At the end of her speech, two Instructors walked up to the group– a male and a female.

"All girls come with me." The female Instructor said with a pleasant smile.

"All boys, follow me." The male Instructor’s tone was deep and stern. His gaze sharply cut through the group as the divide began.

Luca hesitated for a moment when Vareen tapped him.

"See you around?"

Luca nodded. ’I still have questions that need answers.’ He turned around and walked away with the rest of the boys.

’And for some reason, I have a feeling you’ll be the only one I can get it from.’

As they dispersed, the different groups were led to the different pavements extending from the cemented platform.

Luca observed the people present, and to his surprise, three of the Vassal Households had already passed away.

’It seems that Brawler was honest about his cores.’

He didn’t see the need to feel bad, though.

It had been a fair occurrence.

’Though, the one that tricked me would have something to write about when he’s embraced by the gods again.’

He let that thought sink in as they went deeper down the pavement.

Around them was a lush, colourful garden with tall trees, flowers, and neatly trimmed shrubs.

It went deep. Stretching beyond what they could see.

As they moved, their numbers increased as more successful Cadets joined the ranks, and at the seventh lineup, they had arrived at a line of buildings that took Luca’s breath away.

’Isn’t this literally a whole town on its own?’

Before them was a lineup of modern houses and tarvans. Adults and children alike– all in uniform walked about at their own paces.

It was like a utopia, a small one.

The sounds of lively chatter were in the air and the crisp mood was contagious.

Only a few actually stopped by to observe the Cadets, while many more ignored them.

If Luca could describe it in words, it was like a village in size, but an underdeveloped utopia in technology.

Though, an underdeveloped utopia in their day was far superior to our modern times.

The Instructor didn’t stop for them to sightsee.

He led them through the crowds, the streets and occasionally stopped to point out important infrastructures.

Luca was introduced to a large building, half of a skyscraper in length, and nearly twice as wide as they came in width. A Gym for Cadets.

There was the marketplace– a layout of tarvans and open stalls where Null Bud parts were being traded for Staric coins.

Occasionally, a fight or two would break out during their banter.

There were private quarters for those who had the cash– many of which were occupied by Cadets and even Instructors.

Some Cadets had made their way to one or two of these buildings, already done with the hazardous procedures of obtaining one.

’That’s Nobility for you.’

Luca watched as the three Ardenthal Vassals left the group. The Sniper included. Whole and healthy after the Harmonics had their way with him.

Soon, the line continued. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Time ticked in that manner, and the sun hovered in the vast space of Earth Supreme, sending its warm embrace through the cacophonies of layers laid in place.

It was now afternoon.

"Alright, that will be all." The instructor announced as they arrived in what appeared to be a mansion. Though, with the size, Luca guessed it was far bigger than the ones low-ranked nobles owned.

"You may be kids, but I expect some kind of decorum even from you lots.

Choose a room, and if you find anyone already occupying that room, leave.

There’s nothing to it. Avoid unnecessary fights and if you must, go through the procedures of a proper duel with an instructor’s permission.

You are free to explore for the rest of the day."

He checked his watch.

"Your ranks should be updated by now.

Be in your room at 9 pm, or you might lose your quarter of resources for the first month."

He cleared his throat as he suddenly turned around.

"Good luck."

And he disappeared.

Luca stood with the rest of the over-50s.

All commoners or lesser Nobles.

It was like an invisible thread was holding the group from walking through the gate.

Until it didn’t.

Luca walked first, stepping into the compound with composed steps.

He took in the sight with a shortened breath.

’Mum and dad would be pleased to know I made it this far.’

He clenched his fist. ’I must find a way to see them.’

He took slow, deliberate steps on the clean, tiled floors. His footsteps echoed.

Soon, others joined until finally, everyone was on the move.

Luca had not even noticed it until someone suddenly rushed past him, knocking him a few inches.

"What?"

"MOVE IT, WORM!"

Another blazed past him, then another and before he knew it, the group was running like frantic dogs towards the Mansion’s doors.

"Damn it, you commoners! I’m choosing first!"

"If you’re so great, why didn’t you get your own place?!"

"You know they’re poor! Don’t listen to them!"

The kids fought tooth and nail to pass through the narrow door. And mind you, that door wasn’t small in the slightest.

Luca watched with his mouth open.

"What?"

"Is this your first time experiencing something like this?"

Luca looked back to find the big guy from before. "Wha– what do you mean?"

"We’ve been granted the chance to use any room we want. Though the rooms have a self-cleaning function, some will be larger than the others."

Luca scratched the back of his head.

"We’re literally the first to arrive. We can choose a room as leisurely as we want.

Over a thousand others are waiting back in line."

The boy laughed. A deep chuckle as he slapped Luca’s back.

"I like you, kid."

"You’re a kid too!"

"You’re Lucamir right? Count yourself lucky for having come this far. A lot of people will be fighting for your place."

Luca pushed his arm away with relative ease, startling the large boy.

"Is it my synchrony or my size, I wonder... but I’m not afraid to bite."

Luca was five feet after all, and amongst the five shortest from what he observed.

Even Vareen was about his height, if not slightly taller.

The boy shrugged. "Could be both.

Anyways, I’m Caedun Kelros, but you can call me Caed."

Luca arched his brow.

"You can call me Luca, then."

"Luca, I like that." The boy nodded as they approached the door.

It had taken a while, but the others had finally passed through and they could already hear the loud footsteps and subtle fighting.

At some point, a boy had been smashed through a glass window.

The boy quickly stood, dusted himself and ran past Luca and Caedun who watched in shock.

"Damn. Are they seriously my age?"

Caedun tilted his head. "I believe they are."

They sighed in unison and walked into the building.

*

*

*

After what felt like eternity, Luca had finally found a room. A self-con to be exact, and he was more than pleased with it.

’The mansion was larger than I thought.’

There were four floors.

Each with at least fifty rooms, and they were spacious enough to put most self-con places to shame.

It really got Luca thinking about why the others acted that way.

At the moment, he had chosen the last flour.

High? Perhaps, but he had settled it as the quietest.

The ground floor had been almost filled by now as most of the boys chose to go there.

The first floor still had quite a lot of rooms and the second and third were practically dead silent.

Even Caedun chose to stay on the second floor.

’Still feels like the better choice.’

At the moment, he was seated on a chair and table which he had moved to face the window.

The furniture here was far more exquisite than what he had in his former place.

Most of them were dark mahogany and dull grey oakwood.

The bed was large enough to fit three people with a white blanket and two pillows on top.

There was a wardrobe and a mirror by the side of the room and when Luca checked it, he found the same monotonous Army wear, though black in colour.

The red was usually met for Instructors and high-ranked Ardent Military Personnel.

It was a wonder that they were allowed to wear red for this long.

’It’s been ruined since the second task, anyway.’

There was an address plastered on the inner back of the wardrobe. He had assumed it would be the tailors since they were allowed to tamper with their clothes to fit their personal likings.

Finally, two air vents that let in cold air and sucked in the hot air. Though, Luca could change the settings to whichever he wanted with the remote on his desk.

And lastly, the floor was wrapped in a thick, black rug.

When he found the room, Luca was more than pleased– he was at peace.

The key had been placed with the remote on the table, and he had quickly taken occupancy.

Now, he observed his new rank on his card with a smile before turning to the analogue clock placed over the door.

’The Ardenthals are really as primitive as they say.’

He shook his head and stood to his feet.

’Let’s take that bath, change and check out that gym. I still have to access my power scaling and growth, and finally... absorb those cores.’

He would have by now if he knew how to, but he didn’t, so Luca settled on finding out from Caedun first since they decided to meet later on at the gym.

As he headed to a door which led to the bathroom, his digital card shimmered under the afternoon rays... revealing his updated rank.

Lucamir Elaric.

Rank; 2nd Stage, Explorer.

Ego Synchrony; 5%

Null Resistance; 100%

Ego Manifestation; 20%

Cadet Rank; 50