Chapter 13: Progression
"I’m sure you are all well acquainted with your gifts, and depending on your potential, your respective burdens."
She paused, allowing the students to give a general affirmative answer.
"Then you should also be aware that you have no physiques as well."
The class answered affirmatively again before she continued.
"Good. In order to advance in rank, you will need to grow both. At lower levels, that is as simple as injecting and digesting the right type of Heartblood."
The projection flickered behind her, before showing a strange symbol.
"Let’s begin with your gifts. You can liken them to a unique compass, giving you their own unique direction to higher ranks. They are your core characteristics as hunters, and will be what every future ability you gain will be based off of. The ability available to you now is your innate ability. Any further abilities you may gain will be determined by your physique."
She paused, moving her gaze to the board before continuing.
"Your gifts are represented in the innermost domain of your mind, or if you prefer, your soul. In time, you will be able to gain access to this space through meditation. Artifacts are also located in your soul, but that’s a topic for another day. The symbol behind me is merely an artistic interpretation of a gift, but as you’ll see, they make excellent crests for noble."
The projection switched back to the metallic syringe.
"Finally, physiques. If gifts show the direction, the physique is the path you use to get there. The sort of physique you get depends on what sort of Heartblood you inject into yourself. Though, it is generally recommended that you choose one similar in nature to your gift, since they tend to shape any future abilities. They also provide you with traits, which, if chosen correctly, can serve as force multipliers for your ability."
Alice looked back at the class.
"You will be getting your physique after progressing past the Novice rank. The nature of whatever physique you get will be determined by the injections you take while in the Novice rank. Of course, the school will be responsible for providing this to you. Though, the details on how exactly it’s distributed and who will be given priority are to be communicated at a later date."
Immediately after she finished, multiple hands shot up around me. Alice gave a wry smirk at that.
"And of course, those with the means to do so are allowed to source their Heartblood from outside."
Most hands went down at that, except one rising from the middle of the class. Alice gestured at them in a tired motion.
"What is it, Cadet Neji?"
The cadet in question stood up, adjusting his glasses all the while.
"Instructor, please, what is this Heartblood you keep talking about?"
A few chuckles rose from the crowd.
’Most likely nobles.’
Alice gave him a small smile before replying.
"Unfortunately, that’s not under the introductory lecture. You will be learning more about that later this week. Though, I do encourage research on it if you’re curious. All students are welcome to use the school library at any time."
It’d probably do me well to check that out sometime.
Alice stood up from her desk, giving the class a final scan.
"Any more questions?"
The class stayed silent.
"Alright then. Today is still semi-introductory. You’ll only be having one class after breakfast, the rest of the day is yours to spend as you like. Also, do remember to choose your electives before the end of this week."
Alice tipped her hat, then she was gone. Like gone, gone. She’d clearly been there just a moment ago, but she’d completely vanished. The door hadn’t even opened.
I was well aware of her antics. Still, it felt rather strange to actually see it in person.
The class instantly burst into murmurs, with most students leaving their seats and heading straight for the doorway.
Well, most. The red-haired girl was now surrounded by two girls I assumed were her friends, urging her to follow them out. Still, she looked hesitant, throwing me glances, looking torn between approaching me or following them.
In the end though, she relented, eventually following them out as well.
’I can’t tell if that’s a good or bad thing.’
I was pretty damn sure that was Song. There were quite a few things I needed to confirm from her, but the constant stink-eye she’d been giving me earlier made me feel like keeping my distance for now.
Still, in the end I’d eventually have to meet her. I couldn’t let another potential transmigrator just roam around freely.
Beside me, I saw Shin stand up as well. Now that I mention it, it was pretty damn impressive seeing his massive wolfish frame in a uniform.
One that fit him perfectly at that.
’Why the hell is mine a problem then?’
I spoke first.
"You heading for breakfast?"
He smiled at that, exposing those sharp teeth. Still creeped me out every time I saw them.
"Yeah, wanna come with?"
I considered it for a moment.
’Better to move in a group than alone.’
Plus, Shin was one of the few characters that generally had little to no personality issues—that is, if you excluded the constant suppression of his bloodlust.
But he got along just fine with the main character in the novel. So I should be fine.
"Hey, you coming or not?"
His gruff voice brought me back to reality, its growl-like tone making the request seem more like a threat.
"Yeah, sure. Let’s go."
I stood, almost immediately realizing how massive he was compared to me. Shin was more than half a body taller.
He seemed to notice this as well.
"How are you so short?"
I wasn’t just gonna take such a blatant poke at my height lying down.
"And how are you a wolfman?"
He paused, considering it for a moment before conceding.
"Touche."
Shin immediately began walking down, and I promptly followed him as well.
On our way down, I kept an eye open for the main characters—the very core cast. I’d already met two of them, Maki and Alexa. There were still roughly four more:
Racheal of the Solaris clan
Ayo from the Oni family
Varic of the Aurealius family
And finally, the MC himself, Rowan Kade.
For these guys, I had concrete images in my head. I would immediately recognize them the moment I saw them.
After a bit of searching, I didn’t find Racheal, Ayo, or Rowan.
’They probably stepped out.’
I did find Varic though. He was seated down below, in the front, surrounded by a small crowd of nobles chatting amongst themselves. The golden-haired boy didn’t bother speaking to most of them though, only talking with the two that stood beside him.
The scene didn’t surprise me much. I’d designed him to be a young master type after all.
Though it would be rather foolish to only amount him to that. He was heir to the great Aurealian clan, one of the only people with potential to become an Archon. His ancestor had been a member of the original Gang of Three, the very founders of Bastion.
Such clans did not raise fools. Still, it went without saying he had his own share of problems. He served as an antagonist during the academy arc for a reason.
I averted my gaze from him quickly, before one of his dogs took my stare as a challenge.
We eventually reached the door, stepping back into the familiar hallway. My thoughts went back to the class.
The basics of the power system she’d explained were largely the same as what I’d set. Luckily for me, the power system was one of the few things I’d actually explained in detail. So I wouldn’t be clueless at least. Hell, I probably knew more about it than Alice herself.
Well, that’s progression until rank SS. I hadn’t gone into much detail for higher-ranked progression since it was practically nonexistent in the story. I tended to introduce things naturally as the story went along, so I hadn’t really gotten the chance to explain it before my suicide.
’Oh well, sounds like a problem for future me. I’m sure I’ll have it all figured out by then.’
Meanwhile, I’d been following Shin unconsciously and we’d finally approached one of the elevator chutes. Unlike this morning, the other chutes were packed, but strangely ours stayed completely free. Leaving ample space for both of us to share.
’I might just stick around Shin for now.’
Having a literal wolfman beside you apparently worked wonders in dispersing crowds.
Curiously, I glanced at Shin.
"Do you know where the cafeteria is?"
I’d been following him blindly all this while, not even relying on the arrow for guidance. Shin scratched the fur behind his ear before replying.
"Yeah, I went to it yesterday."
’Right...’
I kept forgetting this wasn’t the first day of classes. I pressed,
"Is the food alright?"
I’d already tasted it yesterday, so I knew it was pretty good. I was just trying to drum up conversation with the boy. No harm in trying to befriend him.
"I mean it’s alright. Gotta say I prefer home cooking though."
’Well of course you do. You’re a fucking noble.’
I only said that in my head though. He wasn’t even bragging, but it certainly felt like it to me. I almost ended the conversation there... almost.
"I guess that makes sense, considering you seem like a noble."
The boy’s predator-like eyes widened in realization, raising his clawed hands in what was probably meant to be a placating gesture.
"Oh... I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to rub it in your face or anything like that."
I scratched at my jacket sleeve awkwardly.
"It’s fine. It honestly is."
His genuine apology made me feel like a bad person.
Luckily, the elevator soon came to a halt, ending the awkward moment.
I just hoped I’d find more of the main characters in the cafeteria.