Instructor Sariel had seen a fair share of luck and talent in her time, but not quite like this.

Usually, the difference was clear to her.

Luck was usually sharp, extremely good and high results followed by a long line of terrible or average results.

And then there was talent, for which she could easily tell through consistency.

Talent, no matter how lazy, was consistent.

’I watched him defeat a severe and moderate, but this is nothing like that.’

She folded her arms in deep contemplation as she stared at the neatly separated Null Cores.

Perfectly divided between the task and the fake.

Her surprise would have been evident if it weren’t for her strict composure.

She glanced at Luca.

His relaxed expression, unlike before, made it clear that he knew what he had done.

"How?" She asked.

Luca laughed awkwardly while he scratched the back of his head. "Luck."

Instructor Sariel kept silent for a moment as if contemplating what to do with the child.

’Hmm, I should let him know of this. It might seem simple but only Instructors can tell the difference through the Headmaster’s Ego mark.’

Ego mark was the concept Luca had just stumbled upon, though he wouldn’t know the colour or pattern used by the Headmaster.

So unless he knew what he was looking for, he wouldn’t see it.

"That’s some Luck, alright. You pass. Store these... all of them."

Luca sighed in relief and quickly did as he was told.

"Join the right side and await further instructions."

Luca did as told and joined the small group of successful Cadets.

Some survived but didn’t make the cut after all, and their own group was slowly adding up in opposition to their direction.

The girl from before watched him the whole time with intrigue.

Then she walked past the others and stood next to him.

Luca noticed, but refrained from speaking.

He was still busy with his thoughts and settling the spike of adrenaline in his body.

"Hey."

Luca didn’t reply. He simply nodded.

"Not going to speak to me, huh?" She asked.

Luca sighed. "I’m sort of busy right now."

"Understandable, you gained quite a lot from this task more than anyone so far."

Luca scoffed. "Don’t say things like that. From what I can tell, aren’t there noble families here who got higher numbers? Besides, nearly half of mine were fake."

The girl hummed slowly. "Well, true."

Her pupils darted from Luca to the ground and back, and her cheeks flushed slightly.

"I– I’m sorry."

Luca arched a brow as he finally turned to face her. "What for?"

"You– you know." She stated as she looked away. "For turning you down when you simply wanted to ask a question. I didn’t know."

Luca observed her for a few seconds before he shrugged. "Thanks I guess, but I’m sure you have your own reasons for saying what you did."

The girl smiled sheepishly. "What district are you from?"

"13."

"Oh, that’s low. I’m from 10."

"Well, lesser districts are still lesser no matter the numbers."

The girl chuckled. "True." She stretched an arm out. "I’m Vareen Halric."

Luca attempted to shake but stopped. He tilted his head at her. "You don’t happen to be a sniper, right? I think I got marked by one during the task."

Vareen shook her head. "I guess you got on the wrong side of one of the Cadets?"

Luca nodded and shook.

’Well, let’s stick with not shaking Nobles for now.’

"Lucamir Elaric."

"Lucamir? The light that reflects?"

Luca nearly left his jaw open.

"You know the meaning of my name?"

She nodded with a giggle.

"I get that a lot, but I’m actually fluent in over five languages. One of my good traits."

"Oh? Interesting." Luca looked around for a bit when he stopped at some specific Cadets with haughty looks. It was always easy to tell the Nobles from the Commoners.

"Hey, you seem knowledgeable."

"Yup, very."

"Alright. I have two questions, but I have a feeling the second will be answered by the instructor, so... I’m not really sociable.

Other than the Ardenthals, who else should I look for? Especially since... you know..."

"You’re a low synchrony with a high rank."

Luca froze mid-sentence and turned to her.

A small smile tugged at the side of his lips.

"You’re intuitive."

"Yup, very."

"Alright. So, any information?"

Vareen glanced around as well.

"Hmm... there are a few but most should be spread across the seven platforms."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, so there are the Noble Houses, House Von Theral, Al’Seren, Na’Velos, Frostvale and Valestryn."

"Wow," Luca muttered. "Never heard of those names before."

She gave him the side eye glance.

"You don’t socialise much, huh?"

"Nope."

She studied him for a bit, but then continued.

"These are the major Noble Houses other than the Ardenthals. Of course, there are other Noble Houses. Sons and daughters of Marquesses, Counts, Viscounts and Barons.

There are also children of Baronets and Knights, but we don’t talk about them.

They’re considered commoners in a way, but commoners consider them as Nobility."

"I see."

"I would watch out for Jorvan Vi Von Theral. He’s the second son of Duke Von Theral and I heard he’s got a superior affinity for Earth. He’s a real brute too, but he’s just... unlike some certain rascals."

Luca chuckled at that statement.

"Then there are Mirella Frostvale, a family of Ice form users, and the third daughter of Duke Frostvale, Calyx Na’Velos, a real handy since he’s got a superior affinity for the Wind Form, Serad and Yusefian Al’Seren."

She turned to Luca.

"They’re a small household. Not as large as the Ardenthals, and they’re filled with Shifters."

Luca’s ears perked up at that.

"Are they twins?"

She shook her head. "Serad, the older one got his Trance on his 15th birthday while his younger one got his on his 13th.

Call it a coincidence, but it was a cold night for the Al’Serens."

"Interesting," Luca muttered. ’The only Shifters in the Federation and they’re from a family with a Duke.’

He knew they were rare, but not this rare.

"Finally, there’s Tisane Valestryn, a close friend of Thalia."

The last name she called was said in such reverence that Luca needed to turn to her in contemplation.

"Thalia?" He muttered slowly. Almost quietly.

Vareen tilted her head and narrowed her eyes.

"Thalia Von Ardenthal."

’Oh? She sounds like someone important.’

Maybe because that was the first name of a direct lineage he’s heard all day.

"Hm, I see."

Her expression was that of disbelief.

"Don’t tell me you don’t know her?"

Luca shrugged. "It’s hard to know people when you’re always cooped up from where I’m from."

"Isn’t that a choice?"

Luca scratched the back of his head.

"True."

Vareen sighed, but she couldn’t hide her smile from forming.

"You’re really an interesting one."

She clapped her hands together.

"Other than those guys, you will hear of some other lesser houses, but no biggie. As long as you don’t cross them, they won’t try to kill you, and their power is limited...

That includes the Vassal Household of the Ardenthals."

Luca scoffed. "The rascals."

"You know their names?"

"I don’t think I want to and if I did, I wouldn’t want to be reminded."

"Understandable." She nodded as she released a satisfied breath. "Well then, my turn."

Luca nodded. "Go ahead."

He shifted slightly as another successful Cadet joined the group.

It had been a while since he passed and frankly, their numbers were rising.

It started from seven, but they have nearly reached twenty now.

"Oh? You’re not surprised."

"You didn’t approach me just to apologise, did you? From what I understand... it seems like you’re intrigued by something I did."

He stared into her eyes.

"Perhaps how I was able to tell the cores apart."

Vareen opened her mouth, then closed it.

Her shock was evident as she couldn’t even begin to fathom how much he had seen through her.

’I haven’t felt this way since I first met Thalia.’ She shook her head slowly.

"Yes, you got me. Sorry about that."

"Nothing to be sorry for. Our lives as egoists are a give and take. If I wasn’t willing to give something, I wouldn’t have asked that question."

"I see." She mused in understanding. "Well then, how did you tell the difference?"

Luca immediately began his explanation.

Stating how he came to the realisation and in what way it would present itself.

But he left out personal details– of course that was only natural.

It would be foolish to trust someone who viewed him as a prospective trader.

By the time he was done, Vareen was left more confused than ever.

"Tha– that sounds plausible."

"It’s like I said, only a select few can do it and although I told the Instructor it was luck as an excuse, I had only just stumbled upon it, so it really is luck."

She nodded and looked away.

Clearly contemplating the new information she was given.

Luca didn’t mind giving her such information.

It wasn’t classified and wouldn’t harm him in any way. Of course, he could have explained it to Instructor Sariel as well.

But the thought left a bad taste in his mouth.

’Hope she wouldn’t start watching me or something.’

Just then, two red-haired people joined the group.

Ardenthals that Luca recognised as the Berserker and Sniper friends.

From their expression, he could tell they weren’t exactly pleased by his presence, but who was he to care?

His attention drew to the Instructor who stood in front of them– Sariel, her arms folded.

"Alright. All twenty-three of you are the final group.

It is safe to say that you have all passed and will be taken to the Hostels to rest.

You have a long day and schedule ahead of you, so be sure to attend tomorrow’s Assembly.

Understood?!"

"Yes ma’am." They chorused.

"Good. Your ranks will be updated by the time you get to the hostel, available resources will be distributed accordingly and finally, I expect you to absorb the Cores before the night’s end."

Here it was! The second question that had bothered Luca until now.

’The cores... we can absorb them?’

He looked around in confusion, only to find that everyone’s faces were normal.

As if it were an expectant thing.

Luca couldn’t help but curse inwardly.

’THAT DAMN FORUM?!’

_______

AUTHOR’S NOTE.

For those willing to pay for our privileges, I would like to note that some of our prices may be a bit too bizarre for a new book.

They will be corrected by the new month.

Sorry for the inconvenience.