Chapter 21

Discoveries

“Cadet Goldman, I wanted you to know that after today you will no longer come to me for training.” General Sharma says with a note of finality. Just like always for her lessons we are both in the meditation pose, while going through our mental training to try to induce Precognitive responses automatically. Though I am currently having a bit of trouble causing a vision to begin.

I feel like a lot has happened recently, but I don’t quite know how I feel about these changes coming so quickly. Dr. Charleston said I should likely see a lot of changes in my life, now that the ‘training wheels’ are coming off, as he put it.

“Lead DI, I wanted to say thank you for all the assistance you have given me to this point.” I begin.

“Don’t worry, starting tomorrow you will be in the very capable hands of an Omega rarity classed professor. They are going to show you how to control your overwhelming power.”

Hearing this I couldn’t help but be intrigued. An Omega rarity classed individual was said to be the cream of the crop. Those that managed to excel at almost everything before their bodies fully merged with the system. It cost twenty-one certs to fully merge with the system as an Omega rarity individual. Now that just left the one niggling question, “what exactly is a cert?”

Hearing the question, Sharma looked at me like I had asked a very dumb question. Perhaps I had, for this universe maybe such a question was known about since birth. Still, she paused and rather than saying anything else, she began her explanation.

“A Certified Experience Report Transcription, or CERT for short, is a document awarded by the system to fully integrated individuals. It is not known exactly how much energy goes into the creation of a cert, but everyone has settled on the one hundred or one standard when dealing with certs. A cert is enough for a level one individual to level one time, regardless of class rarity. Two certs will then be needed to get to level three, three to get to four, and so on. The fact that certs can be held onto and exchanged between other people and species who are also members of the system is what is allows for the integration of societies and the exchange of knowledge. Also, with most common class members having their experience capped at level fifty, it only makes sense that they sell off their excess experience once they start reaching level 45, or roughly the last level they will get a free attribute point to expend. At that point every cert they generate is effectively a waste.”

She pauses, and suddenly she realizes I don’t know what she is talking about. “This is not just something that happens to Common class rarity, all but the Omega class have a level restriction. Though many Omega class users never get a chance to see how far they can go with that. With each class rarity increase, the potential of the user increases by 50 levels. Though again most often these levels are not able to be reached, or many levels are often skipped due to being unnecessary. From there Uncommon class holders have much the same problem. Despite being able to level up to level 100, most stop at level 96, that is the time when they get their 12th and final Attribute point. The reason why we push everyone for Elite status, and why it has become the minimum standard for classes, is that it is the first class that lets you get the full benefit of every level. With being an Elite and getting an attribute point once every five levels, you can get an Attribute point on your final level, level 250. Legendary class holders, or Tier 6 in class rarity, have much the same. There on their final level, 300, they can also gain an attribute point. Thus, it is seen that anything before Elite class status is effectively a waste.”

Hearing this I nod in understanding. This is a lot to take in, honestly the whole process seems mildly confusing, but I guess that is why they not only have institutions, but also four years to start understanding everything.

“So how can we gain certs, if we wanted to do so outside the Academy?” I ask.

Sharma just shakes her head. “That is the thing, you can’t. Until you fully integrate with the system you won’t get a cert. So, you are largely dependent on the society you are in to be able to provide extra for you.”

I think about this, trying to wrap my brain around why such a society even existed before a thought hit me. “So, the only way to improve your lot in life is to not only be a part of a community, but a community that is willing to invest extra certs to your improvement.” I begin.

Sharma nods.

“Is this a way the system invented so it can help weed out those who might otherwise become tyrants with power? Basically, if society as a whole deems ‘x’ person to not have their values, they blacklist them and make it so they will never be more than inferior?”

Sharma sighs, but eventually nods. “That is one prevalent theory for why the system is set up the way it is. Another theory is the pay it forward theory. That is the theory that the first inhabitants of each society to first reach and interact with the system were all stuck at Common Rarity, only by providing the extra to their children and children’s children can the potential for a society grow. Thus, the more you invest in your future, the better your society can become. To be honest, while we say that Elite rarity is the standard you should all strive for, it is the bare minimum. Our society needs Legendary and Omega class students.”

“With my dual class, will I need raise both classes separately?” I ask.

Hearing my question, Sharma just nods. “For you it will likely be worse.”

“Worse?”

She nods, “yes. Traditionally it has been found that it is best to gain the certs from the class of people you wish to emulate while evolving your class. Normally a child wishes to mimic their parents, which means that a successful parent will be able to provide the necessary certs to evolve their child’s class. In your classes both parents were opposing Classes and that you inherited equally from them. Not a completely uncommon occurrence, but one that is normally frowned upon. In most cases when the second class is a non-magic class, it is encouraged for the child to focus solely on improving their magical class. In your case however, given your exceptional affinities, it will be encouraged for you to pursue both classes. That is why we have not put a damper on your want to earn as many certs as possible. In fact, your new professor has also promised to help you with this whole process.”

“Oh yeah, you mentioned that earlier. Who is this new professor anyways?”

“You might not know her, she just arrived Sunday. Professor Astria, she is an Endarian Lightning Monarch.”

Hearing her speak, I am shocked, and then I feel something shatter in my mind.

Panting.

“Oh, you are getting better and better at slipping into the Precognitive trances.” Sharma says. I am disoriented, my head is still spinning as I try to figure out why I feel like the world is spinning.

“Tell me, what did you just dream about?” Sharma asks.

I look at her like she was crazy. She was just there with me, but suddenly I realize that only a few moments have passed since this class began, but when my vision ended, I was nearing the end of our time together. Shaking my head.

“You were just telling me about Professor Astria, she is to be my new professor.” I answer.

“Oh, good. So, you are already aware then, but I need to state it officially for the record. Though this just proves that you are now more than qualified to perform Precognitive glimpses into the future when you wish to.” Pausing, she takes a deep breath then states a sentence that causes my skin to crawl. “Cadet Goldman, I wanted you to know that after today you will no longer come to me for training. Instead, you will…”

A vision, I had a vision. It was so vivid and real that I could not fully comprehend what happened during the vision to be different than what was experienced in the real world.

“…Starting this afternoon, I will be transferring full mentoring duties over to Professor Astria. While she is not a mind specialist, she is an expert at dealing with excessive resonance-bleed effects of having unbalanced magic. Oh, I will warn you, not only will she seem odd due to her being an Endarian, but she might also come across as eccentric by most human standards. The reason for this should be apparent, but I will spell it out for you here. She is a peak practitioner elementalist and is excessively unbalanced when it comes to her Magical affinities. As such her just being in proximity to some weaker willed individuals might be enough to unnerve them.”

She is of course talking about the magical equivalent of the Psychic Resonance feedback that I too induce in others, like Chet. Thinking back on it, she did freely use her powers. Something I wish to do, but have been holding back on doing, as I don’t want to generate more feedback than is necessary. Even with these guided meditations with Sharma, I need to be careful not to use anything more than my Precognition abilities. Though even this is often enough to cause a bit of feedback. I am about to ask why I was paired with an unbalanced Magic practitioner, when it hits me.

“So, I was paired with the unbalanced Mage so that when I practice my control, any resonance I generate would be balanced out by her?” I ask, the idea coming t me like it should have been obvious the whole time.

With a slight smile Sharma nod. “Yep, we figured you two would balance each other out at the very least. Ideally you would also look for a life partner who could also balance you out.” She says, addressing the elephant in the room of my prospects for a life partner. I understand where she is coming from, but I am determined to make things work with Mel, no matter the cost.

Seeing my resolve, a faint smile crests her lips as she seems to know something I don’t. Or at least that is the smile she currently has.

“You know I already met with Astria earlier today. She wants me to be her healer for her MAC fights.” I speak.

“I know, she has already put in the official requests.” Sharma states as if it were just a matter of record.

“You know?”

Sharma nods. “Yes, this is a good thing. The MAC, or this MAC is a fifty-fifty charity. Fifty percent of the certs earned tonight will go towards the school, while fifty percent will go up for immediate auction, with the proceeds going to charity.”

I am about to protest, but then hearing about the details of the event, I feel the wind get pulled out of my sails. Seeing my expression Sharma continues.

“Astria is also a well-known celebrity in the MAC tournaments, going by the moniker the Lightning Queen. She goes around promoting Magical awareness and safety. That is part of why she has you with her. She noted that not only would your Mage Breaking Spirit be good to help protect the crowd from potential backlash, but your healing abilities could also be useful should anything happen. Also, she likely won’t say this, but I will. I expect you to stop anything from entering the crowd.”

Hearing that last comment, I blink in surprise. “Wait, what could get in the crowd? These are two combatants in leotards fighting each other, right?” I ask, imagining Astria fighting an oiled up Endarian in form fitting garments.

Hearing my question Sharma laughs. Then after seeing my confused expression, she stops. “Oh wait, you are serious. You don’t know what a MAC fight is?”

I shake my head.

“Oh wow, okay. Where to begin. Well, we don’t have much time, but let me get through the basics at least…”

***

As it turns out MACs are where competitors try to fight off the monsters of a dimensional rift. Now what are dimensional rifts, no one rightly knows. Most chalk it up to being an advent of the system. Basically the system was so powerful that by it being in existence, its form of residual resonance is to create dimensional rifts where monsters spawn. These rifts are often easily detected and need to be sealed up as quickly as possible. I am still trying to process everything and get ready for tonight when I almost forget the most important part of my night.

Fortunately, I am mostly dressed, but I call up Mel on my holo-vid.

“Hey Kyle.” Mel says, I can tell she too is getting dressed and ready.

“Hey Mel.” I say, a smile forming on my lips even as I continue to get ready.

There is an awkward tension, but then we both start speaking at the same time. “I hate to do this, but can we…” We trail off as we realize we were being rude.

“Sorry, you are first.”

“No, you.”

More awkward silence. Finally, I cut in. “I have an event that I must attend with one of my professors. It is the new professor that I said I would be assigned. Apparently, she came and her first thing was for me to join her on an outing.” I left off the part of me being a healer at a MAC event. I wasn’t quite certain how she would take me going to the effective front lines of a spatial anomaly and sealing it shut.

“Oh, that is perfect. I too had something come up. Mave is taking me to a charity event.”

“Oh, that’s awesome.” I am about to ask which one, when I notice some yellow paint on her face. “Is that yellow paint?” I ask.

She immediately jumps at my statement. But she then soon recovers. “Oh, yeah. I likely got some paint on me earlier. Trying new hobbies and all.”

“That’s awesome.” I say, and smile at her. I am about to say more, but then my leave now alarm goes off. Hearing that alarm, I panic. “Sorry to do that to you, but I need to let you go.”

“Yes, same. But thank you for calling.”

I smile, “always.”

With that our call ends, I finish putting on my shoes and make a sprint for the main Academy exit in my finest set of civilian clothing I own. This of course is the same set I had when I was first taken here. The vomit from my vision didn’t come out and instead has left an odd glowing neon color to my clothes. It looks stupid, but I was told in no uncertain terms that I could not wear my Academy uniform while out and about. So electric neon blood red it is. At least with the vomit gone after multiple washes, the clothes are at least clean.

I get to the gate trying to find where the professor is, only to see a person in a personal speed bike come up to me.

“Hop on.” A familiar voice says, as I am tossed a helmet. I grab the helmet out of reflex more than anything. My professor gives me the once over. “You brought your violin, that is good. You might be asked to be the halftime entertainment.”

“Wait, what?” I ask.

“No time to explain, hop on and we will go over the details when we get there.” Professor Astria says. I look at her one and a half seater and wonder how I am going to get on. Then realize this might be a little more intimate than I want.

“You don’t have anything bigger?” I ask.

Astria just shakes her head. “I just got here yesterday. Everything else is still being shipped.” She speaks. Suddenly I feel slightly bad about this. Here this professor is, having to upend her entire life to come here to train me. So, the least I can do is help her with her charity work. Putting on my helmet, I get on the bike and must get close to the professor.

VROOM!

No sooner does my butt contact the seat than we are off. Fortunately, there is a bar in the back that I used to brace myself with before I am thrown off entirely. Then from there I use my Telekinetic appendage to grab the bike and keep it near me. This motion has no effect on the bike’s speed. Instead, all my Telekinesis does is make sure my butt is plastered tightly against the seat.

In a matter of seconds, we are out of the gate, and racing down the busy streets of the nearby city. Lights flash by and I must shut my eyes from all the sudden twists and turns that we take as Astria guides us wildly through the streets. In my past lives I knew I would have enjoyed this very action. I think this, as I also remember that in my past life, my Endurance would have been much higher and able to compensate for the sudden sinking sensation in my stomach. All the way forward I have but one wish I keep repeating to myself over and over. Please don’t let me vomit in this helmet. Please don’t vomit in the helmet.