not speak evil, Maxine. For once, can we not have peace? It seems you want to go back to patrol duty. Heavens no. Maxine groaned. That job was tedious. Any more of it, and I would have certainly offed myself from frustration. She smirked and gave Aodhn a side eye. Im a little pissed at this gentleman, though; you just came and solved a problem weve been dealing with for weeks! Now, dont scold the kid. Captain Griffid laughed. Lets just be grateful that we can finally have a good night''s rest without feeling the press of death around our necks for a change. Here, here. Everyone laughed, and Captain Nolan launched into a story of how several soldiers had been caught shivering in fear sometime in the past six weeks, including Maxine herself. Aodhn listened as the captains bantered, and it wasnt until the sun dipped below the horizon that he remembered he needed to return to the academy soon. He said his goodbyes to the captains, and although he hadnt had the chance to visit the second and third Sigma camps, he felt quite satisfied with this one. With his belly completely filled with meat, Aodhn and Tyrus returned to Fort Dominion. They arrived at the meeting room a few minutes later, but by then, nearly all the champions had departed, most likely returning to their different sectors. Ali Hassani and Uduak Goradon had also left, leaving Artemis, Zero, Matharantha, and Geneva alone in the fort. Are you ready to return? Geneva asked, and Aodhn nodded. Yes, Im still a student after all. Geneva smiled and pulled out an old, worn-looking notebook from her storage ring. I heard that youre a big fan of runes, and Id like to encourage that. This is my old practice note. Im sure youll benefit greatly from studying it. Aodhn collected the notebook reverently and opened it to find a ton of perfected runes and runic circuits inscribed on the worn pages. The runes were vastly different from normal, though, containing a lesser number of lines, yet managing to look even more complex. Aodhn clutched the book gently and bowed in gratitude. Thank you for this gift. I promise to use it well. Im sure you will. Geneva chuckled. Now come, we have something else for you. We dont. Artemis scowled, but Zero scowled at him and said, You lost the bet, Artemis; now hand over the ore. Artemis glared daggers at all of them before reluctantly opening his palms to reveal a shimmering white-gold gemstone that seemed almost like a mixture of liquid and glass. You see, we had a bet before you arrived on if you would be powerful enough to catch the changeling. Geneva smiled and plucked the ore from Artemiss open palms. Artemis was the only one who bet against you. Aodhn let out a confused chuckle. Why didnt you guys bet against me? I dont bet. Matharantha rasped, smiling for the first time since hed seen her. And Zero and I cheated. Geneva smiled. Never mind how. So you guys admit to cheating. Artemis shook in righteous fury. How did you do it? Geneva ignored him and handed the ore to Aodhn. We are impressed with you, and so we decided to give you this gift as an act of goodwill. You are sowing karma. Aodhn responded, understanding exactly what they were doing, and Zero laughed. At least youre smarter than Artemis. Artemis scowled, but before he could respond, Geneva spoke. We are aware of your fine to the council, so we cant give you something monetary. This, however, is more than a monetary gift. What is it? Aodhn asked as he peered closely at the shifting gem that also looked like a metal ore. Voltaris, Artemis hesitantly explained. Its an alchemical ingredient used in the production of storm and lightning pills. I believe you will find it very useful. If not, you can sell" You cannot sell it! Geneva interjected with a glare in Artemiss direction, and his scowl deepened. Fine! Do with it what you like. You have no karma with me. Aodhn placed the ore within his spatial storage and nodded gratefully. Thank you so much for the gifts; I really do appreciate them. Youre welcome. Geneva responded, and after collecting hers and Zeros contact information, Aodhn thanked Captain Tyrus for the tour and for being a good friend before turning his attention back to Artemis. Im ready to go back. Artemis muttered something under his breath in annoyance, shot Geneva a glare, and the next instant, Aodhn was flung into a swirling portal so violently that all the meat hed eaten nearly erupted out of his stomach with a violent heave. Chapter 150: Returning to the Academy! Instead of appearing above the academy like Aodhn had expected, Artemis took nearly half a dozen short jumps, teleporting from one checkpoint to the other. He never stopped long enough to get himself checked, though, and instead just barreled through the checkpoints with a scowl. The soldiers didnt seem to mind, though, and some of them even cheered, having been informed of the Changelings death by now. When they finally reached the checkpoint at the Awakened Court, Artemis shouted to the lead guard. Go get yourselves a beer, fella. What are you still doing here? Aodhn, who was still struggling to keep his food down, scowled. Are you supposed to be encouraging them to be lax in their duties? Artemis glared down at him and flung him into the next portal, muttering. First you steal my gem, and now you talk back at me. Aodhn failed to keep his food down this time, but before it was even halfway out of his mouth, he was thrown into another portal, this time appearing directly above the academy library. He flailed, completely disoriented, but Artemis caught him before he could crash into the building, scowling as Aodhn vomited all that he had eaten onto the roof of the library. Aodhn heaved, gasping for air as the world spun around him. It took him a few seconds to finally get himself together, and with a scathing glare, he said to Artemis, You may be a champion, but youre no different from your brothers. Half brothers. Artemis corrected with a frown and shrugged. Ill take that as a compliment. My half-brothers are geniuses. And bullies. Aodhn added as he jerked away from Artemis, creating a platform for himself to float on. Ive met three of your brothers, including Nikolaus, and youre all insane. Rather than take offense at his statement, Artemis laughed and shook his head. I guess you havent met any of our half-sisters then, because compared to them, were pretty sane. Aodhn shook his head in disgust, but before he could respond, the spiritual attention of over a dozen advanced-class individuals suddenly landed on them, causing Artemis to scowl in annoyance. Rahim and Agent Kaelith appeared the next instant, and from the glare Rahim and Artemis shot each other, Aodhn suspected there might be some history between them. Agent Kaelith, on the other hand, was perfectly polite. He gave a small bow and said, Thank you so much, champion, for bringing him back safe and sound. We heard the mission was successful. It was, thanks to Aodhn. Artemis responded and smiled. Convey my greetings to principal Zatya. She still owes me a few gems if I remember correctly. Ill make sure to deliver your message, Champion. Kaelith chuckled and clasped his hands behind him. Thank you once again. Artemis winked at Aodhn, and the next instant he was gone, tearing a hole through space that led directly to the fort. Aodhn scowled, wondering why he hadnt just done that before, instead of taking a dozen jumps. The portal snapped shut a moment later, letting out a small cloud of spatial essence, but it wasnt until the cloud of essence dispersed that Rahim spoke. How are you doing? Im fine, just feeling a little woozy. Aodhn replied as he turned around to look at his mentor, whose expression seemed both concerned and annoyed at the same time. He was curious to know the history between Rahim and Artemis, but he decided to save his questions for later. We are glad to have you back so quickly. Kaelith smiled at him and patted his shoulders. Now tell us everything that happened. Aodhn launched into a narration of his time in the seventh sector, detailing his meeting with General Deaton and the champions and how they had eventually caught the changeling. Rahim asked him several questions, trying to make sure he was really okay and that he hadnt been maltreated by the military. When they eventually reached the entrance to the admin building and began making their way up to Principal Zatyas office, Aodhn texted Daruk, Yurin, and Andrew, informing them that he had returned safe and sound. Daruks reply was immediate: Where are you now? Heading towards the principals office. Aodhn replied. Ill text you guys when Im done. Meet us at the cafeteria for dinner. Daruk responded, and Aodhn agreed. They arrived at Principal Zatyas office a minute later, but before Rahim could even knock, she called out. Come in, Rahim. They walked into the office, and Principal Zatya looked up from a pile of documents she was dealing with, her hair looking slightly mussed from stress. Aodhn didnt think he had ever seen a strand of her hair out of place before. She gestured for him to take a seat, and Aodhn launched into another narration, this one starting from the decision of the Awakened council to the gifts the champions had given him, although he left out the part about Genevas practice note. When he finished speaking, Principal Zatya brushed her hair back and sighed. Rahim and Kaelith have already briefed me about the events concerning the awakened council, and I think their decision is more than fair. Im glad your mission was a success, which means we should be receiving news from the council soon concerning your entrance into the Black Forest. Can I enter the forest at any time? he asked curiously. He had heard of people of various tiers entering the black forest, but with the selection process and exams coming up very soon, Aodhn wasnt sure now was the best time for that adventure. Principal Zatya agreed with him. You can enter the Black Forest at any time once youve been granted access; however, it is better to go in at the advanced class. Most people who enter the forest are usually between tier 25 and 30, in order to use the forests resources to solidify their advanced foundations. Aodhn nodded, satisfied with that timeline. The next few weeks would be very hectic for him, and during the holidays, Aodhn intended to find a job to pay off his fine to the Awakened council. He couldnt very well do that if he was jaunting around the Black Forest with pompous nobles for company. He chatted with Principal Zatya for nearly an hour and couldnt help but notice that Principal Zatya seemed so much better after their lengthy conversation. When he eventually left the office, it was already night, and the golden clouds of the nexus floated merrily in the sky. Before heading to the cafeteria, Aodhn summoned Varc out of his spirit and released him for his nightly hunt, aware that the familiar had been more than patient these past few days. Varc emerged out of his spirit with his usual roar of excitement, drawing the attention of everyone around him. Some waved in greeting, and Aodhn waved back. The ban on information was still ongoing within the academy, which meant that three-quarters of the student population still didnt know about the whole changeling situation, let alone her death. This also meant that apart from the 4th-year students, Aodhn was the sole person with any information concerning the war, and that made him quite popular. Everyone waved at him, too polite to be direct, but their thoughts and hopes were obvious. Aodhn didnt mind at all. He was all too happy to spill the beans and couldnt be more thankful that Principal Zatya hadnt ordered him to keep the information private. When he finally reached the cafeteria, which was unusually crowded for a time like this, Aodhn made his way to their usual table and grinned when he saw his friends eagerly waiting for him. Andrew was almost shivering in excitement, and the moment Aodhn sat down, he ordered. Tell us everything that has happened in the past three weeks. Yurin concurred with an eager nod, and Daruk leaned forward, curiosity etched into his face. Neither of them even bothered to welcome him or ask if he was alright, but Aodhn understood their excitement, and for the third time that day, Aodhn launched into the story of his mission. While he spoke, he noticed that the cafeteria was getting quieter with each word, and when he turned around, he found almost his entire class listening attentively. Even Cyrus and his friends were listening. Seeing his entire class listening attentively to his words did something to Aodhn. Rather than withdraw or ignore them, Aodhn did something he had never done before. He stood to his feet and gestured for everyone to come closer. People rushed forward, and although some stubbornly remained in their seats, over half of the class moved forward. After the scraping of chairs finally died down, Aodhn narrated the story again. He began with the reason for his mission, citing the changeling as the main reason for the information ban, before describing the invasive measures of identification hed undergone when he had arrived in the 7th sector. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. His narration got more dramatic with each word, and when he got to the part where Artemis literally tore the changeling in two, the entire cafeteria was hooked, some wearing faces of disgust while others like Harnoth Darkwater and Andrew wore expressions of awe and bliss. Aodhn didnt stop there; he narrated how hed taken a tour of the camps and how he had met over a dozen champions. When he was done speaking, the cafeteria let out a collective sigh and began muttering amongst themselves. Aodhn sat back down, and Andrew shook his head in amazement. I cant believe you met Thalia Lightus. That woman is a legend! True. Yurin agreed. But Im more fascinated with Rivaldi. Ive always wondered how he could make an affinity like steam so dangerous. Any Affinity can be deadly. Daruk shook his head, quoting one of Professor Alarics earlier statements. However, Im more concerned about what will happen now. Killing a champion is not something Sunstone will take lightly. Oh, Im sure they wont. Andrew snorted. But aside from Warp and maybe Lightus, I dont think any of their current champions can compare to ours. Their discussion continued almost till midnight, after which they all returned to their respective houses. Aodhn moved up to his room, intending to study the practice note Geneva had given to him while he waited for Varcs return. However, when he reached his room, he had barely shut the door behind him when a knock sounded, and Meredith peeked in, her face flushed and eyes bright. She smiled coyly and leaned forward suggestively. Would you like some company? Aodhn glanced at the sheer outfit she was putting on and then at his reading table, weighing his options carefully. After a moment of consideration, he decided that the runes could wait a few more hours, and with a sly grin, he pulled Meredith inside and said, I could definitely use some company. *** Supreme General Jia Ling stood before the floor-length windows of her office within the Sun Tower, counting her prayer beads and watching the sovereign capital sprawled out beneath her while the royal castle towered above her in the distance. The capital sector of Sunstone was beautiful, and even in the light of day, it shone, a testament to the blessings of Aeloria. Towering structures of silver and gold jutted into the sky, their domed tops emblazoned with the image of a blazing sun. Despite standing more than 600 meters above the earth, Jia Ling had no problem hearing the voices of thousands of mortals as they went about their day, worried about all their petty needs. She could, of course, block out the noise, but Jia Ling was ashamed to admit that the sound calmed her. She wished she harbored such insignificant fears and worries. Alas, she had chosen the path of immortality, a path so fraught with blood and pain that she could never afford the luxury of mundanity in a hundred lifetimes. Sun, guide me. Jia Ling muttered quietly as she fingered her beads and prayed to Aeloria for wisdom. Things had been a little quiet on the war front in the last few weeks, and by quiet, she meant that there had been no major battles or clashes between them and the Ragnarian army. Petty skirmishes were still common, and more than once, Sunstonian border cities had been raided or even outright sieged. Still, Jia Ling would rather deal with all that than a full-scale war between both kingdoms. It was a moment of reprieve that wouldnt last, Jia Ling was sure, but she cherished the moment regardless. Just last week, her generals had wondered if perhaps King Ragnar the third had finally let go of his grievances now that he was so close to his ascension, but Jia Ling knew they just couldnt be that lucky. King Ragnar the third was a madman, one far more obsessed with punishing Sunstone than his father ever was. The fact that the other kingdoms had pulled out of the war to focus on their own growth and development had mattered little to him. So obsessed was he that sometimes, Jia Ling wondered if he even remembered that Sunstone wasnt the real enemy here. They had simply been the turncoats hoping to save their own necks in what had seemed to be a losing war. Jia Ling knew her ancestors had done wrong, trying to sell out the other kingdoms to save themselves, but to be punished for a sin committed a thousand years ago was just absurd. Jia Ling had hoped that as a newer generation of royals took over, their enmity and thirst for revenge would wane; sadly, she had been wrong, and instead it had grown even stronger. Jia Ling sighed. She was bone-weary of this war and just wanted it to end so she could focus on conquering her aspects and solidifying her cultivation in preparation for ascension. Aside from that, she had been the cause of the death of millions. Her hands were drenched in the blood of millions, and Jia Ling was weary of it all. If she could avoid adding one more life to that list, she would be eternally grateful. When Ragnarok issued their ultimatum after the plague wraith attack, her generals had been hell-bent on retaliating with full force. They had suggested several tactics and conjured several strategies that might have brought Ragnarok to its knees, but when Jia Ling estimated the amount of soldiers, men and women, innocent fathers, mothers, and children that would die to perfectly execute even one of those plans, she had hesitated. Her heart had ached in pain, and her soul had shied away from the violence. That was when Jia Ling realized that she couldnt do this for much longer. She was hesitating, and this hesitation was beginning to affect her decisions. Jia Ling was a calamity-class Life awakened, but after all the death she had seen in this war, she had grown completely apathetic to the loss of life. That apathy was what had gotten her this position after all, but now as she drew closer to the 200th tier, she could feel those apathetic walls crumbling, almost like a physical thing in her mind. She could no longer in good conscience send men and women to their death, all for a war they didnt even know the origin of. Her generals had spent weeks deliberating on a retaliatory action, but in the end, Jia Ling discarded all of their bloody ideas and chose to go with a subtler and less bloody approach. She had proposed sending the Changeling to destabilize Ragnaroks military, a plan that almost none of her generals had been on board with, but until they came up with something that limited the loss of life to the absolute minimum, Jia Ling wouldntcouldntaccept it either. In the end, they had decided on the changeling plan as a temporary distraction while they came up with another. No one had expected it to succeed at all, not even her who had proposed it, but the changeling had proven them all wrong, and Jia Ling had to admit that she was pleasantly surprised with its success so far. It had been six weeks since they had sent the Faceless to Ragnarok, and the reports coming in had been absolutely positive, so much so that Jia Ling had ordered more changelings be sent. Not all of them had gotten past Ragnaroks extreme security measures, but a few of them had, and Jia was working on placing them at strategic locations in order to use them when the time was right while her generals worked on a more concrete plan to bring this war to an end once and for all, or at least a truce that would last long enough for her to ascend and hand the baton over to someone else. Chuckling quietly, Jia Ling shifted her mind from matters of war back to the noise of the mortals below her, but before she could relax in the sounds of their petty worries, she suddenly felt a burst of spatial essence as someone teleported into the tower. The person waited within chaotic space for a moment before pushing past the veil and into her office with a frown. Supreme, we have a problem. Jia Ling suppressed a sigh at the ominous words and turned to gaze at Li Fang, her most trusted general and friend. What is the problem this time? Li Fang walked to stand beside her before responding. By the sun, Supreme. I bring bad news. I just received word from the watcher that the Faceless is dead. Fangs words came as a shock to Jia Ling, who had just been congratulating herself on the Changelings success. Despite her shock, though, she immediately began issuing orders to pull out the other changelings she had sent or at least relocate them to less dangerous areas. If Ragnarok had caught the Faceless, then it was only a matter of time before they caught the others too, and Jia didnt want their blood on her hands. Ive collated all her messages, Li Fang continued, and Ive given them to the diviners to decrypt, but I doubt theyll find anything useful. Its obvious that she had some important information to report, but Im afraid she wasnt able to get it to us before her death. Jia Ling pinched her brows in frustration, wondering when Daystar had become this smart and bloodthirsty. They had been playing this game of chess for decades now, and in all that time, Jia had always managed to stay a step ahead of her brutal nemesis. However, the past few months had been one surprise after the other, and she was sick of it. She turned her gaze back to the window, watching the citizens of Sunstone as they partied and moved about their daily lives, oblivious to the thousands of soldiers who died each day just to maintain this little bubble of peace and dreams. The death of each soldier was important, but the death of a champion was a terribly great matter, and Jia Ling doubted she could avoid a direct attack after this. Champions were the peak of excellence, the best of the best, and such talent didnt come easily. However, there was something even more pressing than the death of the changeling, and from Li Fangs expression, Jia Ling doubted it would be something she wanted to hear. Still, she had to ask. Did she at least die with honor? Li Fangs expression darkened with anger, and with a wave of his hand, he displayed a video of Artemis Valerion, surrounded by a group of champions, as he tore Seo-yeon in two and threw her body into the mob of soldiers like rags. I told one of the diviners to get this for me, and, he hesitated, his voice strained with anger, I understand your hesitation when it comes to direct attacks, but we cannot let this go unpunished no matter the cost in lives. This war has gone beyond our age-old betrayal. At one point, it was a scheme to cull our numbers, but now, its personal. It has become a political struggle to see which kingdom is greater, and we cannot let ourselves be perceived as weak. Jia Ling closed her eyes, knowing that this was an argument she couldnt refute. She couldnt let an insult such as this slide without penalty. The price of killing a champion was the life of another, and Sunstone would have its due. Steeling herself against the decisions she was about to make, Jia Ling glared down at the mass of worrisome mortals and said, Gather the other generals for a meeting in the War Chamber along with the strongest champions you can round up on such short notice. Ill meet you in fifteen minutes. We have much to discuss. Li Fang bowed and teleported out, leaving Jia Ling to glare at the mortals below as if it was their fault she had been forced into this position. She had tried to avoid wanton violence and bloodshed, but since Ragnarok craved it so much, then they would have it. She would make sure they had it so much that they became just as sick and tired of it as she was now. With her mind made up, Jia Ling moved to a corner of her office and infused her divination ball with life essence as she calibrated the device to a contact she hadnt used or divined in years. It took a while before the call finally went through, and after a few minutes, the holographic display of a man appeared before her. The man had flowing red hair and crimson runes for eyes. Several scars crisscrossed his face, left behind as reminders, and even through the projection, Jia Ling could almost taste the coppery tang of blood wafting from the man. The man raised an impatient eyebrow and said, I do not take divination calls during cultivation sessions, Jia. This is a courtesy. Jia nodded. I understand, Akazuki-kun. However, I find myself in need of your help. What do you need? Guidance. She responded stoically. I want to drown Ragnarok in blood, so much so that it is all theyll know for generations to come. Chapter 151: Time Passing I The ninth week of the semester passed without much drama, although the relationship between Aodhn and the rest of his class improved significantly. In the days after his storytelling in the cafeteria, Aodhn received so many high-fives and nods of acknowledgment from his peers that he wondered if he had been transmigrated to an alternate universe without realizing it. It was funny, though, that the tension between him and many of his classmates had evaporated simply because he had told them of his experiences within the military camp. In a way, they had bonded, and Aodhn was glad for it. Classes went smoothly, and whenever Aodhn wasnt attending any classes, he spent his time training or reading up on Lutias military history, a topic he had developed an interest in after his time in the 7th sector. His training timetable was filled to the brim, and on most days, Aodhn barely managed to dedicate more than a few hours to each task. This seeming lack of time grated on his nerves, and Aodhn decided he needed to get a personal time chamber as soon as possible so he could dedicate enough time to both his training and studies. A time chamber wasnt cheap, though, and when Aodhn realized that he would have to charge up the chamber with a steady inflow of time essence, he gave up on the idea. He had spoken to Principal Zatya after his return about the money the academy had promised to give him for turning down Ludacriss offer, and after a ton of haggling and reasoning, Principal Zatya had decided to give him 100 platinum coins, which was more than he had expected but far less than he needed. With 100 platinum coins down, Aodhn still had a fine of 400 platinum coins to pay, which equaled 4000 gold coins. It was still a lot of money, and with such a debt weighing heavy on his neck, Aodhn couldnt afford to add any other major expenses to the list. When the class on Awakened Plants and Herbology came on Friday, Gwendolyn Blackwood led the entire class to a cultivated forest behind the academy for a practical exercise, asking each student to venture out in search of awakened plants. The exercise should have been hard or, at the very least, challenging, but with evolved core sense, it was basically a walk in the park. Aodhn simply had to think of a particular affinity, and his ability highlighted several areas with a dense amount of said essence to his senses. Now, unlike humans and other creatures, plants didnt have cores, but awakened plants had a dense formation of nodes within their roots that acted as one. In thirty minutes, Aodhn had successfully harvested a total of seven awakened plants, a truly impressive feat considering the sparse number of awakened plants in a forest this small. However, as the exercise continued, Aodhn soon noticed a limitation with evolved core sense, and that was the fact that despite finding awakened plants so easily, Aodhn was missing out on a ton of others too. Since Aodhn had to think of an affinity to find any awakened plants bearing such affinity, his search was being limited by his thoughts. Usually, in a forest like this, affinities such as light, darkness, nature, life, and earth were the most common, but there were a host of other affinities, and it was very possible that Aodhn had passed by a ton of awakened plants that he hadnt noticed just because he was relying too heavily on core sense. Realizing this, Aodhn gently placed the plants he had gathered so far into his spatial storage and began searching the forest the way Gwendolyn had taught them: with his eyes. This method was slower, but after another half hour, Aodhn had added three other awakened plants to his spatial storage. The first was a decay affinity plant called Rotshade, the second was an illusion affinity plant called Dreambloom, while the last was a simple light affinity plant that had been growing beneath the Dreambloom plant and had escaped his initial search for light affinity plants. The addition of these three plants brought Aodhn to a total of ten awakened plants, just slightly behind Andrew, who finished the exercise with eleven plants. All in all, the exercise was educative and fun, and although they didnt get to sell the plants they had gathered as Aodhn hoped, it was an enlightening experience regardless. After the exercise, Aodhn returned to his room to continue his training. There was so much to do, from taming his willpower, practicing his skills, and expanding his essence threads to studying and practicing his runes. The runes consumed the majority of his attention. Genevas practice notebook had opened Aodhns mind to a whole new world of runic engineering. The note was filled with all twenty-four initiate runes, repeated over and over, and with each iteration, they evolved, becoming less bulky, yet more profound and real. Aodhn spent the rest of the day practicing, and when night eventually fell, he had perfected two more runes, bringing the number of runes he has perfected that week alone to five. First he had perfected THALVINDthe rune of shadow or darkness, then BRYNGARthe rune of sound. After that he had perfected LOFTHIRthe tracking runeand finally, MYRDDAN and DRAVMIR, the runes of decay and silence, respectively. The runes had gotten progressively more complex as he neared the end, but Aodhn was too fascinated to notice. His mind was consumed with all the knowledge he was gaining from Genevas notebook. The book only contained initiate runes as well as some initiate circuits, but the way Geneva drew her runes was so bizarre and complex that Aodhn suspected they would be more appropriately ranked as pseudo-advanced runes rather than just simple runes. The complexity of Genevas runes came from an intimate understanding of the nature of runes. An understanding that was far above his own, making the last iteration of runes in the notebook look more like foreign squiggles than anything he was used to. Their basic structure remained, though, making it easy to identify each one, but compared to the first iteration of runes in the notebook, they were like day and night. Aodhn was incapable of drawing the runes yet, but that didnt mean he couldnt gain a lot just from studying them. One of the things that fascinated him was how the same rune could change so drastically within the span of only a few years. The runes became slimmer and smaller with each iteration, and Aodhn assumed they were far more efficient as well. In essence, runes had preset functions that could be manipulated or tweaked by channeling one''s intent into them using willpower. However, after studying Genevas note for several hours, Aodhn realized that it was possible to take the manipulation of runes even further than hed initially imagined. For instance, RAIDHO, the rune of space, was mostly used to either expand, reduce, or limit the amount of space within an item or area. However, Genevas version took those functions a step further, becoming far more specific. With Genevas version of RAIDHO, he could probably bend space, solidify it, or even collapse it completely. In some cases, these additional functions increased the complexity of the rune, but mostly, the runes simply became far more streamlined and straightforward. Understanding how she had evolved the runes so thoroughly was the problem, though, but Aodhn didnt even consider stopping. He would make sure that the next time he came across the Witch of Selia, it was with a far more advanced understanding of runic manipulations. Perhaps, she might even take him on as a student. He spent the rest of the day studying and practicing his runes, and when dawn broke the next morning, Aodhn finally forced himself away from his practice note and hurried to the shower for a quick bath before rushing to the gymnasium to face the days special brand of torture. After their morning exercise ended, Aodhn and his friends decided to do an early morning dungeon dive before heading to the arena for the forge matches. They delved into the same dungeon as the last time, collecting metallic ores and living creatures as they moved deeper into the dungeon. The first task was very easy, but catching a creature alive proved to be an exercise in patience. Aodhn needed the creatures alive for his Sylvael lightning experiments; however, many of the creatures preferred to gorge themselves to death rather than allow themselves to be caught. In the end, they had left the capturing process to Daruk, who simply encased each creature Aodhn found fascinating within a huge block of ice before throwing the ice block into his spatial storage. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. The entire delve was just as easy as it was last time, maybe even more now that they had advanced in one way or the other. The lowest tiered member of the group was Andrew, who stubbornly remained at the 21st tier, insisting on solidifying his foundations thoroughly before progressing further. They delved deeply into the dungeon, much farther than they had gone the last time, and it wasnt until Aodhn sensed the blazing metallic core of a tier 27, advanced class creature rushing towards them that they called it quits. They rushed out of the dungeon at full speed, not even bothering to pick up the dozens of fascinating metallic ores they came across on the way. When they finally made it out of the dungeon, Aodhn muttered. Perhaps we should stick to rifts for now. The boys unanimously agreed, and after splitting their gains amongst themselves, they moved to the arena, which was only half full when they arrived. They joined Ayisha, Scarlett, Lupin, and Aida on their aisle, and when the forge matches began, they discussed them together. The matches were far more interesting than they used to be, but Aodhn could see why Professor Alaric usually complained of losing brain cells after each match. With his perception cranked up to the maximum, Aodhn realized how slow and bland most of the matches below rank 50 were. The fact that his enhanced perception was still less than that of an advanced class awakened made Aodhn question why the other years even came down to watch these matches at all. When his turn came, Aodhn walked into the dueling ring and faced his opponent, Dimitri Castlespire, a fire-awakened noble of decent strength. The boy, however, gave up as soon as Professor Alaric called the match, causing a chorus of groans and boos to echo from the crowd. Dimitri didnt seem too bothered, though; instead, he gave Aodhn a small nod of acknowledgement and walked off the stage with his back straight. Aodhn himself was a little disappointed at Dimitris immediate surrender. He was glad that he had won without expending any energy, but he would have felt much better if Dimitri had at least put up a small fight. Professor Alaric droned out his win, and just like that, Aodhn ascended into the top twenty ranks, affirming himself as a high ranker both on the Forge list and the tower leaderboards. The rest of the day passed without much drama, and the next day, Aodhn reluctantly climbed out of bed, cursing himself and the principal for the pain and torture this day was sure to bring. He tried to delay his preparation as much as possible, but he couldnt drag it on forever, and thirty minutes later, Aodhn was fully dressed and ready for another training session with Helzarvauth and Eldrith. Yurins face flashed before his eyes, but Aodhn banished the memory with a shake of his head, scowling when he remembered what Eldrith and Helzarvauth had put him through during their last training session. Not bothering to use a platform construct, Aodhn slowly trekked to the principals office. His expression darkening with every step as he drew closer to Principal Zatyas office. However, when he raised his hands to push the door open, Aodhn suddenly felt a surge of confidence erupt within him. It filled his heart with determination and encased his mind in steel. Frowning, Aodhn walked into the office and shook his head in refusal when Principal Zatya created a portal leading to the training room. Her brows furrowed in confusion, and Aodhn spoke. Im sorry to disappoint you, but Im not doing these pain exercises anymore. Not after the way the last session ended. Principal Zatya sighed and leaned back in her chair. It was a mistake" Im not talking about the chamber situation. Aodhn cut her off. Eldrith is unstable; his teaching methods are brutal, and Im sick of it. Well, unsick yourself. Principal Zatya responded with a glare. Ive told Eldrith and Helzarvauth to be more careful, but whatever they are doing is obviously for your good. I mean, you gained a seal from it. The seal I gained has nothing to do with them. Besides, Ive already built up my pain resistance to a significant level. I do not need any more masochist training. Significant is not enough, Aodhn. Principal Zatya responded as if he was acting like a child. You need to build up your pain resistance until it becomes an immunity; something youll no longer fear but embrace. Maybe even love. That will never happen! Aodhn scowled. If you plan to turn me into some kind of masochist, then I fear youre in for a big disappointment. Has it not helped you though? principal Zatya snapped. Ive seen you fight, and your resistance to pain has grown by leaps and bounds, all thanks to Eldriths brutal methods. So, maybe you wont embrace pain, but the training wont stop until you at least develop an immunity. Aodhn couldnt deny that the idea of being immune to pain fascinated him, but after what had happened last week, he couldnt willfully put himself in that situation again. So, he said. I need a break from the pain and torture. The examination will begin soon; I just need a break. He half expected Principal Zatya to deny him again or say something about forging oneself in the crucible of pain; however, his response threw him for a loop. Her expression turned somber, and she sighed. You can take the day off and continue Let me take the rest of the term off. Aodhn hastily interjected, hoping to milk the moment now that principal Zatya was feeling so generous. What?! Principal Zatya scowled, but then she raised a hand in resignation and sighed. You know what? Its fine. You can take the rest of the term off. However, your therapy sessions with Helzarvauth are non-negotiable. It is important that you continue them. Why? Aodhn snarled, surprising even himself with the sudden burst of anger. Are my emotions so important that taking a break from therapy will ruin your grand plans? No. Principal Zatya scowled. They will destroy it. We need to get those pesky emotions under control before they ruin our plans. What do you mean, our plans? Need I remind you that I am not a willful participant in this experiment.? Principal Zatya shook her head in frustration and massaged her temples as if the conversation was physically draining her. If this is an attempt to get me to disown you as a pet, I guarantee you that it wont work. In fact, nothing will work. Eldriths training will continue next term, but the therapy stays! Youre carrying too much emotional baggage to be useful to our plans, and we need to get rid of it before moving to the next stage. Aodhns eyes widened, and he stuttered. So so, thats the reason for this therapy then? To turn me into an emotionless weapon aimed at Attilan? I thought you He let out a sad laugh and scowled. I should have known you had some selfish interest behind this. Principal Zatya grimaced and sighed. I care about you, Aodhn. Is it so wrong that I have another motive for doing something.?" Ulterior motive, you mean? Principal Zatya shook her head, and her expression hardened. I will not discuss this matter any further. Its obvious that youre in a mood, so Ill let you go and come back when youve regained your senses. I have too much on my plate right now to deal with your foolish teenage rebellion. Aodhn didnt need to be told twice. He stalked out of the office and shut the door with a bang before turning to glare at Helzarvauth, who was standing a few feet away from him, a grass stalk hanging limply from his lips. What did you do to me? He growled, as the confidence that had bubbled in his chest evaporated and the calming effect of {Eye of the Storm} slid back into place, putting an instant dampener on the rage roiling within him. Helzarvauth sensed his emotions and replied tentatively. I gave you a confidence boost. You seemed like you needed it. I didnt ask for it, though. Aodhn growled. Sensing my emotions is one thing, but manipulating them without my permission is not something you have been granted a right to do. I realize that now, and I apologize for overstepping. I didnt think you would mind, considering your elder brother is an empath as well. Well, I mind. I mind a lot. Aodhn nearly shouted as he struggled to get his emotions under control. When Helzarvauth manipulated his emotions, he had disrupted the effects of {Eye of the Storm}, leaving Aodhn at the mercy of all the emotion the passive skill had kept at bay. His emotions slowly subsided, and Aodhn leaned back against the wall to catch his breath. Im very sorry. I was just trying to help. Dont. Aodhn snapped, still feeling a little anger. Lets just get todays session over with. As you say. Helzarvauth shrugged and turned away, muttering something under his breath. He began walking down the corridor, but after taking a few steps, he turned around and shouted. What are you standing there waiting for? We have a session to attend to. Right now? Yes, now. Aodhn scowled, and after letting out a series of expletives, he followed Helzarvauth for another therapy session. Now that he knew the real reason for this therapy session, Aodhn realized he couldnt trust Helzarvauth at all. It wasnt as if he had trusted the man-child before, but now, his trust was completely gone. Still, Aodhn couldnt deny that his emotions were far from settled. They were under control for now due to the passive effect of {Eye of the Storm}, but Helzarvauths actions had just shown him what could and would happen if he ever lost access to the skill. He needed to deal with his emotions, and Helzarvauth could still help him with that. Aodhn had lost a vital part of his emotional makeup when hed used the veil of shrouded mind technique, and he was neither ready nor willing to lose more. Emotional baggage or not, Aodhn loved himself this way, and he would be damned if he let himself be turned into the cold, emotionless killing machine principal Zatya wanted. After the session with Helzarvauth, Aodhn returned to his room and immediately made his way to his training room. Feeling a bit restless and irritable, he settled into a meditative pose and closed his eyes, taking deep breaths until he felt calm enough to cultivate. He began with his essence threads, focusing on the bundle of blue micro-pathways connected to his left eye. He was already halfway through the bundle, and after nearly three hours of intense focus, Aodhn completed the bundle and moved on the threads attached to his nose, flaring his seal to quickly find their origin. Aodhn soon found a rhythm in the task, but while he worked, he wondered just how many threads he would have to expand before the technique lost the {crude} tag. Chapter 152: The Vivarium The tenth week rolled in with two major news items, the first of which was the fact that the selection process to pick out the candidates for the upcoming tournament had been shifted to the next term. It was disappointing news, as Aodhn had been looking forward to it impatiently; however, some of the students cheered, including Daruk, who was glad hed been granted more time to prepare and perhaps gain another seal before the selection process came up. The second major news was an announcement that their examinations would begin in two weeks. The announcement injected a healthy dose of fear into the students, and as the weeks classes began, one could feel a haze of nervous excitement slowly cloud the academy halls as students hurried in and out of classes. Not all the students were a bundle of nerves, though; some, like Daruk and Imani, were calm, even excited for the examinations, while others, like Andrew and Yurin, bit their nails to the bone from nerves. After Valeries class on Monday, Aodhn forcefully dragged Andrew and Yurin along with Daruk to the Vivarium of Arcane Research for his lightning experiments. It was nasty work, and he didnt want to do it alone. The Vivarium was an imposing structure, crafted out of runic scripted stones and located only a stone''s throw from the Nature Laboratory. The Vivarium was designed solely for abominable experimental pursuits and tests. It was perfect for what Aodhn had in mind. On their way there, Yurin asked, So, just how many creatures do you intend to torture today? Im experimenting, not torturing, Aodhn replied, but Yurin was not convinced. He snorted. Theyll be screaming, wont they? No, they wont. Theyll be too frozen to scream. Thats why I need Daruk to come with me. I dont see why we have to come. Yurin argued. What do you need me and Andrew for? To share in the trauma of the results. Daruk and I wont be experiencing it alone. Daruk groaned, and Aodhn had to admit that his plans for the experiments on Sylvael lightning were sounding dangerously close to animal torture, but it truly wasnt. Aodhn didnt want to hurt the creatures; in fact, he had delayed this experiment this long for that exact reason. Last week, he had gone to the academy hospital to request a pack of anesthetic strong enough to put tier fifteen creatures into a coma, and unsurprisingly, he hadnt been given It had taken a ton of paperwork and a signed permission slip from Rahim before the hospital had even considered his request. Aodhn had eventually gotten the pack of anesthetic two days ago, and he imagined that if it was strong enough to put a Tier 15 creature in a coma, then it was strong enough to put Tier 20-24 creatures down for the count or, at the very least, dampen their senses for a few minutes. Aodhns unwilling test subjects were the Rithclaws theyd caught from the dungeon last week, and the idea was that if any of them survived his experiments, he would return them to the dungeon to continue their lives in peace. If they didnt survive, though, well, better animals than human beings, right? They got to the Vivarium a few minutes later, and after presenting their IDs, the guard, a dark-skinned man with a bestial affinity, led them into the compound and towards the building proper. The man had a severe bloodline manifestation, with scruffs, claws, and even a mane of dark furs that made him look more animal than man. While the man led them into the Vivarium, Aodhn focused his senses on the mans core, trying to understand the mans bizarre concept better. The bestial affinity, like the affinity of change, had several sub-aspects, and Aodhn had realized that people with such affinities tended to be more restricted with their abilities and skills. Change, for instance, covered a wide range of sub-aspects, including transmutation, shapeshifting, changelings, molecular manipulation, and so many others. These sub-aspects usually acted as standalones, never mixing or intertwining with other sub-aspects despite all being under one banner. A transmutation-awakened could never shapeshift, and despite being pretty close in nature, a shapeshifter was vastly different from a changeling. Lesser in Aodhns opinion, as they couldnt morph into inanimate objects like changelings could. The same applied with bestial affinity, and although Aodhn hadnt come across many bestial awakeneds, he had seen a few beast tamers, as well as a tier 27 soldier who had the sub-aspect of adaptive physiology. This man, though, had something different, as his core blazed with a hint of spirituality Aodhn hadnt noticed in the others. The man felt more like a summoner to Aodhns senses, but before Aodhn could get a perfect sense of the mans affinity, they reached the Vivariums entrance, and the man led them inside. The interior of the Vivarium revealed itself, a large hall lined with enclosed workstations, each equipped with containment scripts, crystal-lit counters, and rune-inscribed tools. The guard led them to one of the workstations, warned them to be careful, and showed them a large red alarm button before promptly leaving them to their own devices. They took in the spacious workstation, wide eyes lingering on the rows of chains and contraptions that filled the room. Andrew was the first to break the silence. What do you think those chains are for? Id rather not think of what any of these instruments are used for. Yurin replied uneasily and then added. Or what theyve been used for. Oh, yuck! Andrew shuddered and recoiled, his face paling at the mental image Yurins words conjured. The chains they were referring to were a group of six bladed, palm-width null chains hanging from the center of the ceiling. The purpose of the chains was immediately obvious, but what surprised Aodhn was the size of those chains. Just how large was the creature it had been used to hold? Aodhn turned his gaze away from the chains and towards another contraption, this one a thick metallic chair that looked no different from the electric torture chairs hed seen in pictures back on earth. The chair was nearly eight feet tall, and once again, Aodhn wondered what sort of creatures the chair had been built for. So far, since his transmigration to ?FLYM, Aodhn had yet to come across any creature above the 24th tier within the settled areas of the kingdom, and even amongst the ones hed encountered, only a few of them had been evolved. This was because these areas had been culled and settled for human habitation, even the parts that werent being utilized yet. Beyond the settled areas, though, closer to the soul seed mines, Aodhn had heard tales of much stronger and larger creatures. Creatures with intelligence. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. From his studies, Aodhn knew that creatures grew larger with each tier of advancement, but considering the scale of this contraption, Aodhn suspected it was built to hold a mythic creature at least. Turning his gaze back to the chains, he joined Yurin, Daruk, and Andrew at the center of the workstation, and they spent the next few minutes discussing the anatomy of the creature this contraption was created for. Their options were endless, from large reptiles to avians and even mammals. Their curious conversation continued until Aodhn remembered why they were here in the first place, and they quickly gathered around a black marble pedestal at the center of the room. Compared to the other contraptions within the workstation, the black pedestal almost looked innocent, if not for the series of rune-inscribed chains hanging from its sides and a small carving on the top that read: For creatures below tier 25. The pedestal was perfect for what Aodhn had in mind, and without hesitation, Aodhn summoned a frozen block of ice from his spatial storage. The block appeared on the pedestal with a thud, and Aodhn grimaced when he saw the frozen expression of a Rithclaw within it. Yep. Yurin grimaced and took a step back. This is definitely torture. Andrew, who was still mad about how he had killed the plants back at the Nature Laboratory, glared at him and scowled. Are you going to kill it? Aodhn took a deep breath and sighed. No, I dont intend to kill it. This is an experiment, remember? But what if it dies? Andrew pressed. Then Id say better it than some poor sleeper. Look, guys, we kill these creatures every time. In the last dungeon dive, how many did you kill, Andrew? 12? 15? Andrew shifted uncomfortably. It... its different. Death on a battlefield is vastly different from death on a cold black pedestal that says suitable for creatures below tier 25. Yurin nodded in agreement, but before Aodhn could respond, Daruk shattered the block of ice and converted it to water, letting the whole thing cascade to the floor and drain into the sinks embedded below. When they all turned to look at him, he shrugged. You guys are bickering likeIm a feminist, so I wont say girls, but Ive got a pile of books to read, and youre wasting my time. Aodhn snorted, and they all laughed, including Daruk, who had been doing his best to mimic a certain nonchalant professor with his expression. Daruks actions did get them to focus, though, and before the Rithclaw could regain its senses, they already had its limbs tightly chained to the pedestal. The Rithclaw growled in growing agitation as the chilling effects of the cold slowly wore off, but Aodhn was prepared for that. He took out a rune-inscribed syringe from his spatial space, filled it with the anesthetic he had gotten from the hospital, and injected it into the Rithclaws shoulder. The effect of the anesthetic was immediate, and as the Rithclaws consciousness slowly reduced to a state of dormancy, Andrew quipped. Well, at least its comfortable. Aodhn chuckled, and just like he had seen many scientists do, he began speaking even though there was nothing to record his words. The first test subject, #Rithclaw1, is now fully sedated and ready for the experiment. His friends raised eyebrows, and Andrew shook his head, muttering, Hed lost it. Oh, I always knew this day would come. Aodhn ignored them, and with only a bit of hesitation, he activated {Merge}, transforming his fingers into long, sharp claws. Carefully, he made a cut on the Rithclaws belly, smiling in relief when the creature barely reacted, but his smile disappeared when he heard Yurin mutter something about mad scientists from behind him. Not bothering to respond, Aodhn focused on his task, and with a small flex of energy and willpower, he activated {Lightning BeamGreen}, reducing the intensity of the skill to a small torrent before channeling it directly into the bleeding wound. The Rithclaw jerked a little as the torrent of green lightning rushed into its body, but rather than explode or mutate like Aodhn had expected, the wound sealed, the skin smoothing over as though it had never been torn. A wave of relief washed over Aodhn, and he laughed. It worked! By the Ascendants, it worked! Its a healing skill after all. Daruk grinned as he inspected the still unconscious creature, but then his expression turned sour, and he asked. If its a healing skill, why then is it hurting plants? Aodhn frowned and glanced at the healed wound, now wondering the same thing. If {Elemental LightningGreen} was truly a healing skill, then it shouldnt have such terrible effects on plants. Perhaps it''s only compatible with humans. Yurin offered, but Aodhn shook his head. The Sylvael lightning is a mix of verdant energy and lightning. If its compatible with anything, it would be plants, not animals. But perhaps, because its corrupted He trailed off, his thoughts going off in an odd tangent, but Daruks next words shook him out of it. Whatever the answer is, well figure it out. We have a lot of test subjects after all. Aodhn nodded in agreement. He raised his claws again, and Andrew sighed, Aaaand were back to cutting. Aodhn ignored him, and this time he made a deeper cut, causing the Rithclaw to jerk as the pain probably pierced through the sedative haze around its mind. It calmed down almost immediately, and Aodhn repeated the process, channeling a larger amount of lightning into the bleeding wound. The Rithclaw jerked again and even let out a whimper of pain as lightning rushed into its body. Daruk, Andrew, and Yurin leaned forward to observe the process closely, and at first it seemed like nothing would happen, but after a few seconds, the gash sealed itself again, leaving only a few spots of blood on the Rithclaws gray fur. Aodhn grinned in excitement as he observed the now healed wound for any mutations or odd stuff. His grin widened when he found none, but just as he began to internally celebrate, his enhanced perception picked up a subtle yet consistent trembling in the Rithclaws left hind limb. He pointed at the trembling limb and asked. Can you guys see that? The others peered even closer, and after a few seconds, Yurin nodded. A faint trembling. It might just be nerves, though; you should probably try a more serious injury to be sure. Aodhn did just that, this time tearing a gash so long that it almost split the Rithclaws belly in two. He grimaced as blood poured out onto the marble surface, and from the expression on the faces of the others, it was obvious that none of them were comfortable with this experiment. Even Aodhn felt slightly nauseated, so he decided to hurry the experiment up. This time he infused willpower into {Lightning BeamGreen}, considering the extent of the wound, and channeled the torrent of green lightning into the Rithclaws belly. The Rithclaw spasmed, its eyes snapping open from pain as lightning dove into its belly. Chains rattled, and a pained roar echoed within the workstation as the gash slowly began to heal, making squelching sounds as the hide knitted itself back together. Halfway through the process, though, the Rithclaw spasmed again, the motion so violent that the pedestal itself shook. Blood pooled, and the newly healed skin darkened as a sickly green web of insidious energy began to spread outward from the site. Aodhn leaned forward, trying to get a better view of this new development. The purplish-green web spread out like tentacles, seeming to spread through the tissues rather than the Rithclaws veins or arteries. Whats going on? Andrew asked. Im not sure. Aodhn replied as he placed a steadying hand on the Rithclaw and frowned in growing unease as its breathing grew erratic. He was just considering cutting the skill off when the greenish web suddenly grew more pronounced, lurching forward to engulf the Rithclaws entire belly in an instant. The Rithclaw convulsed and let out an agonized cry, smashing its skull against the marble pedestal in a violent attempt to escape its pain. Aodhn cut the skill off immediately, concerned and more than a little disgusted with himself for not cutting the skill off earlier. Cutting off the skill had little to no effect, though. The greenish web didnt stop growing, and neither did the Rithclaws pain lessen. It jerked and spasmed, and despite their best efforts to stabilize it, the Rithclaw refused to stay still. However, things only got worse when the insidious web reached the Rithclaws chest. It screamed and arched so violently that its spine snapped, spraying blood, metal, and viscera everywhere. The blood drenched them all, filling the air with the coppery scent of metal, and Aodhn finally admitted. Perhaps it is torture after all. Chapter 153: The Vivarium II Aodhn would have loved to say he felt the most disgusted out of the group, but that was far from the truth. Andrews expression was so shaken that he nearly looked traumatized as blood dripped from his face, while YurinYurin was puking in a corner. Aodhn only partially understood their reactions considering the unconventional nature in which the Rithclaw had died, but he would be lying if he said he could relate. They killed creatures all the time, both in the tower challenges and during their dungeon and rift delves, so what made this so different? Daruk, on the other hand, looked just as calm and collected as usual, and the only sign of disgust in his expression was a slight downturn of his lips. That wasnt to mean that Daruk was comfortable with the whole thing; his cold expression was simply a result of him channeling his willpower to maintain the unbothered persona of his affinity. In the silence that followed the Rithclaws death, Aodhn created a storm cloud that drenched the entire workstation in rain and washed off the blood from their bodies, the walls, and the pedestal itself. After all the blood drained into the sink, Aodhn cut off the rain and dismissed the storm cloud before turning to look at Yurin and Andrew. Would you guys prefer to sit out the next phase of experiments? I understand that this is uncomfortable for us all, and I dont want you to feel obligated to stay. Andrew seemed very eager to say yes, but after a moment of thought, he shook his head and said, No, lets continue. Yurin merely nodded to signal his agreement with Andrew, so Aodhn turned his gaze to Daruk. Daruk shrugged and said, I will stay, naturally. Aodhn nodded, and without further hesitation, he activated {Lightning BeamBlack}, engulfing the entire corpse in necrotic lightning and turning it all to ash before taking out the next Rithclaw. This time he skipped his little speech after injecting the Rithclaw and instead delved directly into experimenting. It was obvious now that although {Elemental LightningGreen} had healing capabilities, it wasnt gentle or refreshing in any way. Aodhn had no idea what the insidious web of sickly energy was, but he intended to find out. The skill had healed the Rithclaw twice without issues, so why had it suddenly turned the third time? As Aodhn processed the result of his previous experiment, he soon came to two assumptions or hypotheses. The first was that there was a limit to how many times he could heal a single creature with {Elemental LightningGreen} before things started to go south, while the second theory, and the one he was leaning most towards, was that he could only afford to use the skill for minor injuries, injuries that would eventually be easily taken care of by minor regeneration. Any serious injuries would be a problem. To test out his theories, Aodhn made a small gash on #Rithclaw2 and healed it. He repeated the process half a dozen times before discarding the idea that there was a limit to the number of times he could heal a persons wound. That left the second theory, and with cautious movements, he opened a large gash on the Rithclaws belly, tearing it from side to side. This injury was even larger than the one he had opened on the previous Rithclaw, and with a whispered prayer to whichever god or ascendant that was watching, Aodhn channeled lightning into the wound. This time, he hadnt bothered employing his willpower, just to eliminate that worry. Still, the bizarre phenomenon repeated itself. The Rithclaw jerked violently and spasmed as its wound began knitting itself back together. However, barely a quarter way through, the knitted skin turned sickly, and the greenish web of insidious energy appeared again. It spread outward, draining the life from wherever it touched instantly and causing the area to decay rapidly. Aodhn cut off the skill immediately, breathing heavily as the Rithclaw twisted erratically and its injury darkened to a purplish infected hue. Despite Aodhns quick deactivation of the skill this time, the damage had been done. The sickly web of energy spread, draining the life from every area and widening the injury. It crawled steadily towards the Rithclaws heart, and Aodhn knew he had lost another Rithclaw. He raised a hand to put the poor creature out of its misery, but Yurin beat him to it, stabbing a sword of light into its throat and severing its head in one quick motion. Aodhn nodded in thanks and said, I think its safe to say the Sylvael lightning skill is no healing skill. It is more appropriate to call it a leech or even parasite skill as it ended up draining the life of the Rithclaws after accumulating a certain amount. It seems more sentient than parasitic to me. Yurin frowned in confusion. Itll heal minor injuries without issue, but it turns when it senses a larger injury. Perhaps it has a taste of blood Or perhaps the answer is simpler. Daruk interjected. Perhaps its simply a matter of quantity. Lesser injuries require a smaller amount of the lightning, so its possible that the energy is used up before it can turn against the test subjects. A larger amount, though... Daruk trailed off, and Aodhn nodded, understanding what Daruk meant. There was a threshold somewhere, a line very similar to the oversaturation in plants. As long as he didnt cross that line, the green lightning would heal the injuries without issue, but the moment he crossed the ominous line, the green lightning would turn, draining the life of the test subject rather than healing it. Still, that begged the question. Could he slowly heal a major injury by slowly healing it instead? No, he shook his head. The test subjects would bleed out before their skin knitted back together if he took that route. Magical healing had to be instant to save lives. You havent even tested the poison. Andrew muttered in the silence, and Aodhn shook his head. If healing a major wound is already a problem, imagine adding poison to the mix. It wouldnt hurt to try. Daruk shrugged, and after a while, Aodhn decided to give it a try. He glanced at the severed head of the Rithclaw for a moment before cleaning the whole thing up with a burst of black lightning. Another Rithclaw appeared on the marble with a thud, and after injecting the anesthetic, he looked to Andrew, who created a black vine from his palms and placed the tip above the Rithclaws belly, just before Aodhn slashed it in two. The belly tore open with a spray of blood, and a shiny black liquid the size of a pebble dropped from the vine into the open wound just before Aodhn channeled a torrent of {Elemental LightningGreen} into it. Needless to say, the results were far from positive. This time the wound didnt even heal. Instead, the lightning exploded with what seemed to be fury. It attacked the poison, lashing on to the liquid with a multitude of insidious energy tentacles, and the Rithclaw simply decayed from the inside out. No violent spasms. No twitch. Just instant decay. It was both amazing and concerning at the same time, and Aodhn realized he could never let Principal Zatya know the effect of this skill. It was too insidious. Too terrible. It was the perfect instrument for torture. I think we can all call it a day. Yurin said after the silence stretched too long. Ive seen enough, and I think its better to stop now. The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Aodhn sighed, unable to disagree. He was disappointed. He had been hoping, despite all he had seen that this skill was a healing skill, that he could perhaps be good for something else other than battle, torture, and death. He had wanted to prove it to himself that he was good, that he was nothing like Azmarthon. Alas, it seemed that regardless of how hard he fought it, he was destined to walk in his patron''s footsteps. Daruk and the others tried to cheer him up, but Aodhn just felt too down to be cheered up even though he let out a few smiles to let them know that he was fine. They stepped out of the Vivarium half an hour later, and as they returned to their individual residences for a quick bath, Aodhn wondered how he would keep this skill secret from principal Zatya. Was it possible to delete a skill? *** The rest of the week passed by in a monotonous fashion, and throughout this period, Aodhn buried any thought of the green lightning deep in his mind. He didnt even think about it lest the mere thought of it exposed its nature to the principal; instead, he focused on his medication and classes with single-minded devotion. With the selection process postponed, there was barely anything fun to do aside from the forge matches, tower challenges, and rift delving. However, a burst of fun returned when the class on Awakened Combat came around, and Professor Alaric led them to the simulation chambers once more. Excitedly, the students piled into their pods and a few minutes later, they found themselves in a familiar environment. There was less puking this time as the students made their way to the Red Order, and Aodhn felt a pang in his chest when he instinctively reached out to hold Lupin and found no one. Too stubborn to let that emotion bring him down, Aodhn reached forward and grasped Andrews hands. Andrew glared at him but didnt pull away, and when they reached the red fort, he muttered. You better be writing me a check soon if youre going to make me your emotional support human. This time they didnt bother showering and instead dove directly into planning. They obviously couldnt use the same tactics they had used the last time, as the Black Order would be prepared for that. So, they spent the next few minutes deliberating, and in the end, they decided on an all-out battle. The plan was simple: the high rankers among them would fight and hopefully defeat the high rankers of the Black Order while Cameron and Lupin went around culling their weaker members. The problem lay in the fact that the Black Order had more high rankers than them, but that was where Varc came in. The Black Order seemed to have had a similar idea, and half an hour later both groups stood at their respective boundaries, glaring daggers at each other while their soldiers marched below. When the Black Order noticed Lupins and Camerons absence, they tensed, searching back and forth for the assassins who were already making their way behind enemy lines. As if the Black Order wasnt tense enough, Aodhn chose that moment to summon Varc, who exited his spirit with a roar of excitement, and that was when all hell broke loose. With a roar of competitive fury, the Red and Black Order clashed. Lilith clashed with Ayisha in a cascade of blood and stagnant time. Daruk clashed with Alesh Vilaris in a cloud of smoldering ash and hail. Yurin clashed with Eren in a brutal dance of burning light and cold metal, Grendar clashed with Andrew in an eruption of wriggling vines and steel, and up in the sky, high above all the others, Aodhn and Cyrus clashed in an awe inspiring wave of roiling storms and spatial essence. Thunder boomed as Varc descended from the sky, unleashing a massive beam of red lightning on the Black Order that completely obliterated a host of their simulated army and a handful of their members in one move. This caused a few of their members to falter, and the Red Order quickly took advantage of that. Invisible to the senses of most, Cameron and Lupin moved through the battlefield, cutting down soldiers and students alike in order to lessen the burden on the high rankers. Lysirel tried to block them, but she was quickly intercepted by Scarlett and Azul Fetherson, while Dihlon rained explosions on Ankaz Urdania and his brother. The sounds of battle increased as chaos grew, and hovering above it all was Varc, who unleashed beam after beam of lightning upon the Black Order. Many turned to attack him, but it was an effort in futility. Their actions only served to excite Varc, who was nearly immortal for as long as Aodhn was alive. With another roar, Varc proceeded to unleash a horror of lightning spears on the Black Order, taking out 90% of their army and nearly a dozen students with the attack. Varcs emotions bled into his own, filling him with an intense burst of chaos and excitement, but with {Eye of the Storm} and the enhanced perception that came with it, Aodhn had no trouble controlling himself. Instead, he used the chaotic emotions as fuel, his grin widening as he cranked his perception to the maximum, and with a speed that even Cyrus had trouble following, Aodhn unleashed a condensed beam of red lightning straight at Cyrus. Cyrus managed to dodge, but that was the last attack he dodged. For the next few minutes, Aodhn nearly beat the pompous noble to death, running circles around him and simply overpowering him with willpower. Cyrus tried to fight back, even putting up a strong defense, but Aodhn was just too fast, and his skills were too strong thanks to the perfect imbuement technique. With a quick activation of {Create construct}, Aodhn slammed a huge hammer of red electricity into Cyruss face, and the force of the attack snapped Cyruss head to the side so violently that Aodhn suspected he had broken something. Whatever it was, though, it wasnt enough to kill Cyrus, so Aodhn slammed the hammer on his head this time, shattering the construct Cyrus stood on and sending him to the ground below. While Cyrus fell helplessly to the ground, Aodhn opened his spirit up to the origin plane of storm, and as chaos poured into his spirit, he channeled it all into {Lightning BeamRed}, unleashing a torrent of red electricity so great that it seared the very atmosphere. Like a storm given life, the beam smashed into Cyrus with an intensity that sent shockwaves into the air, formed a crater several meters wide, and would have completely obliterated Cyrus had it not been a simulated reality. Cyrus was eliminated from the simulation exercise immediately, and despite the Black Orders best efforts, it all went downhill from there. Aodhn dove back into the chaos, aiming for the stronger members of the Black Order that hadnt been dealt with yet. Isis took a hammer to her head at full force, dying before she could even realize what killed her. Yurin went next, and ten minutes later, only a few stumbling simulated soldiers remained of the Black Order. The Red Order had also lost a lot of their members, but with nearly two dozen members remaining, they were undeniably the victors. Aodhn emerged from his pod a few seconds later, and the noise of celebration that greeted him was nearly deafening. In that moment, Aodhn forgot his worries and basked in the admiration of his friends while the Black Order sulked on the other side of the simulation chambers. The rest of the week moved on quickly, and as the 10th week drew to a close, the tower leaderboard changed so drastically that it was nearly unrecognizable. Perhaps it was as a result of an overflow of adrenaline left over from the simulation exercise, but in the next few days, the students challenged the tower like there was no tomorrow. Aodhn himself had challenged the tower twice, and although he finally beat the blood orc guarding the 26th level, he was now stuck on the 27th level, barely able to survive more than five minutes against the monster of a creature guarding that particular level. Leaderboards. -Tower of Ascension (1st year) ? Aodhn Brystion, Level 271st ? Cyrus Valerion, Level 262nd ? Daruk Brystion, Level 253rd ? Cameron Lorde, Level 254th ? Lilith Bloodmoon, Level 255th ? Lysirel Cosmind, Level 256th ? Yurin Lahey, Level 257th ? Isis Anvindr, Level 258th ? Alesh Vilaris, Level 259th ? Marcellus Edgarin, Level 2510th Cyrus had also progressed into the 26th level, but hed had to advance into the 23rd tier to do so, which drastically reduced the significance of his achievement and only made him detest Aodhn more. One thing that gave Aodhn joy about the new leaderboard was that finally, Grendars name had been pushed out of the top ten. In fact, many of the top names had been pushed down, replaced by a ton of new names, most of whom were commoners. Aodhn was particularly impressed with Cameron, who, without a bloodline, managed to reach the fourth spot on the leaderboards. Except something drastic happened, though, Aodhn doubted he would be climbing any further, considering those he would have to surpass to do so. The updated leaderboards brought their own share of conflicts and anger, which turned the already tense competition between the students into something bordering on a frenzy. When the weekends came, Aodhn decided to spend the time getting his spiritual advancement in order. He started by taming a ton of willpower, and when he was done, he moved on to the essence threads and began expanding. He worked dutifully, dedicating a whole day to the task and only taking time out to defend his position in the forge matches. For the rest of the weekend, Aodhn meditated and worked tirelessly on his advancement, but when the 11th week finally rolled in, Aodhn put aside his advancement in favor of studying. He focused more on AAT and UEA as they were the bulkiest but also managed to devote ample time to Awakened Combat, Awakened Plants and Herbology, as well as Runic Theory. Revision classes went on as usual, but with the examinations being so close, the usual excitement that had plagued the academy for the last two weeks finally subsided as students spent most of their time either in the library or in their rooms reading. The 11th week passed without much drama either, and in a blink of an eye, the 12th week rolled in. It was time for their first semester exams. Chapter 154: Examination Begins Within the oval walls of the runic laboratory, seventeen students sat at their individual workbenches, meditating silently in preparation for the examination. These seventeen students were the ones who persevered through the entire course. Some had joined towards the end of the term, some just before the midterm break, and of course, some had left too. Popular among these seventeen students were Lupin Cavanaugh, Alesh Vilaris, Ankaz Urdania and his brother, who had joined towards the end of the term, Aida Simms, Yurin Lahey, and Aodhn. A few of these students were nervous about the exam, and rightfully so, considering the time theyd joined the class and what little theyd gained so far; however, more than half the class seemed confident of their knowledge and werent nervous at all. Chief amongst those with utmost confidence was Aodhn, who was seated at his usual workbench, eyes open, yet not really focused on anything. He was reviewing his status screen, reading through his titles and skills to pass the time until the exam began. Beside him was Yurin, who was usually seated behind him but had switched just for the sake of the exam. Yurin wasnt just among those who were nervous for this exam; he was chief among them, which was unusual since he had joined the class from the very beginning and had never defaulted. However, Yurins mind just wasnt built for runes, and the only reason he had stayed the course till the end was because he was too stubborn to give up. He sat with his arms folded, feet tapping against the stone floor rhythmically as he fought the urge to bite his nails. As time slowly passed, though, his nervous actions increased until Aodhn just had to comment. He dismissed his status screen and asked cluelessly. Are you nervous? Yes. Aodhn suppressed a smile. Do you want to puke? No. You look like you want to puke. I dont. Yurin gave him a side eye and scowled. Stop hounding me. This time Aodhn couldnt suppress his amusement. Chuckling, he leaned forward, and with an expression of forced concern, he asked. Are you sure you dont want to puke? Your face is a little green. I am sure. Yurin replied through gritted teeth, and his scowl deepened. Now, for fuck''s sake, leave me alone. Im trying to keep all Ive read from escaping my mind. Fine, fine. Aodhn chuckled and raised his hand in surrender, but he soon frowned as a curious thought crossed his mind. What is it? Yurin glared at him as he leaned forward once more. Sorry, I know youre trying to cage your thoughts and all, but dont you have that radiant clarity skill that is supposed to give you mental clarity? Yurin snorted. Radiant clarity doesnt clear my mind or help me articulate my thoughts. What it does is grant me clarity in terms of perception and point out the flaws around me, like the fact that your buttons are improperly done, or the fact that Ankaz is holding his pen wrongly, or the fact that Lupins workbench is tilted slightly to the left rather than the right, or the fact Yeah, I think I get it. Aodhn quickly cut his friend off before he went into a spiral. Correcting his shirt, he muttered, Sounds like OCD to me. Yurin massaged his temples and sighed. Ive gotten better at ignoring them lately, and thankfully, its not a passive skill, but the moment I focus on a single flaw, the others start to go off like alarms to my senses. You hate alarms. Aodhn quipped. Damn right, I do. Yurin sighed. The point is, radiant clarity isnt going to help me pass this exam, and unless theres an error or flaw in the question, radiant clarity will be completely useless. Aodhn nodded, understanding Yurins skill better. It had the same roots with {Eye of the Storm}, but whereas his own provided mental clarity and enhanced perception,. Yurin simply pointed out flaws both in his perception and his surroundings. The skill was far from useless, as it basically made Yurin immune to illusions and certain cloaking skills, but its usefulness in this examination was severely limited. He and Yurin continued speaking until Professor Caldwell walked into the lab, followed closely by a tall, lanky man dressed in a fitted blue suit. The mans silver-streaked hair fell in wisps around his face, catching the light with an ethereal gleam. His silver irises, which were hidden behind a pair of dark shades, were faceted like gems instead of circular, shifting color subtly as the man took in the room. Along his hands and temples, faint fractal patterns, almost like delicate runes, were etched across his skin. The patterns gleamed beautifully, but what caught Aodhns attention was the Ministry tag pinned to his suit. When they reached the stage, the man took off his glasses, revealing his irises to them, and Aodhn barely suppressed a gasp of surprise when core sense identified the mans affinity as insight. The man smiled and introduced himself. Good morning students, I am Cale Everglade, an agent from the Ministry of Awakened Affairs, acting as an external supervisor for this exam. Please note that no sort of malpractice will be tolerated, and with my abilities, be rest assured that nothing will escape my gaze. Aodhn was very inclined to believe him. The man had an affinity so elusive, he had only heard of one other person with the affinity. The affinity granted skills focused on perception, awareness, as well as the flow of magic and intentions. Basically, the man was a combination of a diviner, a psychic, and a truth seeker all rolled into one. Please, direct your questions to me or Professor Caldwell. No side talk will be tolerated. He glanced towards Professor Caldwell, and when she nodded, he continued. The duration of this exam is two hours and will start immediately after your question papers have been completely distributed. I wish you all the best of luck. The more runic engineers we can get in the world, the better we are. Agent Cales comment elicited wide smiles from the students, and Professor Caldwell finally took the stage, a stack of documents in her hands. She smiled at them and said, I must say that I am very surprised at the number of students who have stayed this course to the end. I am extremely proud of you all and certainly hope to see you all next term. That said, let me give a brief explanation of what to expect in this exam. The exam has two parts, a multiple-choice section and a theoretical section, both of which are worth a total of hundred points. I wish you all the best of luck. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! They chorused their appreciation, and Professor Caldwell began sharing the question. She handed out each question along with an answer sheet, and just like during the entrance exam, she placed the question papers upside down. When she reached Aodhns workbench, she smiled and said, You do not look nervous, Mr. Brystion. Aodhn shrugged. Im afraid Im a little too confident to be nervous. Professor Caldwell just chuckled and shook her head before moving on to the next person. For the next few minutes, Aodhn closed his eyes and let the effects of {Eye of the Storm} completely engulf him, pulling him into a state of calm so profound his mind was as still as the surface of a lake. By the time Professor Caldwell asked them to begin, Aodhns mind was clear, and his thoughts were crystal. He opened the question paper, eyes scanning the multiple-choice section, and he smiled when he saw the first question. The question was so simple that Aodhn barely had to think to pick out the correct option. The second question was even simpler, and fifteen minutes later, Aodhn was done with the entire multiple-choice section. He went through the questions again, out of habit, but he found no errors. To Aodhn, the questions were so simple that he would have been assured of success even if he were half asleep. He found a few questions that might have been a little challenging to someone who hadnt begun activating runes and runic circuits, but aside from those, he doubted anyone should have any issue with the exam. With the multiple-choice section completed, Aodhn moved on to the theory section. He settled more comfortably into his workbench and began reading. After going through the questions, Aodhn began tackling each one comprehensively. If he hadnt known he was far ahead of the curve for this course, the exam proved it to him greatly. The questions were beyond simple, and half an hour later, Aodhn had completed the entire questionnaire. He scanned his answers for any mistakes, and then scanned it again just because he didnt want to be the first to submit, but after another ten minutes passed, Aodhn finally got up to submit. He was barely halfway out of his seat when Ankaz stood up too. Aodhn grinned, happy for his uncompetitive rival, and after submitting their papers, they stepped out of the hall and began discussing the exam. It soon became obvious that they had both chosen the same answers for almost each question, affirming to Aodhn that Ankaz was only a little less knowledgeable than him when it came to runes. Alesh and Celeste joined them a few minutes later, with Lyra hot on their heels. Another round of discussion ensued, but when Alesh suggested they continue their discussion in the cafeteria, Aodhn declined, choosing to wait for Yurin and Lupin. For the last few weeks, Aodhn had been concerned about how Lupin was faring, and although Scarlett said she was fine, Aodhn wasnt so sure. She had attended her classes as usual, but somehow her presence was always lacking. In the last few weeks, she even seemed to be regressing, and although Aodhn knew they didnt have to be enemies, Lupin was the one keen on avoiding him. Yurin emerged from the laboratory ten minutes later, scowling. His expression was so comical that even without saying a word, Aodhn was already laughing. When he eventually tried to speak, Yurin cut him off with a glare and said, Why didnt you discourage me from taking this ascendant forsaken course? Why didnt you persuade me? Aodhn laughed, his voice thundering out of him as he tried to get himself under control. When he eventually did, he said. I tried, but you were just too stubborn. Yurin cursed and shook his head as if he couldnt remember the thousand and one times Aodhn had gently tried to persuade him. Chuckling, Aodhn shook his head and asked. Surely, the exam wasnt that terrible. Yurin looked at him askance and snorted. Maybe for you, but I just perfected THURISAZ two nights ago, and thats only the third rune. Aodhn suppressed another bout of laughter and said, Well, you can always drop the course next term. Yurin nodded, but Aodhn knew his friend well enough to know that come next term, they would most likely be having this conversation again. It was as if Yurin was averse to giving up on anything once he had begun it. Aodhn wished he had that kind of perseverance. While they spoke, Lupin eventually stepped out of the laboratory, but aside from a polite hello and a smile at Yurin, she made no move to discuss the exam. Aodhn contemplated asking, but he soon discarded the idea. If Lupin wanted to make him a stranger, then there was no need to force something more. After Lupin left, Aodhn and Yurin began walking to the cafeteria, and Aodhn asked. Which examination are you having next? Yurin scoffed. Evolved Skill Crafting and Energy Manipulation. Well, good luck with that. I have to meet up with Andrew for Awakened Plants and Herbology in the next thirty minutes. They made their way to the cafeteria, and after a small lunch, Aodhn headed towards Awakened Plants and Herbology Hall for his next exam. Ten minutes later, he arrived at the hall and quickly made his way to his usual seat. Andrew sat in the seat beside him, humming a quiet tune as he riffled through his textbook, not really reading, just revising. When he noticed Aodhn, he began pointing out certain questions that might be asked, and since he was a plant awakened himself, Aodhn took his words seriously. Who else could be considered an authority on the subject besides the sole plant awakened in the entire year bracket? Their discussion continued for a few more minutes, and at one point, even Azul Fetherson joined them, creating fragile yellow tulips between her fingers as she spoke. Aodhn had to admit that he was slightly nervous about this exam, and that was because he had missed several classes in the last few weeks and even a test, which had cost him 20 forge points towards the course. Aodhn wasnt too worried, though, as he had gained enough contribution points during the classes he had attended as well as the just-concluded exercise that he was confident of at least passing the course with a decent grade. Their conversation was abruptly interrupted when Gwendolyn Blackwood strode into the hall, followed by a muscular man exuding an aura of divinationanother rare affinity, particularly in Ragnarok, where faith in the divine was, at best, superficial. The man introduced himself as Tarion Crownstar and delivered a speech nearly identical to the one Cale had given earlier. Despite Aodhns firm resolve to avoid cheating, he found himself far less impressed by Tarion than he had been by Cale. After Tarion finished speaking, Gwendolyn took to the stage, holding a thin stack of documents in her hands. Good morning, students. This exam will be taking a very different turn than what you must have expected. The exam has been split in two, a multiple-choice part worth 50 points and a practical part worth another 50 points. Murmurs of confusion rippled through the students, but Gwendolyns next words ignited an uproar. For the practical aspect of the exam, youll be transported to a section of Nilhal, the largest forest in the 5th sector, where youll each be tasked with gathering a dozen Awakened plants of varying ranks. While many of the other students complained about the abrupt change, Aodhn was having trouble keeping his excitement down. The practical favored him greatly, and just like that, whatever worry hed had concerning the test evaporated. Raising her hands to placate them, Gwendolyn continued. Apart from the forge points youll gain for each plant, youll also be allowed to exchange whatever plants you find for a fair price, and remember, even common awakened plants are not cheap. Gwendolyns words further sweetened the deal for Aodhn, whose mind was constantly plagued by the fine he owed the Awakened council. He couldnt have been more excited had someone decided to pay his debt for him, and when the multiple-choice part of the exam began, he and Andrew practically raced through it, eager to begin the second part as soon as possible. They were going to Nilhal, the largest magical forest in the 5th sector. With core sense, Aodhn could already imagine the amount of plants and money hell gain from this expedition. Andrew, on the other hand, was excited for a much different reason. This was the opportunity he had been waiting for. Finally, he would get the chance to use {Mycelium Network}, a skill he had been saving for weeks now. He bobbed on his seat, waiting for the other students to finish so they could begin the second part of the exam. His entire body shivered with anticipation, and he couldnt wait to find out how many seals he would gain from connecting his mind to one of the largest forests in the whole of Ragnarok. He was ready to break through the lower ranks of the forge list. He was ready to become a high ranker! Chapter 155: Nilhal—Aodhán, Andrew Located smack in the center of the 5th sector, the magical forest of Nilhal is one of the largest plant habitats in all of Ragnarok, with trees dating back centuries still in existence. Chock full of life, nature, and vitality essence, the forest is considered a haven for many plant Awakeneds, so much so that in the last hundred years, a total of sixty-two plant Awakeneds have chosen the forest as their burial site, further increasing its spirituality with the essence of their Advancement. The forest is controlled by the Awakened council and isnt easily accessible, even to nobles; however, it is known that fortune finds any herb gatherer who manages to make it in. Struggling herb gatherer and merchant. Elovnius Berkentile. Sector 5, 2270. While they waited for the other students to finish up the multiple-choice part of the exam, Aodhns mind raced with excitement and a dozen other emotions that made him utterly unable to keep still. The written exam had been quite simple, revolving mainly around the identification and harvesting of awakened plants as well as their common uses. Aodhn had finished all 50 questions in twenty minutes, and now he blamed himself for rushing so much. The duration of the exam was one hour, and from how slowly some students were writing, it seemed as if they intended to use their time completely. Thankfully, Andrew joined him a few minutes later, just as eager as he was, if not more. However, that only meant Aodhn had to spend the next twenty minutes with a partner who was just as excited as he was for the exercise. It was torture. Time passed slowly, but eventually, the exam ended, and Gwendolyn gathered all the students in a circle within the hall to brief them on the exercise. Nilhal is a dangerous place, she began, looking each and every one of them in the eye to make sure they understood before proceeding. I know you have all heard great things about it, but the great forest isnt just restricted to its resources alone. The essence of this exam is to get you familiar with herb gathering if thats a profession any of you would like to pursue; however, despite our best efforts, weve been unable to completely eliminate the element of danger. She glanced at the Agent Everglade and said,. Agent Crownstar and his partner have managed to chase out every creature above the 24th tier from within a small section of the forest. This section is where the second part of the examination will be taking place, supervised by myself, Agent Crownstar, and Agent Everglade. Our belief is that everyone here is able to fight up at least 3 tiers, and with the lowest tiered person among youshe consulted a listbeing at the 21st tier, we believe you to be capable of defending yourselves against tier 24 creatures. Some students shuffled uncertainly, but Aodhn and Andrew simply considered the supposed element of danger as more cores to exchange or absorb into their classes. Gwendolyn continued. Youll each be given a spatial ejector if things become dire; however, note that ejection equates to submission. If you have gathered no plants before ejection, that simply means you have failed the second half of this exam. Along with the ejector, youll also be given a special spatial ring to house the plants you gather. Please remember, you are to gather a total of ten Awakened plants regardless of rank or affinity. However, a higher rank will obviously get you more points. Gwendolyn continued speaking for the next few minutes, and although it was useful information to have, Aodhn was impatient to begin. He shuffled back and forth, only a little less anxious than Andrew, who was teetering on the edge of glee and insanity, impatient for what was to come. Rahim walked into the hall as Gwendolyn was rounding up her speech, looking a little annoyed, and a few seconds later, Aodhn realized why. Rahim walked towards the center of the hall and glared at Gwendolyn. I am not your ferryman, Miss Blackwood. Im a damned noble for ascendants sake. The next time you need to do an impromptu mass teleportation, get Kaelith to do it. Im sure its part of his job description anyway. Gwendolyn just smiled as if Rahim had made that exact statement hundreds of times before and said, Ill keep that in mind; now please help me. She and Rahim talked logistics for a moment, and when they were done, Rahim turned his attention to the students and snapped his fingers, immediately creating a swirling, purple portal nearly 15 feet in height and just as wide in the center of the hall. Too eager to wait behind all the other hesitating students, Aodhn pocketed his ejector, grabbed the special spatial ring, and, without hesitation, he rushed towards the portal. Yet, somehow, he managed to arrive third, beaten both by Andrew and Azul Fetherson, the latter of whom Aodhn couldnt even imagine what made her so excited. He stepped into the swirling portal, and the next instant, Aodhn was nearly overcome by the dense, heady scent of earth and life that greeted him the moment he arrived within the ancient forest of Nilhal. The forest stretched for miles in all directions, with towering trees wrapped in gnarled vines that dripped with crystalline dew. Only a few miles away, the nexus of sunsets shone, blinding in its intensity as it bathed the entire area in hues of gold and orange so deep and rich that they almost looked like paint. The light filtered in through the dense canopy of leaves above, casting a kaleidoscope of colors on the humming foliage. The ground beneath his feet was dry, but not starved despite the lack of rain in the last four to five months. All around him, vines hung, partially wrapped around tall branches, while twisted roots coiled over the floor like watchful serpents. An overwhelming feeling of peace engulfed Aodhn, and it was so strong that he had to lessen the effects of {Eye of the Storm} just to keep himself from dozing off right on his feet. All around him, birds hummed, insects tittered, and even without core sense, Aodhn could feel an abundance of essence and spirituality in the air. This forest was in no way normal, and although it wasnt sentient, it was alive in a way that no other forest Aodhn had explored felt before. He took a few minutes to take in the beauty of the forest around him before bringing his mind back to the task at hand: plant gathering. Now, there were two ways he could go about this task, and had he been more interested in sharpening his natural skills, he would have gone with Gwendolyns method of sight searching. However, he was here to make as much money as he could while passing the exam, and he definitely couldnt do that with his eyes alone. So, without hesitation, Aodhn spread out his core sense until it touched one side of the conceptual barrier the agents had erected to keep them within this section of the forest. Multiple cores blazed to his senses, but of the dozens of cores around him, only five were that of his fellow students, none of whom he was particularly close to. He scanned his surroundings quickly, getting the lay of the land, and with a gleeful smile, Aodhn whispered. Wind. Immediately the words left his lips, his senses experienced a drastic turn as cores and plant nodes dimmed all around him, while others exploded in intensity, each one blazing with wind affinity. Not bothering with the cores, Aodhn focused on the blazing plant nodes and rushed towards the closest one, weaving past gnarled branches and shrubbery to avoid the surprisingly large amount of creatures around him. In this section of the forest, most of the creatures were low-tiered, and Aodhn felt it truly was a waste of energy to even bother with them. Hard as he tried, though, he still had to kill a tier 7 Sibilis, a serpent-like creature with hard leaves for scales and root-like protrusions for fangs. The hissing creature died from a single swipe to his claw, courtesy of a partial activation of {merge}, and Aodhn didnt even bother fishing out its core as he continued on his way towards his first wind-awakened plant. When he arrived at the location, a breezy area filled with scattered outcroppings of rocks, he bent down excitedly and slashed a bush of overgrown ferns out of the way to reveal a delicate purple plant with gold-edged leaves that almost seemed to dance as wind swirled around it. Aodhn recognized the uncommon-ranked plant immediately. It was Zephyrsage, and despite its uncommon rank, it was one of the most common wind affinity plants mentioned in the textbook as a result of its unique functions. Aodhns grin widened when he recalled how in demand the plant was by alchemists and wind awakeneds, which further boosted its potential price in the market. Giggling like a schoolgirl, Aodhn harvested the plant, taking a moment to carefully place it within the special spatial ring Gwendolyn had given them before turning his attention to the next blazing cluster of nodes. On his way there, he came across a trio of Tier 15 kanimas. Their presence wasnt surprising considering the environment, but it was annoying because the deer-like creatures werent ones to shy away from violence. Expending a little energy, Aodhn cut down the first two with a single beam of red lightning, creating a small explosion that threw the third kanima several feet back. The kanima tried to scream, but a quick activation of {Elemental LightningGreen} put an end to that immediately. This was the first time he was using the insidious skill in a battle, and its effectiveness was horrible. The green beam smashed into the kanimas open mouth and healed the bruises it had sustained from the explosion. Halfway through the healing, though, its nefarious effect revealed itself. The lightning ran rampant, causing the kanima to choke and stagger as a web of sickly green and purple energies erupted from its neck and began spreading outwards, reaching the kanimas heart in only a few seconds. The kanima heaved, its spine arching dangerously as its eyes bulged out their sockets and exploded in a shower of blood and gore. The kanimas body went next, and Aodhn cringed in distaste at how sick and messy the skills effect had been. Resolving not to use it on animals for the time being, Aodhn continued on his journey to the next plant. The next plant was a Whistlewhisp rose, a common-ranked plant with reddish-green petals, and Aodhn marveled at how large it had grown. Usually, a matured Whistlewhisp ranged between 15-20cm in height, but this particular plant stood nearly 30cm in height, hidden only partially by a bush of translucent mundane vines. Wondering how old the plant was, Aodhn bent down, tore apart the translucent vines shielding the plant, and harvested it. Placing that safely within his special ring, Aodhn began his hunt for the next plant. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. For the next few minutes, Aodhn hunted, killing creatures, gaining cores, and harvesting awakened plants left and right. He came across a few of his classmates along the way, some of whom looked miserable as they futilely searched the bushes for any signs of awakened plants. Aodhn didnt have the time to stay and chat, so he simply acknowledged each person with a nod before rushing to the closest cluster of plant nodes blazing to his senses. After successfully harvesting the 6th awakened plant, Aodhn decided to switch affinities, and with a grin, he whispered, Light. His senses shifted once more as the cores that had blazed to his senses in the last fifteen minutes suddenly dimmed, replaced by a smattering of cores and nodes that shone with the mesmerizing intensity of light. Giddy with excitement, Aodhn spent the next half hour hunting. He gathered a total of eight light affinity plants, after which he shifted his search to mist, water, earth, and then life. At the 45-minute mark, Aodhn had gathered nearly three dozen awakened plants, the majority of which were common ranked. He still had fifteen minutes left till the end of the exam, and although he had already completed the exam, Aodhn didnt even think about stopping. He shifted his search to another common affinity: Shadow, and as cores dimmed and exploded to his senses, Aodhn picked out the nearest plant and practically raced towards it. Shadow affinity plants mostly grew in dark and shadowy areas, so after gathering a total of three shadow affinity plants, Aodhn wasnt too surprised to see that the next plant grew within a shadowy cavern. However, he noticed that the density of shadow essence in the area was much higher than usual. With quick steps he moved towards the cavern, only to sigh in annoyance when he came across a tier 23 Shadow Slytherin guarding the entrance. It wasnt the highest-tiered creature Aodhn had come across in the last fifty minutes, but from the way it hissed and moved, it definitely seemed to be the most intelligent. Aodhn didnt stop walking, though, not at all threatened by the Slytherins presence. When the Slytherin noticed this, it hissed out one more warning, creating shadow copies of itself to further guard the entrance. Aodhn smiled, a little impressed at the creatures ingenuity, but ultimately unthreatened by it. Despite being at a lower advancement tier, Aodhn was confident of taking down this creature without even employing his willpower, and that was exactly what he did. He summoned a small storm cloud above himself, and with a wave of his hand, he activated {Lightning Spear Rain}. It was overkill. Dozens of lightning spears rained down, stabbing the Slytherin and hooking it to the floor. The sudden descent of lightning banished the shadow clones and any other shadows in the immediate area, rendering the Slytherin completely useless. The Slytherin hissed and screeched as it tried to unhook itself from the crackling spear, but its efforts were all for naught. Aodhn could easily kill the Slytherin by exploding the lightning spears, but there was just something about intelligent creatures that made it seem wrong to kill them. So, rather than finish the creature off, Aodhn unhooked the other spears, leaving only a single spear to hold the Slytherin down, and bent down to speak to it. Hi, Im about to invade your home and take whatever plant youve got growing back there, and for that, I deeply apologize, but to be honest, Im not very sorry. Ive got a massive debt to pay off and not a lot of time to do so. Frankly, speaking to you is even wasting my time, so how about I leave you with this as compensation?" Aodhn took out a blazing black core from his spatial space and laid it on the ground beside the Slytherin, who didnt seem to have heard a word hed just said or maybe it just didnt care. The core Aodhn had given it was a tier 24 shadow affinity core Varc had brought home from one of his recent nightly hunts. It wasnt a great substitute for an Awakened plant, but at the moment, Aodhn needed the plant more than the Slytherin did, or at least he believed so. Huffing, he dusted his knees and made his way into the cavern, ignoring the hissing and screeching of the Slytherin. As soon as he stepped into the cavern, though, he noticed that the density of shadow essence had increased again, nearing levels that shouldnt have been possible, except Aodhns eyes widened, and he rushed forward, bending to maneuver himself deeper into the cavern. The deeper he walked, though, the darker the cavern became, and at some point, Aodhn had to create a lightning bolt to even see his surroundings. His journey through the cavern continued for two whole minutes before he finally reached the end, and despite having suspected, Aodhn still couldnt believe what he was seeing. Within the darkest reaches of the cavern, surrounded by writhing shadow tendrils, stood a nightshade lotus, a rare affinity plant with inky black leaves and stem. At the top of the small plant hung a single black fruit the size of a tennis ball that seemed to glow with black light. The plant was beautiful, and with very delicate movements, Aodhn harvested the entire plant, knowing fully well that he had hit the jackpot. The nightshade lotus was one of the rarest shadow affinity plants, mainly used to grant extra purity to a shadow core during class evolutions. It was other great uses also, like helping to break past certain mental and spiritual limits, and when processed into an alchemical pill, the plant acted almost like the elemental lightning pill Ludacris had given him. Aodhn couldnt even think about the price of the plant right now, too overwhelmed by the find to do anything more than stare at the plant in wonder. He spent the next few minutes in this manner until he realized he only had a couple of minutes left before the exam ended. With delicate movements, he transferred the plant into the special ring and rushed out of the cavern, aiming to gather as much as he could in the next four minutes. When he stepped out of the cavern, he unhooked the last lightning spear from the Slytherin and threw out a dozen shadow cores at it, shouting, Im so very sorry for invading your house and stealing this massive treasure. Take these cores as payment. The Slytherin screeched angrily, but before it could take more than a few steps forward, Aodhn had already vanished, heading towards the next shadow plant at insane speed. *** When Andrew appeared within the ancient forest of Nilhal, he took a quick look around to assess the area and grinned. He had heard a lot of good things about Nilhal before, but it was such an amazing experience to witness the beauty of the ancient forest in person. Despite being on the outer reaches of the forest, Andrew was completely surrounded by trees, housing so much spirituality that he could have mistaken them for Awakened plants had he been ignorant. Vines crawled beneath his feet, entwined with roots and shrubbery. Everything in the forest was connected one way or the other. Roots tangled, branches overlapped, and vines intertwined. It was all so beautiful. With an eager smile, Andrew let out his aura, imbuing it with willpower so that it expanded to cover a large area, and as expected, the trees ruffled and shuddered in pleasure, their vines and branches leaning towards him almost as if they were sentient. In less than a minute, Andrew transformed the entire area into a domain of sorts. Nothing could get through this domain without him knowing or allowing it, and even geniuses like Cyrus and Aodhn would have to expend a large amount of energy and willpower to take him out here. It was a precautionary measure, but it wasnt necessary, despite his plans. In a sense, he was with his kind here. He was one with the forest, but Andrew wasnt content with being one with the forest, not while he had the potential to be more. With a whisper of preparation, Andrew extended his hand to the ground and looked up, his eyes squinting through the golden rays of the nexus to stare at Agent Crownstar and Agent Everglade, who were watching them from above. Agent Everglade? He whispered, his voice choked with the tension of anticipation. Still, the agent heard him, and when he turned to glance in his direction, Andrew smiled. I think I might need your help very soon. Agent Everglade frowned and then nodded, his insight affinity most likely revealing Andrews intentions to him. With his safety and that of his fellow students now assured, Andrew placed his hands firmly on the ground and activated {Mycelium Network} for the first time since hed gotten the skill. The skill activated with an intensity that caused his mind to shudder as tendrils of energy and something else stretched out from within his spirit, diving deep into the forest floor and connecting to the vast network of roots and mycelium that lay beneath. His consciousness surged into the immense web of roots, dead and alive, awakened and mundane, and began spreading, linking with trees, shrubs, moss, and fungi in every direction. With each new link, his consciousness expanded, absorbing more information than he ever thought possible at the speed of light, and just when Andrew thought his spirit was going to rip itself apart, his mind exploded with a host of foreign sensations; sounds, scents, touch, and sights invaded his senses. Foreign emotions erupted within him, and with these emotions came understanding. An overwhelming flood of understanding that threatened to shatter his mind to pieces. Andrew gasped as a feeling of utmost clarity came upon him, and in that moment, he felt completely in tune with the world around him. He felt in tune with nature. He could feel the silent wisdom of the forest around him, the intensity and wavelength of light, the seismic vibrations of the earth, and finally, the familial relationship every tree bore with the other; each root, each leaf, each particle of soil seemed to be a piece of the same story. The forest was one, and now he was a part of it. He was silent, unmoving, and brimming with vitality. He was a watcher, a protector, but most importantly, he was a nurturer of life. In that moment, Andrews mind cracked and the world shifted. Reality fractured and crumbled, replaced by a vast realm of verdant essence and chaos. The origin plane of nature spread out before Andrew, a boundless realm filled with plants and greenery, so myriad and bizarre that it was simply astounding. The plain was an endless forest, and Andrew quickly lost himself in its beauty. He only had a second to take it all in, though, before the whispers of chaos erupted in his mind. Rather than fight it as he instinctively wanted to, he welcomed the chaos, not heeding its words but not fighting against it either. The whispers exploded, becoming much louder, but that got the attention of the origin plane faster, and the next instant, an overwhelming consciousness descended upon him. Like a deranged mother, it caressed his mind lovingly, scrutinizing his thoughts and memories before ravaging through it in a bid to search out his worthiness. Andrew gritted his teeth as the whispers of chaos grew even louder, urging him to stay, to become one with this realm, to give up his humanity for something more The words enticed him, but Fortuna had prepared him for this, and without hesitation, Andrew began chanting. Mosswillows, Nightshade, Whistleblooms, Aquafrosts, Luminpetals, Jorgumien Andrew had been learning this particular chant for as long as he could remember, and although the words didnt lessen the whispers of chaos or grant him even a moment to think, they grounded his mind long enough for the consciousness to fully search his mind and approve him. The approval, though, was even more than Andrew had expected. It washed over him in a manner reminiscent of a tidal wave, granting him a slight burst of clarity just before the chaos rushed back in. Heat engulfed him, and his chest burned as he was branded with multiple seals at once. Chaos surged into his spirit, then into his core, and Andrew cried in euphoria as his core advanced to the next level and then the next, and then another. The influx of chaotic energy was so much that Andrew nearly felt like he was drowning within it. Still high on his advancement, Andrew was not prepared for what happened next. Heat engulfed him again, but this time, rather than a brand on his chest, a statement was emblazoned in his mind. It burned with a fiery intensity that banished the whispers of chaos for a moment, but before he could understand what had just happened, his mind was thrown out of the origin plane. Andrew came back to reality with a choked gasp, but he barely had the chance to take his next breath before the twisted effect took over his mind, so violent and overwhelming that it plunged his emotions into the negative spectrum and drove him crazy instantly. With a roar of sudden hatred, Andrew recited the words emblazoned within his mind. I am a protector of nature. My vines are inexorable. The moment he uttered the words, reality rippled, and the forest was instantly plunged into chaos. Trees groaned as the effect of his icon bled into them, turning the beautiful domain he had created earlier into a deathtrap of poison and thorns that began expanding outwards at a brutal pace. Thankfully, Agent Cale and Agent Crownstar were there to arrest his momentum and send him to a holding chamber before he killed every single thing that walked within the forest. *** [STATUS] Name: Andrew Willowood Class: Evolved plant Awakened: 100% (Criteria for class evolution met) Title: Neophyte, Bronze, Sealbearer (3), Verdant Spirit, Origin Marked, Icon Bearer, One with Nature. Tier: 2436% Icon: Vines of inexorability! Glimpse->Opening: Increases elemental affinity and abilities by 2.5%. Technique: Perfect will imbuement, Heart of the forest (Sacred) Skills {Innate}: [Plant Creation] [Plant Manipulation] {Other}: [Spore Cloud] [Forest of Thorns] [Secret Poison] [Accelerate Growth] [Create Seeds] [Mycelium Network] [Wood Skin] [Symbiotic Bond (New)] [Animate Plants (New)] [Natures Gift (New)] Bloodline: Willowood Ancestry (Epic) ? Amplifies Verdant abilities and skills by 2.5% ? Grants major increase to regeneration and poison resistance ? Aura of Verdance Chapter 156: Cheat skill Within the reinforced walls of the academys restraining chambers, nearly a dozen individuals stood around a particular chamber, watching the student raging within. The student was none other than Andrew Willowood, but his entire aesthetics had been changed so thoroughly that he was barely recognizable. His usual vivid green hair had grown longer, falling nearly to his waist, and his entire skin had transformed to barkthe effect of a skill. A change that hadnt come as a result of a skill, though, was the three blazing seals on his chest. They shone with a startling intensity that almost distracted the audience from the biggest change of all. An icon! Icons were the ultimate skills, an embodiment of one''s beliefs and ideals. It could be described as a persons true nature given life in the form of their affinity. There was, however, one problem, and that was the fact that evolved awakeneds didnt gain icons, or at least they werent supposed to. There were a few exceptional individuals who had achieved such a feat, though, but those people were geniuses, and Andrew, no matter how one spun it, certainly wasnt. Amongst the crowd of people watching in amazement was principal Zatya, Rahim, professor Caldwell, professor Aleran, professor Alaric, and a ton of other first-year professors who had rushed to the chamber as soon as they heard the news. While they watched, Andrew roared and attacked the glass walls with a monstrosity of metallic vines and wood, causing the chamber to flare brightly with runes as it fought to contain the force behind his attack. The walls rattled violently, and Rahim winced. Are we sure this chamber will hold him? Principal Zatya didnt respond; instead, she glared at the glass chamber and said, Notify his parents; we need them to be prepared for any possible fallout. Rahim nodded, moving out of the hall to complete his task. After he left, Principal Zatya turned to the other occupants of the chamber and asked. Have you ever seen something like this before? Never. Professor Alaric responded, while the others just shook their heads in amazement. I have heard of geniuses gaining an icon before the advanced class, but to gain three seals and an icon all at the same time? I cant even imagine how such a thing is possible. Yet here it is before our very eyes. Professor Dubois frowned and cocked her head in fascination. What do you think must have caused it? They all exchanged confused glances until Gwendolyn Blackwood spoke, her tone slightly deferential. We dont know what caused it, and I doubt we will until he comes to his senses. However, from Agent Everglades report, Andrew had activated a skill that connected him to the trees in the forest. Thats not nearly enough to cause something like this. Professor Dubois snorted and eyed her curiously. Do you not have a similar skill? Ive seen you connect with trees before. Gwendolyn shook her head. Andrews skill must be very different from mine then, because mine cannot do that. Professor Dubois sighed and rolled her eyes, muttering something about an insight-awakened being being completely useless in giving insight to something he had witnessed with his own eyes. Gwendolyn didnt think Agent Everglade would take kindly to her words. What kind of skill could he have activated, though? Professor Caldwell asked, too curious to leave the topic. I mean, the amount of insight and understanding required to gain even a single seal is astounding, not to mention three seals! And all at once. Professor Alaric added. That is a marked distinction. He gained everything all at once, not one after the other. That suggests he must have entered the origin plane with so much understanding of his element as to be accorded all three seals at once. Murmurs of amazement echoed from the other professors, but while they all tried to understand how such a thing was possible, Zatya was already wondering how to use this event to boost the academys reputation. This would be big news, and if handled well, a potential stepping stone for the academy. With people like Aodhn and Andrew being in the news all the time, the academys reputation was sure to take a huge leap forward. In the last six months alone, the 5th academy had been at the top of the newspapers nearly a dozen times, courtesy of Aodhn and some other prominent students. By the time this got out, Zatya wanted to be prepared to take the most advantage of it. A glance at Kaelith was all the signal he needed, and the next minute, he excused himself from the chambers to begin drafting press statements and missives. His exit didnt go unnoticed as Professor Dubois shot her a look and quickly raised her chip to her lips, most likely sending a message to the Awakened council. Zatya didnt care, though. It didnt matter what moves the council wanted to make. This was her academy, and she would make sure to milk this entire event for what it was worth. She turned her gaze back to Andrew, who had gone absolutely berserk, attacking the glass chamber even more violently than Aodhn did and with a lot more power too. Zatya wasnt too concerned, though. The chambers had held peak advanced class individuals before. A single evolved class student shouldnt be a problem. Icon or not. The boy attacked the glass walls again, and this time he drained an entire seal into the attack, causing the runes to flare so brightly they lit up the entire room. Astounding! Someone breathed from the back, and Zatya glanced to the side to see Professor Alaric moving towards the glass chamber, seemingly mesmerized as the boy attacked again, draining another seal and turning the entire chamber into a deathtrap of bladed vines and poison. When he was close enough to touch the glass chamber, he looked back and shook his head. The most surprising thing about all this is that I never would have expected it from anyone, much less him. Why not? Principal Zatya asked, genuinely curious. Because hes not a genius! Alaric exclaimed. Students like Cyrus and Aodhn are geniuses, but even their feats are nothing compared to this! I beg to differ. Professor Caldwell shook her head in disagreement. Andrews''s achievement is still within the acceptable bounds of his class. One more tier and he would have been qualified to gain an icon. Aodhn, on the other hand, has achieved what some mythics still havent, and that is just another level of genius. Another argument ensued about that, but while the professors argued, comparing the achievements of one student with another, Zatya was just glad to know that she might have just raised another champion candidate. Rahim returned a few minutes later, and when they turned to look at him, he swallowed nervously and announced. The entire Willowood family is at our doorsteps, principal. *** The rumors of Andrews unprecedented advancement had already spread like wildfire when Aodhn and the other students returned from Nilhal. So, with Gwendolyns permission, Aodhn skipped the assessment part of the exam and raced towards principal Zatyas office, where he found all of Andrews immediate family, excluding Colonel Fortuna and Ashley, gathered on one side of the office while Rahim and Kaelith stood behind the principal on the other side. The number of family members present wasnt nearly as frightening as the rumors had suggested, but perhaps the fact that Andrews parents had shown up at all was noteworthy enough. The moment Aodhn stepped into the office, they all turned to stare at him, and Aodhn breathed out a sigh of relief when he noticed that no one was sobbing or consoling or any other dreadful stuff. Aodhn had only heard a little about what happened before rushing over. All he knew was that Andrew was undergoing a twisted effect so intense that the school had to call his parents. Andrews mother, Khaelar, glided towards him with a smile and wrapped him up in a tight hug. Hi Aodhn, or should I say, Mr. Inheritor. Fortuna is pissed she wasnt able to drag that information out of you the last time you were at the mansion. Uhm Aodhn chuckled awkwardly and hugged her back. Its not something I really like to announce. As should be the case. Baron Willowood spoke up and walked towards them to shake Aodhn''s hand after his wife finally let go. Im proud of you, son, and I couldnt be more glad that you and Andrew are friends. Yes. Very proud. Khaelar added with a serious expression, and Aodhn just knew he wasnt ever getting rid of Andrew even if he wanted to. With his new status as an Inheritor, he would be lucky to avoid marriage proposals within the next few months. Diendre came to hug him next, and after some small talk about his studies and life in general, Aodhn moved on to the real reason he had come here. He took one of the empty seats and asked. Hows Andrew really? I heard some things, but I dont know the details. The whole family turned their gaze to Principal Zatya, who smiled tightly. Andrew is just fine. Hes undergoing a very intense twisted effect, though, and we are thinking he probably wouldnt be out of containment for a week or two with the severity of the mental inversion. Thatsthat cant be good. Aodhn frowned. The mental inversion that came with the twisted effect was no joke, and to experience it for more than a week was definitely not great for a persons mental health. Principal Zatya shrugged. Its not like we can stop it from running its course. Well just have to hope he pulls out of this with his mental faculties intact. Khaelar whispered a quick prayer to Raol, and the others followed suit. Even Rahim and Kaelith bowed their heads while Principal Zatya simply sighed and said. Its good that you are here, Aodhn, because there are certain things we cant explain with Andrews latest advancement. Perhaps you can shed some light on the matters. Aodhn nodded eagerly. Sure. Ill be glad to help. Is something wrong with his seal? There was a beat of silence in the room as everyone exchanged confused glances, but it was broken when Principal Zatya suddenly cleared her throat and asked. Aodhn, do you even know what happened to Andrew? Not really. Aodhn frowned and shook his head. All I heard were rumors of him undergoing a twisted effect, which meant he had finally gained a seal. I began to worry when I heard that it was a very intense, twisted effect, but when I heard that his family was around, I knew it had to be serious. Thats why I rushed down here. Principal Zatya sighed and massaged her temples, realizing that she should have expected this sort of impulsive behavior from Aodhn. It was sweet in a way to be so fiercely protective of his friends, but that was just another web of emotional entanglement she would just have to cut away in the end. What in the Ascendant''s name was Helzarvauth doing with the boy anyway? She had asked him to carefully and discreetly manage the boy''s emotions, yet several weeks later, there didnt seem to be any signs of increased logic in Aodhns actions. Perhaps she needed to have another talk with the creepy empath. While she thought of this, Baron Willowood spoke up, his face tinged with pride and worry. Theres a reason Andrews twisted effect is so intense, and its not because he gained a very high level of inspiration but because he gained multiple. He smiled and continued. Andrew gained 3 seals and an icon all at once. The words echoed like thunder in Aodhns mind, and for a moment, he just stared open-mouthed in shock. After Andrew gained {Mycelium Network}, they had predicted this exact thing, but after a few weeks, Aodhn had discarded their earlier thoughts as delusional fantasies and had even encouraged Andrew to bring his expectations lower. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. His reasons had been pretty reasonable. The skill was a simple evolved skill, and they had never heard of an evolved skill granting a person that many seals at once. Secondly, Aodhn and Daruk had felt it was more likely that the skill would grant Andrew a single powerful inspiration that would grant him a single skill along with a very powerful skill. That was why Aodhn had rushed here, worried that Andrew had been granted an inspiration so large that it had broken him, and his parents had had to be called. But the fact that Andrew had gained not one but three seals all at once, and on top of that, an icon?! It was unbelievable. To gain three seals at once was already unprecedented, at least that he knew of, but to gain an icon on top of all that was just beyond the scope of what even their fantasies had managed to conjure. After nearly a minute of high-perception thinking, Aodhn let out a deep breath and shook his head. Wow. Just wow. Baron Nikolai chuckled. Yes, it took us a while to get over the shock too, but right now, were more concerned with how he managed to achieve such a thing than the impossibility of it all. Do you have any idea how he must have done it? I Aodhn began but hastily shook his head. He trusted everyone within this office to a degree, but a skill like the {Mycelium Network} was precious, and from the look of things, extremely powerful, capable of granting a person three seals when activated in a forest like Nilhal for the first time, and not to shade the spiritual forest, but Nilhal was only ranked 6th amongst the largest forests in the entire kingdom. It was far from the largest. It was barely even top five. What sort of miracle could a person conjure if they activated the skill in the VerdantSea, the largest forest in all of Ragnarok, which spanned a landmass so large and complex it was nicknamed the eternal forest, or AshenBriar, the second largest forest, which was located in the 1st sector, a place whose atmospheric energy density was rumored to be nearly double that of the 5th sector? No. Aodhn couldnt even imagine it, but that alone made him realize just how valuable this skill was. It had the potential to be a family legacy, the sort of skill that nobles killed each other for, and it would be foolish to give it out so carelessly. He glanced at Rahim and Kaelith apologetically and said, Its very sensitive information. His intentions were clear, and when Andrews family saw how serious he was, they perked up. Rahim and Kaelith, however, hesitated, and it wasnt until Principal Zatya finally asked them to leave that they shuffled out of the office, glaring daggers at Aodhn. After the door shut behind them, Principal Zatya waved a hand, unleashing a gentle wind that reminded Aodhn of autumn. The wind didnt disperse as one would have expected; instead, it formed an almost solid bubble around the five of them, ensuring that their next words would be completely private. The increased confidentiality eased Aodhn a little, but he still wasnt completely comfortable. Not daring to glance at principal Zatya, Aodhn leaned towards the Willowoods and said, What Im about to say has the potential to raise your family from a barony to a county or even more. Its that sensitive. Do you want me to say this in front of the principal? Baron Willowoods eyes widened, and after exchanging a glance with his wife, he glanced at Principal Zatya, who was suddenly the picture of composed humility and politeness. Maybe he was exaggerating the issue, or even underestimating the potential of the skill; Aodhn didnt know, but he knew Principal Zatya, and if she decided to take an interest in Andrew, Aodhn didnt think his friend would survive. After a few seconds of tense silence, though, Baron Willowood nodded and said, You can say it. I trust the principal. Aodhn nodded and then launched into an explanation, only reserving the most sensitive of information, because it would be better if it came from Andrew himself. He refrained from describing the skill in detail, only stating the parts that were most important to the matter at hand. When he finished speaking, the office was completely silent as Principal Zatya and Andrews parents tried to figure out what to do with the information they had just been given. The silence was broken a moment later when Principal Zatya suddenly cleared her throat and said, Theres something else that makes this skill very concerning, and that is the fact that it is an evolved skill. It will grow in strength when Andrew ascends into the advanced class and once more when he gets into the Mythic class. My point is the skill may be limited in range and strength for now, but it will grow with each evolution. How much more of the forest will Andrew be able to connect his mind to at once when he steps into the advanced class? Aodhns heart shuddered when he finally understood Principal Zatyas statement, but he was far from the only one. Diendre gasped, eyes bulging in shock, while Baron Willowood simply let out a bark of laughter so loud, it threatened to rip the ball of swirling wind apart. Aodhn couldnt believe such a thing was possible. In essence, the {Mycelium Network} was a cheat skill. No, it was the cheat skill. If the range of {Mycelium Network} increased when Andrew stepped into the Advanced class, then that would grant Andrew the ability to connect his mind to a larger mass of the forest at once. Wouldnt such an experience bring new understanding? New inspiration? And if that was the case, would Andrew even ever have to worry about his spiritual cultivation ever again? While the rest of them ruminated and meditated on the nature of their affinity, Andrew could just simply coalesce his understanding from the forest itself. Aodhn doubted the skill would scale in such a manner, but what if it did? What if it scaled in an even larger manner? Khaelar sighed and said to Aodhn. Thank you for your discretion in telling us this. I am glad Andrew has you as a friend, and I must confess that I didnt think my son had the mental capabilities to come up with such a powerful skill. Me too. Baron Willowood said. It is most pleasantly surprising, and I can only imagine that it is as a result of yourinfluence. Thank you. Aodhn quickly deduced the meaning behind Baron Willowood''s words, and he shook his head. I had no influence in the creation of this skill at all. Andrew came up with it on his own. The baron and his wife exchanged a glance, and although they nodded after that, Aodhn doubted they believed him. Their conversation continued for a few minutes after that before it shifted to a discussion on how to handle the media explosion that would most certainly occur after this news hit the press if it hadnt already. Aodhn wasnt sure he should be present for this part of the meeting, but it was too enlightening to willingly walk out of. After a few more minutes, though, as the discussion began to delve deeper into noble politics and the situation of the war, Aodhn was finally asked to leave by the principal. The Willowoods wished him well, urging him not to be a stranger in their home and even inviting him to an event during the holidays. Aodhn couldnt say no, and five minutes later, as he stepped out of the office, he was holding two invitation cards in his hands, one for Daruk and the other for himself. Aodhn sent a text to Daruk, but when no reply was forthcoming, he assumed his brother was still busy with his exams. That reminded him that he still had his own assessment to complete, and with a less worried heart, Aodhn rushed back to get his plants evaluated. Fortunately, the assessment was still ongoing when he arrived, and without hesitation, Aodhn joined the queue. With the thought of Andrew now settled in his mind, Aodhns earlier excitement returned, and as the queue slowly moved forward, Aodhn couldnt help but wonder just how much he would gain after the assessment. After making away with the rare shadow plant, he had spent the remaining five minutes of the exam gathering shadow plants as fast as he could. Unfortunately, he only managed to gather 3 plants, the last of which had been poorly harvested because he had been rushing. It was an uncommon-ranked plant, and although Aodhn was sure it wouldnt sell as well as the others, he figured he could still get a couple of silvers for it. The line moved quickly with many students submitting the exact amount of plants requested or even less than that. Azul had managed to gather a total of fifteen plants, only five of which were uncommon ranked, and she was ranked second so far. The first place was currently held by Ursaz Urdania, who had gathered the same amount of plants but with seven uncommon-ranked plants instead. Aodhn was certain that had Andrew participated in the exam, he probably would have gathered as much as he did or even more considering the effects of {Mycelium Network}. That skill was truly the ultimate cheat skill. When he finally reached the front of the queue several minutes later, Aodhn smiled at Gwendolyn and said, Thank you for letting me go earlier. Andrew is fine. I know. Gwendolyn nodded. I saw him, even though I can barely understand what happened. Aodhn chuckled. It is strange, Ill give you that. It is. Im sure the principal and his family will get to the bottom of it before news gets out. The press can be very intense at times. Tell me about it. Aodhn laughed and then carefully poured out all the common and uncommon ranked plants he had gathered onto her table, eliciting a chorus of shocked gasps and widened eyes from the students who were still hanging around. Even Gwendolyn seemed shocked, although he suspected her reasons were very different from those of his classmates. She raised an eyebrow and said. I see that you were very busy within Nilhal. That core sensing ability of yours is a great cheat. Thank you. Aodhn grinned and pointed to the carefully stacked pile of plants. How much will these fetch me? On the assessment table was a total of 39 awakened plants, seventeen of which were uncommon. Aodhn had held back the nightshade lotus, hoping to understand the difference in prices before revealing the rare ranked plant, which would obviously be priced higher. Also, since the nature laboratory was buying the plants at a slightly higher rate compared to the merchant pavilions, Aodhn was looking to learn a few important things first. Gwendolyn assessed the plants with an experienced eye, separating them into two different piles, one for uncommon plants and the other for common plants. After that, she further separated each pile into two more piles, one elemental and the other conceptual. Just when Aodhn thought she was done, she created two more piles, both consisting of light and shadow plants, one common and the other uncommon. When she was finally done, she said. Conceptual plants are costlier than elemental plants, but these two that cant actually decide where they fall are even more expensive, so I believe youve bagged quite the fortune for a one-hour expedition. She pointed to the common-ranked pile of elemental plants and said, These are 6 silvers each, while the common conceptual plants are 8 silver coins each. The Light/Shadow ones are 9 silvers each. Aodhn nodded, having expected a much lesser price. In total, there were 7 elemental plants, 10 conceptual plants, and 5 versatile affinity plants within the common rank. This meant that if he chose to sell them all, he would get a total of 167 silver coins. That was about 17 gold coins. Nodding in appreciation, Aodhn pointed to the uncommon pile and asked. How about these ones? The elemental plants are 12 silvers each, the conceptual plants are 15 silvers each, and the light/shadow ones are 16 silver coins each. Aodhn grinned, but before he could respond, Gwendolyn cut him off with a frown. I cant help but notice that one of these shadow plants was poorly harvested. I hope you dont expect it to sell for the same rate as the others?. No. Aodhn grimaced, internally cursing Gwendolyns keen eyes. How much can you buy that? 10 silvers at best, and thats even stretching it. Not bothering to negotiate, Aodhn said. Take it. Im selling everything. Among the uncommon pile, there were 6 elemental plants, 8 conceptual plants, and 3 light/shadow plants. Aodhn did a quick mental calculation, and after deducting the price reduction for the poorly harvested shadow plant, he couldnt suppress his growing grin. From the uncommon pile alone, he would gain a total of 234 silver coins. Selling the entire thing would bag him a total of 400 silver coins, which translated into 40 whopping gold coins, and all for an hour of work. Damn! The life of a herb gatherer was looking more and more lucrative by the day. Satisfied with the money he had earned so far, Aodhn decided it was time to bring out the rare ranked shadow plant and its fruit. With a grin, he gently pulled out the plant from his storage space and placed it on the table, eliciting a louder chorus of gasps from his classmates and a muffled curse from Azul, who looked like she couldnt decide whether to punch him or marry him. Ursaz, on the other hand, was more resigned, accepting that his moment in the spotlight had come to a brutal end. However, it was Gwendolyns reaction that caught Aodhns attention, and somehow, he just knew he had caused another problem! His suspicions were proven correct an instant later when Master Lamarr suddenly appeared within the hall, with shadows clinging to her skin like water. Barely a second later, Professor Jorendil also appeared, stumbling out of the shadows in one corner and scowling at Master Lamarr as if to say, How did this bitch get here before me? Professor Jorendil Gwendolyn began, but he cut her off with a wave of his hands, saying, I need the lotus. I sensed it. I will buy it. I was here first. I will buy it. Master Lamarr growled. Woman, nobody cares about you. Before their bickering could continue, however, another person suddenly appeared in the room, and when he released his aura, it was all Aodhn could do to keep himself from falling on top of the assessment table and squashing all of that money he had so judiciously gathered. He looked up at the new arrival, noting the mythic eyes of swirling shadow and the utter sense of malevolence that hung oppressively around him. The man was tall and indubitably handsome, but the oppressive aura of malevolence that radiated off him made his beauty utterly impossible to appreciate. Professor Daemon, Professor Jorendil scowled. What are you doing here? But Professor Daemon completely ignored him and fixed his gaze on Gwendolyn. The nightshade lotus. I sensed it. Ive come to buy it off your hands. A student of mine needs it. Aodhn didnt understand what all the ruckus was about with this nightshade lotus, but from the expressions of his classmates, many of whom were on the ground with him or outright unconscious, he suspected he might have missed the class where Valerie taught about this particular plant. One thing he did understand, though, was that this was an opportunity he couldnt afford to miss. Leveraging nearly a quarter of his willpower pool, Aodhn forced himself to his feet, eliciting surprised looks from everyone, including Professor Daemon, who frowned in annoyance. Taking the flicker of emotion as a warning, Aodhn stopped halfway to his feet, back crooked and feet shuddering from the weight of the aura pressing down on him. When he finally got himself to a reasonable degree, he forced a grin and said, Dear esteemed professors, how about we make this an auction? Chapter 157: Auction The Nightshade Lotus is a prized treasure among shadow awakeneds despite being a mere rare-ranked plant. While it lacks the miraculous healing and spirit-altering properties of higher-ranked herbs, its value lies in one subtle effect: It temporarily increases the purity of a shadow core. This refinement is particularly coveted by threshold awakeneds at the edge of a milestone or class evolution, where even the slightest degree of increased core purity can mean the difference between triumph and failure. Professor Deamon Malveris. 4th-year professor of the 5th academy. Ragnarok, year 2275. In a sector of perpetual daylight like sector 5, it was no surprise that there were very few shadow or lunar Awakeneds around. Even stellar awakened were a minority. The same applied to the natural resources that bloomed within the sector. They were few and far between. However, they werent nonexistent. Just like awakeneds, a few remained in the sector, individuals whose services and jobs were too important to let go or those who were simply unwilling to travel out of the sector despite the apparent scarcity of resources. Amongst the academy staff alone, there were about half a dozen shadow awakeneds, most popular of whom were Professor Jorendil Matabar and his ever-present nemesis, Master Lamarr. The two professors werent exactly enemies, but considering the fact that they were both at the peak of the advanced class, they almost always had to fight for the same resources, and that had borne a seed of rivalry and contempt between them. Professor Jorendil had been busy in his study researching the concept of dual affinities, a subject that had been dissected, discussed, and discarded many times as a pathless concept. The system had never granted such a class to anyone in the millennia of recorded history, and many scholars had deemed it impossible. Yet, just like many before him, Jorendil was fascinated with the concept of wielding not one but two different affinities, like fire and ice or shadow and light, simultaneously. Many had, of course, tried to create the concept, using a ton of techniques and experiments, such as fusing their bloodlines with another or merging affinities, but they had ultimately failed. The closest they had come to success was the case of champion Reiner Rivaldi, who had been born with a merge of his parents affinities rather than an actual dual core. The situation concerning his birth had been made public, and after reading through the research documents multiple times, Jorendil had drawn out a series of experiments he wanted to try out. For the last few years, he had worked tirelessly on each experiment, staining the vivarium with the blood of animals as all his experiments failed. With each fail, though, he got a new idea, and truly, Jorendil felt he was getting ever closer to solving this mystery. Unwilling to visit the vivarium that morning, Jorendil had decided to perform his experiments right there in his office, and things had been going splendidly until he was interrupted with news of Andrew Willowood. It had been fascinating to watch a mere child achieve something so substantial, but it had also sparked the fire of determination within him, and after Rahim returned with news of the Willowood family, he had returned to his office to continue his experiments. Carefully manipulating a blob of shadow essence, Jorendil grimaced at how brittle and sheer the energy was. Had this been the 3rd sector where shadow essence reigned supreme, Jorendil was positive the blob would have taken on a life of its own by now. Alas, he wasnt in the 3rd sector, and he couldnt leave either, at least not before reaching the Mythic class, which was thankfully only a few tiers away. Grimacing, he moved the semi-liquid blob of shadow closer to the shivering {Water Ifrit} on his table, watching the small creature closely as the shadows phased through its jelly-like flesh and into its spirit, latching onto its tiny pathways like octopus limbs. In his earlier experiments, Jorendil had tried infusing shadow essence directly into the creature''s core after draining it halfway to try and achieve a balance. That method had been a drastic fail, and after several iterations of the same experiment, Jorendil had come to the conclusion that to achieve a perfect dual core, he needed to transform an entire half of the spirit first. He needed to convert half of this creatures pathways to shadow and then work his way down to the core. This wasnt a new idea, though; in fact, he had been working on it for nearly six months now, and although all his experiments so far had resulted in drastic fails, Jorendil wasnt one to give up so easily, not when success meant marking his name in the annals of history and making the impossible a reality. If his students could do it, then so could he. The Ifrit twitched as the blob of shadow essence began converting its pathways, and Jorendil smiled in relief when the creature didnt die right away. Channeling foreign essence into a creature was a very delicate process that required nearly all of his attention to avoid complications. However, when he was nearly halfway through, a sudden screech echoed in his mind, affecting his concentration and causing the shadow tendrils to go haywire. The Ifrit screeched in agony, but Jorendil barely paid it any mind. Rather, his attention was on {Shadows Wail}, the sensory skill that had been the source of the first screech. Like a beacon, the skill pulled his attention in a direction, tugging at his mind with a screech that was impossible to resist. Turning in the direction {Shadows Wail} indicated, his eyes widened, and he immediately phased into the shadows beneath his feet, rushing towards the treasure the skill had sensed. He phased through the shadow plane, avoiding patches of sunlight to avoid getting thrown out of the plane. Twisting uncomfortably, he jumped, dissolved, and dived, his entire attention aimed at the amphitheater for Awakened herbs and plants. Still, Master Lamarr beat him there, emerging out of the shadows only a second before he arrived. Without sparing her more than a glance, Jorendil turned his attention to the plant that had drawn his attention and gasped when he saw the rare-ranked plant that had been placed on the assessment table. It was the Nightshade Lotus, and for someone so close to his Mythic class evolution, Jorendil desperately needed it. Not because he wasnt sure he could achieve the evolution on his own, but Jorendil would rather be certain than fail and become a half-step Mythic or even worse, suffer a spiritual limit before he could even make it halfway through. Surging forward, he shouted. I need the lotus. I sensed it. I will buy it. I was here first. I will buy it. Master Lamarr growled, looking at him askance and nailing him with a daring glare. Anger bubbled within Jorendil, and he scowled. Woman, nobody cares about you. I Before Lamarr could respond, a sudden pressure suddenly descended on the hall, pushing all the students to the floor and forcing Jorendil to buff himself with the power of his seals to avoid an embarrassing fate. Jorendil looked at the newcomer with a glare. He wasnt supposed to be here. He shouldnt be here at all! Mythics shouldnt be competing with their juniors for treasures! Forcefully suppressing his growing anger, he asked. Professor Daemon, what are you doing here? Not even sparing him a glance, Professor Daemon floated forward and said to Gwendolyn, The nightshade lotus. I sensed it. Ive come to buy it. A student of mine needs it. Apologies, Professor Daemon, but I need it more. Master Lamarr cut in, glaring at the demonically beautiful professor. At this stage of my advancement, it is critical that I have it. Me too. Jorendil admitted, hating himself for not being more forceful. You know how it can be with approaching evolutions. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. I do not care. Professor Daemon replied curtly. My student needs it, and Ive come to get it. Neither of you are fated to have it. We would be if you were not here. Jorendil gritted out, already hating the future that was unfolding. Professor Daemon was a jerk among jerks. He cared not for his peers, and Jorendil doubted he even cared for this supposed student of his, who most likely was a noble and didnt have any core impurities to deal with in the first place. Before their argument could continue, Aodhn surprisingly rose to his feet, although he stopped halfway through when Professor Daemon turned to glare at him. Jorendil was very surprised to see that the boy could actually stand under this oppressive aura; however, Aodhns next words soon transformed his surprise to despair. Dear esteemed professors, how about we make this an auction? Well, it wasnt exactly despair, just bone-deep disappointment and resignation. An auction was a terrible idea for him. He was rich, of course, but compared to a Mythic, he might as well be a pauper. That didnt mean he wouldnt try, though. If he couldnt get the plant for himself, he would make sure Professor Daemon wasted a fortune on it. *** The suggestion to make this an auction made Aodhn feel very merchanty, and when he noticed Professor Daemon''s intrigued look, he pushed his worry aside and straightened his shoulders, repeating himself, We should make this an auction; that way, whoever gets the lotus would have gotten it fair and square. Where is this fairness that you speak of? Is it in the room with us? Master Lamarr muttered snidely, but Aodhn didnt hear her. Professor Daemon, however, did, and he smiled, easing up a bit on his aura. I think an auction is a brilliant idea. Aodhn grinned and turned to look at Gwendolyn. Pointing to the nightshade lotus, he asked. What is the current market value of the Nightshade Lotus? Gwendolyn pursed her lips and consulted her notebook once again. This time she flipped through the pages for a few seconds before responding. Because of its high value to shadow cultivators, the nightshade lotus is almost always sold at auctions rather than the pavilions, so it doesnt have a current market price. It, however, does have a popular starting bid of 100 gold coins. Aodhns eyes bulged, and his jaw nearly dropped in shock. He really needed to go and read up on the other functions of this plant because, what the actual fuck? 100 gold for a temporary increase in core purity was insane. The price gave Aodhn pause, and he wondered if he should be selling the plant and its fruit without knowing its use. He wasnt afforded the opportunity to dwell much on the thought because Professor Jorendil suddenly shouted. Ill take it for 200 gold coins. 250 gold coins. Master Lamarr countered, but Professor Jorendil didnt even let her finish before shouting again. 300 gold coins. This continued for a few more seconds, with the bid having increased to 600 gold coins, before Professor Daemon finally spoke. How about I bid 1000 gold coins so this farce can end? Aodhn was stunned. The fact that a single plant could fetch him so much money was simply astounding. If he hadnt been sure of the herb gatherer professor before, now he was certain. Unshakably and indubitably certain. Professor Daemons bid caused an eruption of gasps and whispers in the hall, and for a second, Aodhn believed they had reached the final bid. That belief shattered when Professor Jorendil glared daggers at Professor Daemon and shouted. How about 1200? Aodhns heart skipped multiple beats at once, and as another eruption of gasps echoed throughout the hall, he began to nurse the idea that he might be able to pay off his fine to the council faster than he had planned. Professor Daemon, however, didnt seem much in the mood for games, and with his malevolent aura billowing about him, he turned his cold gaze to Professor Jorendil and said, You do not want to test me, Jorendil. Lets keep things civil, shant we? Professor Jorendil hesitated, obviously feeling a little threatened, but he refused to back down. Straightening his shoulders, Professor Jorendil sneered. Oh, Im civil. But since you want the Lotus so badly and are willing to cheat us out of a fair deal, I only think it right that you pay a fortune for it. Professor Daemon scowled, observing Professor Jorendil with a scathing glare until Gwendolyn said, Are you making a counter bid, sir, or should we make a ruling? I am not making a counter bid. Professor Daemon replied, his expression turning deeply malevolent. I am making a final bid. He glared at Professor Jorendil, and in a tone that caused Aodhns entire existence to shudder in fear, he added. You do not want to test me, boy. Without further ado, he turned his attention back to Gwendolyn and said, Ill take the plant for 1500 gold coins. Aodhn glanced at Professor Jorendil, hoping the man would make a counter bid despite the dangerous situation. Alas, Professor Jorendil knew his limits, and although a vein pulsed angrily on his forehead, he kept his mouth shut. Gwendolyn glanced at the mute audience and said, The nightshade lotus is going for 1500 gold coins. Any other offers? When she got none, she said. Going once, going twice, andgone. Aodhn breathed a sigh, simultaneously relieved and disappointed that Professor Jorendil hadnt spoken up for one final bid. Perhaps he might have been able to push the bid to 2000 coins or even three thousand. Still, he had made far more than he had ever imagined he could, and he was absolutely giddy with excitement. Professor Daemon handed over a heavy coin pouch to Gwendolyn and waited for her to count the money before abruptly disappearing, taking his oppressive aura with him. Aodhn sighed in relief, only now realizing that he had burned nearly half his willpower pool to endure the mans passive aura for so long. Professor Jorendil and Master Lamarr disappeared a moment after, and when Azul came to stand beside him, he said, You have to tell me about this Nightshade Lotus plant. She eyed him. Youve never heard of it? I have. I identified the plant, didnt I? However, aside from the fact that it grants a temporary boost of core purity to shadow awakened, I have no idea why it would sell for such a large amount of money. Azul shook her head, looking even more amazed. I cant believe this. You didnt even know the value of what you were selling? Hey, I had you guys here. Besides, I deduced that it was very, very important. Thats the consequence of missing so many classes. You attended what? Two, three classes after the midterms? Four. Aodhn corrected, but he knew he truly had missed a lot of classes. He glanced at Gwendolyn, who was carefully packing each plant in transparent boxes, and said, So, youll tell me later? I can tell you now. Azul shrugged, but Aodhn shook his head. No, my dear. Im about to be very rich. Why dont you explain it to me over a fancy group dinner? Azul laughed, saying that she could definitely get down with that, and with a grin, Aodhn walked over to Gwendolyn, who shook her head when she saw him. Youve made away like a thief in the night, young man. Thats a lot of money for an hour of gathering. Aodhn nodded, unable to suppress his grin. Im definitely thinking of pursuing a career in it since theres so much money in it. Gwendolyn laughed. Well, its not always like this, but its a pretty lucrative business for the skilled and fortunate. She placed the coin pouch Professor Daemon had given her on the table and then placed a smaller pouch beside it. This is forty gold coins for the other plants. Aodhn grimaced as he stared at the small pouch. It had been impressive before, but now that he had made 1500 for a single plant, it just seemed lacking. Common and uncommon ranked plants were great, but not nearly as useful as rare ranked plants, and that difference was obvious in their prices. Bowing in thanks, Aodhn took the coin pouches, keeping the smaller pouch for himself whilst placing the larger pouch with the 100 platinum coins principal Zatya had given him. With the latest addition, he now had 2500 gold coins, which meant he needed to gather another 2500 to settle his debt. Unsurprisingly, the fine didnt weigh as heavily around his neck like it did earlier. He left the hall with a wide smile, chatting with Azul and Ursaz, and when they stepped out of the hall, he came in contact with Yurin and Daruk, who stared up at him with worried expressions. Knowing what the worry was, he excused himself from Azul and moved to brief both Yurin and Daruk on Andrews situation. He told them about his meeting with Andrews parents in Principal Zatyas office and their decision to keep the skill quiet until Andrew was fine and back in his right senses. Daruk and Yurin were just as shocked as he had been when they heard about the effects of the skill and what Andrew had achieved. They discussed for a few more minutes, and after Aodhn finally eased their worry, he then launched into a narration of the things that had happened during the auction. Azul and Ursaz soon joined them then, offering their own perspective on the matter. Yurin groaned in envy, cursing himself for not offering the course while they all laughed. Aodhn took them to the cafeteria, where he ordered a tray of special dishes not on the free menu, eager to eat something different for the first time in a while. While they all ate and celebrated his win in the auction, Azul finally explained the function of the nightshade lotus, stating that the Mythic class evolution required a very high degree of core purity to complete and that many were unable to evolve into the Mythic class because their cores werent pure enough. Some even experienced a system-enforced limit if their cases were particularly severe. However, that wasnt all the nightshade lotus did. Apparently, when processed into alchemical pills, the Lotus could grant a short burst of mental clarity within the origin plane. Ingesting enough of these pills could possibly grant a person the mental clarity required to gain a familiar. With such functions, Aodhn now understood why the plant was so expensive. Perhaps he could have made more from the auction had he known this earlier, but Aodhn didnt regret it much. He had made away with more money than he could have imagined from one hour of herb gathering. He was content. After eating, Azul and Ursaz went their separate ways, while Aodhn, Daruk, and Yurin headed to the training hall to prepare for the exam on Awakened combat the next day. Since there wasnt much to read about it, they used the time to train and duel, trying to inculcate some of the things Professor Alaric had always spoken of, especially during weapon training or the weaponless duels. The hours passed quickly, and before they knew it, night had fallen and the golden clouds of sunset bathed the sector in a golden hue. Chapter 158: Examination Day II After a brief reading session the next morning, Aodhn and Daruk made their way to the oval theater for the exam on Understanding Elemental Affinities (UEA). The hall was already half full when they arrived, but as usual, their seats on the middle row had been reserved, and without hesitation, they headed towards it. They were barely halfway there when Valerie Potts suddenly halted their advance and proceeded to scatter the whole class. She placed Aodhn to the far left of the hall, leaving an empty seat between him and Ankaz Urdania, while Daruk was placed on the other side, just behind Grendar, who turned to glare daggers at him. Aodhn settled into his seat with a sigh. Well, there goes my plans to cheat. Aodhn wasnt really planning to cheat, but he would have felt far more confident about the outcome of this exam if he had been seated with Daruk. Ankaz snorted. Like we can cheat with these agents hanging around. Aodhn turned to stare at the agents in question and scowled. One of them was Agent Cale Everglade, the insight awakened, while the other agent was an unfamiliar woman with metallic gray hair and slightly blue-tinted skin. She was dressed in the usual black suits that most of the agents wore; however, she was barefoot, and Aodhn noticed gray metallic veins tracing her feet. She stood beside Agent Cale, chuckling at something he must have said; however, the moment Aodhn tried to get a sense of her core, her gaze snapped up to his, and she narrowed her eyes in warning. Aodhn was shocked, as no one had ever had a reaction to his mental intrusions before, not to mention sense it, but somehow this woman could, and the glare she sent his way definitely warned of consequences if he tried to probe any further. Aodhn suspected the womans ability to sense his probe was due to a core skill like his core sense or Ayishas foresight. It could either be a bloodline ability or another tribulation-gained ability. Aodhn still wasnt sure how one gained an ability from a tribulation, but during one of his many discussions with principal Zatya, she had explained that it was common for people to gain weird abilities after undergoing a tribulation during or before their awakening. Aodhn had asked if it was possible to gain an ability if one underwent a tribulation after the awakening process, but her reply had been unclear. That made him wonder if Aldric had gained any abilities after the tribulation he had undergone and what kind of tribulation it was. What would an emotional tribulation look like anyway? Choosing to take the womans threat seriously, Aodhn decided to intuit her affinity just from her bloodline manifestation alone. There wasnt really much to work with. Aside from the blue skin, metallic veins, and metallic gray hair. The only other weird aesthetic she had was the color of the rings around her eyes. Silver, gray, and sky blue. The blue reminded Aodhn of water, but the metallic gray hair pointed towards a metal affinity too, creating a paradox for Aodhn. Before he could dwell too much on the matter, Ankaz asked. How far have you read? Aodhn shrugged. Far enough to know I wont completely mess this up. Ankaz chuckled and glanced at Daruk. What about your brother? Aodhn scoffed and shook his head. Hes probably read enough of the textbook to pass this exam with his eyes closed. Well, I guess we cant all be geniuses. No, we cant. Their quiet discussion continued for a few minutes until Valerie began distributing the exam questions and the agents began moving around to monitor the students. When Valerie placed his paper facedown on his table, Aodhn closed his eyes and decided to spend the next few seconds meditating. His meditation was abruptly cut short a minute later when someone tapped him on the shoulder. His eyes flew open, surprised that he hadnt sensed anyone coming, and that feeling was amplified when he saw the blue agent standing over him, a small smirk playing on her lips. Youre the one with the core sensing ability. She stated after the silence stretched for a moment, and Aodhn nodded. I am. Youre also the inheritor. She wasnt asking, yet Aodhn nodded again, not quite sure what to do in this situation. His reaction seemed to amuse the woman, and her smile widened. Nice to meet you, Aodhn. Ive heard a lot about you. I cant say the same, unfortunately. I dont even know your name. Impossibly, her smile seemed to widen even further, and she said,. Im sure any one of your noble friends will be eager to tell you who I am. I doubt Cyrus would, though. A sinking feeling suddenly formed in his stomach, and Aodhn frowned. Dont tell me youre Cyruss sister? He glanced at the metallic gray hair and shook his head. No, I doubt it. You dont have the signature pink hair. The blue woman laughed. I see youve met a number of my half-siblings then. Nutcases, arent they? Aodhns jaw nearly dropped at the confirmation, and he suddenly developed an urge to run far, far away before he developed any sort of relationship with another Valerion descendant. Thankfully, that was the moment Valerie announced the start of the exam, bringing this unfortunate conversation to a close. The woman smiled and began walking away; however, just as she did, a whisper tickled Aodhns ears. Call me, Ethereum. If theres a thread of fate connecting us, you might as well know my name. Aodhn didnt bother acknowledging her words, too afraid that doing that much might link their fates tighter, that is, if they were even connected at all. After all, Aodhn had learned not to believe all that he heard, much less the words of a Valerion. Pushing the matter to the back of his mind like he did most other matters, Aodhn opened the question paper and began the examination. For the next one hour and thirty minutes, Aodhn tackled question after question, answering each one as diligently as he could. The questions werent necessarily hard, but they were bulky and required a ton of explanations. Many of the questions were intertwined closely with topics they had discussed in Awakened Advancement Theory, which meant a lot of hypotheses and theories were also involved. It made the exam a lot more stressful than hard, and when Aodhn finally submitted, more than half of the class had already done so. He stepped out of the hall to find Daruk waiting for him, and when his brother saw the scowl on his face, he raised both of his hands in the air and said,. Fine, we dont have to talk about it. Thank you. Daruk smiled. You have to admit that the exam was pretty simple, though. Im not admitting shit. Your choice of words proves that you have something to admit, though. Care to share? Aodhn glanced at his brother and raised a finger wreathed in black lightning. I will blast you to oblivion if you keep pestering me. I wont even care about the brutal death Ill suffer at Synovs hands when she finds out. Daruk laughed and said. You wouldnt dare. No, I wouldnt. Aodhn admitted with a shrug. That doesnt mean I cant find some other ways to torture you. Their banter continued as they made their way to the cafeteria, but it soon shifted to a far more interesting topic: the exam on Awakened Combat. They spent a few minutes speculating on the approach Professor Alaric might take for the exam, after which they began dissecting every single class their nonchalant professor had ever held with them, trying to find ways in which the questions might come. Yurin joined them just as they were about to exit the lecture building, and together, they went to the cafeteria, where they spent the next two hours exchanging ideas and pointing out things to take note of from each class exercise. When the time for the exam came, they gathered within the weapons hall along with the other students, expecting to be led to the arena or the ASR chambers; instead, all they found was a circular concrete platform about 5 meters in diameter standing in place of the ring. Professor Alaric stood in front of the platform with a knowing smile, and Aodhn frowned, wondering what shenanigans Professor Alaric was up to now. I take it this wasnt what you were all expecting. Professor Alaric began as he took in their confused gazes, but when he received no response to his not-question, he scowled and glared at them. Look, Im sorry, guys, but after seeing how you people fight in the forge matches, Id rather not torture myself with another duel or battle match. So, Ive come up with a wonderful alternative. He glanced towards the platform, and his grin reappeared. For the past few weeks, Ive been awarding forge points for all our exercises, and I might have exceeded the limit a little. An exam at this point would just be overkill. What is he even saying? Yurin muttered in confusion, and Aodhn shrugged, not really understanding what was happening either. Their confused murmurs echoed through the rest of the class as other students voiced their confusion, but Professor Alaric raised a finger to halt them. I know you most likely do not understand, and I frankly do not care, but Ill explain it anyway, sinceno, that doesnt matter. The point is, Ive exceeded the stipulated amount of forge points I should have awarded for your continuous assessment, and now I dont have enough to award for an actual examination, so I decided, why dont we dance instead? He has lost it. Daruk murmured amidst the chaos of noise that arose in response to Professor Alarics statement. A dance? Professor Alaric had always been weird and odd, but a dance in place of an exam was crazy. Not an actual dance, you idiots. Professor Daemon shouted. I meant a dance battle, but you know what? Maybe the word dance isnt the right fit. In place of todays exam, each one of you will be demonstrating to the whole class how your affinities would fight in a duel if they were, you know, humanoid, and Ill be doling out forge points depending on how accurate I think you are. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Another chorus of noise erupted from the gathered students, and Aodhn massaged his temples in frustration. In all their preparation for this exam, none of them had prepared for this. How could they have? It was a fascinating exercise, though, and despite how unserious it seemed, Aodhn sensed a wisp of inspiration within the exercise. This wasnt the first time Professor Alaric had raised the idea, but this was the first time he was asking for a demonstration. Closing his eyes to think, Aodhn realized that his understanding of storm had changed. The last time he had thought of this was during the first weapons training class, and at that time, he would have described the storm as incredibly violent, turbulent, and chaotic, but now, after gaining {Eye of the Storm} and his recent enlightenment, Aodhns insight into his element had changed. The storm was still violent, unbridled, and dangerous, but Aodhns point of view had changed. He was no longer observing the storm from the outside but from its eye, where calm and peace reigned supreme. Looking out from the eye, the only words that came to mind were controlled destruction. A detached sort of violence that was certainly not personal, yet could be. His new perspective made Aodhn feel like he was standing within the control center of a massive storm, looking out at the destruction it wreaked on the world below. From that bastion of peace and calm called the eye, he could control the destruction; he could even put a stop to it, but what happened when no one was in the eye? When there was no one to control the storm? The image of a rabid dog came to mind, and Aodhn had to admit that the image was an accurate description of his current understanding. His experiences with the origin breach and the origin plane resonated well with that image, yet it felt incomplete. Like he was watching his affinity in 2D. He could only see one side, and that was not enough. He spent the next few minutes thinking, trying to understand what he was missing, but even though his understanding of the storm had grown, it was still incomplete and colored by his experiences. After about ten minutes, he finally came to a conclusion, one that he felt resonated better with him than the image of a rabid dog in need of a leash. The storm, if it was alive and humanoid would be a chaotic entity, sometimes calm and other times unbridled. It could rain destruction on the world today and then unleash a light shower the next. In some ways it reminded him of the term bipolarity. The storm could be aggressive today, and calm tomorrow. Yet, even when it was aggressive, the storms chaotic nature seemed detached, like it could change at any time. Mercurial. And when it was calm, it felt like it was holding back on purpose. The rage was there, simmering beneath the surface, tightly coiled and ready to be unleashed at any time. His understanding of his element was a jumble of thoughts and insight fragments, but it all came down to a single word: unpredictability. The storm was unpredictable, and if it were alive, Aodhn believed it would be the most mercurial, impulsive, and unpredictable fighter ever. His new understanding still wasnt complete, yet it resonated better with him and his current perspective. It also unlocked a building block for his next stage of understanding, but Aodhn pushed it to the back of his mind, giving it a chance to simmer for a while before coming back to it. When he opened his eyes, he found Yurin frowning at a ball of light in his hands while Daruk simply emitted a deep chill that covered a small area around his feet in frost. Somehow, despite having not gained a new seal, Aodhn suspected Daruks understanding of his element was far above his own. Daruk was just so intelligent and smart that it seemed likely. Also, his first seal hadnt exactly been by merit. More than half the class stood in similar positions, either meditating or simply concentrating on the manifestation of their affinities in order to understand them better. Professor Alaric let this go on for another ten minutes before speaking, Alright, thats enough meditating. The examination will begin in the next five minutes, so prepare yourself. In the meantime, I would like to introduce our external invigilator today, Agent Aquila Valerion. The blue woman who had introduced herself earlier as Etherium stepped out of literal air, and that was when Aodhn realized she hadnt told him her name but her affinity. Aodhn had never heard of an affinity called etherium, but the confusing bloodline certainly made sense now. Just like champion Rivaldi, Aquila seemed to have a merged affinity too, a mix of ether and metal, granting her a strange, new affinity. Aodhn wasnt quite sure how such an affinity had come into existence, how it even worked, or how its origin plane looked like, but he suspected her abilities involved the manipulation of metals and ether, which was just a type of energy, right? Aodhn wasnt too sure as he hadnt read much on the topic, but he knew there was at least a minor difference between normal essence and ether itself. Aquila smiled and introduced herself. Many of you know me, of course, but Im glad everyone now does. For this exam, Ill be acting both as an invigilator and a partner for the demonstration Alaric has come up with. Ill be your opponent, so you dont have to worry about going all out or holding back. You couldnt hurt me even if you tried. Somehow, despite the fact that her gaze had landed on him when she made the last statement, Aodhn didnt think it was directed at him. Oh, certainly, he wasnt excluded, but Cyruss reaction to the statement proved it probably had a much deeper meaning to the spatial cultivator than it did to him. The examination began five minutes later, and Professor Alaric began calling out their names in alphabetical order, starting with Aida Simms, then Alesh Vilaris, Andrew Willowood, Ankaz Urdania, and finally Aodhn. Andrew was unfortunately still confined, which meant only three people would partake in the exercise before Aodhn had to go on stage. Aida stepped onto the platform uncertainly, running her fingers through her hair while staring at Aquila. She took her position opposite the agent and asked. So, just to confirm, Sir, my demonstration should reflect my own understanding of my affinity, not just the general opinions and beliefs. That is correct. Professor Alaric nodded sagely, but Aida wasnt satisfied with the simple response. How then will you be able to judge my demonstration if its based on my own understanding of my element which cant be proved wrong since its my own understanding? Professor Alarics smile tightened, and he tapped his head. Intuition and experience. Im not sure thats how it works Just do the damn exercise and quit needling me! Aida scowled and turned her attention back to Aquila, who was smiling at her as if she were a cute little puppy. Whenever youre ready, kid. Aquila said and took up a defensive position. Also, dont bother holding back. I can take whatever you dish out. Aida nodded and raised a hand to attack but hesitated. Shaking her head, she said,. I... I think Id rather defend instead. Aquila raised an eyebrow in surprise, and the next instant, Aodhn could have sworn he felt her deflate. Not in size, obviously, but her general spirituality and latent aura seemed to shrink as he restrained her strength and limited herself to the evolved tier. Aodhn still couldnt get a clear sense of her core, but just from the general sense of weakness she emitted right now, Aodhn guessed she had limited herself to the 20th tier. Aquila confirmed his guess when she said. Ive restrained myself to the 20th tier. However, my control is still leaps and bounds above yours, which means an attack from me will still be dangerous. Are you sure you want to do this? Aida nodded, and Aodhn whispered to Daruk. Why is she being so nice? Do you know any Valerion that is nice? Daruk chuckled. Do you think itll be a stretch to assume that she is at least sane? Aodhn scoffed. A stretch might be an understatement. While they joked about the mental faculties of Valerions, Aida took up a defensive position, sliding her left foot backwards and lowering her center of gravity whilst raising her hands to guard her face. Even at a glance, Aodhn could tell what attribute of the earth affinity she was trying to demonstrate: endurance. Aquila lunged at her, moving slowly at first, before suddenly picking up speed. Her fist smashed into Aidas raised hands hard enough to throw her back; however, she barely even staggered, redirecting all that force into the concrete below. Aquilas next attack wasnt so easily shrugged off, and Aida grunted even as the concrete beneath her cracked. The next was even worse, and Aida had to coat her arms in the shattered pieces of concrete to weather the consequent attacks. Each time Aquila attacked, the concrete cracked, yet Aida stood resolutely, absorbing and redirecting the force of Aquilas attacks as quietly as she could. When the demonstration ended five minutes later, the whole class clapped, and Aida smiled awkwardly, wiping sweat off her brows while her arms shook from all the punishment they had endured. Alesh went next, and when Aquila attacked, he sidestepped her charge with an eerie, smoky grace, releasing a cloud of smoldering ash from his hands. The haze thickened and forced Aquila to halt, but it wasnt long before she lunged for him again, her movements sharp and calculated. Before she could grab him, though, Alesh dissolved into a cloud of ash, his form flickering like a shadow within the swirling ash. The obviously new skill caused Aodhn to raise an eyebrow, along with many others, as they wondered if Alesh had gained a third seal or if his understanding had progressed so much that he had created a skill so advanced. The skill must have shocked Aquila too because she faltered, and that was when Alesh really attacked, unleashing a dense vortex of ash that wrapped around her and closed in with a sudden, smoldering intensity. Despite restraining herself to the 20th tier, the skill wasnt enough to place Aquila on her back foot, and a minute later, she halted a clenched fist just a hairsbreadth from Aleshs chest, saying, This would have punched through your ribs and out the other side had I let it through. Aodhn wasnt sure what attribute Alesh had embodied, but from professor Alarics appreciative expression, it seemed his friend would be passing with flying colors. Ankaz went next, bringing a fiery intensity to the stage that drastically raised the temperature within the hall, forcing Daruk to combat the heat with his aura and bathe the hall in frost. Ankazs demonstration was equally as impressive as Aleshs, and when it ended, Aodhn walked up to the stage, scowling when Aquila beamed at him and said,. I told you we were fated. Rather than respond, Aodhn climbed up to the cracked concrete stage and took up an offensive stance, muttering to himself, Ignore her; be unpredictable. The storm is unpredictable. Aodhn didnt have much to show off in this demonstration except that one word: unpredictable, and if he managed to catch Aquila off guard, then that would definitely be a plus. His silence only seemed to fascinate Aquila more, and her smile widened. However, Aodhn wasnt fooled by her loose stance. He could tell that she was taking him seriously. More seriously than she had taken the others before him. Hopefully, she wouldnt see this coming. Immediately Professor Alaric gestured for them to begin; Aodhn dodged to the side and summoned a roiling black cloud that exploded with rainfall the moment it appeared. Aquila, who had been expecting him to attack with a beam of electricity, paused to glare at him, and Aodhn smiled. His unpredictability had just begun. What are you planning? Aquila asked, her expression curious, but Aodhn simply shrugged, trying to keep his eyes from straying towards the puddles of rainwater forming on the platform. The puddles grew quickly, and the moment Aquila stepped in one of them, Aodhn struck, unleashing a surge of red electricity that raced through the water and lit up the entire platform. Aquila reacted quickly, jumping out of the puddle before the lightning caught her, but the platform was drenched, and she was barefoot. Except she used her skills, there was no way she could evade the trap he had laid. Still, she tried to evade, somersaulting through the air to find a dry spot. There was none, and the moment she inevitably landed, another surge of electricity arced through the soaked floor, catching her mid-step and locking her muscles in place. Aquila dropped to one knee, her breath sharp as lightning coursed through her. Aodhn cut off the skill a second later, trying his hardest not to burst with laughter on seeing Aquilas hair all fizzled and standing on end. He had definitely taken out his frustrations on her, but one look at her and Aodhn knew he had probably intertwined their fates tighter with this action. Bowing to hide his smile, Aodhn said, Thank you for the instructions, Agent Valerion. Ill endeavor to put all that youve taught me to good use. Aquila muttered something most likely sinister, but it was too low for anyone to hear except for Professor Alaric, whose eyes narrowed in caution before he spoke. Good demonstration, Aodhn. Now leave the platform before something bad happens to you. Aodhn took the warning seriously and quickly stepped off the platform, smiling at Azul as she was called to give her own demonstration. The examination continued for a few more hours, and Aodhn had to admit that it was interesting to see the other students express their understanding of their element, sometimes even going contrary to what Aodhn would have expected. However, just like Aida had said earlier, one''s understanding of their element couldnt be wrong. If a persons understanding of light was that it was slow and cold, then that was just the persons understanding. It might seem absurd to some, but ultimately, no path was wrong or incorrect, and Aodhn doubted Professor Alaric would end up failing anybody. After the demonstration, Aodhn, Daruk, and Yurin rushed out of the hall with Aodhn trying to hide from Aquilas searching gaze. He wasnt sure he managed to escape, but at least he made it outside the hall in one piece. Now he just had to make it through the examination on Awakened Advancement Theory in the same manner. Chapter 159: Snuggling up. The third day of examination came like a punch to the gut, and Aodhns stomach couldnt help but cramp with nerves despite immersing himself deeply within {Eye of the Storm}. It wasnt just that AAT was hard; it was bulky and overly complicated too. Too many theories and hypotheses to state. Too many laws and speculations to cram. Too many facts to understand. It was just too much, and to be honest, Aodhn was yet to cover even half of the entire syllabus. Strangely enough, he had no trouble remembering the classes Professor Dubois had taught, despite disliking her. It was Professor Jorendils classes that needed remembering. Glancing at the time at the edge of his status screen, [3:30], Aodhn crawled out of bed and underneath Varcs wings, seeking the familiar comfort of chaos and storm that Varc innately emitted. He snuggled in between Varcs arms, placing himself just right to avoid stabbing himself with a claw. Varc had grown too big for the bed, but there was still more than enough space on the floor for him to sleep without causing too much damage. At the rate Varc was growing, though, it was only a matter of time before he outgrew even that. Perhaps, by then, he would have to sleep on the roof. The thought caused him to chuckle, unintentionally jostling Varc and causing his soft snores to falter for a moment before resuming. Despite being fast asleep, Varc shifted to create space for Aodhn to snuggle in tighter, and a rumble of thunder filled Aodhns ears as he placed his head near Varcs snout. The rumbling echoed out with each breath, and Aodhn let himself get lost in the soothing sounds of Varcs snores, wondering if hed ever heard a more comforting sound before. While he lay in Varcs embrace, his mind drifted to a group of memories that once housed a ton of emotions but now echoed with a cold, foreign silence. Earth! He thought of the orphanage and a particularly nasty storm that had raged only a few weeks before his transmigration. At that time, he had watched the storm from the window of his small room, shuddering in fear as lightning flashed and thunder boomed. In this moment, however, Aodhn would give nearly anything for the faintest patter of rain. He could sense it, somehowso close, just on the horizon. The dry season was nearing its end, and within a few days or weeks, the rains would finally arrive. Aodhn could hardly wait. More memories of Earth rose to the surface of his mind, but none of them held the nostalgia, happiness, or sadness they usually did. It felt like watching someone elses memories, and he soon became tired of it. With a sigh, he took out the Voltaris ore the champions had given him and scrutinized it, watching it closely as it glowed dimly within the darkness of Varcs wings. For the next few minutes, Aodhn just stared at the ore, wondering what he could do with it. The main use of the Voltaris ore was in the production of storm and lightning pills as an alchemical catalyst. However, it could also be used as an ingredient in the production of various magical items, weapons, and even clothes. There were a plethora of options, but aside from the alchemical pills, none of them really interested him. He had no need for mundane weapons, not when he could create his own, although an epic-ranked weapon, further enhanced by runes, wouldnt hurt to have; it wasnt that high on his list of priorities at the moment. What he needed was an edge, something that might grant him an advantage in the upcoming tournament should he need it. The Epic-ranked weapon came to his mind once again, and Aodhn paused to think. An Epic-ranked weapon would be a great investment, one he didnt even have to spend too much money on since Professor Caldwell already promised to make him one should he require it; however, the moment he stepped into the Advanced class, an Epic-ranked weapon would lose nearly all of its usefulness, as his skills would have grown strong enough for him not to need it anymore. Even now, an Epic-ranked weapon wasnt really a game changer. He could perhaps injure an advanced class Awakened with an epic-ranked weapon, but Aodhn seriously doubted he could kill one. He contemplated the idea for a while, but without making a decision, his attention shifted again, this time to the ongoing war. It had been three weeks since Seo-yeons dishonorable death, and although the information ban within the academy was still in effect, Aodhn didnt need to communicate with anyone to know that things had either gotten worse with the war or were well on their way to becoming so. Sunstone would not take Artemiss actions lying down, and their retaliation was inevitable. However, he had witnessed the champions meeting, and from what he had seen, it was obvious Ragnarok wasnt taking things lightly either. If the war hadnt been serious before, then it was just about to enter a new dimension of bloody. The Sunstonians were big on honor in death, and he imagined the way Seo-yeon had died was both intentional and a slap to Sunstone. Aodhn snuggled closer to Varc, wondering what turns the war would take this time. He had no idea what the original reasons for this war were, but at this point he didnt really care anymore. The war had now become a matter of revenge and pride, at least for the lowly soldiers who, like him, had no idea what the real reason for the war was. Sighing, he let out a quiet prayer to all the gods that regardless of what happened, Synov and Unrid would be alright. After that, he said another prayer for Captain Tyrus and his comrades, wishing them the best in what he imagined were extremely turbulent times. His tour of the camps with Captain Tyrus had changed something within him, forcing him to see the war for what it really was rather than the distant concept he had always imagined it to be. The soldiers were no longer distant names on a sheet of paper whose deaths didnt really affect him. Now, he had seen them, he had walked amongst them, and despite only spending a few hours among them, Aodhn cared about them. In the last few weeks, Aodhn had done his best to read up on Ragnaroks history with Sunstone, and although he hadnt been able to uncover the reasons behind this bloody war, he had found a few important details that shed some light on the matter. Ragnarok and Sunstone had never been on good terms with each other, even when Lutia was a collective state, and although they hadnt launched a war against themselves during that time, they had definitely danced around the topic for years. Border skirmishes had been a common occurrence, but things had never been so bad as to warrant a full-on war. However, working with the information principal Zatya had given him about Attilan and the time of the first war, Aodhn was able to deduce a few things, one of which was the fact that the reason for the first war was both linked to Attilan and the wellsprings that housed the soul seeds at the edges of each kingdom. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. There was no mention of the initial number of wellsprings in each kingdom, but Aodhn suspected that the war might have been a fight for soul seeds. Perhaps it was the reason why Attilan had attacked in the first place. The fact that an outright war between Sunstone and Ragnarok had only begun centuries after the Attilan invasion only gave credit to his assumptions. However, Aodhn was certain there was something else, something the higher-ups and even the champions knew about. The way Artemis had killed the changeling just seemed too personal. Then again, perhaps he was just fanatically patriotic. Another interesting tidbit he had learned was that only a few years before the first war began was coincidentally around the same time Von-Amyl Argent had risen to fame. It had been nearly a millennium since then, and in all those years, Ragnarok and Sunstone had been at loggerheads. In fact, it seemed the entire continent had been fighting at the time, but after centuries of blood and war, Calodan, Unoros, and the Central Kingdom had pulled back from the war to rebuild and focus on their own development. Continuous reading soon revealed that Ragnarok and Sunstone had also declared several ceasefires over the years, taking breaks to rebuild and heal before resuming their eternal fight. Some of the breaks lasted months, some years, but the longest was a decade. An entire decade of peace. Aodhn wished that time would come back. He had searched the entire library to find any information on what had restarted the war this time. Unsurprisingly, he hadnt found anything concrete. He felt close to the answer, though, and was sure it was only a matter of time before he figured it out, just the way he had figured out the limit. He ruminated on the matter until dawn broke, painting the sky in a beautiful glow of gold and orange, before standing to his feet and making his way to the bathroom to begin his day. His thoughts distracted him from his nerves, and by the time he was dressed and ready to go, his nerves had settled a little. Ten minutes later, he met up with Yurin and Daruk at the cafeteria to discuss the exam. Daruk was obviously the most knowledgeable, having read the most amongst the three of them, so he naturally took up the role of an instructor while Aodhn and Yurin asked questions. They discussed a ton of topics, one of which was why bloodline manifestations were severe for some and almost non-existent for others despite having the same rank. There was no real answer to that question, just a bunch of speculations and assumptions by a host of renowned scholars whose opinions couldnt help but make it into the textbooks. Some theorized that it was a matter of spiritual strength, with the spirit refusing to accede to the extremities of the soul seeds, while others theorized that it was a matter of compatibility. There were a host of different opinions, none of which rang completely true, yet they had to read and understand them all. For the next two hours, Aodhn, Yurin, and Daruk cursed and hissed as they read more and more of the syllabus. Ayisha, Ankaz, and Scarlett even joined them at some point, complaining of the same thing. After nearly an hour of reading, Aodhn gave up on trying to cover the syllabus and instead began revising what he had read earlier. It helped to keep his mind grounded, and before he knew it, only ten minutes were left before the examination began. Fuck! My brain feels like its about to melt. Yurin complained as they began making their way to the examination hall, and groans of assent echoed out from everyone else except Daruk, who laughed and said,. Thats the disadvantage of cramming. I bet if I tickle you, Yurin, all youve read today will just evaporate. I wont even deny it. Yurin replied, taking a few steps away from Daruk to stand beside Aodhn. If I can get through this examination with my mind intact, Ill definitely light a candle in prayer. Ayisha, who had stayed silent the entire walk, suddenly perked up and said,. I never took you for the religious type. Im not, but my grandparents are. In fact, my grandfather served as a priest at the temple of Raol in sector 6 before Aodhn tuned them out, sinking his mind deeply into the calm and quiet of {Eye of the Storm}. The skill might be a passive skill, but Aodhn had realized that taking an active role in its activation usually made its effect stronger. The flutter of nerves that remained in his belly disappeared, and his mind soon became as calm as the surface of a lake. They reached the examination hall with five minutes to spare, and Aodhn quickly made his way to the seat that had been assigned to him. Both Professor Dubois and Professor Jorendil were present in the hall, along with three familiar agents. The first was Agent Everglade, the insight awakened; the second was Agent Crownstar, the divinity awakened, while the last was Aquila Valerion. She smiled at him predatorily as he rushed to his seat, her eyes twinkling as if she had something mischievous planned. Aodhn ignored her for now, focused on keeping his mental state calm before the examination began. He even closed his eyes, letting his mind sink further into the serenity that {Eye of the Storm} provided until Professor Dubois spoke. Welcome, students. This exam will begin very soon, so sit back and relax while the agents help us pass the questions around. Aodhn doubted the agents appreciated being used in this manner, and one look at their expressions made it obvious that they didnt. Still, they took up the pile of documents and began distributing them, not bothering to place them facedown like the professors usually did. This gave Aodhn a few more minutes to go through the questions before the examination began, and he wasnt disappointed. The questions werent exactly as hard as he had expected, but they were bulky, filled with words like explain, expatiate, discuss, and even theorize. A quick scan soon revealed that there was not a single multiple-choice question to be seen, just theories and hypotheses. Aodhn managed to suppress a curse, but not all the students succeeded in this regard, and Aodhn even thought he heard someone burst into tears behind him. The examination began shortly after, and Aodhn quickly dove into the questions, knowing that time would be his biggest constraint in this exam. Needless to say, the exam was tough on everyone, because even after the two hours assigned for the exam elapsed, no one was ready or willing to submit. Time had passed too quickly, and after a chorus of pleas, Professor Dubois hesitantly granted them an extra thirty minutes. Thankfully, the extra time was enough for Aodhn, and with only five minutes to spare, he went through his answers, scanning them to ascertain that he had answered each question correctly. When he was done, he looked up to find more than half of the student body still writing, many of whom didnt seem to be nearing the end at all. Sighing, he stood up and moved to the front of the hall where Professor Jorendil stood with a pile of answer scripts in his hand. Professor Jorendil accepted his answer script with a smile and said,. We need to talk very soon. Maybe see me in my office this evening. Aodhn nodded, already having an idea what Professor Jorendil wanted to talk about. He made his way out of the hall, and despite how hard the exam had been, he couldnt help but smile in relief that it was finally over, especially when he saw the other students celebrating the end of the exams. AAT had been their final paper, which meant they were now free. Aodhn joined their merriment, singing an off-key tune with Yurin, who seemed even more excited than he was. Students cheered and hugged each other, and while they did, someone suggested a party. Aodhn wasnt sure who did, but he added a resounding yes to the cheer that rose in favor of the suggestion. They had done it. The first semester was well and truly over, and now, it was time to celebrate. Chapter 160: Party While they cheered and celebrated the idea of a party, a certain pink-haired individual came up with the grand idea to spatially expand their house and convert it into a grand hall fit for a royal ball. This pink-haired individual was obviously Cyrus Valerion, and although his suggestion was greeted with cheers at first, it soon became obvious to everyone that there was an ulterior motive behind the very generous suggestion, and the snide looks Grendar and Lilith shot in Aodhns direction confirmed their suspicions. Aodhn was sick of it, truly. He understood the competitive rivalry between him and Cyrus, as they were both warring for the same position on the Tower Leaderboards. However, this hatred Cyrus and his friends bore against him had gone on for far longer than hed anticipated. At first, hed understood it, even enjoyed it, but things had escalated after the midterm break, reaffirming to Aodhn that there really was a side to this story that he wasnt seeing, because aside from the fact that he was a commoner, he still had no idea what he could have possibly done to make them hate him this much. Even Marcellus wasnt this detested. Sensing the rising tension, Alesh suggested, I think we should use a more neutral space. That way everyone is welcome. I agree. Ankaz hastily agreed and added. The cafeteria is a good location. The cafeteria is too big. Grendar scowled at Ankaz. Cyrus cant expand such a large space easily. He doesnt need to. The cafeteria is large enough to accommodate us all without issue. Aida countered, and after a short argument, they all finally agreed to use the cafeteria, making sure that everyone was welcome. With the venue now decided, the next topic to discuss was the party decorations, and unsurprisingly, Daruk wanted to be involved, coming up with a brilliant idea to transform the cafeteria into a sweeping wasteland of snow and ice. From the way he described the whole thing in detail, Aodhn suspected this wasnt the first time hed had this grand idea. Aodhn would have loved to also involve himself in the decorations, but he soon decided that it was better for all involved if he didnt. Yurin, Meredith, and a few other students also decided to join in decorating the cafeteria, and while they all made their way to the cafeteria, Aodhn went back home to begin packing his things in preparation for the break. When he got home, he took the stairs two at a time, excited to begin. However, halfway up the stairs, he came across Meredith and asked. Excited for the holidays? Meredith shrugged and handed him an invite. Id be more excited if you came to my 17th birthday party. Aodhn accepted the elaborately decorated invitation with a sigh and said,. I cant speak for Daruk, but Ill try my best to make it. Try? Meredith pouted and Aodhn laughed. I cant make any promises, Meredith, but Ill definitely do my best to show up. I guess thats all I can ask for. Meredith smiled, and they began walking up the stairs together. When they reached the top of the stairs, Aodhn sidled closer to her and asked, So, aside from your birthday party, what other plans do you have for the break? Nothing much. Meredith chuckled. The estate is usually boring by this time of the year, and with the rainy season drawing nearer, perhaps I might retire to my mothers estate at Oceans Tide. Aodhn shook his head at the luxury of nobles. Oceans Tide was one of the most beautiful cities in sector 4, a sector where half its landmass was slightly submerged in an ocean so clear it was rumored to be crystalline. What about you? Meredith asked, and Aodhn shrugged. I have no plans for the break. I just want to practice my runes, work on my advancement, and spend time with my family. So boring. Meredith rolled her eyes. Please tell me youre going to the cafeteria party? Yeah, Ill be there. Aodhn laughed and shook his head in amusement. Why? Do you have anything planned for me? Oh, Ive got a lot of things planned. Meredith smiled and began pulling him towards her room by his storm scarf. In fact, Ive got so much planned that I dont think well ever have enough time to tackle them. Oh yeah? What about the decorations? The decorations can wait. Meredith replied as she pushed her door open with dramatic flair and yanked Aodhn into her room. My plans with you, though, those are very urgent. Aodhn laughed, unable to help himself, and when Meredith shut the door behind him, he pressed his lips against hers and said,. Well, lets not keep those plans waiting. One hour later, Aodhn stepped out of Merediths room, a sweaty, euphoric mess, his legs wobbling as he made his way back to his room. Without hesitation, he headed straight for the bathroom to take a much-needed shower. With the party scheduled for the evening, he had about 4C5 hours left before he needed to begin preparing, so he decided a rejuvenating rest was in order. He woke up two hours later to a bunch of texts from Daruk and Yurin, and after responding to each one, he began his preparations for the party. Feeling a little daring, he decided to go with the same outfit he had worn to the Blackwell party. It was the outfit he had copied from Azmarthon, but Aodhn thought it fit the occasion perfectly. The attire fit him even more snuggly than before, highlighting his muscled frame and revealing more of the golden lines on his chest in a teasing way. When he finished dressing, he moved to stare at himself in the mirror and had to admit that he looked great. His hair, which had been an overgrown mess for the past few weeks, now sat pretty on his head, rippling with tiny arcs of red, black, and green electricity. His patched scruff was gone, revealing a lot more of his face, which had become even more chiseled with his recent advancements. All in all, he looked nice, and after one last look in the mirror, Aodhn stepped out of his room and made his way to house 3 to meet with Yurin and Daruk while they got ready. Daruk was dressed in one of his icy suits, somehow managing to look both hot and cold at the same time, while Yurin was dressed in a Doroma traditional attire made of a colorless, glass-like fabric that was a little extravagant for the party they were attending. Aodhn was about to point out this fact when Yurin suddenly infused the outfit with light essence, unleashing an explosion of light that lit up the whole room and bathed the walls in gold. What the fuck?! Aodhn cursed, squinting as he shielded his eyes from the glare. Are you trying to blind us all? Yes. Yurin laughed, arching his back in amusement. Feast your eyes on my glory, you pesky mortals. We wont have any eyes to feast with if you do not turn that thing off right now. Daruk shouted, his eyes squeezed shut and shielded by an ice-coated palm. , and Yurin reduced the intensity to manageable levels muttering, Party poopers. Yurin muttered as he reduced the light intensity almost by half. Still, the Dorom was so bright that Aodhn was certain it could function as a beacon even at noon. Why cant you just wear a simple suit? Aodhn asked, and Yurin replied. Because, unlike the rest of you pseudo-nobles, Ive never attended a party with nobles before so I have to make an impression. I think an impression is an understatement. Daruk chuckled, still squinting at the outfit. Youll make a freaking spectacle. Hahaha. Very funny, Daruk. Very funny. Smoothing out the creases on the Dorom, Yurin looked at Aodhn and asked. What do you think? I think it could do with a little less brightness. At this point youre a danger to us all. They teased Yurin for a few more minutes until he eventually decided to ditch the Dorom and wear something a little more appropriate. As he forced himself into the fancy gold-laced black suit, he glared at Daruk and said. Youre the meanest person I know. And you, he glared at Aodhn. Youre just evil. They all laughed, and Aodhn wished he had a portable camera to capture the moment. The snappers the reporters used were bulky and incredibly complex to use, but with technology rising so fast, Aodhn hoped a portable version would be available soon. They spent the next few minutes chatting about various topics, ranging from the exams to the party, and then to Andrew. Aodhn especially missed Andrew as this party would have been a lot more interesting with him around. Wanting the check up on him, Aodhn texted Rahim to inquire about Andrews wellbeing, and although he hadnt exactly been expecting good news, Rahims response still disappointed him. Andrew was still under the influence of the twisted effect, and any hope that might regain his senses before the end of the week was no nil. It was concerning, especially when one considered the personality change that usually came with the twisted effect. Aodhn relayed Rahims response to Yurin and Daruk, both of whom grimaced in concern. They didnt stay sad for long, though. They had a party to attend, and the last thing Andrew would want was for them to worry about him when they could be having fun instead. Five minutes later, they stepped out of the house and began walking towards the cafeteria, chatting and laughing with the other students they came across on their way there. Some students were dressed just as moderately as they were, however, most of the students were dressed in attires so extravagant that the Dorom would be considered bland in comparison. One of the more extravagantly dressed students was Scarlett, who was decked in a crimson gown adorned in shining gems and gold lacings. Crimson feathers adorned the back of the dress, and a large, diamond-shaped necklace adorned her neck. She was accompanied by her two brothers, both of whom looked like butlers beside her overly enhanced looks. When she saw them, she made a puking gesture and said. Dear heavens, what in the world are you guys wearing? Its called a suit. Daruk replied with a shady smile. Have you never seen a suit? Scarlett rolled her eyes at the shade. Of course, I know what a suit is, its just, you guys look so simple I could puke. I knew I should have worn the dorom. At this rate, itll be a miracle if any one even realizes that I attended this party. Yurin lamented, raising his head to bawl at the sky. Dressed nearly as flamboyantly as Scarlett was Cyrus and his friends except Kellan Dravenor who looked like he would rather be anywhere else than at the party in that moment. Lupin was also dressed a little flamboyantly, but just like the dresses she had worn ever since her fathers death, the gown was black. It was a bell-shaped, floor-length gown that hid all of her womanly curves, yet only served to make her looks even more refined. Aodhn felt a small pang of jealousy when he saw her in the company of Alesh Vilaris, looking radiant and even a little happy. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. As they drew closer to the cafeteria, they came across more of their friends, and Aodhn soon realized that perhaps Scarlett was right and they should have dressed a little more extravagantly than they had. They soon came across Ayisha and Cameron Lorde who seemed to be attending the party as a duo. Ayisha was dressed in an inconspicuous silky grey gown that almost seemed to fade out of reality every time she held still for more than two seconds, and although Camerons outfit was a little more colorful, it barely stood out either. Ayisha waved awkwardly when she saw him, and Aodhn sighed. Ayisha was still acting weird around him, and although she had finally stopped calling him fated, she was still a little awkward and formal whenever she was around him. She was getting better though, and the more they spoke, the more she relaxed until she was laughing and scowling at him the way she used to. Aodhn knew she would most likely return to being awkward and formal the next time he saw her, but at least for now, she was having fun. They were nearly at the entrance of the cafeteria when Aodhn finally saw Meredith who was dressed in an azure colored gown that flowed and rippled around her body like water. The gown clung to her skin so tightly that it highlighted all her curves, and her raven black hair clung to her neck and shoulders as if she just exited the shower. The whole look gave off the vibe that she was wet, and Aodhn was here for it. She smiled when she noticed his attention, causing Yurin and Daruk to cheer childishly. One person whose outfit of choice surprised him, though, was Imani, who was dressed in a smoky black outfit that was even more revealing than Merediths. Imani had undergone a drastic change in the last few weeks, and right now the only thing nerdy about her was the splatter of ink around her fingers. A closer look, however, soon revealed that the splatter of ink was actually a temporary tattoo of what seemed to be a short quote, and that said a lot about the person Imani was slowly becoming. Her inky black hair fell around her shoulders in waves, and the desperate innocence her eyes once held was gone, replaced by a mischievous glitter that made Aodhn uneasy. They arrived at the cafeteria a few minutes later, and Aodhns mouth dropped open when he stepped into the wonderland Daruk and the rest of the decoration team had created. The entire cafeteria had been transformed into a beautiful snowscape filled with jagged icy constructs, flowers, and frost. A thick layer of ice covered the floor and walls, turning the whole cafeteria into an ice age, and the concrete roof was replaced with a vision of space filled with stars, galaxies, shooting stars, and comets. Small balls of light floated around the hall, lighting up the room and lending it a romantic ambience. Beautiful flowers made entirely from imagination littered the floor, their delicate petals waving in the swirling breeze that moved about the space. The wooden chairs and tables had been moved to a partitioned corner of the cafeteria, leaving a large enough space in the center for people to dance. What do you think? Daruk asked as they all walked into the cafeteria, and Aodhn shook his head in amazement. Its absolutely amazing. I think so too. Daruk grinned. The ice is obviously me, although Scarlett enhanced several parts of it. The light balls are Yurins handwork, the swirling breeze is Halima, the flowers are Azuls touch, and the roof is all Marcellus. Howd you get Marcellus to do anything? Aodhn asked, still looking around in amazement. I couldnt. Daruk chuckled. Imani was the one who spoke to him. Perhaps they are a good pair. Dont you think? Perhaps they are. Aodhn replied, not quite sure he believed his own words. They moved around the cafeteria, staring at all the statues Daruk had made. There were quite a number of them too, ranging from beautiful dancers to snarling monsters. The details of each statue had been further enhanced by Scarlett, giving the icy figures an almost lifelike appearance. Music blasted out from somewhere, and Aodhn grinned as the entire vibe of the party suddenly improved and people began to move to the beat. Citing a table filled with snacks and drinks at one corner of the cafeteria, Aodhn moved towards it, followed closely by Yurin, who had been following behind him and Daruk, along with Lyra Davenport, to view the statues. They wove through a ton of people on their way to the savory snacks, dodging beckoning hands that tried to pull them to the dance floor, and when they finally reached the table, Yurin muttered in confusion. These girls have never shown any interest in me before now, but all of a sudden, they want to dance? Aodhn shrugged, not too concerned about Yurins romantic dilemma. Perhaps theyve never had a chance to show off their interest before, or youve just been too blind to see it. Oh yes, the light of my beauty must have blinded me. Yurin rolled his eyes, and Aodhn laughed as he began piling small rolls of pies into a wooden plate. Yurin did the same, but just as they turned to head back towards the dance floor, someone shouted. General! General Carnage! Aodhn cringed and bit his tongue by mistake, causing Yurin and a few others near them to erupt with laughter. Aodhn took in a deep breath and turned to smile at Dihlon, who was dressed in an orange shirt that billowed around him like a nascent explosion. Hi Dihlon, you know you can just call me Aodhn, right? Nope, wheres the fun in that? Dihlon laughed and took a long drink out of his suspicious-looking grenade bottle. After the last simulation exercise, a few of his group members had taken to calling him General Carnage because of the way he and Varc had taken out the rest of the Black Order after taking out Cyrus. The name had thankfully failed to stick, but Dihlon absolutely refused to let it go. Personally, I love General Carnage better. Yurin teased. It has such a nice ring to it. Yeah. Dihlon agreed heartily. That name has got to stick one way or the other. Ascendants, I hope not. Aodhn cringed again, and they all laughed. However, while they joked, Aodhn noticed that Dihlons laughter was just a touch too loud, and his face too flush to be sober. The consumption of alcohol was incredibly frowned upon considering the volatile nature of many of their abilities and affinities. Even while sober, their control was tenuous. Adding alcohol to the mix was simply courting danger. However, that didnt mean that the presence of alcohol within the schools premises was non-existent, as evidenced by Dihlons slightly slurred speech. Concerned, Aodhn reached out to steady Dihlon and said,. Hey, you should probably ease back on the alcohol if youre already swaying. Bah! Dihlon pushed his hand away and steadied himself. This is a party man, a party to celebrate the end of exams. This is literally the perfect time to indulge. Are you sure? Oh, dont be a party pooper; Im sure Dihlon is fine. Merediths voice suddenly cut into their conversation as she sidled closer to him and draped an arm around his shoulders. Besides, hes not even drunk yet. Are you drunk, Dihlon? Me? Dihlon scoffed. On this cheap wine? It would be a miracle if it even manages to make me tipsy. See? Meredith grinned and turned back to smile at him. Dihlon is absolutely fine. Now come and dance with me. She pulled Aodhn towards the dance floor, giggling, and Yurin mimed a gagging motion before stuffing his mouth full with a bunch of savory rolls. The music wasnt as fast as it had been at the Blackwells party, but it was upbeat enough that Aodhn had little trouble finding a rhythm. He danced, surprising himself with how fluid and coordinated his body moved. The music changed from time to time, and although people switched partners regularly, Meredith absolutely refused to let him go. Aodhn didnt really mind as he was totally enjoying himself. All that lasted up until he caught Lupins gaze from across the room. To make matters worse, she was standing next to Imani, and from the glare the latter was shooting in his direction, Aodhn suspected he was the topic of discussion and certainly not in a favorable light. They turned away when they noticed his attention causing a pang of guilt to erupt within his chest. Ever since the Blackwell event, Aodhn had tried his best to avoid Imani, and he had succeeded for the most part. He rarely saw her aside from the times they spent in the gym, control training, or any of their compulsory classes. Needless to say, Aodhn still felt guilty about the whole situation. He had tried to play it off at first, but every time he saw Imani, his guilt resurfaced, and he was tired of it. He needed to rectify things, if not for her own good, then for his own peace of mind. Sighing, he extricated himself from Meredith and began moving towards Lupin and Imani. Lupin left the moment she noticed him coming, but Imani held her ground, turning back to stare at him cautiously as he walked over. Long time no see, Aodhn, Imani greeted with a chilly grin. Weird greeting for people who live in the same house, dont you think? Aodhn grimaced, but rather than defend himself or give excuses, he extended a hand to Imani and said,. I know I havent been a great person to you, but Id like to apologize and make things right between us. No can do. Imani scoffed. Im not interested in whatever games youre trying to play now. Im not playing games. Oh no, Imani chuckled. Wow, thats a first. Still not interested. You know what? I get it. You dont trust me, and you probably even hate me. I dont blame you; however, I honestly want to rectify things between us. Im not doing this out of pity, but because I feel like I owe you. Every time I see you, I feel guilty and shitty, and Im sick of it. Once upon a time, you were willing to take an oath for my technique. I want to give you that technique if you still want it. W-what?! Imani frowned in confusion, and Aodhn quickly explained. Its not a gift. I made a wrong decision a while ago to withhold my technique from you even though I only stumbled upon it from studying the manual you gave me. I want to repay you if youre still willing to have it. Imanis eyes narrowed, and she glared at him. What are you trying to do? Im just trying Youre trying to sever karma. She cut him off and shook her head. I should have known you wouldnt give out your technique out of the goodness of your heart. Classic. Aodhn sighed. He hadnt really been thinking of severing karma, but now that he thought about it, that was exactly what this was. He was trying to resolve a debt and assuage his guilt, thereby severing the bond that linked him to Imani once and for all. Do you want the technique or not? He asked, not wanting to draw this out longer than it had to be. I Imani blanched, caught between her pride and a desperate need to be strong. In the end she gave in, grudgingly reciting the oath of silence required to seal their deal, and without further ado, Aodhn passed his technique to one more person. Immediately he did so, Aodhn felt a weight fall off his shoulders, and he sighed blissfully. The guilt he carried concerning Imani had been resolved, and any negative karma that might have been building was severed. Imanis eyes glazed over as she scrutinized her new technique in awe, but Aodhn didnt bother waiting for her to finish reading before taking his leave. He felt much lighter than he had in a while, and with an air of excitement, he made his way back to Meredith and said, How about we kick off where we left off? Meredith giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck. For a moment there I thought you were going back to your ex. And would you be against that? Aodhn asked. Not really, as long as I still have you to myself whenever I want. Aodhn smiled and shook his head. Thats not always going to be possible. Oh, Im aware. She grinned and tightened her arms around him. Im very, very aware of that. The rest of the party passed by in a blink, and before they knew it, it was already midnight. The light in the cafeteria had dimmed significantly, plunging the hall into an intimate sort of darkness that hid everyone from view. It shouldnt have hindered Aodhns perception, but something weird was definitely going on with shadow essence. Aodhn had been dancing all night. After Meredith, he had danced with Scarlett, Gwendolyn, Aida, and finally Ayisha. Ayisha had been hesitant to get on the dance floor at all, not to mention dance with him, but Aodhn had refused to take no for an answer and had practically dragged her onto the dance floor. She stayed stiff in his arms, only moving anytime she sensed or foresaw him stepping on her toes. Aodhn wasnt deterred, though. Ayisha was one of his closest friends, and he would do anything to regain the teasing hate-love friendship they had shared before. He guided her through a series of complex twirls, nearly causing her to tumble, and Ayisha finally glared at him. Are you trying to break my ankles? Aodhn winked. If you werent so stiff, they wouldnt be in any danger of breaking. Ayishas glare deepened, and she scowled at him. Im stiff because youve placed me in the spotlight once again. And I wont stop until you actually dance with me. Im dancing. Ayisha insisted, but Aodhn shook his head. Youre as stiff as a rod. If this is what you call dancing, then I would hate to see you mimic a wooden rod. Ayisha giggled and loosened up slightly. She was still a little formal, but Aodhn wasnt too bothered about that. As long as his friendship with Ayisha was getting better, he didnt care how long it took. He turned, guiding Ayisha through another series of complex twirls, and as expected, she completed it with ease. She was noble after all. However, just as he bent down to lift her into the air, an explosion suddenly rocked the entire cafeteria, spraying ice and water all over the place. Everyone ducked in fear, eyes honing in on the source of the explosion, and that was when they found Dihlon, stumbling around in the wreckage he had caused, completely drunk. Im okay. Dihlon shouted, his words slurred. And Im not drunk. I promise Im not drunk. Aodhn let out a sigh and shook his head in disappointment. The explosion hadnt been a large one, and thankfully no one was hurt, but things could have ended differently. Ill get him out of here. Aodhn volunteered, but he had barely taken more than a few steps forward when space tore itself open and Rahim exited the swirling portal, looking very stressed and annoyed. He grabbed Dihlon by the neck and turned to glare at the rest of them. Thats it. Partys over. I have more important things to do than babysit you guys all night. Groans rose up in protest, but Rahim simply waved his hand, and Aodhn felt the world shift. It tilted to the side before suddenly righting itself, hitting them all with a wave of vertigo and nausea. When Aodhn opened their eyes, he found himself in front of the 1st-year residential area, only a few meters away from the entrance. Students moved about drunkenly, stumbling as they struggled to regain their bearing. Yurin stumbled to his side and groaned. Did Rahim just Yes. Aodhn nodded. He just teleported a hundred students with a single wave of his hands. Damn! Hes strong. Yes. Yes, he is. The world spun again, and Aodhn stumbled forward, searching for the nearest platform. Fuck, I need to sit down. Chapter 161: Mission with the WItch of Selia. Aodhn woke up the next morning feeling very refreshed despite the chaos of last nights party. The semester had finally come to an end, and Aodhn was more than ready to go home. He was a little worried about leaving Andrew behind, but there was nothing he could do about that, so he simply left a message on Andrews chip, wishing him a speedy recovery. Andrew would still have to do his exams before going home in a weeks time or two at most. Hopefully, it wouldnt take too long, so they could all view their results at the same time. Despite the thrill of anticipation that shot through him, Aodhn wasnt really looking forward to seeing his results. The specific date it would be released wasnt official yet, but Aodhn expected it to be released in the next two to three weeks. One thing he was certain of was that he couldnt fail. Not after all the extra points hed gained here and there, but everything within the academy was a competition, and the examination results were no exception. No, failure wasnt what Aodhn was worried about. He was sure he would pass, but would he pass in flying colors or just normal colors, or even no colors? The second half of the semester had been a turbulent one for him as he had been missing classes left and right, and had the changeling hunt in sector 7 not been so fortunate, he was certain he would have missed even more. Sighing, he lay on the bed with his eyes closed, humming and waiting for the first rays of sunlight before jumping to his feet. The fact that there would be no gym exercises for the next three weeks filled him with joy, so much so that he sent a mental fuck you to Coach Harvey to celebrate the moment. However, the fact that it was the last day of school didnt mean there was nothing to do. In fact, his entire day was packed, and so, without wasting time, Aodhn moved to his training room and took up a meditative pose at the center. He spent about ten minutes settling his mind before moving on to the activities he has planned for the rest of the day. Picking up from where he left off a few days ago, Aodhn opened up his spirit to the origin plane of storm, and as chaos rushed in, he began expanding the bundle of essence threads connected to his nostrils and mouth. So far, he had completed both his eyes and ears and was nearly halfway done with his nostrils. The expanding process had become a little easier, and although it still took up nearly all his attention, Aodhn could now devote a little of his attention to other things, like Varcs incessant growling within his spirit. Varc''s excitement bled into his own, and although Aodhn could feel his emotional state rise, he remained unaffected, thanks to {Eye of the Storm}, which basically eliminated the usefulness of the Empathic Link technique. In fact, {Eye of the Storm} was far better than the technique because he didnt have to shut himself off from Varc to maintain his sanity, nor did he have to constantly keep tabs on his psychic link. The passive skill took care of all that. He could simply watch the rising emotions from his bastion of calm and harness the chaotic emotions whenever he felt like it. The feeling of control he felt in that moment was so strong that Aodhn almost felt giddy. For a long time now he had stressed and worried about the matter of controlling both his and Varcs emotions, but now he could do so with ease. It felt very liberating. One thing still bothered him, though, and that was the ability to infuse the effects of {Eye of the Storm} into other skills. From the reports agent Kaelith had gathered for principal Zatya, it seemed that the rain had infused sleepers with a brief moment of enhanced perception and clarity. Agent Kaelith had concluded that the skill had been too weak to affect awakened individuals, but then, Aodhn hadnt infused the skill with any buff either. What would happen if he infused the skill with his seal, willpower, chaos, or all three at once? Needless to say, Aodhn had been unable to stop thinking about it, despite trying his hardest not to. There were so many options and so many ways he could utilize the skill that the results he would come up with would be nigh endless. However, there was a reason why he had restrained himself from dwelling too much on the skills possible effects, and that was because he couldnt test the skill on humans yet. Granted, without any buffs, the skill was considered harmless to humans, but would that still hold true when he infused a whole seal or his willpower into the skill? Would it still be harmless then, or would it drive people mad? Principal Zatya had suggested carrying out a discreet test, but Aodhn was hesitant, knowing exactly what she meant by discreet. One way or the other, he had to test out the effects and limits of the skill. How he would do that was what he wasnt quite sure of yet. While he meditated, a rumble of thunder echoed in the distance, and at first, Aodhn dismissed the sound as his mind playing tricks on him. However, when the sound came again, Aodhns eyes snapped open, and he rushed out of the training room to look up at the skya sky that was roiling with dark clouds. A bark of excited laughter erupted from his lips, and he immediately rushed up to the roof, laughing as the wind picked up and another rumble of thunder echoed out. Rain had finally come after nearly six months of clear blue skies, and Aodhn was far from the only one celebrating its arrival. People filled the streets, cheering and congratulating each other on the end of the dry season. Water and wind awakeneds dotted the rooftops, meditating in preparation for the rain that was about to descend, but more than that, the first rain of the year was a sign of good tidings, especially for the farmers whod had to water their plants daily for the past six months. The dry season was over, and the season of natural greenery had come. In every sector of Ragnarok, cheers echoed through the streets, but the loud sound was nothing compared to the noise in Aodhns mind as Varc roared in excitement. This was the first natural gathering of storm clouds Aodhn had seen since he arrived in ?FLYM, and it was glorious. Storms back on earth had been beautiful and fearsome, but this one was more. It roiled and thundered, generating a ton of storm and lightning essence that grew denser with each passing second. Aodhn watched the gathering storm through the metaphorical lenses of his understanding, not just as a natural phenomenon but as something he could create and even manipulate. He watched from his rooftop, eyes glued to the storm gathering above. It covered the sky nearly as far as his eyes could see, but Aodhn could tell that it was far from ready. It was gathering momentum very quickly, though, and before long, even the horizons were covered in roiling black clouds. It was absolutely beautiful, and at this point, the air was filled with so much storm essence that Aodhn could nearly taste it. Still, the storm wasnt ready. It kept gathering momentum, growing fiercer and darker with each passing second. Winds blew strongly, throwing a myriad of stuff into the air and blowing Aodhns hair into his eyes, causing them to twitch as tiny arcs of electricity touched them. Aodhn left his eyes open, though unfazed by the howling winds. Instead, he listened to their song as they howled around him, urging him to take to the skies. Harnessing the chaotic swirl of excitement that was his emotional pool, Aodhn created a storm platform and began floating up to the sky. The winds buffeted him, swirling around him to caress the storm scarf around his neck. Varc roared in jealousy, and Aodhn finally let him out, watching as he shot towards the roiling storm like a bullet, roaring along with the rumbles of thunder. Aodhn felt the urge to do the same, but he restrained himself, choosing to watch the storm grow from the outside. He rose into the sky slowly, his fingers itching, as he fought against the urge to take control of the storm and amplify it. Aside from the fact that such a feat would completely drain him of energy and willpower for very little result, it would also be wrong of him to manipulate this rain. It was the first rain of the year, an event the people of Ragnarok attached a lot of significance to. Manipulating the rain was a sacrilege. However, despite knowing all this, Aodhn couldnt help himself. His fingers twitched uncontrollably, and his skills sang to him, or maybe it was the wind, filling his mind and ears with enticing urgings. Unable to take it anymore, Aodhn raised a hand to the sky, and for the first time since the origin breach, he connected his mind to the physical manifestation of his element, not to control it or amplify it, but to feel it. Thunder boomed in his mind as his perspective suddenly shifted. He was still floating below the storm, but he felt it more keenly than ever before. The undirected fury that roared within it, the searing sharpness of lightning, the howling of winds, the deafening cracks of thunder, but most of all, the gathering momentum that pushed the storm clouds closer and closer to their breaking pointa point at which they would burst and unleash rain on the earth below. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. Experiencing the storm in this manner filled Aodhns mind with bits of understanding and insight. It wasnt anything groundbreaking, but it reinforced his understanding of the storm, buttressed it, and even answered many of his unasked questions. Smiling, Aodhn flew higher and higher, and as the density of storm essence increased, the more insight he gained. A feeling of belonging soon enveloped him, and when he finally entered the roiling storm, Aodhn was certain he had never felt more at peace. It felt as if he was within the origin plane of Storm, except this time, there were no whispers of chaos nor all-encompassing consciousness ready to tear his mind to pieces. The storm encompassed him, both mentally and physically, with an essence density so high it was nearly overwhelming. Aodhn didnt bother trying to find the eye of the storm. He was the eye, the bastion of peace in this sea of chaos and violence. Things became far more interesting when the storm cloud finally ruptured, unleashing a torrential downpour that cascaded towards the earth with a deafening roar of thunder. Unable to contain his excitement, Aodhn let out a whoop, his voice booming with the same raw intensity as the storm itself. Rain poured all around him, and Aodhn realized that without the taint and whispers of chaos, this was exactly how the origin plane felt, although it operated at a much higher density of energy. He watched the storm closely, moving in and out of it, unbothered by the rain that quickly drenched him to the bone. It was absolutely exhilarating, and from the emotions streaming into his mind through their psychic link, Aodhn could tell that Varc was enjoying himself too. The downpour lasted nearly four hours before subsiding, and in all that time, Aodhn had simply gilded through the storm, gathering bits and pieces of insights and merging them together to form the building blocks for his next seal. Aodhn floated around the clouds for a while longer, and it wasnt until the storm clouds began to disperse that he finally descended. He returned to the roof of house 14 and quickly settled into a meditative pose, eager to condense all the insights he had gained into a whole before he lost them. Most of the insights he had gained simply affirmed the knowledge he already had and took his understanding to the next level, while others simply deepened his understanding of the origin plane and how it was linked to his spirit through the opening. Despite how minor some of the gains seemed, Aodhn was extremely grateful for them as they had saved him weeks of reading and meditation. All of his insights crystallized into something tangible nearly an hour later, and Aodhn grinned as a new skill was added to his status screen. {Surging Momentum}: Allows you to absorb, store, and release momentum or force at will. 2% of every strike, impact, or attack is captured and stored as pure kinetic energy, which can be later released in devastating bursts for attacks, mobility, or utility. This skill can only store a finite amount of force and momentum. A system cap is enforced when it is considered full. Aodhn read through the skills description, fascinated with its tie to the gathering momentum he had witnessed within the storm. The skill was a seemingly average skill, considering how little it could absorb from an attack, but Aodhn suspected that the skills capacity would only increase with time. There was no indication that the skill was a class scaling skill, but if it was, then it was a very good skill. Also, the skills storage cap wasnt indicated, but that was something he could always test out on his own or simply find out during a training session with Daruk. He studied the skill for a while, wondering just how well it would work with his Berserk perk. He hadnt really gotten the chance to use the perk ever since he got {Eye of the Storm}, and he wondered what effect that would have on him. Sighing, Aodhn realized that what he really needed was time to figure out the synergy between his skills and perks and how well they complemented each other. There was still a lot he didnt know about his abilities, but hopefully, he would be able to dedicate some time to it during the break. Varc returned a moment later, growling and gliding in excitement as a cloud of storm essence drifted off him. Aodhn chuckled and caressed his snout. I had a great time too, and we gained a skill from it. We should test it out as soon as we get home. Varc growled in agreement, and before long he returned to Aodhns spirit, curling up contentedly to sleep as if he hadnt slept for days. Aodhn understood how his familiar felt. Gliding in and out of the storm had filled them both with so much contentment that Aodhn himself began thinking of taking a nap too. Alas, the world was cruel, and just as he lay down to take a nap right where he was, the familiar sense of Principal Zatyas spiritual attention suddenly descended on him. It passed over him like a cloud of mist, causing him to groan in frustration. With a sigh, Aodhn stood to his feet and began making his way to the principals office. On his way there, he saw a lot of his classmates making their way to the academy gates in preparation to leave for the holidays. He waved goodbye to the ones he was familiar with and even stayed a while with the Urdanias, chatting with them as they prepared to return to Calodan. When he reached principal Zatyas office, he pushed the door open and said,. I was going to come say goodbye before I left. You didnt have to summon me. Ignoring his words, Principal Zatya looked up from the document she was reading and smiled. I see youve gained another skill. Your spiritual cultivation is as astounding as always. Thank you. Aodhn replied with a smile, feeling a little proud of himself, but the expression soon turned sour, and he frowned. I really hope you didnt call me here to give me another mission. No. On the contrary, I called you here to instruct you to lay low for the duration of the break. Your announcement of your status as an inheritor, and even more recently, your miracle rain, are still hot topics outside the academy. The press will hound you, and some may have even staked your house by now, but I trust you can handle them. I can. Aodhn replied confidently. Things were different this time. He had gained a lot of experience during the midterm break and was now better prepared to deal with the press if they came knocking. Still, he could never be too careful, so he asked. What other advice do you have for me? Principal Zatya seemed surprised that he had asked, but she soon launched into a detailed explanation of what to do and what to avoid. In summary, he was to stay indoors for the duration of the break, only coming out to attend the events hed been invited to before returning straight back. Aodhn nodded. He could do that. He had nowhere to go after all; besides, staying indoors for three weeks would give him more than enough time to really delve into his runic practice and experiments. Lastly, dont do anything groundbreaking until you return to the academy. If you need a holding chamber, you know who to call, and I think Ive got it. Aodhn quickly interjected. Thank you for the advice. Ill try not to do anything groundbreaking. I mean it, Aodhn. Principal Zatyas eyes narrowed, and she glared at him. Im still dealing with the consequences of your previous actions. Do not add to it. Aodhn hesitated. Could he really promise that? Could he even promise anything? Still, staying indoors all day didnt seem like such a hard thing to do. He also had nothing major planned, so maybe things would really work out this time. All he had to do was stay indoors. What disaster could possibly happen if he simply stayed indoors? His meeting with Principal Zatya soon ended, and he made his way back home to begin packing. On his way back he texted Daruk and Yurin, who had already packed their things and were heading towards the cafeteria for a quick lunch before going home. After his discussion with Daruk and Yurin ended, Aodhn did a mental tally of the events he had planned for the break. There were only four of them, which wasnt so bad for a three-week break. That also meant he only had to step out of the house four times in the next three weeks. Chuckling, Aodhn nodded to himself. He could do this. When he got back to his room, Aodhn packed all his stuff and began arranging them neatly within his spatial storage. Touching the faux necklace brought back memories of the original, and Aodhn grimaced when the memories came back cold and untainted by any emotions. It was to be expected since he had placed his memories of the necklace within the veil along with all his other secrets. Perhaps it was time to unearth the original from where he had hidden it. He had been wearing this facsimile for a while now and was yet to be accosted or ambushed by anyone. A dry laugh escaped his lips, and Aodhn concluded that he must have been overly paranoid about the whole thing. A ding sounded in his mind, and Aodhn opened Daruks message. We are ready to go. Where are you? On my way. Aodhn quickly replied and shoved the rest of his things into his spatial necklace haphazardly. He was grabbing the last of his textbooks when a very complex rune suddenly manifested itself outside his room. It shined brightly for a moment, and then the blazing energies of a familiar core revealed themselves. Aodhn rushed towards the window and opened it to reveal a holographic image of a beautiful woman with platinum blonde hair and golden skin. The woman was dressed completely in animal furs, and when she saw him, she smiled. Im sorry, Im not here in person, but the aerial shields around your school are not so easy to crack. The woman was Geneva Ryntharion, the Witch of Selia, and Aodhn was just so shocked to see her standing in front of his room that all coherent thoughts deserted him for a moment. He stuttered. You youre not really here. How can I sense your core? The words tumbled out of his mouth incoherently, but Geneva didnt seem to mind at all. You can sense my core because Im projecting it, but Im quite a distance the screen went blank for a moment before Geneva reappeared. Never mind, Im now at the tea shop just opposite the 5th academy. Whathowwhy are you here? Im here because I need a partner for a series of missions, and I was wondering if you would like to join me. What? Me? W Too many questions. Geneva raised a hand to cut him short. I dont need questions, Aodhn; I need answers, and I need a partner. Yes or no. Yes. Aodhn replied immediately, his entire body buzzing with excitement. Going on a mission with Geneva was an opportunity of a lifetime. He would be a fool to reject it. Geneva smiled. Good. We are going cultist hunting. Meet at the tea shop in twenty minutes. We dont have time to waste. The holographic darkened once more, and Aodhn let out a silent scream as excitement rumbled through him. The cultists Geneva was referring to were obviously the Children of the Watch, and the fact that he would be hunting them down filled him with a heady thrill of anticipation. The first thing he did was tell Daruk and Yurin, both of whom were excited for him. He texted Unrid next and then drafted a brief letter to Synov, informing her that he wouldnt be coming home for the holidays any longer. Throwing the letter into his spatial storage to be posted later, Aodhn rushed out of his room and raced towards the gate in a blur. He reached the tea shop with eight minutes to spare, and with a wide grin, he stepped into the building, his promise to stay indoors for the duration of the break all but forgotten. It was time to put the fear of Raol into the children of the watch, and Aodhn couldnt wait to begin. Chapter 162: Seo-yeon Burial Ceremony — Seo-min (Sunstone} Honor lives beyond the grave, for the way we are laid to rest speaks of the life we lived and the values we upheld. In burial, we find not an end, but the enduring echo of our deeds and the legacy of our names. Ji-yeon, High Priest of the Everlasting Temple Sector 1, Sunstone Kingdom. Year 2272. The golden light of dawn filtered through the stained glass window above the altar, painting the interior of the everlasting temple in hues of fire and divinity. The scent of sacred oils and burning incense hung in the air like a suffocating cloud, mixing with the acrid scent of ash and sulfur as priests and priestesses in golden robes moved about the altar, chanting a mournful hymn. A congregation of nearly a hundred people stood in silence, their gazes somber as they stared at the altar. Many of them were champions, but the vast majority were military officers who had come to pay their respects and mourn Seo-yeons passing as she was guided into Aelorias fiery bosom for eternal rest. Standing at the forefront of the crowd was Seo-min, Seo-yeons younger sister and only remaining relative, her green hair waving gently despite the absence of wind. She stood motionless, her fist clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned white. She was clad in full armor, an inappropriate attire for such a somber ceremony, but Seo-min wasnt here to mourn her sister. She was here to avenge her. As the voices of the priests rose and undulated. Seo-min stared unblinking at the golden casket at their center. The sight of the empty casket sent a pang of pain into her chest, and Seo-min trembled. Her heart felt as though it had been ripped out of her chest, and what remained was a hollow, searing ache that flared every time she took a breath. Half an hour passed by in a blink, and as the sun rose higher in the sky, the everlasting temple shone with colors ranging from that of molten gold to fiery orange. Yet, warmth failed to penetrate the chill coiling in her chest. It had been three whole weeks since Seo-yeons brutal death at the hand of the Ragnaroks spatial champion, an evil man called Artemis, and despite their best efforts, it had taken them nearly two weeks to recover her bodyif the hacked pieces of flesh and bone theyd gotten back could even be called a body. It was evil, the death that Seo-yeon had died. She had literally been torn to pieces, her skin flayed, and her bones crushed nearly to powder. It was a terribly dishonorable death, and the high priests had refused to perform any burial rites on such hacked pieces of flesh. Seo-yeons actual burial had been carried out a week ago within their family estate in district 4, surrounded only by their friends and servants. This ceremony was a sham, a way for the high and mighty to honor Seo-yeons legacy without having to sully themselves with the dishonor of her death. Seo-min understood it, but it still hurt like a knife to her chest. Seo-yeon had given her life to Sunstone. She didnt deserve such a dishonorable death. The undulating chants of the priests rose once more, and the ache in Seo-mins chest rose along with it. The empty casket was soon set on fire, and a memory from Seo-yeons actual burial last week surfaced in Seo-mins mind. Fire. Hacked pieces of flesh. Smoke. Ash. Her sister, once a blazing champion of Sunstone, had been reduced to embers and smoke. A tear threatened to escape, but Seo-min forced it back, forcing herself to watch as acolytes ran around, filling the air with more incense as the casket blazed with flames. Despite their desperate efforts, the incense and scented oils did little to mask the acrid bite of the ceremonial pyre. Seo-min tried to convince herself that this was a good thing, that her sister deserved this honor, this ascension, but her mind refused to cooperate. Without a body, the ceremony felt hollow, a grand display of reverence that masked a bitter truth. This ceremony wasnt for Seo-yeon. It was an attempt to garner the sympathy of devout masses, and it was working spectacularly. Outside the temple, thousands of worshippers gathered, sobbing and praying as they mourned the death of a champion. The accumulation of faith and devotion was so dense that it was almost visible, creating a condensation of faith essence just above the temple. The embers left from the casket felt like an insult, a lie meant to comfort the people and reassure them of Aelorias love, but Seo-min was done with all that religious nonsense. Where was the goddesss kindness when Seo-yeon was struck down and cut in half? Where was her love when her sister was hacked to pieces by the soldiers of Ragnarok? Seo-mins jaw ticked as the priests chanted their final verses, their discordant voices grating against the pit of anger and grief in her heart. Her eyes never left the casket as the golden flames danced higher. The fire reflected in her pale eyes, but there were no tears to be found, not anymore, not after all the tears she had cried. For the last three weeks, Seo-min had spent her time crying and mourning the loss of her last living relative. She had cried all the tears that she had within her, and what remained now was a fury that roared louder than the fire before her. She had no more tears to give and had vowed not to shed any more tears until the day that she killed Artemis and hacked his body to pieces just the way he had done her sisters. She glanced to the side where General Fang stood, his long hair slicked back into a strict bun, and his expression as still as the surface of a lake. He was dressed in his uniform as always, flying the colors of Sunstone with more pride than she would ever posses. As if sensing her gaze, General Fang turned to her and offered a sober smile, his expression the only genuine thing in this entire hall. He had visited after Seo-yeons burial, and Seo-min had seized the opportunity to plead with him, begging to be included in Sunstones inevitable retaliation. However, despite her tearful pleas, he refused, deeming her emotionally unfit to participate in the war for the time being. Seo-min had nearly lost all hope of vengeance after that, sinking into the depths of despair until two days ago, when the formal invitation for her presence at this ceremony had arrived, along with a letter of clearance signed by the Supreme herself. Seo-min had been declared fit to participate, and just like that, her motivation to live on had returned. She had no idea what must have happened or why the Supreme had given her this chance, but she hadnt questioned it. How could she? That letter was all she had been praying for. Now, as the casket crumbled to ashes, Seo-min couldnt help but imagine them as Artemiss body after she had hacked it to pieces. The chants of the priests died, and a solemn silence descended upon the temple as the gathered champions and officers bowed their heads in quiet reverence. The priests soon declared the burial over, and as one, people began to disperse. Some lingered to light candles in Seo-yeons honor, while others approached her to give their heartfelt condolences. Seo-min accepted their words and kind smiles with forced politeness, impatiently waiting for the ceremony to be over so she could go back to her training. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. When General Fang came to her, presenting her with a gift wrapped in blood-red foil, Seo-min accepted the gift and smiled. The supreme has declared me as fit for service, and I can now partake in the retaliatory effort. I cant thank you enough for I had nothing to do with it. General Fang cut her short with a shake of his head. In fact, I was firmly against it. I still am, but the supreme isnt really listening to him anymore. She has another adviser now. Smiling sadly, he continued. You and I know that your intentions for participation in the retaliatory efforts are far from patriotic. You seek revenge, and the battlefield is no place for your self-serving desires. I would advise you to reject the clearance, but I already know you wont heed me. If you were in my shoes, would you heed you? General Fang pursed his lips in thought and shrugged. Im not sure. Ive never been in your shoes. Yet, you advise me. Yet, I advise you. General Fang repeated calmly. Your heart is filled to the brim with rage and thoughts of vengeance. Youre a wild card, and with your emotions all over the place like this, we both know you will have an even harder time working as a team, which will put whatever team you find yourself in in danger. Your intentions are selfish, regardless of how honorable they seem. I do not support it. Seo-min wished she could deny the truth in his words, but she couldnt. She didnt care about the retaliatory plans or the war. All she wanted was vengeance. Perhaps General Fang was right, and she should reject the clearance, but Seo-min couldnt do that either. Her mind wouldnt let her. General Fang read her expressions like the pages of an open book, and his expression sobered even further. He patted her shoulders gently and said,. Theres still time, and for all our sakes, I hope you change your mind. I would hate to bury the last living member of the Seo family just because she was too foolish to heed my advice. General Fang walked away after that, leaving Seo-min to contemplate his words fearfully. She didnt get much time to dwell on the topic, though, as more and more people approached her with their condolences and gifts. A group of elites brought a statue of Seo-yeon that Seo-min quickly threw into her spatial space. The sight of her sisters face nearly sent her over the edge, but Seo-min quickly collected herself. She couldnt afford to reveal any sign of weakness now, not when the clearance letter could still be revoked. Another group of awakeneds approached next, and Seo-min nearly snorted when she recognized them. They bowed in greeting, and Seo-min reluctantly returned the gesture, saying,. It is an honor to have such competent champions at my sisters funeral. Thank you for coming. The words tasted like ash in her mouth, because to be honest, competency was the last word that should be considered when describing this team of champions. Cowardly was more accurate. Thank you for having us. Their leader, Warp, replied as she conjured a luxurious-looking gift from reality and handed it over. Seo-yeon was a dear friend of ours. Her passing hurts us deeply. Yes, The one called Patchwork nodded in agreement. I had the honor of working with her once, and she was absolutely fascinating. I bet she was. Seo-min replied with a tight smile, knowing how well Seo-yeon hated this creepy group of champions. Multiple and Legion presented their gift together, unwrapped, to show off the large cosmic emerald stone within it. Fools. Who gifted a person jewelry for a burial? Seo-min didnt voice her thoughts, though, and simply accepted the gift with faux politeness. May the goddess repay your kindness. The men smiled, and Seo-min turned her gaze to the last Champion in expectance. Luminus was dressed in a beautiful but unironed white robe that covered him completely from neck to toe. His entire appearance was disheveled, but that wasnt too surprising as the champion had a reputation of being late and untidy for any function he attended. Today was not an exception. Ah Im sorry. Luminus scratched the back of his head awkwardly. I forgot to bring a gift. I shall send it to your residence first thing tomorrow morning. Seo-min restrained the urge to scowl in disgust and simply nodded. Your presence here is gift enough. Thank you once again for coming. We wouldnt miss it for anything. Patchwork replied. Your sister was a warrior of unparalleled valor. She will be remembered as one of Sunstones brightest flames. His words triggered Seo-min, and before she could restrain herself, she blurted out. She shouldnt have to be remembered, and if you guys had killed Artemis at the plague wraith battle, she might still be alive. Her words were cutting, and the group winced, especially Warp, who had fought Artemis herself. A pang of guilt lanced through her, but Seo-min pushed it aside. Feeling the threat of welling tears, Seo-min turned away from them and opened her eyes wide to prevent the tears from falling. The champions must have taken her actions as a sign of remorse, because Patchwork said. Im sorry for the pain you feel. We all mourn her loss. Rather than let out another cutting statement, Seo-min nodded stiffly and said,. I know; Im just so tired of sitting around and doing nothing. I wish I could do something. Well, youre in luck because theres something you can do. Legion offered enthusiastically, and Seo-min snapped to attention. Despite being cleared by the Supreme as fit for active service, the other generals and champions still deemed her too unstable and had refrained from inviting her to their meetings. Seo-min didnt care much about the plans and meetings as long as she got to partake in the event itself, but it seemed she was finally being brought into the loop. She glanced at the group in curiosity, and Warp sighed, The Supreme has authorized your addition as well as that of two others to our team in preparation for our retaliation. Plans are already underway, and this time its not just going to be a scuffle, but an actual bloodbath. The mention of blood caused Seo-mins heart to bubble in anticipation and excitement. Finally! She would get the chance she had been craving for weeks. When are we attacking? She asked, unable to suppress her excitement. Im not sure yet. We Guess. Seo-min cut her off impatiently, and Warp scowled. Like I said earlier, Im not sure. Her eyes narrowed, and she took a step forward. Vectoris, weve worked together before, and I know how you can be, so I want to make things clear. Your position within this team isnt that of a leader, strategist, or even coordinator. Youre only a member, and even that is probationary. One wrong move and youre out. Warps words hit Seo-min like a hammer to the gut, and her expression hardened. The truth was that unlike other champions who gathered themselves into teams, Seo-min and her sister had always preferred to perform their missions solo. Seo-min, in particular, was terrible at working as a team, and on occasions where she had been forced to do so in the past, things hadnt ended well. In summary, she had a reputation, and Seo-min didnt like it being thrown in her face like this one bit. She glared at the other champions, every hint of faux politeness draining away from her face to reveal the disgust shed tried to hide earlier. Still, she couldnt afford to piss off the only team willing to work with her, so rather than speak her mind and blow this situation to the heavens and back, Seo-min swallowed her preferred response and said,. You have nothing to worry about. Im perfectly stable. Good, then we will have no issues. Also, training begins tomorrow; youre expected to join us. I will. Seo-min replied, and after the champions left, she made her way out of the hall and into the corridor of luminaries, a long, winding hallway filled with the statues of dead champions, each one holding a wisp of sunlight. She walked down the hallway, passing hundreds of champions until she reached the end where a new statue was being erected in honor of her sister. The statue had no facial or bodily details, and it was impossible to tell whether it was male or female, but the sculptor had captured Seo-yeons essence so perfectly that if she closed her eyes, she could almost pretend that her sister was standing right next to her. A large mirror stood opposite the statue, and Seo-min turned to stare at herself, taking in her red-rimmed eyes and sunken cheeks. Her face was pale and sallow, but her jade green irises shone with so much intensity that Seo-min imagined her bloodlust was obvious through it. Raising her hands to twirl a wisp of vector essence around her fingers, Seo-min stared closely at the mirror, watching herself watch herself whilst contemplating the words General Fang had said earlier. She only contemplated the words for a minute before discarding them. What was right and wrong didnt matter anymore. Her sister was dead, brutally hacked to pieces by the soldiers of Ragnarok. She had to do something. She had to avenge her sister, and this was the only way. At tier 89, Seo-min knew she was strong enough to do it. And if not, then she had the next few weeks to prepare. General Fang had called her intentions self-serving and selfish, but he was wrong. She was fighting for the honor of her sister, and she would not rest until she got it back. In that moment, standing before the statues of champions past, Seo-min made a silent vow to avenge her sister at all costs. She was Vectoris, shaper of vectors, and she was prepared to spill a river of blood until her sisters honor was restored. Chapter 163: Children of the Watch. Above a small abandoned village, somewhere at the edge of the Calodan desert, the sky was awash with a river of flames as the origin plane of fire breached the fabric of reality, tearing a hole of crimson flames into the sky and bathing the heavens with chaos and wrath. The temperature of the desert rose drastically, and mundane birds fell to the ground, their bodies convulsing as the heatstroke overwhelmed them. Fire and heat essence rose drastically, and although it was a peril to some, it served as an opportunity to others, creatures and humans alike. Fire affinity creatures crawled out of their holes, some instantly taking to the air, while others simply bathed in the sudden abundance of essence. Fire drakes took to the sky, followed by flame critters, fireflies, and other winged creatures, each one claiming a corner of the heavens for themselves. However, despite the abundance of creatures, there were only two humans to be seen within the city. They stood just beneath the burgeoning calamity, far above the protective barriers of Calodan, watching the breach expand and undulate without making any move to manage or contain it. Creatures avoided them like a plague, and the ones who didnt were promptly cut to pieces by a dark-skinned advanced-class woman called Isba, who was dressed in blood-red robes and covered from head to toe in viscous-looking tattoos. She had blood-red hair that billowed in the wind and a bearing that spoke of barely restrained power, the kind that put her on par with many champions. Isba was no youth despite her juvenile appearance, the wisdom and experience in her eyes betraying her to all who took even the tiniest interest in her. With those wisdom-filled eyes, she observed the growing disaster with disinterest, her blade whip slicing back and forth to hack apart attacking creatures with ease. She did this as swiftly and quietly as she could, unwilling to disturb the mediation of the child floating just above her. Yes, despite all her power and strength, Isba was a mere guard, but then, her charge was no ordinary child. At seventeen years old, the one she called a child nearly towered over her, a hunk of muscle and violence covered in the scars of his many victories. A thick aura of bloodlust billowed out from him, punctuated by the fresh and bleeding wounds that covered his body from their recent training session. The childs aura expanded in a fiery wave, lashing out and snapping at any thread of natural essence within their immediate surroundings to devour it. The aura was yet unstable as the boy was still getting used to the willful bloodline he had inherited, but even with his fragile control, the power he emanated nearly eclipsed hers in potency despite all the years she had spent refining her bloodline. It was no surprise, though. Despite her strength and status, she couldnt compare her meager Epic-ranked bloodline to the unique bloodline the child bore. The sky shrieked as crimson flames poured in, but Isba remained unfazed. She had complete faith in the childs ability to protect himself. After all, he was a fated one, an inheritor with a vast array of stolen affinities, and most of all, he was the legacy of Srn Beithir, the father of the children, who was infamous for his unique bloodline ability to steal the seals and innate abilities of awakened individuals at the point of death. Coupled with his actual affinity for spirit, Srn Beithir had been a terror unlike any other. This child was the reincarnation of that terror, and the evidence of a prophecy long made. He was the legacy of a man who had nearly subdued the entire continent under his rule by his sheer might and had torn asunder entire armies with a single word. What was a simple origin breach before his might? What was a sea of roaring flames? The child proved her right a moment later when he casually raised his hands to the pulsing breach, his red skin glowing with a dozen seals as they moved across his skin, rearranging themselves according to his will. The rearrangement process only took a few seconds, and when it was done, three crimson seals congregated around his left hand, each one glowing with the quintessence of fire. The child smiled as the origin breach expanded to its limit and then exploded, unleashing a fiery river of flames to the earth below. And like a child reaching for his new, favorite toy, the boy harnessed all three seals at once and then pulled, activating {Fire Manipulation} to redirect the flames towards himself. With a sound like roaring thunder, the river of flames descended, rushing towards the child like a pillar of wrathful tribulation. Rather than panic, the child smiled, spread his arms wide, and then opened his spirit, absorbing the chaotic flames as if it were an ordinary task. He pulled and pulled until the breach was completely spent, yet, even as reality tried to heal itself, the child didnt stop pulling. His already unstable aura grew even more violent, drenching the entire area in so much fire essence that every single creature below the 20th tier burned to a crisp while others fled for their lives. Isba watched the child with pride and fear, awed by his amazing potential, yet terrified of the calamity he would become when the watchers eventually finalized his training. If he became even half as strong as Srn Beithir, then Isba shuddered at the thought. Her grandfather had witnessed the end of Srns rule and had described it as a gloriously bloody apocalypse. It had been that terrible, but Isba couldnt wait to experience something even remotely close. For so long, the children had hidden in the shadows, cloaking themselves from the outside world and only venturing out in search of the long-prophesied inheritor of Srn Beithirs legacy. Now that they had found him, Isba wasnt sure how much longer she could hide in the shadows. How much longer would she have to wait before the united world that Srn had massacred for was brought to fruition? From the stories shed heard, Srn had had no descendants left towards the end of his reign. He had either killed them himself or they had perished in battle against the opposing army. For centuries after his ascension, the children had searched day and night for anyone bearing his bloodline. They had failed constantly and continuously until a year ago when one of their many scouts had found this child in one of the border villages of Unoros, surrounded by the broken bodies of his adopted parents and nearly a dozen neighbors. Needless to say, they had stolen away with the child, fleeing the scene seconds before Unoros investigative officers arrived. With only a little time left before their demise, the watchers had quickly taken over the childs training, and now, a year later, he stood tall and proud, brutal and merciless as he forced the origin plane to give more than it intended. The sky screeched and rumbled as reality forced the breach closed. It unleashed another torrent of crimson flames to engulf the sky before snapping shut, causing the temperature of the environment to rise once more before rapidly cooling to normal levels. As the density of fire essence declined, the sky slowly returned to its clear blue color as if nothing had happened. The child, however, still battled with all the energy he had absorbed, most likely using it to fuel his evolution to the advanced class. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Seals rearranged themselves all over his body, moving fluidly under his skin and glowing with a myriad of colors. His raven black hair flowed as if underwater, and the muscles beneath his skin flexed with each breath he took. It took nearly an hour before he finally finished dealing with all the energy he had absorbed, and his aura finally settled into a semblance of calm. The cloud of bloodlust hanging over them receded, and the child finally opened his eyes, revealing a set of blood-red irises ringed with a band of black and silver. He turned to look at her and muttered in disappointment. It wasnt enough. I need to find another breach or force one open before I can complete the energy requirements for my evolution. The system is hindering me. It is not, Fated. Isba bowed and shook her head. It is simply setting you up for greater heights. The bigger your potential, the higher the price to pay. Besides, no matter how difficult the system makes your ascension, it cannot stop you. No, it cant. The child smirked. Lets go back to the tower first before setting out to find more breaches. Ive gained some insights I need to condense. As you wish. Isba took out a customized talisman out of her spatial ring and activated it with a fusion of blood and willpower. There were only a few of these talismans, and they were created in such a manner that only the blood and willpower of devotees could activate them. A black portal appeared before them, and they both flew into it, arriving within the pocket dimension that served as the headquarters for the children of the watch. The space was easily the size of a country, and for centuries, the children had recruited mercilessly. Granted, most of their members were vagrants and neer-do-wells, but a few elites and champions had risen up among them. Isba herself was among the latter group, and although they were not much, their numbers were more than respectable. Pushing forward, Isba streaked through the sky, following only a meter or two behind the fated as they made their way to the grand tower that was the seat of the watchers. How fares the war between Sunstone and Ragnarok? The child asked, and Isba shook her head. Its going as predicted, Fated Call me Jethro. The child cut her off firmly and then smiled. Youve earned it. Thank you, Jethro. Isba smiled and continued. Ragnarok has upped the stakes of the war again, and theres talk that Sunstone is preparing for a brutal retaliation. Its the same cycle all over again. Jethro scoffed. This thing between Ragnarok and Sunstone isnt a war. Its a fucking game. I cant wait to give them a taste of what real war will be like. Isbas smile widened. When do you think thatll be? Soon. Jethro chuckled. Very, very soon. They arrived at the watchtower a few minutes later, and as Jethro descended towards the entrance, Isba followed suit, maintaining vigilance even in the heart of their sanctuary. The watchtower was the tallest building within the pocket dimension, nearing about 900 meters in height. Unlike the colorful appearance of most buildings within the dimension, the tower was an ancient mass of reinforced gray stone, designed with black bronze and sheer glass windows. The tower housed their temple, their library, their war room, their artifacts, and every other thing that signified an important part of their history. However, the most important room within the tower was the watch room, which was located at the very top of the tower and housed all that was left of the watchers. When they reached the entrance, a trio of elders who had been discussing amongst themselves turned to glance at them. The moment they saw Jethro, they fell to their knees and bowed, their right hands curled into fists while the left was splayed out on their chest. The sight of Mythics on their knees nearly made Isba chuckle, but she quickly restrained herself. The hierarchy of the watch was no respecter of class or status and was measured solely by the devotion to Srns dream, as well as their beliefs and his prophecy of world dominion. There were five ranks in total. Those at the bottom were called the acolytesvagrants and neer-do-wells that had no attachment to the cause and would simply do anything for some bread and coin. The next rank was the seekerspeople who had now come into the understanding of Srns mission and vision and were willing to bring more people into the fold. The people they brought in almost always became potential sources of seals for the fated or as sources of entertainment in the arena, but sometimes some survived, and after a lot of orientation, those who chose were drafted into the cause as acolytes. The third rank was that of devoteestrusted members of the cause who accepted Srns mission with their whole heart and gloried in each victory. This was Isbas rank, but after several years of devotion, Isba hoped to be promoted soon to the prestigious rank of elder. Elders were the next rank of childrena prestigious position earned through many years of dedication and service. Due to how long one must serve to become an elder, it was no surprise that nearly all the elders were Mythics. The last rank was the rank of a watcher, and it wasnt a rank one could reach through dedication alone. There were only three watchers left, and even they had become wizened. They were people who had witnessed Srns rise to power more than a millennium ago. They were people so devoted to Srns mission of total world dominion that they had willfully stalled their own advancement, exchanging their potential for longevity through the use of several forbidden techniques and rituals. They were the truest of disciples, people who had given up their own advancement in exchange for longevity, all so they could find Srns descendant and train him. Now that they had, everyone knew it was only a matter of time before death took them now. Jethro passed by the kneeling elders without sparing them a glance, but Isba couldnt afford to do the same, so she bowed to each in turn before continuing deeper into the castle. Isba followed behind him in silence, taking several twists and turns until they reached the watch room, which was a dark chamber heavy with the essence of death and decay. There was no light within the chamber, yet the thin streams of karma and fate that danced through the air brightened the room enough for anyone to see the wizened figures sprawled on their individual thrones. Isba fell to her knees immediately, only a second before Jethro did the same as three pairs of calamity eyes opened to stare at them, revealing a cluster of runes rather than irises. Silence reigned for more than a minute before one of the watchers rasped. Youre still very far behind, Jethro. Disappointing. Im doing the best I can. Jethro responded calmly. The system isnt making it easy. We anticipated that. The second watcher spoke, their voice nearly a whisper from how faint it sounded. It did the same to Srn. That didnt limit him, though. It made him stronger. Isba dared not breathe too loudly as the conversation continued. Even in their dying states, the watchers only required a word to wipe her from existence. Their conversation continued easily, but after a while it shifted to current matters, and the 2nd watcher said. As always, ants have sprung up to deter our cause. They destroy our outposts and erase our acolytes from existence. They seek to halt a roaring river with a broomstick. The other watchers chuckled as if the deaths of hundreds were just a topic of amusement, and perhaps they were. Perhaps she just needed to murder a few thousand people to get to such a prestigious level. Jethro, however, didnt share their amusement. He raised his head and growled. Let me go to them. I can defeat them. Foolish child. The first watcher rasped. Youre not ready yet. When you are, whichever one of us is still alive by then will tell you. But Sit down and meditate, child. The third watcher cut him off. The little insight you gained from the origin breach is evaporating from your mind. Isba cracked an eye open and watched as Jethro hesitantly lowered himself to a meditative position. Fire essence billowed out of him as he began meditating, and after a tense moment of silence, the first watcher spoke. Do not be too eager to spill blood, Jethro. It is not the time yet. Soon, youll have to fulfill your destiny, and by then there will be more than enough blood to paint the earth red. You will unite the entire world under yourself, squash any resistance with your fist, and kill until youre drowning in blood. Picture it, Jethro. Can you picture it? I can. Jethro whispered as more fire essence billowed out of him. I just need to exercise patience. Youre learning. The first watcher replied, and Isba couldnt help but shudder with excitement as she pictured the image in her head. So much blood. Enough blood to paint the world red. Pleasure roiled through her, and she let out a whimper of ecstasy as the image played in her mind like a loop. A war like no other was coming soon, and this time she would be a part of it. She would spill so much blood that the earth itself would weep. Chapter 164: Icy Advancement — Daruk Brystion The biting chill subsided as the twisted effect finally set Daruks consciousness free, filling his mind with a sense of clarity and newness. He looked down at his chest and smiled at the sight of the new seal etched on his chest. With a wide smile, he stepped out of the holding chamber and said at Rahim. Thank you for coming to get me on such short notice. Of course. Rahim nodded. I only wish more and more students realized the importance of having people around before trying for a seal. Success is both a victory and a curse. Daruk felt amusement bubble in his chest, and he let it show on his face. How did my mother take my sudden disappearance? Rahim scoffed and handed Daruk a change of clothes. She was not pleased at all. But I think she understands the importance of safety. Fortunately, your twisted effects arent too violent. I daresay four or five more, and you wouldnt even need the chamber anymore. Daruk nodded. How long was I not myself? 39 hours real time. Thats less than two days. Rahim grinned. If only a certain someone will follow in your footsteps. Daruk chuckled. I dont think he can help it. Its his nature to be so chaotic. Well, at least he has been laying low for the last two weeks. Hopefully, this holiday will pass by without any breaking news. Rahim created a portal for him and said. Say hi to your family for me. I will. Daruk stepped through the portal, smiling as the world blurred, and an instant later, he found himself in his bedroom. Feeling the hum of his new seal, Daruk decided to scrutinize himself and review his status screen before announcing his arrival to his family and the dozens of people waiting downstairs. He settled into a meditative pose, and with a single wave of his hand, he converted the whole room into an ice cave, chock full with cold essence. Icicles jutted down from the ice-covered roof, their jagged edges gleaming in the afternoon light, and a thick dusting of snow covered the floor and furniture from inch to inch. It was nothing compared to the chill of the origin plane, but it filled him with a sense of belonging. He breathed in deeply, enjoying the frigid bite of cold as it entered his lungs before closing his eyes to scan his spirit. He had done it; after nearly two weeks of constant meditation and training, he had finally condensed his understanding enough to gain another seal and push his grasp into an opening. Excited to test out the new changes in him, Daruk opened up his spirit to the origin plane and hissed both in pleasure and pain as chaos rushed in, filling his spirit with an intense wave of cold. He couldnt wait to start progressing his energy enhancement technique, but before that, he needed to give his status screen a look. [STATUS] Name: Daruk Brystion Class: Evolved Ice Awakened: 99.9% (PENDING) Title: Neophyte, Bronze, Sealbearer (2), Architect, Origin Marked, Icy Spirit, Silver, Warrior of Will. Tier: 23-64% Glimpse? Opening: Increases elemental control by 2.5%. Techniques: Energy Enhancement (rough), Perfect Imbuement Technique. Skills {Innate}: [Ice manipulation] [Ice creation] {Other}: [Freeze] [Cold Vision] [Drain Heat] [Forge constructs] [Ice conversion] [Animate Constructs] [Hailstorm] [Hailspears] [Frost Beam] [Ice Age] [Frostbound Curse] [Track Forged Constructs] [Glacial ParadoxStage 1] Bloodline: FrostForged Ancestry (Rare+). ? Amplifies ice and cold-related abilities by 2.25% ? Grants major resistance to cold ? Aura of frost heart. Congratulations! You have gained a class scaling skill. [Glacial ParadoxStage 1]: This is a rare and enigmatic skill based on your understanding of the paradoxical nature of ice and cold. The skill functions solely on willpower and allows the user to conjure and manipulate paradoxical forms of ice, bending the natural laws of reality and the element of ice. At the first stage, Glacial Paradox grants access to two paradoxical ice formsLiquidIce and FireIce. For the past six weeks, Daruk had slowly steered his understanding towards the paradoxical nature of ice, and that was because ice by nature was too simple. Too easily countered, and if it wasnt for the massive amounts of willpower at his disposal, Daruk was certain Aodhn would have left him far behind by now. All in all, Daruk was pleased with his steady advancement. He was no longer rushing as he wanted to make up for his unsteady foundation, courtesy of his insane rush through the first ten tiers, and now having gained a class scaling skill, Daruk felt like his efforts were finally yielding results. The fact that the skill was solely dependent on willpower wasnt even a cause of concern for him, as he now produced even more willpower than he could use at all. The ball of willpower in his core was already taking on tints of gold, and at the rate he was going, Daruk suspected he would break through to the next rank of willpower concentration in a few months. The amount of willpower he was constantly channeling was the reason he had gained the {Warrior of willpower} title, which simply granted him more willpower control. It wasnt anything too special, but it had nearly pushed Daruks control of his willpower into the advanced class. With frigid chaos still surging through his spirit, Daruk glanced through his skills and the changes or additions he had made in the past month or so. One of his greatest achievements was the refining of {Drain Heat} until its effects had evolved in range and power into a skill that sucked out every single iota of heat around him when activated. The skill had become very willpower intensive, though, which was the new trend Daruk had begun experiencing with his skills. Nearly all of them drained large amounts of willpower. Not that he minded, but it was obvious this was the systems attempt to contain his strength. Returning his attention to the {Glacial Paradox} skill, Daruk decided to test it out. After Aodhns experience with {Elemental Lightning}, Daruk was quite familiar with the concept of class scaling skills and how one had to develop the skill without any external input. To do so, though, he needed practical understanding of his skill, and there was no other time better than now to do so. Flexing his aura, he released another wave of chill, adding another layer of frost to the already sealed room before activating the skill. {Glacial ParadoxLiquidIce} An almost imperceptible ripple spread out of him, and Daruk felt an immediate change in the ice around him. Frowning, he made a pulling motion, and three icicles surged towards him, elongating and flowing like liquid rather than cracking. The icicles curled around him, their structures solid despite their sinuous movements. Fascinated, Daruk created a solid box of ice and directed the icicles at it. The icicles shot towards the box, curling at angles that should have been impossible for a solid construct, and impacted the box with a thunderous crash. Both the box and icicles shattered, but Daruk was too fascinated to calculate the damage at the moment. One of the limitations of ice was its rigidity, forcing him to create more ice if he wanted to move in different directions. With LiquidIce, though, he could attack a wide area or even kill hundreds with only a single icicle, as it could theoretically expand forever. He conducted a few more tests on the skill, conjuring and manipulating icicles to understand the mechanics behind the skill. When he was done, he did the same with {Glacial ParadoxFireIce}, and the results were just as wonderful. The nature of the surrounding ice changed again, and this time when he manipulated a cascade of jagged icicles, they roared forward, taking on a flame-like appearance not unlike a pyre of flames. The burning icicles emitted an intense cold instead of heat, and as they spread, they consumed the energy around them, freezing the area even further while devouring away anything of substance. It was a real brain twister, and it wasnt until his bed collapsed, releasing an intense wave of cold, that Daruk finally cut the skill off. The skill was a paradox alright, and Daruk was certain he would require at least a few weeks to get used to the nature of the skill. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. He conducted a few more tests, using {Glacial Paradox} in tandem with some of his other skills to determine what special effects they might have. There werent many changes, although the skill had a really interesting effect when used in tandem with {Drain Heat} and {Freeze}. Daruk lost track of time as he buried himself in his cultivation, and it wasnt until he felt the gnaw of hunger in his belly that he snapped back to reality. Checking the time, he realized that it was evening already, which meant that nearly five hours had passed since he returned. He still had an hour or two before dinner, though, but he was certain they would find him before then. Chuckling, he pushed himself to his feet and began clearing his room. It had been approximately two weeks since they had returned from the academy, and while Aodhn spent his time hunting cultists with a champion, Daruk had decided to make the most of his time, only allowing himself the first two days of the break to rest and spend time with his family before delving headfirst into his training. When he wasnt training, he attended the parties he and Aodhn had agreed to. Sometimes he went alone, and other times he went with Yurin and Andrew, who had sort of become a legend in noble circles. News of Andrews achievement had spread like wildfire all through the kingdom, and at every party they attended, all everyone wanted to talk about was how amazing Andrew was. Daruk didnt mind at all, just grateful that he could have a break from training to hang out with his friends, but Andrew was uncomfortable with his new fame and was dealing with it in much the same way Aodhn had done: hiding. Needless to say, that only made him seem more mysterious and fascinating in the eyes of the press. The fact that he was noble, though, did make the whole thing easier for him to manage. Andrews personality had changed after his experience, though, but it was to be expected after the infusion of such a large amount of chaos into his spirit. The twisted effect had taken him a total of nine days to recover from, and the changes in his character were more than obvious. He hadnt become intelligent by any means, but an aura of sagely wisdom now emanated from him. He sounded wise even when saying the most mundane of things, forcing Daruk to overanalyze his words every time to find some sort of hidden wisdom. So far he had found none. Andrew had also grown less talkative, choosing to simply observe while others talked. The last and most obvious change, though, was his strength, which had shot up so drastically that a match between the both of them would be indecisive. Andrews control of plants had grown by leaps and bounds, so much so that plants now gravitated towards him without him taking any action. After his release from seclusion, Daruk and Yurin had spent an entire day scrutinizing his icon, a green tattoo of interlocked, twisting vines on his wrist. Andrew had explained what the icon meant and how it functioned, and although Yurin seemed to follow the explanation easily, Daruk had had a much harder time doing the same. What was his ideal? What was that idea that encapsulated his entire life and will to advance? Sighing, Daruk cleared the frost from his room with a wave of his hands and opened his window for the first time in days to let the evening sun in. The fact that no one had realized he was back yet was both disturbing and a relief at the same time. Usually, Aldric or his parents would have come to disturb him by now had they known he was around, and sometimes it could be annoying as he usually had to put an end to whatever experiment he was conducting at the time and turn down the temperature of his room to accommodate them. To avoid such interruptions, he had made it a point to check in with his parents at least once a day to assure them that he was still alive, lest his mother force her way into his room and freeze to death all because she was missing him. Smiling at Synovs extremities, Daruk opened the door and stepped out of the room only to come face to face with the Aldric, who shivered from the wave of chill that billowed out of the room and cursed. Damn, thats cold. He eyed Daruk curiously and said. Congratulations on your new seal. Mother has been worried sick. Thank you, Aldric, and Mother needs to stop worrying so much. Aldric shrugged. Its not your safety shes worried about. Shes more concerned that one of these days, the twisted effect will twist our personalities so much that well change like your friend Andrew. He eyed Daruk and snorted. Unfortunately, I dont think that day is today. You say it as if its a bad thing. Daruk chuckled. Whats wrong with my character? Aldric scoffed. Youre proud, posh, indifferent, a flirt, a liar, a traitor, a Do you have any proof of these allegations? Daruk cut him off before he could continue listing out his worst behaviors. I will not stand here and let you defame my character! Oh, save it. Aldric rolled his eyes. I can literally sense your guilt from a mile away. You know Im right. Maybe about a few, but Im not a traitor. How about all the times you threw Aodhn and me under the bus to Mother when she asked about our relationships? Sounds like treachery to me. Aside from that. Give another instance. Their banter continued as they made their way down the stairs, laughing as Daruk tried and failed to get Aldrics head in a lock to stop him from talking. Aldric had returned home to maintain his ruse as a student of the 12th academy, and although Daruk couldnt sense his brothers core like Aodhn could, he could still tell that Aldric had once again gotten stronger. There was now a thin silver band around his eyes that suggested that he had evolved his willpower, and the subtle presence of chaos around him also hinted at the development of an opening. Daruk was sure there were other changes regarding his advancement tier or even seals, but those werent things he could tell by merely looking at his brother. Interestingly, Aldric wasnt the only one progressing in the family; even his father had taken a small yet surprisingly big step, evolving his glimpse into a grasp. It granted him a bit more control over his flames, at least enough that he should be able to take on any creature below tier 8 without any problem. The step forward had given Unrid hope, and he had doubled his efforts, spending nearly as much time as Daruk meditating. This had been ongoing even before Daruk and Aldric returned home, which had forced Synov to deepen her relationship with their neighbors and keep herself busy without having to depend on Unrid for company. This led to, well, Daruk couldnt explain exactly what his mother had turned those houses into, but the closest term to describe it was a noble house. The entire house had been renovated, and the interior design had changed from the mess of colors his mother usually preferred to something more tasteful. They arrived at the living room a moment later, and Daruk wasnt the least bit surprised to see nearly a dozen women and their children gathered in the living room, dressed in fashionable clothes, eating fruits and gossiping about anything and everything. The Brystions might not be the richest family in Menton, but they were certainly the most famous, and he daresay, influential. Despite being commoners, they were treated with far more respect than other regular people. Synov had taken advantage of their growing status and had begun holding court within the living room. They received visitors daily now, and why wouldnt they? Families wanted to align themselves with the family of an inheritor, a family with three Awakened sons, two of whom were high-ranked students of the prestigious 5th academy, and the third who was the subject of several shady rumors amongst high nobility. Synov was, of course, aware of all their motives, as Aldric had sat her down to explain it all in detail, but Synov didnt seem to mind and had even coerced Unrid into joining them whenever he wasnt meditating. The moment the gathered women noticed his presence, they plastered on large smiles, and Synov rushed forward to hug him. How is my favorite boy doing? Im doing fine, Mum. I gained a new seal, an opening, and a new skill too. I couldnt have asked for a better day. Thats wonderful. Oh, you must be hungry. Synov smiled and pulled him into the circle of women along with an unwilling Aldric. They sat down on an empty couch, and while Synov went to the kitchen to get him something to eat, one of the women, a dark-skinned woman dressed in elaborate green robes to show off her wind affinity, smiled and said to him,. How delightful to have you back home, Daruk. The house has been terribly dull without your wonderful stories. Daruk laughed. You flatter me, Mrs. Brightwell, but I must confess that Ive missed you guys too. Is that so? Old Miss Hearthson asked, raising a skeptical eyebrow to stare at his hands. I dont see any gifts thanking us for our wonderful presence. Oh, thats just it, Miss Hearthson. I am the gift. The women chuckled, and Daruk relaxed. For the next few minutes, he spoke and joked around with the ladies, all of whom were perfectly polite and friendly. Unlike Aldric and Aodhn, who were usually uncomfortable in such a setting as this, Daruk had trained his whole life to be a noble. Drinking tea and entertaining guests was an easy task for him. Synov soon returned with a tray of cookies and handed it to him. After she sat down, she asked. So, how was it? The whole seal thing? Daruk shrugged, trying to downplay it. It was an interesting experience. Very insightful. Oh, arent you just so scholarly. Mrs. Johnson, an unawakened, middle-aged woman with round features, spoke. Its so very nice to see refined men these days. It has become quite the rarity amongst the male population. It truly has. Old Miss Hearthson nodded and clasped her hands together, eyes gleaming with juicy delight. Oh, youd never guess what I witnessed at the square yesterday. Mr. Thorntonyes, him, the one who parades around like hes some highborn gentlemanwas out there bellowing like a wild bull because the baker sold the last loaf to Mrs. Calloway. He actually climbed onto a cart to shout over the crowd, waving his arms like some crazed street performer. And thenoh, this is the best parthe tried to snatch a baguette right out of the poor womans basket! I had to step in! It was positively scandalous, I tell you! Oh dear. Synov shook her head in disgust as if such a character wasnt something she was capable of. Such barbaric behavior, and in public no less! I tell you. Mrs. Brightwell shook her head. In disgust. But the men arent the only ones behaving barbarically. I was at the post office yesterday, and you wouldnt believe what I saw with my own two eyes. All the women leaned forward, eyes wide with curiosity, and Daruk had to admit that he too did the same, mouth stuffed full with cookies as he waited for Mrs. Brightwell to drop the second half of this juicy gossip. What did you see? Mrs. Johnson asked impatiently. I heard that that skanky woman, Mrs. Weathersby, was seen stumbling out of the Rosewood Inn well past sundownnot a place for respectable company at that hour if you catch my meaning. Oh, Daruk caught her meaning alright, and from the way even Aldrics lips were twitching, it seemed he was listening after all despite pretending to be asleep. And get this, Mrs. Brightwell continued. Her hair was a mess, bonnet missing entirely, and her gown wrinkled as if shed been Well, Ill let you use your imagination. She paused, savoring the gasp the women made after they used their imagination. And the gentleman who escorted her out? Not her brother, I assure you! It wasnt her son either! But she is married! Mrs. Johnson exclaimed. And her husband is sinfully divine to look at. What could she possibly be doing in such a place? Daruk had an idea, but he decided it was better he kept it to himself. The rest of the evening passed in this manner, and Daruk absolutely enjoyed it. He had nothing to input, nor would he actually do so even if he did, but it was fun just watching the women gossip, drink tea, and relax. Dinner came soon after, and they all moved to the overly large dining table that now occupied the dining room. Unrid joined them, and after saying their prayers, they all dug into their meals, grateful for this peaceful moment and hoping that it lasted forever. Chapter 165: A tale of two obsessives.... The drums of war thundered a grim crescendo, growing louder with each passing day, and on both sides, elites and soldiers trained relentlessly while champions and generals planned and strategized. The days of relative peace were slowly coming to an end, and even the lowliest of commoners could sense the change. Within the command arc of Sunstone, Seo-min sat at a round table surrounded by her supposed retaliatory team. It was barely dawn, yet everyone was wide awake, even Luminus, who seemed to be suffering from a severe case of terrible time management. She wasnt the only new member within the group. There were two others. The first was a muscled priestess who cultivated the essence of faith, while the other was a well-known shadow awakened, popularly known for his creation of powerful Eldritch constructs from shadow essence. They all sat quietly, listening to Warp as she used a holographic display to explain the details of their retaliatory plan, stating everything twice to make sure they all understood. However, with every word Warp uttered, Seo-mins heart grew colder, and not even the view of the rising sun bathing the arc in hues of gold and orange managed to thaw her. Warp pointed to a section of the hologram and explained. Our actions should force the Ragnarok military to split themselves in two, breaking any concerted effort they must have planned. While we occupy their champions and keep them out for the fight, our military will march on sector 9 to raze it to the ground. Hopefully, all will go as planned, but just in case it doesnt, it still doesnt change our main goal, which is to cause so much chaos and disarray that Ragnarok is painted as weak to the other kingdoms. Warp continued speaking, but Seo-min was no longer listening. It was just more strategizing and politics, none of which mattered to her. She couldnt care less about Calodans views of Ragnarok or about spreading chaos. Where was the bloodshed? Was this the bloody retaliation she had been promised? Forcing her expression into a semblance of neutrality, Seo-min crossed her leg and tried to pay attention to the plan. Warp pointed to another section of the holographic map, highlighting a sector in Ragnarok, and said,. Thus is sector 9, and as you can see, its edged by two strategic battle zones, one, a Sigma 15-25 battle zone called the Steppin Plains, and the other, a Sigma 26-50 battle zone called the Rocky Shores. Our armies will attack both zones at the same time in a bid to take the sector itself, and while they do that, we will be splitting up into groups of two to invade and attack strategic areas in their most prominent sectors. She pointed to a couple more places, and Seo-mins eyes narrowed when Warp surprisingly didnt include the 7th sector. Seo-min forced herself to wait until Warp finished speaking before asking. Apologies, but I couldnt help but notice that while you mentioned the sectors we were to invade, you forgot to mention the 7th sector. Warp glanced at the holographic screen and then sighed. I didnt forget the 7th sector. I didnt mention it because it isnt a part of our plans. Seo-min chuckled and leaned back into her chair. Surely, you cant mean that. The 7th sector is the place where Seo-yeon died. Where she was butchered and hacked to pieces like a dog. If anything, it should be at the top of the list. Well, it isnt as you can see. Seo-min glanced at the other champions, taking in their serious expressions, and when she realized that Warp wasnt joking, her smile vanished. What do you mean it isnt? Is this a joke? Vectoris Patchwork began, but Warp cut him off before he could go any further. It isnt a joke. The seventh sector of Ragnarok is not a priority right now and therefore isnt a part of our plan at this time. Im sorry, but I sincerely doubt the supreme makes decisions regarding the kingdom based on who died and how they died. Her words cut Seo-min to the bone, and even the other champions shuffled uncomfortably in their seats. Warp must have realized the harshness of her words because she closed her eyes and sighed. Look, I didnt create this plan; neither was I privy to the reasoning of the supreme when she gave me her orders. We all feel terribly for Seo-yeon and are all burning to restore her honor, but this plan doesnt leave room for that. We will just have to defend Seo-yeons honor another day. Seo-min opened her mouth to speak, but words failed her. She hadnt exactly been promised a retaliation, but this was a slap to her face. An attempt to force her to put her personal grievances aside until the supreme deemed it beneficial to take action. The first thought that came to her mind was to exit the team immediately. What was the point of joining the retaliatory efforts if she wouldnt even get a chance at revenge? Still, Seo-min knew that doing so meant playing into their hands, affirming to the world that she really wasnt fit to be a part of a team. Instead, she took in a deep breath and said. Thats alright. We dont have to attack the 7th sector. After all, it wasnt the sector itself that killed Seo-yeon. It was Artemis. A chorus of awkward murmurs rose from the gathered champions, and Seo-min smiled. Surely, his name should pop up somewhere amidst all these politics and scheming. Warp grimaced but gave a slow nod. There is a high probability that it will. Then I will face him when the time comes. No. That is not Please. Seo-min cut her off firmly, nearly choking on her pride as she forcefully swallowed it. Do not deny me this opportunity, Warp. I deserve to do this. I deserve a chance to redeem my sisters honor. Let me have it. You will die if you go against Artemis. Warp spat out mercilessly. In fact, you would die so quickly that you wouldnt even see your death coming. Look, I want to help you avenge your sister, but I cannot jeopardize the whole plan just for you. Ever the peacemaker, Legion leaned forward in his chair and asked. Is there no way we can come to a compromise? There is no compromise! Warp shook her head, unmoved. She fixed her gaze on Seo-min and said. This conversation is over. If you do not like it, you can walk away, but I wont jeopardize an efficient plan just to cater to your self-interest. Silence descended on the hall, and for nearly a minute, Seo-min just sat there, thinking. Legion broke the silence at the minute mark, saying. Vectoris, were sorry No, youre not. Seo-min shook her head and then smiled. But its alright. I wont cause a scene. Im a great team player after all. Her words put some of the champions at ease, but Warp and Patchworks eyes narrowed in suspicion, and they were right to suspect her, because in her heart, Seo-min had decided that if Sunstone wouldnt give her a chance at revenge, she would take it herself. Plan or no plan. Team or no team. She would have her revenge. Warp glared at her for a moment, trying to see through her blank expression, but when that failed, she glanced back at the holographic screen and continued her explanation. Seo-min listened to Warp drone on for the next few minutes, her words entering one ear and rushing out the other immediately. She couldnt care less if her thirst for revenge affected their plans; after all, they were partly to blame for Seo-yeons death. Had they killed Artemis during the plague wraith battle, then Seo-yeon would still be alive. At least, that was what she believed. Half an hour later, Warps explanation finally reached the part that concerned her, and Seo-min temporarily brought her mind back to attention. This is where we come in. Warp explained. Well be splitting into groups of two; Legion and Multiple, youre together. Patchwork, youre with Caelum Stringreave. Luminus, youre with Silvani Faitheart, and, Vectoris, youre with me. She glared at Seo-min as she made the last declaration, expecting her to comment or throw a tantrum, but Seo-min simply stared at her without responding. After a moment of awkward silence, Warp continued. Let me remind you all that each group of two forms a strike team tasked with keeping whichever champion the encounter within any of the target sectors occupied for as long as possible whilst our armies march down on sector 9 to claim it. Her eyes narrowed in determination, and she added. If you have the chance to kill any one of them, take it and make it as dishonorable as possible. Seo-min smiled but refrained from speaking, having already made up her mind about the matter. The other champions, however, asked a ton of questions, taking up another hour of their time, but Seo-min willingly suffered through it, not because they were all important questions, but also because it was interesting to see how the minds of other champions worked. At one point, Luminus asked a question she hadnt even considered. How are we going to get through their aerial shields? It was a great question. Unlike Sunstones more easily penetrated aerial shields, the aerial shields in Ragnarok were nearly impossible to get through without a sufficient amount of strength, a strength that perhaps only Warp and Lightus were capable of bringing to bear, and even then, it wouldnt be quiet. It was quite literally impossible for the rest of them to break through the shields. Fortunately, Warp had a solution. She pulled out a series of energy bombs from her spatial storage and said,. These are energy-reversal bombs crafted by our engineers specifically for this purpose. They should create a small opening in the aerial shields for us to slip in and out of each sector and do our jobs. Each person will be getting two of these bombs, one for entry and the other for exit. Its not the best solution, but it should work perfectly. Each group will also be going with a beast ring filled with creatures specially cultivated for this mission. The increasing brutality of the mission brought a smile to Seo-mins face. The people of Ragnarok had cheered the death of her sister. A little suffering was in order. Warp returned the bombs to her spatial storage and said. Now, for the last segment of todays meeting, we need to talk about the champions themselves. We have faced some of their more popular members before, and I must say that they are in no way weak. Artemis, the most famous of them all, possesses strength that nearly rivals mine, and I suspect he might even have gained an aspect. What?!! Seo-min blurted out, unable to help herself, but she wasnt the only one who was surprised. Murmurs echoed from the other champions, and Silvani Faitheart said. Is that even possible? Regardless of his strength, hes still in the advanced class. Are you sure of this? No, Im not, but the last time we fought, II sensed something. Something that helps him keep up with me. She shook her head. My point is, we cant afford to underestimate any of them. They have proven Warp continued speaking, but Seo-min was no longer listening. The fact that Artemis was stronger than her was no news, but if hed developed an aspect, then that put him in a league so far above her that fighting him would be an instant death sentence for her. The thought shook her resolve and created panic in her heart. Her heartbeat raced, thumping loudly in her ears, and fear began creeping in. However, just before the emotion could take root, another thought entered her mind, and Seo-min narrowed her eyes in suspicion. Was this a ploy? An attempt to plant fear in her mind and prevent her from carrying out her revenge against Artemis? It was such a Warp-like thing to do, and as the other champions discussed the matter amongst themselves, Seo-min leaned back to watch them, her suspicions overshadowing her panic. Anything is possible these days. Multiple shook his head. We cant afford to underestimate any champion. True. Caelum chirped in. I watched the tape of the plague wraith battle, and he shouldnt have been able to keep up with Warp at all. She was about 2 or 3 tiers above him at the time. Warp nodded in agreement. Youre right. I was a couple tiers above him at the time. But the sad truth is that hes not the only monster we need to worry about. The Witch of Selia is a menace even to me, and the one they call Null We cant underestimate them. Not to mention there would be other champions present too, people we might not be too familiar with. Patchwork scrunched up his face in distaste and asked. Is there no way to foretell which opponents we might come across? The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. There certainly is. Warp nodded. Its not foolproof, but our diviners have provided us with the names of a few champions we might come across in our target sectors, which are the 6th, 5th, 4th, and 3rd sectors. Who are they? Luminus asked eagerly, and Warp sighed. Like I said earlier, the divination isnt foolproof, and Im a little wary of basing a huge part of our plans on them, but theyre the best weve got, and well just have to work with them somehow. She pulled out a slip of paper from her spatial ring and began reading. In sector 3 we have Matharantha, the insane mirror, and Uduak Goradon. In sector 4, we have Cyridian, bringer of light, and Null, of the fallen house. In sector 5, we have Artemis Valerion and Reiner Rivaldi, while in sector 6, we have Geneva Ryntharion and Nox Blackveil, the herald of shadows. Seo-min glanced intently at the list in Warps hands, her suspicions and fear temporarily forgotten as blood rushed in her veins. This was the moment she had been waiting for. If Artemis was in sector 5, then thats where she had to be. Her only hindrance was Warp, who was more likely to send her to a different sector just to be petty, but then she remembered that she and Warp were a pair, which meant she would be going wherever Warp was, and who else could handle Artemis aside from her? A smile nearly bloomed on her face, but Seo-min quickly suppressed it, forcing her expression into the neutral mask she had worn all morning. Placing a hand over her lips to keep herself from blurting out the words churning in her throat, Seo-min stared at the group, watching quietly as people made choices depending on whom they felt they could easily counter. Multiple and Legion went with sector 3, Luminus and Silvani went with sector 4, Patchwork and Caelum went with sector 6, leaving Warp and her with sector 5. Seo-min wanted to jump for joy, but she forced herself to keep silent. They were all watching her; she could feel it, and the moment she acted, she was positive Warp would find a reason to kick her off the team, and she couldnt let that happen, not when she was so close. Warp glared at her and said. I will handle Artemis while you take Reiner. Seo-min simply smiled and said. Whatever you think is best. Warp scowled, having expected a different response. She glared at Seo-min for a moment before handing over an information packet on Reiner Rivaldi. Seo-min barely glanced at the packet before letting out a small chuckle. What could a steam awakened do to her? She was Vectoris, a champion with control over direction, magnitude, velocity, momentum, and force. She was a force to be reckoned with. Dismissing the packet without a second glance, Seo-min closed her eyes and began imagining the numerous ways she would enact her revenge. The meeting ended a few minutes later, and after a prayer to Aeloria to bless their mission, Warp passed around the bombs and beast rings. Seo-min stared at the bombs, acquainting herself with their activation before placing them within her spatial storage. When she was done, she looked up to see Warp staring intently at her. She raised an eyebrow in question, and Warp scowled. I know your plans, Vectoris. I can see through this bullshit of calm youre portraying, and I swear, Ill kill you myself if you do anything to hinder this mission. I dont understand what you mean by portraying. Seo-min replied sweetly. Warps eyes narrowed. Let me deal with Artemis. Do not get in my way. Seo-min smiled wider. I wouldnt dream of it. Whilst the champions of Sunstone plotted chaos, Yue sat within a storage closet in the Phoenixs nest, legs crossed in a meditative pose. It had been a hectic day getting customers for the nest and taking people on tours round the sector. Her entire body ached from all the walking, yet her eyes burned with excitement because her birthday had finally come. It was still an hour before midnight, but Yue couldnt wait. The rhythmic patter of rain on the roof filled her ears, and somewhere in the nest, someone was searching for her, screeching her name like a banshee, but Yue refused to stand up from where she was. This wasnt the time to work, but to pray to the Ascendants that she awaken the affinity she wanted. The image of a dark-skinned boy with lightning cracks on his skin popped into her mind, and Yue blushed. Pushing the erotic image from her mind, she clasped her hand in prayer and muttered. Storm Affinity. Please, Raol, Ive been a fairly good girl. The least you can do is give me an affinity I want. Of course, that wasnt how things worked. In fact, no one knew for sure how it worked or how people got certain affinities. The system simply handed them out like candy. Still, there were certain circumstances that improved ones chances, and Yue couldnt have been more grateful for the rain. Still praying, she pulled a dirty cloth bag towards herself and took out all the cores shed bought over the years, arranging them in a circle around herself. There were eleven of them in total, and they were all low-tiered mundane cores between tier 1 and 2, except for her most recent acquisition, a tier 3 storm core, which had caused her nearly two weeks of excruciating pain and hunger. The core shimmered with stormy black energy that occasionally rippled with a flash of color. She cradled it in her arms, watching the energy within it roil in fascination. Yue wasnt sure when her obsession with the storm affinity had begun, but it was certainly tied to a certain dark-skinned individual, and she couldnt wait to join him and become one of the very few storm awakeneds in existence. The thought of not awakening never even crossed her mind. Thunder boomed outside, and Yue continued her prayers and pleas as she clutched the storm core tighter to herself. Time passed, and thirty minutes later, Yue began to feel the rising heat of the awakening process. It began in her belly and then spread out like tendrils until her entire body was blazing with heat. Sweat beaded her temples and trickled down her neck despite the cool breeze blowing in through the shaft near the roof. Her prayers grew incoherent as pain lanced through her head, leaving behind a pounding headache that threatened to shatter her skull to pieces with each breath. Still, Yue forced herself to remain seated, pulling the wind and lightning cores closer to herself for comfort. She couldnt sense any of the essence around her, but she knew that in this weather, water and wind essence would be the most abundant. That was necessarily bad, but it was definitely concerning. She didnt want a water or wind affinity. She wanted a storm. Searching around for anything that could help, she realized that there was no way to increase the amount of storm essence around her unless she flew into the storm cloud itself, and that was practically impossible for her to do. Still, she couldnt give up. Gasping for breath as the blazing heat intensified, Yue clutched the storm core tightly against her belly, rocking rhythmically to calm her overshot nerves. The pounding headache intensified as midnight drew closer, and Yue knew it wouldnt be long now before she lost consciousness. Her clothes were completely soaked with sweat, and her hair lay damp on her head like a soaked sponge, yet Yue refused to let go of the core, not even to tear off the restricting clothes from her body. Her rocking continued, heat peaked, and a minute to midnight, Yue felt her consciousness begin to slip. Unwilling to let the core go, she tore the sleeves of her dress and used the fabric to tie the core to herself, all the while praying that the ascendants will favor her just this once. Her hands shook erratically, making the task far more difficult than it should have been. She managed, though, securing one knot before her hands fell limp to her side. Her sight dimmed, and Yue eventually surrendered herself to the process. Darkness. That was all she knew for a while. Nothing but darkness. A comforting darkness that was both lonely and satisfying at the same time. Yue imagined this was what awaited her after death. If she died rather than ascend to immortality. Perhaps her parents were here somewhere. The darkness enveloped her in a cold embrace, filling her with peace as time passed. Yue couldnt tell how long she remained in that limbo of peace, but when the first pinprick of light finally appeared, Yue found herself back in the storage closet. The rain had stopped, and a sharp scent very similar to that of rotten eggs filled the air. She wrinkled her nose in disgust but soon realized that the smell was coming from her. Her entire body was covered in a thick, tar-like substance that seemed to have emerged from her pores. It was absolutely disgusting, but there was something far more urgent. A translucent screen hung at the edge of her vision, most likely holding all the answers to her prayers, and with a mixture of anticipation and trepidation curling in her gut, Yue focused on the screen, and it enlarged to fill her vision. It revealed soul-crushing news. Congratulations! You have awakened an affinity for change. [STATUS] Name: Yue Hazecroft Title: Nil Class: Changeling Tier: 0% Skills {Innate}: [MorphAnimate] [MorphInanimate] Bloodline: Nil. Yue stared at the status screen in disappointment, defeat, and pain swirling in her gut for nearly an hour. She had been so hopeful, so sure that her prayers would be answered. The fact that she hadnt even gotten anything similar to the storm at all struck her as intentional. This was the systems doing, and damn! It was a freaking jerk! For months she had prepared herself for the storm affinity, and since the rainy season began, she had drenched herself continuously in the rain, making sure she was somehow taking in a lot of storm essence, yet she hadnt even gotten something elemental like wind or water. How was this even possible? What had she possibly done to earn an affinity for change? Frustrated and annoyed, she let herself fall to the ground in despair. All the dreams she had built in her head about unleashing storms and terror on unsuspecting villages were now gone. All her dreams to fight against and alongside Aodhn, trading storm-infused blows and attacks, were gone. Destroyed. Glancing back at the class she had received, Yue scowled. It wasnt because she thought that the changeling class was weak. No one thought so any longer, especially not after the chaos one changeling had caused in sector 7 only a few weeks ago. Yue knew the class had potential, but it lacked the flair of a storm or even the explosive power of fire. It was not a class that granted one a lot of physical power, but that wasnt the problem Yue had with it. She hated the fact that the class wouldnt let her make her dreams a reality. Her despair lasted up until the moment she realized she could still make one dream a reality, and with hurried steps, she rushed to the back of the storage closet and pulled out a broken mirror, cleaning it with her sleeves so she could see herself clearly. The face that appeared in the mirror was no different from the one she bore an hour ago save for the black substance that still clung to her skin. Without hesitation, she grabbed the storm core still sashed to her waist and pulled, willing the energy to flow into her like she had seen other awakened do. Energy rushed into her hands, and she gasped in pleasure as the crackling cloud of energy moved through a bizarre path, curling and twisting until it made its way to the core within her spirit. The energy rushed into her core, filling it to the brim and pushing against its boundaries until the core expanded, releasing a powerful surge of pure colorful energy that diffused into her body and bones, rejuvenating and strengthening her at the same time. The process was far from over, though, as more storm energy rushed into her core, filling it to the brim once more and causing another surge of change essence to erupt out of her core. The surge of strength and clarity that followed made Yue gasp in amazement. The physical changes Yue experienced werent exactly realm-shattering, but they were obvious. Her hearing sharpened, and her sight became clearer. Her strength was the most obvious, though. She felt as though she had just had the best sleep of her life and was in the mood to take on the world. Chuckling, she glanced at the status screen again to confirm her new tier. Tier: 216% The text grounded her in reality. She had taken a step forward, and there was no more going back. She was now a changeling. A being of deception. With a small smile, she glanced at the other cores scattered across the floor and quickly pushed down the urge to absorb them all at once. She had no money yet. She would need to trade some of these cores for an evolved core if she intended to evolve her class at all and join the academy. Forcing herself to place the cores into a cloth pouch, Yue turned her gaze back to the mirror, and with her core now blazing with energy, she enacted the first idea that had sprouted in her mind. The image of a certain storm awakened appeared in her mind, and with a grin, she activated {MorphAnimate}, growling both in pain and pleasure as her features transformed. Her skin turned dark, and her womanly curves disappeared, replaced by a muscled structure that filled her with girlish giddiness. Her hair turned white, and golden lines traced a side of her skin. In less than two minutes, she had transformed from Yue the tour guide to Aodhn Ashoka-Brystion, the renowned student and inheritor. It was absolutely amazing; however, the more Yue stared at her reflection in the mirror, the more flaws revealed themselves. Perhaps from a distance, she looked like Aodhn, but up close the difference was as clear as day. Her irises were a drab brown instead of gold, and the black and silver rings were missing. Her white hair sat dormant on her head instead of crackling with electricity. Her voice also remained the same, and no aura of power and chaos hung around her. With a sigh, she realized she still had a long way to go before she could make her dreams a reality. That didnt mean she couldnt create new dreams, though. Grinning mischievously, she pulled out a service apron from a dusty cardboard box and donned it along with the official uniform of the Phoenixs Nest staff. The uniform was too big for her, but another activation of {MorphAnimate} solved that easily, causing the uniform to stretch so much that it was a miracle that the buttons held up at all. Two minutes later, a potbellied man stood before the mirror, his chubby fingers hooked firmly in his rumpled trousers, and his teeth, yellowed from the excessive chewing of beetroot. Struggling to contain her laughter, she turned around, checking for the flaws in her transformation. Laughter burst out of her lips when she found nearly a dozen in an instant, but to the untrained eye, she looked just like the staff manager of the phoenixs nest did. Perhaps even better-looking if she was honest. A thought entered her mind, and with her entire body shuddering with laughter, Yue unhooked her trousers and looked down at her privates, or at least she tried to, but quickly discovered that she couldnt possibly do so because of her excessively potbellied stomach. A quick search with her hands, however, confirmed her suspicions, and it was all she could do not to double over with laughter when her hands clutched the pinky-sized, shriveled appendage that was her managers privates. How that had gotten there, Yue didnt understand, as it certainly hadnt been a part of the image she had imagined before this transformation. Perhaps her subconscious had filled in the blanks without her active input. Muttering a joke to herself, Yue grabbed a rag from the dusty box and began ridding herself of the black, smelly substance. It fell off her skin surprisingly easily, revealing smooth white skin underneath. It took a while for Yue to clean herself up to a presentable degree, and when she finished, she stepped out of the storage closet with a glare. The first person she saw was Brian, the cleaner who was busy cleaning up the dining area in preparation for the days opening. The boy jumped into a salute when he saw her, his eyes widening in shock and confusion. Good morning, Mr. Pritchard. Youre very early today. Is something happening? No. Yue replied gruffly, not wanting to speak too much lest Brian sense that something was off with her voice. When he just kept staring at her, she glared at him. Get back to work, you sluggard, and stop staring at me. Yes, sir. Brian replied, hastily rushing to finish his work. Yue smiled and quickly moved towards the counter behind the receptionist desk where a small safe was located. It didnt contain a lot of money, but it was certainly more than enough to feed her for a week. Yue grabbed the money without a second thought, muttering, I need to go over yesterdays income, when Brian glanced back at her. She placed the money in her cloth pouch along with all the cores she was yet to absorb, and without delay, she raced out of the nest, giggling under her breath as Brian saluted her once again. It was all so sinful and wrong, but also exhilarating. She might not have gained the affinity she wanted, but barely an hour in, and the changeling affinity was already proving itself to be a far more lucrative alternative. And in all honesty, if there was one thing Yue needed right now, it was money. How else was she supposed to grow spiritual cultivation or get the best materials and treasures needed to build her strength before the academy trials in the next 4-5 months? She might not have chosen this affinity, but with each minute that passed, she regretted it less and less. Chapter 166: Hunting Cultists Aodhn crouched behind a stack of wooden crates, his eyes fixed on a pair of acolytes patrolling a seemingly natural warehouse nestled at the base of a grassy hill. The acolytes were dressed in flowing black and red robes, which shifted gently with the warm afternoon breeze, although the oppressive heat seemed to sap even the modest motions of life. With expressions dull and eyes glazed in boredom, the acolytes moved like marionettes guided by unseen strings. The rhythmic crunch of their boots against the dry earth was the only sound to be heard for miles. Until thunder rumbled. Aodhn looked up to see a small gathering of storm clouds in the sky and smiled. It wasnt large enough to promise rain, but Aodhn hoped it would rain regardless. Those poor acolytes could use a reprieve from the suns unforgiving glare. Shifting to get a better vantage point, Aodhn adjusted his weight carefully, wincing as the dry grass crunched faintly beneath his boots. They were currently at the edge of Cresthaven, one of the border villages in sector 6, and in the last two weeks since their hunting began, this was the 17th cultist outpost they had uncovered and destroyed. Like most of the previous outposts, the warehouse was a large, pentagonal structure, conveniently located miles away from civilization. The building wasnt exactly secluded, but it was far enough away from prying eyes that any suspicious activity could be easily hidden. Narrowing his gaze, Aodhns sharp eyes traced the acolytes patrol route, mapping their movements with meticulous precision. Time crawled forward, and three minutes later, Genevas voice crackled in through the communication pods in his ears, signifying that she had finally entered communication range. What do you see? She asked, and Aodhn replied immediately, detailing all that he could see as quickly as possible. The outpost is made entirely of reinforced metal. I can sense a lot of runes, but not enough to be much of a hindrance. My core sense isnt too accurate from this distance, but I would say there are about a hundred cultists within his base, all of them below the second milestone. There are a few above that, but their numbers are much harder to pin down. What else? Geneva prompted a whistling sound echoing through the pods as she most likely flew towards his position. Shifting a patch of grass away from his eyes, Aodhn studied the outpost closely. Aside from the things he had mentioned, there didnt seem to be anything different or special about this outpost, but Geneva was nothing if not thorough, and one thing he had learned during this hunt was that she almost always had all the information she needed already. Asking him was simply a way of training his mind to think wider and dig deeper. Forcing his mind to do just that, Aodhn scanned the building once more, his eyes narrowing in focus as he searched the area for something he had missed earlier. Thunder rumbled once again, the sound less distant than the previous one, but Aodhn didnt spare the gathering clouds any attention. His entire attention was fixed on the outpost, searching the surroundings using both his sight and core sense. Still, he found nothing. Just as he was about to respond, though, his gaze suddenly caught a glint of black metal at the edge of the outpost. It was only for a moment, but Aodhns enhanced perception honed in on the oddity like a hawk catching prey. He focused his core sense on that particular area, probing the air for something that wasnt quite right, and before long, the golden shimmer of runes revealed themselves, so numerous that they reached a height nearly three stories tall. There is another building. Aodhn gasped, shocked that his senses had failed to see it at first. It was amazing that the cultists had managed to cloak an entire building so thoroughly that had he not known that there was something he wasnt seeing, he wouldnt have seen it at all. Correct. Genevas voice crackled in his ears again, a smile obvious in her tone. The building is being cloaked by someone in the advanced class, at least tier 50, but they arent very good judging by how quickly you saw through it. Aodhn nodded in agreement. Had Geneva been the one cloaking the building with runes, he probably would probably walk right through the building without noticing. However, the real question here was why the building was cloaked. This was the first time they were experiencing such a thing with the cultists, who were more brawn than brains. The fact that they had cloaked an entire building simply meant they were hiding something important within it. Frowning, he said. I guess its safe to assume that the warehouse is a front then. That is very likely. One thing is certain, though: something very important or deeply nefarious is going on within that cloaked building, and we have to find out what it is. Wait for me; Ill be there shortly. Ill keep watch. Aodhn replied, his gaze fixed on the cloaked area. What could the cultist possibly be hiding in that cloaked building? What could be so important that they needed a tier 50 awakened to cloak the building at all times? In the last two weeks, he had witnessed more atrocities than he cared to recall, atrocities that nearly made him lose his shit and tear the cultists to pieces, but none of those things had been hidden. What was so different about this one? As the minutes dragged on, his mind drifted back to everything he had learned about the Children of the Watch. Fanatics, driven by the mad desire to bring about the apocalyptic age of their patron god, Srn Beithir, by forcefully uniting all of Lutia under the banner of his prophesied successor. Despite their zealotry, the grunge of their members were gutter trash individualsrejects and thugs eager to grasp at the cults promises of purpose and power. After the last two weeks, Aodhns opinion of them had sunk to hell. Once, a part of him had feared them; now he couldnt wipe them off the face of the earth fast enough. Fortunately, hunting the cultists wasnt the only benefit of this mission. In only two weeks, he had visited a total of 4 new sectors. The first two days, they had spent in sector 11 to flush out half a dozen cultist outposts, after which they had traveled to sector 9 to do the same. The energy density in sector 9 had been surprising to say the least, and so was the number of evolved and advanced individuals, but when Aodhn asked Geneva about the weird phenomenon, she had gently brushed him off, stating that it was nothing for him to be concerned about. Her response had surprised him because she had answered all of his questions before that, planting ideas and seeds of deep thoughts with each answer she offered. The oddity had stayed with Aodhn for days, and of course, hed brought it up again, but then Genevas response had been the same, a casual shrug, a half smile, and the words, Dont worry about it. But Aodhn did worry, especially after he saw a barrack filled with the royal guards stationed at Amaryllis, a beautiful city located near the border of the sector. The sight of the familiar uniform raised questions in his mind, and Aodhn finally concluded that there was something very important to Ragnarok in this sector that they wanted to keep hush-hush, something even more valuable than the Areli tree back in the Warren. After leaving sector 9, they had traveled to sector 4, a place so filled with water that the natives had managed to build a ton of fascinating infrastructuresfloating cities interconnected by sleek bridges, submerged tunnels reinforced with crystal-clear barriers, and towering spires that pierced through the shimmering waves, all powered by an intricate network of aquatic energy systems. There, he and Geneva had only managed to destroy three cultist outposts, but because of the beautiful scenery, they had both decided to stay back for a few days and take a break from hunting and killing. The time off had granted Aodhn the opportunity to practice his runes with Geneva. Needless to say, it was an opportunity of a lifetime. Geneva didnt exactly sit with him or hover around him while he practiced, but she was somehow always present to guide and correct him whenever he made mistakes, going so far as to provide him alternative methods to draw the runes quicker. Many people dont understand the language of runes, including those who teach it. She had said to him on that first night after he finally perfected the impact rune, which was the 14th rune in the runic alphabet. Taking his inscriber from his hand, she explained. Runes are a magical language, which means they can come with numerous meanings, hence the complex swirls and curves attached to them. Being a runic master requires a far more intimate knowledge of runes than just perfecting them. Take LUMUS, for instance; you can use that single rune as a base for so many things, be they conceptual or elemental. She waved a hand, creating a chain of light runes in the air, but just like every other time she had ever created initiate runes, Aodhn noticed it was far more simple in structure yet more complicated to understand. This is the difference between a real runic master and some random professor. I know exactly what I want my runes to do, and Ive cut off all other commands or intents from it, drastically simplifying its structure. I want a light rune to shine, not grant me mental clarity or create illusions. I dont want it to create heat either, nor do I want it to dispel evil. Knowing exactly what I want and what each curve or swirl does is what simplifies my casting and makes it almost instantaneous. Of course, I didnt come to understand this in a day, and I dont expect you to, but it will do you great good to put those textbooks aside and actually learn the heart of runes for yourself. It was safe to say Aodhns life had not remained the same after that. He had delved back into his practice notes, restarting his journey of learning runes not for the purpose of perfecting them but to know and understand them on a more intimate level. Geneva had left him to himself after that, although she was never too far away, and Aodhn had devoted himself to the study of a language long forgotten. He activated runes using his willpower and ambient essence, watching the flow of energy to try and discern the function of each superfluous addition to the rune structure. At one point, he tried to inscribe the core of the rune alone, discarding all the curves and swirls around it, but he soon ran into the problem of where to fix the activation circle or how to channel any intent into the rune. Two days passed in that manner, and while he hadnt learned any new runes, his understanding of the old ones had improved significantly, reducing his inscribing time by nearly a quarter. Aodhn had been reluctant to leave the sector as its cool aura had suited him so perfectly, but their break was over, and they still had a ton of cultists to eradicate. Deciding to return as soon as the mission was over, Aodhn and Geneva had left the sector to continue their hunt. It had been five days since then, and during that time, Aodhn had taken down more cultists than in all their previous hunts combined. Some he beat to a pulp, and others, he simply amputated, but he tried never to take it too far and usually stopped as soon as Geneva began hyping him up to go for the kill. They are killers and perverts, Aodhn! Kill them. She would insist, but he always refusednot because he couldnt, but because he knew that once he crossed that line, there would be no going back. No second chances. So far, he had managed to avoid killing anyone, leaving that part to Geneva, who was simply the most efficient large-scale murderer he had ever seen. She was so meticulous and clean that it was so much easier to stomach the deaths of hundreds because of how unrealistic they feltlike watching pieces being swept off a chessboard. His thoughts were interrupted when Genevas blazing core entered his core sense range. She appeared beside him a moment later, smiling when she saw him covered in dirt and grass. You didnt need to ruin your uniform. A simple cloaking rune would have sufficed. She said, and Aodhn shrugged. I havent learned that one yet. He glanced at the clock at the edge of his status screen and smiled. You cleaned up the last outpost faster than I thought you would. Pfft, Geneva grunted. I would have done it faster if you had just helped me kill those maggots. Aodhn chuckled. To be honest, I nearly did, but Im glad Ive been able to hold on to my innocence for a few hours more. Hmm. Good for you. Lets hope youre able to hold on to it for the entire break. Aodhn chuckled and shook his head. Fingers crossed. Fingers crossed. She echoed in amusement before turning her attention to the outpost, which was now cast in a long shadow due to the gathering clouds. Her expression turned serious, and with a hand gesture, she branded Aodhn with a cloaking rune and said. Why dont we get a closer look? Aodhn grinned, glad to finally be doing something, and without hesitation, he created a platform for himself and zoomed forward, moving nearly at full speed, yet lagging several feet behind Geneva. They stopped about a hundred feet above the building, and this time when Aodhn spread his senses into the outpost, he received a much clearer picture of their opponents. The cloaking runes had messed with his senses, but now that he was closer, Aodhn realized that his assumptions had been way off. There were more than 300 cultists within the outpost, more than half of whom were unevolved individuals with limited cores. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. Their average tier still remained the same, but there were more people above the 2nd milestone than hed initially assumed. However, those who were in the advanced class could be counted on one hand. Turning his attention to the cloaked building, Aodhn sharpened his core sense, narrowing his perception to a fine point and even employing a ton of willpower to back it up. That was when he finally detected the cloak Awakened Geneva had mentioned earlier. The individual was slightly weaker than Geneva had thoughtonly at the 47th tier, but from the dimness of their core, Aodhn doubted they would ever reach tier 50, not to mention the 3rd milestone. So, any new information? Geneva prompted, and Aodhn nodded, reporting all the new information hed gotten from core sense. When he was done, he added. If you take the advanced class cultists, I can handle the rest. Is that so? Geneva raised an amused eyebrow and smirked. You against nearly three hundred cultists? Even for a champion, thats a little overconfident. Maybe. Aodhn admitted with a shrug. But I would like to try. You could always swoop in to save me if things get dire. Geneva chuckled. Oh honey, I would swoop in. If things get dire, then youll just have to fight your way out of it. Alone. Aodhn swallowed nervously but nodded anyways. I still want to try. Well, thenGeneva deactivated the cloaking rune that hid him and gestured towards the outpost below themwhat are you waiting for? Aodhn looked down, his eyes narrowing on the two acolytes still patrolling the outpost. Perhaps he was being overconfident, but Aodhn truly felt like he could do it. Their numbers were daunting, but their strength really was nothing to write home about. Besides, if things truly became dire, he could always rely on Varc to create some breathing room. Steeling himself, Aodhn took in a deep breathand let himself fall. He plummeted to the ground like a rocket, and the moment the acolytes sighted him, the shrill scream of an alarm plunged the whole outpost into chaos. Aodhn landed at the center of the outpost with a crash, feeling a powerful surge of force rush into his body as {Surging Momentum} absorbed a percentage of the impact of his landing. Still, debris flew in all directions as a crater formed beneath him, nearly three meters in diameter, adding to the chaos that had erupted around him. Cultists ran out of the buildings, eyes wide in fear as they had most likely heard of the other outposts being raided and destroyed, and as expected, they all tried to run. However, before any of them could even take a step, a barrier of shimmering runes suddenly materialized out of thin air, making it impossible for anyone to teleport or even walk out of the outpost. The cultists were trapped with him, and Geneva was nowhere in sight. There was only a moment of pause before the cultists decided to attack, but that moment was all Aodhn needed. Clasping the necklace to assure himself of its presence, Aodhn raised a hand to the gathering clouds, which had grown ever so beautifully, and activated {Vortex of Storm}, channeling a large amount of energy and willpower into it. Thunder boomed as the dark clouds roiled and began rotating into a vortex, causing the winds to pick up drastically. It descended quickly, and just as the first cultist reached him, the vortex smashed into the warehouse with so much force that the entire structure crumbled, causing another eruption of debris, metal, and concrete that threw many of the cultists off balance. Roaring, the cultist nearest to him slashed forward with a rusty dagger, but Aodhn simply dodged and punched the man, causing him to stumble directly into the path of a large slab of concrete. The concrete slab slammed into the man with crippling force, shattering bone and throwing him back several feet. Another attacked, but a quick swipe of Varcs claws amputated his hands, causing blood to spurt out uncontrollably. The man screamed, but Aodhn barely had the chance to knock him out before the others descended upon him. As if he would ever give them the chance. Lightning surged out of him in a blinding wave, engulfing the cultists nearest to him and nearly shocking them to death had Aodhn not pulled back on the skill in time. Still, the lightning their bodies had absorbed ran rampant through them, causing them to spasm and freeze in agonized contortions. Despite pulling his punches, his skills were too strong for the cultists, and before long, the ground was slick with blood, littered with charred flesh and the amputated limbs of dozens of cultists. Lightning and cutting winds tore through wooden beams and metal supports, shattering the warehouse as if it were a house built of cards rather than brick and concrete. Explosions rocked the entire structure, and a roar of outrage soon followed. While the vortex of the storm tore the warehouse asunder, Aodhn released beams after beams of lightning, tearing through the mob of cultists trying to tear him down. The beams were charged enough to actually hurt anyone, but it certainly made them wish they had died as their bodies spasmed uncontrollably, twitching as lightning rampaged through them. It was in that moment, while Aodhn sliced a mans hands in two, that the cloak awakened finally burst out of the hidden building, followed by a dozen other advanced class cultists, all dressed in flowing black robes that identified them as devotees. With a concerted effort, they rushed towards Aodhn, malice and hatred plain on their faces. That was when Geneva revealed herself. A single hand motion was all she made, and all thirteen heads fell to the ground, their blood-spurting bodies following soon after. Aodhn glanced at the thirteen dead bodies now spurting blood onto the floor and shook his head in amazement. Like he had said earlier, Geneva was nothing if not efficient. Their deaths didnt faze Aodhn, who had seen more death in the last two weeks than he had in his entire lifetime. He would probably have spared the bleeding bodies something more than a glance, but with hundreds of cultists attacking him left, right, and center, it was a miracle he had even noticed their deaths in the first place. Dodging a wave of fire from a nasty-looking fire awakened, Aodhn opened up his spirit to the origin plane, his breath hitching as chaos rushed into his spirit. The mixture of pain and pleasure fueled him, and with a furious roar, he raised a hand to the sky and activated {Vortex of Lightning}. Like a river of fiery malice, the vortex descended and merged with the Vortex of Storm, still tearing the outpost apart and throwing debris in all directions. The merge of both skills caused another terrible explosion, drowning out the screams and cries of the cultists as they were thrown in the air and flung about by the cutting winds. Some smashed into wooden beams, some into metallic spikes that completely ran them through, while others were slammed against the previously cloaked building of concrete and metal with so much force that they were almost instantly knocked unconscious. The death of the cloak awakened had revealed the three-story building they had been hiding, and even without entering, Aodhn could feel a heavy sense of malice and evil emanating from it. With the cloaked building now exposed, their leaders dead, and the warehouse destroyed, the cultists scrambled, trying to evade the swirling tempest that was Aodhn, but it was all for naught. The powerful winds raised them into the air and slammed them back down, leaving many of them crippled and bleeding on the floor. Youre holding back. Genevas voice reached him through his communication pods, distinct, despite the howling sounds of the wind. Im trying not to kill them. Aodhn shouted back, pushing back his nausea as more cultists died under his onslaught. They are killers, Aodhn! They do not deserve your mercy. Geneva insisted like she always did, but this time Aodhn noticed that her tone was different. Pained. Heartbroken. Searching around for her blazing core, he found her in front of the cloaked building, dozens of mutilated children at her feet, their heads branded with what seemed to be the remnant of a forbidden ritual. Behind the dead children stood about a dozen malnourished children between the ages of fourteen and fifteen, eyes wide with fear and bodies shivering in shock. These were children. The ones who were still alive were a bit older, but the dead ones they couldnt have been more than six years old or seven. Nausea and rage exploded within him, and with gritted teeth, he asked. Whatwhat happened to them? They were test subjects for the creation of blood awakeneds. These dead children you see were used to create a perfect environment in preparation for their awakening. Genevas hands tightened into fists, and she glared out at the scrambling cultists, saying,. I understand your hesitance to kill, but these people deserve far more than death, and if you will not kill them, I Oh, I will kill them. Just you watch and see. Aodhns words were as cold as ice, and although he burned with righteous rage, it was as if all his emotions had shut down in the face of such atrocity. The cultists screams blurred into white noise, meaningless against the storm raging in his mind, and without hesitation, he raised a hand to the scrambling cultists and activated {Lightning BeamRed}, channeling nearly a dozen willpower strands into the skill. The beam tore out of his hands in twin crimson streams, blazing with such ferocity that even Aodhn staggered from the recoil. The searing beams scorched the air, creating a sharp, acrid tang as they punched through the first row of cultists like paper. Bodies exploded into charred fragments, limbs and intestines vaporized before they even hit the ground. The shockwave from the attack rippled outwards, hurling debris and cultists alike across the ruined compound. Aodhn didnt stop. He couldnt stop. Each surge of lightning was fueled by raw rage. Where before he had pulled his punches, now there was no mercy. Rocketing forward with a burst of force released by {Surging Momentum} for added impact, Aodhn proceeded to rain destruction on every cultist he found. Attacks rushed towards him as cornered cultists put their all in the last attacks, but they all failed against the chilling intensity of his rage. Still, it wasnt enough. He wanted to cause more destruction. To kill them the same way they had killed those children, and with an explosive surge of electricity, he released Varc from his spirit. Varc emerged with a beam of raw electricity that utterly obliterated a dozen cultists in an instant. Dismissing the vortexes, Aodhn switched to a much more dangerous skill, and the clouds above rumbled with thunder as they were suddenly covered in a river of black lightning. But it still wasnt enough. Not even close. Aodhns eyes blazed as he harnessed a whole seal, channeling every ounce of quintessence into {Lightning Descent}, and in an utterly magnificent explosion of violence, the river of black lightning descended and transformed every single thing to ash. Unsurprisingly, some of the stronger cultists survived. One of them, a mundane-class tier 32 woman, tried to run, but Aodhn blinked forward and smashed her head against the concrete. Blood and brain matter exploded, but Aodhn barely even noticed as he rushed towards the next survivor, ramming his head through with a spear of green lightning that exploded in a shower of sickly purple veins and pus. Aodhn flitted from corner to corner, activating skills and perks in frightening succession as he cut down every single survivor. No one could hide from him, and even those who feigned death found no escape. Lightning tore through the area in a never-ending wave of violence and explosion. In minutes, dozens of cultists fell to Aodhns singular rampage. It was a chilling sight to witness Aodhn act so bestial and unhinged, but despite his rage, Aodhn was perfectly in control of himself and aware of his actions. With a cry, he cut down the last cultist, stabbing a lightning spear directly into her brain and exploding it, causing a shower of blood and brain matter to erupt into the air. With heavy breaths, he turned to look at the children who had been taken captive, watching as some of them collapsed or outright sobbed in relief. Their pain brought tears to Aodhns eyes, and he suddenly felt in need of comfort himself. Shuddering, he took in the devastation he had caused. Blood and viscera littered the floor, painfully obvious against the carpet of ash that blanketed the whole compound. He had crossed the line but didnt regret it and would do it again in an instant. Feeling so tired after the use of so much energy, Aodhn sat down right there on the floor, surrounded and covered in the blood of cultists. The howling sounds of sirens filled the air, and a minute later, a host of security officials arrived, taking the children into ambulances and trying to speak to them. Only a few of them managed to speak; others simply bawled and cried, asking to see their parents. Geneva came to sit beside him, and Aodhn leaned against her, needing the strength and comfort she offered. She stroked his hair gently and whispered. Dont think of the deaths and destruction youve caused; instead, think of the children youve saved. Look at them, Aodhn. Aodhn looked, watching as a frantic mother raced into the area, screaming her daughters name. The bawling girl rushed towards her mother, and Aodhn felt a lump in his throat ease as the mother wrapped her arms around her daughter and cried in relief. We are champions, Aodhn; you will be very soon. Geneva continued. This is what we do. We kill and fight to protect. Remember that always, and in the case of overwhelming guilt, remember the smile on that mothers face. Remember the children you saved here. You are a hero, Aodhn. Never forget it. Aodhn closed his eyes and sighed. I wont forget it. Silence descended between them, but after a while Geneva moved to speak to some of the security officers. Reporters from the 6th sector soon filled the area, but thankfully, none of them approached him. Aodhn watched the scene for a while, watching as more and more children were reunited with their parents, crying and hugging. Wiping tears from his eyes, Aodhn looked away from the emotional scene and turned his attention to his status screen, noting the changes and improvements he had made in the last two weeks. [STATUS] Name: Aodhn Ashoka-Brystion. Title: Neophyte, Storm Spirit, Bronze, Origin Marked, Seal Bearer (2), Silver, Amateur Runesmith, Amateur Runescholar. Class: Evolved storm awakened: 99.9% (PENDING) Tier: 2372% Glimpse>Opening: Increases elemental affinity and abilities by 2.5%. Techniques: Perfect will imbuement (11), Energy Enhancement (Crude), Empathic Link, Veil of Shrouded Mind (Forbidden), Choose Target (Basic) Skills {Innate}: [Storm creation and manipulation] [Lightning creation and manipulation] {Other}: [Lightning Surge] [Lightning Beam] [Lightning Descent] [Create Constructs] [Absorb Lightning] [Spear RainLightning] [Spear RainStorm] [Vortex of Lightning] [Vortex of Storm] [Elemental LightningStage 1] [Eye of the Storm, Passive] [Surging Momentum] Bloodline: Origin storm supremacy. {Unique} ? Amplifies storm abilities by 3% + {Eye of the Storm, passive} ? Grants major resistance to lightning ? Aura of Origin supremacy. FamiliarDragonkin (Fury) Perks: Psychic bond, Merge, Berserk. Choose Target: A wide area technique that grants the user the ability to apply the effects of a skill to a large number of people within a limited range. Reading through his improvements distracted him from the chaos around him, and after analyzing every single thing on the screen, Aodhn felt much calmer. The children had all been taken away by the time he looked back, leaving only a few security officers and reporters still hanging around. Sighing, Aodhn pushed himself to his feet and moved to stand beside Geneva, ignoring the flash of cameras that followed his movements. Geneva glanced at him and smiled, cutting off her conversation with a security officer to focus her attention on him. How do you feel? Tired. I think I need to sleep. Okay, Ill just wrap this up, and we can leave. She turned her attention back to the security officer and said. There are a lot of items in the building. I want them transported to Fort Dominion immediately, where they can be scanned and valued. The officer saluted and began barking out orders to his subordinates as he walked towards the previously cloaked building. Geneva turned her attention back to him and said. Come, well discuss your share of the items later. Lets get you a bed first. Aodhn nodded, but they had barely taken more than a few steps out of the compound when the sky was suddenly rocked by a thunderous explosion that cracked the aerial shields, and caused a wave of crimson flames to spread across the sky. The flames rushed into the sectors atmosphere, and for a moment, it seemed like a simple origin breachuntil their eyes caught the silhouettes of armored figures behind the fiery wave. Oh shit. One of the security officers muttered as the two figures slipped in through the crack. And then came the beasts. A literal wave of creatures poured into the sector, a writhing, roaring mass that stretched for miles in every direction. Their snarls and howls merging into a deafening chorus of chaos. By the Ascendants! Its the Sunstonians. Another officer screamed, scrambling back in fear as the horde expanded across the horizon. Aodhns heart raced, and with growing panic, he glanced at Geneva. How can I You cant help. Geneva cut him off, and before he could protest, she grabbed him by the neck and hurled him into a hastily created portal. The sudden suction gripped him tightly, yanking him into the portal in one violent motion. Helpless against the suction of the portal, Aodhn watched as Geneva flew towards the sky, an explosion of energy and shimmering red runes unfurling around her, expanding to blanket the entire area. The portal snapped shut before he could see anything else, and with a violent tugging motion, the world disappeared from view. Chapter 167: Vectoris vs Reiner Rivaldi Sunstones long-awaited retaliation had finally come upon Ragnarok, and despite their extensive planning, they were ill-prepared for the overwhelming devastation that now loomed above them. Massive explosions had rocked 4 different sectors at the same time, bringing with them a huge wave of monsters all the way from tier 5 to 50. But that wasnt all. Two Sunstonian armies currently marched towards Sector 9, attacking the beautiful sector from both sides with the intent to besiege and ransack it. It was absolute chaos. In the streets of each sector, civilians rushed about screaming and seeking safety from the host of rampaging beasts that had descended upon them. All hope wasnt lost, though. Ragnarok had expected a brutal retaliation after Artemiss sanctioned actions to kill the changeling. They had erected multiple reinforced bunkers and safety houses in each city, but the disaster that now loomed was far more than they had expected. Sunstones actions forced Ragnarok to split their military into three: two to fight against the attacking soldiers in sector 9, and the larger third held in reserve in case another surprise came up. They had also sent out champions and elites to each sector to deal with the invading champions and the beast wave that had accompanied them. Within the command center, generals barked out orders to their subordinates, and those orders were carried out in a flash, with champions and elites taking to the sky in droves. Security officers filled the streets, desperately trying to bring some semblance of order to the chaos, directing and leading civilians to the nearest safety houses. However, not everyone was keen on the idea of hunching down in safety while their cities were invaded and razed to the ground. Rather than head to the safety bunkers, they ignored the warnings of the security officers and stood their ground, brandishing weapons and unleashing skills in preparation to defend their homes. They joined the elites in the streets, swinging their weapons around with motions that showed a distinct lack of familiarity, but what they lacked in power and experience, they made up for with zeal and enthusiasm. The horde of monsters descended, smashing through houses and properties as they made their way towards the nearest gathering of humans, their cries terrible and abominable. With roars of defiance, the people clashed with them, unleashing an explosion of elements and concepts at the horde. Their aims were inaccurate and inefficient, and more often than not, their skills canceled each other out before even getting to the horde itself. They werent warriors or soldiers who were used to fighting alongside each other, so one couldnt blame them too terribly. What mattered was their presence and the aid they provided the elites, tearing down the largest monsters so the elites could finish them off. Despite their concerted efforts, monsters rampaged through the streets of the four Sectors, destroying lives and properties with abandon. In Milton, sector 5, Reiner and Artemis watched the chaos spread through the city from the top of a skyscraper, their expressions sour as the cries of defiant citizens reached their ears. Reiner cranked his perception to the maximum, steam wafting off his bronzed skin as he watched the devastation in slow motion, itching to desert his position and join them below. The damage the beasts were causing was significant despite the help of the citizens, and the reason soon became obvious. The settled sectors had not seen a beast wave in centuries, and having to battle one unprepared was a shock to their systems. Still people were rising up and taking action, banding together to take down the largest beasts before they could cause more damage. However, in only a few minutes, the death toll had risen sharply. Bodies lay strewn across the streets, and even from his vantage point atop the skyscraper, the sharp, coppery scent of blood was unmistakable. Still, the people refused to give up and seek safety. Commendable, but ultimately foolish. Most civilians lacked true battle instincts, relying solely on the absorption of cores for advancement rather than honing their skills through combat, insight, or meditation. In essence, these civilians were throwing their lives away in the name of zealotry and patriotism. Reiner couldnt stand to watch the grim scene any longer, so he turned his gaze away, shifting his focus to the fractured aerial shields just as two Sunstonian champions slipped through it. The first he recognized as Warp, the reality Awakened, while the second was someone he had only learned about recently: Vectoris, the sister of the changeling. This will not be pretty. Reiner muttered. No, it wont. Artemis replied and visibly steeled himself. Ill take Warp; you take Vectoris. Reiner nodded, and together they launched into the skyArtemis simply propelling himself effortlessly through space while Reiner fired blasts of pressurized steam from his hands and legs like rocket propulsion. When Warp and Vectoris saw them, they snarled and attacked. However, rather than split off to attack them individually, both women charged straight at ArtemisWarp attacking with focused precision while Vectoris lashed out with the wild fury of a rabid dog. Furious, Warp shouted something at Vectoris, but the latter either didnt hear or completely ignored her, creating a huge wave of jagged projectiles that all charged at Artemis with deadly accuracy. Despite the huge display of power, it was as if Artemis didnt even notice her. The wave of projectiles rocketed forward, but an instant before they struck home, Artemis teleported and warped space, twisting it so violently that the two women were flung apart. Warp reappeared a mere hairs breadth from Artemiss clenched fist, while Vectoris ended up directly in his line of sight. Reiner took the opportunity eagerly, unleashing a concussive blast of steam that slammed into Vectoris with searing heat, potent enough to cook a person alive. Still, Vectoris barely even looked at him, her burning eyes fixed on Artemis as she launched herself towards him once more. Reiner decided not to give her that opportunity. He was a champion just like she was, and he would not be ignored. With a furious growl, he surged forward to intercept her, and the fact that she was so terribly unaware of her surroundings only made it easier. He crashed into her with a powerful explosion of {Steam Burst}, sending her hurtling off course and smashing into the skeletal frame of an incomplete high-rise made entirely of concrete and metal. Vectoris crashed into the building, scattering concrete and metal in all directions. The explosion of pain finally got her attention, and she turned to glare at him. Stay out of my fight, rookie. Ive got blood to spill and a sister to avenge. Placing himself directly in her way, Reiner cracked his knuckles and smiled. Make me. With a growl of frustration, Vectoris surged forward, conjuring a storm of metallic shards, nails, and jagged concrete that ripped through the air at blistering speeds. The vectors traced precise arcs towards Reiner, heat trailing in their wake, but Reiner was unfazed. With a smile, he unleashed his aura, expelling a dense wave of smoldering steam from his core to create a pressurized wall of burning mist. The projectiles whizzed through the wall of steam, but the pressure of his aura diverted and distorted their direction, some dropping uselessly to the ground while others curved into nearby buildings. Youll have to do better than that to take me out, Vectoris. Reiner taunted, and Seo-min growled in annoyance. She glanced to the side where Artemis and Warp were locked in a heated battle. She wanted to join them, to tear Artemis to pieces the same way he had torn Seo-yeon apart, but before she could fly off in their direction, Reiner attacked again, engulfing her in a blistering wave of scalding steam. Gritting her teeth in annoyance, she tore free from the suffocating mist and turned her attention back to Reiner, eyes blazing with fury. This wasnt the fight she wantedthe fight Seo-yeons blood cried out forbut if she had to kill this menace to get to Artemis, then so be it. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. With a roar, she tightened her fingers into fists, causing hundreds of metal rods to unhook themselves from the building behind her and lurch towards her assailant with insane speed. The metal rods sliced through the air like spears, and although Reiner tried to dodge, he couldnt avoid them all. A rod impaled his shoulders, ripping through muscles and tissue before protruding from his back. Before Vectoris could twist the rod into ending his existence, Reiner hastily let out a burst of scalding steam that ravaged through the metal beam, breaking her control over it. With his teeth gritted in pain, he wrenched the beam from his body. That was all he managed to do before a punch sent him flying through half a dozen buildings, each one collapsing to rubble as his body smashed through walls and steel. Another wave of metal beams surged towards him, but a hasty activation of {Steam Burst} propelled him out of their trajectory. It was futile, however, as the beams simply redirected their trajectory, curving to continue their relentless pursuit. Reiner dodged and dodged, but he quickly realized that an evasive stance was futile against Vectoris. He needed to go on the offensive. Unleashing a scalding burst of steam from his hands and legs, Reiner launched himself at Vectoris, a wave of scalding steam erupting from his body. Die, you fucking prick! Vectoris shouted as she also launched herself forward, her movements precise and sharp despite her obvious mental instability. As the gap between them closed, Reiner activated {Thermal Lance}, unleashing a concentrated jet of superheated steam directly at her, but Vectoris swerved, altering her own trajectory and sliding past his attack by mere inches. Reiner was undeterred. He redirected the lance and then unleashed another, effectively blocking Vectoriss path and forcing her to either meet his attack head-on or surrender. She chose the third option, willpower erupting from her lips as she uttered. {MY DOMAIN, MY RULES: ALL VECTORS ARE REVERSED.} Reality rippled, and in an instant, both thermal lances reversed, hurtling towards Reiner with the same incinerating intents theyd had aimed at Vectoris. Unwilling to be so easily bested, Reiner retaliated with a rule of his own. {MY DOMAIN, MY RULES: STEAM OBEYS ONLY ME.} Reality warped again, draining a huge amount of willpower from Reiner in an instant. The use of rules was risky because of how willpower-intensive they were to activate and even keep active. Reiners rule clashed with Vectoriss, draining another bout of willpower as it battled for supremacy. Reality rippled constantly, but after a few seconds of brutal struggle, Vectoriss rule crumpled, and Reiners thermal lances changed directions once again, shooting towards Vectoris and engulfing her in a wave of scalding steam. It wasnt enough to keep Vectoris down, though, and a moment later, she burst out of the wave, her entire body scorched and covered in raw, blistering sores. Undeterred, she lurched forward, raising a massive onslaught of metal beams, glass, and concrete, all gleaming with willpower and deadly intent, to attack Reiner. The wave of sharp projectiles rushed forward, and Reiner just knew there was no escaping this one. He couldnt dodge; neither could he defend, as his affinity lent itself poorly to defense. That left Reiner with only one optionattack. Rushing towards the descending sea of projectiles, Reiner activated {Pressure Blast}, rapidly condensing a ball of steam to extreme levels only to release it in a powerful shockwave that blasted all the projectiles off course. The brief moment he spent concentrating on the skill proved costly, and for the second time in less than five minutes, Reiner took a devastating punch to the face, sending him crashing through nearly a dozen buildings before finally coming to a stop. Bleeding and groaning from the pain, Reiner felt like his soul had been punched out of his body. Before he could even recover, Vectoris punched him again and then again, launching him through the air with so much force and speed that he broke the sound barrier. Spasming, Reiner tried to arrest his momentum with a steam cloud, but Vectoris killed that idea immediately. {MY DOMAIN, MY RULES: MOMENTUM IS ETERNAL.} The world seemed to freeze for a moment, and Reiner panicked when he found himself completely unable to arrest his momentum. Gathering a ton of energy and willpower, he forced his gritted teeth open and uttered, {MY DOMAIN, MY RULES: ALL MOVEMENTS FLOW THROUGH STEAM.} nearly biting off his tongue in the process. Reality rippled violently, and even his core strained as his understanding of steam struggled to fit the rule. A larger amount of willpower was drained from his core to make up for it, but before the rule could even take effect, Vectoris uttered again. {MY DOMAIN, MY RULES: ALL MOMENTUM IS ETERNAL.} Fucking bitch. Reiner cried out. {ALL MOMENTUM CONDENSES INTO STILLNESS.} Willpower drained from his core like water through a sieve, but Reiner was finally able to arrest his momentum and reorient himself. Fury burned within him at the amount of willpower he had just wasted. Willpower that would take months, if not years, to recover. Streaking downwards with an explosion of steam from his feet, Reiner harnessed his seals, opened his spirit up to the infusion of chaos, and activated {Vacuum collapse}, instantly condensing all the heated moisture around Vectoris to create a high-pressure vacuum that imploded with so much force that the air burned, releasing a massive cloud of smoldering steam into the air. The implosion hit Vectoris with the force of a dozen mega-shuttles, hurling her backwards and smashing her into the building she had dug herself from earlier. With the integrity of the building so terribly compromised, it collapsed, sending a deadly wave of concrete, metals, and glass cascading down to the earth where it would surely do more harm than good to those battling below. Unwilling to be the reason for the death of hundreds, Reiner drained five seals all at once and channeled all that quintessence into {Smoldering Steam}, unleashing a huge blast of scorching mist at the wreckage. Metals degraded rapidly, concrete crumbled to pieces, and glass shattered, but Reiner knew it wouldnt be enough, not when Vectoris was already attacking him again. Or so he thought. Instead, she zoomed past him, her entire focus aimed at Artemis, who clashed with Warp in an explosion of reality and spatial essence. When she drew close, she unleashed a great wave of projectiles, each one burning with far more willpower and energy than Reiner had ever poured into any one skill. The wave thundered forward, its intent so large that it painted the sky in dark hues. Arte Reiner began to call out, but his warning proved unnecessary. Despite being locked in an intense battle against Warp, wounded and nearly completely covered in blood, Artemis turned and waved a hand, instantly creating a huge portal that swallowed the wave of projectiles and transported it to heavens knew where. The portal snapped shut with a sonic boom and a scorching wave of heat that caused the fabric of space to nearly tear itself apart as it was rocked with a host of spatial tears and undulations. Screaming in rage, Vectoris flees forward, hell-bent on killing Artemis herself, but with another simple wave of his hands, space undulated again, and for the second time in less than an hour, Vectoris was teleported directly to the space in front of him. Reiner didnt miss the opportunity to punch Vectoris in the gut. With his hands still burning with a blast of {Smoldering Steam}, he punched her in the neck, savoring the CRACK her neck made as it was turned violently to the side. Before she could react, he punched her again, and again, and again, and again The last punch smashed Vectoris into a building, her body digging a crater into the wall of rune-inscribed concrete. Bloodied and with her body scorched nearly to pieces, Vectoris fell, steam hissing off her scorched skin in waves. Her neck hung at an unnatural angle, and her eyes, once bright with fury and determination, were glazed over, flickering like dying embers. But then, with a guttural snarl, she wrenched her back into place with a sickening pop. Her eyes came alive with the fury of vengeance, and she growled. I will tear to pieces. You dont seem to learn, do you? Reiner smiled, and with a sudden burst of speed, he launched himself forward, activating {Suffocating Steam} and {Thermal Lance} at the same time and infusing each skill with chaos, willpower, and the smoldering quintessence of his seals. A massive cloud of suffocating steam exploded out of him in a manner not dissimilar to that of his aura, but the amount of steam was far from enough for what he had planned, so he activated {Flash Vaporization}, instantly converting any nearby sources of water and moisture into steam clouds that filled the air with a dense wave of scalding heat. A barrage of thermal lances rushed out of the billowing cloud, slicing their way towards Vectoris, and although she tried to dodge, the lances smashed into her at full speed, exploding into curling wisps of steam that scorched their way down her throat and into her nostrils. She gagged, trying to defend herself by harnessing the little amount of willpower she had left. Before she could do so, Reiner pulled out a large amount of willpower from his core and uttered. {MY DOMAIN, MY RULES: ALL AIR IS STEAM.} Reality warped as the very air around them transformed into scalding steam, the intense heat distorting the entire area. His willpower plummeted under the strain of the rule, but it was worthwhile because, while drained and wounded, Vectoris lacked the strength to counter his rule. She choked and screamed as the very air she breathed burned her lungs, but before she could escape the domain of scalding steam he had created, Reiner grabbed her by her battered neck and squeezed. Screaming, Vectoris clawed at Reiners arm, scratching and punching in order to escape, but his grip was as firm as a vice. Tell me, he grinned. How do you think Sunstone would react if I killed you right here, right now? Vectoriss eyes widened, and Reiner laughed. Oh, I think they might just thank me for taking you out. After all, your family name is stained with dishonor. Chapter 168: Conceptual Light versus Elemental Light While Artemis and Warp clashed in sector 5, another terrible battle was gearing to take place in the sky above sector 4. Two sets of champions faced off against each other as chaos reigned below and people ran helter-skelter in search of safety from the horde rampaging below. Elites and security officers battled furiously against the ghastly beasts, and the screams of thousands reached up to the sky like an incense of burnt offering, tickling Zeros ears in a not entirely unpleasant way. He grimaced still, forcing himself to remember that the lives of mortals were just as important as his own, if not more. It was so very easy to forget that. Luminus and an unfamiliar champion floated before him and Cyridian Lightweaver, jeering as they watched the destruction they had caused unfold. Shaking his head with faux sympathy, Luminus said. All those poor mortals, oh, why do they die so fast? Surely, youre not feeling pity for mortals. His partner chuckled, and Zero had to physically restrain Cyridian from attacking her right away. Luminus was dressed in a white armor covered entirely in anti-nullification runes, which meant he had come specially prepared to defend against him. His partner was also dressed in white armor, but unlike Sunstones standard design, her armor was a metallic robe similar to that of a priest or priestess in her case. The woman was the literal definition of a Valkyrie. Tall, beautiful, and deadly. An aura of conflict and war surrounded her, and from the streams of golden energy flowing into her from ascendants, she knew where her affinity for faith was obvious. The sunburst tattoo on her head only confirmed his suspicions, and Zero just knew they had to have a change of plans. Luminus was already prepared to fight him, and the Valkyrie was obviously too strong for Cyridian, who was a very recent addition to the champion circles. She would be eaten alive if she faced the Valkyrie, but against Luminus, considering they shared the same affinity, she might at least have a chance. A single glance at Cyridian was enough to convey the new plan, and without hesitation, they both switched opponents. Zero laughed as he watched Luminuss face crumple in outrage and said. Spoilt brat, Im too old to be foolish. Flying towards the valkyrie, Zero swept out a hand and filled the sky with a host of null anchor points until they were completely surrounded. The valkyrie was swift, sweeping out her spear in an arc and instantly drenching the area in faith essence. Faith battled against nothingness, and Zero knew his anchor points wouldnt survive for long. Still, he wouldnt be a champion if he was so easily countered. Whispering a Unorian spell under his breath, Zero used the anchor points scattered around him as coordinates to create a large ritual circle, fueling the hexagram with both chaos and willpower as he hissed, NOTHINGNESS. It wasnt a rule, but a cosmic activation, and in response to his call, thunder boomed loudly, the sky darkened, and the space within the ritual circle collapsed, creating a huge tear in the veil of reality. The world screeched as the origin plane of nothingness breached the fabric of reality, converting the ritual circle completely into a pseudo-null domain The streams of faith leading towards the valkyrie cut off, leaving her trapped alone within his space, surrounded by nothingness. This was Zeros ultimate technique. Rather than open his spirit up to the origin plane of nothingness, the technique granted him the ability to tear the veil of reality and open up the world itself to the origin plane of nothingness, creating a sealed space where only his death meant freedom. It didnt take long for the valkyrie to come to that realization, and Zero tsked. In your next life, if they ever send you to Ragnarok, youll flee for your life, for only death awaits you here. The valkyrie gripped her spear tightly, her movements slowing as the secondary effects of null essence began taking their toll. Roaring in anger, she rushed towards him, but with such an abundant amount if his own essence surrounding him, Zero was completely unfazed. He simply waved out a hand, and a much larger hand formed from nothingness and materialized to slap her. She crashed against the walls of the subspace with a resounding crack but was back up the next instant, knowing that the more time she spent within the subspace, the weaker she would become. She was getting desperate, and Zero loved desperate people the most. After all, they were the easiest of targets. The valkyrie rushed towards him once more, and this time Zero disappeared, phasing through nothingness to appear behind her. Smiling, he tapped her shoulders, and she swiveled, tracing a precise arc of faith energy with her spear. The spear passed right through Zero without effect, and he laughed. Oh, poor thing. Dont you know you cant harm nothingness? It is nothing after all. She attacked again, stabbing desperately at him, and in her desperation, she must have unlocked a better understanding of her faith because a sudden glow of faith began escaping from her skin. Zero couldnt have that, and with a grimace, he uttered. {MY DOMAIN, MY RULES: WITHIN NOTHINGNESS, THERE CAN BE NO FAITH.} The valkyrie screamed as the little gathering of faith she had conjured was snuffed out, overwhelmed and overshadowed by an oppressive pulse of nothingness that forcefully drained the essence from her core. Panicked, the Valkyrie screamed. {FAITH IS THE SUBSTANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR. I HAVE FAITH THAT THERE IS AN UNQUENCHABLE SEA OF FAITH ESSENCE AROUND ME.} It was an awfully long rule, and surely just as willpower intensive, but it worked, much to Zeros annoyance. A river of faith converged around the Valkyrie, restoring her strength and speed, and with a roar, she launched herself forward. However, despite regaining her strength, the Valkyrie had made a mistake. She had forgotten where she was and who had trapped her. Smiling, Zero settled in to watch as the pressure of the origin plane cracked down violently on the forced reality the valkyrie had created. An all-encompassing consciousness loomed, bearing down on the foreign essence with vengeance, and in an instant, the river of faith winked out, disappearing as if it were never present. Still, she persisted, fighting desperately for her life, but the sad truth was that she was only extending the time of her death, drawing out a battle that should have ended in seconds to nearly half an hour. However, the pressure of nothingness soon overwhelmed her. Every shred of faith essence within her was obliterated, and with a groan, she staggered, coughing out blood as both her energy and willpower bottomed out, drained away by the ever-present stench of nothingness. Grinning, Zero unsheathed a null blade and blinked forward, stabbing it directly into her brain before she could regain her bearings. Twisting the null blade sharply to the side, he stabbed another blade into her heart, and with a third, he slashed her belly open, letting the blood and viscera flow out without care. The Valkyrie choked in his arms, and Zero smiled, shutting her eyelids gently. Remember what I said earlier, only death awaits you in Ragnarok. >>> Outside the subspace of nothingness, high above the chaos reigning below, two streaks of light clashed violently, painting the world in an array of colors whose beauty mocked the bloody streets below. Cyridian and Luminus fought on a massive platform of solidified radiance that Cyridian had created to avoid the side effects of their battle crashing down onto the innocent civilians below. Luminus should have destroyed the construct, obviously, but he was too outraged to think straight. He had been cheated out of an opportunity to redeem his name after his dishonorable and pathetic showing during the plague wraith battle, and now he was forced to face a rookie champion, more than three tiers below him. It was the highest of disgrace, and Luminus intended to put the girl in her place before launching himself against his real opponent. Roaring, he somersaulted through the air and unleashed a conceptual blade of brilliance that tore through the air with a resounding crack and smashed into Cyridian with so much force that the platform cracked, releasing a ripple of light that illuminated the countless high-rises below in a flash of blinding incandescence. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. Cyridian spat out blood, her focused demeanor unshaken despite her wounded state. Ever since the beginning of their battle, Cyridian had been fighting for her dear life. One wrong move and she would be obliterated by the brilliance of Luminuss conceptual energies. She was getting better, though. She could feel herself learning, getting faster and better as {Brilliant Mind} sharpened her perception. Luminus attacked again, and this time Cyridian didnt take the attack head-on. Instead, she created a towering spear of blinding light and aimed it at Luminus. The spear shot forward like a blazing comet, and against most other champions, it would have been a finisher. However, Luminus barely even spared the attack any attention. He slapped the spear away with a wave of one arm and snapped his fingers, shattering the world into a million pieces. A thousand illusions of Luminus surged out of the shards of broken realities and raced towards her with expressions of malice. Cyridian responded with a grimace and hurled herself into the fray with an intensity that belied her growing panic. Hundreds of light spears materialized around her, revolving in a formation of increasing danger, and with a flick of her hands, they spun into a vortex of blades that skewered the illusions to pieces like a blender. Only one illusion survived, and Cyridian sent half the spears at the illusion, not foolish enough to leave herself defenseless or risk it all for one move. The spears smashed into the illusion, and it shattered into a thousand sparks of light. Without hesitation, Cyridian dove away from her location, and thank the Ascendants she did, because the next instant, the world exploded with so much clarity that her eyes bled and her mind screeched in pain. The place she had been standing only a moment ago had been completely destroyed by a beam of such conceptual brilliance that it erased everything in its path, simply deleting them from existence. Not daring to remain still for too long, Cyridian struck again, revolving her array of spears into a vortex in order to fish out the real Luminus. She struck gold a moment later when one of her spears stopped in midair, and Luminus appeared, still decked in his anti-nullification runes, although now, his armor was marred with so many grooves and cuts that surely half the runes had stopped working. Blood trailed from a gash on his cheeks, the only obvious injury on him, while Cyridian felt like she was bleeding from every open pore. He glared at her, malice and frustration obvious in his expression. Who do you think you are? Do you realize what youre ruining for me? This is a chance for me to regain my honor, and youre fucking things up. Im only doing my duty. Cyridian growled back. Surely, you dont expect me to stand aside while you wreak havoc on my kingdom. Luminus raised a hand in frustration and gritted out. I will kill you, rookie, if you do not get out of my way right now. The word rookie angered Cyridian, and she growled. Then kill me. Because if you intend to fight Zero, youre going to have to go through me. Pest. Luminus spat, and with renewed vigor, he hefted the spear construct and attacked. Cyridian responded with another vortex of spears, and with a flick of her wrists, the spears surged forward, a relentless storm of piercing death all directed at Luminus. Not even bothering to dodge, Luminus raised his arms, his voice echoing across the expanse as he uttered his first rule. {MY DOMAIN, MY RULES: ALL LIGHT BENDS TO ME.} Reality rippled, and Cyridian gasped as her control of the spears was wrenched away from her. The spears curved mid-flight, twisting and turning to revolve around Luminus as if caught within his gravitational pull. With a snap of his fingers, the spears exploded outward, shattering into jagged shards that rained down on the city below with deathly intent. The glass windows of nearby skyscrapers shattered, and streaks of light carved deep furrows into the surrounding structures. With each attack, the chaotic effect of the light shards multiplied, and Cyridian knew that if she did nothing soon, it would only be a matter of time before the chaos exploded into something far more sinister. Opening her spirit up to the origin plane of light, Cyridian gathered her willpower and uttered a countering rule. {MY DOMAIN, MY RULES: MY CONTROL OF LUMINESCENCE IS ABSOLUTE.} Reality rippled once again, and the broken shards of light wreaking havoc on the city below reassembled in midair, reforming into an array of swords, spears, and axes that converged on Luminus with devastating precision and resumed their dangerous dance of revolution, forcing him to weave and dodge with growing annoyance. Alas, he couldnt weave them all. An axe slammed into his armor, carving a deep, jagged groove that pierced through just enough to spill blood. The pain caused Luminus to stumble, and Cyridian took brutal advantage of it. The other constructs converged and skewered him into oblivion, cutting furrows into his armor and biting deep into his skin. However, it felt so easy. Too easy. With a sinking sense of dread, Cyridian dodged to the side, but it was too late. Blinding pain erupted in her chest as her ribs shattered, and the force of the attack sent her smashing through half a dozen buildings. Coughing out blood, Cyridian tried to stand, but a completely unblemished Luminus placed a foot on her chest and pressed down, sending another wave of agony through her entire body. He let out a malicious smile and said. How do you intend to utter another rule with your ribs this damaged? Cyridian coughed out more blood, gasping both for breath and a release from pain. Her fingers clutched a shard of broken glass, and she lunged it at his foot, tearing a jagged groove into his exposed ankle. Luminus barely flinched, and the wound healed almost immediately, thanks to Luminuss conceptual understanding. Arching an eyebrow, he scowled. I should kill you right here and now while I have the chance. You wish. Cyridian spat, coughing out blood as she forced the words out of her lips. Luminus chuckled. Do you really think you can escape death? Of course. Cyridian let out a bloody smile. After all, I still have a few cards to play. Before Luminus could stop her, Cyridian harnessed half a dozen seals at the same time, screaming as an intense wave of heat exploded within her. Quintessence roared through her pathways, setting her nerves and synapses on fire even as it filled her with strength. Pushing past the pain, she channeled the power of all six seals into the next rule. {MY DOMAIN, MY RULES: A BATTLEFIELD OF LIGHT IS UNYIELDING.} Reality warped violently. A river of golden light descended, so bright that it overshadowed the sun. The river poured down, coating every single thing within the area in a light of reinforcement and unyielding stability. The rule strained her elemental understanding, but it worked nonetheless, and all the chaos around her stilled. The platform beneath her stabilized, and her ribs snapped together in a way that was certainly not ideal but would work without causing her too much pain. Everything around them was coated in the liquid light, even Luminus, whose feet were encased in the same light. Unwilling to lose the small window of opportunity that had been granted to her, Cyridian slashed forward, a spear of light materializing in her hands as she moved. But before she could skewer him to pieces, Luminus harnessed his own seals and uttered. {MY DOMAIN, MY RULES: LIGHT IS FREEDOM} The platform shattered, and all the UNYIELDING light she had conjured earlier dissolved into chaos. Luminus leapt upward, wings of radiant energy bursting out of his back as he merged with his familiar. From his vantage point, he summoned a barrage of conceptual light, each one carrying the weights of truths too overwhelming for mortal comprehension. Cyridian blocked most of them with a seal-infused shield of light, but a few truths slipped through, searing her flesh and tearing her armor to pieces. The battle spiraled out of control after that as more seals and rules came into play. Cyridian conjured a veritable river of light that burned as brightly as a sun, but the cold truths of Luminuss attacks overwhelmed her. When she conjured an army of light constructsswords, glaives, and arrows, all converging on Luminus with deadly coordinationhe countered with a burst of blinding brilliance that disintegrated her creations as fast as she could summon them. The sky itself seemed to split as their attacks collided, sending waves of destruction cascading down to the city below. Skyscrapers crumbled under the weight of falling debris, their steel frames twisted by the concussive force of their attacks. Cyridian pushed herself to the absolute limit, using up all that she had to counter Luminuss unceasing defense. However, as their battle stretched, Cyridian realized she couldnt win, and neither could she continue for much longer. Her willpower was low, her energy was sputtering, and her entire body ached from the numerous injuries she kept taking. She was nearing her end, and if nothing happened soon, she would most certainly die. The thought caused her to redouble her efforts, but the moment Luminus uttered another rule, Cyridian knew it was over. Reality rippled, and she staggered, falling to her knees as her body lost all of its strength in a single move. Shuddering in pain and panic, she rasped. Kill me and be done with it. Luminus glared at her, blood dripping down his face and armor, but instead of taking her life that instant and being done with it, he said. You still havent used all your cards. Why wont you use it? Cyridian glanced at her icon and shook her head. Because I wont kill thousands of people just to get a chance at you. Luminus smiled and raised his hands. Too bad I dont have the same inhibitions. Before Cyridian could do anything to stop him, the sky split open, and a voice like thunder boomed across the sector. {ICON MANIFESTATION: TRUTHS OF EVISCERATION} A large rift opened up in the sky like an eye of golden light, and from within it emerged a sphere of searing brilliance, too pure to be good, too cruel to be divine. The sphere expanded, its radiance intensifying as it descended, its heat and power scarring the very air. Just looking at it threatened to erase her from existence, and Cyridian realized that if this manifestation wasnt stopped, the amount of devastation it would cause would be incalculable. Drowning in pain and with tears streaming down her face, Cyridian poured all that she had left into her icon and activated it. Blood erupted from her lips, but she forced herself to keep her eyes open, taking in what might as well be the last thing she would ever see. Once again, a voice like thunder boomed, shaking the entire city to its core. {ICON MANIFESTATION: PILLARS OF INVERTED DAWN} Immediately, the sky darkened, drained almost entirely of all light as six pillars of absolute destruction descended from the sky, colliding with the descending sphere of destruction in a cacophony of light and sound that split the already split sky into a dozen pieces. The collision of both icons sent a cascade of destruction rippling out in every direction as the pillars fought to destroy the sphere. But Luminus was just too strong, and in the end, the pillars gave. The sphere, now much reduced and weakened by the pillars, expanded to engulf the city below in a light of evisceration. Despair coiled in Cyridians heart at her failure, and the last thing she heard before her life completely bled away was the chorus of screams and pain that erupted from the city below as the searing sphere completely engulfed them. Darkness claimed her soon after, and with grief heavy in her heart, Cyridian Lightweaver died, her soul followed near instantly by the souls of a thousand innocents.