About an hour and thirty minutes later, the Cadets were once again back at the Silver Wing– Dressed in their military black.

Some of which, had already been tailored to fit their personal preference.

It didn’t take long for them to get to their Hostel and back, and meals were easily taken care of by stopping for something on the way.

At least, for some of them.

The Knight Apprentices were settled in the steeply raked lecture theatre, taking their places among the rows of tiered seating that descended sharply toward the instructor’s podium.

Each Cadet sought out their designated seating positions – a high-backed cushion chair featuring a distinctive, asymmetrical design. One armrest was oversized, functioning as a reinforced Tactical Hub where storage units and digital cards had been programmed.

It served as the learning device, acting as a textbook, notepad and recording device all at once. With other futuristic designs.

Most of the Apprentices already had their holographic screens propped in front of them. Originating from that same unit.

It reflected images which were being magnified by the Imaging floor on the podium where the Instructor lectured from.

In a futuristic time like this, black and white boards as well as projectors had lost their credibility.

What replaced it was a state-of-the-art lecture holo-podium.

The podiums were elevated, iron-like, circular footholds with ingrained circuits and the world’s greatest AI tool which formed images in the air as well as metaphysical objects of the Lecturer’s desires.

The objects were extremely limited and could only be used within the podium’s electromagnetic wavelengths, but it was still a massive upgrade to the old lecture methods.

The same could be said about the Learning Cushion Electro Chairs or LCEC for short which the Cadets used to take down notes, store important data and perform other learning-related tasks.

Of course, those who were smart enough found a way of installing their own interests into it.

So it wasn’t odd that as Instructor Rhaelis taught her heart out, Luca found two boys playing a video game with their Screens.

’They must have set it to private mode.’

In private mode, no one other than those behind them could see what they were doing.

He ignored it and turned back to the lecture.

"And that is why Ego can not be mixed up with Ego energy, do you all understand?"

She adjusted her scholarly glasses as her crimson eyes scanned the class while her black hair tied at three points along its length swayed below her waist.

"Yes, Instructor Rhaelis."

They chorused.

Some of the boys gulped hard as their eyes followed the swaying motion of the bountiful bosom that threatened to spill out her open chest, crimson vest. While her tight flare trousers accentuated the rest of her irresistible curves.

Luca turned to the side to find Taren in the same dreamy state.

’Idiots.’

"Can anyone summarise all that I’ve been saying for the past thirty minutes or do I need to get you a different Ego Control Lecturer?"

She rubbed her temples with a sigh.

’Every year, I tell you.’

Luckily for her, someone raised a hand.

A girl, sadly.

"Yes, your name before your response."

The girl stood to her feet with a bright smile. She had blonde hair with blue icy tips at the end and emerald eyes that sparkled with mischief. Her pink lips stretched beautifully across her features and were almost enough to pull the attention of every boy in the class.

Almost.

"Tisane Valestryn, ma’am."

’Oh.’ Luca arched his brow in curiosity, glancing at the far corner where she sat together with the famous princess of the Main Ardenthal Household– Thalia.

’So that’s the best friend.’

Luca made a mental note to thank Vareen for her information.

"Ma’am you began with introducing us to Ego, its manipulation and form." She stated matter-of-factly.

"The terms we needed to know were Ego Core, Ego energy and Ego itself, and though, having similar names, they are extremely different in function.

Ego Core serves as the source of it.

It’s the processor, like our brains, but a mass of continuously growing energy that would normally flood our systems.

But with the extra vessels created during the reconstruction, we’re able to channel this energy throughout the body to enhance strength, speed and durability.

Ego energy is what is produced from the core and what flows through those vessels.

It powers our actions. Our strikes. And even sword attacks.

Finally, Ego.

It is the physical manifestation of energy.

It reflects over our body as a dark miasma, and serves mostly armament purposes rather than not."

Her explanation was so flawlessly described that Rhaelis had to give a clap.

"Wonderfully said, Miss Valestryn."

She hinted for her to sit and she did.

"At least one of you is paying attention."

She tapped a remote and a chair forged from blue aligned lines formed. With a sigh, she sat on it and tapped a button again.

This time, the image that sat massively at the top front of the class flickered and a new one formed.

It was a dense black ball with elemental forms dancing around it.

"There is something important and noteworthy about Ego."

She held out her palm as she channelled her energy through her vessels and out until a ball of black miasma formed.

"You are all aware that in some rare cases, there are those who awaken a different colour from the norm."

Another student raised their hand.

"Yes, name and question."

The student, Elyr, stood to his feet.

"I am Elyr Van De Caelun, ma’am, and my question is concerning Ego colours.

As you said, some possess a different shade that isn’t black.

Is there perhaps a reason for this or a genetic mutation that makes them... different?"

He sat back down while others hummed in intrigue.

There were only a few people who had colored Ego.

Luca was one of them, but it seemed no one was aware.

’Well, maybe Caed.’

"You don’t need to be worried about it.

Scholars from the Cognisphere Commonwealth have even tried furthering their studies on it, and at the moment... There is no significant difference other than the colour palette."

She glanced around as she crossed one leg over the other.

A simple action that seemed to elicit... quite the reaction.

"While they continue to research, it is clear at the moment that they are not superior to us in any way."

She raised her arm which cradled the ball of Ego.

"Do you all notice how long I’ve been holding this? This is solidified Ego."

She squeezed. Hard.

And the ball terraformed into a spear.

The Class hummed in shock and awe as they watched with widened eyes.

"Only those who reach 50% of Synchrony can forge weapons of their Ego.

A weapon that will be as strong as them."

"But wouldn’t we need to be an Invoker for that?!"

A girl whispered and yelled at the same time, and her question was a rapid cause of concern.

Rhaelis chuckled at their behaviour.

"Of course. Only Invokers are capable of this, though, Ego weapons are better choices."

Luca widened his eyes in shock.

’No wonder I haven’t been able to do it!’

To be honest, Luca had not even bothered trying to create a weapon or physical construct with Ego as he did in the Trance.

From what he could remember, it had been a feeling that led him to discover it and that feeling was lost since he dropped his Synchrony to 5.

’Note to self. Though, my Ego weapon will be better once I give it a name.’

Ego weapons required a name to reveal their true forms. The present image it took as a Longsword was just a default.

"Alright, enough of that.

Let’s get on with the next topic."

The Ego dispersed, before she channelled it again and instead of forming a mass of Ego, she caused a flame to ignite.

Everyone knew this.

It was instinctual, after all.

Aspect traits were common. And with aspect traits were various forms. Elemental and non.

Of course, they possessed various affinities as well, making them one of the most difficult aspects of the Interface to truly understand.

"Forms..." Rhaelis bellowed.

"... And Affinities."

Luca yawned and turned to his screen.

He flipped left and the next image popped up.

It was the same as the one floating right in front of him, so he decided to focus on this one.

But he soon lost himself to his thoughts when he hesitantly trailed the mark on his neck.

’I went back to check that place but it was still empty.’

He narrowed his gaze.

’Is it her form?’

Then he squeezed his face.

’Or some kind of skill attached to a Transcendent weapon or accessory?’

He pursed his lips and scratched the back of his head.

’Does it matter?’

He waited long and hard.

’No.

Heck, I’m more excited than ever.

To think she was real. That experience... that feeling, everything was as it was.’

A small smile formed at the corner of his face.

Then it faulted.

’That time, it felt like she was taken over by a completely different personality. Wait, personality?’

He sat up and flipped the screen down causing a keyboard to slide to his already placed fingers.

Immediately, he began typing.

Moments passed and he clicked enter, while the search engine worked on his question.

’Hah...’ He stared at the blue words written in bigger fonts than the rest.

’Split Personality is one of the disadvantages of manipulated Multiple Archetypes as each represents a part of the soul– or multiple souls.’

He held his chin as his thought process clicked.

’Weird. I’m totally fine, though.’

If their so-called disadvantages were right, wouldn’t that mean Luca had six other personalities to deal with?

’Wouldn’t that make me a crazy person?’

"Psst, Lucamir."

Luca flinched as he was brought back to earth.

"You with the yellow hair, are you deaf?"

His eyes flickered as he glanced down to find the Instructor, and half the class staring right at him.

He sighed. ’Shit.’

Instructor Rhaelis stood slowly with her arms folded.

"Do you care to explain what you’re so occupied with that you dare to ignore my lectures?"

Luca scratched the back of his head.

"Well, that’s a stretch."

A pin drop silence overwhelmed the class.

________

AUTHOR’S NOTE

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