"Power?" The word hung off the girl's rosy red lips as if the air was considering the offer.

"A guaranteed growth outside the walls of this tutorial, something very few know about." It was as if the answer became apparent as soon as he activated the ability. His worry and second-guessing left, leaving nothing but logical problem-solving. She was from a family of cutthroats, and in a world like that, only one thing governed. He should have known. After all, it was the only bargaining chip someone could use that he would consider.

Selena cocked a brow.

"And how would I obtain that growth? I can't simply take an IOU, can I?" Her tone changed from guarded and hostile to playful and teasing. This was the world she knew, and Flynn was finally making sense. His true colors were finally showing.

"A method of growth, well technically two methods." Flynn held up two fingers for effect. "As you can already tell, I know things I shouldn't. I can see ahead of my time. I know two methods to put you at the pinnacle of power within these trials." It was a bit of an exaggeration as he didn't know how well the methods scaled after the first trial, but any snake oil salesman knew it was all in the pitch.

"Pretty words." This time Selena closed her eyes, resting her head against the wall.

"Selena Ravencrest, Stole from a convenience store, and was brutally beaten for it by her father. She would sneak out of her training when unattended to play with the servants' children. One of your greatest regrets is ignoring them as you became older. You were trained and taught by the best of tutors from a young age, unable to attend a traditional school, though you hate academics and prefer animals & agriculture. You tend to a hidden night garden on the outskirts of the raven crest property. The moonlit blossoms and small stream are breathtaking if you're to be believed, though I don't know how much stock the words of the heir to a family of..." Flynn stopped rambling about the woman's past, holding out his hand and prompting her to finish the statement. The stone room became fridged as closed eyes opened, a mix of surprise and danger flooding her face.

"The stock of information gained from a family of Assassins is of the best grade, I assure you, but it pales in comparison to your information gathering, it seems." Selena's expression sprouted into a pout. "Not even my father knows about that garden. Not a small feat, I assure you." Flynn smiled, imagining the severe girl in the garden wear tending to the blossoms, and he couldn't help but give a chuckle despite himself. Her eyes narrowed.

"What?"

"Nothing, nothing." Flynn waved a head as if to wipe away the errant thought. He had achieved his goal, and a sigh of relief exited his lips before it was suppressed, causing the girl across the room to smirk."Then you don't know my true secret." It was Flynn's turn to cock an eyebrow as the word registered. He had received an A rank on this section of the tutorial last time. What more could the girl hold? "Honestly, that's a bit of a relief. If my true intentions were that easy to uncover that they could be bought, I'd never feel comfortable enough to act out my plan." She spoke more to herself than the delinquent across the room. "I plan to kill him, my father."

Flynn's mind raced as the puzzle pieces snapped into place and realization dawned. If this girl was indeed what she claimed an heir to the clan of pre-system Assassins, and he was more inclined to believe her as she had seen her skill firsthand last time around, then the feat of trying to kill her father was no small one. It was something that would undoubtedly get her killed. It explained why he had never heard of a Selena Ravencrest. She likely had been killed by her father, who held great power before the tutorial. Hell, he'd probably be a ranker without even getting a bonus from the tutorial itself.

"I'd highly recommend you forfeit that goal." Flynn found that he truly meant the words; for whatever reason, he didn't want this girl to die. He owed her one too many debts. "He will have become extremely powerful from this tutorial, to the point that even I wouldn't fight him head-on." Flynn saw the doubt in the girl's eyes and decided not to press her. "In the end, your path is up to you."

"Enough talk, the methods."

"Yes, yes, patience, princess, patience." Flynn thought of just not telling her, but he was a man of his word in the end. "There are a few main methods to grow within these so-called trials, one I'm sure you've already noticed, levels. Levels are a guaranteed stat increase for both race and class levels. Eventually, you will even have a profession that gives stats as well. These, however, are not the only way to progress.

As you know, a rank and grade are next to your name. Common & more than likely F, this changes naturally as you grow in power. The easiest way to affect these is not widely known, however. Many, even after years within the trials, will be stuck at E grade." Flynn let Selena catch up.

"And you know of not only one but two methods to increase this?" She asked skeptically.

"Well, it's more of an either-or situation. The first is an inner power, power from within one's self. Most would call this cultivation." Selena scoffed."You sound like the elders of my clan. Cultivation is a trick of the mind, little more than meditation to sharpen it." Her disdain was dripping."Perhaps on earth, but remember, we no longer live on that planet. The energy of that planet is next to nothing. It can't even be felt in the air." Flynn explained before moving on. "The second is external power using the power within the air not to strengthen one's self but to strengthen their power. I'll admit I know little of this method as I do not plan on using it, but from what I understand, you bind magic circles to your heart-boosting one's self in a similar fashion to cultivation. I know of none that have done both, although I admit I could just be lacking knowledge." Flynn finished with a smile holding out his hands as if showing off a feast to a guest.

"And how do I cultivate or create these circles?" Selena asked.

"I'd suggest looking for suitable cultivation texts within the token shop or magical tomes that explain the process, but it's essentially just feeling for the power around you and taking it into your soul," Flynn explained.

"I feel no energy." Selena countered.

"Nor do I. I haven't felt any in any early tutorial sections, but I suspect the next will be different." Before Flynn could continue, the system interrupted the two.

| Congratulations, you have completed phase Three of the Mental Assessment! Calculating… || As all secrets have been shared, you will now be transferred... |