My Wives Are A Divine Hive Mind-Chapter 185: The Hero Academy

Noirette adjusted the collar of her new jacket as they stepped out of the TAD fitting room.

The teal fabric felt thick and smooth against her skin, heavy enough to turn heads but cut in sharp lines that made it look like something from a design catalog back on Earth.

Matching pants tucked into boots completed the set, and the high-tech visor sat light on her forehead, ready to slide down with a thought.

Blanchette had the same outfit, though she fiddled with the visor less, her fingers tracing the edge like it was just another accessory.

"Can we bring these back to our world?" Blanchette commented as she posed. "They are super comfy and look awesome."

"That is not for me to decide," Noirette chuckled.

"You can have them," Nickal waved her hand up and down. "Now that you two are snug, I'll bring you to something called the Gilgamesh Academy."

"Is this one of those so-called Hero Academies?"

"It is," Nickal smiled.

Hero Academy, just like its name, was an academy with the purpose of cultivating Heroes that will become part of the Heroes of the World.

They followed Nickal out of the TAD facility and into a waiting transport pod.

The ride to Gilgamesh Academy was short, gliding through the city's elevated lanes. Nickal, with her fidgety energy and sharp eyes, chatted about the academy's history during the trip.

It might seem farfetched but all of the Hero Academies were named after important or mythological heroic figures that were transcribed within the so-called Hall of Heroes.

"So the legendary Mesopotamian figure is also popular in this modern world, huh."

"Mesa-what?" Nickal tilted her head.

However, Noirette also found out that someone as smart and important as Nickal, didn't really know much of the history behind the heroic name they use to name these academies.

The Singularity definitely had something to do with it.

As they arrived, the massive gates opened automatically, recognizing Nickal's credentials. Students and staff paused to stare as the three walked in.

Nickal waved casually at a few who called her name, her popularity clear from the excited murmurs.

"Looks like the TAD is visiting."

"Wait, isn't that the head Researcher of the Technological Advancement Department?"

"It is her!"

Noirette and Blanchette walked beside her like VIPs, drawing even more attention.

"You're more popular than I thought, Nickal," Blanchette commented.

"Well, she is essentially the head figure of a department of a sole governing figure of the world," Noirette casually pointed out.

Nickal smirked. "Noirette already got the idea."

The academy grounds buzzed with activity.

Students moved between buildings, some carrying gear, others practicing and studying in open areas. Many however, could be seen socializing with one another.

A group laughed as one boy summoned a small Ego construct—a floating orb that juggled their books for them. Another girl used her Ego to levitate a snack she bought from a vending machine straight to her hand.

Noirette watched with interest. These Egos blended into daily life, not just for show like in the lab demos.

It certainly was a unique yet familiar experience with how the people in Fathomi intermingled with their own Well of the Soul. Albeit when it came to the Well of the Soul, the people in Fathomi used them more discreetly due to the rule in place.

As they headed to the training facility, Noirette spotted more unique ones.

A student nearby had an Ego that manifested as a small, intelligent creature perched on their shoulder—a fluffy, cat-like thing with glowing eyes that chattered in a made-up language, helping solve a puzzle on the student's tablet.

It was subtle, almost like a pet, but clearly part of their power.

Ego was much more flexible in concept, Noirette thought.

Noirette also saw one trainee wielding an Ego in the form of pure swordsmanship—ghostly power that mirrored every swing of the wooden, enhancing strikes and guiding the form and action like a reality-assisting teacher.

Nickal pointed it out. "See? Ego isn't always an object or element. It can be conceptual, like perfect technique or even weirder stuff."

She glanced at another student whose entire body shifted like slime, absorbing a plastic chakram thrown to the air and reforming instantly.

The slime kid grinned, body jiggling as they high-fived a friend.

Nickal led them to a lecture hall next.

"The ongoing lecture is about foreign invading threats. Might clear up why you two got the demon treatment."

The room was packed with students, a professor at the front projecting holograms.

Noirette and Blanchette slipped into back seats, Nickal standing nearby.

The professor, a stern man with a scarred face, continued as the students whispered about the sudden appearance of the people from the Technological Advancement Department.

"Demons are one of the primary invading threats to Athera," he said, his voice booming through the speakers. A hologram showed a rift tearing open, shadowy figures emerging. "They look and act a lot like us—sapient, with emotions, empathy, and many more biological and mental functions that mirror ours almost perfectly. But their emotion of desire runs deeper, more intense.

"They tolerate less restraint when it comes to achieving their objective which can be everything, making them unpredictable. Not only that, they also possess Ego, just like us, which is rare for invaders that had been recorded to ever set foot on Earth."

A student raised a hand. "Professor, do they think like humans too?"

The professor nodded. "Yes, but amplified. They've shown planning, alliances, even betrayal among themselves."

Noirette leaned forward, absorbing it.

The hologram shifted to a demon mid-battle, its Ego—a swirling vortex—clashing with a hero's barrier.

"And then there's Demonic Essence," the professor continued. "It's their core power source. It allows for what we sorcery, and it can also be used to boost their Ego. This unique form of energy is hard to spot—illusory by nature. But watch for visible signs such as plasma trails slithering on surfaces, like shark fins cutting water."

Blanchette whispered to Noirette, "Sounds familiar?"

Noirette shrugged lightly.

The lecture went on.

"We've recorded the recent incidents where demons infiltrated Districts. Their goal is unknown but they seem to be invading a largely populated District as of late, making their goal, regardless of the initiation, very dangerous to us humans."

A slide showed a timeline of invasions. "The last major one hit District 47 around one month ago. Heroes pushed them back, but losses were high.

"Tomorrow, we'll analyze five captured demon profiles in hologram combat sims. Study their patterns—this will be brought up again on the next exam where all of you who partake this class will be fighting them inside the Simulated Battlefield,"

Students murmured, some taking notes furiously.

As the class ended, Nickal turned to Noirette.

"So, does that excuse the mix-up? You two show up out of nowhere, using what looked like sorcery without Ego, no clue about our world, outfits screaming 'outsider.' Checks all the boxes, in my opinion.

Noirette smiled wryly. "Yeah, I get it. Outsiders with weird powers, suspicious clothes, zero common sense. Well, that is fair enough."

Blanchette chuckled softly. "At least we're not here with malignant intent."

Nickal grinned. "Good to hear."

They moved to another building, this one sleek with glowing panels all over the place.

The Gadget Technology Practical Lecture was already in session, taught by a TAD professor—a wiry woman with tools strapped to her belt.

The room smelled of solder and ozone, tables covered in parts, rocks, grass, circuits, wires, crystals, even odd alloys but at random orders and content for each student.

"Today, our goal for this practical lesson is to create a flexible makeshift comm device, and links to the Heroes Oversight Bureau channel—part of the Global Defense Department. To do that, you must not only understand the concept of the device and its intricacies, but also how to get identified and connected to the channel.

"Use the parts provided to you by all means. The use of Ego is also allowed if it helps assembly."

A hologram demo played, a simple device unfolding into a weird contraption, and screen popping up to scan a user's face and ping the bureau.

Students hunched over projects, some using Ego to manipulate tiny components, while many were using assisted tools for their endeavor.

One student fused parts with an Ego heat wave, while another shaped metal telekinetically.

There was also a student who had a robot maid making the device for him. Seeing that nobody pointed out, it seemed that everyone already knew that it was simply part of his Ego.

Noirette watched, arms crossed. "This seems hardcore. Not everyone has the brain to completely reinvent a technology with the exact feature and purpose using random materials."

Nickal shook her head. "They don't need to be experts. Just grasp the concept and application method and the professor will let it go. A bonus if they somehow able to make the makeshift communication.

"This kind of knowledge could save lives, especially if they are stranded somewhere beyond the reach of the Heroes of the World." Nickal then smirked. "And hey, it might even work between worlds, if you're thinking of heading back."

Hearing that, Noirette's eyes lit up.

She tuned into the lecture fully.

As the students worked on their respective devices, the professor explained signal modulation, frequency locking to the bureau's secure channel, and basic encryption via improvised chips.

"The device is single-purpose, which is to connect to the oversight channel with an identifiable ID and communicate with them. All of you can modify it later if you need broader use, or even make one at home using spare parts you bought online if you want to prepare for the emergency."

Blanchette tilted her head. "Are you getting all this?"

Noirette smiled. "Surprisingly easy. Like she said, it's locked to that channel unless you tweak it."

Nickal overheard and smirked.

She raised her hand.

"Professor, one of our special guests from TAD wants to give it a shot."

The professor looked over, eyes widening at Nickal. "Of course! Grab a table. I'll pick random parts—no favors are given, especially if you're someone from our department."

And just like that, Noirette became the center of attention for everyone in this class.

The professor then dumped a mix on a free station—tangled vines, cracked seeds, some crystals, rubber casings, unknown leaves, random minerals, and a sheet of metal.

Students whispered as Noirette stepped up.

"Who's that? Looks young."

"Must be Nickal's disciple."

"Or relatives. They match her vibe."

"You think that I can get her number later?"

"The professor is cruel, not giving a single electronic part for her."

"Well, you don't really find electronic parts in the wild if you're stranded in the first place"

Noirette ignored them, scanning the parts.

She worked methodically, sorting materials before trying to tinker with the properties and eventually fusing and matching the materials to replicate electronic parts. Her action was so fast that it might be easy to misinterpret it as pure magic.

She tested a quick pulse—green light began flickering as the shape took form.

In her mind, Blanchette's voice echoed "You're cheating with Malleable Essence."

Noirette replied silently, "If Ego's allowed, why not Malleable Essence? It's the same idea—so, not necessarily cheating, heh."

She finished in minutes, and the device hummed to life.

She tapped it, sending a smiley face emoji to the channel.

The class holographic screen lit up.

[Guest ID: Verified. Message received]

[ :) ]

The professor stared. "Impressive. Set this as an example, class—see how she integrated every material as a component to build a bigger foundation as she goes on?" She turned to Noirette. "Since you seem to be using an Ego, mind telling what is your Ego to the class to improve your credibility?"

The professor then glanced at Nickal who didn't seem to mind.

"My Ego is Collective Assembly," Noirette lied as easily as she breathed. "It grants me the power to essentially assist me in altering shape and property of objects to my preferred ideal form."

"Does the Ego guide you thoroughly during the whole process?" The professor asked again.

"Not necessarily. Just like I describe, it assisted me in performing the ideal imagery that I have constructed in my head. Without knowing the essence and intricacy of the materials and the final form, my Ego won't budge an inch."

"Is this your first time trying to construct the makeshift comm device?"

Noirette nodded. "Yeah, first time."

Students clapped lightly, more whispers following. "No way. She's a prodigy if that's the case then."

"TAD must train them young."

The professor continued the lesson, using Noirette's device to demo modifications.

Noirette stepped back, satisfied.

Blanchette smirked after Noirette arrived.

"Show-off."

"Sometimes, I'm feeling like an attention whore."

As the lecture wrapped, the sun dipped low, casting orange light through the windows. Nickal checked her visor.

"That's enough for today. Let's grab something at the cafe outside—my treat."

They exited the academy, heading to a small cafe just beyond the gates.

Tables spilled onto the sidewalk, filled with students unwinding. Nickal ordered the drinks, and they sat under the awning as dusk settled.