26th August

The echoes of recess fading, the students eagerly settled into their seats, their anticipation palpable as they awaited the arrival of their teacher. Amidst the whispers and hushed conversations, Yuki's ears caught fragments of a discussion among some girls, their voices tinged with a mixture of envy and resentment. Their topic of interest? The enigmatic specifically honing in on the revered and those wielding its power.

Yuki listened in, his curiosity piqued, as one girl voiced her discontent,

"Don't you think, like, it's really unfair how they all get to have the when they don't even really deserve it? Like, they are all so weak and they still have it!"

"I know right! They are so privileged! We deserve it way more than them."

As Yuki listened, he couldn't help but feel a mix of intrigue and disdain. The girls seemed to harbour resentment towards those who possessed the Acrux Aura, claiming that they didn't deserve it despite their apparent weakness. It struck Yuki as a sense of entitlement and unfairness that bothered him.

Lost in his thoughts, Yuki was abruptly pulled back to reality as the classroom door swung open, revealing their new teacher. Stepping inside, the tall Asian man commanded attention with his professional attire—a white shirt neatly tucked into a black vest, matched with sleek black pants. His presence exuded an air of authority.

"Hello Students." The teacher greeted them, his voice carrying a distinct Asian accent., "I'm your teacher Jung Ji-Yeong (鄭 智英) who will be teaching you about and . You are all tight on time as you have a mission coming up so I think we should get into the lecture without any more delay."

"First of all," the teacher began, his eyes scanning the room, "what are ? Can any of you make a guess?"

As the question hung in the air, a chorus of eager hands shot up, each student vying for the opportunity to contribute their thoughts. Yuki's gaze darted around the classroom, taking note of his classmates' reactions. Christine, Rusty, Tonio, and Arnold confidently raised their hands, their faces brimming with anticipation. Curiosity led Yuki's eyes to Kai and Lin, who remained silent with unspoken knowledge, their expressions subtly hinting at their familiarity with the answer. Amidst this scene, Yuki's attention was suddenly drawn to John, whose hand was among those raised in response to the question.

A tinge of contempt surged within Yuki. He, too, had a fair idea of the answer, but he had been observing others before deciding whether to raise his hand or not. Evaluating his classmates, a flicker of competitiveness ignited in Yuki's core. At that moment, he made his choice, slowly raising his hand, not just to show his understanding, but also to challenge John's confident assertion.

Professor Ji-Yeong's intrigued gaze swept across the students, his eyes lingering on each raised hand. After a few moments of silent contemplation, he pointed towards Rusty, summoning him to provide his understanding.

"Sir, as far as my awareness goes," Rusty spoke with confidence, " are weapons that are fueled by to apply them into different forms of uses."

Professor Ji-Yeong nodded approvingly, acknowledging Rusty's contribution. "You are mostly right there, but not completely," he replied, his voice resonating with authority. "You may take your seat. are articles that either have stored in them or operate on it. These possess a wide range of applications, extending beyond just weapons."

A spark of curiosity ignited within the classroom as the students absorbed this newfound knowledge. However, Professor Ji-Yeong's words didn't end there. His voice carried a hint of anticipation as he continued, "But before delving deeper into the realm of , it is essential for you to grasp the concept of , which stands for ."

"These are microscopic designed to mimic the structure of DNA. They are inserted into various types of , providing them with specific instructions, much like how DNA supplies genetic code to cells," Professor Ji-Yeong elucidated, his voice resonating with knowledge and excitement. The class listened intently, captivated by the concept unfolding before them.

To demonstrate the concept in action, Professor Ji-Yeong retrieved a small metallic cube from his pocket. The cube, adorned with a blue gemstone on two adjacent faces, held an air of mystique. Placing it carefully in front of the students, he positioned one of the gemstones to face the ceiling while the other faced the board. Stepping back, he allowed anticipation to fill the room.

In a mesmerizing display, the metallic cube emitted a radiant light, casting its luminous glow upon the board. The once-blank surface now showcased a vivid diagram, resembling the intricate structure of DNA. The projected image depicted the essence of itself, a testament to the power and intricacy of these microscopic . The classroom erupted with awe and fascination as the students beheld this captivating visual representation.

The students were wondering why the illustrations looked so shit. It's because I drew it.

"Indeed, this device is a projector, which we will delve into further when we explore the intricacies of different ," Professor Ji-Yeong clarified, acknowledging the growing curiosity among the students. He wanted to ensure that the foundational understanding was established before delving into the technicalities.

With the classroom abuzz with newfound knowledge and intrigue, Professor Ji-Yeong encouraged his students to inquire about any questions they might have, specifically regarding . He observed the students intently, their eyes reflecting a mix of fascination and contemplation.

Amidst the attentive silence, Arnold's hand rose, signalling his eagerness to contribute. Professor Ji-Yeong nodded approvingly, granting him the opportunity to seek clarification. The classroom fell into hushed anticipation as Arnold prepared to articulate his question, eagerly awaiting his words.

"Excellent observation, Arnold!" Professor Ji-Yeong commended with a nod, appreciating the student's attentiveness. "You're right, the diagram might appear to have some breaks or gaps in the strands, but that's precisely by design."

Leaning against the edge of his desk, Professor Ji-Yeong continued his explanation, bringing clarity to the matter. "As I mentioned earlier, is a fusion of DNA-like structures with digital signals, all encapsulated within to fortify the information. The breaks you see in the diagram serve a purpose similar to the binary digits 0s and 1s in a digital signal."

He walked closer to the projection on the board, using a laser pointer to emphasize the relevant points. "Just like the arrangement of 0s and 1s in a digital signal encodes information, the configuration of and in acts as a message signal. The presence or absence of a bond, indicated by those breaks, helps encode specific instructions within the ."

"Now, let's delve into another crucial element: the gemstone. This gemstone serves as the conduit for your . It possesses the ability to conduct energy and execute the commands encoded within the . Think of it as the compiler of this system we're exploring. While there isn't much to know about the gemstones themselves, it is important to understand their different types and their specific applications. That's where our focus will be next. However, do keep in mind that your curriculum will cover only three types of gemstones."

Professor Ji-Yeong paused, allowing the students to absorb the information. "The first type we'll discuss is the , which is the gemstone embedded in the projector you see before you. It is the most straightforward and basic of the gemstones. It possesses the ability to perform elementary tasks. You can think of it as a stone capable of accomplishing tasks that align with your current skill level or the early stages of your training. As far as noteworthy achievements go, the most significant feat accomplished using was the ignition of a bonfire. Any questions regarding this?"

Arnold, once again curious, raised his hand. "So, these gemstones are the we've been discussing?"

Professor Ji-Yeong shook his head, clarifying the distinction. "Not quite, Arnold. The gemstones can serve as standalone , but they can also be incorporated into larger as essential components. In and of themselves, they are not classified as ."

"Alright, let's continue exploring the various types of gemstones. The next one on our list is the , or for short. As the name suggests, its primary function is communication. When activated, the gemstone harnesses sound energy from its surroundings and converts it into Crux-infused digital signals. These signals are then transmitted over a distance and received by the intended recipient, where they are transformed back into audible sound signals."

Arnold raised his hand once more, seeking clarification. "Do these have an infinite range? And how sensitive are they to the sounds in their surroundings?"

Professor Ji-Yeong addressed Arnold's questions. "The range of is not infinite, as that would make things too convenient. Each is designed with a specific range, which can vary. As for sound sensitivity, it remains consistent across all . They can capture and record any loud vibrations within a range of 5 meters."

"Now, let's move on to the last gemstone you'll be studying. However, I must caution you that this particular gemstone requires careful handling, as it doesn't interact well with , which you may encounter frequently during your mission."

⛧ ⛧ ⛧

"And then Miss Yuan interrupted the lecture and took Sir Ji-Yeong with her. She didn't specify the reasons, only said that there was a change."

"A change in what?"

"No idea, apparently in what we can know and what we can't. They are hiding so many things from us."

Under the vibrant orange hues of the sun, its rays cascading through the window panes, Yuki and Naomi strolled through the bustling city complex. The grey pavements stirred with swirling specks of dust as if dancing to an unseen rhythm. Their leisurely walk was a welcome respite after a day of lectures, although Yuki's had been abruptly interrupted.

"What do you mean by 'hiding'?" Naomi asked with a confused look on her face.

"Simply hiding. They want us to go on this life threatening mission and at the same time not tell us anything about it. This simply isn't how it works!" Yuki vociferously stated his displeasure with the events, whereas Naomi was doing her best to help calm him down. "How what works? I'm pretty sure if they're not telling you something it's for your own safety." She specified. "How are we going to be safe when we don't know any shit about what is going on!" Yuki asserted with clenched teeth

"They will help you! Trust me. And if you think this is wrong then don't conclude that it's the teacher's fault, it's the Avalon HQ you should blame, they have always pushed their decisions on the teachers." Naomi declared with a raise in her voice. "So that's what politics Miss Iva was talking about." Yuki professed while fidgeting with his fingers. "You talked to Miss Iva about the BOD!?" Naomi's eyes widened as she cried out.

"She told me about it! otherwise I didn't even know it existed!" He justified himself with a louder tone and hands spread out. "Yes! After you asked her about the mission!" She asserted. "Doesn't change the fact that she did!" Yuki cried while clenching his fists.

Noticing the atmosphere, Naomi realized she was getting too far and decided to pipe things down. "Listen Yuki, there are some things you will eventually find out, at the right time一" Before she could even properly begin she was cut off by Yuki. "Now you're giving me that bullshit too一" Naomi refused to let him dismiss her point, "This is not bullshit! This is how things should have flown in the first place, this mission, this new curriculum, it doesn't make sense." she said, her voice tinged with exasperation.

Yuki fell silent for a moment, the weight of his own thoughts hanging in the air. When he finally spoke, his tone was softer, tinged with a hint of regret. "At least you agree on something there. But then, all of this is happening because of me." Naomi's confusion grew. "Because of you? What do you mean by that?" she asked, hoping to unravel the mystery behind Yuki's statement.

"Well, there's something I haven't told you yet. All of this, this is happening due to m一"

Tsu-chuchuchuchu….

It was the summoning bell going off, the welders were just summoned.